RARA-AVIS: Who don't you like?

From: William Denton ( wtd@pobox.com)
Date: 28 Jun 2006


Are there any of the major (or minor) hardboiled and noir writers you don't like, even though everyone else seems to? I know a number of folks on the list aren't impressed by John D. MacDonald's Travis McGee books or most of his others. I was saying earlier that Ken Bruen's early books disappointed me, and a while back I gave away a Victor Gischler without finishing it.

I think we all agree that Dan J. Marlowe's later books in the Earl Drake series are, as the critics say, crappy. Some people find recent James Ellroy unreadable, and some people find all of Ellroy unreadable. Robert S. Parker's last decade or two seems to fare badly against his earlier books--I wouldn't know, I gave up on him years ago.

Do any of you think Chandler is drivel or James M. Cain was no good? Anyone repulsed by Jim Thompson? Given up on Pelecanos because there's too much driving around Washington listening to music?

Speak up if you have a long-simmering dislike of a well-respected author and you want to get it off your chest. The rest of us may not understand it, but we won't mind.

Bill

-- 
William Denton : Toronto, Canada : www.miskatonic.org : www.frbr.org


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