bobav wrote:
>> Point of order regarding "Test of Time": that
was Doherty taking one
thing I said in the course of a looooong discussion on
Spillane . . .
>Apologies for the tweak. I've been on Rara-Avis for 7
or 8 years, and
I used to groan, but now cheer, when Doherty school is in
session.
"Test of time" was a good new one.
I've met Jim in person (Toronto Bouchercon), and I really
enjoyed talking to him. That said, I like it better when he
talks than when "school is in session." I guess that's why I
keep putting off taking his Barnes & Noble course on
Chandler!
>> And I don't claim any objectivity where
Pelecanos is concerned. I
don't like his work, test of time, or not.
>That's why I said you shouldn't read it. Life's too
short for us to
annoy ourselves. As for your critical method (which I think I
follow - you do go on a bit), hey, it works fine for you, but
I'm less interested in fault-finding. If I like 'em, I like
'em.
But it's not fault-finding. At all. It's a cognizance of what
they do well and what they don't do well. And it's not as if
I'm cataloguing their faults. Speaking as someone who writes
a bit, I'm always trying to improve my own writing (and
there's plenty of room for improvement). So to steal a page
from our own Al Guthrie, I don't mind a discussion
deconstructing the nuts and bolts of a particular author's
work, because it might be akin to what Gregory Hines called
"stealing another step" by watching another dancer at work. I
know not everyone comes here for that, but we enough posters
willing to discuss that sort of thing that there's plenty to
learn even by lurking (which is what I mostly do).
>> I'm not suggesting anyone change their opinion
based on my
experience, merely offering mine as yet another one to help
complete a picture of the writing of that author.
>Me too. I apologize for suggesting that Pelecanos
detractors try the
new one. Pelecanos detractors should not try the new
one.
I apologize for calling you on that one, since we're all
apologizing all over ourselves here.
>> I guess I'm just not much for
love-fests.
>Well, ok then. But my initial post was inspired by an
unusual book
reading and book release date party in a bar, a pretty good
setting for a love-fest. I guess I'm just into
love-fests.
Well, it did sound a bit like a first date. ;)
>PS: Miker - to prove I'm balanced, the Pelecanos
you've got lined up,
Down by the River . . . is probably his weakest. Generally
speaking, later is better.
Attaboy, Bob!
*ducking*
Back to lurking for me.
All the Best-
Brian
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