Well, in my opinion, Ruth Rendell is the most realistic and
insightful writer working in mystery/noir fiction. I can't
think of another writer who gets as close to the bone, or has
as clear a way of describing the insanity from which crime
springs than Rendell has. The Veiled One is a great example
of how a policeman changes the facts to suit his theory of a
crime with desasterous results. The Bridesmaid and Lake of
Darkness are brilliant descriptions of homocidal mania. One
wonders how she understands the problem so vividly without
being a maniac herself. I think she's about the best dead or
alive.
Patrick King
--- Jacques Debierue <
matrxtech@yahoo.com> wrote:
> --- In
rara-avis-l@yahoogroups.com, Patrick King
> <abrasax93@...> wrote:
> >
> > Well, Jacques, we're different types of people.
I
> only
> > enjoy reading while I'm assessing the work I
read.
> I
> > don't find it difficult at all. There's no
'test,'
> and
> > I enjoy using my mind this way. I'm not sure
I
> could
> > behave any other way. I agree with you that
most
> books
> > suck, however. I do find it funny that you
started
> out
> > calling me an elitist and now you
dismiss
> academics,
> > who have actually taken the time to try
to
> comprehend
> > in depth the work in which they're interests
lie,
> as
> > not having the foggiest idea of how a good
book
> comes
> > to be written.
>
> I did not dismiss academics (actually, I am one).
I
> said that they don't have any idea of how
> a good book gets written... do you know of any
that
> know or claim to know that? I did not
> say that academics (or others) cannot
produce
> interesting analyses of literary works.
They
> can. When the analysis is good, I enjoy it,
even
> though I may disagree. A tale well spun
is
> always worth reading, even if it is a tale about
a
> tale.
>
> >I'm guessing you're of the
> > good-books-by-accident school of
thought.
>
> No. I don't think good books happen by
accident,
> though some are considered good (or
> bad) by hasty consideration, fashion, favors
owed,
> etc., which are accidents of a sort.
> Some books even become best-sellers by
accident,
> though in these days of manufacturing
> the consumer, that happens less often.
>
>
> >If that's
> > the case, though, how can Ruth Rendell
and
> Frederick
> > Forsyth be so consistently good?
>
> I don't think those guys are very good. Good,
yes,
> but not very good. Probably what you
> mean is that they're pros, that they know how
to
> write. With that, I agree.
>
> >Different strokes for
> > different folks, Jacques. You may be right
for
> you,
> > but you're not universally correct. Believe me
on
> > this!
>
> Alas, I know...
>
> Best,
>
> MrT
>
>
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