Kevin:
> I remember Otto Penzler once discussing at a
conference how much
> editing his first (and arguably best) books
needed.
I've just been reading his early books and am really
wondering about your statement. I remember thinking that
books like BLOOD ON THE MOON and BECAUSE THE NIGHT were
overthought, overwritten, implausible and stretched. Plus the
narrative drive I find so admirable in, say, THE BIG NOWHERE,
is nowhere in sight. Especially BLOOD ON THE MOON seemed
almost ridiculous at times.
Okay, those are not his first books. CLANDESTINE is pretty
much okay, but it lacks pacing. The scene with Dudley Smith
in the middle of the book is way too long, and there's almost
a parody of American gothic near the end of the book. BROWN'S
REQUIEM is a pretty standard PI book, even though it has its
dark edges, too.
I should say that Ellroy's peak is the LA Quartet. I liked
AMERICAN TABLOID, but haven't read THE COLD SIX THOUSAND as
yet.
And yes, he seems an irritating public person. He was
guest-blogging at the otherwise very fine Rap Sheet site some
months back. He didn't say anything interesting, just went on
about how he's great. But that shouldn't diminish his real
efforts. Don't judge the artist by his mistakes, but by his
victories. (Or something to that effect. I think it was
Octavio Paz who said it.)
Juri
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