BOOKS THREAD

Just picked up "The Cold Six Thousand" (James Ellroy) again and I'm tearing through it. I forgot why I put it down in the first place. It's the second of his underworld trilogy following "American Tabloid," which got considerably more acclaim, I think. Ellroy's staccato style may not be for everyone but I really enjoy it. This one surrounds the Kennedy assasination I'll read the third of the trilogy, "Blood's a Rover," during the holidays. His crime books are great, too -- "The Big Nowhere," "LA Confidential," "White Jazz," etc.

 

Read all three of 'em. I'll vouch for them all as worthwhile.

 

Just finished Grisham's latest, "The Litigators"

Is it a high-brow novel? No.

Is it fine literature? No.

Is it entertaining and a breezy read? Certainly.

Would I recommend it to somebody looking for light reading over the holidays (or for when it comes out in paperback? Certainly.

 

Eh, most people don't know all the ins and outs of horse racing enough to notice that. I agree it reminds me of Fitzgerald. Being a woman, I really appreciate all the detailed descriptions of the outfits everyone is wearing. This book just cries out for the screenplay. Only about 60 pages left and loving it!!! Glad someone else is reading it.

 

I have no doubt whatsoever that it was written with movie adaptation in mind. The thing's VERY visual. There's no way it would have mass appeal, but as a piece pitched to adults, with the right cast, it could be terrific.

 

I am still trying to slog through 1Q84 and I don't know why. Because it's there? One of the worst books I've ever read, and definitely the worst 900-plus-page book I've ever read.

 

I read McCullough's several years ago, but haven't read Hamby, who is quoted in "1948."

I'm starting to see where Pietrusza is going with the "change" thing: the rise of television, the first major outbreak of the Cold War with the Berlin Airlift, the recognition of Israel (one of the numerous reasons Truman is my favorite president) setting the stage for the Middle East crisis that occupied the duration of the 20th century and into the 21st. He's weaving it in at various times.

Good book thus far. Not quite finished.

 

Sorry to hear, but appreciate the heads-up. Sounded like the kind of hypefest that was a must to avoid, when I was first aware of the schtick surrounding it.

 

I recently re-read "The Wise Men" by Walter Isaacson and Evan Thomas about the foreign policy advisors that worked with Truman post-1945. Good read.

 

John U Bacon's Three and Out: Rich Rodriguez and the Michigan Wolverines


Facts and details galore, but far too hearts-and-flowers-y in terms of casting broad favor on both subjects, to the tastes of a neutral observer.

"Michigan Men" . . . . please, please stop. Too, too precious.

 

Sirs, Madames,

A flurry of mysteries-suspensers-action-crime stuff as research.

I expected a bit more of Pelacanos's The Cut. I thought the turn of phrase was too stock.

Steve Hamilton's The Lock Artist is amazing. So wildly inventive that it defies any particular genre.

Two classics that I've gone to school on (repeat readings) are The Chill and The Zebra-Striped Hearse by Ross MacDonald. The Blue Hammer, his last book, is just behind. The legit heir to Hammett and Chandler.

YHS, etc

 

Totally agreed on "The Lock Artist." Probably my favorite read of the past year.

I'm a big Pelecanos fan but "The Cut" was far from his best. It felt like he was working a little too hard to create a new series character and not enough on creating a compelling story.