medjuck Posted December 21, 2020 Report Share Posted December 21, 2020 3 hours ago, jazzbo said: Yes, it's Westlake. There are four novels featuring Grofield, who is a supporting character in five or six of the Parkers, an actor who moonlights as a criminial and is part of the crew pulling off a caper. The Grofield novels have more humor than the Parker series does. Thanks. Didn't know that. There's a great introduction to one edition of The Hunter where Westlake explains why he created Stark and Parker. I once worked on a magazine where we ran an interview with Westlake that was done via mail because the interviewer was in prison. (He'd been on the FBI's 10 most wanted list. ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzbo Posted December 21, 2020 Report Share Posted December 21, 2020 Westlake was a prolific and multi-faceted writer who was almost always entertaining. I think you will enjoy the Grofield novels, the first three are pretty witty and the fourth is the grittiest being a revenge-driven spree. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Kart Posted December 21, 2020 Report Share Posted December 21, 2020 On 12/20/2020 at 10:15 AM, soulpope said: The Mick Herron Slough House series of which "Dead Lions" is a part is top notch. In the later novels of the series there is a nefarious character who seems to be based on Boris Johnson. I eagerly await the next Slough House book. The fiendishly scheming head of MI5 Diana Taverner (known as Lady Di, but don't say it to her face) is a great character, as is her frequent antagonist and head of Slough House Jackson Lamb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Kart Posted December 21, 2020 Report Share Posted December 21, 2020 20 minutes ago, jazzbo said: Westlake was a prolific and multi-faceted writer who was almost always entertaining. I think you will enjoy the Grofield novels, the first three are pretty witty and the fourth is the grittiest being a revenge-driven spree. I've read and love all the Stark novels but have never been able to get into the semi-comic crime novels that Westlake published under his own name, like "The Hot Rock," expertly done though they are. For me, comedy and crime are more or less antithetical. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
medjuck Posted December 21, 2020 Report Share Posted December 21, 2020 I've been re-reading a lot of John O'Hara short stories that I originally read 60 years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzbo Posted December 21, 2020 Report Share Posted December 21, 2020 1 hour ago, Larry Kart said: I've read and love all the Stark novels but have never been able to get into the semi-comic crime novels that Westlake published under his own name, like "The Hot Rock," expertly done though they are. For me, comedy and crime are more or less antithetical. I hear you. I have read all the Stark and only a handful so far of the Westlake named works a few of which were far less satisfying than others. I can definitely enjoy a bit of comedy in crime as in the Grofield novel "Lemons Never Lie" in which there is a caper planned so ridiculous and by a character so inept and uncouth that it's both sad and funny to see the developments. And Jim Thompson can incorporate humor and horror and crime and punishment in ways that floor me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soulpope Posted December 21, 2020 Report Share Posted December 21, 2020 2 hours ago, Larry Kart said: The Mick Herron Slough House series of which "Dead Lions" is a part is top notch. In the later novels of the series there is a nefarious character who seems to be based on Boris Johnson. I eagerly await the next Slough House book. The fiendishly scheming head of MI5 Diana Taverner (known as Lady Di, but don't say it to her face) is a great character, as is her frequent antagonist and head of Slough House Jackson Lamb. Yep, like it a lot too.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Beat Steve Posted December 21, 2020 Report Share Posted December 21, 2020 2 hours ago, Larry Kart said: For me, comedy and crime are more or less antithetical. Sounds like you wouldn't like Carlo Manzoni. (Though I don't know if he has been translated into English at all) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Kart Posted December 21, 2020 Report Share Posted December 21, 2020 3 hours ago, jazzbo said: I hear you. I have read all the Stark and only a handful so far of the Westlake named works a few of which were far less satisfying than others. I can definitely enjoy a bit of comedy in crime as in the Grofield novel "Lemons Never Lie" in which there is a caper planned so ridiculous and by a character so inept and uncouth that it's both sad and funny to see the developments. And Jim Thompson can incorporate humor and horror and crime and punishment in ways that floor me. I hear you on "Lemons Never Lie." It was the first Stark novel I read, and I enjoyed the heck out of it -- the comedic touches really work, and it opened the door to all the rest. Sorry that Grofeld couldn't last. I think the trick to the ones with Grofeld was that Stark's main criminal protagonist Parker enjoyed/appreciated Grofeld. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzbo Posted December 21, 2020 Report Share Posted December 21, 2020 Yes, and he played important roles in the Parker books. . .so he wasn't someone just plopped into a book cold. The Parker books are really something. A big influence on Max Allan Collins who has written books I enjoy as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
medjuck Posted December 21, 2020 Report Share Posted December 21, 2020 11 minutes ago, Larry Kart said: I hear you on "Lemons Never Lie." It was the first Stark novel I read, and I enjoyed the heck out of it -- the comedic touches really work, and it opened the door to all the rest. Sorry that Grofeld couldn't last. I think the trick to the ones with Grofeld was that Stark's main criminal protagonist Parker enjoyed/appreciated Grofeld. There's one Dortmunder book where Dortmunder reads a Richard Stark novel and tries to copy the crime. I like most of the Westlake I've read under any name but my favorite was called "Dancing Aztecs". He also wrote the script for "The Grifters". In the interview we ran, he points out that Parker has been played by a white man (Lee Marvin), a black man (Jim Brown) and a French woman (Anna Karina), to which he added "I think the character lacks definition." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzbo Posted December 22, 2020 Report Share Posted December 22, 2020 (edited) Also think Jason Statham played Parker (a white Englishman). That "The Grifters" screenplay is so close to the book--a lot of dialog and even spoken description is directly from the novel. Edited December 22, 2020 by jazzbo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
medjuck Posted December 22, 2020 Report Share Posted December 22, 2020 5 minutes ago, jazzbo said: Also think Jason Statham played Parker (a white Englishman). That "The Grifters" screenplay is so close to the book--a lot of dialog and even spoken description is directly from the novel. As did Mel Gibson. BTW There's a director's cut of Payback which is worth looking for. Some completely different characters a many plot changes. But IIRC the book of the Grifters doesn't have the great scene with the computers (or lack thereof). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzbo Posted December 22, 2020 Report Share Posted December 22, 2020 Thanks for the rec. I find I watch movies less and less. But I bet that is a good one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlhoots Posted December 29, 2020 Report Share Posted December 29, 2020 S.A. Cosby: Blacktop Wasteland Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlhoots Posted January 11, 2021 Report Share Posted January 11, 2021 Rachel Kadish: The Weight Of Ink Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Posted January 12, 2021 Report Share Posted January 12, 2021 I’ve just started to read this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Posted January 14, 2021 Report Share Posted January 14, 2021 The Wayward Bus by John Steinbeck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghost of miles Posted January 15, 2021 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2021 (edited) On 12/21/2020 at 5:20 PM, medjuck said: There's one Dortmunder book where Dortmunder reads a Richard Stark novel and tries to copy the crime. I like most of the Westlake I've read under any name but my favorite was called "Dancing Aztecs". He also wrote the script for "The Grifters". In the interview we ran, he points out that Parker has been played by a white man (Lee Marvin), a black man (Jim Brown) and a French woman (Anna Karina), to which he added "I think the character lacks definition." Just read this quote in the liner notes to Film Score Monthly's CD of music from The Split (where the Parker character--renamed McClain, iirc--is played by Jim Brown). Right now, inspired by my re-reading last year of Dog Soldiers: I had assumed the title was an ode to high-grade weed, but apparently Stone's referring to "green light that washes over the rainforest at dawn." Still, I'm sure he wouldn't have minded it working the other way as well. Edited January 15, 2021 by ghost of miles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgcim Posted January 19, 2021 Report Share Posted January 19, 2021 Just finished Charles Williams' "Descent Into Hell". Strange Christian/Occult novel by one of the Three Inklings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Posted January 20, 2021 Report Share Posted January 20, 2021 1 hour ago, sgcim said: Just finished Charles Williams' "Descent Into Hell". Strange Christian/Occult novel by one of the Three Inklings. Been thinking of giving Williams a shot, last year I read a good book on the Inklings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgcim Posted January 20, 2021 Report Share Posted January 20, 2021 3 hours ago, Matthew said: Been thinking of giving Williams a shot, last year I read a good book on the Inklings. "All Hallow Eve" is recommended. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted January 21, 2021 Report Share Posted January 21, 2021 lucid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Posted January 30, 2021 Report Share Posted January 30, 2021 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejp626 Posted January 30, 2021 Report Share Posted January 30, 2021 I've mostly been reading poetry for a project I've been working on. A lot of old favorites, but also exploring poets I'm aware of but not that up on their work - Richard Wilbur is a good example. I also stumbled across Michael Heller during this process. I've extended the library loan on Emberton a couple of times, but am going to finish it this weekend. I really should get back to Don Quixote after that. You'd think I'd find the time, since I really don't get to leave the house, but I still find it hard to focus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_forumlogo.png.a607ef20a6e0c299ab2aa6443aa1f32e.png)
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.