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I''m really digging Chabon's Yiddish Policemen's Union. It's got the world-weary tropes of the noir detective stories cross-fertilized with Jewish angst. It kind of goes right up to the edge of parody and skates back. What I'm feeling is if Samuel (I can't go on; I can't go on; I'll go on) Beckett was writing detective fiction and then for some reason made everyone in the story Jewish. Since it is set in Alaska, it is perfect reading in this weather.

On the basis of this, I went ahead and got Kavalier & Clay, though I believe it has a very different feel, probably a lot more "shiny" and optimistic, as everyone (except minorities*) was in the Eisenhower years. Chabon is quite a writer, so I'll be interested how this one turns out.

* Yes I am aware that the frission in this book comes from whether Jews are considered full Americans during the 50s.

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Posted

Alexandre Dumas: The Count Of Mount Cristo.

IMHO an understimated work. It has everything matters: love, hate, revenge, good and God, fate, etc.. like a greek tragedy.

I agree. Dumas at his best wrote incredibly exciting entertainments. BTW, if you haven't read Richard Pevear's translation of The Three Musketeers, you owe it to yourself to do so in short order.

Peace,

Blue Trane

Posted

I''m really digging Chabon's Yiddish Policemen's Union. It's got the world-weary tropes of the noir detective stories cross-fertilized with Jewish angst. It kind of goes right up to the edge of parody and skates back. What I'm feeling is if Samuel (I can't go on; I can't go on; I'll go on) Beckett was writing detective fiction and then for some reason made everyone in the story Jewish. Since it is set in Alaska, it is perfect reading in this weather.

On the basis of this, I went ahead and got Kavalier & Clay, though I believe it has a very different feel, probably a lot more "shiny" and optimistic, as everyone (except minorities*) was in the Eisenhower years. Chabon is quite a writer, so I'll be interested how this one turns out.

* Yes I am aware that the frission in this book comes from whether Jews are considered full Americans during the 50s.

They're both excellent IMHO.

Kavalier & Clay won the Pulitzer.

Posted (edited)

Raymond Chandler: Stories and Early Novels: Pulp Stories / The Big Sleep / Farewell, My Lovely / The High Window (Library of America). I think this is my favorite LoA book. Chandler's early stories and novels are very good, and the quality of writing is original and has aged very well. Very enjoyable read.

Edited by Matthew
Posted

Raymond Chandler: Stories and Early Novels: Pulp Stories / The Big Sleep / Farewell, My Lovely / The High Window (Library of America). I think this is my favorite LoA book. Chandler's early stories and novels are very good, and the quality of writing is original and has aged very well. Very enjoyable read.

Looks good!

Posted

The Dimensioneers by Doris Piserchia. It's okay. I dunno if I'd recommend it. Look, I just felt like making a post, and I wasn't watching anything or listening to music, and I had the book with me at the computer (dial-up will do that to you), so there it is. :beee:

An update, after finishing the book...

I retract my nonrecommendation; it's a much better book overall than I expected. However, keep in mind that I think the perfect audience for this book would be a girl in her early teens. Since I am not now, nor have I ever been, a girl in my early teens, this recommendation may be a bit off...

Posted

I''m really digging Chabon's Yiddish Policemen's Union. It's got the world-weary tropes of the noir detective stories cross-fertilized with Jewish angst. It kind of goes right up to the edge of parody and skates back. What I'm feeling is if Samuel (I can't go on; I can't go on; I'll go on) Beckett was writing detective fiction and then for some reason made everyone in the story Jewish. Since it is set in Alaska, it is perfect reading in this weather.

This one's on my 'must read' list, though it isn't on my shelf yet....

Posted

Confession time: I've never read anything by Chandler...

I think you're going to want to read at least a couple Chandler and Hammett novels before Yiddish Policemen's Union.

I read most of them a while ago. Then they came out with the Library of America sets (which do a better job with the novels than the short stories). I can't recall right now which of these I have in LoA, maybe just the Hammett novels.

Posted

A. E. Van Vogt, "The Voyage of the Space Beagle". . . possibly one of the inspirations for "Alien."

After a slow start I ditched this for the Chandler. . . after the Chandler I resumed it and am enjoying it.

Posted

Just re-read Charles Drazin's In Search of the Third Man. A good book to read if you've just re-watched The Third Man for the millionth time. The chapter on the differences between the original British cut and the American cut of the film is particularly fascinating, especially if, like Drazin, you've long felt that the American cut is clearly inferior.

Posted

Confession time: I've never read anything by Chandler...

I think you're going to want to read at least a couple Chandler and Hammett novels before Yiddish Policemen's Union.

I read most of them a while ago. Then they came out with the Library of America sets (which do a better job with the novels than the short stories). I can't recall right now which of these I have in LoA, maybe just the Hammett novels.

I said "Chandler", not every hardboiled writer in America. ;) I've read all of Hammett's novels multiple times. Same for Cain. I just overlooked Chandler for some reason.

Posted

Mark, Try either "The Big Sleep," "Farewell my Lovely" or "The Long Goodbye." You'll dig. What a writer!

I know I will; I have no idea why I've put it off. Well, I did get this book store gift certificate for Christmas...maybe I'll get off my butt.

Posted

Mark, Try either "The Big Sleep," "Farewell my Lovely" or "The Long Goodbye." You'll dig. What a writer!

I know I will; I have no idea why I've put it off. Well, I did get this book store gift certificate for Christmas...maybe I'll get off my butt.

Well, Vintage/Black Lizard just put all the Chandlers out in nice new trade paperbacks. . . I picked up one, then I picked up two others, now I picked up five more with Xmas dollars; I have only one more to get which wasn't on the shelf (The Little Sister).

I think my two favorites are "The Long Goodbye" and "Farewell My Lovely" but almost all the novels ALL awesome.

Posted

James Blish, Cities in Flight.

How is it? This one's sitting on my shelf waiting (along with a stack of other Blish) for me to get the urge.

I always kind of liked Titan's Daughter.

The Cities In Flight tetralogy is one of those sf series that you read once, and ONLY once.

Posted

James Blish, Cities in Flight.

How is it? This one's sitting on my shelf waiting (along with a stack of other Blish) for me to get the urge.

I always kind of liked Titan's Daughter.

The Cities In Flight tetralogy is one of those sf series that you read once, and ONLY once.

I vaguely recall reading Cities In Flight in the '70s as a dutiful young SF fan. And I recall almost nothing else about the four books except that, A: There were cities in them and, B: They were flying (On planets through space. Under domes?). Not sure it was worth the time.

Posted

I vaguely recall reading Cities In Flight in the '70s as a dutiful young SF fan. And I recall almost nothing else about the four books except that, A: There were cities in them and, B: They were flying (On planets through space. Under domes?). Not sure it was worth the time.

You know, when you put it like that, I think I remember reading them as well... :lol:

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