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3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
tense
fast-paced
6.1. 2019
From 2 stars to 4 stars.
You know, sometimes you read a book and you either dislike it, hate it, or never finish it, but then later it starts to slowly tickle the back of your brain until you give up and decide to re-read it someday. I think in the case of The Black Dahlia it was wrong timing that made it very underwhelming. Having developed an eternal love for film noir after that (and because this time I read it in English), I got what Ellroy was trying to do.
Did I enjoy it? Well, in order for me to say that, you have to understand that in this context "enjoyment" has a broader scope. I'm not sure when was the first time I heard about Elizabeth Short, but the case is one of the most haunting unsolved murders. Short's story is the ultimate Tinseltown mystery that doesn't just involve her, but everything else that comes with it (I'm not even going to start on the Hodel creep, but the miniseries I Am the Night delves into that).
Short, however, isn't as front and center in The Black Dahlia as you might think. She haunts in the background and her murder is the catalyst for all the craziness, but the main focus is on the obsessions and troubles of the two protagonists and the corrupt LAPD in general. Ellroy hacks at it with force, and although he manages to offer some surprises at the end that fit neatly into the crime/mystery genre, the solution to the mystery doesn't necessarily satisfy in the conventional sense. The people involved with the case have one way or another ruined themselves or each other. "Emptiness" is the word that comes to mind from the ending.
So, I enjoyed The Black Dahlia for all the depressing cynicism I have come to expect from film noir, not because it's a straightforward detective story with a happy ending. Instead of a drizzle, it's a downpour and a punch in the face. The walk through gutters might make some people uncomfortable, but I adore how it doesn't make any concessions. It is what it is, and if you don't like that, it doesn't give a fuck.
From 2 stars to 4 stars.
You know, sometimes you read a book and you either dislike it, hate it, or never finish it, but then later it starts to slowly tickle the back of your brain until you give up and decide to re-read it someday. I think in the case of The Black Dahlia it was wrong timing that made it very underwhelming. Having developed an eternal love for film noir after that (and because this time I read it in English), I got what Ellroy was trying to do.
Did I enjoy it? Well, in order for me to say that, you have to understand that in this context "enjoyment" has a broader scope. I'm not sure when was the first time I heard about Elizabeth Short, but the case is one of the most haunting unsolved murders. Short's story is the ultimate Tinseltown mystery that doesn't just involve her, but everything else that comes with it (I'm not even going to start on the Hodel creep, but the miniseries I Am the Night delves into that).
Short, however, isn't as front and center in The Black Dahlia as you might think. She haunts in the background and her murder is the catalyst for all the craziness, but the main focus is on the obsessions and troubles of the two protagonists and the corrupt LAPD in general. Ellroy hacks at it with force, and although he manages to offer some surprises at the end that fit neatly into the crime/mystery genre, the solution to the mystery doesn't necessarily satisfy in the conventional sense. The people involved with the case have one way or another ruined themselves or each other. "Emptiness" is the word that comes to mind from the ending.
So, I enjoyed The Black Dahlia for all the depressing cynicism I have come to expect from film noir, not because it's a straightforward detective story with a happy ending. Instead of a drizzle, it's a downpour and a punch in the face. The walk through gutters might make some people uncomfortable, but I adore how it doesn't make any concessions. It is what it is, and if you don't like that, it doesn't give a fuck.
Another book that I've been wanting to read for years, The Black Dahlia does not disappoint. Even though it was written in 1987, Ellroy's vocabulary is transcendental, taking you to a noir pastiche of an American era well-known for its seedy doings. It's not an easy read by any means, but if you stick with it, you'll find yourself visualising every single scene: a massive accomplishment.
Ellroy's plotting is also top-notch, and it doesn't hurt that he's using one of the biggest mysteries in American history. Bucky is easy to relate to, when he falls, the reader falls with him, and when he finally cracks his case, one's left with the same ashen taste in his mouth.
If you're like me, yet to read this book, do it as soon as you can. I cannot recommend it enough.
Ellroy's plotting is also top-notch, and it doesn't hurt that he's using one of the biggest mysteries in American history. Bucky is easy to relate to, when he falls, the reader falls with him, and when he finally cracks his case, one's left with the same ashen taste in his mouth.
If you're like me, yet to read this book, do it as soon as you can. I cannot recommend it enough.
The story was incredibly interesting, but James Ellroy's style of writing made it hard to get into. MUCH better than the terrible movie that was based on the book.
Awe, the bwig bwad dwetective has daddy issues.
More endings than lord of the rings, but I couldn't put it down beforehand.
It's a book of horrible people doing horrible things, a tough gory read mostly due to the true nature of the subject matter.
More endings than lord of the rings, but I couldn't put it down beforehand.
It's a book of horrible people doing horrible things, a tough gory read mostly due to the true nature of the subject matter.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It starts out very slow, up until half of the book it gets really good and then you cannot stop reading. But at the beginning there are so many things said that are not important. But all in all it is a very graphic crime novel, not just in the details of the murder but on the thoughts of the detective which is very interesting.
Good book, sometimes hard to follow the plot. Don't even bother with the movie.