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jatridle's review against another edition
5.0
This is a brutal, depressing book. The writing is so intimate and detailed that I really felt like I was walking around in Whitey's skin with him from the beginning. Unfortunately, he spent a lot if his time getting his ass kicked, or watching other people getting their asses kicked while fully believing he was next. Though this book is classic noir, some of the writing reminded me a lot of Steinbeck due to the string of down and out characters Whitey came across and the vivid depictions of the skid row streets. In addition to the writing style, I also appreciated how this book depicted women. No gratuitous violence toward women. No minxy femme fatales. This is my first David Goodis book and I'm glad I picked it up.
radballen's review
5.0
What a great piece of 'noir' writing. We start off with three drunks sitting around scheming for their next drink. Suddenly, the quiet and wistful of the three, Whitey, sees something, stands up, and walks off. His sudden, mysterious departure takes him on a wild ride through his anonymous present and unexpected past. I'd been meaning to read more David Goodis since I read Down There in a Library of America Crime Noir collection. I read this book in two sittings. It was completely captivating. Highly recommended.
bookwomble's review
4.0
A good Goodis!
As usual, the main character's obsessional relationship with a woman is the start of his problems, and his refusal to give her up the catalyst for his downfall.
I liked the use of flashback to tell the story of Whitey's descent. It was reminiscent of the Paris flashback in "Casablanca", but dark, twisted and without a trace of noble sentiment at the end.
I really liked Lieutenant Pertnoy and wish Goodis had made more use of him: a very unusual police officer.
As usual, the main character's obsessional relationship with a woman is the start of his problems, and his refusal to give her up the catalyst for his downfall.
I liked the use of flashback to tell the story of Whitey's descent. It was reminiscent of the Paris flashback in "Casablanca", but dark, twisted and without a trace of noble sentiment at the end.
I really liked Lieutenant Pertnoy and wish Goodis had made more use of him: a very unusual police officer.
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