Marlowe has married into money – or has he? Not content to be a “kept husband”, Marlowe sets up shop in the swanky California town of Poodle Springs, Marlowe has married into money – or has he? Not content to be a “kept husband”, Marlowe sets up shop in the swanky California town of Poodle Springs, much to the displeasure of his new wife. It isn’t long until Marlowe is hired to track down a man who happens to owe his bookie a cool one hundred grand. Can Marlowe close the case or will his marital life prove too much of a distraction?
Raymond Chandler wrote four chapters of a new Marlowe novel before he tragically passed away following a bout with pneumonia. The manuscript sat for years before acclaimed mystery novelist (and admitted fan) Robert B. Parker picked it up, dusted it off, finished it and dubbed it “Poodle Springs”.
Having never read Parker’s work before, I'm not sure I can comment on whether or not he was the right choice. However, I have heard folks say that Parker’s early Detective Spenser novels appear to be heavily influenced by Chandler. Parker certainly nails the twists and turns that are synonymous with a Marlowe novel but he came up short in the I-hate-the-world-and-everyone-in-it department that Chandler worked so well within. Sure, the similes are there but they’re not as funny nor as inventive and Marlowe wasn't quite as mean as I would have liked.
The bottom line is that Parker is not Chandler and while I'm sure Parker is well aware of that, maybe it would have been best to let sleeping dogs lie. Don’t get me wrong, I'm not against authors picking up a character and trying to put their own spin on it (where would Batman be today if Frank Miller hadn't put his own spin on The Dark Knight in the 80s?), maybe Marlowe could be one character that should be left in the past.
The good folks at Hard Case have served up a heaping help of holiday hell in the form of Daniel Boyd’s heist novel, Easy Death. The story follows two The good folks at Hard Case have served up a heaping help of holiday hell in the form of Daniel Boyd’s heist novel, Easy Death. The story follows two hired goons charged with the unenviable task of robbing an armoured truck just days before Christmas. Will they succeed in their mission or will a brutal snowstorm throw their plans awry?
A relatively new name in crime fiction, Daniel Boyd is a pseudonym for a retired police officer and Easy Death is his first novel with renowned publisher Hard Case Crime. Easy Death follows a handful of characters, often switching from first person to third person narration and while the story itself is both solid and plausible, the narration shift is often jarring. Full disclosure: I'm never a fan of this so it’s likely I’ll complain every time I see it.
While I enjoyed the peppering of Christmas songs into the story at first, I felt Boyd went back to the well too often, to the point the lyrics became a distraction (and this is coming from a guy who LOVES Christmas). I felt Ernest Cline did this to great effect when he injected the 80s sound into his novel, Ready Player One whereas this feels like Boyd is hitting you over the head with a giant candy cane.
Despite those complaints, I thought Boyd put forth a good effort in creating a fun story for the holiday season. Is it something I’ll read again? Probably not, but it’s worth a look - it is Hard Case after all.
“Wherever I went, whatever I did, this was what I would come back to. A blank wall in a meaningless room in a meaningless house.”
Philip Marlowe is
“Wherever I went, whatever I did, this was what I would come back to. A blank wall in a meaningless room in a meaningless house.”
Philip Marlowe is tasked with tailing a young, rich and beautiful woman. The catch? He has no idea why and neither does the shady lawyer who hired him.
That is about as short a summary as I’ve ever written, and I suppose that fits given this is the shortest of the Marlowe novels. I’ve heard from Chandler fans and through various reviews that although this was Chandler’s swan song (he died the year following its publication), it’s the most disappointing of the Marlowe books. Because of this, I’m not sure if I had lower than normal expectations going in but when it was all said and done and all the dust had settled, I was left with a feeling of satisfaction.
While the plot in Playback might be the most straightforward of all the Marlowe tales, the strength of Chandler’s writing is front and center with such memorable lines as:
“Me and you could get along,” Goble said indifferently, “if you had any brains.”
“And if you had any manners and were six inches taller and had a different face and another name and didn’t act as if you thought you could lick your weight in frog spawn.”
“Guns never settle anything,” I said. “They are just a fast curtain to a bad second act.”
“Our eyes met across great gulfs of nothing.”
I can’t get enough of Chandler’s writing; it’s so sharp and succinct.
There are three non-Chandler Marlowe novels that follow Playback and while I'm cautiously optimistic, I have a feeling they won’t be able to recreate Chandler’s excellent prose. It’s one thing for a director/screenwriter to put his own spin on a character or a series in a remake of a classic film but when you’re trying to capture the essence of what makes the Marlowe character so memorable – the writing – I can imagine it being a challenging endeavour with a lot of risk and very little reward.
"Once upon a time, I would have said we choose our paths at random: this happened, then that, hence the other. Now I know better.
There are forces."
Aft"Once upon a time, I would have said we choose our paths at random: this happened, then that, hence the other. Now I know better.
There are forces."
After a less than stellar shot at crime fiction, King makes a triumphant return to his bread and butter: old school, balls-to-the-wall horror. In his new novel Revival, we follow Jamie, a burned-out rhythm guitarist, destined to be forever tied to Charlie Jacobs, a man he met when he was younger. Jacobs was a youth minister stationed in a small Maine town when he made an indelible impression upon Jamie and his family. Leaving town and burning bridges along the way, Jacob’s philosophy on life changes and as years go by, he becomes a very different man from what Jamie so fondly remembers.
I was worried that Revival would suffer from the dreaded hype machine that seems to follow all of King’s work these days and after Mr. Mercedes left me feeling underwhelmed, I certainly had my reservations going in. Luckily, while it didn’t knock my socks off, I was left with an overall feeling of satisfaction along with an ending that had me gripping my Kindle a little harder than I would’ve liked.
With Revival, King presents a pretty wide cast of characters and does his best to fully flesh them out. I liked the style in which he presented the story, having Jamie seemingly write a memoir, trying to get everything out of his system in an effort to cleanse his soul from the madness. Jacobs is truly a character that I can see King having a blast writing. Jacobs goes through so many changes that in the end, he is hardly recognizable from when we met him in the first dozen or so pages.
I should note that Revival is the first “blockbuster” novel I have purchased for my Kindle on its release day. As you move through the text, it shows you specific lines or passages that other readers have highlighted – moments that stuck out to them while going through the story. While it’s something you can no doubt turn off, it was interesting to see what grabbed a lot of King’s fans. It felt like I was reading along with hundreds of others.
While I can give Revival a firm recommendation, I wouldn't suggest it for anyone looking for nightmare material. The ending is chilling – there’s no doubt about that – but if you’re looking for something to scare you stupid, check out Nick Cutter’s The Troop, a book that will make you want to sleep with the lights on.
Nick and Nora Charles are staying at a swanky hotel in Manhattan when word arrives of a missing man. Content to leave his old life behind as a privateNick and Nora Charles are staying at a swanky hotel in Manhattan when word arrives of a missing man. Content to leave his old life behind as a private detective, Nick wants no part of the investigation. However, it isn’t long before Nick is forced into the case and in order to deal with the cast of characters circling the search, he keeps the liquor flowing.
Ah, the 1930s, when alcoholism was considered a charming personality trait as well as the social norm rather than the life-destroying disease that it is today. Seriously, I have no idea how Nick Charles was even standing at points let alone aware enough to piece together clues and solve a murder mystery.
It goes without saying how tremendous a character his wife Nora is as the author makes her just as important a character as Nick. She exists in an era that I do not imagine had many strong female protagonists. Outside of the two main attractions, the cast is filled with characters with their personalities turned up to eleven. Don’t get me started on the always hysterical Dorothy.
While I didn’t like this as much as Hammett’s classic Sam Spade novel The Maltese Falcon, it was still a fun, whodunnit featuring hilariously witty dialogue along with two memorable leads. While Hammett is considered the Godfather to all hard-boiled fiction, Chandler certainly perfected it with his Philip Marlowe series.
The threat of violence in the small Texas town profiled in Jim Thompson’s The Killer Inside Me is so low that the patrolling sheriff, Lou Ford, doesn'The threat of violence in the small Texas town profiled in Jim Thompson’s The Killer Inside Me is so low that the patrolling sheriff, Lou Ford, doesn't even need to carry a gun. Lou doesn't worry because hell, who’s more dangerous in Central City than good ol’ Lou himself? While he speaks in clichés and exudes a friendly demeanour, Lou’s true nature exists behind this social mask; a chilling homicidal maniac who could kill at any moment.
This was my first Jim Thompson and although the brutality of the violence and the pleasure Thompson’s Lou Ford receives in administering beatings and committing murder will stay with me for some time, the writing style kind of threw me off. I guess I haven’t read all that many West Texas noir novels and the language coupled with the manner of speaking came across as disjointed and difficult to identify with. Maybe it has something to do with being a Canadian living on the eastern seaboard born some thirty two years after this book was published. Who knows?
I'm definitely interested in checking out more of Thompson’s work and perhaps giving this one a re-read sometime, after all it is only a few hundred pages. Stephen King writes the foreword (where he self admittedly rambles) and it’s listed as a crime classic with its influence reaching many of the top writers in the genre.
When Bob McKenzie decided to write his first book about the National Hockey League, he chose to do so in a rather unexpected way. Rather than write abWhen Bob McKenzie decided to write his first book about the National Hockey League, he chose to do so in a rather unexpected way. Rather than write about his years of experience covering the game, he shone the spotlight on those who sit outside the game; a select few who through their actions, influence the way the game is played and talked about in today’s modern era.
This was an easy book to digest and despite the array of topics, I was never overwhelmed with information. McKenzie did a great job choosing interesting topics that cover a wide spectrum of the hockey industry. Featured are stories about near death experiences, Don Cherry’s work with minor hockey, the rise of advanced statistics, Tragically Hip front man Gord Downie’s love of the Boston Bruins, and so much more.
With hockey, I’ll never consider myself a hardcore fan of the game. I’d like to think I’m a notch above the casual fan and while I do follow it closely, I don’t live and die by the day-to-day operations of the hockey world. Sure, I love my Maple Leafs and I enjoy catching a game or two every now and then but I’m finding I enjoy the inner-workings and the behind the scenes aspects of the industry just as much as the story the players tell on the ice during those sixty minutes of action. In Hockey Confidential, McKenzie presents an equal balance of both that leads to an immensely readable book.
Ellie Bennett is out on the streets following a thirteen month sentence behind bars. Having been set up by a rival prison guard, Ellie was imprisoned Ellie Bennett is out on the streets following a thirteen month sentence behind bars. Having been set up by a rival prison guard, Ellie was imprisoned for unnecessary assault on an inmate. Enjoying the sweet taste of freedom, it isn’t long before Ellie is offered a job. Tasked with locating a missing woman who served alongside Bennett, the Fundamentalist Christian group that hired her only wishes for the woman’s safe return. However, Bennett’s employer isn’t the only one interested in the woman’s whereabouts.
Jake Hinkson returns with a swift punch-to-the-gut of a novel. Bennett is a fine protagonist. Despite having a lifelong ambition to work alongside the police, she really has no experience as a detective, which gives her investigation a messy and brutal feel. But Ellie is a survivor; a scrappy, persistent woman who will do anything to keep her head above water. The violence is raw and Hinkson doesn’t pull punches when subjecting Bennett to the consequences of her actions.
While it’s not Hinkson’s strongest effort, it’s still a great who-dun-it in the spirit of an old school noir. Bennett takes a real beating – both mentally and physically – but Hinkson’s strong character development gives her the backbone to keep moving forward.
If you’re not reading Hinkson, you don’t know what you’re missing.
Acclaimed novelist Paul Sheldon, badly injured in a car accident, is held captive by deranged super-fan Annie Wilkes. A former RN, she vows to aid himAcclaimed novelist Paul Sheldon, badly injured in a car accident, is held captive by deranged super-fan Annie Wilkes. A former RN, she vows to aid him back to health until he’s well enough to make the trek to a hospital. However, it’s on one condition; he write a new novel featuring his signature character Misery Chastain - just for her.
Outside of the legendary Randall Flagg, Annie Wilkes has to be the most terrifying villain King created. Mentally unbalanced and completely unpredictable, she’s everything you want in a horror novel “bad guy”. Driven by an insane goal, to see Misery Chastain resurrected from the dead and once again placed into the literary world, Annie will do anything to make sure Paul Sheldon “makes it right” with a novel written just for her. If Paul decides to make this process difficult, well, she has ways of making him write.
Having not seen the classic 1990 Rob Reiner film, I went into Misery blind. I knew next to nothing about the story other than Kathy Bates taking the Oscar for best actress and that very famous “wooden block scene”. If you think that was hard to watch, try giving the book a read - things get graphic and Annie’s punishments are downright brutal.
Seeing as Misery - for the most part - is a two person show, King writes both characters with a tremendous sense of depth. These are two characters who are far from cookie cut-outs of the “heroic” protagonist and the “crazy” antagonist. King kept me guessing right up to the very end, wondering what would happen - would Paul kill himself? Would Annie kill him and then herself out of desperation? Would Paul kill his captor and escape? I honestly didn't know - which was fantastic.
After a particularly brutal finale, in which King blew my mind with the sheer ugliness of it all, he’s still intent on scaring the crap out the reader. Lesson learned - King isn't truly finished until the book is closed. Misery is loaded with suspense and despite the story taking place over a period of several months, a sense of absolute urgency is constantly at the forefront. King should teach classes on pacing alone.
RD Reynolds and Bryan Alvarez’s critically acclaimed 2004 book “The Death of WCW” hit its tenth anniversary this year and to celebrate the duo releaseRD Reynolds and Bryan Alvarez’s critically acclaimed 2004 book “The Death of WCW” hit its tenth anniversary this year and to celebrate the duo released a new edition that is approximately forty percent larger. The two took on the task of diving deep into the history of the Ted Turner owned wrasslin’ organization to analyse just how a company that had been packing upwards of forty thousand people into giant stadiums in 1998 went to losing over $60 million in one calendar year in 2000.
How could this happen? How could a company so successful just shrivel up and die so quickly? The authors do their best to provide a multitude of reasons. In fact, here’s just a few examples of how much money the company threw away:
WCW’s flag ship show, Monday Nitro, had a weekly broadcast length of three hours. Despite only needing maybe two or three dozen performers for any given week, the company would often purchase plane tickets for almost 160 performers to be flown in on a weekly basis.
A yearly pay-per-view performed at a motorcycle rally in Sturgis, South Dakota. Attendance was free so the cost of flying in performers, transporting sets and equipment and satellite broadcasting fees all led to a guaranteed yearly loss.
$25,000 paid to legendary R&B artist James Brown to appear in a one-off unadvertised segment that ultimately did nothing for the program nor led into anything for the future.
$100,000 spent on the first (and last) Junkyard Battle Royal in which nine guys fought in.. well, a junkyard over the WCW Hardcore Championship.
$200,000 per appearance for hip hop star Master P to just show up (not wrestle). Five appearances were booked totalling $1 million. On top of that, one of his posse members – an impossibly large man with no wrestling experience named “Swoll” – pulled in $400,000 a year.
$500,000 for Kiss to play a song on a random episode of Nitro.
Huge guaranteed contracts for legendary performers such as Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, Kevin Nash and Scott Hall that did more to hurt the company than help it. In years prior, contracts offered by WWE (WCW’s competition) were structured with performance based incentives. Therefore, if a performer succeeded in producing memorable in-ring work, moved merchandise or basically became immensely popular, they could see a bump in their pay. With this removed, guys had no real reason to put on a good show, which led to a poor product.
Not only is this book a great learning experience in what not to do when running a wrestling promotion, it’s hilarious as well. The year 2000 within WCW contained some of the most nonsensical television programming ever produced. Reading the two authors try make heads or tails of the matches, the storylines and the hiring/firings was entertaining and had me laughing out loud.
As you probably know by now, I’m a junkie for pro-wrestling. I’ve been watching since I was six years old and while I no longer watch everything WWE produces (honestly, there’s just way too much out there), I still keep up with it. Nowadays, what interests me the most is how the industry works and the decisions made by those in power. I love seeing how “the machine” operates and stories about events behind the scenes will always be way more interesting than what plays out on camera. If this sounds like you, don’t hesitate to pick this one up.
The Death of WCW is a tightly researched, well written autopsy on the demise of one of pro wrestling’s greatest success stories and mind-boggling failures. Now, to sit back and wait for The Death of TNA Impact Wrestling.
Jude Coyne, a middle aged former front man of an immensely popular metal band, is obsessed with the occult. His assistant finds a post online advertisJude Coyne, a middle aged former front man of an immensely popular metal band, is obsessed with the occult. His assistant finds a post online advertising a ghost-for-sale and being the collector he is, Jude decides that he must have it. When a heart-shaped package shows up, it contains nothing but an old raggedy suit. However, it isn't long before the suit brings about unexplained events and spooky behaviour throughout Coyne’s mansion. With his sanity hanging by a thread, can Jude exorcise the demon from his home or will he himself soon be knock, knock, knocking on heaven’s door? (Sorry, not sorry)
I had my mind made up by about page fifty that Jude was going to be this irredeemable asshole. I mean, who pays a thousand bucks for a ghost and then is outraged to find that he actually bought a ghost? However, after spending more time with the metal-head, turns out he wasn’t such a bad dude after all. Hill and this other writer he’s related to like to do this a lot. They present their characters through these complex shades of grey to create people who will make the readers question their own interpretations of good and bad. Same goes for Jude’s ever present girlfriend Georgia who starts out quite bratty but settles down and becomes a great, interesting character throughout the rest of the story.
Hill’s ghost, the former hypnotist and downright crazy Craddock McDermott, is a blast to read. Craddock puts Jude through the wringer with trippy dream sequences and deadly mind games. As the reader, it’s hard to get a handle on what’s happening when Jude passes out and the ghoul takes over but I suppose that adds to the fear gripping Jude’s beat-up brain. Craddock can also seemingly take possession of TVs, radios and telephones to freak out his target making certain scenes unsettling.
There’s a few minor gripes like the constant references to pale skin and the umpteen Trent Reznor shout-outs but those are small in scale. It’s clear that Hill was destined for greatness from his first novel onward and while Heart-Shaped Box is certainly frightening fiction, it only gets better from here on out.
After the hellish events that took place in North Korea, Deadpool decides it’s time for Shield to come clean with the money they owe him for knocking After the hellish events that took place in North Korea, Deadpool decides it’s time for Shield to come clean with the money they owe him for knocking off all those zombie presidents. When the coin doesn’t show, Deadpool takes matters into his own hands and pursues the keeper of the cash himself, rogue special agent Gorman. The bad news? Gorman puts a ten million dollar price tag on the head of Deadpool and every villain sets their sights on the Merc with a Mouth. Can Deadpool push through the gauntlet of gore to get his payment?
This is such a fun series. Posehn and Duggan have been kicking ass and clearly having a blast writing for this character. There’s a lot of development on the part of Deadpool and while the series does move ahead steadily, it just didn’t come across as strong as the first three volumes. Then again, it’s hard when you’re coming off an arc as excellent as the North Korean madness in The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.
I will say that I very much liked seeing this other side of Deadpool. While I’ll always prefer the joke-cracking, murderous side of the mutant mercenary, seeing a complicated and downtrodden version of Wade Wilson helps to expand his personality and create a more complex character. It’s not all gloom and doom though. There’s a few panels that had me laughing out loud, one in particular involved perennial loser Batroc the Leaper.
“The most successful war seldom pays for its losses.” –Thomas Jefferson
Lawrence Block’s fourteenth entry in his long running Matt Scudder series is by“The most successful war seldom pays for its losses.” –Thomas Jefferson
Lawrence Block’s fourteenth entry in his long running Matt Scudder series is by far the most tragic. The loss of life within these pages is astounding and there came a time near the end where I thought very few would make it out alive. Hell, if I didn’t know there were more books to follow, I’d have had my doubts about Matt too.
Matt’s close friend – and ruthless Irish gangster – Mick Ballou is at war. Someone is picking off members of Mick’s organization and when Scudder is tasked to produce the identity of this murderous maniac, those close to Matt are threatened unless he backs off. Given how little he’s accomplished during his investigation, it feels like a blessing in disguise – he can get off without the guilt associated with disappointing Ballou. Unfortunately for Matt, Mick’s nemesis strikes before Scudder can officially get his hands off the case.
What follows is some of the most intense, nerve-wracking storytelling the series has ever produced and I would go so far as to say that Everybody Dies is my favorite of the series up to this point. Everything that makes a great Scudder story lives within this book; late night philosophical rap sessions with Ballou, comedic exchanges with T.J., butting heads with the police and memorable moments with Elaine – but you take all of those elements, add an unseen level of unpredictability and you have a novel that will keep you up at night.
Everybody Dies is so violent, so deadly, that I often wondered if Block had taken tips from George R.R. Martin in how to cause his audience grief. However, when you pick up a book titled Everybody Dies, you should know what you’re in for.
Many years have passed since a devastating nuclear war left much of the world in ruins. A small village in northern Labrador comprised of religious fuMany years have passed since a devastating nuclear war left much of the world in ruins. A small village in northern Labrador comprised of religious fundamentalists is on the lookout for what they call “deviations” - food, animals or even people who deviate from the socially acceptable norm. Once these deviations have been discovered, it is either to be destroyed on the spot or if you’re one of the few people born with a deformity, sterilized and banished from the community, destined to live in what they call “The Fringes”.
Author John Wyndham brings us into the mind of David, a young man born with telepathic powers. Where his own personal deviation is not visible to the community, he and others who share this ability must keep their special talent a secret for fear of death or banishment. Can David and his fellow friends keep their special skills under wraps or are they doomed to live among the fallen?
There’s nothing that creeps me out more than hardcore bible thumpers. I’m not about to go Rust Cohle and step onto some imaginary soap box and start throwing shade on those who believe in a higher power. I understand the purpose in believing that there’s some omnipotent being that guides us through this thresher (OK, maybe a little Rust won't hurt) but when you start forcing your beliefs onto the general population and allowing it to govern the way you operate as a society, I get a little upset.
David’s father is a no-nonsense preacher who presents select bible verses as fact and therefore is void of empathy when it comes to protecting the community from so called deviations from the devil, despite the fact that many pose no threat. Since nuclear waste has an approximate half life of twenty-four thousand years, there’s a good chance that the deformities are a result of radiation rather than the mythical man below. However, I guess the struggling society isn’t all that knowledgeable given the separation from the “Old People”.
Wyndham’s novel is less about the apocalypse, genetic mutations and God than it is about what we’re doing to ourselves as a species. If we’d put away our own reservations about race and religion, we could really accomplish more as a society rather than be bogged down in archaic ideals about what’s “right” and what’s “wrong”....more
You know that old saying, “the night is always darkest just before the dawn”? Nothing could be closer to the truth when analyzing the year that was 19You know that old saying, “the night is always darkest just before the dawn”? Nothing could be closer to the truth when analyzing the year that was 1995 within the World Wrestling Federation. Prior to their massive spike in popularity that would arrive in 1998, Vince McMahon’s wrestling empire was crumbling in the face of a determined young upstart by the name of Eric Bischoff with his Ted Turner financed wrasslin’ company, WCW. Author James Dixon looks at the budget cutbacks, decreased wages and stagnant programming that plagued the global entertainment juggernaut as its promoter Vince McMahon struggled to find a way to compete as well as increase the company’s fledgling audience.
While mainly concentrating on 1995, the book also delves into the WWF’s various lawsuits of the early 1990s, the steroid trial initiated by the United States government and McMahon’s struggle to compete with WCW signing away his brightest stars. There’s even a portion dedicated to the long rumored Randy Savage/Stephanie McMahon scandal, calling attention to whether or not anything actually transpired between the two. Hard evidence is given through quotes from those who were backstage during the time and an eerily specific rant given from Savage himself seemed to give it credence.
For hardcore fans like myself, there may not be much in here you don’t already know. However, it does reinforce how horrific the morale was among the workers backstage. A group known as “The Kliq” comprised of top stars Shawn Michaels, Kevin “Diesel” Nash, Scott “Razor Ramon” Hall, Sean “1,2,3 Kid” Waltman and Paul “Triple H” Levesque continually occupied the top of the card, thus receiving large payouts and creating a glass ceiling of sorts for those hoping to ascend to main event status.
[image]
Of those comprising The Kliq, Shawn Michaels was without a doubt the worst of the bunch. If the man hadn’t been so undeniably talented, there’s no way he could have gotten away with half of what he did. Seemingly all of the events that occurred within the company during that period either ended or started with Michaels “losing his temper”. The gang would terrorize others backstage, sabotage matches if they happened to be working with a performer they didn’t like as well as constantly having the ear of McMahon lobbying to remain on top. The atmosphere became so bad that a rival group was formed under the guidance of locker room veteran Mark “The Undertaker” Calaway, whose chief job would be to police the Kliq making sure things never came to the point of violence.
Dixon’s book is tightly researched taking content from shoots (interviews with a performer out of character), podcasts, memoirs and documentaries (all of which are cited in the rear of the book). Dixon even had Jim Cornette, a man at the forefront of the madness in 1995, write the foreword. Recommended to me through what could be considered an excellent companion podcast, The New Generation Project Podcast, “Titan Sinking” is a great look at a difficult time for what is now the gold standard of wrestling.
Chris Jericho returns with his third memoir entitled, “The Best In The World At What I Have No Idea”. Beginning with his return to WWE in 2007 up to hChris Jericho returns with his third memoir entitled, “The Best In The World At What I Have No Idea”. Beginning with his return to WWE in 2007 up to his return in 2013, Jericho’s third book details his acclaimed programs with Shawn Michaels, Rey Mysterio, CM Punk and Edge while also looking at the growing popularity of his metal band Fozzy as well as his ventures into acting, game show hosting and a brief reality TV stint on Dancing with the Stars.
While there was a fair bit that I found interesting, it very much felt like the weakest release of the three. Both his in-ring work and character during the period detailed were undoubtedly the best of his career - his ladder match with Shawn Michaels in October of 2008 is often considered a classic - but parts of the book felt like glorified recaps of the events adding little new information to what went down.
Outside of that, he shared hilarious stories about the boys backstage (the stuff about Santino Marella - a goofy, comedic wrestler - stands out), the time he was trapped in a war zone while visiting Iraq for a tribute show to the U.S. troops, the Icelandic volcano disaster that left the majority of the WWE roster stranded in Europe and his brush with the Brazilian police after kicking and stomping on their flag in an attempt to get a reaction from the crowd.
The bits and pieces dedicated to his ventures outside the squared circle didn't do much for me. I think Fozzy are a fine band and they've certainly grown as a unit but the stories about Jericho mandating a certain fashion style for the group, their festival gigs and the countless name dropping of various musicians he’d met fell flat to me (although, his story about geeking out meeting Metallica was charming).
“Time makes everything mean and shabby and wrinkled. The tragedy of life … is not that the beautiful things die young, but that they grow old and mean“Time makes everything mean and shabby and wrinkled. The tragedy of life … is not that the beautiful things die young, but that they grow old and mean.”
Marlowe befriends a down-on-his-luck war hero roaming the streets of California. A few months after Marlowe cleans him up and sets him on his way, the man is standing on Marlowe’s doorstep, holding a gun and asking for a ride to Mexico. While Marlowe refuses to hear out the reason for this request, it’s revealed that the man’s wife has been murdered and it may or may not be by his new friend’s hand.
With those rather shady circumstances still hazing over his head, Marlowe is approached by a publisher asking for his assistance in figuring out just what exactly is throwing their prized writer off his rocker. Marlowe initially disagrees but before long, he’s pulled in by the author’s stunning wife. Can Marlowe narrow down the reason for the writer’s madness? Are the two cases connected? Is Marlowe in over his head?
While there’s still another novel to follow (Playback), The Long Goodbye is widely considered Raymond Chandler’s swan song to arguably literature’s greatest detective. Often cited as the gold standard in crime fiction, The Long Goodbye snapped up the Edgar Award for best novel in 1955, is listed on countless “best of” compilations and has influenced a generation of mystery and crime writers.
Chandler wrote The Long Goodbye during a very difficult time in his life. His wife was terminally ill and he was suffering from bouts of depression and alcohol abuse. It’s been noted that a few of the characters in the novel were used as a way for Chandler to clear his mind. He used them to express his innermost thoughts on the state of society, his frustrations as a writer and his internal struggle with whether or not he should commit suicide.
It’s been said before – by myself and others – that the plot in Chandler’s Marlowe novels can almost be considered secondary to the author’s writing. As usual, Chandler is in top form here as he calls out society’s apathetic trend, the hypocrisy of the police force and the power of money.
There’s so much to love about this novel and in my opinion, it’s the finest of the series. Given the circumstances surrounding its creation, it’s hard to ignore the personal nature of the writing. At heart, both Chandler and Marlowe are very cynical people and Marlowe literally offends every person he comes into contact with. I suppose that’s nothing new but it reflects Chandler’s state of mind at the time. You almost wonder if Marlowe couldn’t care less whether he lives or dies at the end of the day. He’s a solitary individual who could give a damn what you or anyone else thinks of him, all that matters is the truth. That’s a very dangerous man and that’s the best kind of detective.
Loading...
