> I'm one of those who enjoyed American Tabloid, but I
am very much interested
> in that part of our history, and I think that's why
I liked it so much. But
> I agree, it wasn't very tight. He could've lost a
few thousand words here
> and there.
It's interesting to see all these similar responses to
American Tabloid. I felt much the same way. I was
exhillarated at the end of the LA novels. I enjoyed Am Tab,
but felt completely worn down by the end. I'm not sure that
wasn't part of the author's intent.
In earlier novels characters, however obsesive and corrupt,
were striving for redemption and there was some hope that it
could be achieved, at least in a limited sense. In Am Tab the
characters seemed as worn down by corruption as I was,
completely without hope.
And it's easier to accept all the usual corruption in a
community with a reputation for that sort of thing. Tougher
to accept it as a part of recent, national/international
history, particularly an era that has enjoyed the popular
mythology of being exempt from the sleazy norm. And maybe
that was Ellroy's point?
I was wondering, too, if anyone else was reminded of Tom
Wolfe's Bonfire of the Vanities? All these people doing
things for the wrong reasons, but muddling along
nevertheless. Though Wolfe played it as farce. Am Tab was the
meanest Ellroy I've read.
Kerry
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