Donna,
I really appreciated your post, especially the distinction
you drew between serial killer books and books with serial
killers in them. I agree with you that the former are boring,
a ritualized update of gothic cliches -- serial killers are
the new vampires.
You reminded of a similar observation in Glenn Kenny's review
of Old Boy in the April Premiere:
"From Seven to Saw, in between and probably beyond, the
motive-free thriller-horror movie has been a boon for morbid,
sunlight-deprived would-be Hollywood players who are more at
home expending their energies on ways to kill people than on
reasons for doing so."
Reminds me of what Chandler said about Hammett giving murder
back to people who did it for a reason.
Mark
ps -- I guess I should note that Kenny went on to praise Old
Boy for exploring the motivations for the graphic violence it
offered.
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