8797999's review
5.0
My first time reading James Ellroy and what an experience. An absolute thrill, gritty, violent, full of deceit, lies, sex and fantastic characters.
The story was very different to what I was expecting, more plot to what I thought and that was a plus. I loved some of the back and forth between characters, especially the scenes in New Jersey interviewing the suspect, some laugh out loud bits of dialogue. The ending was great and unexpected, some good twists in the plot regarding Lee.
I am looking forward to reading the rest of the LA Quartet and in the future the Underworld US series and second LA Quartet. Based off this experience James Ellroy will be a favourite. I wish I had read it sooner, it must have been sitting on my bookshelves for almost a decade. Better late than never.
The story was very different to what I was expecting, more plot to what I thought and that was a plus. I loved some of the back and forth between characters, especially the scenes in New Jersey interviewing the suspect, some laugh out loud bits of dialogue. The ending was great and unexpected, some good twists in the plot regarding Lee.
I am looking forward to reading the rest of the LA Quartet and in the future the Underworld US series and second LA Quartet. Based off this experience James Ellroy will be a favourite. I wish I had read it sooner, it must have been sitting on my bookshelves for almost a decade. Better late than never.
titanic's review
Nope.
I was hesitant to go into this book as it's a novel which made me unsure if I actually wanted to read it but what made me put it down was all the slurs and racist names. It made me so uncomfortable and I lasted all of 55 pages. Lasting that long was a push because of the storyline, it was about boxing and that doesn't interest me so I think I'll stick to something less offensive and better written.
I was hesitant to go into this book as it's a novel which made me unsure if I actually wanted to read it but what made me put it down was all the slurs and racist names. It made me so uncomfortable and I lasted all of 55 pages. Lasting that long was a push because of the storyline, it was about boxing and that doesn't interest me so I think I'll stick to something less offensive and better written.
jenniefallis's review
1.0
This book has not aged well, and that has nothing to do with the reality of the 1940s. The author over-sexualized a real murder victim to serve in a fictional story. Ellroy’s ‘good’ cop protagonist cannot stop picturing the dead mutilated corpse and wants to fuck the body- a recurring theme throughout. The author’s explanation for this character’s disturbing desire was his obsession with his own mother’s gruesome murder, and the fact Elizabeth Short was pretty and her case was high profile a decade earlier.
The whole thing is really fucked up. Elizabeth Short was a real human being who experienced real unknowable trauma. It is incredibly sad what happened to the author’s mother, but how dare the author use a caricature of Elizabeth for his personal validation. His writing claims her as his muse- further defaming and victimizing a woman who, at the time of writing, had been dead 40 years (now 80).
If someone told me they had these thoughts I would suggest they go see a psychiatrist to receive help.
The whole thing is really fucked up. Elizabeth Short was a real human being who experienced real unknowable trauma. It is incredibly sad what happened to the author’s mother, but how dare the author use a caricature of Elizabeth for his personal validation. His writing claims her as his muse- further defaming and victimizing a woman who, at the time of writing, had been dead 40 years (now 80).
If someone told me they had these thoughts I would suggest they go see a psychiatrist to receive help.
lady_nett's review
1.0
I would have given this atrocity 0 stars if it was an option. This was a slow and boring read that was more about the detective than about the murder or the Black Dahlia. Yet another disappointing adaptation for this case; nobody can seem to get it right. The art was just as disappointing as the story and I was glad to finish it as quickly as possible.
ph230's review against another edition
3.0
Pretty good job on this adaptation. But you need to like the drawing.
I only put three, but I would have liked to give 3.5. the only reason is that the characters are too static to me, therefore it was hard to dive into the story.
I only put three, but I would have liked to give 3.5. the only reason is that the characters are too static to me, therefore it was hard to dive into the story.
jmbz38's review against another edition
dark
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? Yes
0.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Lesbophobia, Blood, Gun violence, Murder, Racial slurs, and Police brutality
Minor: Vomit