circularcubes's review against another edition
1.0
I expected something noir-ish with this book; romance, murder, mystery, somewhat outlandish personalities. What I was not expecting was On the whole, I enjoyed the book less and less as it went on, and I especially cared very little for the protagonist. This just didn't resonate with me at all. I wouldn't recommend it.
Spoiler
weird satanic cult sex rituals and increasingly bizarre identity swaps.sonia_reppe's review against another edition
This turned disgusting half-way through and worse, the plot lost momentum and the mystery became just a slog. I really didn't care at all anymore, which is a shame because the first few chapters had some well-written sentences here and there. Very profane and without depth. Not recommended
magicadehexgraph's review against another edition
2.0
Als ich die Lese-Probe zu David Gordons „Mystery Girl“ gelesen hatte, hoffte ich auf eine vielversprechende Story und war zudem froh, endlich mal wieder eine Detektiv-Geschichte entdeckt zu haben. Leider wurden meine - vielleicht zu hohen Erwartungen – enttäuscht.
Als ich das Buch in den Händen hielt, mochte ich das Cover sofort, es ist ansprechend, verspricht Gewalt, Erotik, Thriller.
Unser Ich-Erzähler Sam Kornburg ist ein erfolgloser Romanautor, er liebt Trashfilme und Literatur. Als seine Ehefrau die Trennung fordert, versucht er sein altes Leben und seine Ehefrau zurückzugewinnen. Er besucht eine Paartherapie mit ihr. Ziemlich schnell habe ich die Ehefrau als überzogen und exzentrisch empfunden und konnte ihm nur wünschen bald über sie hinweg zukommen. Eine ihrer Forderungen ist ein geregelter Job mit festem Einkommen. So wird er zum Privatdetektiv.
Der neu erkorene Ermittler hat jedoch noch an seinen eigenen Problemen zu knabbern. Trotzdem scheint er sofort fasziniert von seinem ersten Auftrag, er soll das Mystery Girl finden. Sam ist nicht gerade ein Profi bei der Arbeit und er findet sich mehr und mehr fasziniert von der Frau, die er beschatten soll.
Bedauerlicherweise habe ich das Buch als zu langatmig und stellenweise langweilig empfunden, es wurde immer weniger interessant zu lesen, auch würde ich es eher als einen Kriminalroman denn als Thriller bezeichnen. Vielleicht liebt man dieses Buch mehr, wenn man die Anspielungen auf unzählige Filme besser deuten kann als ich es tue.
Als ich das Buch in den Händen hielt, mochte ich das Cover sofort, es ist ansprechend, verspricht Gewalt, Erotik, Thriller.
Unser Ich-Erzähler Sam Kornburg ist ein erfolgloser Romanautor, er liebt Trashfilme und Literatur. Als seine Ehefrau die Trennung fordert, versucht er sein altes Leben und seine Ehefrau zurückzugewinnen. Er besucht eine Paartherapie mit ihr. Ziemlich schnell habe ich die Ehefrau als überzogen und exzentrisch empfunden und konnte ihm nur wünschen bald über sie hinweg zukommen. Eine ihrer Forderungen ist ein geregelter Job mit festem Einkommen. So wird er zum Privatdetektiv.
Der neu erkorene Ermittler hat jedoch noch an seinen eigenen Problemen zu knabbern. Trotzdem scheint er sofort fasziniert von seinem ersten Auftrag, er soll das Mystery Girl finden. Sam ist nicht gerade ein Profi bei der Arbeit und er findet sich mehr und mehr fasziniert von der Frau, die er beschatten soll.
Bedauerlicherweise habe ich das Buch als zu langatmig und stellenweise langweilig empfunden, es wurde immer weniger interessant zu lesen, auch würde ich es eher als einen Kriminalroman denn als Thriller bezeichnen. Vielleicht liebt man dieses Buch mehr, wenn man die Anspielungen auf unzählige Filme besser deuten kann als ich es tue.
beckylej's review against another edition
3.0
Sam's wife has left him. She has her reasons, though, and says that it's the only way she thinks he'll ever change. The first order of business is getting a job, which he does manage to do pretty immediately (impressing her at their first couple's therapy session). The job in question is that of assistant to the odd and housebound Solar Lansky, PI. He even assigns Sam his very first case on the same day as the interview: to follow Ramona Doon. But within days, Ramona is dead. Rather than admit defeat, Solar sets Sam to the task of uncovering Ramona's past in hopes that it might lead to the truth of her death. Soon Sam is embroiled in a strange tale of suicide, avant garde filmmaking, and even devil worship.
I have very mixed feelings about MYSTERY GIRL. There are various aspects of the book that I really enjoyed - the humor and Gordon's particular way of describing things in particular. It was very easy to be drawn into Gordon's prose. On the other hand, Gordon's style did strike me as being a bit in the vein of Chuck Palahniuk, which I see as being shocking simply for the sake of it rather than moving the story along. (Palahniuk has a pretty passionate fan base that would likely disagree with me.)
The mystery in MYSTERY GIRL is interesting and while I'm not very well read in classic noir, I am familiar enough with it and the big names to see the obvious influence here. I could also very plainly see the appreciation of and sort of homage to Hitchcock's Vertigo.
MYSTERY GIRL is smart and quite funny in a very twisted way. Fans of dark comedy and mystery will enjoy this latest from Gordon for sure, but the book definitely isn't for everyone.
I have very mixed feelings about MYSTERY GIRL. There are various aspects of the book that I really enjoyed - the humor and Gordon's particular way of describing things in particular. It was very easy to be drawn into Gordon's prose. On the other hand, Gordon's style did strike me as being a bit in the vein of Chuck Palahniuk, which I see as being shocking simply for the sake of it rather than moving the story along. (Palahniuk has a pretty passionate fan base that would likely disagree with me.)
The mystery in MYSTERY GIRL is interesting and while I'm not very well read in classic noir, I am familiar enough with it and the big names to see the obvious influence here. I could also very plainly see the appreciation of and sort of homage to Hitchcock's Vertigo.
MYSTERY GIRL is smart and quite funny in a very twisted way. Fans of dark comedy and mystery will enjoy this latest from Gordon for sure, but the book definitely isn't for everyone.
unabridgedchick's review against another edition
4.0
The jacket blurb sums this novel up perfectly: It’s as if Tarantino had remade Vertigo after bingeing on Nero Wolfe novels.
Our hero, Sam Kornberg, loves modern, experimental fiction; his best friend works in a video store and trade in the obscure and hard-to-find, the cultish and beloved. His foxy wife surprises him by walking out and that propels him into job hunting.
The only job he gets is with the agoraphobic, morbidly obese Solar Lonsky, a detective-slash-armchair-psychologist who hires Sam to do the running around he can't do. The assignment is to keep tabs on a 'mysterious girl', a young woman named Mona, who is wild and pretty. Following her, literally, takes him through Los Angeles and along the coast, until something happens (sorry! don't want to give it away!) Sam realizes his seemingly simple case is far more complicated.
Gordon's writing style is the star, although the characters are a very close second. The novel is primary narrated by Sam, but now and then another character pops in to fill out the story. And Sam's voice hooked me from the first line. He's wry, dry, self-deprecating and very smart, and while he might border on maddening at times, he also completely charmed me.
While funny, this is hardly a fluffy or silly mystery. Real crime, real (awkward) sex, real blood, real anguish. It's about Los Angeles, and the film industry, and small businesses, vocations and passion. It's a story of the geeks, the outsiders who find love in the obscure, who find each other; and it's about loss, letting go, moving on.
Perfect for the summer, I picked it up Sunday morning and didn't stop until it ended, which meant I skipped swimming, strawberries, and a hike, but it was absolutely worth it. I'm having a hard time shaking the bittersweet humor and surprising tenderness.
Our hero, Sam Kornberg, loves modern, experimental fiction; his best friend works in a video store and trade in the obscure and hard-to-find, the cultish and beloved. His foxy wife surprises him by walking out and that propels him into job hunting.
The only job he gets is with the agoraphobic, morbidly obese Solar Lonsky, a detective-slash-armchair-psychologist who hires Sam to do the running around he can't do. The assignment is to keep tabs on a 'mysterious girl', a young woman named Mona, who is wild and pretty. Following her, literally, takes him through Los Angeles and along the coast, until something happens (sorry! don't want to give it away!) Sam realizes his seemingly simple case is far more complicated.
Gordon's writing style is the star, although the characters are a very close second. The novel is primary narrated by Sam, but now and then another character pops in to fill out the story. And Sam's voice hooked me from the first line. He's wry, dry, self-deprecating and very smart, and while he might border on maddening at times, he also completely charmed me.
What job did I (or she, really) think I could get? By training and nature, I was equipped to do nothing but lie thusly and think deep thoughts. I blamed my hardworking parents for encouraging me to obtain a useless, outrageously expensive, and still unpaid-for education best suited to a minor nineteenth-century aristocrat. I could read philosophy and discuss paintings. Not that I ever did, but I could, if I had to, in an emergency. (p11)
While funny, this is hardly a fluffy or silly mystery. Real crime, real (awkward) sex, real blood, real anguish. It's about Los Angeles, and the film industry, and small businesses, vocations and passion. It's a story of the geeks, the outsiders who find love in the obscure, who find each other; and it's about loss, letting go, moving on.
Perfect for the summer, I picked it up Sunday morning and didn't stop until it ended, which meant I skipped swimming, strawberries, and a hike, but it was absolutely worth it. I'm having a hard time shaking the bittersweet humor and surprising tenderness.
heat_her's review against another edition
3.0
Mystery Girl can be simply described as a pulpy mystery novel–handsome detective, beautiful women, crime, drugs, sex, etc. Sam Kornberg is no Philip Marlowe (which in some ways is a good thing), but he’s a pretty hilarious narrator. In fact, Mystery Girl is full of characters who are larger than life (no pun intended, in the case of Kornberg’s detective boss) and quite chuckle-worthy. The plot itself is just ridiculous (in a good way).
The mystery aspect of Mystery Girl is very good–it’s suspenseful and well-written. I had parts of it figured out here and there before the end, but I couldn’t figure out how it all tied together until the very end, which is a good thing. Had Gordon stuck to the mystery and Kornberg’s personal life, this would have been a great mystery novel.
Aside from one small annoyance (that you can read about in my full review), Mystery Girl is a good book. Again, I really enjoyed the mystery itself and Gordon is a good writer. I plowed through the book because I wanted to know what happened next, which is always a good sign. I’d recommend this book to readers who like a good, modern, noir-type mystery.
Read my full review on Between the Covers...
The mystery aspect of Mystery Girl is very good–it’s suspenseful and well-written. I had parts of it figured out here and there before the end, but I couldn’t figure out how it all tied together until the very end, which is a good thing. Had Gordon stuck to the mystery and Kornberg’s personal life, this would have been a great mystery novel.
Aside from one small annoyance (that you can read about in my full review), Mystery Girl is a good book. Again, I really enjoyed the mystery itself and Gordon is a good writer. I plowed through the book because I wanted to know what happened next, which is always a good sign. I’d recommend this book to readers who like a good, modern, noir-type mystery.
Read my full review on Between the Covers...
e_flah's review against another edition
1.0
I am not a fan of books that deceive the reader. This is one of those stories. The tone of most of the novel is entirely different from that established at the beginning of the book. The plot progresses slowly at the beginning, disappears around page 100, and then races back onto the scene in the last 20 pages. Gordon takes the reader on a weird journey through avant-garde porn and the drug scene of the 1970s using a lopsided switch from first person POV to meta fiction. The main character of the novel, Sam, calls himself "an unnovelist" because he writes books that no one, not even himself, can bring themselves to read. The books he writes have no plot and simply meander through random scenarios. I feel like I read one of Sam's worthless books.
I almost never encounter a book that I strongly dislike. This, however, was one such book.
I almost never encounter a book that I strongly dislike. This, however, was one such book.
hdbblog's review against another edition
4.0
Mystery Girl was what my grandmother likes to call an "odd duck". I don't know what I was expecting it to be when I accepted it for review, but I can tell you it wasn't what I was presented with. Not to say that's a bad thing. Quite the opposite actually! This was a read that grew on me and, as it it did, took me to a whole new place.
Sam Kornberg is just your typical, unemployed, recently divorced and failed novelist. Is typical the right word? We meet a man who is at rock bottom. I have to say that his character spoke volumes to me. Sam can feel campy at times, but he's really a very deep person. His views on the male psyche, on creating art, and actually pretty much everything, have massive depth and breadth. Sam might look like a failure on the outside, but inside he's raw creativity. I'm not even sure if that makes sense, but that's how I felt.
Then he meets Solar Lonsky, the oddest character I've ever had the opportunity to meet, and everything spirals out of control. There's really no way I can express to you how this book reads. It's part noir, part satire, and entirely a look into the deepest parts of ourselves. Lonsky's quest takes Sam to some dark places. There is real mystery here. Real violence and real blood. Even some slightly awkward sex, if I'm being honest. It's like this book is all over the place but, magically, it all wraps back up into itself and creates a wonderful package.
The one fault I found, and it's very possible it's just me, was that the language Gordon uses is very over the top. I'm not generally a reader of mystery or noir, so I don't know if this is normal. It's just that the massive use of similes really grated on me after a while. I'll begrudgingly admit that it does set the tone. That's probably the reason for their use. I'm just being honest about my personal reading of this book.
It's not as though it kept me from enjoying the book overall and, quite honestly, I powered through Mystery Girl rather quickly! I wasn't expecting what I found between these pages, but I loved every minute of it. I'm glad I took a chance on David Gordon's book. I can't wait to seek out what he writes next.
Sam Kornberg is just your typical, unemployed, recently divorced and failed novelist. Is typical the right word? We meet a man who is at rock bottom. I have to say that his character spoke volumes to me. Sam can feel campy at times, but he's really a very deep person. His views on the male psyche, on creating art, and actually pretty much everything, have massive depth and breadth. Sam might look like a failure on the outside, but inside he's raw creativity. I'm not even sure if that makes sense, but that's how I felt.
Then he meets Solar Lonsky, the oddest character I've ever had the opportunity to meet, and everything spirals out of control. There's really no way I can express to you how this book reads. It's part noir, part satire, and entirely a look into the deepest parts of ourselves. Lonsky's quest takes Sam to some dark places. There is real mystery here. Real violence and real blood. Even some slightly awkward sex, if I'm being honest. It's like this book is all over the place but, magically, it all wraps back up into itself and creates a wonderful package.
The one fault I found, and it's very possible it's just me, was that the language Gordon uses is very over the top. I'm not generally a reader of mystery or noir, so I don't know if this is normal. It's just that the massive use of similes really grated on me after a while. I'll begrudgingly admit that it does set the tone. That's probably the reason for their use. I'm just being honest about my personal reading of this book.
It's not as though it kept me from enjoying the book overall and, quite honestly, I powered through Mystery Girl rather quickly! I wasn't expecting what I found between these pages, but I loved every minute of it. I'm glad I took a chance on David Gordon's book. I can't wait to seek out what he writes next.
bhalpin's review
4.0
A really enjoyable noir mystery with a hapless hero, a socially and physically challenged genius savant, femmes fatales, potentially dangerous lost films, and a plot that is maybe just slightly too convoluted. In other words, a fun read and a great ride.
weweresotired's review
4.0
See more reviews at The Best Books Ever!
I was hooked on Mystery Girl from the very beginning. when we meet failed novelist Sam Kornberg, whose life is very quickly going to go from average to very ridiculous, he just doesn't know it yet. He accepts a seemingly ridiculous job as an assistant to private detective Solar Lonsky, as a last ditch effort to prove to his estranged wife that he can be a responsible grown-up, too. What starts out as a simple surveillance job, reporting the actions of a mystery woman to Lonsky, turns into something far more complicated than you'd expect. To explain much more is to ruin some of the ridiculous twists and turns poor Sam's story takes, but suffice it to say, he's in over his head a whole lot.
I enjoyed this book far more than I thought I would, actually. I accidentally burned myself out on mysteries a little bit, reading far too many formulaic, kind-of boring stories, and despite the intriguing summary (which I had honestly forgotten by the time I got around to reading it for the tour), I was worried that this was going to turn out to be the same. I was pleasantly surprised when Sam's narration was witty and wry and self-deprecating, and when not all was as it seems at first glance. We read most of the book from his first-person perspective, with just a few brief chapters coming from someone else's view, usually in the form of a letter or some extended dialogue. While there was one major plot point that I'd half-guessed, everything else came as a surprise, which was a great change.
This book also had some insightful things to say about art, mental illness, writing, relationships, love, and more. For as witty and fast-paced and borderline absurd the story was, you'd flip the page and find a very poignant passage that may move you in a way you didn't expect. Don't underestimate this book based on its genre and pin-up girl cover, as there's something special about it despite the wacky plot.
I will say that the plot does get kind of convoluted by the end and I had to keep reminding myself about plot points or minor characters, but I also feel like, since you're reading most of the book from Sam's perspective, that's not such a bad thing, as he spends a lot of the time being hurtled from one absurd situation to the next. Also, the story contains violence, cursing, and some sexual situations so is recommended for mature readers.
I was hooked on Mystery Girl from the very beginning. when we meet failed novelist Sam Kornberg, whose life is very quickly going to go from average to very ridiculous, he just doesn't know it yet. He accepts a seemingly ridiculous job as an assistant to private detective Solar Lonsky, as a last ditch effort to prove to his estranged wife that he can be a responsible grown-up, too. What starts out as a simple surveillance job, reporting the actions of a mystery woman to Lonsky, turns into something far more complicated than you'd expect. To explain much more is to ruin some of the ridiculous twists and turns poor Sam's story takes, but suffice it to say, he's in over his head a whole lot.
I enjoyed this book far more than I thought I would, actually. I accidentally burned myself out on mysteries a little bit, reading far too many formulaic, kind-of boring stories, and despite the intriguing summary (which I had honestly forgotten by the time I got around to reading it for the tour), I was worried that this was going to turn out to be the same. I was pleasantly surprised when Sam's narration was witty and wry and self-deprecating, and when not all was as it seems at first glance. We read most of the book from his first-person perspective, with just a few brief chapters coming from someone else's view, usually in the form of a letter or some extended dialogue. While there was one major plot point that I'd half-guessed, everything else came as a surprise, which was a great change.
This book also had some insightful things to say about art, mental illness, writing, relationships, love, and more. For as witty and fast-paced and borderline absurd the story was, you'd flip the page and find a very poignant passage that may move you in a way you didn't expect. Don't underestimate this book based on its genre and pin-up girl cover, as there's something special about it despite the wacky plot.
I will say that the plot does get kind of convoluted by the end and I had to keep reminding myself about plot points or minor characters, but I also feel like, since you're reading most of the book from Sam's perspective, that's not such a bad thing, as he spends a lot of the time being hurtled from one absurd situation to the next. Also, the story contains violence, cursing, and some sexual situations so is recommended for mature readers.
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