A review by squidbag
Pound for Pound by James Ellroy, F.X. Toole
4.0
First and foremost, thanks to David O'Flaherty for not simply recommending that I read this, but insisting upon it and giving me the book as a gift. It is muchl appreciated.
Excellent, a great American novel, and something to be revered as a classic in coming years. If they don't already, classes should teach this book alongside Steinbeck and do a compare/contrast sort of thing. Nostalgic for those with ties to boxing, but also deeply rooted in Texas and L.A. life, with a truly epic scope and intertwined story arcs for characters spread by distance and experience. Compellingly paced and written with voices and authentic dialogue you can hear inside your head as you go. If any work I've read is a true masterpiece, it's this one.
Two small critiques (and what kept this from being five stars instead of the four I gave): Lupe, as a character, could use more space and depth - should this become a movie, that material is certainly there to be shaped by an actress, and the translations from Spanish to English (a character speaks in Spanish, then repeats themselves in English) rang hollow occasionally. Neither of these tiny things should keep you from this book, though - it is worth every minute of your time.
Excellent, a great American novel, and something to be revered as a classic in coming years. If they don't already, classes should teach this book alongside Steinbeck and do a compare/contrast sort of thing. Nostalgic for those with ties to boxing, but also deeply rooted in Texas and L.A. life, with a truly epic scope and intertwined story arcs for characters spread by distance and experience. Compellingly paced and written with voices and authentic dialogue you can hear inside your head as you go. If any work I've read is a true masterpiece, it's this one.
Two small critiques (and what kept this from being five stars instead of the four I gave): Lupe, as a character, could use more space and depth - should this become a movie, that material is certainly there to be shaped by an actress, and the translations from Spanish to English (a character speaks in Spanish, then repeats themselves in English) rang hollow occasionally. Neither of these tiny things should keep you from this book, though - it is worth every minute of your time.