Yeah, I've read them all. I read them in the order of publication, so Lonesome Dove, Streets of Laredo, Dead Man's Walk, and then Comanche Moon. It might be interesting to read them in chronological order, though, just to see how Gus and Call change over time. You'd get a 'Meh', then a 'good', then a 'meh', then a 'good'--lol.
What Are You Reading?
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Yeah, I've read them all. I read them in the order of publication, so Lonesome Dove, Streets of Laredo, Dead Man's Walk, and then Comanche Moon. It might be interesting to read them in chronological order, though, just to see how Gus and Call change over time. You'd get a 'Meh', then a 'good', then a 'meh', then a 'good'--lol.
That was my gut reaction to the cover of The Colorado Kid: "Whaaaat?" That 'dame' cover had absolutely nothing to do with the story between the covers--drove me nuts. You've really caught my interest, Walter--as soon as I have a little breathing room I'm going to look up sone MacDonald--thanks!
He has quite a few older books that are worth reading. The ones since his breakdown or whatever (can't remember the exact story) have been disappointing. At the top of his game, though, McMurtry was a joy to read.
Since Colorado Kid was done as a Pulp Fiction novel- did not the cover fit the way they were originally done ? Sexy dames, hiked up skirts, long legs, cigarettes.
Yeah, it fit the Hard Case logo, but not really the story (in my opinion, of course). It was misleading--a 'dame' didn't play any part in the story, KWIM? Anyway, I loved the book itself
Found this interesting:Yeah, it fit the Hard Case logo, but not really the story (in my opinion, of course). It was misleading--a 'dame' didn't play any part in the story, KWIM? Anyway, I loved the book itself
The books feature terrifically pulpy new cover artwork; Glen Orbik, whose seductive art for The Colorado Kid is hilariously unrelated to the story inside, would later go on to do the cover for King's short book, Blockade Billy. Interestingly, as The Colorado Kid subverts the intentions of the Hard Case Crime line - no sex, no violence, and no actual crime - the later Blockade Billy seems to fit the line perfectly. It would be published by limited edition publisher Cemetery Dance, and reprinted by Scribner in 2010.
Kev's Stephen King House of The Colorado Kid
Kev's Stephen King House of The Colorado Kid
David R. Palmer's Emergence. One of the great post-apocalypse books out there. The style of writing is FANTASTIC!
John
John
I've not heard of this book--adding it to the TBR pile now. Thank you, John.
I think I may have a "post apocalyptic binge" soon, got Swan Song winging it's way to me.
The Stand is sitting on my bookshelf, staring at me in an accusatory way and asking me why I have neglected to reread it for so long....and now another recommendation!
I might build a fallout shelter to go and be a reading hermit in for a while!
The Stand is sitting on my bookshelf, staring at me in an accusatory way and asking me why I have neglected to reread it for so long....and now another recommendation!
I might build a fallout shelter to go and be a reading hermit in for a while!
Walter is right! John D. MacDonald is not to be missed. Most of the Travis McGee books are good. A Purple Place for Dying, Bright Orange for the Shroud, The Girl in the Plain Brown Wrapper, The Dreadful Lemon Sky and The Green Ripper are some of my favorites. You can always tell which is McGee story if it has a color or a coloindicator (lemon) in the title. But then there are other good ones like Murder in the Wind, Where is Janice Gantry, The Deceivers, Death Trap and Condominium are all real good. His scifi stuff i haven't read. Have one in the shelf though, Ballroom in the skies, but his post makes me want to read it.
Let me know how you like it. You have to remember that it was written in 1984, before the breakup of the Soviet Union. It's a bit dated, but the story is great, and, as I said, the writing style is really neat.
John
I had that issue when reading "Swan Song"--it was difficult to get into because of the dated references, but I ended up enjoying it.
Just finished "The Voice of the Night" by Dean Koontz. What a great story.
I think I'm going to try to find this one also. The plot sounds interesting.
Since we have been speaking of John D. MacDonald it is only fair not to forget his namesake, Ross MacDonald. He also have written some really good ones but are not mentioned as much, unfairly i think, as The Other MacDonald, Chandler and Hammett. But he could write some real good ones. The Barbarous Coast, The Galton Case, The Zebrastriped Hearse, Blue City, The Wycherly Woman, The Far Side of the Dollar and The Three Roads are some of my faves. I don't know why he seems to be more forgotten than the others. He is definitely worth reading.
Finished Crash & Burn (out tomorrow). I'm not a huge reader of these thrillers/police procedurals, but I liked it well enough On to The Missing One (Lucy Atkins)--I've not heard of the writer before, but onward and upward.
On to The Missing One (Lucy Atkins)--I've not heard of the writer before, but onward and upward.Police procedurals can be tedious sometimes but i liked a lot of Mcbains 87th series. The Mother of the Police procedural. Another good series was Sjöwall/wahlöö Beck-novels about a police-group in Stockholm. Martin Beck is the main character just as Steve Carella is in McBain but they have others circling around them. Sadly the Beck novels lost focus after awhile and became very political in the last two books, The Police murderer (Copkiller?) and The Terrorists, so the message became more important than the story. That is never good for a books quality.Finished Crash & Burn (out tomorrow). I'm not a huge reader of these thrillers/police procedurals, but I liked it well enough
I finished McCammon's Boy's Life. He is truly an amazing writer. I wish I would've started with a different novel of his - there's a lot of "animal stuff" that is particularly difficult for me right now. But I only cried a half a dozen times! The way the book encapsulates the passing of time and the combination of reality and imagination of children is incredible.
Am currently rereading Secret Window, Secret Garden in Four Past Midnight for Friday night's Discussion Group. I also need to finish rereading Firestarter and Night Shift before I go to the library to check out another McCammon, or possibly the last two Deaver books I haven't read.
Am currently rereading Secret Window, Secret Garden in Four Past Midnight for Friday night's Discussion Group. I also need to finish rereading Firestarter and Night Shift before I go to the library to check out another McCammon, or possibly the last two Deaver books I haven't read.
Have a little trouble with Secret window.... (yes i'm also reading it for friday) don't know why yet.
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