Re-writes

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Did you ever read a story that begs and pleads for a major re-write?

Last night I read half of Robert B. Parker's 1st novel and hadda stop because its so clunky. That is, Parker finished writing Raymond Chandler's POODLE SPRINGS, and until he died claimed to be Chandler's heir. But his prose and style remind me of a 1957

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/96/1958_Packard_rear.jpg

http://www.gmphotostore.com/images/53217647_pr.jpg

Packard. It was a Studebaker with Cadillac fins and the Packard name. Awful.

Uh, no. If Hammett was The Father, and Chandler was The Son, no way was Parker The Holy Ghost. Not even in Heaven. I'd award David Goodis the title, maybe Donald Westlake.

 

[Desiremakesmeweak]

I've got a hardback copy of Poodle Springs and also the movie with Jimmy Caan.

The inside cover of the book says: 'the foremost interpreter of the Chandler tradition...'

And that's like saying McDonald's is the foremost interpreter of the hamburger tradition!

The movie's okay. I stick it on the shelf next to Palmetto with Woody Harrelson and Elisabeth Shue - which is a movie based on the book 'Just Another Sucker' by James Hadley Chase.

Palmetto was the best movie both Harrelson and Shue were ever in.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Parker was sarcastic but I see no evidence he had any talent for metaphors such as Chandler created.

 

[ScouriesWorld]

for the complete jimmyjohnson please click below:

jbj unleashed...​

 

[Desiremakesmeweak]

I think definitely Parker really admired Chandler - but he himself is NO Chandler. Parker is way to simplistic, flat and contrived, almost childish in a way because he sticks to this Boston/New York literary college dogma about how to write. Chandler was inspired in every way - well, every dark way, that is.

And Chandler was capable of being shockingly terse, and yet extremely well-aimed. Parker's style is none of that.