Aeschylus versus James Ellroy
My Google quote for today:
It is a profitable thing, if one is wise, to seem foolish.
– Aeschylus
versus
James Ellroy plugging his latest, Blood’s A Rover, on NPR.
I’ve only read Ellroy’s The Black Dahlia and on the basis of that book alone (read the book before you see the movie) the guy deserves all the bravado and swagger he can muster. Listen to today’s NPR interview and you’ll hear him muster quite a bit of both.
Sadly, at points his confidence made me doubt his wisdom. I’m not exactly sure people want to buy books from someone so sure of themselves. Then again, maybe they do, if for no other reason than to try calling his bluff. Good luck with that. Much as that kind of in your face self-confidence rubs me the wrong way, I don’t think Mr. Ellroy is bluffing and maybe he knows more of Aeschylus than I thought.
All opinions of Ellroy and his work are welcome here. Would you read a book by a guy who sounds a like a jerk or avoid him utterly? Is his attitude punk rock or simply tricky marketing (I link to think there’s difference despite Malcolm Mclaren)?
I’m a big Ellroy fan.
McLaren “Punk Rock” would be a bit much for him, but I like the punk tag– I think it’d fit him.
He’s kind of known for being weird on book tours and readings, but funny at the same time. I’ll try to find some articles, but he used to insist on bringing his dog to book readings at book stores and would insist that the audience directed personal questions to the dog. He also (pre-LA confidential) would say how great it was when he’d option a book and it never got made into a movie because then he’d just re-option it and have more college funds for the dog. And he also would refer to his (now ex)wife as the wild woman of something, but I forget. His stories remind me of a meaner Kinky Friedman.
I really like crime novels though…
and take all of the above with a huge grain of salt or a wikipedia-esque “citation needed!” (or is it wikipedian? wikipediysean?)