L.A. confidential

technicat reviewed LA Confidential by James Ellroy

enjoyed the reread but...

4 stars

This is a reread, after reading it a long time ago probably after watching the movie, which I remember more vividly, but I also recall I liked the book a lot and that was the beginning of many Ellroy reads. I've had trouble getting through his more recent works because they seem like racist drug-addled streams of consciousness, but I found going back to LA Confidential that it felt more structured and the characters more accessible, although there's no shortage of racist patter (I wouldn't like to hear the audiobook). I was relieved to still enjoy this reread but now that I'm older I find the casual racist (and homophobic) dialogue and narrative more uncomfortable and can't help but wonder if it's a bit self-indulgent.

Michael @ Knowledge Lost reviewed L.A. confidential by James Ellroy

Review of 'L.A. confidential' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

I remember the movie from a while ago, and I do enjoy a good James Ellroy novel, so I was excited to read LA Confidential. To my surprised this book seems a bit all over the place, more so than usual and at times I struggled to keep up with what is happening. I know Ellroy likes to have a lot happening at his complex plots do come together but I did feel like it was a bit too much like a chore to keep up in this book.

LA Confidential is about organized crime, politics, corruption, drugs, pornography, prostitution, racism and like other books in the LA Quartet series, it is centred around a real crime; this time it’s the Bloody Christmas scandal. It’s an interesting technic Ellroy uses; true crime as the bases of his novels. I always enjoy reading his novels, but sometimes I think he goes …

I remember the movie from a while ago, and I do enjoy a good James Ellroy novel, so I was excited to read LA Confidential. To my surprised this book seems a bit all over the place, more so than usual and at times I struggled to keep up with what is happening. I know Ellroy likes to have a lot happening at his complex plots do come together but I did feel like it was a bit too much like a chore to keep up in this book.

LA Confidential is about organized crime, politics, corruption, drugs, pornography, prostitution, racism and like other books in the LA Quartet series, it is centred around a real crime; this time it’s the Bloody Christmas scandal. It’s an interesting technic Ellroy uses; true crime as the bases of his novels. I always enjoy reading his novels, but sometimes I think he goes over the top with the racism and the abuse towards homosexuals; I know and understand it was a sign of the times, but sometimes I wish it was just toned down a little, it doesn’t seem necessary. One think I did find interesting, is the use of Mickey Cohen in the book, and the more I read about this gangster the more I think Patrick Fischler was just a perfect choice for him in the game L.A. Noire.

While I think the three protagonists was a good way to do a complex storyline, I did feel lost at times. I would recommend the Black Dahlia as a better choice for someone new to Ellroy. After reading this book, I sat down and rewatched the movie. I’m pleased that the movie did do the book justice and I’m pleased to have read this book. I can’t wait to read more.