I read all the Nancy Drew books as a child. Much preferred her to the Hardy Boys. Got reading Chandler as a teenager because I was falling in love with movies by then. Then I discovered Highsmith and my eyes flew open. She has been the biggest influence on my own writing. I've also read all the Lew Archer novels. Megan Abbott, Kate Atkinson, and Deborah Crombie are three current crime favorites. But it all goes back to Nancy Drew.
It's funny how we gravitate toward books, then hop sideways to other authors, seemingly at random, almost like a web search leads to another search, and on and on. I read Burroughs because of a Bowie interview, a friend told me about Ian McEwan, I drifted to J.G. Ballard because of the Spielberg movie, etc. It would be funny to draw these maps!
You covered a few of my big influences: Chandler, Hammett, Tolkien... I’d add Zelazny to my list. For me, the one from left field would be Joseph Heller, who didn’t write either crime or scifi. But I love his ironic style and try to emulate it to some extent in my own work.
I’m so embarrased right now. I didn’t know you were Belgian, or that English isn’t your first language. I’m so used to most of the writers I interact with online being American. I should pay more attention, shouldn’t I? Cheers, Martine!
LOVE Georges Simenon! A more recent French crime writer I really dig is David Diop, who's "Frère d'âme" (English title: "At Night All Blood Is Black") about African troops in WWI & the reaction of one to PTSD/shellshock is one of the more memorable novels I've read the last few years. The English translation is quite good, too.
I've heard about Diop. I'll give him a read. Simenon's influence is all in the nuances. I read him before I started writing seriously. The prose was so effortless, seemed so easy that you didn't realize how brilliant it was, how difficult it was to get that result. And the more you try, the more elusive it gets. Your brain needs to get out of the way.
Thanks DuVay. Glad you enjoyed this. Ellroy's stories are "period" and most (if not all!) his characters are nasty and corrupt individuals. I'm slogging through "Perfidia" right now, takes place in 1941, and the language the characters use about Jews, Blacks, Asians and women is one stinky gutter. I don't think that reflects the writer's feelings. From what I read, big E. is the nicest guy on the planet, :) - We should chat about French lit one of these days... Merci!
I read all the Nancy Drew books as a child. Much preferred her to the Hardy Boys. Got reading Chandler as a teenager because I was falling in love with movies by then. Then I discovered Highsmith and my eyes flew open. She has been the biggest influence on my own writing. I've also read all the Lew Archer novels. Megan Abbott, Kate Atkinson, and Deborah Crombie are three current crime favorites. But it all goes back to Nancy Drew.
It's funny how we gravitate toward books, then hop sideways to other authors, seemingly at random, almost like a web search leads to another search, and on and on. I read Burroughs because of a Bowie interview, a friend told me about Ian McEwan, I drifted to J.G. Ballard because of the Spielberg movie, etc. It would be funny to draw these maps!
You covered a few of my big influences: Chandler, Hammett, Tolkien... I’d add Zelazny to my list. For me, the one from left field would be Joseph Heller, who didn’t write either crime or scifi. But I love his ironic style and try to emulate it to some extent in my own work.
So many influences, and new ones every day. Your stuff makes me want to go off reality sometimes... it's so much fun!
Thanks! The advantage to writing fantasy is that you can make up your own rules. Don’t know how something works? It’s magic!
Book recommendations, cool stories about the French Nancy Drew, AND a drink recipe!
Loving this.
Ed Church also gets the nod from me... and a reminder to read some more Hiassen.
Thanks pal!
I will keep posting book recs… for the stuff I believe people should try.
I’m so embarrased right now. I didn’t know you were Belgian, or that English isn’t your first language. I’m so used to most of the writers I interact with online being American. I should pay more attention, shouldn’t I? Cheers, Martine!
I’ve been living in the US for so long, I’m very acclimatized! Thanks for reading Andrei.
Love this. I was just looking at my bookshelves yesterday thi king about when I’d read what.
LOVE Georges Simenon! A more recent French crime writer I really dig is David Diop, who's "Frère d'âme" (English title: "At Night All Blood Is Black") about African troops in WWI & the reaction of one to PTSD/shellshock is one of the more memorable novels I've read the last few years. The English translation is quite good, too.
I've heard about Diop. I'll give him a read. Simenon's influence is all in the nuances. I read him before I started writing seriously. The prose was so effortless, seemed so easy that you didn't realize how brilliant it was, how difficult it was to get that result. And the more you try, the more elusive it gets. Your brain needs to get out of the way.
And yes, Henry Miller! First time I read the guy I got a big shock, like: I know this guy, he's in my head, he thinks like me, damn!
Thanks DuVay. Glad you enjoyed this. Ellroy's stories are "period" and most (if not all!) his characters are nasty and corrupt individuals. I'm slogging through "Perfidia" right now, takes place in 1941, and the language the characters use about Jews, Blacks, Asians and women is one stinky gutter. I don't think that reflects the writer's feelings. From what I read, big E. is the nicest guy on the planet, :) - We should chat about French lit one of these days... Merci!