Online-Bibliothek

Ich habe des öfteren gelesen das Ellroy mit Chandler verglichen wird. Das stimmt zum Teil, zum Teil aber nicht. Die Sprache ist ähnlich wie in einem Roman von Chandler, wo es dann aber leider hapert ist der Plot. Ellroy mutet seinen Helden einfach zuviel zu. Einer von ihnen ist ein nach dem ersten Drittel des Buchs ein Dreifach-Agent. Mit Privatleben. Und seine Jobs führen ihn dauernd an weiter auseinanderliegende Orte der USA. Am meisten würde mich interessieren wie er seine Aufgaben koordiniert unter einen Hut bringt, da könnte man noch was von lernen. Aber darüber schreib Ellroy leider nichts. Chandlers Plots waren da wesentlich besser, weil konzentrierter.

Ellroy is certainly a master of his medium - that is never in dispute. However, this book is in daanger of losing the reader with all of the subplots and supporting characters. Also, the characterisation is a bit sketchy. Perhaps I'm rating more against what I would have expected as opposed to how good the book actually is. Again, as with all Ellroy novels - it's worth reading for the payoff and seeing each character trying to redeem themselves before it's too late. Not bad, certainly an interesting view of recent American history. Definately worth a read - but the LA Quartet was far superior

Without question, this novel is finest thing Ellroy has given us to date. His version of history seems more accurate than what is printed in the history books. The "heroes" are multi-layered, complex, especially Pete Bondurant, who is possibly the hardest, meanest protagonist ever to gave the pages of modern fiction.These characters are not nice people, but we care about them; we want them all to survive their predicaments. Ellroy's rapid fire style is hitting on all cylinders here. His writing is a rhythm you have to get into, jibe with, otherwise it can be hard to follow.A few minor complaints: some of the historical exposition is laid on a bit thick at times, which makes for a few slow spots. Also, after a methodical, well textured first four parts, part five moves too fast, as if Ellroy himself was tired and just wanted to get the book finished.That said, READ THIS. It is one of the finest pieces of fiction to be published in the past thirty years. Whereas in most novels, an unexpected ending is satisfying, the ending of this novel is so haunting because we know what will happen.

It reads like a long tabloid. I've never read any of Ellroy's books but I liked the movie LA Confidential. I had seen a program featuring Ellroy and didn't think much of him...but he can write. In this book there is a huge amount of violence/action, but so..so repetitious. And there are no good guys. Really. I kept putting it down, picking it up, putting it down... It's not horrible, but there's really nothing to reccomend it.

"American Tabloid" left me ambivalent. It moves jaggedly between greatness and mediocrity, two qualities which seem to offset one another proportionately throughtout the piece.So much ground is covered that it becomes difficult to believe the three main characters could be crucial to all of the historical events that take place. And yet, it's fascinating to see history through an Ellroylian lense.Likewise, some of the leaps the characters take (I don't see how a man that killed Tony Iannone would be so easily cowed by Ward Little) seem far-fetched, but they are very compelling characters nonetheless.And lastly, Ellroy's smattering of big words and laconic declarations is often pretentious, but the overall prose is powerful and fascinating. So alas, "Tabloid" is a novel of contradictions in both style and plot: none of its characters are what they appear, the events that take place are acts of expedience and evil disguised as acts of patriotism and civility, and its sophisticated style and form sometimes come across as being a bit gimicky.But what makes it an absolute must read is the plight of the three main characters, specifically Pete Bondurant. A ruthless killer and extortionist, Bondurant is one of the most compelling characters to grace the pages of modern fiction. He's male American ambition throttled to a dangerous extreme. He's self-loathing, angry, ambitious, and in incredible pain; a totally compelling center to a read that endlessly stretches for greatness and sometimes reaches it.