Notes on American Tabloid

Didn't wanna watch Che by myself. Got drunk at a friend's instead. I promise to see it soon!

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Just started James Ellroy's American Tabloid. Ellroy's most famous book is probably L.A. Confidential which was made into a fantastically entertaining genre film-one of the best cop/noir films ever made. But where Confidential played at the redemption of its characters by pulling themselves out of the immoral muck they descended into Tabloid's protagonist know there's no way out. With Confidential's characters redeeming themselves there's the idea that bad (and I mean this in the most simplified way, and it is not at all a judgement of the work by simplifying the work's manifestation of evil) can be stopped, love does conquer all (not to demean the novel or the film-they're both amazing and highly recommended), and the tidal wave of corruption must eventually roll back. The political, social and financial machinations (and the novel truly does chug away like an industrial engine) that exist in Tabloid are simply unstoppable. All one can do is jump aboard a speeding train and hold on, or live in blissful ignorance, in the words of Henry Hill "taking the subway to work and pledging allegiance to 'Good Government' bullshit" or in Matrix terms, take the blue pill or the red. The players' names may change but the motives, positions and actions taken remain the same. Life so-called grinds on in this novel with its characters playing their so-called dramas out on a level, but barren playing field devoid of right and wrong.

If I've turned you off let it be known that I'm only 150 pages or so into a nearly 600-page book. These are the conclusions I've drawn. The perhaps, unfounded judgements I've made. If I've hooked you, go find the book A.S.A.P. because its wonderful in a sort of globe-trotting Chinatown kind of way. I'm looking forward to seeing where it turns and if Ellroy can pull off his numerous subplots. Here's to hoping he does!

'Til next time,
-Pat

P.S. To better sum up the last sentence I'd like to quote a certain song from Arrested Development-"How hard can you do?! WITH ALL THESE BALLS IN THE HAIR!" (that's for Liz and Colleen)