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Summary: A masterpiece of American crime-fiction.
Review: What a thriller! Ellroy's multi-character epic is a must-read for the crime-fiction enthusiast. I found myself losing sleep over this book, mainly because I just couldn't bring myself to put it down. While it was thought to be movie adaptation proof, it has obviously been deemed otherwise. Wow! I can't get enough of it.
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Summary: best book i have ever read
Review: This was such an awesome book.after you get used to the writing style you prefer it i think.it was such an intriguing an clever conspiracy crime story.ellroy is a fantastic writer too be able too control so well such a complicated story.i defintiely recommend la condidential
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Summary: May be complex, But allows you to play detective!
Review: I'll start out by saying this book is amazing! I admit that at first the first person writing style was a little odd and confusing, but as you continue to read you find that Ellroy's style allows so much more than convential methods. You really find yourself in the middle of the action, taking on the part of Ed Exley, an incrediably gifted detective working his way up the LAPD chain of command. Bud White, a man plagued by the murder of his mother by his father, and Jack Vincense a Hollywood cop who is also plagued by a dark past. The three main characters in the book are far less likable than in the momvie, but somehow we can still feel a tad of sympathy for them, even if they bring on most of their grief themselves. The book also has a lot more plot, and a lot more going on around the Nite Owl murders. There are far more characters and although I agree that it is sometimes hard to keep them all sorted out, It really allows you to play detective right along with Jack Bud and Ed. Every time a new piece of information was coaxed or beat out of a witness, I found myself flashing back, remembering and even re-reading certain parts of the book trying to put everything together for myself before Bud White or even the great Edmund Exley. The book is a lot different from the movie and seems almost like a parallel universe, where the same characters and similar situations evolve into different outcomes with surprisingly similar effects. This book kept me glued nonstop, even during the workday when I was supposed to be going to meetings and preparing statments, I found myself sneeking chapters in under the desk or behind stacks of paperwork. I LOVED IT! Both the book and the movie are along my favorites of both mediums, and although I may like the book just a tad more, it is not because of the difference in action or outcome but more in the complexity and plot. The book may be busy, but then again wasn't LA 'The City of the Future' also.
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Summary: Brilliant book and the best movie in the last 10 years
Review: James Ellroy is a great original writer. Having seen the movie 6 times in 1998 it seemed a good idea to buy the book. I read it from cover to cover on the flight from London to Los Angeles and reckon it's among the best crime novels. And the guy who wrote the screenplay won an Oscar - deservedly so.
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Summary: Quite simply THE BADDEST BOOK THAT EVER WAS
Review: The most riviting, complex and captivating book I have ever read. My man Ellroy earns his title as "The Demon Dog" with this work, Chandler and Hammett have nothing on him. If you liked the movie you will LOVE the book. The plot is more involved, the characters are more complex. I have read everything by the Demon Dog and this stands as the Bad Boy, the one by which all others are judged. Truly a masterwork of American crime fiction.
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Summary: Very good novel, great movie
Review: I read this novel in two days since I was so riveted. The storyline's structure of three cops of different backgrounds working together was so intriguing. However, Ellroy's style is tough to follow, so much of what confused me was explained in the film. Withal the confusion, good story.
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Summary: Classic crime novel written all over it!
Review: (I read this book a while ago but never had the time to review it.) There's a lot I could say about this book. First off, it was great, one of the best I've read. My favorite character was Bud White and stayed my favorite throughout the story. I can't say that this book was easy to follow, because anyone else who has read this will say the same thing. There's too many characters to remember, especially when he just uses their last or first name and then you have to remember what their job is, what they did, and their purpose in the plot. It would be helpful to have a pencil and a piece of paper to write all the characters down, it's a shame I didn't. Perhaps the book would have been a bit more discernable. The police jargon does get annoying, but at least you know what people are talking about when you watch NYPD Blue or something like that. The bad thing is, if you don't get into this novel and are frustrated with understanding it, honey, it's gonna be a cold day in Hell before you finish it. You have to want to finish, actually. This isn't a book you read just 'cause you're bored. The movie almost tops it, and I would seriously watch the movie rather than read this a million times because of the stuff that took me a while to understand. But all in all, if you want to be really committed to a book, read this one. Don't get me wrong, it's an awesome book with action and suspense and I loved it, but pay attention when reading it! Thats my only warning. This is definetly going on the top row of my book shelf!
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Summary: Too much plot, not enough writing
Review: I like Ellroy better when he writes in English. This choppy style is sometimes almost impossible to understand.
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Summary: Confusing
Review: After reading the excellent THE BLACK DAHLIA, I had expected something better from James Ellroy. Instead, I was subjected to a brutal (which didn't bother me) and very confusing story about three cops and their involvement with a massacre at a small L.A. diner. The more I delved into the story, the more I became confused. Ellroy had stuffed too many characters and too many storylines into what could have been a compact, yet compelling novel.
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Summary: A True Master of Voice
Review: I read the book after I saw the movie at the theater and I just read it again. Because his work impressed me so much I read The Black Dahlia. Although the BD didn't do as much for me as LA, I have to say that James Ellroy has gradually mastered the skill of voice. I think my disappointment in BD was the lack of clips from newspapers, Hush-Hush, especially, which I believe provided more feeling for a book than any other I've read. Mr. Ellroy's ability to step out of narration and still stay true to the feel and information of the story was, in my opinion, what all authors try to reach and all readers know as brilliant when they read it.
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