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trin's review against another edition
2.0
Cinco recommended this book to me, and it's easy to see why: it's a mystery involving a rare book narrated by a girl who works in a used bookstore in Los Angeles. Really, though, the focus of the novel is not bibliomania; it's the protagonist, and how fucked up she is. Very, in case you didn't guess. Jill is an aimless, smart-mouthed, smart-ass, who tries to keep herself safe by projecting a persona of toughness. I found all of this very relatable (I'm smart-mouthed in my head, okay?), especially coupled with the L.A. setting; even living in Tinseltown, where lots and lots of things are shot, it's still fun to play "I know where THAT is!" whenever familiar locations turn up in films, TV, or books. Jill's narration is very engaging...for about the first third of the book. After that, her string of dumb decisions really starts to grate; it's painful to watch someone be this self-destructive, and while I started out firmly on Jill's side, I eventually just wanted to slap her. I mean, deal with the people trying to kill you first, THEN be emo, okay? There's also a really graphic torture scene near the end of the book, and it just...gah. Squick.
Banbury can certainly create interesting characters with dynamic voices, but the world she's put them in is deeply unpleasant. I mean, I guess the same could be said of any noir, but I never wanted to shake Philip Marlowe the way I did Jill. The combination—bleak noir setting + slappable protagonist—just didn't work for me. And yet all of the elements of a perfect "me" book were there, Cinco! Sometimes what's missing is just intangible.
Banbury can certainly create interesting characters with dynamic voices, but the world she's put them in is deeply unpleasant. I mean, I guess the same could be said of any noir, but I never wanted to shake Philip Marlowe the way I did Jill. The combination—bleak noir setting + slappable protagonist—just didn't work for me. And yet all of the elements of a perfect "me" book were there, Cinco! Sometimes what's missing is just intangible.
wldiv's review against another edition
3.0
it's good! long winded as hell, but good. my issue with like a hole in the head, is that it feels like it dilly dallies for 200 pages and then shit absolutely pops in the last 90 pages. jill, like the rest of the interesting cast of characters, is awesome. she's sardonic as all hell, and mean as a hungry animal, and apathetic as a spoiled house cat. charles is a homie.
harvio's review against another edition
4.0
- I really enjoyed the protagonist in this humorous novel. She's hard-drinking, sarcastic, and intelligent. One of the reviews calls the book "... a slapstick answer to 'The Maltese Falcon'", which I found appropriate.
- (from the jacket) "Banbury writes like a wonderfully feminized Dashiel Hammett."
- a favourite quote: "That gun could do a lot of damage,..." "They don't seem to do much damage in the movies. A thousand bullets and maybe one hits home. This was different. A genuine shock. I stood in the dark a second, listening to my heart. I put the barrel of the gun in my mouth. My teeth clicked against the metal. It tasted like chicken."
- (from the jacket) "Banbury writes like a wonderfully feminized Dashiel Hammett."
- a favourite quote: "That gun could do a lot of damage,..." "They don't seem to do much damage in the movies. A thousand bullets and maybe one hits home. This was different. A genuine shock. I stood in the dark a second, listening to my heart. I put the barrel of the gun in my mouth. My teeth clicked against the metal. It tasted like chicken."
theghostshark's review against another edition
4.0
I hardly know anyone who has even read this but I found it to be a quirky fresh and offbeat "mystery" of sorts. It appealed to the "slacker" in me.
babs_jellymuck's review against another edition
2.0
The protagonist was that quintessential gum-smacking overly badass female character that I'm not too much of a fan of for some reason. It was distracting.
*Donated
*Donated
euphorbiamilii's review against another edition
Maybe in 1998 you could have a shifty dwarf character who talks funny and then is beat up and lit on fire in the first chapter and your novel could be widely praised as quirky and thrilling, but there’s no room for this shit in 2023.
edboies's review against another edition
4.0
Really fun book with a unambitious lady heroine in a inventive Chandleresque plot.
kfrench1008's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book. One of the most original and memorable crime novels I've read. Whatever happened to the author though? I'd love to read more by her.
harvio's review against another edition
4.0
- I really enjoyed the protagonist in this humorous novel. She's hard-drinking, sarcastic, and intelligent. One of the reviews calls the book "... a slapstick answer to 'The Maltese Falcon'", which I found appropriate.
- (from the jacket) "Banbury writes like a wonderfully feminized Dashiel Hammett."
- a favourite quote: "That gun could do a lot of damage,..." "They don't seem to do much damage in the movies. A thousand bullets and maybe one hits home. This was different. A genuine shock. I stood in the dark a second, listening to my heart. I put the barrel of the gun in my mouth. My teeth clicked against the metal. It tasted like chicken."
- (from the jacket) "Banbury writes like a wonderfully feminized Dashiel Hammett."
- a favourite quote: "That gun could do a lot of damage,..." "They don't seem to do much damage in the movies. A thousand bullets and maybe one hits home. This was different. A genuine shock. I stood in the dark a second, listening to my heart. I put the barrel of the gun in my mouth. My teeth clicked against the metal. It tasted like chicken."
mfred's review against another edition
5.0
This book is odd-- oddly dark and disturbing, filled with odd characters that do weird things. No one is very likable, but I found myself totally in love with the main character, foibles and all.
I loved it and counted it as one of the few books I would lend to people to impress them, until someone I lent it to never gave it back! Now I miss it and am always thinking of how much I would like to re-read it.
I loved it and counted it as one of the few books I would lend to people to impress them, until someone I lent it to never gave it back! Now I miss it and am always thinking of how much I would like to re-read it.