I love bad boys with morals. They are the best :)
I was finishing a book by Charles Ardai, Fifty to One. This is a decent book but now I am not in the mood for reviewing it. I was pleasantly surprised upon knowing that this book was written fairly recently because the hardboiled tone is perfect. That means they still make 'em after all!
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| Not a scene from the novel, but still freaking awesome |
Ardai is definitely in my list of to-watch authors from now on.
Okay, back to the topic. In the postface, Ardai writes about 'mythical, legendary books people say in whispers that are probably exist'. One of them, he says, is MacDonald's Travis McGee 'black book'. That made me curious. The only books that have colour-related titles that I know are Mao's Little Red Book and the Yellow Book, an Islamic holy book, apparently. So, what's that black book and how important is it? Why the fuss? And so I decided to Google John D. MacDonald and Travis McGee. The premise hooked me immediately because I like 1. flawed heroes, 2. bastards with carefree attitude on the outside but golden hearts inside. The premise is also very similar with The Finder, a not-so-successful TV show (the characters guest-starred in one Bones episode, once) which I enjoy.
So I got the books pretty soonish and started reading the first pretty soonish as well.
The reading experience had been enjoyable. The book proved to be a good read in almost every situations. Before going to bed, in the middle of journey when you're a passenger in either a full backseat of a car or a sleepy morning train, waiting for PCR, etc. This is not a book that makes you feel like you have to read it non-stop, but you'll also hate to just skip to the end. Deep Blue Goodbye is a darling :) a Coca Cola of book. No boring moment, the pacing is perfect, the characters are logical. Travis seems to be really charming though - almost all the ladies want to jump him, but it is a common feature from books from that period. And, I mean, from the author's skillful description, he's damn irresistible. Who can resist a tanned boy (not overtanned or something) from Florida, who can look as if he's anyone, (accountant, boat boy, salesperson, anyone), is confident without being cocky, witty, clear-headed, good with boat, a decent poker player, has good physique, can survive in almost any conditions, and can extract himself from almost any sticky conditions? Not me. I will definitely jump him as well or give him some chaste - or not so chaste - kisses.
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| At least a hundred. Each time with different warpaint colour |
The antagonist is a loathsome bastard. I am surprised that he can get away with his deeds for quite a long time, because his nastiness is pretty obvious. He is so awfully disgusting that it will take me some time to be able to view someone with the name Allen in a good light again. I cannot see the reason behind his crimes, though, because I cannot wrap it around my head the reason someone wants to corrupt and degrade another human so thoroughly.
The damsels, though in great distresses, are proven to be able to hold themselves well. They got beaten, humiliated, fleeced, but in the end, it is proven that without them McGee's accomplishment will not be as good and smoothly achieved. Not all of them get the happy endings, which makes the story feel more realistic.
If you love hardboiled genre but want to read one set not in a Windy City or any city full of smokes, gutters, rainy days, and whatnot, the Travis McGee series is a good choice.
I'm willing to bestow it 10 stars. Just because.
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