Mystery/Thriller Reading Friends discussion

I just finished The Turnaround and I think "I am done with Pelecanos." This is sad for me to report but I really can't stand his constant music and sports references in everyone of his books ad nauseum. You have to read about what song was playing when his characters get in a car, what song is playing while they're taking a shower, what song was playing when they walk in a store, etc., etc., etc.

And I really don't care who shot a three pointer and who won what series in a crime book. Pelecanos is definitely a guys' guy and I just don't think he writes for women or cares to.

I guess I'm just waiting for him to write "The Book" leaving all of his security blankets behind. I just wonder if he can. You can probably tell I'm disgusted. lol

I guess this is one time we have to agree to disagree! I don't pay attention to sports references, but I like the music references. I still have the CD I got when I went to the HARD REVOLUTION signing and play it often. I can totally get into his love for soul music.

I just finished The Way Homeand even though not as gritty as his earlier books. This had a sound story which left you asking questions about our justice system for young offenders and if people released can be good citizens, also what makes one person go straight and the other be beyond redemption. The references to the music, really didn't glaer in the story but rather accent it so it made it more real.

Melodie wrote: "I guess this is one time we have to agree to disagree! I don't pay attention to sports references, but I like the music references. I still have the CD I got when I went to the HARD REVOLUTION sig..."

i agree, melodie. i love the music references- it gives "time and place" to pelecanos' music. i'm sorry you don't like them, nancy- but i guess all our different tastes are what "makes the world go 'round".
the sports references go right over my head..lol

Nancy:
Things that jolt me out of the story rather than keeping the flow going smoothly can be jarring to me as a reader and could interfere with my enjoyment of a story. I do not usually find song references do that. Several authors like to pepper their novels with references to songs the characters listen to or music genres they enjoy, and I don't recall that as being either very bad or very good, just part of the setting. I haven't read The Turnaround or The Way Home yet, so can't comment on the intrusive nature in that context. I do understand what you mean, I think things like sports or music references or constant changes of POV affect each of us differently. .

Nancy (Hrdcovers) wrote: "I just finished The Turnaround and I think "I am done with Pelecanos." This is sad for me to report but I really can't stand his constant music and sports references in everyone of his books ad na..."

Nancy (Hrdcovers) wrote: "I just finished The Turnaround and I think "I am done with Pelecanos." This is sad for me to report but I really can't stand his constant music and sports references in everyone of his books

On a broader scale, I have a problem with authors who "throw in" bits and pieces that have nothing to do with the story. IMO RWW did this in Dead Silence when he had to mention Moh's Marine, bull sharks, and a few other things that were primary in past books but had little to do with this one. If a music or sports reference moves the plot, sets the scene or has some other purpose other than to let us know that the author has an interest in these areas, fine, but if not, not fine. Same when a character goes on a foreign trip that is pretty worthless to the book but acts as a great case for writing off a vacation for the author. That's my rant.

Dan said: " If a music or sports reference moves the plot, sets the scene or has some other purpose other than to let us know that the author has an interest in these areas, fine, but if not, not fine. "

I agree, Dan. This is why I stopped reading Jonathan Kellerman. His books became stuffed with riffs about stuff in which the author was interested, but which did nothing to expand character or setting, or forward the plot. I think many authors do this to an extent, but it seemed egregious and distracting in Kellerman.

Jan O'Cat

Melodie wrote: "I guess this is one time we have to agree to disagree! I don't pay attention to sports references, but I like the music references. I still have the CD I got when I went to the HARD REVOLUTION sig..."

I don't read Pelecanos, so I can't comment on his plot flow, but I generally do like novels that incorporate music or any of the arts. They need to have at least one major character who is a musician and/or a plot that deals with the music scene. Music references that are unrelated to the plot do nothing for me. They don't bother me, but they don't impress me either.

Shomeret

Teresa:
I hope to get my turn for The Way Home soon. It is the hold book "most likely" to come in next, though since it is an audio format I can't be positive about that. I hope it will be my next audio book after The Book Thief which I am finally getting back to after having to return it and get it again and after listening to Look Again. I haven't listened to a book by George Pelecanos before, so don't know what to expect. Has anyone else listened to Pelecanos' audio books?


Teresa wrote: "I just finished The Way Homeand even though not as gritty as his earlier books. This had a sound story which left you asking questions about our justice system for young offenders a..."

Ann wrote: "Yeresa:
I hope to get my turn for The Way Home soon. It is the hold book "most likely" to come in next, though since it is an audio format I can't be positive about that. I hope it ..."

I want to discuss this book, it would make for a great group read.