Pulp Fiction discussion

"I long ago changed my writing name to Ross Macdonald for obvious reasons."
--- Kenneth Millar (Ross Macdonald), in a letter to the Toronto Saturday Night newspaper

"The real fear of the average adult must be what lies in the deepest shadows of his own mind."
--- Margaret Millar

The author knew whereof she wrote.

A lifelong amateur student of psychology, she had a sharp awareness of her own and others' phobic dreads and neurotic potentials. She drew on such real and imagined experience in creating her most alarming stories. Like a method actor, Maggie (as she insisted on being called) sometimes took on the personalities of her disturbed characters to the point of near-breakdown. While writing the final chapters of a novel about one fatally fearful woman, she recalled, "I shared [her] nightmare . . . Every sound was a threat, its volume exaggerated. The telephone no longer rang, it shrilled. People didn't talk, they screamed . . . Creator and creation had become one."

That book was Beast in View, which won the Mystery Writers of America's Edgar Award as the best novel of 1956. Some sixty years after first publication, it retains its unsettling power to chill.*

Born in Ontario in 1915, Maggie married Kenneth Millar in 1938. Her first novel was released in 1941, and Millar continued writing into the mid-eighties. She died in 1994 at the age of 79.


*Tom Nolan, author of Ross Macdonald: A Biograpy

Looking forward to this...waiting for my hold copy to be delivered to my library.

Lawrence wrote: "Looking forward to this...waiting for my hold copy to be delivered to my library."

I've finished this one already; I didn't mean to, but it was too good to put down. I'm definitely a Millar fan now.

I love the above Margaret Millar quote. I post a quote on my white board at work, something for the staff to comment on or talk about when down time is needed and the Millar quote will make an appearance.

Lawrence wrote: "I love the above Margaret Millar quote. I post a quote on my white board at work, something for the staff to comment on or talk about when down time is needed and the Millar quote will make an appe..."

Not quite as inspirational as Hang in there, baby, but it'll do.

Melki wrote: "Not quite as inspirational ..."

The quotes I put up are rarely inspirational. Nobody pays attention to those...deep shadows of our minds, that will spur a discussion.

I got my copy (it's one of four books included in Women Crime Writers: Four Suspense Novels of the 1950s: Mischief / The Blunderer / Beast in View / Fools' Gold) and started today. It sure gets going quickly! I'm enjoying it so far.

Good to know it starts quick, I picked up at the library, the same book....

Melki wrote: "Lawrence wrote: "Looking forward to this...waiting for my hold copy to be delivered to my library."

I've finished this one already; I didn't mean to, but it was too good to put down. I'm definitel..."

This will be a “reread” for me. The first time I am pretty sure I read it straight through. Could not put it down.

Strangely enough, I visited my favorite used bookstore yesterday and I found a used copy of Collected Millar: The Master at Her Zenith: Vanish in an Instant; Wives and Lovers; Beast in View; An Air That Kills; The Listening Walls in the "$1" section. Obviously I snatched it up. It had been read once, but was still in very good condition with no obvious defects or issues. Score! (Also found a VG copy of Death in a Bowl by Raoul Whitfield for $1. Thank God for used bookstores!) So anyway now I have two copies of this story in two separate collections.

RJ wrote: "Strangely enough, I visited my favorite used bookstore yesterday and I found a used copy of [book:Collected Millar: The Master at Her Zenith: Vanish in an Instant; Wives and Lovers; Beast in View; ..."

That's the one I got, too. I'm glad I went for the omnibus, as I plan on reading much more by this author.

Finished the book last night. I'll wait 'til the official discussion starts.

This is a good site for Margaret Millar fans http://www.syndicatebooks.com/authors...

I've finished this as well. Oh my!

I haven't finished yet but I'm very much enjoying it so far. Probably will wrap it up next week some time.

Lynda wrote: "This is a good site for Margaret Millar fans http://www.syndicatebooks.com/authors..."

Thanks for this link, Lynda.

Since we are over half way through the month, I'd say it's fine to begin the discussion.

If you have not yet read or finished the book, be warned: the following comments may include spoilers.

I suppose it's like comparing apples to oranges, but having now read both Millar, and her hubby Macdonald . . . I have to say - I preferred Millar's book.

Having never read any Millar before, and after tasting just a bit knowing that I wanted to read everything by her, I opted this month to read her very first novel rather than this one. (I like reading an author's work in the order written when I can.) So I read The Invisible Worm and enjoyed it immensely--really couldn't put it down. And that is supposed to be one of her weaker works. Now I really can't wait to read the rest. Thanks again to this group for introducing me to yet another author who will no doubt become a favorite!

I have to say, this was an engaging book, one that couldn't be put down. I enjoyed watching things spiral out of control...seemingly in a controlled manner.

This was a fast read that kept me glued to the book until the very end. I certainly was not expecting that twist-- Millar laid her trap perfectly.

I have the Collected Millar set-- I think I'll be reading one book a month until I've worked through all of them.

Suki wrote: " . . . I think I'll be reading one book a month until I've worked through all of them."

Great idea! I should do that, too . . . though I probably won't.

RJ wrote: "I got my copy (it's one of four books included in Women Crime Writers: Four Suspense Novels of the 1950s: Mischief / The Blunderer / Beast in View / Fools' Gold) and started today. ..."

That's the one I'm reading too, which is from my library. I'm sucked in already and imagine this will be a quick read.

I liked the other two Millar novels I've read more than this one, mainly because I predicted the kinda-silly twist from the first page. Still, it was well done and fun to read ,and I have every intention of reading more Millar (and her hubby, Ross MacDonald.)

Finished BiV earlier this month, and really enjoyed it, though I'm surprised it won the Edgar over The Talented Mr Ripley. No matter, it's definitely worth reading. As I was beginning the book, it occurred to me that it would make a great story for Alfred Hitchcock.

I remember reading that Ross MacDonald's wife was a writer, and am glad to have finally read her. I've downloaded a couple more Millars to my Kindle, and will be checking out the Collected Millars from the Syndicate site mentioned above. I'm also a big Ross MacDonald fan.

I finished it today. The writing is very minimalist and there are lots of great lines. The twist ending felt right, not like a shock for the sake of a shock. I would certainly read other things from this author.

I'm a little late to the party but started this this weekend. I am up to chapter 3 and very engaged and interested in what will happen and the set up so far. Seems very dark. Definitely psychological thriller overtones to the plot so far. I'll try to finish before the month.

I finished yesterday and loved it. Very taut prose and great suspense throughout. I'm looking forward to reading more of her work.

This one seems to be a unanimous winner. I'm pretty sure I would have never heard of Millar without this group, so here's a shout-out to all our well read members!

Definitely - good call to whoever suggested this!

Just finished it. 3.5 stars for me. I was a little over the top with themes and characters at points and some things were just quite jarring. But, I was intrigued and I think Millar definitely creates an unsettling and paranoid kind of feel throughout. I'm interested in reading some other of her works.

a year late is not unusual for me, but I'm glad I finally got around to read my first book by Maggie Millar. She definitely knows about the darkness inside the mind of her characters, but what impressed me most is her phrasing, her one-liners and the character sketches.
Her metaphors are as colourful and evocative as Chandler or Hammet.
I hope I will get the time to explore more of her books.
Thanks for voting this one in the monthly read.