The Black Dahlia
by James Ellroy
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Book Summary Information
Author: James EllroyEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2006-08-16
ISBN: 0446698873
Number of pages: 352
Publisher: Mysterious Press
Book Reviews of The Black Dahlia
Book Review: A Really Great Book...Terrific Atmosphere and Very Well Written
Summary: 5 Stars
As one of the few people who liked the film version of "The Black Dahlia" I found myself intrigued to read the book, since I heard it was better than the film. To get right to the point it is, but that being so doesn't change my opinion of the film or anything. I have never read anything by James Ellroy, but I saw the movie "LA Confidential" based on his novel, and, apparently, he writes mostly Hollywood-noir books. "The Black Dahlia" is a novel seeped in noir, that is built on the foundation of a true story and turned into a great work of fiction that was not only acclaimed by book critics, but also writers like Elmore Leonard. To read the book, it's probably best to know Ellroy's inspiration for it. Ellroy's mother was killed as a young woman, her killer never captured, and her life definitely paralleled with the life of Elizabeth Short. I still don't know much about The Black Dahlia case, everything I know is contained in the book and film (and I'm damn sure that most of it isn't true)...But this is a great read. The book is about Dwight "Bucky" Bleichert, a boxer, who has joined the LAPD. Also on the force is Lee Blanchard, also a boxer. Dubbed Mr. Ice and Mr. Fire, they become local celebrities by participating in boxing competitions and such. As they end up becoming partners on the job, they become friends out in the real world. Despite the fact that they're both in love with the same woman, Kay Lake. Then something happens that changes all their lives. A young woman is found brutally murdered in a field. Cut in half, disemboweled, a grisly smile sliced on her face.
As the two men become obsessed with solving the murder of Elizabeth Short, labeled "The Black Dahlia," they begin to alienate the people around them. As Lee sinks deeper into obsession, Bucky tries to find the killer but instead finds Madeleine Sprague, the lesbian daughter of a very rich man. The book was pretty close to the movie (or vice-versa) up until about the time Bucky and Madeleine meet, then almost everything that occurs is different. Therein lies the reason why the book is better than the movie. Had the movie followed the book a little bit closer, it would have been a little bit better. This kind of book works a lot better in written form. Ellroy knows how to capture atmosphere and he does a superb job of doing so with this novel. This novel seethes 1940's Hollywood and has a style that the movie did succeed in capturing, just not incredibly well. The dialogue (which sounds like it was taken from a 40's movie) works really well in the novel, but seems like parody on the screen when it's being recited by Josh Hartnett and Scarlett Johansson (who are, for the record, fine actors otherwise). "The Black Dahlia" is a terrific novel and a great read. A book with great atmosphere, great character development, and a real sense of style.
GRADE: A
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