The Moon in the Gutter (Midnight Classics) Summary and Reviews

The Moon in the Gutter (Midnight Classics)
by David Goodis

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Book Summary Information

Author: David Goodis
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 1998-01-01
ISBN: 1852424494
Number of pages: 192
Publisher: Serpent's Tail

Book Reviews of The Moon in the Gutter (Midnight Classics)

Book Review: We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars
Summary: 3 Stars

David Goodis has written some very good hardboiled fiction, particularly "Down There," which was adapted into the classic French film, "Shoot the Piano Player." Unfortunately, "The Moon in the Gutter" is not of the same quality. The book starts well as we're introduced to Bill Kerrigan, a down-on-his-luck (or more properly never-had-any-luck) dock worker. Kerrigan lives with his family on Vernon Street - an epicenter for lowlifes and drunks. Kerrigan is tough but is basically a good person who looks out for his family, even though they give back nothing. The only other "good" member of his family was his sister, Catherine. Seven months earlier, Catherine was raped and left in a seedy Vernon Street alley, where overcome by shame and grief she took her own life. Kerrigan often visits this alleyway to ruminate and plot revenge against the perpetrator who defiled Catherine.

The main bulk of this short novel concerns his search for his sister's rapist. However, it's a rather passive search that doesn't propel the plot very far. Although the plot is rather dull, Goodis populates the book with some interesting characters, including the vamp from "uptown" who tries to steal Kerrigan's heart. The final chapter also is stellar - almost poetic in nature - as Kerrigan resolves the mystery in an insightful epiphany. However, this chapter comes too abruptly to fully satisfy. Instead, it feels almost as though Goodis grew tired of the plot and decided to call it quits. "The Moon in the Gutter" has some positive qualities - I was relatively entertained throughout, and I think many other hardboiled fans will be as well. However, it ended up being a mild disappointment. I'm looking forward, though, to reading more Goodis novels and seeing where this book stands in his oeuvre.

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