'Street Of No Return' is one of my favourite Goodis novels. It's multi layered, has an interesting central character and a deep interlocking plot. Goo'Street Of No Return' is one of my favourite Goodis novels. It's multi layered, has an interesting central character and a deep interlocking plot. Goodis views race riots, alcoholism, murder, police corruption and a deep seeded longing for a better place all through a tainted glass beer bottle. Whitey, a bum amongst bums, is mistaken for a murderer after trying to aide a felled police officer in a dark alleyway. His trip to the station house brings insight into the world around him. Danger and breathing go hand in hand. The world is not a nice place and the boys in blue have a hidden agenda.
I was surprised at how complex Goodis made 'Street Of No Return'. Not only did he maintain an interesting plot set in the present but also enveloped the reader in the past - a time when Whitey wasn't a street dweller and his clothes not insect infested. Even more interesting to read is how that past, and a women named Celia impact on the race riots happening around him in the present tense.
'Street Of No Return' is a fast paced crime novel - set primary at night to hold true to the noir theme. The protagonist is a helpless drunk, the good guys are bad, the bad guys are bad and the riots are only the tip of a much larger and deadlier iceberg. The speed at which the story is delivered is not without its filler content with some passages coming across as dialogue heavey and perhaps unwarrented.
The only thing that really holds 'Street Of No Return' back is the typical Goodis internal dialogue by which the character has a tendency to over think a situation and analyse every possible move and outcome. Some of this introspection detracted from the story at hand - which is a shame as the plot itself was excellent. That aside, I really enjoyed 'Street Of No Return' and have no hesitation is saying that this will be a future re-read. 4 stars.
"In the sticky darkness of a July midnight the cat waited there for more than a half hour. As it walked away, it lefts its paw prints in the dried blo"In the sticky darkness of a July midnight the cat waited there for more than a half hour. As it walked away, it lefts its paw prints in the dried blood of a girl who had died here in the alley some seven months ago."
Will Kerrigan is devoid of purpose following the death of his sister. He meanders through life working at the docks and obsessing over his lost family despite the fact he still has family members alive and well. An alleyway taunts him into action, the place of his sisters last breath draws his in and sets out a series of events which lead Will to discover the truth behind Catherine's demise.
An integral piece of this fragmented puzzle is a murder/suicide mystery compounded by the visual of dried blood in an alley and ghost of a memory. In Will’s sister Catherine, Goodis alludes to a ‘lady of the night’ profession without providing full disclosure. While tainting the deceased it also casts doubt on the pedestal Will so fondly sits Catherine atop. Her death constantly clouds his thoughts and impacts his judgment, even going so far as to point the finger at his own brother. This semi PI persona is made all the more attractive by hazy facts in light of Catherine’s death and Will’s questionable state of mind.
The sense of desired menace and unaccountable, unruly inhabitants of Vernon Street were delivered without conviction. Sure it’s a seedy place to live yet I think Goodis missed the target in conveying that true sense of dread after dark. Nick and Mooney are a couple of characters introduced early on who serve more as comic amusement than a testament to the terrors of Vernon. Personally I would've liked to have seen more of Ruttman, the infamous muscle of a man whose name is legend amongst the workers at the dock.
The main female lead in Loretta’s part felt misplaced. Along with her brother Newton slumming it on Vernon Street for kicks did little more than add another body to count against Catherine’s death. Loretta’s contribution didn’t account to much apart from adding an element of sass without substance while romanticising Will. For Newton, a frequent drinker, the bar (Dugan's Den) he’s most often cited provided the loud and boozy hovel needed in this kind of book. The bones of a deep and distinctly dark noir are there, yet the meat was nowhere to be found - shame really as Goodis is a master of noir, this just wasn't his best effort in my opinion. 2 stars.
Underneath the facade' of a heist novel lies a story about a damaged man who slowly finds himself, only to loose his tender grip on a perfect reality Underneath the facade' of a heist novel lies a story about a damaged man who slowly finds himself, only to loose his tender grip on a perfect reality just as he begins to grasp it. Nat Harbin grew up, fostered by a thief, raised as one, consumed by the idea and thrill of the take. Deeper than most in the sub genre, 'The Burglar' inches towards literature by virtue of its core plot element and rationalisation of character. For Nat, the deducer, evaluator, and strategist, planning, execution and reward are drivers in a less than lawful lifestyle - this he recognises while succumbing to old adage of being a product of his environment. While the less than ideal childhood led him down the path to stolen jewels, police shootouts, death, and murder, its the steady cause for redemption and realisation of romantic notions that drives his character throughout the novel.
'The Burglar' offers a glimpse at the grim over glitter side of the profession. Herein lies broken truths and empty dreams as members of the gang turn all too quickly for monetary gain, damning false friendship in preference for saving themselves when the sirens come. Adding to a shattered criminal dynamic is a shyster in police blues who acts as the twist to each turn orchestrated by Goodis as the gang of thieves struggle to make way with their household take. The inception of the corrupt figure, a wolf in sheep's clothing, promises so much and delivers far more - a testament to Goodis' boundary-stretching noir (largely thanks to a mysterious women named Della who eases herself too easily into the frame).
Female lead Gladden is the primary reason for the novel's deception, turning heist to romance, to noir with literally qualities. Having grown up with Nat, there was always going to be some sort of complex - one that bears fruit just at the right time for the readers enjoyment.
My only real complaint with Goodis is that his male leads tend to be interchangeable, 'The Burglar', 'Dark Passage' and 'Nightfall' all have protagonists with similar if not the same voice, that aside, this was a nice read. Different to what I had perceived and rewarding all the same. 4 stars
Vanning – a victim of circumstance is placed in the perfect and unforgiving wrong man scenario. Touted as a murderer, thief, and artist (yep there is Vanning – a victim of circumstance is placed in the perfect and unforgiving wrong man scenario. Touted as a murderer, thief, and artist (yep there is some legitimacy to the protagonist), Vanning is the classic case of a man stuck between a rock and a hard place. On the run from the law and a gang of bank robbers, Vanning lives a life filled with paranoia and mistrust. In his mind, he’s innocent of the crimes he’s accused - his actions vindicated by circumstance yet there’s a subtle cloudiness to the believability of his mantra.
Like many other Goodis novels, ‘Nightfall’ questions the lead characters sincerity and state of mind. You never quite know if they are honest or are feigning innocence to mask sinister motives. This stems true for Vanning, the comely Martha, and Fraser – the man with whom Vanning shares a cat and mouse relationship.
The overtly insecure and semi-obsessive cop, Fraser is grounded only by his wife who seems to be the backbone of his sanity and manhood for that matter. With one eye on Vanning and another on the reward, Fraser acts as a lone wolf resembling more conventional PI than police (minus the hard-boiled persona).
It takes a good writer to evoke reader emotion, and Goodis is a great writer - I really disliked Fraser while I was genuinely concerned for the health and wellbeing of Vanning. That said; the characters alone weren’t quite enough to champion the story. The plot was good enough and the overall sense of chasing reality was executed well, however the dialogue fuelled by unbelievable character emotions (Vanning falling too easily in love for instance) spoiled what was a solid premise.
In ‘Nightfall’ the criminal element is secondary with human interaction the primary driver – had the dialogue and believability been a little more polished this would’ve worked well, however it just failed to hit the right notes but was still enjoyable to read. 3 stars.
A prison break, a murder, an assault, an attempt at grand theft auto, an unfaithful husband, and bribing law enforcement - yet Goodis' protagonist, ViA prison break, a murder, an assault, an attempt at grand theft auto, an unfaithful husband, and bribing law enforcement - yet Goodis' protagonist, Vince Parry comes across as a soft hearted, overtly emotionally man who personifies the noir 'wrong-man' stereotype. After being convicted for the murder of his cheating significant other, Parry finds himself behind bars at San Quentin. Knowing he's innocent he masterminds an all too easy escape and subsequently finds himself at the mercy of a helping hand wanting nothing more than to heal his tarnished person.
Each core character's story interlopes with Parry the centre of the patchwork plot - a masterstroke of coincidence and tightly plotted linear focus. The Irene angle played out a little less believable yet presented enough surface reality to be plausible. The main event; the murder of Perry's cheating wife, Gert, leads to suspicion of everyone within the doomed couple's circle - notably Madge and Bob Rapf, a couple with a seemingly open relationship who both come under fire throughout proceedings. There's also a nice side bar which plays on Parry's paranoia following his escape - keep in mind the Studebaker while reading...
While entertaining enough throughout, Goodis employed an annoying element of estimation into almost anything that encompassed figures (distance travelled, time, money, etc.) - this had a tendency to be a distraction rather than an addition to the story. Other blips can be overlooked - notably some corny dialogue but then again this was written some time ago and rings true to the time and genre trappings.
Parry, prone to leak at the drop of a hat yet hardened enough to beat a man unconscious is an interested character made of two distinct halves - I'm not sure which takes prominence - the hard or heart? Goodis will question Parry's sanity and humility throughout, making 'Dark Passage' all the more true to the title. As noir/pulp as it gets - held together by the glue of intrigue and mystery while following a theme of the classic case of whodunit without the police procedural element. 3 stars.
Loading...
