Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die discussion

Discussion is open!

I think after reading the foreword by Stephen King, I was expecting a more Hemingway-esque style of writing with a Texas old country feel. I was intrigued by the psychology of the character and the story, but I felt I might have thought differently of it, if I hadn’t been so caught up in what Stephen King thought of it…

There’s a corny hip hop song from the 90s called “The Killer Inside Me” by MC 900 Ft. Jesus. It’s about a man who tortures people with small talk until their eyes glaze over.
🎶 “I can think of a thousand ways to say hello. So I start through 'em all, and go real slow” 🎶 It’s hilarious.
5 pages in and I've just discovered this song was inspired by this book. Off to an interesting start!

Jennifer wrote: "I think after reading the foreword by Stephen King, I was expecting a more Hemingway-esque style of writing with a Texas old country feel. I was intrigued by the psychology of the character and the..."

Interesting! I started reading the foreword and then quickly thought I might want to hold off until after I finish to book. Sounds like the right choice

I read this book a few years ago. I like other books I've read by Jim Thompson but this one bothered me quite a bit, mostly the behavior of the main character towards women and children. Obviously, he's not supposed to be a "good guy" but it still put me off a bit. I'm not usually squeamish by the way, and I read a good amount of noir.

I decided to re-visit it on audio this time. The violence is still tough but I'm dealing with it better this time - I'm not sure if that's good or bad. This time I'm really noticing the similarities with another Thompson book, Pop. 1280, which also features a deputy who does bad things. Pop 1280 seems to be a little more humorous to me, but this time around I'm noticing the humor in The Killer Inside Me which I had forgotten from the first time I read it. The narrator of the audiobook helps with that - he did a terrific job and he also did the audiobook of Pop. 1280.

Those two books - The Killer Inside Me and Pop 1280 - bookended the most productive phase of Thompson's career 1952-1964. Thompson's father "Big Jim" was a small town Texas Sheriff when Jim was born. His father was later accused of embezzlement and he fled to Mexico. The Wikipedia page for Thompson notes that "His novels were considered semi-autobiographical, or, at least, inspired by his experiences."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Tho...

By the way, Thompson has become known as a "Dimestore Dostoevsky," a nickname given to him by Geoffrey O'Brien, who became the Editor-in-Chief of the Library of America in 1998.

I wasn't sure what to expect with this book, but it isn't something I would have picked up on my own (which is a huge benefit to joining groups like this!). I am a fast reader, and got through about the first third of it, and like RJ said, I am also having a really hard time with the violence against women. I'm interested to keep reading because the psychology in this book is fascinating, but this has been a tough read so far. I also held off on the introduction, so I'm planning to go back and read that after I finish it. As a person who has read a lot of classic mystery, a few westerns, and a wide smattering of horror and thriller, is a lot of noir like this? I don't think I've ever specifically read noir before.

RJ - Slayer of Trolls wrote: "I read this book a few years ago. I like other books I've read by Jim Thompson but this one bothered me quite a bit, mostly the behavior of the main character towards women and children. Obviously,..."

The "Dimestore Dostoevsky" comment made me chuckle...I can definitely see where that nickname came from. I read Crime and Punishment earlier this year and was similarly fascinated by the minds of the characters after violent acts. That's a great tidbit. Thank you for sharing that!

Beth wrote: "...is a lot of noir like this? I don't think I've ever specifically read noir before."

I've read a good amount of noir. You can think of "noir" books as being generally from the criminal's point of view, or from the point of view of a person who gets sucked into making some bad decisions and finds themselves spiraling downward as a consequence. The books usually don't shy away from violence, but some are more graphic than others. The endings are typically tragic.

A great starter for noir books is The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M. Cain, which is on the list. I would also recommend the almost forgotten Black Wings Has My Angel by Elliott Chaze which isn't on the list but is a very worthy read nevertheless.

I thought this was a good read although perhaps an unusual choice for the 1001 list.

I think the violence against women, while hard to read, was necessary - or something like it - because it shocks us out of finding the character too sympathetic. I felt we were being pulled in different directions by on the one hand being inside the character's head where he justified everything, and on the other hand seeing what he actually did, and that was where the strength of the book really lay.

Do we have the picks for Oct- Dec reads yet??

How does this narrated-by-the-killer novel compare to American psycho? (I believe that too is on the list.)

Caroline wrote: "How does this narrated-by-the-killer novel compare to American psycho? (I believe that too is on the list.)"

I haven't gotten to that one yet. I need to track down a copy.

I rated American Psycho zero stars, because I simply couldn't decide whether it was a 5 star or a 1 star book.