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The Black Dahlia. Special Edition. (Warner Books)

by James Ellroy | Mystery & Thrillers |
ISBN: 0446618128 Global Overview for this book
Registered by greeneyemoony of Düsseldorf, Nordrhein-Westfalen Germany on 6/29/2007
Buy from one of these Booksellers:
Amazon.com | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon DE | Amazon FR | Amazon IT | Bol.com
12 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by greeneyemoony from Düsseldorf, Nordrhein-Westfalen Germany on Friday, June 29, 2007
I bought it to support "Kiepert" bookshop in Berlin and intend so send it around the world as a ray after I have finished reading it.

Journal Entry 2 by greeneyemoony from Düsseldorf, Nordrhein-Westfalen Germany on Monday, July 2, 2007
My first thought after having just finished it is " it's disgusting". I have never read any of Ellroy's novels or seen the film but I got the feeling everyone is corrupt and blood- and sexthirsty. It never gets as bad as trashy but it leaves a feeling of sickness in me. But at the same time I couldn't stop reading, it was that captivating.

Journal Entry 3 by greeneyemoony from Düsseldorf, Nordrhein-Westfalen Germany on Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Readers to be:

- AgnesXNitt, UK
- KT-J, UK
- Stubee, UK
- nawoo82, UK
- iliotropio, Belgium
- Bookworm-lady, Spain
- bilbi, France
- starbrightxx, USA
- aunt-sophie, Can
- piemunga, Aus
- lakelady2282, Aus

Journal Entry 4 by greeneyemoony from Düsseldorf, Nordrhein-Westfalen Germany on Thursday, July 5, 2007
It's now travelling to the UK. I am really interested in your thoughts about this book and looking forward to your journal-entries.

Journal Entry 5 by AgnesXNitt from Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Yay! Received yesterday. I have a couple of Book spiral books to read first but then I'll get on this one. I missed seeing the film late last year at the cinema but I read the articles about the true story it was based on. Very film noir, and it actually happened.
Thanks for hosting this greeneyemoony :)

Journal Entry 6 by AgnesXNitt from Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Not exactly a laugh a minute this one, but then we are dealing with the true story of a young woman found murdered and dismembered in Hollywood in the late 1940's. I did struggle with the open racism in this, Ellroy's 'interpretation' of the facts, and the slang seemed to take on a life of it's own, but I battled my way through it.
Thanks for hosting this ring, greeneyemoony.
Posting off today to KT-J in Chorley, Manchester from the village post office, Brampton, Cambridgeshire.

Journal Entry 7 by KT-J on Friday, July 20, 2007
Received safely yesterday! Thanks AgnesXNitt for sending this to me. I'm not sure how I feel about reading this after the first reviews but I'll get onto it shortly and see how I go!

Journal Entry 8 by KT-J on Sunday, August 5, 2007
Well I have to admit I struggled with this a bit. I thought it was a good story with the flawed characters trying to cope with their lives while piecing the background of the Black Dahlia up bit by bit, but it was quite grim with the corruption, violence and sex and was hard going in places when you realise that there are no characters that are simple and straightforward, everyone has their own issues which impact on the story.

I''ve passed this on to Stubee. Thanks greeneyemoony for including me for this.

Journal Entry 9 by stubee from Bury, Greater Manchester United Kingdom on Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Thanks, I''ve got it I''ll let you know once I''ve finish with it.

Journal Entry 10 by stubee from Bury, Greater Manchester United Kingdom on Thursday, October 18, 2007
I love boxing so I was instantly hooked on the personalities of Mr Fir and Mr Ice. The story flowed and the twists and turns had me excited about what might happen next, the brutality of the book is very expressive and shows Ellroy's class as a crime novelist. I’m going to actively seek out more of Ellroy’s work in the future and hope it is up to this standard; also Brian DePalma’s movie adaptation is now very high on my list of movies to watch as by the sounds of things in this afterword Ellroy recommends it be seen.

I have nawoo82’s address so this will be on its way there very shortly; thanks greeneyemoony for starting this on its journey! :-]

EDIT: Sent 31/10/07

Journal Entry 11 by nawoo82 from Brisbane, Queensland Australia on Thursday, November 1, 2007
Received it today! Thanks a lot! Will read it asap (I have another 2 ring books before this one)

Journal Entry 12 by nawoo82 from Brisbane, Queensland Australia on Friday, December 7, 2007
I am not usually a big fan of crime novels or thrillers but this one kept my breath. I signed for this bookring as I've heard a lot about this book and was interested to see what it was all about.
I saw the movie a few months ago but didn't think much about it, it was trying to be too "clever" for my liking, everything was suggested and nothing was explained.

The book is different. It tells us more about the characters, their background and why they get so obsessed with the Black Dahlia. The story is alos more complex, which adds more interest. It is also much cruder and gore. Ellroy does not hesitate to give us details on how Elizabeth Short was killed and the description of her body when she was found.

I got quite hooked to the story after about 100pp and read the rest in 3 nights, which for me is quite exceptionnal.

Overall, I thought it was a good well-written book, but very spooky and quite dark.

Sent to iliotropio this morning

Journal Entry 13 by iliotropio from Bruxelles / Brussel, Bruxelles / Brussel Belgium on Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Arrived safely in Brussels thanks to nawoo82!
Happy holidays everyone!

Journal Entry 14 by iliotropio from Bruxelles / Brussel, Bruxelles / Brussel Belgium on Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Extraordinary book and very well-written. Now I'm also tempted to see the film...
On its way to my friend in Madrid, Bookworm-lady. Happy reading!

Journal Entry 15 by wingBookworm-ladywing from Madrid, Madrid Spain on Saturday, February 2, 2008
Thanks, Iliotropio!
I picked it up from the post office last week, but hadn't been able to journal it sooner, as I had the wrong BCID...
Looking forward to reading it!
Eva

Journal Entry 16 by wingBookworm-ladywing from Madrid, Madrid Spain on Friday, June 27, 2008
I am currently reading it; I will ask for Bilbi's address.

Journal Entry 17 by wingBookworm-ladywing from Madrid, Madrid Spain on Friday, July 4, 2008
I have finished reading it...
Not an easy read, but a fascinating account of a potential solution for an unsolved real crime in the 40s.
I haven't watched the film, but the book is definitely good material!
A plot full of twists and larger-than-life characters, very well written.
I have Bilbi's address, and will be sending it soon.
Thank for sharing!
Eva

Journal Entry 18 by wingBookworm-ladywing from Madrid, Madrid Spain on Friday, July 11, 2008
Sent to Bilbi, in France, this evening.
Enjoy!

Journal Entry 19 by bilbi from Chambéry, Rhône-Alpes France on Thursday, July 17, 2008
Received today !
Two books to read before starting this one !
Thanks for sharing \o/

Journal Entry 20 by bilbi from Chambéry, Rhône-Alpes France on Thursday, July 31, 2008
I've been trying to read this book many times and I just can't get into it... I think it's the way it's written not the story that kept me from enjoying it.
I mean, I like this true story and go on the Internet to get more information on this case.
I don't know why Ellroy doesn't "grip" me with this work.
Thanks for helping me to try again ;-)

Journal Entry 21 by rem_VSP-560485 on Friday, August 15, 2008
I just got this! It might take a few weeks before I get down to it, though.

Journal Entry 22 by rem_VSP-560485 on Thursday, October 2, 2008
I could not say why exactly, but I could not get into the story and I gave up after a few chapters.

I've just PM'd the next person in line, so the book should continue its travels soon. (Mailed on Oct. 20)

Journal Entry 23 by piemunga from Marrickville, New South Wales Australia on Wednesday, October 29, 2008
yay! arrived yesterday

Journal Entry 24 by piemunga from Marrickville, New South Wales Australia on Wednesday, November 12, 2008
i finished reading this and found it a challenging read. all the boxing stuff at the beginning was a bit dull, but i'm glad i ploughed on because it did get better. it's good to read a book once in a while with not one likeable character! although i felt very bad for Betty since she clearly had a whole bunch of issues going on prior to her murder. thanks for sharing! i've emailed lakelady2282 for her details to pass it on

Journal Entry 25 by lakelady2282 from Lake Macquarie, New South Wales Australia on Tuesday, November 18, 2008
The book has arrived safely! Thanks to everyone involved. I will try and not be too long with it. Let me know greeneyemoony if you want it posted back or released out here in Australia.
best wishes
Debbie

Journal Entry 26 by lakelady2282 from Lake Macquarie, New South Wales Australia on Tuesday, December 9, 2008
I'm afraid the tone and the street talk of the novel is just not enough to grab me to keep reading. I will skim through the book instead to just get a gist of the outcome of the story because I find the actual murder a fascinating one.
Let me know greeneyemooney if you want the book back and your address and I'll get it moving. Alternatively I can release it at our January meeting. Thanks everyone involved.

Journal Entry 27 by 1001-library from Helsinki, Uusimaa / Nyland Finland on Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Thanks so much for your donation lakelady2282!

This book is now part of the 1001-library. If you want to take this book from the library but don't know how to proceed, please refer to the 1001-library bookshelf.

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