About this title: In 1958, when James Ellroy was 10 years old, his mother's body was found in a run-down town near Los Angeles. The murderer was never found; the case remains unsolved. This remarkable book--part unflinching autobiography, part vivid reportage--tells an extraordinarily gripping story about the failed murder investigation, uncovering Ellroy's daring, revelatory journey into and through his most forbidding memories. 14 photos.
Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Knopf
Date Published: 1996
ISBN-13:9780679441854ISBN:0679441859
Description: Acceptable. A readable copy. All pages are intact, and the cover is intact (the dust cover may be missing). Pages can include considerable notes-in pen or highlighter-but the notes cannot obscure the text. Return Policy Any defects, damages, or material differences with your item, must be reported to us within 7 days of receipt of the item or 30 days from date of shipment. The returned merchandise must be postmarked within 30 days of the shipment notification. Non-deliveries must be reported ... read more
Description: Good. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Binding: Trade paperback
Publisher: Vintage Books USA
Date Published: 1997
ISBN-13:9780679762058ISBN:0679762051
Description: Very good. No dust jacket as issued. Very light edge and corner wear. No marks. Tight, square book. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 448 p. Audience: General/trade. read more
Description: Good. 1997-Paperback----Used-Good-Hall Street Books proudly ships from Brooklyn, NY. All orders are processed and shipped within 24 hours, M-F. 100% money back No-Worry guarantee with expedited delivery and delivery confirmation available. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Knopf
Date Published: November 5, 1996
ISBN-13:9780679441854ISBN:0679441859
Description: VG Used, Very Good in VG jacket. HARDCOVER, VG/VG, Knopf, November 5, 1996, 351 pages, 1.5 x 7.0 x 9.8 inches, 1.6 pounds, Category: Biographies & Memoirs: General. This copy is SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR, is an assumed First Edition, has visible but minimal wear, is a former library copy with the usual markings, is MYLAR jacketed, is in Excellent Condition Overall. Special Notes on this book: Signed by Author, appears uncirculated and unread. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Knopf
Date Published: 1996-11-05
ISBN-13:9780679441854ISBN:0679441859
Description: New. Brand New Book. SIGNED BY The AUTHOR! Free tracking # included! International buyers are welcome. We ship every business day. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed! read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Knopf
Date Published: 1996-11-05
ISBN-13:9780679441854ISBN:0679441859
Description: Very Good. Hardback w/dust jacket. Hardback w/dj, 1996 CR, stated 1st ed, appears signed by author on 2nd fly pg and title pg, red dot top pg edges, else crisp, clean, no other marks, tears, stains, appearsunread, unused. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Vintage
Date Published: 1997-08-19
ISBN-13:9780679762058ISBN:0679762051
Description: New. Pre-release ARC book with different cover and publisher stickers. New, unread, unused & in perfect condition with no damaged or missing pages. Great Copy. Ships Lightning Fast. read more
"i always have to adjust to ellroy's style; it can almost feel like assault sometimes, but i love it. loved reading ellroy writing true crime. his true crime. definitely sheds some light on his fiction writing, knowing about his childhood and mother's murder. and i don't know if it's ellroy's writing or just the nature of murder (or both), but murder definitely seemed very sexual and glamorous as i read this book. ellroy's tangents and detail are excellent, as always; he often goes where i don't expect him to."
"I recently heard James Ellroy on NPR talking about his new book, Blood is a Rover. He struck me as a really intense and odd guy, but I was intrigued by his comments about his spirituality. My Dark Places is a memoir and I read it in search of more details about his spiritual life which I did not particularly discover in the book. This was the strangest memoir I have read, but it was captivating. It's filled with graphic crime/murder stories which is his niche/obsession. A lot of the book is a bunch of tangential details and stories. Odd book, but I liked it."
"A very aposite title for the book, there are no belly laughs in this one.
Before I re-read all Ellroy's books, I thought I'd give this one a spin again, to set the scene, so to speak.
This certainly does that, and Ellroy pulls no punches in what he reveals here. At times it felt too open and honest.
How anyone deals with the brutal death of their mother at such an early age is never going to be easy, but Ellroy lets you know how hard he found it, in no uncertain terms.
His style of writing and connections throughout his books become obvious and certainly added to my understanding of his work.
His style of writing is not for everyone, and this book is no different, but in terms of understanding how a murder victim's relatives cope and live their lives it is a revelation.
He is graphic in terms of how he felt about his mother and the chaos his life descended into, and there is little self pity or moralising within these pages.
I was thinking I needed something a little lighter to read next, but then I picked up Ian Curtis' biography...."
"Not a perfect book, but a very very good one. Probably the most insightful true crime book I've read in a long time. The ultimate verdict is grim: Vicious crimes happen - sometimes for no good reason, sometimes because people put themselves in harm's way. Sometimes evil people do evil things without provocation, and there is little one can do be completely safe. Ellroy is particularly focused on the sexual component of crime, sketching out some very ugly truths about men's hatred for women. Ultimately his take is biased due to personal experience, but one suspects he is not far off.
Ellroy is upfront about the more loathsome aspects of his longing to figure out his mother, revealing much about his other writing in the process. Now I now where all his voyeur characters come from. Another important element is his brutally honest account of his struggle with addiction to alcohol and drugs, it's rare to seen it written about so succinctly and without self-rationalizing.
We guarantee every item's condition, as described on Alibris. If you are not satisfied that an item is as described, return your purchase for a refund.
rating
