American Tabloid

This is an extremely violent book. I'm quite tough, but I found the relentless descriptions of torture and murder really hard going. Ellroy writes well, and has created a plausible back story to the Kennedy assassination. The layers of corruption in American politics dip and weave around each other. Ellroy's use of language that would have been normal at the time was hard to read, given that I live in a time when racist, misogynist hate speech quite rightly is not acceptable. I'm not naive, I know such speech, such attitudes still exist, but the language has become shocking. As gripped as I was by the story, I found reading it exhausting, and it definitely affected my mood. Ellroy very skilfully makes you care about the hideously show more corrupt main characters. He makes you see that the shining knights of democracy aren't the paragons their PR says they are. Everything in the book is underpinned by filth and nastiness. Even though I enjoyed the book, I don't know that I will read any more of Ellroy's books. Not if they make me feel like I need to take a shower every couple of pages! show less

Look, I'm not going to sit here and tell you that "American Tabloid" isn't a lot of fun. It's got gangsters and drug smugglers and revolutionaries and playboys and FBI agents and crazy millionaires and dancing girls. It's got blood and guts and sex and violence and betrayal and greed and double-dealing and politics and harebrained schemes and some very amusing period slang. It moves faster than a jacked-up sports car pushing towards sixth gear on a desolate stretch of Nevada highway. It's profane and chilling and shocking and scandalous, but I'm not sure it's a very good book. Let me explain.

When Ellroy does fiction, he's adding gore, slick prose, and some amount of psychological depth to what lots of readers consider a fairly show more formulaic, disposable genre. It's a good gig, and Ellroy's very good at what he does. "American Tabloid," though, isn't borderline-literary pulp, it's pulpy, hard-boiled historical fiction, and switching genres really exposes Ellroy's shortcomings as a novelist. Everyone, fictional or otherwise, in "American Tabloid," is an Ellory character: a rampant id attached to an obsession and a pair of gonads. That's fine if you're just juicing up stock characters, but it goes less well when you're talking about historical figures that might have had more sides than one. It doesn't matter who Ellroy's writing about here, though: John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy J. Edgar Hoover, Howard Hughes, Sam Giancana, or one of a half-dozen FBI men, they all come off as horny, power-mad and thoroughly unscrupulous. Other writers have found real depth in some of these personages, but you'd hardly know it from reading "American Tabloid." I've always assumed that historical fiction tarts up the history it describes in the interest of a good story, but I'm thinking that real-deal history, would, in this case, would make Ellroy's schtick here seem pretty thin.

Not that "American Tabloid" is all bad. Ellroy's decision to skewer John F. Kennedy, who has become something of a plaster saint, might be described as bold, and he seems to have done some good research on some less-known aspects of contemporary political history. There's some wild, and perhaps vaguely factual tales of the Cuban exile movement and a cynical take on Camelot and the civil rights movement. Even so, "American Tabloid" is essentially a who-really-killed-JFK book, and there's never been a happier hunting ground for obsessives, crackpots and conspiracy nuts than that one. I don't know how much of any of this he believes, but I'm not sure it matters: Ellroy would probably be better served discussing the intricate, stylish dealings of fictional cops and robbers.

As it nears the end, the book seems to lose all sense of verisimilitude and the death toll hits Shakespearean, or perhaps Tarantino-an, levels. By the time I'd finished this one, I felt like I'd eaten three Thanksgiving dinners in a row and I'd had enough of Cuban psychopaths, speed-addled G-men, and J. Edgar Hoover for a little while. Oof! I'm beginning to suspect that Ellroy's stuff is basically catnip for adolescent males, romance novels for dudes who read "Bizarre." It's okay to read that stuff once in a while, but like all junk food, you want to make sure you get something else in your diet, too. show less

Ο Ελρόυ μ' αρέσει. Ξέρει να δημιουργεί χαρακτήρες και σίγουρα ξέρει να πλέκει καλά την πλοκή του. Και σε αυτό το έργο του τα καταφέρνει εξαιρετικά και στα δύο. Καταφέρνει να μπλέξει το μύθο με την πραγματικότητα σε σημείο που να σε κάνει να ψάχνεις να βρεις ποια απ' όλα τα πρόσωπα είναι δικά του δημιουργήματα και ποια είναι πραγματικά.
Αν και τούβλο, το βιβλίο ρέει, η δράση και η αγωνία κλιμακώνονται, οι show more χαρακτήρες αλλάζουν, προσαρμόζονται, μαθαίνουν (ή δεν μαθαίνουν) από τα λάθη τους, και όλα οδηγούν σε ένα τέλος το οποίο μας είναι γνωστό εξ' αρχής: τη δολοφονία του Κένεντι. Αν και γνωρίζουμε που θα καταλήξουν όλα όσα παρακολουθούμε, ο Ελρόυ καταφέρνει να μας παρουσιάσει μια πολύ καλοστημένη και σε απίστευτο βαθμό πιστευτή ιστορία των παρασκηνίων. Όσα δηλαδή σκεφτόμαστε όλοι μας όταν αναρωτιόμαστε τι μπορεί να οδήγησε στη δολοφονία ενός από τους πιο δημοφιλείς προέδρους των ΗΠΑ.
Το κεφάλαιο 99 (προτελευταίο) προσφέρει μια ιδιαίτερα αποκαλυπτική εικόνα για μια γνωστή ιστορική φιγούρα εκείνης της περιόδου. Ίσως να απέχει από την πραγματικότητα, αλλά πάλι, ίσως και όχι, και μόνο γι' αυτό ο Ελρόυ κερδίζει το χειροκρότημα.
Το τελευταίο κεφάλαιο (νο. 100, μόλις μιάμιση σελίδα), και ειδικά η εξαιρετική τελευταία πρόταση, είναι ένα από τα καλύτερα κλεισίματα μυθιστορήματος που έχω διαβάσει ποτέ. Μην προστρέξετε να τη διαβάσετε χωρίς να έχετε διαβάσει ολόκληρη την ιστορία με προσοχή. Δεν θα σας αγγίξει καθόλου. Με το βάρος μιας τόσο συμπυκνωμένης (παρά το μέγεθός της) ιστορίας να πλακώνει τον αναγνώστη όμως, αυτή η τελευταία πρόταση είναι απλώς κορυφαία.
Το μόνο κακό, η επαναλαμβανόμενη έναρξη των περισσότερων περιγραφικών προτάσεων με τον ίδιο τρόπο: «Ο Λίττελ έκανε αυτό...», «Ο Κέμπερ είπε εκείνο...», «Ο Πητ σκέφτηκε το άλλο...». Αν και στην αρχή ξενίζει λίγο, προσωπικά το συνήθισα γρήγορα, και τελικά σταμάτησα να δίνω σημασία. Απλώς απολάμβανα την ιστορία.
Όσοι γνωρίζουν λίγο παραπάνω το σκηνικό και τα πρόσωπα εκείνης της περιόδου (Κένεντι, Κάστρο, Χούβερ, Χιουζ, Χόφα, Κόλπος Χοίρων) θα καταφέρουν να βυθιστούν στην πλοκή γρηγορότερα από τους υπόλοιπους αναγνώστες. show less

History class was never this exciting. Ellroy's AMERICAN TABLOID seduces you with bad news, spilling out the extortion, bribery, and killings that underlay the forces of history between 1958 and 1963.

Through it all are three fixers trying to play all the parties involved: FBI, Mob, Justice Department, CIA, and more. There are few things more enjoyable than watching someone good at their job, and these three men are very fucking good at their jobs—except when they forget that they're tools of the powerful, to be used and discarded when out of control.

The prose? Like uppers on uppers, hurtling forward with maximum velocity and minimum equivocation. It doesn't hurt that he gets to revel in the lurid details, both weaving together and show more ripping apart history with the glee of a good skank sheet. It's goddamn infectious, as you can probably tell.

That style—and the subject matter—keep this from being properly understood in the maximalist tradition: think Pynchon, Gaddis, Delillo. Encompassing decades of American history and myth is an even grander aim than any of those chumps, and this is just installment one of three.

Next up: THE COLD SIX THOUSAND and BLOOD'S A ROVER. show less

"American Tabloid" is vintage James Ellroy. It gives the reader a view of American life in the 1950's and early 1960's through a lens dirty with corruption, crime, violence of all sordid types, betrayal, booze and drugs. Most of this cynical depiction centers on three of the singularly corrupt men of the era, Howard Hughes, J. Edgar Hoover, and Jimmy Hoffa. The events covered include the overthrow of Batista, the Bay of Pigs invasion and the assassination of Jack Kennedy. Fratricide is emblematic throughout, and one wonders if Bobby's obsession with the mob which leads, in the book, to the assassination of his brother is suggested as being fratricidal also.

This sprawling, shocking novel revolves (mainly) around three fictional characters, but is rooted in the time of the Kennedy family's rise to success - it features JFK campaigning for and winning the election and his brother Bobby becoming Attorney General. The events of the novel take us right up to that fateful date of 22nd November 1963.

The main characters are Pete Bondurant, bodyguard for the eccentric millionaire Howard Hughes as well as a terrifyingly effective Mob associate; Kemper Boyd, an FBI Agent who at the request of J Edgar Hoover infiltrates the Kennedy organisation and finds his loyalties (such as they are) split many ways; and Ward Littell, another FBI Agent and anti-Mob crusader. Lets be clear here - none of these men show more are particularly nice, but they are interesting. In fact, none of the characters in this book - real or fictional - come off particularly well, least of all John F Kennedy.

The story describes the machinations of the Kennedy family and their associates in making sure that JFK wins the election, and covers such historical events as the Bay of Pigs invasion, and attempts to bring down Fidel Castro. There's so much story here that it was sometimes hard to take in everything that happens - whether you are familiar with the events upon which the book is based or not, this is a book that really demands your attention.

The writing is visceral and brutal and the story is fast paced, with loyalties of all characters constantly being questioned both by the readers and by other people in the story. Despite the concentration required, it's actually a pretty easy read with mainly short, choppy chapters, which tend to show events from alternating points of view.

Overall, if you are interested at all in what happened to John F Kennedy and who killed him - this book offers a fictionalised theory - then I would definitely recommend this, but be aware that it is not a cosy afternoon read! show less

This masterpiece brilliantly mixes fact and fiction to present a mosaic of America from the late 1950's until the assassination of JFK. Historical characters and facts covered include JFK's run for the presidency; his many affairs, including one with a Marilyn Monroe-like starlet; Bobby Kennedy's investigation of Teamster's Union boss Jimmy Hoffa; the CIA's botched planning and execution of the Bay of Pigs; Howard Hughes; Castro; J. Edgar Hoover; the Mafia in Chicago, Miami, L.A. and New Orleans; and much, much more.

These events engulf the three primary fictional characters, all of whom are amoral, murderous and depraved individuals. Pete Bondurant is a hired gun for Jimmy Hoffa, as well a drug supplier to Howard Hughes, who becomes one show more of the CIA trainers for the Cubans who will execute the Bay of Pigs invasion. Kemper Boyd simultaneously works for the FBI, the CIA, Robert F. Kennedy, the Mafia, and pimps for JFK. He is loyal to no one. Ward Littel is a former straight-arrow FBI agent formerly obsessed with nabbing the mob (rather than chasing the "reds" J. Edgar was interested in pursuing). He ends up as the ace attorney for Mafioso boss Carlos Marcello. Be aware that the events in this book are extremely violent and brutal.

The style in which this novel is written is truly unique, and takes some getting used to. It is written in short, staccato sentences, and the plot is presented as a series of vignettes. The language is idiomatic, full of slang and (to me) utterly authentic. This may only be a 4 1/2 star book, but I'm feeling generous and giving it 5 stars.

5 stars

This was a reread for me. I first read it around the time it was originally published in 1995. I loved it then, as well. I reread it because after reading a review of the second novel in the trilogy of which this is the opening book (The Cold Six Thousand) I wanted to continue on with the trilogy, which I never did, I guess because the succeeding books weren't written at the time I read the first one show less