doclinkin wrote:
Since we agree on Exley and Karr, who else should I read when I'm done with this one?
oh man, tough one. based on the above, i'm still trying to get a "read" on what you like. Exley and Karr are hard to match visavis style and substance, i.e., "writerly" (good word) writers who explore the very dark corners of their lives. Although not so "writerly," I guess you could put most of Bukowki's truth-based fiction on the list (esp. "Women" and "Hollywod"). Martin Amis is another in that vein. But both of those guys are so firmly entrenched in the hipster-lit canon that I'd wager that you're already familiar with their stuff.
Doc, i love that you're a fellow Exley fan. I've recommended "Fan's" (his first, not the next 2 sucky ones) to so many people, but very few have shared my enthusiasm for it. I really haven't encountered an author since who has so moved me. (Jonathan Yardley apparently shares this sentiment, he wrote a book about Exley, with whom he formed an odd friendship. Yardley wrote a glowing review of "Fan's" for the WaPo, and Exley got all needy and stalkerish afterwards.)
Anyhoo, I think the "spoken aloud" vernacular was perfected in Dave Eggers' "Heartbreaking" - again, i'll assume you've read that. now, throw some recs my way.
