GRAVEN IMAGE isn't officially published for another five weeks but we've seen two early and conflicting reviews. The ying and the yang, if you will. First this one from David Paine of local organ the Worcester News, which starts out:
In author Charlie Williams’ attempt to write gritty dialogue there is great emphasis on bad language.
This doesn't bode well, does it ? Let's pull that teflon cloak on...
While I don’t particularly have a problem with that and accept it is used in everyday life, particularly a stressful situation like Leon finds himself in, other authors like Simon Kernick, who for me is the master of this genre right now, manage to create pace, tension and fear without overdoing it with the profanities.
Let's just say it doesn't get much better than that. But hey, I defend to the death every man's right to express his own onion. I mean opinion. Let's move onto the yang, shall we? The Nerd of Noir starts out:
Leon has fucked up something terrible.
This is already my kind of review!
Though much is often made of voice and madness when discussing his work, I think short shrift is too often given to the fucking delightfully gritty worlds Williams creates, from dingy bars packed with shiftless professional drinkers to the lonely streets where only half-retarded wannabe thugs dare to tread, fritting away the night posing like their favorite crime flick characters to impress their easily amused friends.
Long live the Nerd. And David Paine. Just to show there's no hard feelings, here is a special tribute to you:
2 comments:
I'm with the nerd all the way and I haven't even read the book! He's usually spot on,though.
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