tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15258276.post3538148256951473044..comments2023-11-05T01:05:41.190-07:00Comments on International Noir Fiction: New South African noir by Jassy MackenzieGlenn Harperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04869155065647936216noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15258276.post-32376852672107768542010-07-08T13:07:47.755-07:002010-07-08T13:07:47.755-07:00Thanks, as ever, for a great review, Glenn, and I ...Thanks, as ever, for a great review, Glenn, and I just love those paragraphs! (Thanks again for those). Despite what you write about the flat end, this one is going on my list based on your review. I find a lot of this translated fiction ends with a whimper rather than a bang, as if the author has got bored with the crime element along the way, and has become more interested, or distracted, by other side-issues. I hate those novels that have to end with some massive shoot-out or other OTT finale - so tedious. So for me, a flat ending is generally OK.Maxine Clarkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06628509319992204770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15258276.post-38451845050925740252010-07-08T09:40:48.757-07:002010-07-08T09:40:48.757-07:00I read Anthony Altbeker's A Country at War wit...I read Anthony Altbeker's A Country at War with Itself, an analysis of the crime problem in SA, before I read Random Violence. It gave me more insight into where Jassy was coming from in her descriptions of violent crime, the use of boom gates to isolate residential areas, use of private armed security, etc.<br /><br />I wish another Jade de Jong was available now.Mackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05555318160638307655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15258276.post-478473844403711092010-07-08T09:31:50.826-07:002010-07-08T09:31:50.826-07:00I read RANDOM VIOLENCE and was put off enough by t...I read RANDOM VIOLENCE and was put off enough by the violence to put the book away. But, I realized that the story was too interesting to ignore, so I went back to it, and enjoyed it.<br /><br />Jassy Mackenzie is not an American author. She is shaped by her country and her personal experiences and applies them to her heroine. Once I, as an American reader, got past the differences in perspective, I could appreciate the story.<br /><br />Mackenzie certainly knows how to create an villain.<br /><br />Beth C<br />www.murderbytype.com<br /><br />The vibethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17405199782450351160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15258276.post-74620359702929101762010-07-08T09:15:00.947-07:002010-07-08T09:15:00.947-07:00Possible Spoilers if you haven't read the book...Possible Spoilers if you haven't read the book. Be warned.<br /><br />I enjoyed this book very much. I have a different take on the denoument, though, I liked it. Jassy could have gone with the ultra-vi but her way showed that the villain, in the end, didn't really amount to much.Mackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05555318160638307655noreply@blogger.com