DICK CONTINO'S BLUES is a novel published by James Ellroy in 1994.
A few months in the life of Dick Contino, an italian accordionist, trying to survive in the show business. After a good start when he was 19 years old, he lost the audience's support when he behaved cowardly during the Korean War. Now, in 1958, people still remember his attitude but Dick does have the opportunity to play the main character of DADDY'HO, a cheap Z production of a jewish producer. In order to gain attention, he wants to organize a fake kidnapping that would make him appear as a hero. Meanwhile, a serial killer is observing him and waiting for the right time to emerge. | ||
Plot & Themes Tone of story - very upbeat Time/era of story: The crook is.... - commit white collar fraud or con descript. of violence and chases - 40 % Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 20 % Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40 % How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 0 % Crime Thriller Yes Crime plotlets: Is MAIN CHARACTER an EVIL criminal? Yes General Crime (including known murderer) Yes If story PRIMARILY about main chr. being hunted... - hunted by killer/stalker Main Character Gender - Male Profession/status: Age: - 20's-30's Ethnicity/Race Main Adversary Identity: - Male Profession/status: Eccentric: Yes Motive of antagonist - insanity Setting United States Yes The US: - West City? Yes City: - Writing Style Accounts of torture and death? - very gorey descriptions deaths/dead bodies Unusual forms of death - perforation--bullets Unusual form of death? Yes Amount of dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog |