I've read a lot of Ellroy. I prefer his early novels; after the success of "L.A. Confidential" he got into this "Zippity op-bop FLASH" scattered stream of something-or-other mode and the books became (to me) unreadable. ("American Tabloid, for instance.)

But the latest, "Blood's A Rover," while maintaining some of the attitude of "Tabloid," is a more conventional noir thriller, and far more appealing.

But nothing this guy writes is really conventional. He's got a very vivid, and very warped, imagination.

BEE was in vogue for a time, couldn't relate to his stuff at all, either.

Chester Himes Harlem Trilogy is worth checking out, the film of A Rage in Harlem was pretty good too.  He led an interesting life as his autobiography A Quality of Hurt attests too.  He was inprisoned for armed robbery in the 1930's and later emigrated to Spain, with just two nylon shirts to his name.

His non-crime writing is even better, particulary, The Lonely Crusade about a black welder caught up in union activism and an affair with a white woman back in a '40's shipyard. 

I haven't read a novel for years and years, only read history, autobiographies, collected letters and diaries these days. Even poetry is on a back burner, which it shouldn't be.

There's not a living writer who interests me.

ellroy is always pretty fresh as far as clothing is concerned.  i saw him do a reading for blood's a rover and he was wearing a pink, u-stripe button-down, brooks bow tie, navy windowpane sportscoat, khakis and some heavy, moc-toe oxfords. 

he's got his rap down pat of course, but he's still pretty amusing in those types of settings.