Which writer is best with narrative pull?

[Bossy Monkey]

Poll question: Which writer is best with narrative pull?

I posted the question in non-poll form a couple-three years ago: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x5763279

At this time, there is space for an Other slot, but come on... we know Other is going to win, and there are so many deserving writers that it's probably better to use the last space for somebody I forgot or overlooked. But if there are no suggestions from the floor as of 55 minutes hence, I'll just add Other. Or I may add Peter Straub for just one book: "Ghost Story." (His other books, or the five or so I've read at least, don't maintain this level of quality.)

Inspired by my highly belated first reading of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone." I thought it was great, wonderful, splendid, funny, touching, thrilling-- and not as good as "A Wizard of Earthsea." I'll read the second book and probably the entire series, but I wasn't as captivated as I was hoping to be. But she's on the poll.

Slot 9 is killing me; I want Dashiell Hammett, John D. MacDonald or Carl Hiaasen. trof will come murder me if I don't put on Elmore Leonard. I already have Andrew Vachss, who is a certain non-vote-getter unless I vote for him, but he is in fact far and away the best at this... hmmmm, 55 minutes to decide. What do the Loungians say?

[Richardo]

1. I said it then and I'll say it again: Michael Connelly

Although Carl Hiaasen does it for me also. :thumbsup:

[Bossy Monkey]

2. Considering the groundswell of responses, I'll definitely put him on

I could of course do "Michael Connelly or Carl Hiaasen" and really tailor it.:)

Edit: I used to be able to read and write. (sigh)

[graywarrior]

4. I just recently got into reading Connelly.

I love his writing.

[Mopar151]

3. William Gibson

[MrCoffee]

6. Good Answer

:thumbsup:

[Bossy Monkey]

7. Mentioned in my Original OP (is that OOP?);

a good one, I'd have happily put him on the poll.

[frogmarch]

5. I didn't want

Ireland by Frank Delaney to ever end. When I finished reading it, I felt very depressed to say goodbye to the characters and the story, so I read it again. It's one of few books I have read more than once. I've read Ireland three or four times so far.

[bigwillq]

8. I voted for Andrew Vachss

just because I love him and never would've thought he would end up in a poll on DU!
But Vachss is the best!
:) :hi:

[Bossy Monkey]

10. Good on you. Do you think Burke is done, or getting ready to head back to the Pacific Northwest?

I'm thinking the former, but I've thought that before. Maybe he'll go to Japan and find Flood, finally. (And she'll break his jaw since she won't recognize the new face, but still.)

[bigwillq]

15. Actually, I haven't read a Burke book in years.

And I started with one that was quite new and then went back and forth between old books in the series and new ones. I may have to start from scratch with that series. But I love Burke so much!!!

Ever think they will make a movie out of them? :shrug:

[Bossy Monkey]

16. As of 1998, Amazon was saying he was working on movie deals

http://vachss.com/av_interviews/int_amazon.html The interview is very interesting (though it's the editors, not Vachss, mentioning movie deals).

My own guess would be that if they haven't made a Burke movie yet, they're hardly likely to start at this late date. But maybe somebody will send Tarentino a copy of "Strega" and he'll start shooting next month. Who knows?

[bigwillq]

17. I would love to see a movie or

an HBO series.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

9. Of the list, I'm grudgingly voting Grisham.

I don't particularly care for him, but he knows narrative.

[trof]

11. I dunno, but Elmore Leonard is THE BEST at dialogue.

He captures street language like no other author.
You can hear the conversation as you read it.
Love his books.

[Mike 03]

13. Better than Delillo or Richard Price? You could be right. I will check this guy out. NT

[Mike 03]

12. The most difficult poll ever...

I could have voted for Hemingway, but technically, he was not a narrative pull. He was an incredible writer but you had to trust and immerse yourself in his style to be pulled. He didn't pull you; you had to let yourself be pulled.

Writers who have pulled me:

Mario Vargas Llosa
Don Delillo
John Irving
Joseph Wambaugh
T.C. Boyle
Joseph Heller



I'll stop there, but I could add so many others, including Hunter S. Thompson and Tom Wolfe.

Wonderful, wonderful question, and I am dying to see how others respond.

Thank you.

[Bossy Monkey]

18. So YOU'RE the one who could put down "The Old Man & The Sea"! I knew there was somebody!

:P

[Tyrone Slothrop]

14. Ray Chandler

I find it's nearly impossible to not be completely absorbed in Phillip Marlowe's world within the first five pages of any of his novels.

Hammett would be right up there though...

[Love Bug]

19. James Michener

I always liked his books, especially The Source.

[nomorenomore08]

20. Out of my recent reads, Derek Raymond (R.I.P.) sure knew how to write a page-turner.

So far I've only read 'How the Dead Live' and 'I Was Dora Suarez,' but based on these alone I can see why he's considered one of the great British crime writers.

[MilesColtrane]

21. Mickey Spillane

T.C. Boyle
Hunter Thompson
Bukowski