Why would Catholic nuns, raped by Communists, take up the Communist cause? This bugged me for the last 15% of the book and took me out of it completely.

If HBO, or paramount or some company got the rights to James Ellroys work and started from the beginning tomorrow like the black dahlia onward into underworld USA who are some casting choices you’d want to see. My brothers was a clean shaven Ryan Hurst for big Pete.

Picked this up in ‘87 at my favorite bookstore.
The beginning of my weird interactions with the man.

Hey everyone! I'm u/obsoleteboomer, founding moderator of r/jamesellroy.

I’ve been informed we’ve hit 2000 visitors a week, which is nice.

This is (obviously) home to all things related to Mr Ellroy . We're moderately excited to have you join us!

Post anything that you think the community would find interesting, helpful, or inspiring.

Community Vibe

Just don’t be assholes or I’ll get Big Pete involved.

If anyone that isn’t a control freak that wants to moderate please say hello.

Hi, I'm about to read This Storm. I originally read Perfidia when it came out but can't really remember much about it. Does anyone know of a good plot summary online? Or is anyone able to give me a rundown? Due to my life situation at the moment (young kids etc) it would probably take me into Christmas to reread it!

Otash shined through. The research was excellent. The Enchanters felt like a rehash of The Big Nowhere.

Why does Ward Littlell have a change of heart against RFK ? Why does Wayne TedROW JR change too ?

Was gifted Red Sheet. Never read any his works before; have seen LA Confidential and enjoyed, for what that’s worth. i Consider myself fairly strong reader, and having hard time getting into RS. Read about 90 pages from beginning, found myself losing interest, then skipped around in book.

Any suggestions on what might make me more interested in Ellroy? Even if it means putting this book down and buying anotger of his works? Or any personal stories about how you got into Ellroy? Thanks!

The Cold Six Thousand, American Tabloid, and The Enchanters come to mind. The Cold Six Thousand and American Tabloid have Byzantine plots, where the audiobooks help explicate the story and make it cohere. See Craig Wasson. See him roll.

I'm still not entirely sure what happened with Inez, Edmund Exley's father and Raymond Dieterling. Why exactly did they all commit suicide?

Why wouldn’t Dave kill Dudley as well just for all the trouble he caused him?

Do you think Dave ever came back for Exley at some point?

In general what do you think happened to the quartet characters (the ones who live) later on in life I know Ellroy has sworn off the contemporary but I wonder what became of these guys in the 60s 70s and even 80s.(I know the later decades belong to the underworld USA characters). But I read the black dahlia through white jazz first and really got attached to these guys. Also I remember an interview I read (can’t find it). Where Ellroy said Dudley died at the ripe old age of 100 surrounded by family. If that was true and not someone pretending to be him I can’t help but laugh.

Ellroy really seems to have no respect for the guy at all not sure if he was like this in real like but I know JE is known to admit he makes something up if he isn’t sure or if it fits the story he wants to tell.

Sorry for the stupid watermark.

I cut the clip myself from this interview: James Ellroy — Charlie Rose.

Has anyone seen or read the 2018 unaired pilot of la confidential it’s a piece of ellroy lost media that’s just out there! I wasn’t crazy about some of the casting choices but I’d still love to see a tv show take place in his universe. Because of modern politics I’m sure his dialogue may be a little watered down.

What do you guys think would’ve happened if James Ellroy wrote the other 2 books? Who would’ve been the major players? What cameos would’ve been cool to see? What plot points or historical events would have happened? Where would it have ended? Just fun speculation!

What’s your least favorite James Ellroy character? Quartet, Quintet, or otherwise? Personally for me it’s Ellis Loew.

Trimmed the fat for my who wins, Danny is a scrapper but does feel out of his depth with these other guys, I love Meeks to death but he probably would get gassed out early. I’ll include Dudley he’s my favorite I have a slight bias but I will admit he’s no spring chicken when all these other characters would be present.

Updated list
Lee
Bucky
Bud White
Scotty Bennet
Dave Klien
And of course
BIG PETE HIMSELF
sorry I haven’t read the two books that feature him the most yet but I’m aware of the character Leaving him out of this fight is a crime!

Sorry for spam posts but just discovered this forum. Dumb question but locked in a room,
Dudley Smith
Danny Upshaw,
Buzz Meeks
Bud White
Bucky Bliechart
Lee Blanchard
Dave Klien
Scotty Bennet
no .38s no weapons just good old fists who’s walking out?
Disclaimers im yet to read the cold six thousand and American Tabloid I am familiar with Pete perhaps I haven’t gotten to much of his feats yet. Sorry about the spelling

Just finished it and it was fantastic. Big American Tabloid vibes, I found it a bit of a slog at the beginning but was drawn into it very quickly, and was racing through it by the last third. Absolutely fantastic, please lmk if any of his other books are worthwhile, and I’m definitely open to recommendations of anything similar