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5.0étoiles sur 5
Destiny can be deadly., Juil 3 2004
Eddie is the name of the piano player of the book's title. For the princely sum of thirty dollars a week, Eddie provides background music in a rundown dive. He figures that if he has nothing, nothing can be taken away from him. And if he stays in the background, like so much wallpaper, no one will ever bother him.
Eddie's strategy for living works quite well. That is until an untimely visit from his hoodlum brother triggers a cascade of events that threaten his very life.
Shoot the Piano Player is a short allegorical novel that is dark and unapologetically downbeat. Deceptively simple in its construction, there's a lot of truth about life contained within its pages. If you take the time to read this book, you will learn more about what makes human beings tick than you ever would by reading any ten psychology texts put together. An enthusiastic 5 stars.
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4.0étoiles sur 5
You Can't Escape Fate, Mars 13 2004
"Shoot the Piano Player" is quintessential American crime noir. The protagonist is Eddie, a piano player in a sleazy Philadelphia bar. He comes from a family of criminals but managed to escape that life. At one time, he was a promising classic pianist, but then he fell from grace. Now, Eddie's brother Turley literally stumbles back into his life, bringing chaos and uncertainty. At the same time, Eddie begins to tentatively woo a waitress at work. The plot is full of twists, although it's a bit of a mess at times.The novel was originally released in 1956 as "Down There," which appropriately reflects the dilemma Eddie faces. Specifically, the book focuses heavily on fate, which seems to be dictating that Eddie return to "down there" from whence he came. The book's name was changed subsequently to reflect the classic 1960 movie it inspired - "Shoot the Piano Player," directed by French auteur Francois Truffaut. As with Truffaut's movie, the book's plot is secondary to character and ambience. Instead, Goodis reflects on small moments, such as Eddie's exhilaration at standing close to the waitress in an alley as they hide from gangsters. Indeed, the characters are well-delineated, and I found myself truly caring about them. If you like Raymond Chadler, Jim Thomson or similar crime noir writers, then you'll probably enjoy this novel. Goodis is a skillful pulp writer. Unfortunately, most of his books have gone out of print - make sure you get this one while it's still available.
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4.0étoiles sur 5
Brotherly Love Noir, Oct. 21 2003
Moon in the Gutter shows the south philly sewer life and urban hell better and Blonde On the Street Corner is his tour de force. Shoot the Piano Player is more of a straight noir shoot 'em up. Still Goodis gives his main character Eddie more depth than any other mystery writer out there, Chandler included. The key to Goodis is the truth embedded in his simple, declaritive sentances and the sad reality of his circus of pathetic souls. Ex-wrestlers, obese blondes, bold 90 pound whores, and waitresses wielding hatpins dance under goodis direction like bizarre marionettes in the Bigtop Noir of Goodis's distinct and brawling literary world. Goodis is a master...nuff said.
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