tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291823984059320518.post3645454049518561857..comments2024-03-26T17:48:56.627+00:00Comments on 'Do You Write Under Your Own Name?': Ira LevinMartin Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16082485795280777670noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291823984059320518.post-72364732721139017582007-11-25T22:55:00.000+00:002007-11-25T22:55:00.000+00:00Maxine, I couldn't agree more. I was a huge fan of...Maxine, I couldn't agree more. I was a huge fan of Symons and I was thrilled that, in the last few years of his life, I had the opportunity to meet him a few times. He was someone who didn't suffer fools, or sloppy writing, gladly, but his sharp intelligence and his real love of the genre always shone through. Some of his novels are superb - I've always admired 'The Man Whose Dreams Came True', for instance. And of all the books ever written about crime fiction,'Bloody Murder' is by far my favourite. Of course, opinions about some of his critical judgments may be mixed. But he always made it clear that he was open to 'reasoned contradiction'.Martin Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16082485795280777670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291823984059320518.post-42476940681536243782007-11-25T19:19:00.000+00:002007-11-25T19:19:00.000+00:00You remind me that Julian Symons was another wonde...You remind me that Julian Symons was another wonderful author --- and a stong proponent for the genre at a time when it was rather "looked down on". He did so much to establish crime fiction as a "respectable" type of literature, and to support and promote authors. Another person, as well as Levin, who is sadly missed.Maxine Clarkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06628509319992204770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291823984059320518.post-53571988037772201982007-11-23T23:12:00.000+00:002007-11-23T23:12:00.000+00:00Maxine, I was directed to the book originally by J...Maxine, I was directed to the book originally by Julian Symons' masterly survey of the genre, 'Bloody Murder'. I recall that JS said that the only flaw was that the twist came a bit too early. Even so, it's a brilliant twist and an extraordinary piece of work for a young writer. <BR/>The original film I recall (rather vaguely now) as okay, but not at the same level as the book, and so far I've resisted the re-make, which didn't get good reviews.Martin Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16082485795280777670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291823984059320518.post-26371040106987093512007-11-23T19:36:00.000+00:002007-11-23T19:36:00.000+00:00Me too, I've read all his books and his plays too....Me too, I've read all his books and his plays too. (I have read far more plays than I've seen performed).<BR/>I was quite young when I read "A Kiss Before Dying" and I was completely shocked and thrilled by the twist (identity of the fiance/husband). I suppose it is all old hat these days, but that moment of realisation has stuck with me for many years!<BR/>Mind you, a difficult book to film...there have been two versions of it to my knowledge, I think I may have seen the first one but not the second - Robert Wagner was in it, maybe? I can't recall it as being very good.Maxine Clarkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06628509319992204770noreply@blogger.com