SARA PARETSKY Crime Fiction Discussion - Friday 8th September 1pm
Well we have been holding a few crime fiction workshops here at the Footscray Mechanics Institute Library ( FMI) over past few years, from Scandinavian fiction via Linda to Rankin, Rendell and Scottish and Northern Irish with Neil.
Looked for a new crime fiction author to focus on, and found Sara Paretsky was well represented in FMI library, with 17 titles held. Particularly as we have a nice donation of books from Sisters of Crime Melbourne group. Picked up 'Indemnity Only' and saw "she died 10 minutes before ambulance got there" and thought gee looks hardboiled - will gave it go. Loved it!
Sara Paretsky is an American author who has a female private investigator protagonist - one V. .I Warshawski. This in the genre of crime fiction was/is somewhat unusual. The novels of which there are 22, are mostly set in Chicago. Each story is a standalone, though many feature recuring characters.
In the story the PI is employed to locate a missing girl. She finds boyfriend of girl murdered; she receives beating as intimidation and arms herself! And the story involves a big Insurance Company and Organised Labor. Victoria the PI also finds a CLUE as in all good crime fiction. A document unobserved under a stove.
More generally the book addresses labor rackets, feminist theories of the time i.e. 1970s, and has a backdrop of Chicago and its lake side and the food available in Chicago's environs. The hard boiled style is inclusive of fine sentences.
As with the female genre of crime fiction it is inclusive of emotive interface between characters. The hard realities of making a living from private investigation are dealt with in a realistic manner. The book introduces a character of interest to the world of crime fiction. And the story? It all works out in the end. NF
Find out more about Sara Paretsky at the discussion group: Where: FMI Reading Room When: Fri 8th September 1pm
Cost: FREE to FMI Members. Not a Member ?, please bring ID and enquire about out membership. Hope to see our valued FMI Members there.
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