Robert Stone wrote one of my favorite novels, Dog Soldiers, so it pains me to report that Stone’s latest novel–Death of the Black-Haired Girl–isn’t very good. For starters, the black-haired girl named Maud (who names their daughter Maud in the past 20 years?) is killed on page 127 of this 281-page book. From page 127 on to the end, the book explores the impact of the black-haired girl’s death on her father (a NYPD cop), her lover (a college professor), her therapist (a former nun), and her roommate (an actress). Dull, dull, dull. GRADE: C
Loved Dog Soldiers but have been disappointed in his more recent stuff. Guess I’ll pass on this.
Steve, I feel like I wasted my time reading this book.
I liked Hall of Mirrors, set in New Orleans in the early 1960s. Although published in 1967, it was remarkably prescient about the role right-wing talk radio would occupy in race relations in our country; but I must admit, I struggled to read several others of his. Also, I’m bothered by the title: if a female is old enough to have a lover and live independently of her parents, she’s a woman not a girl. The title makes it seem as if it’s about the death of a child.
Deb, I’m with you on HALL OF MIRRORS. But DEATH OF THE BLACK-HAIRED GIRL is a far cry from that book.
Btw, Maud, like Mabel, is making a comeback as a girl’s name–but it’s a recent phenomenon, so a woman currently in her twenties would be unlikely to have that name. In about 15 years, there’ll be a number of twenty-something woman named Maud. I believe one of Judd Apatow’s daughters is named Maud. Yes, my brain is filled with stupid trivia!
Deb, I bow to your name-knowledge!
I’d think it more likely if she were born in Ireland.
I liked Stone’s early stuff too, especially DOG SOLDIERS.
Jeff, it seems incredible that the author of DOG SOLDIERS could have written such a weak book as THE DEATH OF THE BLACK-HAIRED GIRL.
I was about to say what Deb said so both are brains are filled with facts like this.
Patti, I have zero knowledge of names so I’m impressed that you and Deb possess this information.
An author new to me.
Randy, Robert Stone has been writing novels since the 1960s. But I feel his early work is much better than his more recent work.
If it’s so bad, why a C? Are you grading on a curve?
Bob, THE DEATH OF THE BLACK-HAIRED GIRL was tedious for me. Other people’s mileage may vary.
The film version of Dog Soldiers plays a lot on cable. Retitled Who’ll Stop the Rain. Its a pretty good film.
Steve, I liked WHO’LL STOP THE RAIN–but not the title.