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Go to My LibraryMy Dark Places (Scorpian Spec)
- Publisher
- Century
- ISBN
- 9780712687713
Subjects
Original edition details
Other editions (20)
My Dark Places Bookmarks
1997 • Vintage Books USA
English
My Dark Places A True Crime Autobiography
2009 • Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
English
My Dark Places A True Crime Autobiography
1997 • Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
English
Ma part d'ombre
1999 • Rivages
French
Ma part d'ombre mémoire sur un crime de L.A.
1997 • Rivages
French
Other editions

My Dark Places Bookmarks
1997 • Vintage Books USA
English

My Dark Places A True Crime Autobiography
2009 • Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
English

My Dark Places A True Crime Autobiography
1997 • Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
English

Ma part d'ombre
1999 • Rivages
French

Ma part d'ombre mémoire sur un crime de L.A.
1997 • Rivages
French

My Dark Places
1996 • Random House Audio
English

My Dark Places
2011 • Random House
English

My Dark Places
2010 • Windmill
English

My Dark Places
1997 • Books on Tape, Inc.
English

My Dark Places An L.A. Crime Memoir
1996 • Knopf
English

My Dark Places
1996 • Random House Publishing
English

My Dark Places
1996 • Century
English

My Dark Places
1997 • Arrow
English

My Dark Places
1999 • Random House Value Publishing
English

Mis Rincones Oscuros
2008 • Ediciones B
Spanish

Die Rothaarige. Sonderausgabe. Die Suche nach dem Mörder meiner Mutter.
2002 • Ullstein Tb
German

Mis Rincones Oscuros
1998 • Ediciones B
Spanish

Mis rincones oscuros
2001 • Suma de Letras
Spanish

Die Rothaarige. Die Suche nach dem Mörder meiner Mutter.
1999 • Ullstein Buchverlage GmbH & Co. KG / Ullstein Tas
German

My Dark Places: A L.A. Crime Memoir
1998 • Penguin Random House
English
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Rating Sources
James Ellroy's memoir receives significant praise for its raw intensity, unflinching honesty, and unique narrative style. Reviewers frequently highlight the author's ability to delve deeply into complex themes such as misogyny, brutality, sexuality, and the nature of crime, offering perspectives that many find profoundly insightful and challenging. The writing is often described as powerful, staccato, and mesmerizing, effectively immersing readers in the seedy mid-twentieth-century Los Angeles setting and the author's personal journey. Many readers commend Ellroy's courage in exposing his own flaws and dark experiences, finding his self-examination both terrifying and brilliant. The book is lauded as a compelling, gripping, and admirable work that combines elements of true crime and autobiography, often leading readers to neglect other duties in order to finish it.
However, the book is not without its criticisms, primarily stemming from its demanding style and challenging content. Some readers found Ellroy's short, repetitive sentences and dense prose to be "practically unreadable," leading to boredom or frustration. The subject matter, which includes graphic details of violence and the author's disturbing personal history, is frequently described as unpleasant, unsettling, and not for the faint of heart, pushing many out of their comfort zones. Reviewers also noted issues with the book's pacing, finding parts of the police procedural sections to be overly long, repetitive, and bogged down with insignificant details or dead-end leads. Additionally, some expressed discomfort with Ellroy's character, perceiving him as harsh, difficult, or not a "hero," and questioned the book's lack of a clear resolution regarding his personal transformation or the central murder investigation.
Overall, My Dark Places is regarded as a profoundly impactful and often brilliant work, though one that elicits strong and sometimes conflicted reactions. It is highly recommended for fans of James Ellroy's fiction, readers with a keen interest in true crime or intense memoirs, and those who appreciate brutal honesty and dark, challenging narratives. However, potential readers should be forewarned that the book's graphic content, explicit themes, and demanding writing style make it unsuitable for the sensitive or squeamish, and many find it a difficult, albeit ultimately rewarding, experience.
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