Flashfire

Flashfire by Richard Stark (2000) I can’t say these Parker novels are the most entertaining books, to me, I’ve read, in that they (so far, I’ve only read a few) lack a particular depth, spirituality, and even nostalgia—plus, the violence is almost too much for me—but there’s nothing more addicting, save for maybe potato chips. I suppose it’s an addictive quality akin to a manual, for a specific obsession—though I’m not remotely interested in any of these activities—robbery, revenge, hiding out—but I guess observing Parker assess a situation, and then decisively acting, is a real pleasure—because of his experience, intelligence, and even creativity. But then, maybe it’s simply a wild yarn, and you’re waiting to see what happens next, and it’s often not what you expect. There are some terrific surprises in this one. I only realized later that this book was the basis for a movie I’d seen—Parker (2013)—an even worse title than this book! Which I didn’t really care for—mostly because its tone was off-putting to me, while the book’s tone feels perfect for what it is—which maybe means tonally flat, washed out—and weirdly the place from which you might find inspiration. Once again, there’s a change of identity side adventure, integral to the plot—and it strikes me how that is more difficult than a heist. It’s funny how two of the hardest things to achieve, for people, is fame and a new identity. As with most crime stories, the most fascinating part is the chess match—and then, when you throw out all the rules, who can you trust, and how far, and for how long, and how completely?

1.8.26