- Paperback: 352 pages
- Publisher: Bantam Press; 1st Impression edition. edition (14 Jan 1999)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0593044622
- ISBN-13: 978-0593044629
- Product Dimensions: 21.6 x 13.4 x 2.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 2,875,221 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Plus, get an extra £5 Gift Certificate when you trade in books worth £10 or more before June 30, 2012. Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. |
Product details |
More About the Author
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Love is a Racket begins with the sound of a man's fingers being broken--a clear indication that, in this story, compassion is presumed dead. Fortified by a staunch lack of compromise, John Ridley's second novel is an exceptional example of LA noir: a ferocious look at the murky lives blighted by insincerity and shallowness. Jeffty Kittridge is a failed scriptwriter, con man, gambler and regular stroller down the boulevard of broken dreams. He owes $15,000 to a loan shark and when he isn't drinking his sorrows away, he moves from one failed plan to the next. Such relentless bad luck morphs again with the arrival of Nellis, his junkie friend and master of a supposed 'can't-lose-poker-scheme.' However, circumstance goes awry again--but Jeffty finds salvation in a beautiful homeless woman, Mona, and a con that hinges on a legendary Hollywood love triangle. There is a compelling narrative voice in Jeffty that transcends his low-life status and imbues his plight with poignant honesty. Love is a Racket is testament to Ridley's mastery of humour; it's full of sharp lines that will routinely make you laugh out loud: "My good luck was that LA's a great place to work. Except for the smog and the gang violence, the brushfires in summer, the rain and floods in winter--it's great." Danny Graydon
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
edition.
Product Description
Everything's a racket for Jeffty Kittridge, ex-wannabe scriptwriter living on the skids in Hollywood. He's seen jail twice, and he is a big-time loser, getting bigger all the time. Then he stumbles on a street-hardened, beautiful young woman, who inspires love - and the idea for the perfect con.
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organise and find favourite items. |
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The story didn't get going until nearly half way through the book. The main character is both silly and lovable at the same time and carries the book well. His antics and comments vary from very funny in some places to extremely sobering in others..a strong stomach is required in a one or two parts. All in all..it's a good read.
Format:Paperback
John Ridley's 'Love is A Racket' is a well woven tale of love, deception, sex, murder and ultimately survival. Its certainly not for the faint hearted, with gritty descriptions of occurances involving the central character Jeffty Kittridge, in the dangerous streets of L.A. Jeffty is certainly not the most likeable character, but somehow still drags the reader along his struggle to pay back the loan shark, Dumas, who repeatadley has Jeffty's fingers broken as he continually fails.
This author, John Ridley, wrote the script for Oliver Stone's U-Turn, his writing on both the page and screen always depict the dark side of America, the real America in all it's ugliness and paints a perfect picture of his subject locations, in this case L.A.
This author, John Ridley, wrote the script for Oliver Stone's U-Turn, his writing on both the page and screen always depict the dark side of America, the real America in all it's ugliness and paints a perfect picture of his subject locations, in this case L.A.
If you like crime novels, if you like black comedy, if you like fast paced fiction, if you like violence, if you have a strong stomach this is for you.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
21 reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
What a Great Racket!!!
20 Oct 1999
Format:Mass Market Paperback
John Ridley seems to have been inspired by the works of James M. Cain and Jim Thompson. He takes that inspiration and mixes it with his unique updated style and creates greatness.
This story of Jeffty Kittridge trying to rise up from the bottom is funny, exciting and sad. If you are familiar with an urban environment, you will recognize some of these realistic characters. People like these really exist in cities all across this country.
I really enjoyed this novel. I can't wait to read more from Mr. Ridley.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
The art of the con, artfully told
29 May 1999
Format:Hardcover
It would be too easy to say that Ridley puts Jim Thompson's characters in the sub-basement of Raymond Chandler's Los Angeles. There are echoes of both masters in this book, but mostly in the sense that the people and places are made real by Ridley's skill. The pace is brisk, and the dialog sparkles. If there is one quibble, it is with one (unnecessary) sentence that telegraphs the ending, but this doesn't detract from the entertainment the book provides. It may not be great literature, but it is great fun.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Another Stepping Stone to Greatness
8 Dec 1998
Format:Hardcover
I read John Ridley's first novel, 'Stray Dogs' and was pleased. Beyond that, however, it didn't blow me away. It was nasty, compact and smartly written, but in the end I deemed it merely servicable. Thank God I picked up his sophmore effort to show me exactly how much Ridley has grown as a writer. Love is a Racket is smarter, funnier, edgier, more densely plotted and filled with a cast of deeply written characters. Plus, the ending was brilliant; both unexpected, and, if you think about it, the only way the whole thing could have ended up. All great writers get better with age; it's part of the evolution of their craft. With a second book this good, I can't wait for the release of Mr. Ridley's next book, 'We All Smoke in Hell.'
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
