Dark, violent and truly outstanding! This is one of the books that I have read most frequently.

And the movie, unfortunately, is rather underrated. It is also one of the movies that I have watched most often.

It is highly recommended to read the book first!

Moreover, I have mostly read it in its Swedish translation. Although there is nothing amiss with the translation, the original text truly outshines it.

The original language brings out the essence and nuances of the story in a way that the translation cannot fully capture.

It allows the reader to immerse themselves completely in the dark and violent world created by the author.

The vivid descriptions and powerful narrative make it a truly captivating read.

Whether you are a fan of the book or the movie, it is definitely worth exploring the original text to fully appreciate the genius of the work.

Novela negra is a captivating genre that I delved into and found myself intrigued from start to finish.
In this particular novel, the central character, Tim, meets an unknown couple in a bar. He strikes up a friendship with them, but after drinking excessive amounts, he wakes up the next day with no memory. Greatly concerned, he discovers a pool of blood in his car and the head of a blonde woman in a marijuana plantation on his property. This leads him to doubt himself. From then on, corpses will appear in the novel like grapes in a cluster.
The author skillfully weaves a web of manipulations, intrigues, entanglements, misunderstandings, sex, drugs, very sordid situations, and all kinds of malice among the characters. The story unfolds in a thrilling and suspenseful manner, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat. It explores the darker side of human nature and the consequences of one's actions. Overall, it is a fascinating and engaging read that leaves a lasting impression.

I was really quite into this for approximately two-thirds of it. It had the distinct feel of a stoner-noir, with those really bad nightmare vibes. In fact, "cursed weed" actually plays a significant role in this, on top of various other mysticisms such as ghosts and fate.

However, then everything wraps up rather cleanly in the last stretch. This left me pondering and wondering what the point of any of it truly was. Mailer is an extremely talented prose writer, and this work really feels like it's attempting to make a statement on something. But to be honest, I'm really at a loss as to what that could be.

Even though I felt like it fumbled the landing in the end, I still think it's worthy of a glance. It stands out as a distinctly quirky noir book that has its own unique charm and elements that are worth exploring and considering.

Overall, while it may not have completely hit the mark for me in terms of its overall message and conclusion, it still has enough interesting aspects to make it a worthwhile read for those interested in the noir genre or unique literary works.

Easily the worst thing I have ever read.

I only read it to compare to the batshit Wings Hauser film which I have seen previously.

Norman Mailer is truly a terrible person. His actions and behavior have often been controversial and have left a negative impact.

Moreover, he is also a shitty writer. His works lack the depth and quality that one would expect from a renowned author.

The storylines are often convoluted and the characters are one-dimensional.

His writing style is not engaging and fails to draw the reader in.

In conclusion, I would not recommend anything written by Norman Mailer to anyone.

It is a waste of time and energy to even attempt to read his works.

There are far better authors and books out there that are worth spending your time on.

As I have previously mentioned, I rarely read books again. However, I have done so twice recently. Norman Mailer's Tough Guys Don't Dance, 1986 (Tough Guys Don't Dance, 1984) was one of my favorites in high school, and now at a more mature age, I wanted to revisit the work and update my understanding of the book's content and style before delving deeper into Mailer's oeuvre.

Norman Mailer has been titled at times as one of the most significant post-World War II American writers (e.g., two Pulitzer Prizes), and at other times as an unforgivable, naïve, provocative literary horror, a homophobic misogynist, or a ridiculous left-wing conservative. At least he doesn't leave anyone cold. During my reading years, Mailer had a great impact on me with his arrogant habit and his anarchical and contemptuous style towards literary conventions. It's probably not entirely without reason that Mailer has also been named the Jörn Donner of the United States.

Tough Guys Don't Dance is perhaps not Mailer's only thriller. Despite a rather promising initial setup, the novel immediately descends into such meandering on the first few pages that it may very well drive a large part of the readers away from the book. Amid all the meandering, Mailer's narrative is deliberately vulgar, almost rowdy, and makes one wonder what kind of dark obsessions the writer truly harbors in the depths of his soul. Mailer cultivates refined words and rowdiness side by side as if he has difficulty deciding whether to give in to the intellectual or the ruffian image.

The story of the novel progresses painfully slowly: at the beginning of the book, Mailer's narrative is like channeling the stream of consciousness onto paper - sometimes we stumble for several pages describing the history of Cape Cod and its impact on the present day, and then we are jerked into motion just enough to be able to jam again and ponder the protagonist's ethics or the personal history of his parents through flashbacks. Around the middle of the novel, Mailer seems to wake up again to drive the story forward, and the plot forms quite a bunch of murder mysteries, although it develops rather chaotically. Also, the meanderings and ponderings at the beginning of the novel somehow find their purpose at the end of the novel.

Mailer is an interesting and quite versatile writer. For example, The Castle in the Forest, 2007 (The Castle in the Forest, 2007) does not much resemble this novel that I am now evaluating. I have had several other Mailers sitting on my bookshelf for years, and just a few weeks ago, I ordered three more novels for my collection, so the intention is to get to know the writer's work and his world of ideas more closely in the near future.

My rating is 3.2 out of 5 stars.

Boo, what do you mean tough guys don't dance?

Tough guys don't lose track of their business either. XX, step it up, Timmy.

There's gay angst and emotionally removed dads. But babes, we are so lucky we have women to serve, to balance out male anger, and to bring at least some emotional variety to the book.

I loved the beginning. I hated the middle. I liked the end. And I ADORED it when I was on the last page.

This story seems to be a wild ride of emotions and experiences. The concept of tough guys and their supposed lack of certain qualities is challenged. The presence of women as a balancing force is an interesting aspect. The narrator's changing feelings towards different parts of the book add an element of unpredictability. Overall, it's a tale that keeps the reader engaged and guessing until the very last page.

DNF.

Life is indeed too short to waste on something that is considered a travesty. In the context of DNF, it could refer to a game that fails to meet expectations or a task that seems impossible to complete.

We should focus our limited time and energy on things that bring us joy, fulfillment, and growth. Instead of persevering with something that is clearly not working or enjoyable, it might be wiser to cut our losses and move on.

There are so many other wonderful opportunities and experiences waiting for us in life. We should not let the fear of giving up or the need to prove ourselves hold us back from exploring these possibilities.

So, the next time you find yourself in a situation where you are tempted to continue with a DNF, take a step back, assess the situation, and consider if it is really worth your time and effort. Remember, life is too short to waste on travesties.

Before reading this book, one must mentally prepare oneself very well to be ready for what comes.

In "The Tough Guys Don't Dance", Mailer immerses us in an oppressive, bitter, and dizzying atmosphere that those who have been under the influence of alcohol, cigarettes, cocaine, or marijuana will understand. The story, dark to the core, puts us in the shoes of Tim Madden, a frustrated writer and addict to excesses who spends his free time philosophizing about life, people, and his past. Ah, and by free time, I mean the moments when he is not trying to deal with his inner poison and uncovering a tangled conspiracy of colorful characters who seek to point him out as a murderer.

The book is a whole journey through the lonely streets of Provincetown, and during the final third, one simply cannot stop reading. Especially prominent is Tim's father, Doug, who will utter phrases worthy of your Instagram photos.

If you are a tough guy (or gal), one of those who don't dance, this book is for you.

Our winter loneliness, as I say, is the source of half of our actions.

This line, when the protagonist is defending the maintenance of the most scummiest of social circles, perpetuating illogical actions without a moral compass or a passing thought of two days in front of a football, might lead the reader to consider the inhabitants of Provincetown as victims of circumstance and surroundings, and in no way as participants with enough agency to clean the crud out of their eyes in the morning. However, I am from the Iowa of your imagination (with every stereotype of loneliness available), and had to set the book down while reading this line at the YWCA to prevent my laughter from causing it to drop on the 60-year-old berber.

Mailer's characters are not victims. They are flotsam and jetsam.

Just as the incarcerated make plans for the day, embedding purpose in the ticking of the clock by assigning ritual and activity, so do these characters. The only difference is that the bars are slightly more metaphorical in Provincetown than in Rikers.

But Tough Guys Don't Dance isn't a pastiche of Jim Thompson's brand of animalistic naturalism, nor an aloof (and brilliant) romp like Thomas Pynchon's Inherent Vice. It is simply in a league of its own by having much more love. Love? Mailer? It is here, and it leaves you with more to believe in for yourself.

My first encounter with Norman Mailer's work was truly an experience to remember.

It was a disturbing read, delving deep into the dark underbelly of society with its vivid descriptions of murder, drugs, and all the other vices that one can imagine.

However, despite the disturbing nature of the subject matter, I found myself completely absorbed in the story.

Mailer's writing style is so captivating that it draws you in and doesn't let go until the very end.

I was on the edge of my seat throughout the entire book, eagerly turning the pages to find out what would happen next.

And even though the story was filled with all kinds of bad things, there was also a certain beauty and truth to it that made it all the more powerful.

I will definitely be back to read more of Mailer's work in the future.

His ability to explore the human condition in such a raw and unflinching way is truly remarkable.

I can't wait to see what other stories he has to tell.

What a disappointment! I had hoped it would be at the level of "Il canto del boia" but.... no, definitely not.

It's an absurd story based on chopped-off heads, perforated bodies, and fathers who spend their time burying corpses. And between masochism and an aestheticized homosexual narrative (treated as a cliché), there is the search for a superfather who can solve all the problems. There is also the fear of a woman with the attributes who enjoys as much as the protagonist. It's a cheap romance novel that doesn't redeem itself. On the contrary, it's in the guise of a butcher's shop sex under the guise of an authorial narrative.

This work fails to engage the reader on multiple levels. The plot is convoluted and lacks coherence, jumping from one grotesque scene to another without any real purpose. The characters are one-dimensional and lack depth, making it difficult for the reader to empathize with them. The treatment of homosexuality as a cliché is also problematic, reducing a complex and diverse aspect of human sexuality to a tired trope.

In conclusion, this is a work that fails to live up to expectations and offers little in the way of literary value or entertainment.

A strange book indeed, which is listed as Mailer's detective fiction. However, it reads more like a detective novel penned by Kafka. The self-absorbed and obsessed narrator stumbles through Provincetown, Massachusetts, in a drunken state of post-divorce agony, constantly hounded by paranoia, narcotics police, and those under the influence of LSD. The narrator freely rambles about his vanity and ego, while common Mailer themes unfold in rather unlikely scenarios around him. It gives the impression of a writer who is in desperate need of an editor. One has to wonder if Mailer was simply too vain to utilize an editor or pay heed to their advice. It seems quite possible that a truly decent novel could have been unearthed from all this chaos if only he had been willing to accept some help.