Hoy me estreno con Eddie Little. Literatura feroz (palabra de convicto), que desmenuza una vida cimentada en robos, drogas, lecturas compulsivas, amistad y amor (o algo parecido).
El autor dejó publicadas dos novelas antes de fallecer en 2003, con solo 48 años. Su infancia fue bastante chunga, fue un niño del pegamento (inhalaba ya desde los ocho) a quien su padre, maestro de escuela, enseñó a leer retorciéndole los brazos por detrás y apretando más fuerte cuando se equivocaba en algo. Sorprendementemente esto no hizo que odiase la lectura, por el contrario: se volvió una obsesión. Su vida consisitó en alternar la trena y la libertad condicional; lo primero le sirvió para escribir Un día más en el paraíso (1997). Posesión, robos, asaltos, fraudes: un expediente sin desperdicio. En 2001 publicó Steel toes, la secuela del libro que nos ocupa, que (si no me equivoco) no ha sido aún traducida al castellano.
"Un día más en el paraíso" presenta a Bobbie, protagonista y narrador, un chavalín de 14 años que se dedica a robar máquinas expendedoras y a ponerse hasta las tapas. Hasta que conoce a Mel, su salvador. A partir de ahí todo cambia, no porque deje atrás las malas costumbres, sino porque ahora aspira más alto. Más tienes, más quieres: grandes palos, ropa en condiciones, droga de calidad y en cantidad. Mel, Bobbie y sus respectivas parejas (Sid y Rosie), formarán un combo Bonnye and Clyde al cuadrado al que acompañaremos en su particular persecución del sueño americano. La historia la narra el propio Bobbie, un gran lector que se ventila los libros a la misma velocidad que el pitxu.
Me ha flipado (¡que alguien traduzca Steel toes!)


«Como he acabado con Sartre y ya me he leído casi todo Nietzsche, pruebo con Platón para variar. Incapaz de desconectar el cerebro, no dejo de tramar desenlaces para nuestras próximas empresas criminales».


Reseña completa en https://denmeunpapelillo.net/un-dia-m...

I remember when book came out, didnt read it then, but always in the back of mind. 20 plus years later now forgotten Little it was time. Still stands. What a coming of age story. These kids are still around like Bobbie. You really feel for the protagonist and the "push" and pulls' he goes through and in the end there is a transition of character, maybe not the people would expect, but that could be considered "another day in paradise".

Wow, this book captives, the electrifying prose gets you high on adrenaline. Indeed, the high-speed literary cousin of Pulp Fiction. Gives an amazing and sobering insight - even realistic, but what do I know? - in the world of crime, crack and outlaws. Combined with American sub-culture which I am fascinated with, country music and road trips. A bad-ass book with a high-end rating.

a gritty book of drugs and crime, based off events from the author's life. the narrator is just a kid, 14 years old, which when you reflect on it is quite sad. the novel starts and he is a speed freak and petty thief. after getting into a serious fight with security guard during a botched robbery, he meets mel, an experienced thief and junky. the two take to each other, and head off with their girlfriends on a road trip guided by inside tips on burglary jobs. the characters are interesting and the story is compelling as they live on the boundaries of society, in constant search of their next burglary target to finance their insatiable ingestion of drugs, alcohol and luxury.

4.5

Pretty good book but Larry Clark's movie is a fucking masterpiece as far as I'm considered. Around half way through the books story. The movie veers off has the sense to wrap up and I think hits harder. The book feels like a telling of a true story going over all the people places / passage of time of on the lamb life. Slows way down. My only other gripe is the time they spend with the Preacher and his people, takes forever. There's really an effort to show that they go hiding for months. At a point I think maybe the point is showing kids growing up on turbo speed (from all the heavy shit). Which is probably the point. The film knows that what really rides and the rushing around and pacing and hotel stoned out life is more on spotlight. It's all in the book dont get me wrong. More emphasise on that fast pace Bonnie & Clyde lifestyle devouring.

DNF

This was recommended to me by a buddy of mine who writes for GUNS & AMMO. He heard I'm a fan of Ed Bunker's crime writing, and recommended I check this out--think THE BASKETBALL DIARIES crossed with a road novel, with robbery, killing and young (tragic?) love taking a key role in this story, and you'll get the idea of what this is like for me so far. I'm still in the thick of it, so I'll revise this review once I'm totally done--but I'm seriously digging it so far!

I finished the movie a few days ago, and really enjoyed it. Then I found out it was a book and ordered it. The book and movie were totally different with major events. I liked both of them. The book is a brutal story of addiction and crime.

Ever read a title that is "fiction" and get the feeling that the only reason it falls into that category is to protect the guilty? This is one such title. A very fast paced romp through the world of thievery, from petty to professional. A cautionary tale about the troubles in that making a living illegally can lead to. From drug overdoses, drug deals gone bad, to the details of a high profile robbery the story is a bawdy romp through the underworld.

One of my all time favorites.

This book is more or less a study of the miserable life of being a criminal; rather than feel as though the characters are somehow empowered through their crimes, they are subjugated by them. All four of the principle characters are addicted to one substance or another, and they're all in need of their next fix, so they rob places.

While that perspective is fresher, and the writing has a clipped Hammet style to, there's not a lot of new ideas in this book.

4,5 estrellas. Quieres viajar a los bajos fondos? No te importa leer sobre violencia? Quieres sentir como un niño de 15 años se destrozan la vida con drogas, crímenes y demás? Pues este es tu libro!