From Woman's World · Lisa Maxbauer · · 1m 40s
Ann Patchett's Thriller Picks Keep You Up All Night
Ann Patchett's four crime thrillers will hook you until midnight.
In brief
Ann Patchett's four crime thrillers will hook you until midnight. Ann Patchett recommends four crime thrillers: Raymond Chandler's 'The Long Goodbye' and Colson Whitehead's 'Harlem Shuffle' trilogy for readers seeking fast-paced stories. Originally reported by Woman's World.
Ann Patchett's Thriller Picks
Bestselling author Ann Patchett recommends four crime thrillers to keep you up all night reading.
“I love these books so passionately!”
Raymond Chandler's 'The Long Goodbye'
Ann Patchett calls Raymond Chandler's 'The Long Goodbye' her favorite book from the Philip Marlowe series, praising its storytelling and historical significance.
“I’m not a spy-novel, thriller-novel, detective-novel person in general, but I have read all of Raymond Chandler and The Long Goodbye, which is in the Philip Marlowe series, is my very favorite”
Chandler's Literary Legacy
Patchett notes Chandler's work rivals Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Steinbeck, and Faulkner in literary importance.
“When we think about the canonical literature from this period, we think about Faulkner, Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Steinbeck. And it’s always been a mystery to me why we don’t think of Chandler in that group because he’s every bit as good.”
Chandler's Storytelling
Patchett highlights Chandler's ability to move a story along with his famous line: 'If things are going slow, bring in a man with a gun.'
“Nobody knows how to move a story along better. You know the famous line that Chandler said: 'If things are going slow, bring in a man with a gun.' Let me tell you, it works!”
Colson Whitehead's Trilogy
Ann Patchett praises Colson Whitehead's 'Harlem Shuffle' trilogy for its beautiful writing and thriller propulsion.
“I love Colson Whitehead’s writing. I think nobody touches him. He is the genius of our age.”
Harlem Shuffle Plot
The first book in Whitehead's trilogy follows Ray Carney, a furniture store owner in 1960s Harlem who gets mixed up selling stolen goods.
“A guy named Ray Carney owns a furniture store. His dad was a crook, and Ray is mostly a straight businessman.”
Harlem Shuffle's Appeal
Patchett describes Whitehead's books as thrilling with beautiful writing that makes readers stay up all night reading.
“This is what happens in these books: Part of your brain is saying this is an unbelievable thriller. There’s a guy with a gun, or there’s a guy holding another guy out the window. I have to stay up all night and read this book.”
Crook Manifesto Plot
The second book follows Ray Carney in the 1970s as he tries to get tickets to a Jackson Five concert for his daughter.
“Same characters in the 70s, Now Ray is trying to get tickets to a very hot Jackson Five concert for his daughter.”
Cool Machine Plot
The third book in Whitehead's trilogy takes place in 1980s New York, where Ray must save his cousin's son from violent forces.
“With his last heist behind him, Ray wants to enjoy a calm, safe life with his family. But the former criminal must come out of retirement to save his cousin’s son from powerful violent forces in the city.”
Reading Order
Patchett says reading the trilogy in order 'the pleasure only builds' but the books work as standalone stories.
“If you read the 'Harlem' trilogy in order, Patchett says 'the pleasure only builds!'”
The headline
Ann Patchett recommends four crime thrillers: Raymond Chandler's 'The Long Goodbye' and Colson Whitehead's 'Harlem Shuffle' trilogy for readers seeking fast-paced stories.
