Amazon.com: Love Is a Racket (9780593044629): John Ridley: Books

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21 Reviews

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(1)

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4.5 out of 5 stars (21 customer reviews)

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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a Great Racket!!!, October 19, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Love Is a Racket (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.

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The art of the con, artfully told, May 29, 1999

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A Fan (Two Steps From The Blues, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Love Is a Racket (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.

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another Stepping Stone to Greatness, December 8, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Love Is a Racket (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.'

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars A Fine Hardboiled Novel Set in Los Angeles
John Ridley first came to my attention when an adaptation of his novel Stray Dogs became the Oliver Stone film U-Turn. Read more

Published 14 months ago by stoic

5.0 out of 5 stars Read this if you enjoy laughing
I read this book while I was walking my dog - well listened to it on the unabridged CD version. I'm sure people driving or walking by me often wondered why the crazy woman... Read more

Published on April 26, 2006 by Judy

5.0 out of 5 stars Funny and moving noir
"Truth: Whenever there are two people sharing space there's somebody trying to pull something on someone else. Read more

Published on November 23, 2004 by Craig Clarke

4.0 out of 5 stars The Best description of Broken Fingers ever
This is a very gritty novel with little hope, but Ridley's writing talent captures you. The writer's ability to describe feelings that most us have had but could never convey to... Read more

Published on December 10, 2003 by Provost

3.0 out of 5 stars Yeah it's good -- but not that good!
Lot's of 5 star reviews for this book, but I want to disagree some. Yes, there's some very good writing and humor packed into this book. Read more

Published on August 12, 2003

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favorite authors, he has done it again
John Ridley gets better with every book I read. I look forward to his novels with baited breath. I read Stray dogs (it became the movie Uturn, I believe) anyway The book was soo... Read more

Published on December 28, 2002 by P. Miller

5.0 out of 5 stars It's Depressing that Someone Who Writes So Well...
is being largely ignored by the reading public. I can't imagine a writer of noir fiction writing anything better than "Love is a Racket. Read more

Published on November 12, 2002

5.0 out of 5 stars youll need a shower to wash off the grime
hmm... what does a man do after scooping some dudes brain and skull bits off of his floor with a spoon? Read this excellent book and find out! Read more

Published on April 29, 2002 by Derek Wade Robertson

5.0 out of 5 stars Beyond brilliant.
No author I've ever read writes with as much passion as John Ridley. Love Is A Racket is one of the great American novels of the 20th century and beyond... Read more

Published on March 21, 2001 by Stephen

1.0 out of 5 stars love is a racket
i have read 208 pages and i am bored with this book. i don't think i can finish it.

Published on December 1, 1999 by bookaddict

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First Sentence:
Kraop was the sound that I heard. Read the first page

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Beverly Hills, Polo Lounge, Las Vegas, Hollywood Boulevard, Jesus Christ, Santa Monica, West Hollywood, Golden Gate, Sleeves Guy, Audrey Hepburn, Moe Steinberg, Pier Angeli, Terri's Song, Tom Selleck, Turf Club, Los Angeles, New York, Orange-Haired Girl, The Manchurian Candidate

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