Just finished another book in Duane Swierczynski's ouvre, roman noir updated for the post-internet age. It's called Severance Package, to go along with the book I finished last week which was The Blonde, and I've got to say: as trashy, black-hearted fun, I haven't been into an author like this since I "discovered" Andrew Vachss for myself. If that doesn't mean anything to you well, I'm sorry let me break it down. Take a little film noir, a little tragicomedy, and a whole lot of the old ultra-violence. Some of it shreds credulity to bits, but hey I'm not too particular for fun Summer reading.
The Blonde is about a guy who gets poisoned in an airport bar by the titular blonde and then needs to help her stay alive amidst high-tech espionage and non-stop action. Severance Package is about a guy who works for a high-stakes financial firm who gets called in for work one Saturday and finds out that the firm is actually an black-ops intelligence front but that the operation has been closed and all involved have been ordered eliminated. It's high concept, but not high camp, and Swierczynski pulls it off.
Next step for me? I'm reading the Wheelman.
Polish Power
Wicked
I'm still dragging from the great night I had, a night I'd been planning with my girlfriend J. for awhile now (it was her birthday the night before) and I'm still having the music running through my head.
We saw Wicked (how very upscale), and while I don't usually like big production number musicals I did like Wicked. Yeah, I guess it was the witty digs at the political establishment and the humorous bits between the showstoppers. There was a bit of Disneyland to the staging, the dragon breathing fire above the actors a bit much, but the shadows of the original stars Chenowith and Menzel were still present despite lesser talents in the L.A. production at the Pantages. I usually hate the Pantages for its big musical histrionics, but this was a musical for the age after excess, controlled yet wooly I would say, and it was in the end: just great. Cool songs that I could sing in the shower to. A bit of snarky commentary at the political and musical establishment and overall another beautiful night amongst many others for me and my girl.
