"DICK CONTINO'S BLUES is a novel published by James Ellroy in 1994.
A few months in the life of Dick Contino, an italian accordionist, trying to survive in the show business. After a good start when he was 19 years old, he lost the audience's support when he behaved cowardly during the Korean War. Now, in 1958, people still remember his attitude but Dick does have the opportunity to play the main character of DADDY'HO, a cheap Z production of a jewish producer. In order to gain attention, he wants to organize a fake kidnapping that would make him appear as a hero. Meanwhile, a serial killer is observing him and waiting for the right time to emerge."
Daniel Staebler, Resident Scholar
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Review Analysis of Dick Contino's Blues
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Book descript. of violence and chases - 40% Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 20% Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40%
Tone of story
- very upbeat
Time/era of story:
- 1930's-1950's
The crook is....
- commit white collar fraud or con
Crime Thriller
Yes
Crime plotlets:
- escape/rescue from kidnappers
Mostly a criminal POV story
Yes
General Crime (including known murderer)
Yes
If story PRIMARILY about main chr. being hunted...
- hunted by killer/stalker
Main Character
Gender
- Male
Profession/status:
- musician
Age:
- 20's-30's
Eccentric/Mental:
Yes
Eccentric:
- obsessed
How much violence does he/she use?
- a little
Ethnicity/Race
- White/American
How sensitive is this character?
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- killer
Eccentric:
Yes
- mentally ill
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a moderate amount
Motive of antagonist
- insanity
Setting
United States
Yes
The US:
- West
City?
Yes
Style
Person
- mostly 1st
Accounts of torture and death?
- very gorey descriptions deaths/dead bodies
How many deaths?
- 3-4
Unusual forms of death
- perforation--bullets
Unusual form of death?
Yes
Amount of dialog
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
