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Wednesday, January 22, 2020

A LOOK BACK AT JOHN D. MacDONALD


Today I’m in a nostalgic mood. I don’t know if it’s because January is usually the month I look back or because I’ve discovered Anne of Green Gables and I’m reading through that series.

I’m also rereading John D. MacDonald’s books which include the popular Travis McGee series. I read his books, not just to be entertained, which they certainly do, but for craft. MacDonald coined his writing stye as “unobtrusive poetry.” Unobtrusive, because no author wants to draw attention to his style of writing. Here’s an excerpt from a Travis McGee book, Darker Than Amber:


She sat up slowly, looked in turn at each of us, and her dark eyes were like twin entrances to two deep caves. Nothing lived in those caves. Maybe something had, once upon a time. There were piles of picked bones back in there, some scribbling on the walls, and some gray ash where the fires had been.

You know you’re reading about a woman who has lost her way. 


One more example from The Empty Copper Sea: 
Van Harder was a lean, sallow man. Tall, silent, and expressionless. I had never seen him without a greasy khaki cap with a bill. Florida born for generations back, from that tough, tireless, malnourished, merciless stock which had scared the living daylights out of the troops they had faced in the War Between the States. His eyes were a pale, watery blue. He was about fifty, I guessed.

I can just see the man.

Lee Child of the Jack Reacher series said this of MacDonald:

I read the Travis McGee novels five years before beginning my own Jack Reacher series and for the first time I was given a sense of "the skeleton beneath" the writing. I could see what MacDonald was doing, how he was compelling me to read on. I was left with the impression that if I needed to write a book, I could.

If it works for Lee Child... 


I read craft books, then I read examples of what the craft books teach. And John D. MacDonald has some of the best examples of description around. And a pleasure to read.

By the way, while he’s known for the Travis McGee books, he also wrote The Executioner. It was later turned into a movie starring Gregory Peck and Robert Mitchum—Cape Fear.

If you’re a fan of mysteries, then I think you would enjoy a John D. MacDonald novel. They are general market and while mostly clean, especially the later books, they are secular in nature. 


 Leave me a comment, telling me if you’ve ever read one of his books, and I’ll enter you in a drawing for one of his novels--The Empty Copper Sea. (Or if you prefer, a $10 Amazon gift card) This one features a born-again Christian as his client.

52 comments:

  1. No, I've never read a John MacDonald book, but after reading your blog, I would like to read one or many. Thanks for exposing me to a new-to-me author.

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    1. Susie-Q, I like his later books better than the earlier ones. And they do have language I don't use, not so much in the later books.

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  2. John MacDonald books were very popular when I began working as a librarian but I've never read one. I can see from your thoughts that I missed a great deal! Thanks cfor your giveaway.
    Blessings!
    Connie
    cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com

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  3. I've read each of the John D. MacDonald books, and I agree with your assessment. The man certainly knew how to put the words together.

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    1. Indeed he did, Richard. I wish I could string words together like that!

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  4. I’ve never read a John D. MacDonald novel, but it sounds like maybe I’m missing out. I can certainly understand why because your short excerpts certainly paint an excellent word picture.
    perrianne (DOT) askew (AT) me (DOT) com
    Perrianne Askew

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    1. He tells a good story, and I'm rereading them to see 'how' he told it, Perrianne.

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  5. I have not read any of his books. But if you say they are good I think I may check them out. 1cow0993(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. I think you'll like the later ones more than the earlier ones. The early ones remind me more of noir--a lot like the attitudes of the Maltese Falcon, Carol.

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  6. I have never read any John D. MacDonald books but they sound like I would really like them. Thank you for your newsletter. Have a great and blessed new year.

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  7. I've never read John D. MacDonald books. I did like mysteries. Have a blessed new year.

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    1. My email is racheltirzah(at)gmail(dot)com

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    2. His are great mysteries! And I'm learning so much from his descriptions, Rachel.

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  8. My mom was a reader and mystery lover so I read John D. MacDonald (and whatever else we had in the house) at a fairly early age. Your post makes me want to go through his books again. You're right, he can say so much about a setting or a person in a simple paragraph. Thanks.
    sallycootie@gmail.com

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  9. I've never read any of his books. Thank you for a chance to win.
    lhanberry1 at gmail dot com

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  10. I’ve never red one of his books! Sounds good though! Thanks for the chance to win! Very kind of you!
    faithdcreech at gmail dot com

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    1. I'm really enjoying rereading them, Faith. Thanks for dropping by.

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  11. I have never read anything by him but the excerpts sound amazing! Not every writer can do descriptive like that!

    Msredk at aol dot com

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  12. I have not read a John McDonald book, but wow! What descriptions! Really brings the character to life. Thanks for the giveaway!!
    chendryx at nctv dot com

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    1. I'd love to write descriptions like that. But it helps me to read his, Connie.

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  13. I have also not read any of his books. I will definitely have to. Thanks.
    janeen dot bair at gmail dot com

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  14. I don't think that I've ever had the pleasure of reading any of his books.

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    1. Lisa, he was a great writer, and very dedicated--wrote every day except Sunday.

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  15. I have never read any of his books but I sure would love to , just by reading what you wrote about him. Also especially since his book was Cape Fear, wow, I loved that movie. Thank you so much for sharing about him. Have a Great rest of the week. God Bless you.

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    1. I haven't read Cape Fear. Saw the first movie but now I want to go back and read the book! thanks for stopping by, Alicia

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  16. No, I have not read any of his books. Thank you for sharing.

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  17. No, I'm not familiar with his books. Thank you for sharing!

    RW620 AT aol DOT com

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    1. If you're a writer, he's a good one to study...says so much with such few words, Robin!

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  18. I have not read his books but would love to! Rhonda
    rhonda_nash_hall at comcast DOt net

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  19. I’ve never read one but may have to check hem out now.
    tumcsec(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Gail, you should be able to get them at your public library!

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  20. John D. MacDonald is new to me.

    My daughter recently re-read the ANNE OF GREEN GABLES series.

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

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    1. I haven't finished the series yet. Can't believe I'm just now getting around to reading them, Mary!

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  21. not yet
    bn100candg at hotmail dot com

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  22. I have never read a John McDonald book and I am thinking I have certainly missed something.
    mauback55 at gmail dot com

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    1. It had been years since I'd read one, but several writers I admire keep talking about him so I decided to reacquaint myself with his books, Melanie.

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  23. I have not ever read one of his books but he sure sounds interesting.

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    1. His books are interesting and he was an interesting man, Stella.

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  24. Hey Pat, I'm not familiar with John MacDonald's books. Thank you for sharing.

    psalm103and138atgmaildotcom

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  25. I've never heard of that author, but I love mysteries, and your description sounds interesting.

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  26. no I have never read his books-thanks for your giveaway

    tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com

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  27. No, I haven't read any. I'm more into the Agatha Christie type of book. These usually have colors in the titles, I think, like The Turquoise Sea (not sure if that's the actual title but that's what comes to mind).

    catbooks72(at)gmail(dot)com

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  28. No I have not read any of his books! Thank you for the amazing giveaway! SARAHTAYLOR601973(at)YAHOO(dot)COM

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