From The Oscar Shelf

LA Confidential: James Ellroy

Warner Books, Rs 430, 364 pages

If youve never read Ellroy, start with this dark, complex novel. Littered with twists, turns and more plots than you can count, LA Confidential demands the readers attention and gets it, too. Set in Los Angeles in the 1950s, it begins with the murder of six people at a diner called the Nite Owl. Thats the jumping off point for a story that includes an evil developer based on Walt Disney, sexy sirens whove gone under the knife in order to resemble movie stars and cops whore more corrupt than the criminals theyre chasing.

Ellroy has been compared to Chandler, and though hes not quite as accomplished as the latter, he comes close to being another poet of the underworld. In LA Confidential, hes put together a brutal, compelling tale with few parallels. One word of warning: if you thought the movie was hard to follow, the book has even more in the way of complications and subplots. Not for the careless reader at all.

Echo of Lions: Barbara Chase-Riboud

William Morrow & Company, 424 pages

Chase-Riboud contends that Spielbergs blockbuster, Amistad, was based on her 1989 novel. The story (and Spielbergs movie) revolve around the case that started the unshackling of Americas slaves. Though Echo of Lions was out of print for many years, the controversy seems to have given it a shot in the arm and the publishers have come out with a new edition.

Was Riboud right? Both the movie and the book are available in India at the moment, so you be the judge. There is a strong resemblance, incidentally, between her fictional characters and some of the characters in Spielbergs film. Though Ribouds story still conveys a sense of drama, the style looks a trfile dated after all these years.

The Street Lawyer: John Grisham

Rupa & Co, Rs 575, 480 pages

Film rights to The Street Lawyer are being auctioned even as the movie version of Grishams The Rainmaker cleans up at the box office. Though all of Grishams work has the same basic plot young idealistic lawyer tangles with big bad firm this one has enough surprises to keep the reader going.