Reading Response One (The Black Dahlia)

The Black Dahlia

James Ellroy

"It was the nude, mutilted body of a young woman, cut in half at the waist. The bottom half lay in the weeds a few feet away from the top, legs wide open. A large triangle had been gouged out of the left thigh, and there was a long, wide cut running from the bisection point down to the top of the pubic hair. The flaps of skin beside the gash were pulled back; there were no organs inside."

                On January 15 1947, Elizabeth Shorts body was found in Los Angeles. She had been brutially mutilated, as partially described above. The true story of her murder is one that is still unsolved today... but in James Ellroys novel, he spins a largely false account of how the murder could have happend. Two detectives, Lee Blanchard and Bucky Bleichart are assigned to the case along with every other cop in L.A.. Not only are they partners, but the two are also best friends, spending their free time together along with Lees' "girlfriend," Kay. Multiple stories coexist in this epic tale. There is of course the story of Elizabeth Short, as well as the story of Kay and Lee, Bucky and Lee, Bucky and Madeline, and Bucky and Kay.

      Lee goes crazy trying to solve this puzzling murder, leaving the case he was working on prior to the Dahlia case behind. Kay and Bucky both worry about Lee but he continues to do whatever it takes, sending Bucky out to find leads. This brings Bucky to a lesbian night club where he meets Madeline Linscott who he soon begins a relationship with. Meeting the Linscott family, Bucky sees how crazy they are and they are CRAZY. Bucky is sent on many a wild goose chase trying to solve the murder and eventually Lee goes over the edge. At the same time that Bucky is dating Madeline, he is also pursuing Kay. This is about as far as I've gotten thus far.

      I really like this book so far. I like that it is based on a real murder. While it's incredibly sad circumstances that Betty Short died, the author of this book is able to weave a story out of some true facts. I cheated and watched the movie before I finished the book, and I liked it. When I finished the movie, it took some of the excitement out of reading the book but I think the two might be kind of different from what I saw in the movie. I really liked the movie, but I still want to read the book and finish it. I chose this book randomly in the library because it stuck out to me. The blue color of the font on the black backround really popped out. I already knew about the Black Dahlia-- I though the story of it was common knowledge, but I found out that not a lot of people know about it. I made my friends watch the movie and of course, they didnt find it as interesting as I did, but they thought it was a little interesting. I am very excited to finish this book and see if it measures up to what I think it will.

Real picture of Elizabeth Short after being arrested for

Underage Drinking years before her murder.