2 this week from Chicago cab-driver, journalist and author Jack Clark.
Ever heard of him? Me
neither, until some browsing on Amazon a year or two ago when I hit upon his
books.
I was reminded of Sam Reaves and his Chicago cabbie series starring Cooper MacLeish. Visit here for more info.
He’s written 4 novels in total including three in his Nick Acropolis series. The first of
which – Westerfield’s Chain was
published by St Martin’s back in 2002 and was a Shamus Award finalist.
There’s a nine year gap between Westerfield’s Chain and the second in the series, Dancing on Graves. Highway Side came out in 2011. His
other novel was published by Hard Case
Crime in 2010 – Nobody’s Angel.
He’s also written a couple of books with his mother - Mary
Jo Ryan Clark. ON THE HOME FRONT and
PRIVATE PATH. Studs Terkel said,
"Jack Clark's wondrous celebration of his working-class mother and her
natural gifts as a storyteller has touched me deeply. Hooray for Mary Jo Ryan
Clark and her boy Jack."
Oh, and he’s also a singer-songwriter and plays gigs! (What
doesn't he do?)
Clark’s website – Hack
Writing is here.
Westerfield’s Chain
Westerfield's Chain was a finalist for the Shamus Award for
Best First Private Eye Novel.
"A pure delight
for many reasons, not the least of which is the way Jack Clark celebrates and
rings a few changes on the familiar private-eye script. There's a memorable
moment [on] virtually every page." - Chicago Tribune
"Clark knows his city: the geography and flavor of the
neighborhoods are vividly presented, and interesting, often quirky characters
are introduced along this fascinating ride." - Chicago Reader
"Jack Clark's descriptions are beautifully haunting and
his plotting is exceptional." - Romantic Times
"A likeable protagonist and spirited, uncluttered
prose." - Kirkus Review "It's a great read."-Publishers Weekly
Hack Writing &
Other Stories
These 17 stories which first appeared in the Chicago Reader, cover everything from
art to taxicabs. In between you'll find stories about pauper burials, the
newspaper business, a high school cheating scandal, accidents and saloons. One
element the stories have in common is the city of Chicago.
I like that title Hack Writing a lot, Col - very clever. I've heard of Clark, but haven't (yet) read his work. I mean to though, at some point, so I'll be interested in what you think of it.
ReplyDeleteI'm probably a third of the way through this and I'm enjoying it. It's interesting to get an insider's view on a city and how it functions - albeit some of these pieces are maybe 20 years old.
DeleteDisputes between taxi drivers and local government, how the small man gets squished when the movers and shakers who have the ears of the politicos have a complaint which is trivial in the extreme and merely a misunderstanding - one man loses his livelihood.
There's another excellent piece on the laying to rest of the unclaimed dead - the unfortunate homeless and skid row inhabitants who pass. Sometimes you don't need to be homeless, sometimes the lack of a family or friends is enough to be unmourned.
I hope you get the time to read something by him, either fiction or non!
Col, Jack Clark is not the first cab driver-cum-published writer I have heard of. Someone like him in India would have been instantly famous.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny how I'm drawn to these kind of tales-reports-narrations - call them what you will. I read JW Nelson's LA Limo Tales earlier this year. Plus I recently re-visited a blog post from December, 2012 - Dan Fante's Corksucker - 8 stories looslely narrated around an LA cab driver.
DeleteDan Fante is the son of 30's and onwards author John Fante.
It's a cliché about cab drivers and who they had in the back of the cab - but I think they often do have good stories to tell. One to watch.
ReplyDeleteWhen I pulled the bits together for the post, I thought I'd have a look at his writing and I've been steadily working my way through the book ever since. It's a fascinating read - observations and reminiscences on Chicago and how his neighbourhoods have changed in the past 50 years.
DeleteStories about Chicago sound interesting. I will check out your review now.
ReplyDeleteI do like Chicago as a setting. The Mark Smith book I have on the go is a Chicago one also.
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