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Reading Clive Cussler
Mar. 12th, 2012 07:29 amIn 2005 they made a movie of Clive Cussler's book SAHARA and, for whatever reason, I saw that movie (in an actual theatre, shortly after it came out). I found it interesting and read the book - also interesting if somewhat heavy on the use of superlatives. And then, lo and behold, I found that my oldest sister was a huge Cussler fan and had copies of everything he had ever written. So I started borrowing a book each time I visited, and then did a couple of books on tape from the library. All quite readable, although the superlatives continued to pile on top of one another.
Now last week I was looking for something on audio to listen to in the car and asked the library for THE MEDITERRANEAN CAPER - the very first Dirk Pitt novel from 1973. I've enjoyed reading my way through the Dick Francis novels (beginning to end) and thought I might try that with Cussler. I'm working my way through it this week as I drive, and let me tell you, it's work. I'm somewhat amazed that Cussler ever made it in the publishing world. Or perhaps, our society has just changed so much in 30 years that what was acceptable in the 70s now seems bigoted, chauvanistic, and downright distasteful. Pitt and his buddies smoke constantly in this early book - certainly in the later books that I've read this is not the case. His attitute towards, depiction of, and treatment of women is abominable. Had I picked up this first book as my first to read, I wouldn't have made it beyond the second chapter. I suppose Cussler's writing has gotten better over the years, or he has at least realized what is and is not acceptable to his audience, but it's led me to wonder about the whole genre of "men's books". Have the books changed to reflect a different society? Were male attitudes in the seventies( even "wish fullfilment" attitudes) really that awful?
In the sixties and seventies I read Ian Fleming and John D. MacDonald without at qualm. Now I'm wondering if I dare to go back and try a few of the earlier ones again. Has our social consciousness raised so very much in the last forty years? Is it just me? Or is it just Cussler?
Now last week I was looking for something on audio to listen to in the car and asked the library for THE MEDITERRANEAN CAPER - the very first Dirk Pitt novel from 1973. I've enjoyed reading my way through the Dick Francis novels (beginning to end) and thought I might try that with Cussler. I'm working my way through it this week as I drive, and let me tell you, it's work. I'm somewhat amazed that Cussler ever made it in the publishing world. Or perhaps, our society has just changed so much in 30 years that what was acceptable in the 70s now seems bigoted, chauvanistic, and downright distasteful. Pitt and his buddies smoke constantly in this early book - certainly in the later books that I've read this is not the case. His attitute towards, depiction of, and treatment of women is abominable. Had I picked up this first book as my first to read, I wouldn't have made it beyond the second chapter. I suppose Cussler's writing has gotten better over the years, or he has at least realized what is and is not acceptable to his audience, but it's led me to wonder about the whole genre of "men's books". Have the books changed to reflect a different society? Were male attitudes in the seventies( even "wish fullfilment" attitudes) really that awful?
In the sixties and seventies I read Ian Fleming and John D. MacDonald without at qualm. Now I'm wondering if I dare to go back and try a few of the earlier ones again. Has our social consciousness raised so very much in the last forty years? Is it just me? Or is it just Cussler?
