On Read’s death about
a year ago, I provided some links to his work & life on BM: http://georgedanderson.blogspot.com.au/search/label/Chopper%20Read A few days ago underneath Central
Station in Sydney, I saw one of Chopper Read’s books in a bargain bin and finally
decided to read his shit. CHOPPER 5, a British publication, is
Read’s ninth book and appears to have been written in 1999 after his release
from Risdon Prison. He describes briefly his upcoming film loosely based on his
life Chopper (2000) and the birth of
his first child Charlie- but his main focus usually returns to his
recollections & involvement in the Melbourne underworld, particularly in
the 1970s.
Read’s first book Chopper: From the Inside (1991) was
hugely successful and is reported to have sold more than 100,000 copies. According
to Amazon, Read has published fourteen other crime books which are all still in
print. I can't imagine there are too many pending PhD theses on the craft
of Mark Brandon Read’s writing. I thought I might take this opportunity to toss
your way my two cents worth & critically evaluate the writing phenomenon
that is CHOPPER, using CHOPPER 5 to spur some analysis
on the psycho. Why is Read’s writing so appealing to his fans? Why is it so
appalling to others?
REVIEW COMING SOON
