Sunday, June 9, 2013

Paperback 655: A House in Naples / Peter Rabe (Gold Medal k1337)

Paperback 655: Gold Medal k1337 (2nd ptg, 1963)

Title: A House in Naples
Author: Peter Rabe
Cover artist: Lu Kimmel

Yours for: $9

GMk1337

Best things about this cover: 
  • "Heh, I like to watch, heh heh."
  • She's like a soap actress looking off-stage to read her next line.
  • She appears to be kneeling on a twin bed that is in the middle of the room, dressed in some kind of summery get-up. None of this makes any sense. 
  • And here I always thought the "Spillane vein" was a euphemism for "penis."

GMk1337bc

Best things about this back cover:
  • Jeez, stamp more shit on it, why don't you? I didn't wanna read the text anyway.
  • First sentence of that fourth paragraph ("She was leaning...") was written by someone who should not be allowed anywhere near words.
  • Actually, I think an Italian-to-English translator-bot did this copy. It's just tin-eared and awful.  

Page 123~

Charley watched the yawl heel and take a close, steady course. He was sure the guy at the wheel was a Sardinian. They can handle a ship when they're half dead. 

Chapter-closing line. I quite like it.

~RP

[Follow Rex Parker on Twitter and Tumblr]

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