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  <id>2051</id>
  <title><![CDATA[The Simple Art of Murder (Vintage Crime/Black Lizard)]]></title>
  <isbn><![CDATA[0394757653]]></isbn>
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  <original_publication_year type="integer">1977</original_publication_year>
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        <name><![CDATA[Raymond Chandler]]></name>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Simple Art of Murder]]>
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    <![CDATA[Prefaced by the famous <em>Atlantic Monthly</em> essay of the same name, in which he argues the virtues of the hard-boiled detective novel, this collection mostly drawn from stories he wrote for the pulps demonstrates Chandler's imaginative, entertaining facility with the form.]]>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[snow queens, thugs, queer pushers, wiseguys, cops]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Sun Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Tue Dec 08 13:50:48 -0800 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Tue Dec 08 13:53:29 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count>2</read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[This collection of short stories by Raymond Chandler is accompanied with an essay by the same on how murder mysteries should be put together. He felt that murders should take place in the everyday settings where people tend to die, and be performed by persons whose reason might resolve them to kill....<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/80328163">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/80328163]]></url>
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      <review>
  <id>68820227</id>
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    <name><![CDATA[Libby]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[San Diego, CA]]></location>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Simple Art of Murder]]>
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  <average_rating>3.96</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>534</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Prefaced by the famous <em>Atlantic Monthly</em> essay of the same name, in which he argues the virtues of the hard-boiled detective novel, this collection mostly drawn from stories he wrote for the pulps demonstrates Chandler's imaginative, entertaining facility with the form.]]>
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  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Tue Sep 08 00:00:00 -0700 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Tue Aug 25 08:21:57 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Tue Sep 08 13:34:36 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[The only Raymond Chandler I'd read before this book was his inexplecably famous &quot;The Big Sleep,&quot; which I thought was a load of toss. Fortunately, apart from the essay that gives this collection its name, some of this book isn't as awful as &quot;The Big Sleep,&quot; though some of it is. H...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/68820227">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/68820227]]></url>
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</review>
      <review>
  <id>53751806</id>
    <user>
    <id>104259</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Lisa]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United States]]></location>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Simple Art of Murder]]>
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  <description>
    <![CDATA[Prefaced by the famous <em>Atlantic Monthly</em> essay of the same name, in which he argues the virtues of the hard-boiled detective novel, this collection mostly drawn from stories he wrote for the pulps demonstrates Chandler's imaginative, entertaining facility with the form.]]>
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    <rating>3</rating>
  <votes>1</votes>
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  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Sat May 16 00:00:00 -0700 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Thu Apr 23 14:24:00 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Mon May 18 07:26:41 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[The book begins with Chandler's Atlantic Monthly essay about detective novels which is followed by eight short stories. In the essay, he discussed the difficulty in creating a good detective story given that they tend to be about murder and given that there are so many such stories out there. They h...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/53751806">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/53751806]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/53751806]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>31686907</id>
    <user>
    <id>1083608</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Alan]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United States]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1083608-alan-strauss]]></link>
    <image_url><![CDATA[http://photo.goodreads.com/users/1220937504p3/1083608.jpg]]></image_url>
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  <id type="integer">2051</id>
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  <isbn13>9780394757650</isbn13>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Simple Art of Murder]]>
  </title>
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  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2051.The_Simple_Art_of_Murder</link>
  <average_rating>3.96</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>534</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Prefaced by the famous <em>Atlantic Monthly</em> essay of the same name, in which he argues the virtues of the hard-boiled detective novel, this collection mostly drawn from stories he wrote for the pulps demonstrates Chandler's imaginative, entertaining facility with the form.]]>
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    <rating>2</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Mon Sep 08 00:00:00 -0700 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Sun Aug 31 17:35:37 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Mon Sep 08 21:58:46 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[This isn't a bad collection of hard-boiled short stories but it's not a terribly interesting one either.  While each tale stars a different protagonist, none of them Chandler's signature Philip Marlowe, they all might as well be the same character.  Street smart, sharp tongued, tougher than anyone e...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/31686907">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/31686907]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/31686907]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>71741431</id>
    <user>
    <id>1935827</id>
    <name><![CDATA[N.]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Seattle, WA]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1935827-n]]></link>
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  <id type="integer">2051</id>
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  <text_reviews_count type="integer">31</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Simple Art of Murder]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1159814017m/2051.jpg</image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2051.The_Simple_Art_of_Murder</link>
  <average_rating>3.96</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>534</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Prefaced by the famous <em>Atlantic Monthly</em> essay of the same name, in which he argues the virtues of the hard-boiled detective novel, this collection mostly drawn from stories he wrote for the pulps demonstrates Chandler's imaginative, entertaining facility with the form.]]>
  </description>
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    <rating>3</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[Zarth]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Wed Oct 07 00:00:00 -0700 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Fri Sep 18 22:03:20 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Fri Oct 09 21:31:51 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Unlike many, I was absolutely delighted by the title essay of this collection; unfortunately, thus far the rest of the stories have yet to follow suit, and it is ironic that I could identify the murderer immediately after their initial appearance in &quot;Spanish Blood&quot; after the entire previou...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/71741431">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/71741431]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/71741431]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>79721655</id>
    <user>
    <id>89493</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Carole]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Seattle, WA]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/89493-carole]]></link>
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    <book>
  <id type="integer">2051</id>
  <isbn>0394757653</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780394757650</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">31</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Simple Art of Murder]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1159814017m/2051.jpg</image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2051.The_Simple_Art_of_Murder</link>
  <average_rating>3.96</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>534</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Prefaced by the famous <em>Atlantic Monthly</em> essay of the same name, in which he argues the virtues of the hard-boiled detective novel, this collection mostly drawn from stories he wrote for the pulps demonstrates Chandler's imaginative, entertaining facility with the form.]]>
  </description>
</book>

    <rating>5</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Wed Dec 02 00:00:00 -0800 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Wed Dec 02 21:01:38 -0800 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed Dec 02 21:03:26 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I wanted to pick up a Raymond Chandler book because I love those Film Noir detective movies, but I'd never read any of the source material. This was a great introduction.<br/><br/>It's a collection of short stories. For me, all the men were Humphrey Bogart and all the women were Lauren Bacall. Thi...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/79721655">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/79721655]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/79721655]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>17976642</id>
    <user>
    <id>534016</id>
    <name><![CDATA[tENTATIVELY, a cONVENIENCE]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Pittsburgh, PA]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/534016-tentatively-a-convenience]]></link>
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  <id type="integer">1177786</id>
  <isbn>0345272641</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780345272645</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">1</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Simple Art of Murder]]>
  </title>
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  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1177786.The_Simple_Art_of_Murder</link>
  <average_rating>3.50</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>2</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Prefaced by the famous <em>Atlantic Monthly</em> essay of the same name, in which he argues the virtues of the hard-boiled detective novel, this collection mostly drawn from stories he wrote for the pulps demonstrates Chandler's imaginative, entertaining facility with the form.]]>
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    <rating>3</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
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  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Mon Mar 17 18:18:55 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Mon Mar 17 18:26:42 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Chandler's in my top 3 or 4 crime fiction authors.  Who the other 2 or 3 are will become obvious as I continue thru the mysteries that I've read (not that I expect anyone to care!).  This is a collection of short stories &amp; I prefer novels - hence the &quot;3&quot;.  Chandler's one of the few mystery...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/17976642">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/17976642]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/17976642]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>30228219</id>
    <user>
    <id>1101773</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Becca]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Richmond, VA]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1101773-becca]]></link>
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    <book>
  <id type="integer">2051</id>
  <isbn>0394757653</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780394757650</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">31</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Simple Art of Murder]]>
  </title>
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  <average_rating>3.96</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>534</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Prefaced by the famous <em>Atlantic Monthly</em> essay of the same name, in which he argues the virtues of the hard-boiled detective novel, this collection mostly drawn from stories he wrote for the pulps demonstrates Chandler's imaginative, entertaining facility with the form.]]>
  </description>
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    <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
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  <read_at>Fri Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Fri Aug 15 10:05:04 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Fri Aug 15 10:05:16 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[This collection was pretty darn good. The title essay was alright, not very profound and mostly just a rant about how crappy most mystery writers are. The stories themselves were pretty good, less contemplative and faster paced then Chandler's books with more action and violence. It's hard to write ...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/30228219">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/30228219]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/30228219]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>12761457</id>
    <user>
    <id>769371</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Kirt]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Hyattsville, MD]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/769371-kirt]]></link>
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  <isbn>0394757653</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780394757650</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">31</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Simple Art of Murder]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1159814017m/2051.jpg</image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2051.The_Simple_Art_of_Murder</link>
  <average_rating>3.96</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>534</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Prefaced by the famous <em>Atlantic Monthly</em> essay of the same name, in which he argues the virtues of the hard-boiled detective novel, this collection mostly drawn from stories he wrote for the pulps demonstrates Chandler's imaginative, entertaining facility with the form.]]>
  </description>
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    <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
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  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Thu Jan 17 10:36:49 -0800 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu Jan 17 10:37:10 -0800 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[The book opens with an essay from which the book derives its title, and the essay is not very good, being too cynical and alternately self-depreciating and egotistical to be very useful or interesting.<br/><br/>However, the actual stories are brilliant. They're as twisty and polished as his novels...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/12761457">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/12761457]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/12761457]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>3864962</id>
    <user>
    <id>240903</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Steve]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Fullerton, CA]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/240903-steve-miyamoto]]></link>
    <image_url><![CDATA[http://photo.goodreads.com/users/1187140205p3/240903.jpg]]></image_url>
  </user>
    <book>
  <id type="integer">2051</id>
  <isbn>0394757653</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780394757650</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">31</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Simple Art of Murder]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1159814017m/2051.jpg</image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2051.The_Simple_Art_of_Murder</link>
  <average_rating>3.96</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>534</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Prefaced by the famous <em>Atlantic Monthly</em> essay of the same name, in which he argues the virtues of the hard-boiled detective novel, this collection mostly drawn from stories he wrote for the pulps demonstrates Chandler's imaginative, entertaining facility with the form.]]>
  </description>
</book>

    <rating>5</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
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      <shelf name="read" />
    
          <shelf name="all-timefavorites" />
      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Tue Jul 31 13:49:24 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Tue Jul 31 19:51:16 -0700 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Most of Chandler's famous essay is a clinical and well planned consideration of the mystery genre.  Blah blah blah.<br/><br/>Now skip to the final two pages where he transcends the limits of the genre, gives a soul and a cause to the hard-boiled hero, ratchets up the heat and spontaneously catches...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3864962">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3864962]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3864962]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>33175206</id>
    <user>
    <id>1541140</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Paulie]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[New York, NY]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1541140-paulie-dude]]></link>
    <image_url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/images/nophoto-M-111x148.jpg]]></image_url>
  </user>
    <book>
  <id type="integer">2051</id>
  <isbn>0394757653</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780394757650</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">31</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Simple Art of Murder]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1159814017m/2051.jpg</image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2051.The_Simple_Art_of_Murder</link>
  <average_rating>3.96</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>534</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Prefaced by the famous <em>Atlantic Monthly</em> essay of the same name, in which he argues the virtues of the hard-boiled detective novel, this collection mostly drawn from stories he wrote for the pulps demonstrates Chandler's imaginative, entertaining facility with the form.]]>
  </description>
</book>

    <rating>5</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
    
      <shelf name="read" />
    
      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[Anyone who likes good books]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2007</read_at>
  <date_added>Thu Sep 18 10:28:21 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu Sep 18 10:28:21 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[There's not much to say about Chandler other than the obvious - he wrote some of the best hard-boiled stories you'll ever read. The Simple Art of Murder may be my favorite of his collection becuase of the format. These stories are short and sweet - sort of. The violence and wit are fast paced and to...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/33175206">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/33175206]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/33175206]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>1926048</id>
    <user>
    <id>129571</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Andrew]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Washington, DC]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/129571-andrew]]></link>
    <image_url><![CDATA[http://photo.goodreads.com/users/1181756870p3/129571.jpg]]></image_url>
  </user>
    <book>
  <id type="integer">2051</id>
  <isbn>0394757653</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780394757650</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">31</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Simple Art of Murder]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1159814017m/2051.jpg</image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2051.The_Simple_Art_of_Murder</link>
  <average_rating>3.96</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>534</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Prefaced by the famous <em>Atlantic Monthly</em> essay of the same name, in which he argues the virtues of the hard-boiled detective novel, this collection mostly drawn from stories he wrote for the pulps demonstrates Chandler's imaginative, entertaining facility with the form.]]>
  </description>
</book>

    <rating>5</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
    
      <shelf name="read" />
    
      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Wed Jun 13 11:03:38 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Fri Jun 15 07:19:10 -0700 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Anyone who reads noir will read Chandler's essay in this book and feel like their love for the genre has been vindicated. In defending Dashiell Hammett, Chandler defends the genre. In so doing, he explains why noir is written. Noir is written because man is trying to grapple with the 20th century ci...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1926048">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1926048]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1926048]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>60091381</id>
    <user>
    <id>2430320</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Neil]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Erlanger, KY]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2430320-neil]]></link>
    <image_url><![CDATA[http://photo.goodreads.com/users/1258591434p3/2430320.jpg]]></image_url>
  </user>
    <book>
  <id type="integer">2051</id>
  <isbn>0394757653</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780394757650</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">31</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Simple Art of Murder]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1159814017m/2051.jpg</image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2051.The_Simple_Art_of_Murder</link>
  <average_rating>3.96</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>534</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Prefaced by the famous <em>Atlantic Monthly</em> essay of the same name, in which he argues the virtues of the hard-boiled detective novel, this collection mostly drawn from stories he wrote for the pulps demonstrates Chandler's imaginative, entertaining facility with the form.]]>
  </description>
</book>

    <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
    
      <shelf name="read" />
    
      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Wed Jun 17 16:28:33 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed Jun 17 16:29:07 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Chandler is one of the kings of fiction.]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/60091381]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/60091381]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>75171156</id>
    <user>
    <id>2077638</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Samuel]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Los Angeles, CA]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2077638-samuel]]></link>
    <image_url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/images/nophoto-M-111x148.jpg]]></image_url>
  </user>
    <book>
  <id type="integer">2051</id>
  <isbn>0394757653</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780394757650</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">31</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Simple Art of Murder]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1159814017m/2051.jpg</image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2051.The_Simple_Art_of_Murder</link>
  <average_rating>3.96</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>534</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Prefaced by the famous <em>Atlantic Monthly</em> essay of the same name, in which he argues the virtues of the hard-boiled detective novel, this collection mostly drawn from stories he wrote for the pulps demonstrates Chandler's imaginative, entertaining facility with the form.]]>
  </description>
</book>

    <rating>3</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
    
      <shelf name="read" />
    
      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Tue Oct 20 16:09:04 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Tue Oct 20 16:09:46 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I like the essay more than the stories.]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/75171156]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/75171156]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>64653738</id>
    <user>
    <id>1344551</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Randy]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United States]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1344551-randy]]></link>
    <image_url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/images/nophoto-U-111x148.jpg]]></image_url>
  </user>
    <book>
  <id type="integer">2051</id>
  <isbn>0394757653</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780394757650</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">31</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Simple Art of Murder]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1159814017m/2051.jpg</image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2051.The_Simple_Art_of_Murder</link>
  <average_rating>3.96</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>534</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Prefaced by the famous <em>Atlantic Monthly</em> essay of the same name, in which he argues the virtues of the hard-boiled detective novel, this collection mostly drawn from stories he wrote for the pulps demonstrates Chandler's imaginative, entertaining facility with the form.]]>
  </description>
</book>

    <rating>5</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
    
      <shelf name="read" />
    
      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 1988</read_at>
  <date_added>Thu Jul 23 10:03:56 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu Jul 23 10:04:40 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[fine collection of short stories.]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/64653738]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/64653738]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>48728202</id>
    <user>
    <id>723633</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Alex]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United Kingdom]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/723633-alex]]></link>
    <image_url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/images/nophoto-U-111x148.jpg]]></image_url>
  </user>
    <book>
  <id type="integer">2051</id>
  <isbn>0394757653</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780394757650</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">31</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Simple Art of Murder]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1159814017m/2051.jpg</image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2051.The_Simple_Art_of_Murder</link>
  <average_rating>3.96</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>534</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Prefaced by the famous <em>Atlantic Monthly</em> essay of the same name, in which he argues the virtues of the hard-boiled detective novel, this collection mostly drawn from stories he wrote for the pulps demonstrates Chandler's imaginative, entertaining facility with the form.]]>
  </description>
</book>

    <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
    
      <shelf name="read" />
    
      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Mon Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Mon Mar 09 14:43:45 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Mon Mar 09 14:44:02 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Not what it sounds like]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/48728202]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/48728202]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>68446099</id>
    <user>
    <id>2654429</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Mike]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[North Versailles, PA]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2654429-mike-mcsorley]]></link>
    <image_url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/images/nophoto-M-111x148.jpg]]></image_url>
  </user>
    <book>
  <id type="integer">2051</id>
  <isbn>0394757653</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780394757650</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">31</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Simple Art of Murder]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1159814017m/2051.jpg</image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2051.The_Simple_Art_of_Murder</link>
  <average_rating>3.96</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>534</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Prefaced by the famous <em>Atlantic Monthly</em> essay of the same name, in which he argues the virtues of the hard-boiled detective novel, this collection mostly drawn from stories he wrote for the pulps demonstrates Chandler's imaginative, entertaining facility with the form.]]>
  </description>
</book>

    <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
    
      <shelf name="read" />
    
      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Sat Aug 22 08:26:52 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sat Aug 22 08:30:15 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Just enjoy the way he writes.]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/68446099]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/68446099]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>54705201</id>
    <user>
    <id>1293953</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Brycedwyer]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United States]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1293953-brycedwyer]]></link>
    <image_url><![CDATA[http://photo.goodreads.com/users/1217547250p3/1293953.jpg]]></image_url>
  </user>
    <book>
  <id type="integer">2051</id>
  <isbn>0394757653</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780394757650</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">31</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Simple Art of Murder]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1159814017m/2051.jpg</image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2051.The_Simple_Art_of_Murder</link>
  <average_rating>3.96</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>534</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Prefaced by the famous <em>Atlantic Monthly</em> essay of the same name, in which he argues the virtues of the hard-boiled detective novel, this collection mostly drawn from stories he wrote for the pulps demonstrates Chandler's imaginative, entertaining facility with the form.]]>
  </description>
</book>

    <rating>3</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
    
      <shelf name="read" />
    
      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Fri May 29 00:00:00 -0700 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Sat May 02 11:57:21 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Fri May 29 13:59:34 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I was a little disappointed by the title essay, in which Chandler lays out what makes writing mysteries difficult and establishes his own criteria.  The last paragraph, where he describes the ideal mystery detective (that he basically created in his own Philip Marlowe), is pretty great though.]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/54705201]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/54705201]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>12846325</id>
    <user>
    <id>800027</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Christopher]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Seattle, WA]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/800027-christopher-hong]]></link>
    <image_url><![CDATA[http://photo.goodreads.com/users/1200686589p3/800027.jpg]]></image_url>
  </user>
    <book>
  <id type="integer">2051</id>
  <isbn>0394757653</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780394757650</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">31</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Simple Art of Murder]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1159814017m/2051.jpg</image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2051.The_Simple_Art_of_Murder</link>
  <average_rating>3.96</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>534</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Prefaced by the famous <em>Atlantic Monthly</em> essay of the same name, in which he argues the virtues of the hard-boiled detective novel, this collection mostly drawn from stories he wrote for the pulps demonstrates Chandler's imaginative, entertaining facility with the form.]]>
  </description>
</book>

    <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
    
      <shelf name="read" />
    
          <shelf name="canon" />
          <shelf name="noir" />
      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2006</read_at>
  <date_added>Fri Jan 18 11:26:56 -0800 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Fri Jan 18 12:00:21 -0800 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[While the short stories that make up this collection aren't always as gripping as the recurring adventures of Phillip Marlowe, Chandler's introductory essay is a compelling thesis on the nature of writing, crime, and human desperation. Chandler has always understood that crime has its own logic, mom...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/12846325">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/12846325]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/12846325]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>40944994</id>
    <user>
    <id>1833368</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Mark]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Lees Summit, MO]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1833368-mark]]></link>
    <image_url><![CDATA[http://photo.goodreads.com/users/1230329140p3/1833368.jpg]]></image_url>
  </user>
    <book>
  <id type="integer">2051</id>
  <isbn>0394757653</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780394757650</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">31</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Simple Art of Murder]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1159814017m/2051.jpg</image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2051.The_Simple_Art_of_Murder</link>
  <average_rating>3.96</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>534</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Prefaced by the famous <em>Atlantic Monthly</em> essay of the same name, in which he argues the virtues of the hard-boiled detective novel, this collection mostly drawn from stories he wrote for the pulps demonstrates Chandler's imaginative, entertaining facility with the form.]]>
  </description>
</book>

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  <date_added>Fri Dec 26 12:24:43 -0800 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sun Dec 28 08:47:54 -0800 2008</date_updated>
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    <body><![CDATA[I love <em>noir</em> fiction and <em>film noir</em>, and <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2052.The_Big_Sleep" title="The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler">Raymond Chandler</a> is the best of them all.  This is a collection of short stories, led into by an essay on where so many writers before him went wrong.  Murder isn't a flowery subject, and people aren't all genteel.  His stories look at the rougher underside of ...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/40944994">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/40944994]]></url>
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