The Maltese Falcon in Never too Late to Read Classics

Dec 13, 2018 Sara rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: detective, mystery

I think Hammett might play better as a movie than in print. I found Sam Spade a bit too stuffy and wooden to have any real appeal. It did not help that I already knew the story.

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Aug 28, 2020 Shirley (stampartiste) rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: read-classics, challenge-bingo-2020

I wanted to read this book because I loved the movie: There was a screen presence about the great character actors of old (Humphrey Bogart and Peter Lorre were remarkably good in this movie). And when Humphrey Bogart (Sam Spade) uttered the words, "When you're slapped, you'll take it and like it," well... that was just classic Bogie! But reading it in print, and having Sam Spade slap his way through the characters in the book, was just a little too much slapping around for my taste.

I wasn't part ...more

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Mar 11, 2020 Library Nymph rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery, classics

Ok, how can I start? There are few things I was iffy with, so I'll start there. I don't like it when "strong" men think they can just touch women because they're . . . standing there, being a vagina owner. Don't get me wrong, I like to be touched, but with my permission, thank you, and not before. Sam Spade kinda does this low-key. Not enough for me to think he's an utter asshole, but just enough I was like, "seriously, dude, you can't have a sexual understanding with ALL these women." I don't k ...more

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Nov 30, 2012 Zuzana rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery, 2012-challenge, crime

Not bad at all but I guess I just prefer Chandler.

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Dec 04, 2011 Adam Haan rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Sam Spade is constantly rolling a cigarette. I guess that back in the 1930’s they had to do a little more work to enjoy a smoke and increase their chances of lung cancer. This is one of the books that started it all, as far as crime fiction goes. I’ve read many crime books that are set in modern times and I was struck by how simple the dialogue and situations in this book are by comparison. But that does not mean that this is not an enjoyable book. I enjoyed reading this. The main character, as ...more

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Jun 24, 2014 Julie rated it liked it

Shelves: detectives, classics, reviewed

Idk, I liked The Thin Man well enough, I found Norah and Nick very charming, plus I really liked the movie with Humphrey Bogart too but eh...

- while the maltese falcon, idk i loved the movie, but it was SUCH. A. CHORE. just getting through it

- i feel like dashiell hammett is the very epitome of male novelist jokes http://the-toast.net/2013/11/04/male-...

- also missing is the iconic last line of the film, w/c is actually from the tempest. i was waiting for it the whole book and i feel cheated

- bu ...more

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Aug 19, 2013 Sarah rated it really liked it

Shelves: owned

Really enjoyed reading. Always liked the movie, and the movie follows the book closely - no reason not to, the dialogue is great. Wonderful gently twisting plot, and it did not bother me a bit that I knew what was coming. Sam Spade is just a fun guy to hang out with for a couple of hours.

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