From the Bookshelf of Classics Without All the Class…

The Maltese Falcon

Dashiell Hammett

Start date: June 1, 2014

Finish date: June 30, 2014

Discussion: June 2014 - The Maltese Falcon

Discussion leader: Beth

Why we're reading this: "a brilliant literary work, as well as a thriller, a love story, and a dark, dry comedy. The only critici…more
[close] "a brilliant literary work, as well as a thriller, a love story, and a dark, dry comedy. The only criticism one could offer Hammett’s private-eye classic is that it is so much fun to read, it might be hard the first time through to realize how deeply observed and morally serious it is."
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Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 5 topics — 47 comments total

June 2014 - The Maltese Falcon

* Discuss Sam Spade as a detective
By Beth · 22 posts · 126 views

last updated Jul 22, 2014 07:06PM

Discuss Truth and Deception
By Beth · 7 posts · 58 views

last updated Jul 21, 2014 10:30AM

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What Members Thought

May 12, 2012 Kathleen rated it liked it

What an interesting read. Having seen the film version of the story, I was curious about the book. Hammett has a clipped writing style that feels more like reading a play or film script compared to today's novels. Yet the story is fast-paced and interesting. Because it was written in 1929, the references to technology are rather quaint, but I like them. I was also intrigued with the slang of the 1920's. I was a bit surprised at the character of Sam Spade. He was much tougher than I had thought h ...more

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Jun 01, 2014 Ebster Davis rated it it was ok

I started reading this book for book club. I couldn't finish it in time because its pretty horrible. (To be fair, I did buy the 99 cent version on google play and its not proofread, and transitions horribly. But also to be fair, nothing in this book enticed me to spend more than 99 cents on it).

It's about this skanky detective who's trying to solve mysteries. Namely:
1) who killed his partner (It was Brigid) and 2) what is the maltese falcon (its a thing that's worth money, and that's really all ...more

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Jun 08, 2019 Brenda H rated it it was ok

2 stars. Review to come

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Jun 01, 2013 Kristi Krumnow rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: classic-lit

It was difficult listening to this audiobook as it was problematic "seeing" who was talking. The audiobook, on the other hand, was exciting as there were replicated sounds of smoking, slamming doors, walking, slapping, and lighting cigarettes. For these reasons of musing a radio show, the story was entertaining especially as a lost part of radio americana history. ...more

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