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The Schedule for July through Dec. 2025
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The Schedule January 2012 - June 2012
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What Members Thought
I like Chandler, and this is the first introduction the world had to everyone's favorite detective Philip Marlowe. The ending was a bit anti-climactic, but it was a treat to listen to the audio narrated by Elliot Gould. And I love Chandler's style, it makes me wish my life were narrated with his constant adverbs and punchy phrases.
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Chandler's intrepid detective, Marlowe, is employed by one General Sternwood, a wealthy oil tycoon on his last legs. Sternwood wants Marlowe to track down a blackmailer who is trying to bleed some money out of him. Mixing things up are Sternwood's two daughters, Carmen and Vivian. Both women have issues: Carmen suffers from seizures and a penchant for sleeping around with sleazy scum while Vivian is a heavy gambler who marries mobsters. In the course of working the case, Marlowe uncovers undergr
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This is seriously a record. THIRD book abandoned in a month.
I can appreciate Chandler's importance, I loves me some good noir writing, the imagery and the society he builds is complex and rich. But after the third "slapping a dame to bring her to her senses", and the, I don't know, fourth or fifth homophobic slur, I just couldn't anymore. And the racism. And that was at something like 35% in (audiobook).
So! it's a whole new tag for me! Number 3 in the "abandoned" books. ...more
I can appreciate Chandler's importance, I loves me some good noir writing, the imagery and the society he builds is complex and rich. But after the third "slapping a dame to bring her to her senses", and the, I don't know, fourth or fifth homophobic slur, I just couldn't anymore. And the racism. And that was at something like 35% in (audiobook).
So! it's a whole new tag for me! Number 3 in the "abandoned" books. ...more
HELP! I get Humphrey Bogart's voice out of my head!!!
I don't read many whodoneits but I'm glad I read this one. The story is just so-so but Chandler's writing makes up for that. He truly was a master of the simile. And...I found the character of Philip Marlowe endearing. He's tough but decent. ...more
I don't read many whodoneits but I'm glad I read this one. The story is just so-so but Chandler's writing makes up for that. He truly was a master of the simile. And...I found the character of Philip Marlowe endearing. He's tough but decent. ...more
This was brilliantly written with luscious language that reminds one of a rich, sweet dessert that you can't seem to get enough of even though it can get rather intense at times. Chandler's descriptions ooze out in such a way as to be tangible; palpable. ("Her smile was now hanging by its teeth and eyebrows and wondering what it would hit when it dropped.") On top of that, he creates an appealing character in Marlowe who is tough, clever, and a bit of a smart ass. ("'Tall, aren't you?' she said.
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An extremely murkey plotline interferes with the reader's enjoyment of a good noir novel. This book shows how much Chandler influenced Robert Parker--and how much better a writer Chandler was.
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a sharply written introduction to the immortal philip marlowe, but surprisingly slow and inconsequential.
So much better than the version with Lauren Bacall.
Feb 20, 2008
Jennie
marked it as to-read
Aug 21, 2009
Yashoda Sampath
marked it as to-read
Jan 26, 2011
Robert
marked it as to-read
