From the Bookshelf of Constant Reader…

The Big Sleep (Philip Marlowe, #1)

Raymond Chandler

Start date: March 1, 2012

Finish date: March 15, 2012

Discussion: Classics Corner

Discussion leader: Carol

Find A Copy At

Libraries

Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 351 topics — 11,867 comments total

Classics Corner

* The Schedule for July through Dec. 2025
By Lynn · 3 posts · 40 views

last updated Jun 25, 2025 08:25PM

Palace of Desire — discussion with ✴spoilers✴
By spoko · 7 posts · 10 views

last updated Nov 07, 2025 08:34AM

showing 8 of 8 topics view all »

What Members Thought

Feb 19, 2010 Ken rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Loved Chandler's stuff... Mr. Simile was real slick in his day. ...more

5 likes · Like · see review

Oct 01, 2013 Debra rated it it was ok

Shelves: mystery-thriller-suspense, audiobooks

I know that this is a mystery classic that I am supposed to love, but I just didn't. I found the plotting clumsy and the writing flat which made it harder to ignore the dated offensiveness of the sexism. Sorry, but that is how I found it. I understand that most of you will disagree. ...more

Like · see review

May 05, 2009 Celeste rated it it was amazing

I love all of Chandler's books, but The Big Sleep is my favorite. ...more

Like · see review

Oct 20, 2009 Sheila rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook

The plot is somewhat complex to follow in audio if you didn't know the story, maybe it was the narrator, who seemed sort of bland, or more likely I'm just remembering those classic deliveries in the film version. But the writing is fast and furious, snappy and sharp. Just great. Inspiring me to read Chandler's others ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Jun 17, 2008 Jessica rated it it was amazing

Shelves: private-detectives, los-angeles, noir, classic, 1001

Chandler can do more with a seven-word sentence than most authors can do with seven chapters - his stripped, spare prose makes those metaphors he does use sink into you like a bullet.

Like · see review

Jan 22, 2008 Tammy rated it it was amazing

It was odd to read film noir as fiction, but Chandler's storytelling is smart, crafty, and spot-on. The atmosphere of this novel is incredible - it makes for a perfect autumn read. ...more

Like · see review