Bill Kelly answers “Is there a particular line up of these...”

Ed Salley asked this question about The Big Sleep (Philip Marlowe, #1):

Is there a particular line up of these books that one should start with? You know what I mean, is there a first one that should be read? Thanks

Bill Kelly A first to last reading of the works is not really important as the character does not carry holdover relationships or situations from book to book un…moreA first to last reading of the works is not really important as the character does not carry holdover relationships or situations from book to book until The Long Goodbye.
The early novels often cannibalized Chandler's short stories (with the lifted scenes usually being much more well written), but the plot point sequences in the books can be a little herky-jerky and at times confusing. The Little Sister is the first wholly original work and for better or worse, Chandler lets the prose and the emotions fly. If you are interested in the development of Chandler as a writer, I would read Farewell, My Lovely (my favorite of the novels using utilizing reworked previously published material), The Little Sister and The Long Goodbye in that order. With these three books you would see Chandler find his (and Marlowe's) voice, gain confidence and with The Long Goodbye, create a work that rivals any mainstream American novel of the time as "literature". (less)

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