Batgrl (Book Data Kept Elsewhere)’s Reviews > The Maltese Falcon > Status Update

"The muscles holding his smile in place stood out like wales." But not Wales the country - it's this sort of wales: "the raised mark left on the skin after the stroke of a rod or whip."

"A pleasant smile illuminated his face, erasing its dull lumpishness." - that's Spade, the hero. That Hammett uses the word lumpish to describe. Yet another reason why I keep having trouble understanding why all the women are attracted to him. I don't think lumpish was ever attractive, even back in the 1930s.

Spade rushes off to the rescue - but first, while waiting for his hired car, he eats "chops, baked potato, and sliced tomatoes." Though of course he eats hurriedly. And then has a cigarette and coffee until his driver shows up, because he's being chauffeured. (I think you'll understand why this part wouldn't be in a film, right?)

"He took his hand from his chin and rubbed her cheek. "You're a damned good man, sister," he said and went out." - Sam Spade complimenting his secretary.

"A lathy youth with salient ears ushered Spade into the District Attorney's office." - it's as if the writer looked up the word prominent and thought the word salient would sound so much better. It might, but doesn't really work visually. You don't know if the ears are huge or protruding or just weirdly shaped. Lathy is at least a clearer description.

"There's nothing to be said about the bird in Lady Francis Verney's Memoirs of the Verney Family during the Seventeenth Century , to be sure. I looked." - this is an example of the kind of text reference that immediately sends me off to google and then hrs later I suddenly think "wait, wasn't I reading a book an hour ago?!"

I can understand why Hammett is known for plots but the writing is, er: "Sauntering, he crossed the lobby to the divan from which the elevators could be seen and sat down beside - not more than a foot from - the young man who was apparently reading a newspaper."

"His eyes burned yellowly." - WAY too much going on with eyes and colors burning and glaring and such. Making note to reread later just to see how many eye references there are. We'll see if I remember...

Spade: "You don't have to trust me, anyhow, as long as you can persuade me to trust you."

"I haven't lived a good life," she cried. "I've been bad - worse than you could know - but I'm not all bad. Look at me, Mr. Spade. You know I'm not all bad, don't you? You can see that, can't you? Then can't you trust me a little? ..." - Lady, no one would believe this act. Seriously.