Jack S. (jack1) reviewed on + 67 more book reviews
Raymond Chandler is a legendary writer in the genre of tough, hard drinking, wise-guy detectives. His detective, Philip Marlowe, self describes himself as "I'm a licensed private investigator and have been for quite a while. I'm a lone wolf, unmarried, getting middle-aged, and not rich...I like liquor and women and chess and a few other things..."
This was my first Chandler book, and I picked it up because Chandler is legendary. He began writing in his 40's, a drunk who has a way with words. Most of his books were made into movies.
Marlowe is a cynical tough guy, with an ability at description to cause chuckles. For example, describing a young woman, "She was twenty or so, small and delicately put together, but she look durable."
This is a story of sex, drugs, blackmail and high society as narrated by Marlowe, a cynical tough guy. While it was written and takes place in the 30's, it is alive with dialogue, plot and action. Refreshingly, writers then could bring action to life without constant four-letter words, extreme violence, or graphically descriptive sex scenes. How refreshing that is...actual talent on display versus blatant obscenities spewed out that no longer shock so much as disgust, as the shock value is long gone.
If you have not read Raymond Chandler, as I had not, put it on your bucket list of books to be read.
This was my first Chandler book, and I picked it up because Chandler is legendary. He began writing in his 40's, a drunk who has a way with words. Most of his books were made into movies.
Marlowe is a cynical tough guy, with an ability at description to cause chuckles. For example, describing a young woman, "She was twenty or so, small and delicately put together, but she look durable."
This is a story of sex, drugs, blackmail and high society as narrated by Marlowe, a cynical tough guy. While it was written and takes place in the 30's, it is alive with dialogue, plot and action. Refreshingly, writers then could bring action to life without constant four-letter words, extreme violence, or graphically descriptive sex scenes. How refreshing that is...actual talent on display versus blatant obscenities spewed out that no longer shock so much as disgust, as the shock value is long gone.
If you have not read Raymond Chandler, as I had not, put it on your bucket list of books to be read.
