Author: Raymond Chandler
Genre: Mystery, Series #1
Published: 1939
Personal Rating: 3/5
Yearly Count: 50
Private investigator, Philip Marlowe of Los Angeles is hired by an elderly millionaire to find out who and why he is being blackmailed.
Chandler's style is revered by many, but I found it to be a bit too wordy. I'm also discovering that I don't necessarily care for the old time detective novels with their smoky rooms, long overcoats and hats, so unfortunately it started out behind from the get-go. As for the plot, it did contain much more than blackmail, but it didn't carry much pizazz or intrigue for me; however, it held enough of my interest to continue. Well, at the very least, I can cross Raymond Chandler off my TBR List and I love doing that.
I find that I'm not that into old time detective novels either. But surprisingly I really enjoy picking up the odd Agatha Christie and Sherlock Holmes. Odd isn't it?
ReplyDeleteMy husband is a huge Raymond Chandler fan, but I haven't yet had a chance to try him. I admit though that I do like some of the older novels though. I really liked The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett.
ReplyDeleteI liked this if for no other reason than people actually using words like "dame" made me giggle. I'm so mature. :-)
ReplyDeleteLezlie
I'd love to read him too just to say I had, though I don't think it will appeal to me too much. I read a handful of Perry Mason books several years ago for the same reason and found them terribly cheesy but actually did have fun with them, perhaps for the same reason as Lezlie. Having people actually use words like "dame" to each other does get one giggling.
ReplyDeleteI didn't like this book when I read it, either, but I do love Dashiell Hammett's novels from that same time period.
ReplyDeleteThis is one of my favorites. That's great that you gave Chandler a try.
ReplyDeletethatsthebook ~ I hadn't read any Agatha Christie until a year or two ago and I do like her work, too, but still prefer contemporary mysteries.
ReplyDeleteLiterary Feline ~ Philip Marlowe didn't have the spunk or sarcasm that I like in a character. Chandler's other works may be better.
Lezlie ~ LOL I know "dame" is not necessarily meant to sound condescending, but it does to me.
Nicola ~ I haven't read any Perry Mason either. I didn't know that this was that type of mystery when I picked it up. I picked it up because of the author.
Bookfool ~ Dashiell Hammett isn't an author I have read either. I'm not sure I want to go there. Even though he is regarded highly. Well, at least not any time soon - things change. :)
Charley ~ I know it is Charley and I really wanted to like it more. It's just a style that doesn't appeal to me. I'm glad you enjoy the series, though.
I haven't had a chance to read this author but I do think that I will like it. I enjoy a good detective novel with the overcoats and all of the other bits :)
ReplyDeleteSamantha.1020 ~ Then you must give him a shot! I can't say that all those components were in this book, but that's the era. :)
ReplyDelete