You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
First dip into Dashiell Hammett. Fantastic. Have seen the movie but the writing is just great.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book was terrible. I get that it's a pulp novel but still.
It's interesting reading these old noirs and hardboiled novels that set the genre in motion even though they'd become defined by the films made later. But this is a quick little novel that never stops sprinting forward.
But, yeah, fun little read about a bunch of unpleasant people scheming on one another.
But, yeah, fun little read about a bunch of unpleasant people scheming on one another.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
"You have always, I must say, a smooth explanation ready."
Spade scowled, "What do you want me to do, learn to stutter?"
As ridiculously entertaining from cover to cover as you hope it will be. It's amazing because now we live in a post-Maltese Falcon world. Movies, graphic novels, TV, you name it, there is almost no aspect of popular culture that has not felt its touch. I can only imagine what the impact must have been like when it first appeared in 1929. So many tropes seem to be created right here, (though in fact, this book was the distillation and possibly the crest of a certain type of "hard-boiled" fiction popularized in magazines like Black Mask). From Sam Spade's amoral yet rigid code of conduct to Brigid O' Shaughnessy's ruthless and deadly vulnerability, to the red herring of the Falcon itself, seemingly brought into play simply to bring this catalogue of amazing characters together, The Maltese Falcon feels like meeting that dazzling woman you've heard so much about -- and she's every bit as enchanting as you think she's going to be. And if you're a fan of the movie (and most likely you are) you'll be delighted to see that they lifted 90% of the dialogue straight from Dashiell Hammett's very own type-writer.
Seriously, it is a stunning achievement.
Spade scowled, "What do you want me to do, learn to stutter?"
As ridiculously entertaining from cover to cover as you hope it will be. It's amazing because now we live in a post-Maltese Falcon world. Movies, graphic novels, TV, you name it, there is almost no aspect of popular culture that has not felt its touch. I can only imagine what the impact must have been like when it first appeared in 1929. So many tropes seem to be created right here, (though in fact, this book was the distillation and possibly the crest of a certain type of "hard-boiled" fiction popularized in magazines like Black Mask). From Sam Spade's amoral yet rigid code of conduct to Brigid O' Shaughnessy's ruthless and deadly vulnerability, to the red herring of the Falcon itself, seemingly brought into play simply to bring this catalogue of amazing characters together, The Maltese Falcon feels like meeting that dazzling woman you've heard so much about -- and she's every bit as enchanting as you think she's going to be. And if you're a fan of the movie (and most likely you are) you'll be delighted to see that they lifted 90% of the dialogue straight from Dashiell Hammett's very own type-writer.
Seriously, it is a stunning achievement.
There is a reason this is considered a classic crime novel: it has a strangely timeless quality to it, although it takes place in the 1920s. Of course it's also very dated, but in a charming kind of way.
One thing that I have to commend the author on is how he sets up scenes and describes characters. The mental visuals were so solid all the time, and the dialogue really gave all the characters life. None of the characters are all that likable, to be honest, but I don't think they're supposed to be likable. They're all supposed to be untrustworthy and shady. The pacing of the novel was also done very well. What I found interesting is that there weren't answers to all the mysteries. I don't even feel like there needed to be, as the characters were more than willing to set people up.
I'm glad I read this at last. I can see how this book popularized the crime genre and inspired a lot of cliches and tropes we're familiar with today. And it's just classic noir. I don't know what else I can say about it.
One thing that I have to commend the author on is how he sets up scenes and describes characters. The mental visuals were so solid all the time, and the dialogue really gave all the characters life. None of the characters are all that likable, to be honest, but I don't think they're supposed to be likable. They're all supposed to be untrustworthy and shady. The pacing of the novel was also done very well. What I found interesting is that there weren't answers to all the mysteries. I don't even feel like there needed to be, as the characters were more than willing to set people up.
I'm glad I read this at last. I can see how this book popularized the crime genre and inspired a lot of cliches and tropes we're familiar with today. And it's just classic noir. I don't know what else I can say about it.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Not a fan of Dashiell Hammett based on this book. The characters are fully drawn. I just don't like any of them.
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I can appreciate what Hammett did for the hard-boiled detective, but this book was not for me
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
More of a genre establishing entry than a mastery of the genre noir, the intrigue isn’t that intriguing, the mystery isn’t that mysterious, and the main character isn’t nearly as fuckable as Dashiell Hammett thinks he is. I had some very clever ideas for twists that I will whisper to the ghost of DH in seance in case he wants to use them (I am not sure how temporality works in the spirit world). I thought the frame-up was on Spade, which would have been rewarding. I also thought Effie mod podged the fake-o falcon and kept the real one at her mom’s so the gang could double cash in. Either of these would have been more satisfying endings!
Extra . 25 star for the extremely horny description of rolling a cigarette in Chapter 2.