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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
Great easy read. Considering it was written in 1929, it wasn't hard to get into the mindset of dismissing rampant sexist comments. ;) It was fun to read an original piece that stereotypes were formed from. I enjoyed it, but it was a bit predictable, mainly due to the aforementioned stereotype-forming aspect of a classic.
3.5 stars
I guess I was hoping for more depth than the movie (which is a classic I love).
I guess I was hoping for more depth than the movie (which is a classic I love).
A noir classic, full of colorful descriptions and creative slang. The characters are pretty much all rotten, and nobody can really trust anybody to do anything other than act in his own best interest. Even the hero is far from being a white knight. Indeed, I suspect most of the goodness attributable to his character is just residual affection for Humphrey Bogart's portrayal in the film. (Which is excellent by the way.)
Quite re-readable, too.
Quite re-readable, too.
An absolute no-nonsense noir as yer boots, play the jazz sax Wilson we're going on the town, masterpiece of a crime novel, not a wasted word or action is contained within its hardboiled pages. Both the tale and the famous Bogard adaption are well recognised classics so put that in your pipe and blow bubbles in it Pointdexter.
Really interesting mystery novel. It read like a play because there were no thoughts and feelings included, only described action. I enjoyed all but the last chapter where there was a lengthy and I felt pointless conversation that lasted several pages...
Tired of hearing the phrase "the book was a product of its time"? Well, here it is again. The dialogue is bristling and quite a bit of it was put on the screen for the Bogart adaptation. A whirlwind of a book, certainly not for everyone's tastes, because as you're aware, some books are products of their time, and that can fluster some readers.
Think I'll read some more Hammett.
Think I'll read some more Hammett.
THIS. WAS. SO. GOOD. I honestly don’t even know what to say. I had the audio book and it read like a radio show and everything was perfect. How in the world does a man write dialogue so snappy???? The one liners are just unreal. That last part with Sam and Bridget had me slack jawed the entire time. This is rightly crowned the noir of all noirs. By gads......
This has not aged well. The characters are so exaggerated that I just couldn't bring myself to keep listening, classic or not.
This easily gets 3 and 1/2 stars. Mr. Hammett clearly mastered the mystery years ago. His characters are always entertaining.