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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Technically well-written, with an unnerving main character and a cast that grows with every five chapters (and shrinks with every ten), and a plot that clips along at a respectable pace, it's understandable how The Maltese Falcon managed to kickstart the noir fiction genre. The story rarely drags and the characters come alive on the page; their motivations drive the story and idle conversations keep their realities convincing.
The Maltese Falcon does raise an interesting question about how to rate fiction from the past, however. Because this book is downright homophobic and---at the very least---unkind to women. But I think part of the reason this book partially preserves itself from just being a pile of homophobic and sexist garbage is the fact that we're not really supposed to like our main character, and I think this is what a lot of the reviews are missing currently. He's an asshole. He's described as satan in the very first paragraph of the novel. And the limited viewpoint of the camera means that we're not really given access to anyone's thoughts, which limits the amount of homophobia and sexism that Hammett can squeeze in there.
So I can't really say I recommend The Maltese Falcon, but it's worth a read if you'd like to see the origins of noir fiction.
3/5 stars
The Maltese Falcon does raise an interesting question about how to rate fiction from the past, however. Because this book is downright homophobic and---at the very least---unkind to women.
Spoiler
3/4 of our ladies (if you'd even count G.'s daughter, who appears for a handful of pages) desperately want to sleep with our main guy for some reasonSo I can't really say I recommend The Maltese Falcon, but it's worth a read if you'd like to see the origins of noir fiction.
3/5 stars
I started this book for a book club and since I've still haven't picked it back up from bookmarking it as p52 a week ago, this is officially a DNF. I've never seen the movie to make a comparison, but this is just bad (my mom even started it & made it no farther). It feels like I accidentally picked up book 4 of a series and I'm missing a bunch of backstory.
Also, I hope that whomever edited this book, never worked in publishing again! It felt like all of the speaking conversations had multiple lines missing and we were only getting 2/3 of the actual conversations. I do not recommend.
Also, I hope that whomever edited this book, never worked in publishing again! It felt like all of the speaking conversations had multiple lines missing and we were only getting 2/3 of the actual conversations. I do not recommend.
I like the noir element but way to sexist for me to get past the first few chapters.
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
The hardboiled granddaddy of all detective novels, Hammett's most well-known creation is every bit the page-turner you'd expect. However, once the movie is seen it may prove to be near impossible to read it properly. But you sense why John Huston chose to make such a faithful adaptation. From the double crosses, untruthful characters, thrilling dialogue, and Sam Spade (who will NOT play the sap) himself it's ripe material for film noir. Let it be said; the film and the novel are equally deserving to be called classics.
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No