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ohneilsan's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
jessielinden1's review against another edition
3.0
out
- cigarettes
- cyanide
- slapping sense into women
in
- pioneering genre
- vivid imagery
- 100-year old sarcasm
Chapter 25 stood out
- cigarettes
- cyanide
- slapping sense into women
in
- pioneering genre
- vivid imagery
- 100-year old sarcasm
Chapter 25 stood out
cgb126's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
curlycharcoal's review against another edition
0.5
the myth of the nymphette is alive and well in this one! to enjoy this book, you need to suspend not only your disbelief, but also all your humanity and buy in the tsunami of misogyny and prejudice and homophobia and more that keeps washing over you.
the incredibly overwritten "witty" old-timey hollywood speech gets very tired very fast. descriptions are supposed to add texture and finesse, yet all these do are just distract as the author flexes his muscle of making random comparisons like a try-hard comedian on twitter.
there is nothing of value here and as much as this is "a product of its time," it's menchildren like Chandler that shaped the time, as well. stumbling into these dumpster fires make me respect the likes of Jim Thompson that did a similar thing with much more class and skill, without reducing themselves to this level of pandering to the social norms and concerns of the hateful times.
the incredibly overwritten "witty" old-timey hollywood speech gets very tired very fast. descriptions are supposed to add texture and finesse, yet all these do are just distract as the author flexes his muscle of making random comparisons like a try-hard comedian on twitter.
there is nothing of value here and as much as this is "a product of its time," it's menchildren like Chandler that shaped the time, as well. stumbling into these dumpster fires make me respect the likes of Jim Thompson that did a similar thing with much more class and skill, without reducing themselves to this level of pandering to the social norms and concerns of the hateful times.
dellaposta's review against another edition
3.0
I can definitely understand why Chandler is so admired and influential as a prose stylist. But with a story featuring major logical gaps combined with the casual misogyny, homophobia, and racism laced through the story, is this still worth going out of your way to read in 2020? Maybe for some, but for me, there are plenty of other skilled detective fiction writers out there worth giving a try instead. If you are anything but a straight white man, be warned that you may have to hold your nose to get through some of the lines in this one.
woodpusher's review against another edition
4.0
Novela fundacional del género negro. Sin una sola línea desperdiciada.
slipybeans's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
bertwagner's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5