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creadsagain's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
jamo's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
jeansbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
hahildebrand's review against another edition
5.0
I love all of Raymond Chandler's novels, but this one, Playback, the last full outing for Phillip Marlowe, tends to get relatively short shrift compared to the others. But I really like it. It's a different sort of book, one where Marlowe's tired, and he's confused - he doesn't really understand what he's doing or why until very late in the story, and the mystery, such as it is, isn't particularly important or consequential or even surprising.
But it's funny and it's unexpectedly romantic and there are several characters who monologue entertainingly at Marlowe for several pages, never turning up as part of the action again. We're bewildered with Marlowe, we're on his side when he's frustrated at the way the plot never really gets going - but we're also compelled to stick with him, as he sticks with the 'case', because he's a good, interesting guy essentially muddling through, despite his hardboiled whip-smart image.
But it's funny and it's unexpectedly romantic and there are several characters who monologue entertainingly at Marlowe for several pages, never turning up as part of the action again. We're bewildered with Marlowe, we're on his side when he's frustrated at the way the plot never really gets going - but we're also compelled to stick with him, as he sticks with the 'case', because he's a good, interesting guy essentially muddling through, despite his hardboiled whip-smart image.
pataustin11's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
tstuppy's review against another edition
3.0
This book was OK—the plot was nothing to write home about, but Chandler is a masterful writer and consistently hits you with lines that are at times hilarious and at others heart wrenching.
jjyauch's review against another edition
2.0
Not my favorite Marlowe. While it holds many of my favorite elements that make me love reading Raymond Chandler, the weak plot and broken action left me wondering if Chandler had lost his steam when he wrote his last Marlowe novel.
talentedmisfit's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0