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thisisthelion's review against another edition
5.0
1950s. A stunning blonde walks into a P.I.’s office. No need to know more to know what you are gonna get. This an old-school novel of P.I. + femme fatale + he doesn’t know what the hell he’s getting into. Black has been compared to Chandler which is probably the best compliment a noir writer can get but also a double-edged sword for those expecting the same level of greatness from the “pupil”. Because I do everything backwards (blame Lufthansa, for cancelling my flight and leaving me to wait at the airport without nothing to read in my luggage, so of course, I popped into the first newsagents-butwehavesomebookstoo shop I could find), I’ve read this first. And it has been a mesmerizing read. The prose flows throughout the book. On paper, Marlowe doesn’t seem like a real person who would exist in reality but Black made me believe I could run into him if I were to hire a private detective.
And you can’t help but sympathize with the fellow, unlike other P.I.s I’ve read.
You know the black eyed blonde is hiding information and you know Marlowe is not gonna be able to resist her and as as result, gonna get himself in a bunch of trouble with some shady individuals.
The Black Eyed Blonde is a novel that looks noir (that beautiful cover) and reads noir. A delight to the senses. Fans of the genre, don’t miss out on this one.
Edit: I'm giving this one the book of the year title.
And you can’t help but sympathize with the fellow, unlike other P.I.s I’ve read.
You know the black eyed blonde is hiding information and you know Marlowe is not gonna be able to resist her and as as result, gonna get himself in a bunch of trouble with some shady individuals.
The Black Eyed Blonde is a novel that looks noir (that beautiful cover) and reads noir. A delight to the senses. Fans of the genre, don’t miss out on this one.
Edit: I'm giving this one the book of the year title.
mehitabels's review against another edition
3.0
This was quite enjoyable, and definitely atmospheric. I love the hardass private investigator, with a history and secrets that tease and make me want to read more books to figure out the story. I can only roll my eyes at the inherent weakness in these men, their inability to NOT sleep with the cold beauty who runs the game they are drawn into.
I think this might be a perfect summer read, with tall iced drinks, overbright sun shaded by sunglasses, and preferably pool-side service.
I think this might be a perfect summer read, with tall iced drinks, overbright sun shaded by sunglasses, and preferably pool-side service.
dreadpiratejenny's review against another edition
4.0
A LibraryThing early reviewer win.
John Banville writing as Benjamin Black writing as Raymond Chandler. Got it?
It's been a good twenty-five years since I read Chandler, but to my recollection, Black pretty much nailed it. And if you have only seen movies based on Chandler, well it's easy enough to hear the lines coming out of Bogie's mouth.
So you've got this guy, Nico Peterson, who's dead. Only maybe not really. Marlowe gets hired because Nico's girlfriend, Claire Cavendish, saw him in San Francisco. After he died. Claire is heir to a major perfume empire and moves in the type of high class circles that make Marlowe uncomfortable but that he seems to find himself tangled up with. Add his cop buddies/nemeses, a mob boss, and a club for the movers and shakers and it really feels like what I recall vintage Marlowe to be.
John Banville writing as Benjamin Black writing as Raymond Chandler. Got it?
It's been a good twenty-five years since I read Chandler, but to my recollection, Black pretty much nailed it. And if you have only seen movies based on Chandler, well it's easy enough to hear the lines coming out of Bogie's mouth.
So you've got this guy, Nico Peterson, who's dead. Only maybe not really. Marlowe gets hired because Nico's girlfriend, Claire Cavendish, saw him in San Francisco. After he died. Claire is heir to a major perfume empire and moves in the type of high class circles that make Marlowe uncomfortable but that he seems to find himself tangled up with. Add his cop buddies/nemeses, a mob boss, and a club for the movers and shakers and it really feels like what I recall vintage Marlowe to be.
ckjaer88's review against another edition
3.0
I had such high hoped-for this, but somehow it ended up being quite boring.
lizwisniewski's review against another edition
3.0
Some of the gaffs bothered me and I wondered why an editor did not pick up on them (would anyone at the time, especially Philipp Marlowe, express any concern about cigarettes and cancer?) But then when I just let these go I found myself enjoying reading Banville writing as Raymond Chandler.
constantreader471's review against another edition
4.0
4 stars for a well done hard boiled Private Eye story set in 1950s California. The author is actually John Banville, Irish author and Man Booker prize winner. However he has written an excellent Phillip Marlowe story with Raymond Chandler's memorable PI. He has the style, cadence and wording of Chandler down pat.
This book has Marlowe looking for Nico Peterson, at the request of Clare Cavendish . Although she is married to another man, she tells Marlowe that Nico was her lover. She says that he has disappeared.
Marlowe starts to investigate and finds himself dealing with some murderous thugs.
I liked the opening sentence: " It was one of those Tuesday afternoons in summer when you wonder if the earth has stopped revolving"
This was a library book. I read it in 1 day.
This book has Marlowe looking for Nico Peterson, at the request of Clare Cavendish . Although she is married to another man, she tells Marlowe that Nico was her lover. She says that he has disappeared.
Marlowe starts to investigate and finds himself dealing with some murderous thugs.
I liked the opening sentence: " It was one of those Tuesday afternoons in summer when you wonder if the earth has stopped revolving"
This was a library book. I read it in 1 day.
puzzled_pagan's review against another edition
3.0
It's a good Marlowe knock - off, but you can never quite shake the feeling that it's not Chandler. The ingredients are right, but there's just something off.
joeleibovich's review against another edition
3.0
A fun enough homage to Chandler and Marlowe. The ending felt a tad rushed and a little out of left field.
bernardino's review against another edition
5.0
Mi crónica negra, musical y médica de La rubia de ojos negros
http://calvincliffordbaxter.wordpress.com/2014/03/27/la-rubia-de-ojos-negros-philip-marlowe/
http://calvincliffordbaxter.wordpress.com/2014/03/27/la-rubia-de-ojos-negros-philip-marlowe/