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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
avalete's review against another edition
4.0
This is definitely noir fiction. Metaphor heavy and creative. I more so got a laugh from the title of the book being one of the last things you read. I can’t see me reading anymore of Chandler’s books but yeah this is definitely what I imagine when I think “American Noir Detective.”
sebyreads304's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
arytaco's review against another edition
5.0
“When has crime ever been so romantic?”
That may not be a quote found in Raymond Chandler’s “The Big Sleep,” but it may as well be. The novel is loaded with snappy one-liners, congruent dialogue and sharp remarks, all brought together by Chandler’s gorgeous writing, which paints vivid descriptions of both mundanity and larger-than-life experiences. Private eye Philip Marlowe has ascended into the ranks of literature’s most memorable protagonists, with his cynical, hard-boiled nature perfectly matching the novel’s setting — seeped in cigarette smoke and deceitful civilians. Genre defining in its mythological approach to Los Angeles crime, “The Big Sleep” is both realistic in its disillusionment, yet simultaneously fantastical in its portrayal of criminality. Along with its 1946 film adaptation starring Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, this story is one for the ages — endlessly spellbinding in its atmosphere and characterization, whilst the narrative remains a puzzle itching to be solved.
That may not be a quote found in Raymond Chandler’s “The Big Sleep,” but it may as well be. The novel is loaded with snappy one-liners, congruent dialogue and sharp remarks, all brought together by Chandler’s gorgeous writing, which paints vivid descriptions of both mundanity and larger-than-life experiences. Private eye Philip Marlowe has ascended into the ranks of literature’s most memorable protagonists, with his cynical, hard-boiled nature perfectly matching the novel’s setting — seeped in cigarette smoke and deceitful civilians. Genre defining in its mythological approach to Los Angeles crime, “The Big Sleep” is both realistic in its disillusionment, yet simultaneously fantastical in its portrayal of criminality. Along with its 1946 film adaptation starring Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, this story is one for the ages — endlessly spellbinding in its atmosphere and characterization, whilst the narrative remains a puzzle itching to be solved.
mcmoon's review against another edition
5.0
I love the loose and messy plot of this book, as it follows a lone man's struggle against corruption. The sentences and descriptions are strangely beautiful. As a nerdy English teacher who sometimes knits, I wonder, what is the allure of this hard boiled world? Maybe it's the romantic cynicism.
chez_abaa's review against another edition
3.0
All the characters are nuts and crazy. Plot slightly too complicated given the length of the novel. In overall, it convinced me once again that I am not particularly fond of American literature.
But I guess Marlowe got a spell on me too.
But I guess Marlowe got a spell on me too.
oxnard_montalvo's review against another edition
Marlowe entered the long rectangular all white room. He took three steps to the right and put his hat on the davenport. There was a dame on the davenport next to the hat. She was reading a book. Her face and eyebrows made angles and shapes. She frowned like she'd just eaten a bad sea food lunch. Marlowe reached into his coat and instead of his gat, which he knew how to use, he took out a long Harvard cigar. He lit it and looked at the dame through the smoke. The smoke made the air blue and the dame's blue eyes bluer.
"You don't like it?" he said, smoking his cigar. The dame had a pair of legs that made looking at them easy.
"Not really, no." She waved her hand in front of her face, the face that was all angles and shapes, like she was wafting away a bad smell. Which maybe she was given the cigar smoke. "Can't say I like Chandler's writing style all that much. It's not my bag."
"Funny," Marlowe said. "I had you pegged as a dame with taste."
"And I thought this..." she lifted the book up "...was going to have a little more... pizazz."
"Pizazz, eh? Don't get fresh with me; I've socked dames in the kisser for staler comments."
The dame rolled her baby blues but Marlowe didn't see. The book was shut and he'd evaporated from the all white long rectangular room quicker than a fart on a spring brezze.
"You don't like it?" he said, smoking his cigar. The dame had a pair of legs that made looking at them easy.
"Not really, no." She waved her hand in front of her face, the face that was all angles and shapes, like she was wafting away a bad smell. Which maybe she was given the cigar smoke. "Can't say I like Chandler's writing style all that much. It's not my bag."
"Funny," Marlowe said. "I had you pegged as a dame with taste."
"And I thought this..." she lifted the book up "...was going to have a little more... pizazz."
"Pizazz, eh? Don't get fresh with me; I've socked dames in the kisser for staler comments."
The dame rolled her baby blues but Marlowe didn't see. The book was shut and he'd evaporated from the all white long rectangular room quicker than a fart on a spring brezze.