Scan barcode
A review by mikearhodes
The Little Sister by Raymond Chandler
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? Yes
3.75
I read 5 of the 7 Marlowe books a decade or so ago and on a whim decided to read this, one of the ones I hadn't read.
I found it a book of two halves. The first half was poor in my opinion: it seemed to lack any of the diamond similie's and metaphors that are a trademark of Chandler, the plot was dull, and every female character seemed to exist only to throw themselves at the hero (even by the standards of the genre, it's grating). It felt like reading a poorer writers satire of Chandler.
Things picked up a lot in the back half, when the pacing picks up and the plot becomes more interesting. I ended up enjoying it a fair bit - it's weak for Chandler overall but that's still far better prose than most can manage.
I think the Big Sleep is fresher, The Long Goodbye a deeper, richer material, The Lady In the Lake a good balance of the two and is probably the tightest plot.
I found it a book of two halves. The first half was poor in my opinion: it seemed to lack any of the diamond similie's and metaphors that are a trademark of Chandler, the plot was dull, and every female character seemed to exist only to throw themselves at the hero (even by the standards of the genre, it's grating). It felt like reading a poorer writers satire of Chandler.
Things picked up a lot in the back half, when the pacing picks up and the plot becomes more interesting. I ended up enjoying it a fair bit - it's weak for Chandler overall but that's still far better prose than most can manage.
I think the Big Sleep is fresher, The Long Goodbye a deeper, richer material, The Lady In the Lake a good balance of the two and is probably the tightest plot.