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A review by kbogdano80
The Long Goodbye by Raymond Chandler
5.0
Truly a wonderful, complex novel and a great example of not only the noir genre but of a solid story and really good writing. The novel begins with L.A. P.I. Philip Marlowe befriending a down-on-his-luck, drunken war veteran named Terry Lennox. Through further interactions, Marlowe learns that Lennox has a rich, unfaithful wife. When the wife turns up dead and Lennox shows up at Marlowe's door with a gun and plea for a ride to Mexico, the plot takes off, twists, turns, and then twists and turns some more until the very end. You may think you know what's going on or have it all figured out, but don't be fooled. Marlowe is smarter than you and always three steps ahead, and Chandler has many tricks up his sleeve. All you can do is sit back and enjoy the ride.
I found Marlowe fascinating: tough-talking, whiskey-drinking, world weary, darkly funny, able to see through the most convoluted BS. Yet underneath it all, Marlowe is a pretty decent guy. He has a quiet dignity, he's deeply rooted to his own set of morals, though cynical and jaded he's able to feel empathy for even the hardest villains, he's able to help a friend out, he's able to do what he thinks is right, even if it gives him nothing but grief. I'm not exactly sure what makes him tick but I definitely want to read more of him.
I found Marlowe fascinating: tough-talking, whiskey-drinking, world weary, darkly funny, able to see through the most convoluted BS. Yet underneath it all, Marlowe is a pretty decent guy. He has a quiet dignity, he's deeply rooted to his own set of morals, though cynical and jaded he's able to feel empathy for even the hardest villains, he's able to help a friend out, he's able to do what he thinks is right, even if it gives him nothing but grief. I'm not exactly sure what makes him tick but I definitely want to read more of him.