PatRaymond Chandler
June 1st 2008 04:44
I think I must be the only person in the world who thinks that Raymond Chandler sucks.
Everyone raves about him (including you) and that's why I gave him a chance. Not just one chance either; I read the following novels: The Big Sleep, Farewell, My Lovely and The Long Goodbye. All three of them sucked.
The Big Sleep was overly complicated for my feeble brain and a bit of a let-down when things were all wrapped up. I could be persuaded by someone telling me that the intricate plot is the best thing about it and that they really enjoyed being confused by Chandler, but you would be hard pressed getting this argument off the ground against me. Redeeming features of this novel is the appearance of murder, casual violence, pornography and homosexualty - all very good things and if I still didn't enjoy this book despite that, then I guess there's no hope at all.
Farewell, My Lovely is about nothing as far as I'm concerned. It didn't even make sense and there are absolutely ZERO queers in this story. What's the point, I hear you ask, and that's exactly what I was thinking. The biggest problem with this novel is the character of 'Moose Malloy', who despite having possibly the best name possible, seems like he should have been the focus of the story, but doesn't really have anything to do with anything. NOTE: I'm not checking whether that's actually true or not and I've got a sneaking suspicion that I'm horribly wrong, but take it easy, hey. Maybe get a cup of tea and relax. Put your feet up.
The Long Goodbye didn't make sense either. It's all about the search for old mate Terry Lennox and I remember getting to the end of the book and realising that I wasn't really all that clear on why anybody wanted to find him in the first place. Time is money and all that, so it left me a little annoyed that I had superficially read a famous novel and was left unfulfilled. Please also see my above NOTE because I'm admitting that I'm factually deprived slightly at the time of typing this. Please be gentle.
My biggest problem with Raymond Chandler is the main character of these novels, Philip (Phil) Marlowe.
In all honesty, and despite what you just read above, I would have really enjoyed these books if it wasn't for the way in which Marlowe was described, particurlarly his dialogue. The impression I got was that Marlowe's choice of words was decided by a ten year old boy who wanted to make the whole thing sound COOL.
To me, it seemed forced and a little bit embarrassing (for Chandler mostly, not for me; I was sitting on the train reading detective novels and probably looking really intelligent and impressing all the babes - no big deal).
Maybe this was the style of the times about 50 years ago, but if Chandler didn't take the time to consider that a stupid Australian man might be slightly annoyed by the tone of his books at some indeterminate time in the future, then it's out of my hands unfortunately. Basically what I'm saying is that the problem is completely with me and these books probably would have been really enjoyable if I wasn't such a pedantic and annoying jerk.
Thanks for reading my confused web log entry on the famous detective author 'Raymond Chandler'.
Next time I'll have a conclusion worked out in advance and the whole thing will have a 'structure'. I promise. Maybe a little proofreading as well (he he he [again with the written nervous laugh]).
Everyone raves about him (including you) and that's why I gave him a chance. Not just one chance either; I read the following novels: The Big Sleep, Farewell, My Lovely and The Long Goodbye. All three of them sucked.
The Big Sleep was overly complicated for my feeble brain and a bit of a let-down when things were all wrapped up. I could be persuaded by someone telling me that the intricate plot is the best thing about it and that they really enjoyed being confused by Chandler, but you would be hard pressed getting this argument off the ground against me. Redeeming features of this novel is the appearance of murder, casual violence, pornography and homosexualty - all very good things and if I still didn't enjoy this book despite that, then I guess there's no hope at all.
Farewell, My Lovely is about nothing as far as I'm concerned. It didn't even make sense and there are absolutely ZERO queers in this story. What's the point, I hear you ask, and that's exactly what I was thinking. The biggest problem with this novel is the character of 'Moose Malloy', who despite having possibly the best name possible, seems like he should have been the focus of the story, but doesn't really have anything to do with anything. NOTE: I'm not checking whether that's actually true or not and I've got a sneaking suspicion that I'm horribly wrong, but take it easy, hey. Maybe get a cup of tea and relax. Put your feet up.
The Long Goodbye didn't make sense either. It's all about the search for old mate Terry Lennox and I remember getting to the end of the book and realising that I wasn't really all that clear on why anybody wanted to find him in the first place. Time is money and all that, so it left me a little annoyed that I had superficially read a famous novel and was left unfulfilled. Please also see my above NOTE because I'm admitting that I'm factually deprived slightly at the time of typing this. Please be gentle.
My biggest problem with Raymond Chandler is the main character of these novels, Philip (Phil) Marlowe.
In all honesty, and despite what you just read above, I would have really enjoyed these books if it wasn't for the way in which Marlowe was described, particurlarly his dialogue. The impression I got was that Marlowe's choice of words was decided by a ten year old boy who wanted to make the whole thing sound COOL.
To me, it seemed forced and a little bit embarrassing (for Chandler mostly, not for me; I was sitting on the train reading detective novels and probably looking really intelligent and impressing all the babes - no big deal).
Maybe this was the style of the times about 50 years ago, but if Chandler didn't take the time to consider that a stupid Australian man might be slightly annoyed by the tone of his books at some indeterminate time in the future, then it's out of my hands unfortunately. Basically what I'm saying is that the problem is completely with me and these books probably would have been really enjoyable if I wasn't such a pedantic and annoying jerk.
Thanks for reading my confused web log entry on the famous detective author 'Raymond Chandler'.
Next time I'll have a conclusion worked out in advance and the whole thing will have a 'structure'. I promise. Maybe a little proofreading as well (he he he [again with the written nervous laugh]).
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Comment by stu-kicks
chandler on friends is cooler
Comment by Pat
Books Are For Losers
Comment by Anonymous
woodz
Comment by Pat
Books Are For Losers
I'd really like Stu-Kicks to take care of it for a month but I'm fairly sure he can't/won't read books.
Comment by stu-kicks
Comment by Pat
Books Are For Losers