Reading List Completists discussion

This is the thread to discuss our February 2019 Completist Book Selection

Found this at the library the other day so I'm getting an early start. I've read a couple other Philip Marlowe stories but for some reason not this one (although I've seen this movie a couple of times!). I swear I can almost hear Humphrey Bogart narrating as I read!! :)

I found a copy on Kindle from my library - might get started before the 1st.

Starts today!

So far, its exactly what I expected, and I couldn't be happier!

I started this one a tad early but now it’s the 4th and in only on page 34 XD

Definitely some dated ways of looking at things in this book. When reading, you must accept that this was a different time, or you might get uncomfortable!

Below is a link to my review - I liked it for the hard-boiled experience!

Click here for my review

I liked the book too! Then watched the movie. Although the movie plot is rather different at times the movie choices made me understand the book better haha.
The movie took many lines verbatim from the book, that works well.

Here's my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I really liked it. My copy of 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die lists The Long Goodbye too and adds that this one might be Chandler's best. Oh my... I think I'll go and read that one too.

One question about the Geiger's racket, for safety I'll add spoiler brackets (view spoiler)[ What do you think it was he was peddling in these books of his? Gambling debts? Pornographic mags? Was it specified anywhere? Must have been worth a lot of money. (hide spoiler)]

Half way through and loving it. Can’t believe I have never read Chandler - truly the poet of Los Angeles. The sunshine, lust and corruption oozes out of the pores of this book like a ripe orange. May read Goodbye My Lovely as my edition is an anthology.

Brooklyn wrote: "Half way through and loving it. Can’t believe I have never read Chandler - truly the poet of Los Angeles. The sunshine, lust and corruption oozes out of the pores of this book like a ripe orange. M..."

I am planning a few more hard-boiled books soon. I want to do some on audio because I like to hear the narrator do the hard-boiled voices!

OK - i just finished this one - and read Farewell, My Lovely right after - I was so inspired and entertained by the writing. Also really well written. I think Farewell is better written and more cohesive but both books are classic. Here's my short review I just posted (5 starts) "Great writing - seminal and iconic - sometimes ugly - sometimes poetic. A poet of the City of Angels - an adventure through the dark alleys of this sun drenched place - though it seems to be raining a lot in The Big Sleep. Sentences and descriptions to be savored. A purposely confusing plot as an excuse to create a tone poem to lost souls and hope? "

Brooklyn wrote: "A purposely confusing plot as an excuse to create a tone poem to lost souls and hope?"

I like that!

Based on these comments, I will give the book a try. I never did because I thought the movie was very aptly titled since I have tried to watch it on several occasions and have never managed to stay awake. I am probably an outlier when it comes to the movie so I'll try the book.