This is a classic noir novel.

However, what makes it stand out for me is that it's not just a regular detective story. It's also a song about Los Angeles, a place that I once regarded as my home.

LA offers various aspects to different people - a place to see and be seen, to dream and be the subject of dreams. But Chandler delves into the dark side of it all in a way that very few writers can.

He views the city in both its bright white light and its shadows. He sees the grandeur and the decay, the flimsiness of the city's facades.

It's a love song, a siren's call, and also a mournful dirge, all combined into an exciting detective novel that takes you away with its own fantasies and tough lamentations.

I love this book just as I love LA - not simply, but wholeheartedly nonetheless.

Philip Marlowe here at your service.

For a start, I'm going to tell you a little tale of my last caper, punks. Listen good. Rich, sick General Sternwood hired me to help him peel an onion, a shakedown, the big squeeze. One of his two quite dizzy daughters, Carmen, got into a little pickle. I'll not spill the beans but say it's kind of a blue bedtime story with pictures, the sort polite society keeps on the Q.T. You'll need a big fireman's hose to clean up all the crud. Any of you need a little dough? After a few killings, throwing the lead and one hemlock, people nobody will miss, just a bunch of dirty scum (I earned my 500 bucks).

The mugs kicked hard but I kicked harder. They shot but I didn't miss the torpedoes. Their pushing up daisies now, just another day at the office. I sure needed the moolah. A shamus uses a raincoat for many purposes, not just to keep dry. It's our sacred symbol, don't laugh. The General again commanded this private dick to appear at his crazy mansion. Rusty Ragan, the husband of Vivian, the older sister, the less strange one, took it on the lam. A thousand clams to find this ex-bootlegger, which isn't hay and the booze will wet the whistle, my friends. I had developed a bad habit of eating regularly so accepted the gig.

When Harry Jones, a small-time con man, was rubbed out by a big gorilla named Canino, that's dirty pool. I kind of liked the bum. Must be getting soft, I guess. Canino wasn't getting away, free as a bird, not with Mrs. Marlowe's son still breathing. One of us would soon be in the big sleep. But first I'll have to dig up some clues to where old Rusty is at. Maybe go clay pigeon shooting instead with Carmen. Sounds like fun and she's cute as a bug's ear. Dames can make you nuts. I stay away but not too far. A private dick needs to have laughs. What harm could it cause and she is a looker besides. Her old man has a lot of cabbage...

Now hit the road, mugs. Get this through your thick skulls. I am a busy slob, with an itchy finger, pack heat and work for a living. You lowlifes make like a chicken and go lay an egg somewhere else.....I have to apologize to all my good friends. Mr. Marlowe has no manners. His blunt speech can and will annoy people the wrong way. The association with racketeers has had a bad effect on him. Again I am sorry for this embarrassing display. Thank you again.

I first read this in 1975, as I precariously trod the dull, straight and narrow road in a Chorpromazine-addled miasma.

My job that year was likewise dull. It consisted of earmarking files to call forward at the request of engineers later on, putting files once returned under lock and key, and fixing paper jams in the photocopier. And generally gadbouting about at the beck and call of my seniors.

With the meds I was a fly - pinned and wriggling. Oh, at least there were magazines, like at your dentist's office, to divert me from dronish drudgery. But I hated the seventies. Who knew - I was averse to the amoral.

I had all the makings of a fledgling Christian, but I didn't see any signs of Heaven in this Hell, with my pills. I didn’t see I was a Grain of Sand on an Endless Beach. So I wasn't one. We are saved by hope!

And The Big Sleep matched my mood, a real roman noir. Back then, L.A. was as corrupt as the entire world is now. Marlowe (a nod to Conrad?) has been there, done that and seen "The Horror!" It's never Pretty, I muttered over my magazine.

There are no eyes here in this valley of dying stars in this hollow valley This broken jaw of our lost kingdoms.

Yikes! I looked up suddenly from People Magazine and saw the big sign over the photocopier as an engineer was doing his job - (spy versus spy) - and knew I had been caught: It said "EYES UP AND LOOKING!" for the Cold War's fear was why I had a job.

Back to reality! I was not doing my work. You know, as my one of my fave writers, Ajahn Brahm, stresses, mindfulness is key! For it is the Path to Peace... And the value of my meds was only in the lessons to be learnt from them.

Avoid making waves, kids - you’ll have more friends, and you’ll always see the Universe in every Grain of Sand!

Reflections on The Big Sleep

The Big Sleep is a prime example of classic hard-boiled detective fiction. It contains every stereotype and cliched phrase, yet it is truly glorious. If you're in search of dames, gumshoes, sawbucks, and lead swapping, this is the book for you. Almost every page is filled with quotable lines that will make you smirk.

It's important to remember that this book is set in a different time. If you forget this, you may be upset or offended by the content. The characters are uncouth and indelicate. Several times while reading, I found myself thinking, "Dang, he can't say that!" But he did, and that's just the way it was back then.

The plot of The Big Sleep is a bit convoluted. I have to admit that there were several times during the book when I wasn't quite sure what was going on or where things were headed. I'm not even sure I fully understand the resolution. However, I view this as a genre period piece, and I enjoyed it for that reason, rather than for a mind-blowing plot.

So, do I recommend this book? Really, only if you want to add some classic hard-boiled fiction to your collection. If you only think you should read it because it's considered a must-read classic, I'm not sure you'll enjoy it all that much.

The quintessence of the hard boiled detective story in this work truly overshadows plain old good writing. Some of the similes employed may sound rather hackneyed. However, Chandler made significant contributions to constructing the cop-jargon/lingo mythos that we now perceive as clichés. Otherwise, the language is succinct and muscular. Marlowe is well-developed, as are the wild sisters Sternwood. The plot is thick yet believable, and the violence is anything but gratuitous. By today's standards, the action is minimal.

As important as any human character is Los Angeles as seen through the private eye's eyes. Credulity is won by the brutally honest portrayal regarding human nature. It makes for easy reading.

There are few shots fired, and a few tails are executed slowly and methodically rather than having overdone chase scenes. It is much more realistic than run-of-the-mill mysteries or crime dramas.

Raymond Chandler was indeed a fine writer. The film starring Bogart missed the mark by a wide margin. The novel, on the other hand, is an absolute must-read. It offers a unique and engaging exploration of the detective genre, with its rich characters, intricate plot, and vivid portrayal of the city of Los Angeles.

I’m extremely late to this particular literary party. In fact, I’m very, very late. I have long had a great passion for American crime fiction, but my reading diet has mainly consisted of contemporary novels. Writers such as Lawrence Block, Michael Connelly, and James Lee Burke have provided me with countless hours of entertainment. However, I have seldom delved deeper into the past to explore the heyday of hard-boiled mysteries. I did attempt Hammett once, but I must confess that I didn’t enjoy the experience very much. So, it was with a slight sense of unease that I embarked on the journey of exploring the world of Philip Marlowe.

The first aspect that immediately struck me was the language, or rather the slang. There were numerous words and phrases that I recognized, many of which are no longer in use today, but there were also a great many that I didn’t understand. Although it wasn’t overly difficult to figure out their meanings, it did intensify the feeling that I had been transported back to some ancient and alien place. The second thing that caught my attention was the attitude and behavior of the men in this book. Even Marlowe comes across as a homophobic misogynist, and yet he is probably the only character with any semblance of a moral compass. As if that weren’t enough, everyone, both male and female, smokes and drinks hard liquor continuously. No wonder the old movies look so dark; you have to peer through the thick fog of their cigarette smoke to see the action unfold.

As for the story itself, it was just okay. It was a bit overly complicated, and at one point, I lost track of the rather large cast of characters. The star attraction is undoubtedly Marlowe himself. Despite his flaws, he truly is the sole good guy in this tale. In truth, this book isn’t going to convert me into a die-hard Chandler fan. I’ll stick with the modern stuff, thank you very much. However, I did find it an interesting and not entirely unpleasant foray into the past. It provided me with a glimpse into a different era of crime fiction and allowed me to appreciate the roots from which the modern genre has grown.

I'm usually a person who struggles with following complex plots. When a movie or book has too many double-crosses, lies, and reversals, it takes me a while to figure out what's going on. The chess game of the plot is often too much for me.

I don't usually hold this against the story. I just accept that it wasn't my cup of tea and move on.

However, this one was different. I loved every minute of it and will definitely have to reread it someday. I want to re-savor all the little asides that crackle with energy, the poetic creases, the iridescent visions, and the sexy, manipulative, deeply, extravagantly subtly disturbed characters.

This is my second Chandler book (I also read 'Farewell, My Lovely'), and now I'm determined to tackle everything he ever wrote. Fortunately, there isn't too much of it.

There are two marks of a great writer. First, they don't turn you off when the plot gets too hard to handle. Second, they make you instantly want to reread them when you're done.

Actually, I'll add a third mark. They make you quietly promise that you're going to tackle their collected works as well.

Chandler is worth reading for the sheer beauty of his language. The minute characterizations, the suspense, the banter, and the antiquated slang that is still more badass than anything you hear today all contribute to his greatness.

Philip Marlowe, the protagonist, is a wiseguy, a drinker, a chain smoker, full of cunning, observation, wisdom, and taste. He is ethical in his own severe way, despondent, cynical, world-weary, thoroughly masculine, yet also a bit of a dandy and an intellectual. He is consistently compelling and deeply enigmatic, making him one of the most memorable characters in literature.

**Noir Crime Fiction: A Captivating Introduction**

I recently had the pleasure of reading my first noir crime fiction book, and it was an absolute delight. I wasn't entirely sure if I would enjoy the genre, but I decided to take a chance with this classic that introduced the world to the iconic private detective Philip Marlowe. I'm so glad I did!

This book is a fun and fast read that immediately sucks you in with its superb dialogue. The dialogue is both politically incorrect and yet so engaging that it just slides off the page and into your head. It adds a unique charm to the story and makes it truly come alive.

The plot, although familiar in today's context, is the root of many of the standard "noir" plot devices. Reading them as they were presented in this book, as fresh and genre-bending, was a real trip. It was fascinating to see how these elements that have become so common in the noir genre were first introduced.

The characters in this book are truly top-notch. They range from total scum to just really bad, which leaves Marlowe as the good guy by default. His character is well-developed and adds a sense of morality and justice to the otherwise seedy world of the story.

Overall, this was such a terrific experience that I became an immediate fan of the noir crime fiction genre. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an exciting and engaging read. It's a classic that has stood the test of time and is sure to delight readers for years to come.

  




  



4.0 stars.

Raymond Chandler first published The Big Sleep in 1939, introducing us to the captivating world of Philip Marlowe.

It is a modern, noir-like detective story that revolutionized the genre, transforming it from passive interactions to action-packed thrills between the private eye and criminals. Set in 1930s Los Angeles, a sleepy town then under the control of both the mob and the police, The Big Sleep is a non-stop action thriller.

General Sherwood hires private eye detective Philip Marlowe to solve the mystery of the whereabouts of his son-in-law Terrance Regan. Marlowe takes the case, assuming it will be straightforward, as he usually subsists on $25 a day. However, when he is introduced to the General's daughters, Carmen and Vivian, he is drawn into a world of crime.

Instead of a simple missing persons case, Marlowe now has three murders on his hands and multiple mob goons hounding him. With little assistance from the assistant district attorney Ohls and being seen as a nuisance by the Los Angeles Police, Marlowe is on his own. He questions everyone from racketeers to pornographers, slowly piecing together Regan's whereabouts. Adding to the excitement, both of Sherwood's vixen daughters have desires for Marlowe that have nothing to do with detective work.

Before Chandler introduced readers to pulp detective books, crimes were passively presented, and the detective would search for clues and eventually solve the case. Last year, I read a few modern mystery books set in the 1910s, and they adhered to the style of that time period. The action in The Big Sleep, as well as the short sentences in the first person, changed the way mystery writers crafted detective and crime novels. Even though this book was published in 1939, it held my attention due to all the action-packed within its pages.

Marlowe eventually fends off the Sherwood sisters and discovers who committed all the crimes. Smitten with the older sister and in the good graces of the police and district attorney's office, the door is open for Marlowe to take on more detective work. The Big Sleep is a fun detective book full of crime, the mob, and fast women that held my attention throughout. I look forward to reading more of Marlowe's cases and rate this premiere 4 solid stars.

My recent re-read of The Big Sleep has firmly established one fact for me - Chandler is to crime writing what Dylan is to song writing. They both stand head and shoulders above all others, whether before or after them. Even the second-best in their respective fields will always be in their shadow. After reading Ross Macdonald and James Crumley, who are highly influenced by Chandler and are themselves great authors in the genre, it's still astonishing to see how Chandler does everything just a little bit better than everyone else.

Philip Marlowe is assigned by the ailing General Sternwood to uncover the person blackmailing him. Both of the general's daughters have their own issues, and the man himself isn't sure how much he wants to know about them. Pay attention to Marlowe's interactions with the elder daughter, Vivian Regan. Every time they share a scene, the dialogue is as sharp as a knife, and the girl is as dangerous as a venom-dipped dagger. Vivian Regan has a weakness for bad men, an even weaker one for bad decisions, and her weakest spot is for bad decisions regarding bad men. And she has a sister who makes her seem like a paragon of judgment and virtue by comparison. It's no surprise that blackmail is involved.

Chandler doesn't receive enough credit for his plotting. In fact, The Big Sleep is most famous for an unsolved ancillary mystery rather than the main puzzle. It's a complex and satisfying mystery, but it's so overshadowed by the prose and atmosphere that for first-time readers, the mystery may be the last thing on their minds. I, too, appreciated it more on my re-read.

Chandler is the greatest dialogue writer of all time. And if that weren't enough, his eye for detail is unmatched, and he describes the most ordinary things in the most unique ways. His similes and metaphors have been copied by lesser authors with diminishing returns for far too long. But here, they are not a gimmick; they are truly great. They are oddly obscure and outlandish, yet peculiarly perfect and relevant. (He doesn't do alliterations; that's just me.) A few examples, though not exact quotes: Trees trimmed as carefully as poodles for dog shows, a hangover is waking up with a motorman's gloves in your mouth, cutting off a car is making an enemy, and a pornographer's paraphernalia has the nasty stealthiness of a fag party. Yes, his attitudes towards women or minorities may not hold up today. But if that's the biggest complaint one can level against an eighty-year-old crime book, it speaks volumes about how good the book is.

Philip Marlowe is my favorite crime protagonist. He is the stereotypical noir hero, the pessimistic private eye who is married to the bottle and can't help but deliver a quotable one-liner every other page. Yet, it's a testament to Chandler's writing that he rises far above these generalizations to become a character in whom you invest. He is hopelessly moral yet utterly cynical, possesses a razor-sharp wit but is never acerbic or condescending to those who don't deserve it.

Unlike Sam Spade, Marlowe is never the toughest guy in the room. He is the beaten underdog who has every reason to give up but can't because of a sense of duty to keep going even when no one else will. His moral code as a knight errant is inexplicable to anyone but himself. He doesn't take the girl or the money, even though he desperately wants both, until he is satisfied that he has lived up to some standards of decency and loyalty that the world has abandoned but he can't.

Chandler is the only crime author to consistently appear in collections of "Top 100 books ever written" for this one and The Long Goodbye. So, it's pretty much a must-read for everyone. Rating - 5/5.

Movie Review The Big Sleep (1946) is a solid film noir but a sub-par adaptation of one of the best crime books. It completely misses the spirit of the novel. Marlowe's cynicism is unfortunately toned down, and he seems more interested in romance. The biggest missed opportunity here is Bogart. He would have made a great Marlowe, but his interpretation of the character in this film is disappointing. The blame lies with Howard Hawks, an overrated studio puppet who followed the same formulaic approach regardless of whether he was making a screwball comedy (Bringing up Baby), noir, or Western (Rio Bravo). It's worth watching but nowhere near as good as the book.

Now, this is what I would truly call a detective.

He is smart, with a sharp mind that can quickly analyze and solve the most complex of cases.

He is strong, both physically and mentally, able to endure the hardships and challenges that come with the job.

He is rough around the edges, with a no-nonsense attitude and a willingness to do what it takes to get the job done.

He is brutal when necessary, not afraid to use force to bring the bad guys to justice.

And he always seems to be smelling of cigars and whiskey, adding to his mysterious and alluring persona.

I know that S. King once said, "When you catch an adjective, kill it. No, I don't mean utterly, but kill most of them—then the rest will be valuable. They weaken when they are close together. They give strength when they are wide apart."

But in this case, every adjective used here was worth it. They paint a vivid picture of a detective who is not only skilled and capable but also has a certain charm and charisma.

He is the kind of detective that you would want on your side if you were in trouble, and the kind of character that you would love to read about in a mystery novel.

Well, it seems that I simply do not have an affinity for classic noirs.

I made an attempt with both Dashiel Hammett and Raymond Chandler, yet without achieving any measure of success.

This particular work was marginally better than the other, but still, I cannot bring myself to declare that I have a liking for it.

What exactly went awry? I'm not entirely certain. I suspect it could be the dated writing style, the prevalent sexism, a plot that failed to capture my interest, and the rather bland or blunt characters.

I am able to recognize the value that these novels hold, but they are simply not to my taste.

Having said that, I have a great fondness for Philip Kerr's Bernie Gunther. However, I suppose he is a bit more contemporary in nature.

Perhaps my preferences lean more towards a different era or a different style of storytelling within the crime genre.

Nonetheless, I will continue to explore and see if there are other works that will resonate with me more deeply.