The Big Sleep (A Philip Marlowe Novel)

Below is a quote from a letter Raymond Chandler sent to his editor. 'Wandering up and down the Pacific Coast in an automobile I began to read pulp magazines, because they were cheap enough to throw away and because I never had at any time any taste for the kind of thing which is known as women's magazines. This was in the great days of the Black Mask (if I may call them great days) and it struck me that some of the writing was pretty forceful and honest, even though it had its crude aspect. I decided that this might be a good way to try to learn to write fiction and get paid a small amount of money at the same time. I spent five months over an 18,000 word novelette and sold it for $180. After that I never looked back, although I had a good many uneasy periods looking forward." ...........the old day he mentioned must have been before 1938 I was trying to decided what style this book reminded me of and I thought it was sharp honest with short images. Pulp fiction certainly covers the style of The big sleep Raymond Chandlers first book. Pulp fiction is characterised by its fast-paced, action-driven storytelling. It emerged in the late 1800s and flourished until the mid-1900s, primarily through inexpensive magazines printed on cheap paper, known as "pulps. I initially found the book difficult to read. The two sisters …arrrrr . I had to remind myself I was reading a style and this book was written in 1939 and there were 8 books from the Phillip Marlow series the big sleep being the first one. The protagonist of his novels, Philip Marlowe, like Hammett's Sam Spade, is considered by some to be synonymous with "private detective". Both were played in films by Humphrey Bogart, whom many consider to be the quintessential Marlowe. I agree with that thought although before reading up on the big sleep I saw Marlow as younger taller and not as smooth looking as Bogart. I think for me he was a young Brad Pitt. What did you think? It took me a while to read the book and the first time I only got half way through but the second try I was hardened by my first try and jumped into the genre with glee and found at the end I thoroughly enjoyed the book . It featured a male protagonists and themes that would have resonated with male readers best I imagine. I found at the conclusion that what appeared light sharp reading included some complex character of Marlowe who was depicted as a tough and cynical but at the end of the book you saw a much more balanced and caring character. I can see how in the 1940’s and even today that the character Phillip Marlowe would have a following the writing is sharp and fast and funny.

Found it hard to get into but ending good

Snooze fest

At first, I was put off by the misogynistic language, but then I got a hold of myself and thought of the language romance books use to describe men. Same idea, this is a bit of a male fantasy- being the private detective who's smarter than everyone surrounded by attractive women. I'm a huge nerd too, so I remembered how charming Star Trek's Picard made these stories look on the holodeck.

It dragged a lot in the second half but in the end, I liked how the story wrapped up well enough.

Our very first book. We didn't love it.