Raymond Chandler: The Big Sleep (Dramatised) Audiobook

" This book was even better the second time... I suspect that all Chandler's books are. "

" I like Raymond Chandler. He gets five stars from me just because he is so damn good. I also have, kept in a handy place, a collection of his correspondence. Most of his letters are only a page or two and this is a book that, wherever it falls open, you will be entertained. Currently I am working hard and furious to get a thriller of my own proofed, polished, and on to your bookshelf. When I'm struggling, trying to fix something, trying to get it just right, Chandler is one of the authors I turn to for examples of "just right." "

" Mmmmmmmmm - I liked the first chapter, Carmen is scary - and some other bits. The phrases are a bit irritating: 'her mouth looked like the prelude to a scream' that sort of thing. On the other hand there are some good wise cracks; I think that is what you call them. But then crime fiction is not supposed to be well-written. Anyway Raymond Chandler does care. In his essay entitled 'The gentle Art of Murder' he says that fictional writing is about redemption. I rather like that.... "

" You can find actual reviews elsewhere, so I'll just say that I gave it five stars not because it's best in genre, but because it's most iconic in genre, the same way I'd give Star Wars five stars even though you can see the strings on the X-Wings. "

" What do I think? I think Chandler the writer was my hero. Forget Hammett. He never reached Chandler's heights. Language, the creation of a mythical LA, the virtual inventor the very best hard-boiled high-principled PI. The man's my hero. "

" The birth of noir, and not nearly as cliche-riddled as the evolution of the genre would have you believe. Marlowe is a sharp protagonist, competent and funny and surprising. His narration is charmingly overwritten. The plot is a tangled mess, a sloppy series of detours and half-developed characters, and it amounts to little of substance. Sound, fury, etc. Painfully antiquated gender politics, but an otherwise enjoyable tour through a bygone (but blessedly not halcyon) California. "

" A great book. No plot. But still great. "

" What can one say? It's Chandler. You either like him or you don't. I always enjoyed his stuff, especially this one. Never became much of a Perry Mason fan, though, probably because of the TV show's long run and my ultimate boredom with it. "

" 'Get up, angel. You look like a Pekinese.' "

" Pulpy oldtime murder mystery. A good story, though hard to get attached to the characters. I liked the gritty portrayal of old Los Angeles. "

" This is what a mystery should be with the classic private eye, the damsel in distress, and the dramatic conclusion. Sit back and enjoy Chandler at his best.--Then go watch the classy movie starring Humphrey Bogart. "

" One of the earliest novels involving a private eye, femme fatale, etc. I thought it was just okay. "

" pretty screwed up at times but it had rich metaphors and similes with a very interesting protagonist. "

" The book isn't written badly and seems to have a decent plot but in the days of DNA analysis and advanced forensics, the investigation just doesn't seem to hold up "

" Great fast moving action and twists "

" Official sequel to The Afternoon Nap. "

" noir at its very best "

" "Dead men are heavier than broken heart"... heh,good "

" Just so good. To be read on rainy days with a martini in hand. "

" An extremely murkey plotline interferes with the reader's enjoyment of a good noir novel. This book shows how much Chandler influenced Robert Parker--and how much better a writer Chandler was. "

" This is were it all started. The noir detective genre, the cool smart cop with bad manners and a heart of gold. l like better the stories with bad cops like LA Confidential but as it is Chandler's story makes a good read. "

" Thoroughly enjoyed this novel. Chandler's grammar can be a bit off but it adds to the intended effect of the story. "

" hard-boiled detective fiction peppered with some suppressed homoeroticism. "

" Chandler's oft-imitated wryness isn't quite as developed in this book as the later ones and the plot leaves a lot to be desired, but this is the Philip Marlowe book that started it all. "

" Aside from the jarring, dated sexism in this book (there are two female characters, and both of them get smacked around a little for their own good) this is a great classic pulp fiction read. Mystery! Fun! "

" A wonderful book, despite the fact that its style has become a cliche. "

" I wasn't a fan of this book. Everything about it seemed so cliché. "

" Good if you're in the mood for it "

" It's not about the characters. It's not about the plot. What makes this book great is the crackling dialogue. Phillip Marlowe is the gold standard of noir p.i.'s he even out cools Sam Spade. So read it and find out and evertthing will be jake. Okey. "

" "He wore a blue uniform coat that fit him the way a stall fits a horse." A great summer read. Better than the movie. "

" While this wasn't quite as good as The Long Goodbye, it was still awesome as hell. I've seen the OG film version, but after reading this I'm excited to see the 70s version also. "