Raymond Chandler - is he worth reading?

[terrya]

I was at Borders a few weekends ago, and I was in the mystery section and saw a selection of his books. I love mysteries, and I had heard that he's a great writer. True or not?

Just a question. Thanks.

[LSK]

1. i enjoyed his writings

Hes the classic 1940s PI/detective writter.

[flamingyouth]

2. Oh, definitely!

One of the classics authors of the genre! :hug:

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

3. I have EVERY frigging word the man ever WROTE

Best...writer...EVER.

Start with "The Big Sleep."

[fertilizeonarbusto]

4. Great writer

BTW, do not expect a pat solution to the mysteries. That is not the books' point. Chandler is mostly concerned with exploring evil and corruption in society. The last page of "The Big Sleep" is as good as writing gets. BTW, one of the murders in that book goes completely unsolved.

[NYCGirl]

5. Absolutely. Along with Dashiell Hammett, he's the "founding father"

of modern mystery writers. (And Chandler's my favorite writer.)

[helnwhls]

7. What's your favorite Dashiell Hammett?

[NYCGirl]

10. Well, it may be trite to say (but not the book itself), but you can't

get any better than The Maltese Falcon. But The Glass Key is great, and of course, The Thin Man. And the Continental Op short stories.

[helnwhls]

6. "Farewell, My Lovely" and "The Big Sleep"

both well worth a read

[SpaceCatMeetsMars]

8. LOVE Chandler!

Been reading him on and off for the past several months. He talks about corruption and it sure seems topical! Marlowe is a great character, it is great to watch how he handles the morally complicated stuff he gets involved in.

[Bossy Monkey]

9. He's very good if you're out of Dashiell Hammett

No, he's very good, period. Just not as great as Hammett.

[cyberswede]

11. Yes!

RC is one of my favorite writers. I've read everything he's written, and like it all! :)

He mostly wrote hardboiled detective stories, with the cheesy dialog to boot! (I mean this in a GOOD way). Many of his stories were made into film noir movies, and he wrote for television, too (though I think he always felt that was beneath him).

Here's one of my favorite passages:

"There was a desert wind blowing that night. It was one of those hot dry Santa Anas that come down through the mountain passes and curl your hair and make your nerves jump and your skin itch. On nights like that every booze party ends in a fight. Meek little wives feel the edge of the carving knife and study their husbands' necks. Anything can happen. You can even get a full glass of beer at a cocktail lounge."-- "Red Wind" (opening paragraph)

Give it a whirl! I hope you like it!
thx!