Chandler

[poliphilo]

I read the first few chapters of Farewell, My Lovely last night. Three things.

1. Chandler reads like a parody of Chandler. The writing is so self-conscious.

2. The people, Marlowe and especially Moose Malloy, are comic book characters. I don't believe in 'em.

3. The racism took my breath away.

I'm going back to my man Hammett. Hammett had been a Pinkerton. He knew the mean streets and Chandler didn't. Chandler's relish for the posturing of coarse, ugly, violent men makes me feel a little queasy.

As for the racism, well, I know he's writing about a racist society, but does he really have to enjoy it so much?

Comments

[frumiousb.livejournal.com]

Have you ever read Chandler's selected letters? I thought that they were very interesting.

I didn't have the same reaction to Farewell, My Lovely-- I actually always read the detectives in opposition to the racist/classist elements of the society around them. But that view may certainly be affected by the fact that I read his letters before I read his novels.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I've read bits of Chandler's non fiction. I know he was a smart, liberal-minded individual. I'm having trouble squaring that with the fiction.

Sometimes a writer just hits you all wrong and there's not a damn thing you can do about it.

[frumiousb.livejournal.com]

that certainly happens to me as well-- had it with Sebastian Berry.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

It's just like the people one meets in real life. Some one feels an affinity for- and some one hates on sight.