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

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Yes, that is a shame.

[ingenious76.livejournal.com]

I am still holding out for another compendium of articles. I especially liked her one on Hilary Clinton (entitled "Kind of A Bitch: Why I like Her".) I'd like to know her views on Sarah Palin. I have a suspicion that she's the straight talking non-PC Politician that whilst Paglia would not necessarily agree with, woulds adore for some musings.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Whatever she thinks about Palin it's probably at an angle from the majority view.

Paglia likes to stir things up. We could with do with more like her.

[ingenious76.livejournal.com]

I agree. Its interesting how Paglia has been dismissed by some as a complete nutcase, whereas Catherine MacKinnon is seen as a respected thinker. The fact MacKinnon's views on sex are dangerously repressive and sexist does not seem to matter. Both view violence as a part of sex, but whilst Paglia states that for some thats good, MacKinnon says its all bad - which could be the reason.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

MacKinnon is a Puritan. Puritans want life to be simpler than it is. Paglia is an anti-Puritan- and never met an orthodoxy or received opinion she didn't want to kick downstairs. She's mistrusted because she refuses to belong to anybody's gang.