panics70's review against another edition
5.0
"You move around like a damned tormented tomcat and your eyes aren't right. You're just about perfect. And you're just about horrible." Virginia
American crime Noir written in 1953. I’m not sure if I found this book enchanting or haunting. Black Wings has my Angel definitely pulled me down into its darkness, and I wanted to go along for the ride.
American crime Noir written in 1953. I’m not sure if I found this book enchanting or haunting. Black Wings has my Angel definitely pulled me down into its darkness, and I wanted to go along for the ride.
daenjou's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
earlyandalone's review against another edition
5.0
This book is dark with comic edges and full pages of beautiful prose. It's arguably the only detective noir I've really read, but I would say it's the epitome of the genre--the hard-boiled, brooding criminal, Tim Sunblade, and his gorgeous, heartless woman, Virginia, joining together to commit the ultimate heist. There are mountains and chases and shoot outs and fancy New Orleans hotels and fleabitten motels and abandoned mines and jail cells and rose-tinted memories of small-town life. This is a quick, fun read--highly recommend.
shoba's review against another edition
3.0
"A dead five-hundred-dollar-a-shot minx who once lived at Beekman Place? Who left home with two bags and now has two bags, two very nice ones? Who left home with two violet eyes and now has two violet eyes- which I prefer to think are lavender? Who has the very sniftiest of New York labels in her skirts and blouses?"
"You really did read that paper," she drawled. "I'm proud of you, sweetie. I thought you were faking and that you couldn't read a lick."
jimmypat's review against another edition
4.0
Pitch-black noir. Compulsive reading. The ending was a bit telegraphed, but so much darker than I expected. This book is like a sock to the gut, but very good.
ryanpait's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
senordustin's review against another edition
4.0
I highlighted the high hell out of this book. so many startling and pretty passages. great old noir that still holds up.
mark_lm's review against another edition
3.0
Pretty good noir. There is an odd little Nick Adams-like part stuck in the middle. As others have commented, this is even darker than typical noir, and the characters are a long way from attractive.
drphibes's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
3.75