daffodilcherry's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Moderate: Homophobia, Alcohol, Sexism, Violence, and Gun violence
Minor: Antisemitism
shuddleston's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, and Homophobia
vladdbad's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Homophobia, Ableism, Racial slurs, and Sexism
There is a reason Raymond Chandler is still read... He shines a light on the shadows that surround the spotlight, and no one really likes to see that which lurks within those. People talk about the post-War Golden Age, but even at the time the darkness and the rot to which the sequins were sewn was known. Chandler lived a life as a businessman with an unorthodox lifestyle back before that was something you could accept even in yourself, and it shows in his writing. He knows the self-loathing and the desire to make clean that which was never really as dirty as the cover-up made it, and it shows. He understands what money can and can't buy, and what drives real desperation. But he also knows that there can be real redemption found at times, as well, and it is always remarkable to me how his stories have all the good guys playing bit parts away from the spotlight... He knows that there is a better path available, and that taking it rarely makes for an interesting story. Look at the minor characters in his stories, the honest ones or the folks just making do with a bad hand... That is a remarkably diverse crowd, given the sameness of the spotlit degeneracy that drives the plot. Worth a second and a third read... And worth looking at what is shown versus told, like any good writer.marionhoney's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Death and Sexism
Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Gun violence, Misogyny, Murder, and Violence
Minor: Fatphobia, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Racism, and Sexual content
aloy's review
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Moderate: Homophobia, Racism, Sexism, Domestic abuse, and Gun violence
Minor: Body shaming
annareads9898's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The time period that this book was written in definitely shows as far as the derogatory ways people are referred to and the stereotyping etc. The book is EXTREMELY dated which made it sometimes hard to read as there were a lot of 30s era references on every page. But, I know this book is the first one in a long Philip Marlowe series but this book does stand well by itself which I liked. The mystery aspect of it I did enjoy that kept me interested throughout.
Moderate: Antisemitism, Cursing, Death, Violence, Toxic relationship, Sexism, Racism, Misogyny, Homophobia, Gun violence, and Drug use
More...