I was able to read The Big Sleep in just a few days. It was a quick paced private eye detective novel. I could see the images playing before my eyes in grainy black and white footage - the story was set back in the '30's. Per wikipedia, it's noted for it's complexity and greek-like tradegy. I did have a little trouble towards the end keeping up with all the threads of the story unravelling. Overall I did like the book, I don't read many mysteries, so it was a good change of pace.
The author, Raymond Chandler, is one of the most prominent and influential detective story writers of his time.
The book did get me thinking about words used to describe the main character, a private investigator, detective, private eye, private dick... My favorite is gum shoe. This probably isn't the end-all-be-all site, but I thought this explanation of how gum shoe came into being was pretty interesting.
It turns out that the original "gumshoes" of the late 1800's were shoes or boots made of gum rubber, the soft-soled precursors of our modern sneakers... At the turn of the century "to gumshoe" meant to sneak around quietly as if wearing gumshoes, either in order to rob or, conversely, to catch thieves. "Gumshoe man" was originally slang for a thief, but by about 1908 "gumshoe" usually meant a police detective, as it has ever since. http://ask.yahoo.com/20011002.html
I'm currently reading A Clockwork Orange. This is the most violent book I've ever read... Should be finished in a couple days.
Stay warm, and keep reading!
Mary
No comments:
Post a Comment