The Big Sleep

Some of the most famous film noirs were adapted from novels written between the 1920s and '30s, most particularly books written by Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett. The books are usually about a detective, they often have complicated plots, a femme fatale, their heroes are manly men (who are often sexist and homophobes) who take the law into their own hands and are not afraid to throw a punch. These novels often have first person point of views and their narrators, the detective, are usually quick-witted and ironic and use contemporary slang. Usually, with the noir crime stories, the mystery is only part of the point of the story. The main part is seeing the detective at work.

To start off w/ The Big Sleep, you might talk about the many ways that this novel is different from And Then There Were None. An obvious different is point of view. How does a first person narrator change a mystery?

Also, what does Marlowe tell us about Geiger? What is stated and what is only implied? When he returns to the murder scene after taking home Carmen, what do you make of the fact that the body is gone? What do you make of Geiger's house, the descriptions of the different rooms, the totem pole? What do you make of the following quote?

"I looked at the totem pole. At it foot, beyond the margin of the Chinese rug, on the bare floor another rug had been spread. It hadn't been there before. Geiger's body had. Geiger's body was gone." (41)

The most important information in this passage is that the dead body is missing and yet it's the last sentence. Why?

What do we know about Marlowe at this point in the novel? What questions do you have?

Who is the femme fatale? How do you know?

The big sleep Chpt 1-9

First of all I want to say I am well impressed by Raymond Chandler writing, The Big sleep is a very descriptive novel. The narrator who is the detective Mr. Marlowe described everything from what he was wearing in the beginning of the novel, to what was happening around him including his thoughts. Chandler made sure that Her audience isn't left behind, she took us along in this novel. Now two people are already died between chapter 1 and 9 and not only is Mr. Marlowe trying to solve 2 murder, I am also trying to figure out who is behind the murders. So far I like this novel.

And Then There Were None Movie

Although the movie changed many things such as the ending in whole, the movie holds up to the horror and on edge thriller that has you wondering who is the killer and how these events will turn up. It opens your eyes to see something you have read on paper in so long be acted out on screen and witness how each character adapts to their environment and leaves a mark. Personally, I like the book better than the movie because the book is more scary, has you way more confused and conflicted in picking a killer and the needing was better as well in the book rather than the movie. I do believe that the actors they chose to play these characters were perfect because I believe they stretch out these characters potentials. I didn't like how the ending was changed from everyone dying to a couple of people surviving. I understand there certain things you can do on film but that defeats the purpose of "and then there were none."

The Big Sleep Chpt 1-6

A lot has taken place already in the first 34 pages.  A quick unexpected surprise which the main character should be used to considering his profession. The incident I'm referring to would be apart of what takes place in the life of the main character; only the main character thought he was given a job/mission that belonged or could've been done by another. Also there is a unique style on wordplay and when being descriptive. Examples here show how Chandler likes to use metaphors, analogies and similes in this portion; "The General spoke again, slowly, using his strength as carefully as an out-of-work show-girl uses her last good pair of stockings."(pg.8) There was a lot of oriental junk in the windows. I didn't know whether it was any good, not being a collector of antiques, except unpaid bills."(pg.22) Chandler's detailing is remarkable. He pulls and puts you through a scene/segment as if he's directing the reader as an actor in a movie with live props. This can be an invigorating read from beginning to end if he keeps the up.

The Big Sleep

I started reading The Big Sleep, and quite honestly I'm struggling to read it a little bit. Though the book is pretty interesting it hasn't dragged me in the way And Then There Were None has.  I definitely wasn't expecting as many twists and turns in the book as there have been so far.  It seemed at first that he was being hired for a pretty easy job - though right there you knew something was off by the way it was presented, and all the drama/trouble that follow the sisters.. I don't want to give away the book up until this point in case people haven't read it - but I will say that I have come up with so many different theories in my mind and every few pages it changes all over again. I also think there's still a lot more to learn about the father, and that we will end up learning something we weren't expecting.

Posts This Week

Hi all:

Since we're not meeting this week, all posts on Blogger will be optional. If you didn't post last week, you may post this week and get credit. Or if you'd like to get a head start on The Big Sleep and post on that this week, that would be acceptable.

See you a week from Friday.

best,

jt

And then they were none movie

I liked a lot of cinematography in the film. I think its a good add-on when all of the characters are on the moving boat, instead of the book when they were all traveling separately. I also like the pool table, I think it signifies that every man is in it for themselves. And just like the balls dropping in the wholes each little soldier disappears. I also liked how the song was reoccurring after each character passed and how they kept showing the soldiers disappearing almost like a ticking time bomb.