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Farewell, My Lovely

Book 2 in the series:Philip Marlowe

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Farewell, My Lovely by Raymond Chandler is the second book in the Philip Marlowe series, featuring the hardboiled detective Philip Marlowe. The plot revolves around Marlowe's task of tracking down Moose Malloy, a man who has recently killed a black nightclub owner. The story is described as intricate, with red herrings scattered throughout, leading to a cat and mouse game. The writing style is praised for its noir elements, sparse yet descriptive language, and the portrayal of a classic detective story set in 1940s Los Angeles.

Characters:

Characters are larger than life, often morally ambiguous, with Marlowe as the quintessential hardboiled detective.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is sharp, witty, and filled with vivid descriptions, creative metaphors, and dark humor.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot is characterized by a complex web of intertwining stories and themes of love, betrayal, and the hardboiled nature of detective work.

Setting:

The setting vividly embodies the gritty atmosphere of 1940s Los Angeles, reflecting the city's moral complexities.

Pacing:

Pacing varies, providing both slow, intricate buildup and sudden bursts of action, leading to a complex conclusion.
IT WAS ONE OF THE MIXED BLOCKS over on Central Avenue, the blocks that are not yet all Negro. I had just come out of a three-chair barber shop where an agency thought a relief barber named Dimitrios A...

Notes:

Farewell, My Lovely is the second novel featuring the iconic detective Philip Marlowe.
The novel is famous for its hardboiled style and witty dialogue.
Marlowe often finds himself in dangerous situations, including getting knocked out and drugged.
There are themes of racism and sexism prevalent in the book, reflective of the time it was written.
Moose Malloy, a key character, is a giant who is searching for his old girlfriend Velma after being released from prison.
Chandler's writing is noted for its vivid descriptions and use of similes, enhancing the atmosphere of the story.
Despite the dark themes, the novel includes humorous one-liners and sharp observations about society.
The book's plot involves a mix of murder, corruption, and complex relationships among characters.
It has been adapted into film multiple times, with each adaptation interpreting the story differently.
Chandler's works are considered foundational to the noir genre and have influenced countless writers and filmmakers.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include high levels of racism, sexism, and homophobia, which reflect the period in which it was written.

Has Romance?

There are romantic elements throughout, but they are often intertwined with deception and negative portrayals of women.

From The Publisher:

Crime fiction master Raymond Chandler's second novel featuring Philip Marlowe, the "quintessential urban private eye" (Los Angeles Times).

Philip Marlowe's about to give up on a completely routine case when he finds himself in the wrong place at the right time to get caught up in a murder that leads to a ring of jewel thieves, another murder, a fortune-teller, a couple more murders, and more corruption than your average graveyard.

Ratings (10)

Incredible (4)
Loved It (4)
It Was OK (2)

Reader Stats (17):

Read It (10)
Currently Reading (1)
Want To Read (4)
Not Interested (2)

1 comment(s)

It Was OK
7 months

This is the third book in the Marlowe series that I am reading. And I must admit that I understand why it is so popular. There is an undeniable charm to these stories.

First of all, Marlowe himself has his own specific charm, which also results from the fact that he is a completely unreal character. He is a tough guy who, against all odds, strives for justice as he understands it. No woman is immune to his allure. And the number of times someone tries to kill or beats him is almost absurd. And yet he works great as the main character of the series and has become a model for other similar characters.

I think I liked the plot of this book the least of those I've read, which does not mean that it was a bad book. But I think the plot is rather complicated and it is not necessary. There are several threads here that, at one point or another, connect and intersect. There are also a lot of characters, although fortunately they are quite easy to distinguish. Even if determining who played what role in this story is a little more difficult. And that's what I mean when I say this story is unnecessarily complicated. Of course, the final answers to the whole story turn out to be very simple.

Despite what I wrote above, I had a lot of fun reading this book. Marlowe is the main character you want to follow through this story. It always seemed to me that he was one step ahead of me, that he saw something that I did not notice. And while that wasn't always true, it felt good.

 

About the Author:

Raymond Thornton Chandler (1888 -1959) was the master practitioner of American hard-boiled crime fiction. Although he was born in Chicago, Chandler spent most of his boyhood and youth in England where he attended Dulwich College and later worked as a…

 
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