Scan barcode
blogthatbook's review against another edition
4.0
Let me start by letting you know that I'm 52 years old and even as a very young child, I was far more into black and white classic movies than I was all the stuff kids of that age were supposed to be into. Until Star Wars hit cinemas that is. Needless to say, I've watched The Maltese Falcon probably more than 100 times over the years.
So why read the book? Well, to be honest, I never really had any interest in reading it until I heard it described in a lecture about creative writing I was listening to. It was explained that the author writes no mental insight to the characters. All you get is what they say, what they do, and how they look. I'm pretty sure I've never read a book written in this manner so I just had to give it a try.
The first thing that struck me was just how accurately portrayed it was in the movie. All the names, dialogue and action is just as it is in the book, which I found to be quite refreshing, considering how Hollywood likes to meddle with book portrayals. And yes, you do picture the actors and hear their voices as you read, but that actually fades quite quickly and you just begin to take the book for what it is.
Like the faces of the movie actors, the writing style intrudes a little at first but I think that's just because it's new and different, once you settle into the read it no longer stands out. In fact, the writing style gives a whole other dimension to the read. It helps you to really picture the scenes, to race along with the pace of the story. I also think that's why these characters come across as being so vivid, you aren't privileged to their thoughts so you're left to get to know them like you would real people, through interaction, verbal and visual. And believe me, the characters in this book are very much 3 dimensional, they really do stand right out of the page for you.
Now, if you're thinking, "Well, I've seen the movie, I'm not going to bother with the book," then I'm sorry but you're wrong! Believe me, even though this book essentially is the movie, it's also its very own experience. Knowing these characters and the goings-on via the written word is very much its own reward. Give it a try, you will not be disappointed.
Now, guess which movie I'm of to watch...
So why read the book? Well, to be honest, I never really had any interest in reading it until I heard it described in a lecture about creative writing I was listening to. It was explained that the author writes no mental insight to the characters. All you get is what they say, what they do, and how they look. I'm pretty sure I've never read a book written in this manner so I just had to give it a try.
The first thing that struck me was just how accurately portrayed it was in the movie. All the names, dialogue and action is just as it is in the book, which I found to be quite refreshing, considering how Hollywood likes to meddle with book portrayals. And yes, you do picture the actors and hear their voices as you read, but that actually fades quite quickly and you just begin to take the book for what it is.
Like the faces of the movie actors, the writing style intrudes a little at first but I think that's just because it's new and different, once you settle into the read it no longer stands out. In fact, the writing style gives a whole other dimension to the read. It helps you to really picture the scenes, to race along with the pace of the story. I also think that's why these characters come across as being so vivid, you aren't privileged to their thoughts so you're left to get to know them like you would real people, through interaction, verbal and visual. And believe me, the characters in this book are very much 3 dimensional, they really do stand right out of the page for you.
Now, if you're thinking, "Well, I've seen the movie, I'm not going to bother with the book," then I'm sorry but you're wrong! Believe me, even though this book essentially is the movie, it's also its very own experience. Knowing these characters and the goings-on via the written word is very much its own reward. Give it a try, you will not be disappointed.
Now, guess which movie I'm of to watch...
8797999's review against another edition
4.0
It is easy to see why this book is held in high regard and as a pioneer and measurement of hard boiled noir.
I had been meaning to read this for years and somehow never got around to it. Having finally read it, it was nothing short of superb. As I write this now it is 2.44am and I just finished it.
Prior to reading it I had no idea what the book was about. Having not seen any adaptations and resisted looking at spoilers. It was different to what I expected, my only other experience of Maltese Falcon was from an old game called Mafia II where a bar is named it. The story was very interesting and especially the history of the Maltese Falcon (not sure if fiction or real - not checked). Being noir there is no true good guy but Sam Spade is a good guy in this (despite his many flaws).
I would love to read more by Dashiel Hammett as well as noir of his era. I thoroughly enjoyed this.
I had been meaning to read this for years and somehow never got around to it. Having finally read it, it was nothing short of superb. As I write this now it is 2.44am and I just finished it.
Prior to reading it I had no idea what the book was about. Having not seen any adaptations and resisted looking at spoilers. It was different to what I expected, my only other experience of Maltese Falcon was from an old game called Mafia II where a bar is named it. The story was very interesting and especially the history of the Maltese Falcon (not sure if fiction or real - not checked). Being noir there is no true good guy but Sam Spade is a good guy in this (despite his many flaws).
I would love to read more by Dashiel Hammett as well as noir of his era. I thoroughly enjoyed this.
jennyp0208's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
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? Yes
2.75
phinepupc's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
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
2.75
jessica_simonetti's review against another edition
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? No
3.0
deanna_rigney's review against another edition
5.0
Hammet's prose is straightforward & full of marvelously constructed sentences. Sam Spade, the protagonist, is a tough, shifty, and mischievous hard-boiled detective. Swoon.
erintowner's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. Effie Perine is the hero for me!
laurren's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
kelli_jean_'s review against another edition
3.0
The audiobook is immersive, the plot is decent but the characters feel flat. Uses outdated and potentially offensive terms.