Fins. About Harley Earl and the “real” General Motors.

The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler

Just finished Oppenheimer in preparation to see the movie. It was waaaay too long and the story got lost in details.

Just finished “Unintended Consequences” by John Ross that was recommended in another thread.

And I’m halfway thru “Children of Time” by Adrian Tchaikovsky-I’m a big science fiction fan.

The Sig Forum Lounge section.

quote:

Originally posted by phxtoad:
The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler

I've read all of Chandler's novels- with the exception of his last one, Playback, which was just sad because it was an unintentional parody of Chandler's earlier work. I started to read it, got a few pages in and then put it down. Sad

By far, my favorite novel of his is The Big Sleep

Y'know, the 1945/46 Hawks film of this novel necessarily leaves out a key element of the plot because including it would have violated the Film Production Code of the time to such a degree, the film could not possibly have been made. So, when you read the book, the film makes so much more sense, and it has nothing to do with that silly story told by Hawks over the years, that the plot of the novel was so complicated, even Chandler didn't understand it. That's just bullshit- a great story to tell at parties and to news reporters.

The Big Sleep wasn't a confusing film because Chandler never explained who committed one of the murders. The fact is that the identity of the murderer of that character simply didn't matter. It's actually to Chandler's credit that he exhibited such a degree of sophistication in the art of storytelling, that he did not feel the need to tie up every loose end, which is something the Victorian and Edwardian-era mystery novel writers who came before him felt to be essential.

No, what made the film confusing is that it's never explained just what is the deal with Geiger's book store.

Having said all that, it doesn't matter anyway, because The Big Sleep is one of those films that's so entertaining, it's not necessary to understand it to appreciate it.

The book, though- that's one nifty piece of writing.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:

By far, my favorite novel of his is The Big Sleep

Y'know, the 1945/46 Hawks film of this novel necessarily leaves out a key element of the plot because including it would have violated the Film Production Code of the time to such a degree, the film could not possibly have been made. So, when you read the book, the film makes so much more sense, and it has nothing to do with that silly story told by Hawks over the years, that the plot of the novel was so complicated, even Chandler didn't understand it. That's just bullshit- a great story to tell at parties and to news reporters.

The Big Sleep wasn't a confusing film because Chandler never explained who committed one of the murders. The fact is that the identity of the murderer of that character simply didn't matter. It's actually to Chandler's credit that he exhibited such a degree of sophistication in the art of storytelling, that he did not feel the need to tie up every loose end, which is something the Victorian and Edwardian-era mystery novel writers who came before him felt to be essential.

No, what made the film confusing is that it's never explained just what is the deal with Geiger's book store.

Having said all that, it doesn't matter anyway, because The Big Sleep is one of those films that's so entertaining, it's not necessary to understand it to appreciate it.

The book, though- that's one nifty piece of writing.

Thanks Para. It's one of my favorite Bogart movies, but it always leaves me scratching my head. I will definitely read the novel.

Not to drift the thread, but the movie has so many great scenes. I particularly like the scene when Bogart is *trying* to keep an eye on Geiger's, but gets distracted.

quote:

Originally posted by Tailhook 84:
I Could Never Be So Lucky Again: An Autobiography of James H. "Jimmy" Doolittle. I'm almost finished and highly recommend it, especially if you're interested in U.S. aviation history.

I just told my wife not 15 minutes ago that I needed something to read . My Dad was a WWII 8th Air Force veteran so your post caught my attention .I checked my local library online and they have the book in stock . I reserved it and will pick it up after lunch . THANKS !!

"With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa" by E.B.Sledge

"Until the End of Time" by Brian Greene

Physicist Greene describes the universe from the Big Bang through his view of the possible end of the universe

A hard read at times, but a book that made me think more than any other.

The Man-Eaters of Tsavo

A visit to the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago inspired me to read the book that the movie The Ghost and The Darkness was based on.

The Unseen Realm by Michael S. Heiser.

It talks about understanding the worldview of the authors and intended audience of the Bible.

Received my copy of “The Warrior Poet Way: A Guide to Living Free and Dying Well” by John Lovell.

I bought a copy also for my SIL, who is a police officer. I had pre-ordered them on 13 April when first announced.

I started it, but haven’t had time to get very far yet. Hoping to finish it this coming week.

"One Day in September" by Simon Reeve.

https://www.amazon.com/One-Day...571231810/ref=sr_1_2

The Israeli Olympic athletes just got executed at the Munich airport, but in the next chapters they'll get even.

"Road to surrender" by Evan Thomas. Three men and the cuntdown to the end of WW 2. A good peek into the end of the war with Japan. Well written.

quote:

Originally posted by 6guns:
I'm reading the third in David Baldacci's Amos Decker series.

Reading through all of his, in order? Decker is one of my more favorite of his characters, along with John Puller. The Will Robie/Jessica Reel series is pretty good as well.

Just starting "Saigon Guns".

Dune. The newest movie interests me, especially now that there is a sequel due out. I've read fantasy and sci fi my whole life but somehow never read this series.

I’ve been on a Fred Burton kick lately. Burton is a former Diplomatic Security Service agent who has written or co-authored several non-fiction pieces including “Ghost: Confessions of a Counterterrorism Agent,” “Chasing Shadows,” “Under Fire” (about the Benghazi event), and “Beirut Rules” (about the insanity in that region, particularly around the abduction and subsequent murder of CIA Station Chief William Buckley).

Currently on the still-available paperback edition (from the old Paladin Press) of the late Colonel Charles Askins autobiography, “Unrepentant Sinner.”

quote:

Originally posted by Minnow:
"With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa" by E.B.Sledge

I read that when I was just out of the service and actually had to borrow the book from the NC State library where Mrs. Mike was a student at the time.

With the old breed” is in my personal library.