6/23/09

One of the things I find that I really enjoy in reading, The Big Sleep, is the framing of landscape and its surroundings that Raymond Chandler expresses through his writing. He really gives the reader a different advantage point that is not common in most of the authors that I have read personally. In most of the scenarios in the book it feels as though he is more concerned about the placement of people and objects in a room or atmosphere and the art of conversation, rather than focusing on a plot in a way. He very poetically describes things in a way that is mysterious yet very informative and intriguing to the reader. I have to admit, I am not an avid reader of detective novels nor have I ever read one in my life. But I am very surprised in the outcome of this novel thus far. I have found that I am more intrigued than I had expected for myself and I believe it is because of Chandler’s writing style and the way that he creatively and informatively draws the characters atmosphere. Another aspect I really enjoy about Chandler’s writing is that he really allows the reader to see California in a way that is very true to the time period of the 1930’s. I really enjoy how he captures the level of corruption of police at the time. I feel that he really embellishes this in a very successful way.

-Erin L