Reading the 20th Century discussion

Welcome to our September 2022 buddy read of....



The High Window (Philip Marlowe #3)

by

Raymond Chandler


Philip Marlowe's on a case: his client, a dried-up husk of a woman, wants him to recover a rare gold coin called a Brasher Doubloon, missing from her late husband's collection.

That's the simple part. It becomes more complicated when Marlowe finds that everyone who handles the coin suffers a run of very bad luck: they always end up dead. That's also unlucky for a private investigator, because leaving a trail of corpses around LA gets cops' noses out of joint.

If Marlowe doesn't wrap this one up fast, he's going to end up in jail - or worse, in a box in the ground....

I'm going early on this one. I'm in the mood for another helping of Marlowe

Early days but I realise this is a Marlowe I have never read.


Joy is unconfined

Nigeyb wrote: "Early days but I realise this is a Marlowe I have never read.
Joy is unconfined"

No sleep till morn, when age and reading meet? 😊

Mrs Elizabeth Bright Murdoch is another memorable Chandler character. I'm looking forward to this one, but have quite a few others to catch up with first.

Now we've rescheduled this to September 2022 I have gone insanely early. Still as I'm already well into it I am unwilling to stop. Another reason to press on is because of just how much I am loving it.

A slow burn but it's now coming to the boil wonderfully and, I have to say, it's a highly original variation on the standard Marlowe plot.

I'm also still revelling in the fact that I have discovered a Marlowe that I've not read before. Maybe there might be one more?

Either way, right now I'm in Marlowe heaven

There are seven Marlowe novels, Brian:
1. The Big Sleep (1939)
2. Farewell, My Lovely (1940)
3. The High Window (1942)
4. The Lady in the Lake (1943)
5. The Little Sister (1949)
6. The Long Goodbye (1953)
7. Playback (1958)

I'm less keen on The Little Sister and Playback; the other five are stone-cold classics, in my view.

This is getting better and better as I close in on the ending

As usual, the dialogue is sharp, the descriptions vivid and evocative, and the resolution is clever and concise. The world weary Marlowe once again lifts a lid on secrets, lies, manipulation, blackmail and how the rich invariably manage to corrupt what they touch.

Another timeless Chandler masterclass.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

4/5

Just started this, and enjoying the no nonsense style of Marlowe.

Hurrah 🤠

I've started this...

Lois Magic: "Sit down and rest your sex appeal."
~ yup, that's how I'll be greeting Mr RC from now on ;))

So many wonderful line in these books RC


I'm jealous of you even though I've only recently read it

There are. Another favourite: 'Fuzz grew out of his ears, far enough to catch a moth.'

While the plot isn't as gripping as the previous two (can't get excited about a coin), the writing seems sharper.

Finished. I didn't think this was the slickest plot (The Big Sleep is still my favourite) but the writing seems even better than usual here.

(view spoiler)[How did Marlowe make the connection between 'the high window' and the present-day plot? this one seemed holey and full of unlikely coincidences to me... like the fact that Vannier happened to take a photo of the Bright murder and then later hooks up with the woman who used to room with the woman who married the son of the murdered man?! (hide spoiler)]

Looking forward to chatting about this one next month, especially the further characterisation of Marlowe himself.

Great review RC


The detail of this book has already faded from my memory having read it in July. Ageing brain, innit.

Looking forward to discussing all things Brasher Doubloon RTTC's finest

It's interesting that so many people are happy to let Chandler off coming up with a plot that makes sense - and I sort of count myself in this, though I can't help noticing it.

Of course, there's so much pleasure to be had from the writing, characterisation, Marlowe's cynical voice and general noir air. I just can't help thinking wistfully of how these books would stack up if we had all that... and a plot without holes!

I especially like his showgirls, Linda Conquest and Lois Magic - what a great pair of survivors.

Good points RC


The plot is often secondary and some are so convoluted that it’s almost worth not paying them too much heed. Just strap in and enjoy the ride

RC does also come up with some fab female characters

See also cops


I’ll try and work out RC’s broad cop types when I have a moment. Probably no more than four types

Nigeyb wrote: "I’ll try and work out RC’s broad cop types when I have a moment. Probably no more than four types"

Oh yes, please do as I haven't really noted them in the first three books - I've treated the cops as wallpaper up to now but then did notice Marlowe talking about who's on his side and who he doesn't want to upset in this one.

I agree. It's not the plot, but the ride along with Marlowe.

Nigeyb wrote: "I’ll try and work out RC’s broad cop types when I have a moment. Probably no more than four types"

Hmm. I’m not sure that’s quite fair. From memory, I can think of:
straightforward and honest Jim Patton,
tough but honest Randall,
lazy and self-pitying Nulty,
bullying Captain Gregorius,
decent cop caught up in corruption “Hemingway”
arrogant and probably corrupt Big Willie Magoon
the surprisingly decent cop in Playback whose name escapes me
and others.

I’m sure they could be grouped into broad categories – but isn’t that true of the cops in all books? I think a lot of them are quite distinct characters who stick in the memory. I think Patton, Nulty and Randall especially are great characters in their different ways.

Job done - thanks Sid

I've just re-read (again!). I realise that I only read this 18 months ago, but I still enjoyed it very much. I agree with RC, the plot is full of unlikely coincidences, but that didn't bother me too much. I liked that we get to see more of Marlowe's sense of himself and the job he does, and also the descriptions of characters, rooms and so on were fantastic. That initial description of Elizabeth Bright Murdock, for example, including "She had pewter-coloured hair set in a ruthless permanent, a hard beak and large moist eyes with the sympathetic expression of wet stones."

Also, there's a short paragraph as he drives away toward the end which I loved: "I had a funny feeling as I saw the house disappear, as though I had written a poem and it was very good and I had lost it and would never remember it again." It's touches like that which convince me that Chandler is so much more than just "hard-boiled."

His minor characters are excellent, too - as always. Pop Grandy, the elevator operator, for example.

I haven't changed my initial review, although I probably should add a bit to it. It's here if anyone is interested: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Thanks Sid. Great points


For some reason can’t get to your review on my phone which I’m using as I’m away at present

Nigeyb wrote: "Thanks Sid. Great points
For some reason can’t get to your review on my phone which I’m using as I’m away at present"

I shouldn't worry about it; it's no great loss. 😊

Oh come now 🫶🏻

Elizabeth Bright Murdock is a one, isn't she! I couldn't help adding her to the gallery of misogynistic portraits, though, in Chandler.

In terms of plot this sort of felt like two books merged a bit clumsily: one strand is the Brasher Doubloon, and the other is the High Window - the stitches never really held the two together.

I felt that we learnt more about Marlowe himself in this one - he seems more cynical and yet also more chivalric ('a shop-soiled Galahad') with a real damsel in distress to rescue (can't remember her name - Miss Davis?).

That scene where he plays the chess problem was interesting - is that him playing against himself? Or playing against a faceless player?

A more cynical Marlowe? Wait till you get to The Little Sister RC 😱

Nigeyb wrote: "A more cynical Marlowe? Wait till you get to The Little Sister RC 😱"

Ha, looking forward to it!