2/23/12

Books to Die For, Part Two: The High Window

Humphrey Bogart
Cover of Humphrey Bogart
For my second mystery I turned to Raymond Chandler, who I am embarrassed to say I had never read before.  I remedied that by reading The High Window.  It was the first book I read on my iPad!  People sometimes say, "Oh, I have to feel the weight of the book, I have to touch the paper to enjoy reading."  I have to tell you, I didn't really miss those things.  Don't get me wrong!  I love me my books!  But it was not dissatisfying to read a book on my iPad.  It was just different, and it was cool that I could say I want to read something by Raymond Chandler and basically snap my fingers and have it in my greedy little hands.  Raymond Chandler is fun.  He wrote in the 1940s, and I sort of felt like my inner voice was channeling Humphrey Bogart whenever I started reading.  Dames are dames.  Weak men are patsies, and strong men talk in short sentences and carry guns.  It's a good time if you dream in black and white.  It's also a good time if you live in Pasadena.  The boozy old rich lady who hires Philip Marlowe in The High Window lives there.  For your classic gumshoe novel this is a good place to start.

PS: more exciting iPad news.  Now I also have a wireless keyboard so my iPad is basically a laptop.  iPad is feeling so totally full of herself.
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12 comments:

Joanne said...

I like my eReader for the same reasons you mention. That snap of the fingers, don't have to leave home, wonder of it all. I'm not sure why there's a sort of argument out there about one over the other. I like eBooks and traditional both.

Watson said...

Ah, Boggie! Real men! :-) I haven't read the High Window yet, but it might be next on my list too!

Desiree said...

You totally rock your ipad--
Re: dames and patsies--I believe it was Madonna who said every man she stepped on to get where she is today loved every moment of it.

Margaret said...

Dez: I love that. Did Madonna really say that?

I'm going to collect all these recommendations and put up a list. But first I have one more mystery to add!

Petrea Burchard said...

I don't know why one book delivery system should be better than another. People are afraid the ereader will kill the book, but I don't believe that'll happen. Although I wouldn't put the question to the people who make vinyl LPs.

Pasadena Adjacent said...

I'm beginning to suffer from iPad envy. I blame you

Anonymous said...

Ok, I remember my first Chandler book. A boyfriend was reading a collection of Philip Marlowe short stories, and I, lit major that I was, rolled my eyes and made rude remarks. Then I picked up the book and read aloud the first few sentences, intending to shame him greatly. Oh, those few sentences were so good. I didn't stop reading Chandler until I had read everything, everything -- even his screenplays.

Susan Campisi said...

That's a good story, Hiker.

I'm getting iPad envy, too. If I had one I could start reading Chandler tonight.

I'm looking forward to that list, Margaret.

Pasadena Adjacent said...

If I had an iPad I'd be able to read Des's novel.

Lindsay N. Currie said...

Oooh a wireless keyboard? The tech dork in me just got a little aflutter LOL:)

-K- said...

I have yet to fully embrace my Kindle Fire but speaking of Raymond Chandler this weekend I watched "The Big Sleep" on it. While it is not my favorite movie by a long shot (too much tough-guy posturing, stilted dialogue, etc) I have to say the video quality was astounding.

TheChieftess said...

I've not read High Window...I may have to download it...when I figure that out!