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Zain's Reviews > The Maltese Falcon
The Maltese Falcon
by
by
Zain's review
bookshelves: classic, group-reads, hard-boiled, violence, read-2020, thriller
Oct 29, 2020
bookshelves: classic, group-reads, hard-boiled, violence, read-2020, thriller
Okay...Didn’t Finish!
I just couldn’t take anymore of this story. Listen, I know writing styles have changed as well as people. I love history and things that are historical. I love reading things from the past.
I don’t expect the same kinds of perceptions, and values or whatnot, but I also don’t have to like it.
I’ve read and enjoyed books from the past that deal with bigotry and chauvinism and misogyny and class prejudices and racism, but somehow, l was able to read and enjoy those books.
This book just rubbed me the wrong way. It started when the protagonist talked bad about Archer, his dead partner. And all the time is committing adultery with his wife.
Then, when he decides he no longer wants a relationship with her, he ducks out on her, and refuses to take her calls. Then, when she catches up to him, he pretends that he cares about her and has feelings for her.
This man is no hero! There is nothing good about his relationship with women. I didn’t read the whole book (l barely got halfway), so I don’t know how much better he treats Miss O’ Shaughnessy at the ending of the book. Based upon the author, probably not much better.
Because I disliked the “hero” so much, I just couldn’t get into the story. I’m sorry, but I just don’t feel he has any redeeming qualities.
A reluctant one star. Reluctant, because l wanted to give it zero stars. ✨
I just couldn’t take anymore of this story. Listen, I know writing styles have changed as well as people. I love history and things that are historical. I love reading things from the past.
I don’t expect the same kinds of perceptions, and values or whatnot, but I also don’t have to like it.
I’ve read and enjoyed books from the past that deal with bigotry and chauvinism and misogyny and class prejudices and racism, but somehow, l was able to read and enjoy those books.
This book just rubbed me the wrong way. It started when the protagonist talked bad about Archer, his dead partner. And all the time is committing adultery with his wife.
Then, when he decides he no longer wants a relationship with her, he ducks out on her, and refuses to take her calls. Then, when she catches up to him, he pretends that he cares about her and has feelings for her.
This man is no hero! There is nothing good about his relationship with women. I didn’t read the whole book (l barely got halfway), so I don’t know how much better he treats Miss O’ Shaughnessy at the ending of the book. Based upon the author, probably not much better.
Because I disliked the “hero” so much, I just couldn’t get into the story. I’m sorry, but I just don’t feel he has any redeeming qualities.
A reluctant one star. Reluctant, because l wanted to give it zero stars. ✨
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Reading Progress
October 1, 2020
– Shelved
October 1, 2020
– Shelved as:
to-read
October 1, 2020
– Shelved as:
group-reads
October 1, 2020
– Shelved as:
classic
October 4, 2020
–
Started Reading
October 4, 2020
–
13.0%
October 7, 2020
–
22.0%
October 15, 2020
–
39.0%
October 17, 2020
–
50.0%
October 26, 2020
–
50.0%
"So far, so boring. Has been very difficult to read. I don’t believe I will be able to finish this book."
October 26, 2020
–
Finished Reading
July 17, 2021
– Shelved as:
hard-boiled
August 12, 2021
– Shelved as:
violence
December 1, 2022
– Shelved as:
read-2020
December 1, 2022
– Shelved as:
thriller
Comments Showing 1-50 of 59 (59 new)
message 1:
by
RANGER
(new)
-
rated it 5 stars
May 15, 2021 04:36PM
Hammett was one of those pulp writers who literally created the 20th century anti-hero. I only like this book because it evokes the 40s so well and the entire noir pulp fiction atmosphere. I like a book that does that. Hammett was a complicated guy. He was a military veteran of both world wars and a communist so he was basically cynical about American middle class culture and values. Hence the sleazy, anti-hero. I like this book for the atmosphere, the plot, and the fact that I read it in a Mexican motel that was right out of the 60s when I was vacationing with my family south of the border. I felt like I was experiencing Hammett's world as I read it. But your review is entirely reasonable although mine would be at least four stars. Have a blessed day.
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Hello, Ranger! Thanks for your response. I really don’t know why he “got my goat,” as the saying goes. Because I have really enjoyed books by Raymond Chandler, a whole lot. I’ll probably give Hammett another try in the future, since I love the genre. 😎
Chandler writes better and his characters have more warmth and depth. Hammett's Continental Op is closer to Chandler but Hammett was more cynical about American life than Chandler who was a transplanted Brit and convivial social drunk. Interesting that they and Ross MacDonald were all California writers during roughly the same era. I love reading all three of them but Chandler is the best.
Speaking of Hammett’s Continental Op, I have purchased a few of those, but they are not on my reading list. I am definitely going to read one of them to see what I think of it.🤔
No need to apologise for not liking a book/main character. To be honest, I'd have abandoned the book, too. Thanks for your honest review.
Thanks BrokenTune. Thanks for understanding. 😎
I remember reading the synopsis of TMF and thinking, "NO, no, no, no NOOOOO!" So thumbs up for at least starting the book.
When I saw the movie, I thought I only had a problem with the actor. But the movie was definitely not as offensive as the book. 🤔
Spade is a jerk. No question. Your reaction is perfectly valid — not every classic is for everyone. (I can’t stand Lovecraft, as an example)
You feel how you feel.... Understandable!
Thanks Alonzo. Thanks Shaina. But I have to confess something to you. I am a big Cthulhu fan and of the mythos. I grew up with my brother who loved horror movies. Of course we didn’t know anything about Lovecraft being a racist. When I found out, I was glad I downloaded his books free from Project Gutenberg. I do admit I have purchased books from other modern authors who write about Cthulhu mythos stories. 🤷🏽♀️😖
Zain, I completely agree, and the movie is worst. They call it noir. I call it, "The dudes an @$$#0!3."
He is trying to make an anti-hero into a hero.
Dashiell Hammett was a hard guy in real life and it's reflected in his cynical characters. He was a veteran of WWI who then went on to enlist in WWII when he was 48 years old and sick with TB. Tough guy. He was a Hollywood screenwriter between the wars when the film industry had less censorship, a notorious womanizer and a communist. There isn't a lot of redemption in his cold-hearted stories but a lot of people getting machine gunned. I only like him because his pulp writing style has a certain appeal to me. I like The Maltese Falcon mostly because it is so weird. But except for his Continental Op character, who comes closest to Chandler and Ross MacDonald than anything else he created, I can't say I like his other stuff all that much.
RANGER wrote: "Dashiell Hammett was a hard guy in real life and it's reflected in his cynical characters. He was a veteran of WWI who then went on to enlist in WWII when he was 48 years old and sick with TB. Toug..."I love his Continental Op stories.
This book started out for me a lot stronger than it finished. So if you were hating it, I wouldn't recommend finishing it. On the protagonist banging his partner's wife, I don't know what she did to get your sympathy. Isn't she equally guilty of the adultery? I gave the protagonist a pass on this one and for ducking her. It doesn't sound like she was willing to accept his "It's over."
I didn’t see anywhere in the story where the wife was bad-mouthing him while having sex with him. Anyway, I wasn’t talking about the adulterous relationship, I was talking about how the “hero” was talking bad about his partner while screwing his wife.
And if you had read my review, you would have seen that I didn’t finish it.
Not sure what you're first sentence (in message 17) has to do with anything I wrote in message 16. I did read your review and was commending your decision not to finish it. The book started out 5 stars in my opinion and finished at 3, so I gave it an average of 4. My point was, if you didn't like the beginning, I bet you too would have liked the end less. I agreed with your decision not to complete the book therefore.
On how Marlowe treated his partner, I thought he did right by him, especially after he was killed. The police were unable or unwilling to bring the killer to justice. So Marlowe took on the task for no charge. It became his main motive. If someone killed me, I'd sure appreciate someone getting me some justice for it. I also wondered if Marlowe, besides not particularly liking his partner's ex-wife any more, probably because he couldn't respect her, if Marlowe stopped wanting to mess around with her possibly because of guilt at how he had treated his late partner. I don't think that was made clear.
Well. I don’t know how the book ended. I rarely give up on a book. Only three out of a thousand. I wish I wasn’t so angry at the protagonist, then I would have finished the book.
In a rare case the film is better than the book..how else could it be with stars like Bogie, Bacall, Greenstreet and others!
Yes, I saw the movie, but I don’t remember hating it like I did the book.
Great review, Zain! I appreciated your view. The utter disdain for the main character and the refusal to spend any more time with him. Sometimes it's like that. :)
Yes, Anissa! Thank you for understanding. 😎
Damn, sorry to hear that, my friend! I hope your next read is better :-)
Thanks LTJ! I love his Continental Op stories. They are much better. 😎
Anytime, my friend! Ah, I see, makes sense to me :-)
Took me two tries to get through, reading it in Bogey's voice really helped with that. :)
I’m not able to do Bogey’s voice. 😊
Hm, this is a famous one and I was going to eventually try my copy. Sometimes low reviews like yours remove the weeds first, so the ground has no surprises. It doesn't sound good to dislike a protagonist but maybe it will work again for loathing to arm me against finding it too bad after, haha.
I just don’t like him, but you may see him differently. 😎
You made good points, Zain and I look forward to finding out.Just a heads-up, I am looking for comments on my reviews too. I work my @ off on them and have had all the empty like button clicks I can take. I'm asking friends to skip the button until they're ready to write something with it. :)
Your right, Zain. Hammett's Spade is not likeable and, likely, not meant to be likeable. The fact the "Bogey" made him more likeable in the movie should not change our feelings about Hammett's character. By the way, this is often Hammett's way and Red Dust might be another volume where you would have the same reaction.Where you and I part company is that I am fascinated by Hammett's narrative skill and his talent with memorable lines which were taken right into the movie.
"Well, Wilmer, I'm sorry indeed to lose you. But I want you to know I couldn't be fonder of you if you were my own son. But, well, if you lose a son, it's possible to get another. There's only one Maltese Falcon."
"What is it?
Sam Spade: The, uh, stuff that dreams are made of."
"Spade: We didn't exactly believe your story, Miss Wonderly. We believed your 200 dollars. I mean, you paid us more than if you had been telling us the truth, and enough more to make it all right."
C. (Never PM. Comment, or e-mail if private!) wrote: "You made good points, Zain and I look forward to finding out.Just a heads-up, I am looking for comments on my reviews too. I work my @ off on them and have had all the empty like button clicks I ..."
Okay C. I’ll be looking out for your reviews. Thanks for stopping by. 😎
HBalikov wrote: "Your right, Zain. Hammett's Spade is not likeable and, likely, not meant to be likeable. The fact the "Bogey" made him more likeable in the movie should not change our feelings about Hammett's char..."Thanks for your response, HBalikov! And the dialogue is really great. 😎
So--I don't need to put this one on my TBR list! Thanks for the candid review.
Not unless you want to! You’re welcome, Kathleen! 😎
Sometimes enough is too much!!
I think so, too, Barry! 🤔
Well said..I've tried several Hammett stories but I couldn't get into his narrative approach though I LOVED the adaptation of this one due to a stellar cast and direction
Yes, Jonathan! I enjoyed the movie. 😎
I gave this story four stars despite the truly disgusting chauvinism and bigotry, but I completely respect your reasons for DNFing. Sure hope the world really has changed some since 1929, but it's entirely possible people just hide their discrimination better for reasons of self protection.
I completely agree with you about people being better at hiding their discrimination since they know they are going to get called out on it. 😎
Yeah, had The same problem with this book. I can usually get over them but not in this case. Really disliked the Mc and the writing dis not help either.
Hope you’re able to recover from it. 😎🙃😎
Sorry this one didn’t work for you Zain ! Won’t be reading this one either !
Closing your eyes doesn't make the world disappear.
Jackie wrote: "Sorry this one didn’t work for you Zain ! Won’t be reading this one either !"It’s a big disappointment for me, because I really wanted to like the book. 🤔☹️🤨
Barry wrote: "Closing your eyes doesn't make the world disappear."My eyes are wide open. 🙄🤨🤔
I had a similar experience after a few chapters and DNF'd it. That said, the classic Bogie film is terrific :)
Oh, yeah! I enjoyed the film. So glad that you did like it. 😎
