Unabridged Audiobook
Fun, racy, crime noir classic.
I'm not sure if it's a hindrance or a help to have seen this movie, but either way, listening to this was a great experience. Stanley Tucci is a wonderful narrator..
WOW! What a racy story for the early part of the 20th Century. As I was in the middle of listening to the audio book, the movie with Lana Turner made in 1946, was on TV one early Saturday and I was shocked at how closely they followed the book, keeping in mind the morals of the day. If you have not heard or seen this story, yet, I highly recommend listening to this audiobook, which is masterfully narrated. Then, go see Lana Turner play the vixen! A true American Classic!
This book's narrative perfectly captures the sarcasm & wit of the the film noir genre. I've seen the (original) movie many times & it is one of my favorite films noir. The style echoes the mood of the country in the late '30's & early '40's. Back then, everybody was down on his/her luck & trying to figure out how to make the American dream a reality as we struggled to crawl out of the depression. The characters are hard-bitten & unsympathetic, their actions repugnant. But that's what makes it "noir."
Entertaining and dark. Can't shake the feeling the entire thing is intended to be tongue in cheek.
A well-crafted thriller that puts most modern crime stories to shame with dramatic understatement, surprising twists, and complex characters. A lot of entertainment in a short book.
Bland story with hackneyed ending. A waste of time - no real character development and just a plain ordinary story.
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