Monday, February 4, 2019

The Big Sleep

Book: The Big Sleep
Basic Information : Synopsis : Characters : Expectations : Thoughts : Evaluation : Book Group : New Words : Good Quotes :  References

Basic Information:
Author: Raymond Chandler
Edition: epub on Overdrive from the Fresno County Library
Hardcopy from the Mountain View Public Library, the book The Raymond Chandler Omnibus
Publisher: Vintage Crime
ISBN:   0394758285 (ISBN13: 9780394758282)
Start Date: February 2, 2019
Read Date: February 4, 2019
231 pages
Genre: Fiction, Mystery
Language Warning: Low
Rated Overall: 5 out of 5

Fiction-Tells a good story: 5 out of 5
Fiction-Character development: 4 out of 5


Synopsis (Caution: Spoiler Alert-Jump to Thoughts):
Philip Marlowe is referred to a delicate matter where General Sternwood is being extorted. As Marlowe looks into the case, it is not so simple. There is pornography, a couple attempts at extortion of the Sternwood family, a missing person, a crazy family member, and murder, of course. Actually several murders. Chandler takes us through Los Angeles in the 1930 visiting pornographers, murderers, mobsters, police and a detective. We see the rich and those who are struggling. But mostly we see Philip Marlowe.


Cast of Characters:
  • Philip Marlowe-Detective. 33 years old, used to work for the LA District Attorney until he was fired for insubordination. Now a private detective and the main character.
  • Carmen Sternwood-Daughter of General Sternwood. Throws herself at men.
  • Vivian Reagan-Married and divorced daughter of General Sternwood.
  • General Guy Sternwood-widower, two daughter-both pretty and wild. 3765 Alta Brea Crescent, West Hollywood, CA.
  • Norris-the butler
  • Rusty Regan-bootlegger, formerly in the IRA. Married to Vivian. May have run off with Eddie Mars’ wife
  • Joe Brody-paid $5,000 by Sternwood to take care of Carmen’s debt
  • Arthur Gwynn Geiger-person wanting to collect $10,000 from Carmen’s debt
  • Agnes-The front for Gieger, but knows a lot more.
  • Eddie Mars-gangster who owns a casino and lots of police. Wife is being hidden by Mars.
  • Carol Lundgren. Homosexual lover of Gieger
  • Bernie Ohls-Top investigator for the DA’s office
  • Taggart Wilde-DA
  • Harry Jones-a private investigator who is clumsy
  • Lash Canino-hit man for Eddie Mars
  • Art Huck-mechanic who is in league with Lash Canino
  • Mona Mars-Eddie Mars wife whom Rusty Regan was said to run off with

Expectations:
Recommendation: Peter from my book group
When: October 2018
Date Became Aware of Book: I have heard of it for a while
How come do I want to read this book: Book Group
What do I think I will get out of it? A good mystery read


Thoughts:
Chandler’s opening descriptions are breathtaking. He sets the plate and lets you savor them.

In the Forward, Lawrence Clark Powell asks the question most Northern California people ask, but maybe in a different tone, Just where is Los Angeles? Powell also anoints Chandler as LA’s laureate. But also asked how did this come about since Chandler was not particularly fond of LA.

  • One Marlowe is waiting in General Sternwood’s mansion until he is called by the butler. Carmen Sternwood throws herself at him.
    • One of the best opening descriptions I have read.
  • Two Marlowe meets General Sternwood and is told the reason for the call. Sterwood is being extorted for Carmen’s gambling debt. He wants to put a stop to it. Marlowe suggests that it would be better to pay off the debt than fight it, but Sternwood wants to fight it. Marlowe says that if the debt is legit and the man is a honest bookie, it is better to pay, otherwise he will make sure the debt is taken care of.
    • Fictional address for General Guy Sternwood: 3765 Alta Brea Crescent, West Hollywood.
  • Three Marlowe’s first talk with Mrs. Regan
    • Great description of Mrs. Regan-one of General Sternwood’s daughters.
    • Regan says that she just loathes masterful men. Why? And how does she put up with Marlowe? In some ways, this is the main subplot throughout the book and definitely in the movie it creates the tension between Bacall and Bogart.
    • Marlowe asks Mrs. Regan, Just what is it you’re afraid of? This becomes more important as the story progresses.
    • Chandler’s comment on the Sternwoods-they probably did not want to be reminded of what made them rich. Also sounds like a more general comment.
  • Four. Marlowe goes to Gieger’s place and discovers that they do not deal in rare books, but in smut.
  • Five After not being able to see Gieger, Marlowe goes across the street and gains information about Gieger.
    • Interesting thing the girl bookstore person says: You interest me. Rather vaguely. What a classic line.
    • Gieger’s game is pornogrpahy. Chandler labels pornography. Today we do not.
    • Marlowe realizes that Gieger probably had protection from somewhere.
  • Six Marlowe goes to Gieger’s house and finds that Carmen Steinwood comes to his house.
    • Marlowe’s thought-a nice neighborhood to have bad habits in.
  • Seven Gieger is killed and Carmen is drugged and nude in the middle of a photo shoot.
    • Wonder what today’s world would do with Marlowe slapping Carmen?
    • Wonder if this is effective to bring back sobriety?
    • Looking for the photoplate, Marlowe could not find it. He says he does not like this development-sort of pun-ish.
  • Eight Marlowe bring Carmen back and leaves her with the butler and returns back to his car ad back home.
    • Dead men are heavier than broken hearts.
  • Nine Marlowe gets called by the DA’s chief investigator to go with him to a pier in Lido where they are retrieving the Buick with a body inside. He is the Sternwood’s chauffeur, Owen Taylor.
    • Book does not deal with his murder
    • I like the phrase Chandler uses to introduce Ohls: He sounded like a man who had slept well and didn’t owe too much money. This is after Marlowe had spent much of the night with Gieger’s murder.
    • A morning which seem[ed] simple and sweet, if you didn’t have too much on your mind. There are some mornings like that. They can be as beautiful as can be, but you are in no mood to enjoy them.
    • The usual ghouls of both sexes.
  • Ten. Gieger is dead, but Marlowe goes back to the bookstore. Brody is unloading Gieger’s books. Marlowe tails where the books are going to.
  • Eleven. Vivian goes to Marlowe’s office to try to discover what her favor is seeking. But Marlowe will not divulge it.
    • As a subtext, Vivian says that Owen, the Sternwood chauffeur, was in love with her sister, but the family did not want them to marry. Vivian thinks that they should have, because We don’t find much of that [genuine love] in our circle.
    • Marlowe understands human nature and what makes people tick.
  • Twelve. Marlowe goes back to Gieger’s house to try to figure out what happened, but the body is no longer there. Carmen comes in on him.
    • Description of Gieger’s house during the daylight: stealthy nastiness
    • Marlowe’s comment about Carmen is that she is a pretty, spoiled and not very bright little girl who had gone very, very wrong and nobody was doing anything about it.
  • Thirteen. Eddie Mars comes by Gieger’s house while Marlowe is there. They come to an unspoken understanding of their status.
    • Description of Mars as a hard man, but more as a type of a person.
  • Fourteen. Marlowe visits Brody. Confronts about the pictures. Demands the pictures of Carmen.
  • Fifteen. Carmen shows up and wants her pictures. Fight occurs when Carmen produces a gun.
  • Sixteen. Carmen leaves, but Marlowe continues to talk with Brody. Another person comes to the door and kills Brody. The person is Carol Lundgren. Marlowe captures Lundgren.
    • Lundgren, a man of limited vocabulary.
  • Seventeen. Marlowe takes Lundgren back to Gieger’s place. Gieger has now been laid very reverently in state.
  • Eighteen. Scene where the whole scenario is told to the DA. In the dialogue, they talk about lives being lost. Also about police corruption.
    • Interesting social commentary for 1939. A top cop is telling Marlowe how Marlowe was recklessly disregarding life. Marlowe’s response could have been right there with Black Lives Matter: Tell that to your coppers next time they shoot down some scared petty larceny crook running away up an alley with a stolen spare.
    • What does Marlowe mean that it was physically possible for Brody to kill Gieger's, but not morally?
  • Nineteen. Marlowe gets home late at night and he has a visitor waiting in the lobby-one of Mars’ men. He wants to know who killed Gieger. Marlowe will not say, just that it is nobody whom Mars would know.
  • Twenty. Marlowe goes to Missing Persons to find out information on Rusty Regan. The police do not have much to go on.
  • Twenty-One. Norris calls Marlowe to find out if there was anything more-no. But Marlowe visits Mars to see if there was something else to find out out Regan’s disappearance. Mars says that he is dead.
    • Marlowe describes his life being flat that morning.
  • Twenty-Two. While at Mars’ casino, Vivian is there, winning. She gets accosted for her winnings, but Marlowe comes to her rescue.
  • Twenty-Three. Dialogue between Marlowe and Vivian, mostly about why was Marlowe there that evening with some physicalness. Marlowe tries to find out what Mars has on Vivian, but she will not tell.
    • Vivian says that Marlowe is just a killer at heart, just like the cops. Interesting that Chandler has that point of view about cops. Sound really like the 2010’s perspective of blacks.
    • Marlowe works at detection, not plays at it. Is he taking a dig at Holmes or Wimsey
    • Definitely a novel written in a time period, not concerned with being politically correct. Cute as a Filipino
  • Twenty-Four. Marlowe returns home after the evening with Mars and Vivian. He finds Carmen in his bed naked. He does not want her and kicks her out.
    • Today, Chandler would be called a racist for using language about races. Then it was just a reflection of the times. Does that make Chandler a racist?
    • Marlowe plays chess. Likes to solve puzzles.
      • Double meanings. Knights have no meaning in his game, nor in the game Carmen is trying to play with Marlowe.
    • It’s so hard for women--even nice women--to realize that their bodies are not irresistible.
  • Twenty-Five. Marlowe is being followed, and wants to find out why. A guy by the name of Harry Jones is the person, an accomplice of Agnes. They have some information on Rusty Regan, willing to sell for $200. Marlowe is interested and they make arrangements to meet later.
    • Empty of life as a scarecrow’s pockets
    • Can have a hangover from other things besides alcohol -women in this case.
  • Twenty-Six. Marlowe goes to Harry Jones’ office, but finds there is someone already talking to him. So Marlowe hides in an office besides Jones’ and realizes that it is Canino speaking. Jones gets poisoned and Canino looks for Agnes with a false address.
  • Twenty-Seven. Agnes and Marlowe meet and Agnes gives Marlowe information on where to find Mars’ wife, whom the rumor has it that Regan ran off with. She gets her $200. Marlowe goes to Realito, southeast of Pasadena. Rain sidetracked him so he had a flat tire, just outside of Art Huck’s service garage. Huck goes out to to fix Marlowe’s tires. But Canino make conversation with Marlowe, then Huck jumps Marlowe and knocks him out.
  • Twenty-Eight. He was left with Mona Mars, tied up. But she lets Marlowe loose.
  • Twenty-Nine. Marlowe escapes back to his car, but only to pick up a gun. He creeps back just in time see have Canino come back to the house. Canino is drawn back outside knowing that Marlowe had escaped, but realizes that Marlowe is still close by. After Canino shoots where he thinks Marlowe is, Marlowe shoots him back and kills him.
    • Marlowe realizes he was meant to get away so Mona’s murder would be placed on him.
  • Thirty. After shooting Canino, Marlowe turns himself in. Has an interview with the DA and then talks with the Missing Person’s captain. Last Marlowe talks with General Sternwood who says he is disappointed that Marlowe searched for Regan. But then the General commissions him to find Regan.
    • The Missing Persons captain says that he is just a copper, an ordinary copper. Marlowe’s thought is that it is as honest as you could expect a man to be in a world where it’s out of style. Interesting thought about how do you look when you are different from the culture around you.
    • Marlowe will break a few rules, but he always breaks them in the client’s favor.
    • Who is Philo Vance? Fictional detective in the 1920’s written by S.S. Van Dine, a pseudonym. Appeared in 12 books.
  • Thirty-One. Marlowe returns Carmen’s gun to her. She asks to learn how to shot. They go to a remote area of the Sternwood property. Carmen tries to kill Marlowe, but he has loaded the gun with blanks. She goes into an epileptic seizure.
  • Thirty-Two. The story comes together with happened to Regan and how Vivian is being influenced by Mars. Then Marlowe talks about death and how it does not matter where or how our bodies are disposed of. We all end up sleeping the Big Sleep.

Evaluation:
This how you write descriptions. Right from the get-go I felt that Chandler put me at the scene. Some may find his descriptions a bit wordy, and I usually find such ones that way, but for some reason, how Chandler pictured a scene spoke to me.

But what about the plot? It is a lot of action, a lot of killing, and the 1930’s dialogue of the age (a dictionary is of use here, until you get used to the verbiage). I do not think the plot line was particularly good. But it was entertaining. Well worth reading the book.

 
Notes from my book group:

Other detective books you enjoyed:
  • Double Indemity-Cain and Chandler
  • Dick Francis
  • Michelle McNamara-I'll Be Gone in the Dark
  • James M Cain-Hammer series of stories
  • Aaron Elkins
  • Sue Grafton
  • Dorothy Sayers
  • PD James
  • Janet Evonich
  • Tony Hillerman 

What is the storyline of The Big Sleep? Why the title?

Chandler describes events and places in detail. How did this affect your enjoyment of The Big Sleep? Did it allow you to visual the settings better or did it get in the way?

Along those lines, did the use of era slang leave you wondering or place you into the mood of period? Was it authentic for the period? What period?

Did you root for Marlowe? Or hope he would just go away? What made him special or detestable, like Vivian Regan felt?

What is Marlowe’s method of investigation? Methodical? Circumstances? Investigative?

What is the relationship between the three Sternwoods? Why are they not able to talk with each other? What type of people are Carmen and Vivian? Is this because of their father?

Why is Marlowe a private investigator instead of a more respectable law enforcement officer? Would he have made a good one? What ethics does Marlowe work off of?

Did Marlowe do right to cover Carmen’s role in the disappearance of Rusty Regan?

Did any of you watch the Bogart/Bacall movie? If so, which did you enjoy more?

Were there any throw-away characters or were they all essential to the story? Was there too many people in the story?

Why did Chandler have so many people die?

In chapter 7, Gieger is killed and Marlowe finds Carmen Steinwood drugged and nude. He slaps her to try to revive her. But it does not work. Is slapping someone an effective way to revive a drugged person? Even if it is effective, should one slap a person?

Is there any social commentary in the book? If so what did you see?

What kind of “isms” do you see in this book?

Does Chandler need the sex, drugs and violence to make the story work? Would you prefer to have the story more direct or even more discreet? 

What are the underpinnings of Chandler’s philosophy concerning this book? How does it influence how he writes and what he writes about? 

What mystery writers do you like and how does Chandler compare to them? Where do you place The Big Sleep in comparison to other mystery stories? Will be interested in reading other Raymond Chandler books?

Questions from the 2013 Mount Prospect Public Library. All rights reserved. Used with Permission.
1. What did you think of Chandler’s constant barrage of setting details?
2. Do you think General Sternwood had given up on being a parent? What would you have done differently?
3. Vivian visits Marlowe’s office to try and figure out if he is looking for her husband. Why doesn’t she just go to her father?
4. Vivian tells Marlowe, “People don’t talk to me that way.” (p. 19) What does this tell us about Vivian? What does this tell us about Marlowe?
5. Marlow comes in contact with thugs, lowlifes, cops and the rich. Does he speak to everybody the same?
6. Marlowe seems almost unmovable. Almost. What are some examples of Marlowe being human?
-p. 61, Marlowe blushes after Vivian leaves
-p. 190, interaction with Eddie Mars’ wife
7. Do you count The Big Sleep as a classic of American literature? Why or why not?
8. What makes a character classic?
9. What are the charms of Marlowe?
10. Do you think Phillip Marlowe has an equal in crime fiction?
11. Did you see Marlowe as Humphrey Bogart?
12. Who could play Marlowe in this day and age?
13. What did you think of Carmen?
14. Is Carmen not very smart or does she have health issues that can account for her behavior?
15. Rusty Regan, the missing, bootlegging husband, always carried 15 grand on his person. What does that say about him?
16. Why do you think Chandler never lets us see Rusty Regan, alive or dead?
17. What does it say about Phillip Marlowe that he carries a gun and a bottle of rye in his glove compartment?
18. When you read the book, did you see it in black and white in your mind? Color?
19. Why would Vivian “loath masterful men?” (p. 20)
20. Did Carmen getting the drop on Marlowe surprise you? (p. 210)
21. Eddie Mars’ wife says she still loves her husband, even knowing what a criminal he is. (p. 196) Were you bothered by her stance? Why?
22. If you could go back to 1939, would you want Marlowe’s job? What job would you want?
23. What does it say about Marlowe that he is a private investigator instead of a police officer?
24. Did the slang ever bother you?
25. Is everybody (men and women) a smooth talker in The Big Sleep?
26. Any favorite quotes from the book?
27. On page 48, the doctor can’t easily tell Owen Taylor’s time of death. How would this bit of information help establish the novel’s era?
28. There ended up being a good number of characters and quite a few of them dead. Did you ever have trouble following along?
29. One of Chandler’s most famous quotes is, “When in doubt, have a man come through the door with a gun in his hand.” (The quote originates from “The Simple Art of Murder,” found as an introduction essay to his novel of the same name.) Did you see examples of that in The Big Sleep? Is this a good writing practice?
30. Think of characters and their status levels. Is there any social critique within The Big Sleep?
31. Do women have power in this story? If so, what kind?
32. How does Marlowe see women?
33. Does Marlowe have a code of honor?
34. Some of Raymond Chandler’s biggest literary influences were Charles Dickens, Ernest Hemingway and Henry James. Do you see any connections in his work to these authors?
-Ex: Dickens wrote convoluted plots, Hemingway wrote in short, to the point sentences, and James wrote in very dark tones
35. What influence do you think Chandler has had on crime novels?


Questions from the Mentor Public Library of Ohio
Did you like the book? Why or why not?
2. What did you think of the 20s/30s slang? Did it make the book easier/harder to read? Did you like it?
3. How did all of Chandler’s setting details set the mood of the novel?
4. The Big Sleep is considered to be a classic “hardboiled crime” novel. What makes it hardboiled?
5. Do you think General Sternwood had given up on being a parent? What would you have done differently?
6. Marlow comes in contact with thugs, lowlifes, cops, and the rich. Does he speak to everybody the same?
7. What (if anything) makes Marlowe a charming character?
8. What did you think of Carmen? Is Carmen just not very smart or does she have health issues that can account for her behavior?
9. Rusty Regan, the missing, bootlegging husband, always carried 15 grand on his person. What does that say about him?
10. Why do you think Chandler never lets us see Rusty Regan, alive or dead?
11. If you could go back to 1939, would you want Marlowe’s job? What job would you want?
12. What does it say about Marlowe that he is a private investigator instead of a police officer?
13. There were a large number of characters and many of them ended up dead. Did you ever have trouble following along?
14. Why does Vivian keep the truth about Carmen and Rusty from her father?
15. Does Marlowe do the right thing by keeping the secret about Carmen and Rusty?
16. In thinking of the characters and their socioeconomic status levels in the book, what types of social critique if Chandler trying to make within The Big Sleep?
17. How does Marlowe see women?
18. Do women have power in this story? If so, what kind?
19. What kind of a man is Marlowe? Does Marlowe have a code of honor? Do you find him admirable?
20. What motivates Marlowe in his interactions with General Sternwood? With the Sternwood sisters? With the police? How do his motivations and actions underscore the theme of moral ambiguity recurrent throughout the book?
21. If this book were written today, how would it be different?
22. What influence do you think Chandler has had on crime novels?
Mentor Public Library Page 3 of 3 February 2015
23. This story is set during the Great Depression (1930s), when most Americans were struggling financially. What do you think the author was trying to say when he wrote of the Sternwood family who, despite their money, are terribly unhappy?
24. “The theme of the book isn't between good and evil, but between evil and less evil. For in the end, the hero of the story becomes part of the corrupt society 'the great nastiness' himself.” What do you think of this statement?
25. Do you count The Big Sleep as a classic of American literature? Why or why not?
26. The Big Sleep was made into a movie in 1946. What qualities in the book lend themselves to filmmaking?
27. Will you read more Raymond Chandler/Philip Marlow books?


Many of these questions are either from or adapted from LitLovers.
  • Why the title of The Big Sleep?
  • Does this story work as a mystery? Or Do you feel it was another type of story?
  • Did the ending seem fitting? Satisfying? Predictable?
  • Which character was the most convincing? Least?
    • Which character did you identify with?
    • Which one did you dislike?
  • Every story has a world view. Were you able to identify this story’s world view? What was it? How did it affect the story?
  • Why do you think the author wrote this book?
  • What would you ask the author if you had a chance?
  • What “take aways” did you have from this book?
  • What central ideas does the author present?
  • Describe the culture talked about in the book.
    • How is the culture described in this book different than where we live?
    • What economic or political situations are described?
    • Does the author examine economics and politics, family traditions, the arts, religious beliefs, language or food?
  • Do you feel like Chandler’s view of death is appropriate? Is it optimistic? Pessimistic? Where does Chandler get his outlook from?
  • Talk about specific passages that struck you as significant—or interesting, profound, amusing, illuminating, disturbing, sad...?
    • What was memorable?


New Words:
  • Tessellated floor (1): tiling of a plane using one or more geometric shapes, called tiles, with no overlaps and no gaps
  • Batik (8): a technique of wax-resist dyeing applied to whole cloth, or cloth made using this technique, originated from Indonesia.
  • Motorman’s glove (9): It is understood that the said glove is rather thick and big. The - metaphorical, obviously - feeling described is that of a person who feels dehydrated, after drinking too much the night before, i.e. who has a bad hang-over, as I understand from the context. See WordReference for a discussion on this-interesting
  • Majolica (10): Italian tin-glazed pottery dating from the Renaissance period. It is decorated in colours on a white background, sometimes depicting historical and mythical scenes, these works known as istoriato wares ("painted with stories").
  • Shamus (13): a private detective
  • Gat (14): a revolver or pistol.
  • Samovar (21): a heated metal container traditionally used to heat and boil water in Russia
  • Logan (23): a guy with a gun
  • Caterpillar blood (23):
  • Pyroxylin paint (26): a form of nitrocellulose which is less highly nitrated and is soluble in ether and alcohol.

Good Quotes:
    • First Line:It was about eleven o’clock in the morning, mid-October, with the sun not shining and a look of hard wet rain in the clearness of the foothills.
    • Last Line: All they did was make me think of Silver-Wig, and I never saw her again.
    • A nice state of affairs when a man has to indulge his vices by proxy. Chp Two

      References:


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