Monday, October 10, 2011

Top five books about Los Angeles

Christian Science Monitor contributor Megan Wasson came up with a list of five top books on Los Angeles.

One title on the list:
The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler

The classic detective novel, made into the equally classic Humphrey Bogart/Lauren Bacall film, is the first appearance of Los Angeles noir detective Phillip Marlow. Marlow is hired to expose the blackmailer of a tycoon's daughter, but along the way he exposes a lot more about the seedy underbelly of 1930's LA society. Chandler's eloquent prose and quirky characters are enchanting.
Read about the other books on the list.

The Big Sleep also appears on Greil Marcus's six recommended books list, Barry Forshaw's critic's chart of six American noir masters, David Nicholls' list of favorite film adaptations, and the Guardian's list of ten of the best smokes in literature.

--Marshal Zeringue

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