Re: RARA-AVIS: Day Keene; Farewell, My Lovely

Mario Taboada (matrxtech@sprintmail.com)
Fri, 19 Dec 1997 10:51:58 +0000 The problem I had the first time I read Farewell My Lovely was that when
I came to this novel I had already read the "cannibalized" stories in
"Killer in the Rain" (in fact, this book was my first introduction to
Chandler way back when). After reading a perfect masterpiece like the
long story "Bay City Blues", I was uneasy at finding big chunks of it in
FML intermingled with other material in (what seemed then) an arbitrary
fashion. I now know better, after having re-read the novel at least five
times. But those who don't know "Bay City Blues" are missing a jewel.
It's one of those stories where there's corruption all around, and
Chandler's prose just shines. Sheer magic.

We are lucky in that Chandler is endlessly re-readable. But isn't that
the best sign of a great author?

Regards,

Mario Taboada
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