----- Original Message ----- From: "jumblejim" <
jumblejim@prodigy.net> To: <
rara-avis@icomm.ca>
> > Evan Hunter: I came to Chandler when I was very
young and loved him,
> > of course, but I loved him for the very things
I learned not to like
> > later on. Sentimentality about the city, sexy
women sliding toward
> > you [wonder if he meant to say sidling, or
perhaps did and was
> > mistranscribed].--all this stuff would appeal
to an adolescent. Late
> > on when I began to reread him to see what had
so captivated me, I
> > really found a great many flaws in the
writing.
> >
> > Elmore Leonard: I agree with Evan. I didn't
learn anything at all
> > from Chandler, or from Dashiell
Hammett.
>
> Then how come them guys couldn't write as good as
Chandler or Hammett?
> Mebbe they SHOULDA learned something from
'em.
>
> I love Leonard's Westerns--haven't cared for the one
or two crime novels.
> And I love the 87th Precinct stuff. But if these
guys think they write
> better than Chandler, I'm gonna have to pause and
reflect a bit. Or
suggest
> that they do.
Jim has raised a number of intriguing questions:
Is Chandler's writing flawless? Of those who did learn
something from them, who writes as well as Chandler or
Hammett? Is Chandler's dialogue superior to Leonard's? Is
PLAYBACK better than THE SWITCH?
And finally, should Hunter and Leonard have lied?
Al
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