"Dark Film"

Red Wind pgs 1541-1574

I would have to say that Chandler had quite a knack for keeping people in suspense. I found it interesting that he would dangle you like a fish on a hook just when you think you knew what was going on. Once I started to read this it was everything I could do to put the book down. Chandler does a fantastic job in every detail of the book. The whole drama took place in late afternoon all the way through the night into the next day. Chandler's use of descriptive detail makes the pictures in your head just come to life. When he describes the brunette in the beginning of the story, he gives you this image of a beautiful women. Chandler describes her as, "Tall, pretty, brown hair, in a print bolero jacket over a blue crepe silk dress. Wearing a wide brimmed straw hat with a velvet band". As you read, there is really no where in the book were he is not descriptive. When the man in the bar gets killed, he describes the shooter as "lightly" touching the bar door with his shoulder to give to give you the picture that the shooter was very cautious about his movements when he left the bar. Not only does Chandler paint in great detail his characters but he also paints the landscape for you. A great example of this would be on page 1563 when Dalmus meets Mr. Barsaly and has a discussion in Mr. Barsaly's home. Chandler describes the living room as having in it a fireplace, baby grand, Chinese screen, a tall Chinese lantern on a teakwood pedestal and gold net curtains on a lattice window. He also tells you that there is a tree outside with the trunk white washed, blowing in the hot breeze. Chandler paints this awesome picture that makes this book come to life. Chandler's use of shadows to make his characters mysterious is done with great care and perfect timing. A good example of this would be on page 1556 when John Dalmus gets back from the police station and tries to get into his apartment building and hears a low quiet voice say, "Please". Dalmus states that he knew the voice so he got into her car. This is perfect timing because you now have a picture in your head of this tall beautiful women who you thought you knew but now she is doing something out of the ordinary. You think you have her pinned down as a loose woman but this appearance makes you wonder what she is really up to. I think the way Chandler keeps you guessing, for instance when Dalmus is telling his lies, or the detective taking the credit for the shooter being caught even though he did not really catch him, or the way he keeps a dark shadow over all his characters, keeps the reader interested. I have to say that I really enjoyed this read!