Tipping a nod to classic hardboiled detective fiction

[Owenk]

I wish my memory wasn't so bad, so that I could remember more examples.

Anyway I was wondering this morning if Mr King was either deliberately or subsconciously tipping a stylistic nod to some of the original hardboiled detective authors.

Some of his phraseology reminded me of one of my personal favourite writers Raymond Chandler, and in particular his use of similes. These normally crack me up with Chandler, you know the sort of thing

I belonged in Idle Valley like a pearl onion on a banana split

Anyway when I was listening this morning and heard the sentence used to describe Holly as

playing the keyboard like a piano

I thought "hmmm that reminds me of Chandler." Also some of the descriptions of Hodges in the third person really reminded me of Chandler, although frustratingly I can't quite put my finger on why.

Anyway it just led me to wonder if this might have been an eitehr concious or sub-concious homage.

Can't resist my favourite Chandler quote at this point.

He was a big man but not more than six feet five inches tall and not wider than a beer truck. He was about ten feet away from me. His arms hung loose at his aides and a forgotten cigar smoked behind his enormous fingers............He was worth looking at. He wore a shaggy borsalino hat, a rough gray sports coat with white golf balls on it for buttons, a brown shirt, a yellow tie, pleated gray flannel slacks and alligator shoes with white explosions on the toes. From his outer breast pocket cascaded a show handkerchief of the same brilliant yellow as his tie. There were a couple of colored feathers tucked into the band of his hat, but he didn’t really need them. Even on Central Avenue, not the quietest dressed street in the world, he looked about as inconspicuous as a tarantula on a slice of angel food.

 

[do1you9love?]

I'm pretty sure it was intentional. He's done at least one short story that I recall with the voice of a Noir Private Eye that has that same Chandler-esque ring to it.

 

[Neesy]

I wish my memory wasn't so bad, so that I could remember more examples.

Anyway I was wondering this morning if Mr King was either deliberately or subsconciously tipping a stylistic nod to some of the original hardboiled detective authors.

Some of his phraseology reminded me of one of my personal favourite writers Raymond Chandler, and in particular his use of similes. These normally crack me up with Chandler, you know the sort of thing



Anyway when I was listening this morning and heard the sentence used to describe Holly as



I thought "hmmm that reminds me of Chandler." Also some of the descriptions of Hodges in the third person really reminded me of Chandler, although frustratingly I can't quite put my finger on why.

Anyway it just led me to wonder if this might have been an eitehr concious or sub-concious homage.

Can't resist my favourite Chandler quote at this point.

Have you read Joyland yet? and like do1you9love? says above, it was done on purpose - that same style of writing.


StephenKing.com - Joyland

You know what? I have a confession to make - I bought Finder's Keepers and STILL have not opened it yet!

I need to make an appointment with myself to get going on that one.

 

[Owenk]

Have you read Joyland yet? and like do1you9love? says above, it was done on purpose - that same style of writing.


StephenKing.com - Joyland

You know what? I have a confession to make - I bought Finder's Keepers and STILL have not opened it yet!

I need to make an appointment with myself to get going on that one.

Thanks for that, no I haven't read Joyland yet. I brought Finders Keepers nowjest, but will put Joyland next on the list!

 

[Neesy]

Thanks for that, no I haven't read Joyland yet. I brought Finders Keepers nowjest, but will put Joyland next on the list!

It's a mystery/crime theme but (are you ready for this?) a bit of a coming of age and love story at the same time.

 

[Owenk]

It's a mystery/crime theme but (are you ready for this?) a bit of a coming of age and love story at the same time.

Right I just brought it on Audible, so I'll pop and invoice in the post if I don't enjoy it!

Very nearly brought it in French as that was the first one it listed!

 

[Neesy]

Right I just brought it on Audible, so I'll pop and invoice in the post if I don't enjoy it!

Very nearly brought it in French as that was the first one it listed!

You can read in French?

 

[Owenk]

You can read in French?

I can read a bit of French (menus, some bits of newspapers ect) but not sure I would be up to a Sai King novel in French. No I nearly brought it in French through not reading the description properly!

 

[GNTLGNT]

...it was on purpose, that kind of homage is a ton of fun to "play" with...Me?...I love Mickey Spillane....


"Mike Hammer: And this is Rita! Rita Rita Rita from Rio! This girl's shape launched a thousand revolutions! Do a few revolutions, honey."

 

[Aloysius Nell]

More than anything, Finders Keepers sounds like Donald Westlake to me.