Hello Book Club #28 was held at Wakeling’s house in Old Street on Saturday
The text before us was Raymond Chandler’s 1943 detective novel “The High Window”. The book caused an outcry of critical responses, and provoked Andy to describe it simply as “the worst book I’ve ever read”. Others were more sanguine, however, and we managed to find a few nuggets of historical and textual interest amidst a wasteland of outdated racial stereotypes, misogyny, pedestrian prose and leaden dialogue. The kindest verdict we could draw was that Chandler’s novel – now seemingly so cliched and predictable – was the starting point of the cliches that have since become so widespread. We must give him credit for inventing this particular branch of the detective novel, even if reading it 66 years on is like bashing yourself over the head with a mallet. But overall it nestles comfortably next to “The Sorrows of Young Werther” as the poorest book club text so far. The new book is chosen by me. I have decided to go back to basics with a 19th century classic – Washington Square by Henry James. Enjoy. As a kick-off for possible dates at my place – how about Sat 2nd or 9th May? Soph – can you forward this to Fleming, as I don’t have his personal email address?
Thanks Pete
