Despite Stephen King’s rave blurb on the back cover of The Black-Eyed Blonde (don’t read it before you read the book because it contains a spoiler), I can’t echo Stephen King’s enthusiasm. When John Banville decided to write a Philip Marlowe novel, his biggest challenge was could he imitate Raymond Chandler’s unique writing style. My vote is: NO. But, that being said, The Black-Eyed Blonde is a solid private eye novel. Banville’s Philip Marlowe is more emotional than Chandler’s Marlowe. A black-eyed blonde shows up at Marlowe’s office and hires him to find her missing lover. Marlowe immediately falls in love with his client which leads him into some very dangerous territory. The bodies mount up and Marlowe discovers links to the past. For purists, this pastiche will be unreadable. But, John Banville is a clever writer who does the best he can with a book like this. GRADE: B
“For purists, this pastiche will be unreadable,” sums it up for me. I didn’t think much of Banville/Black’s other (non-Marlowe) mysteries either. Perhaps The Black-Eyed Blond is a P.I./noir for people who haven’t read the originals.
Deb, Banville’s plot to THE BLACK-EYED BLONDE relies on familiarity with previous Philip Marlowe mysteries. Like you, I wasn’t that impressed with Banville/Black’s other mysteries, either.
A rave in the NYT too. The fix is in.
Patti, I’m far from giving THE BLACK-EYED BLONDE a rave review. It’s an okay pastiche.
I’m probably skipping this one.
Bill, you’re not missing much.
As mentioned previously, I won’t be reading this either. Like Deb (and George) I wasn’t that impressed with the other of his books I read.
Jeff, I think Banville wrote a solid pastiche, but it doesn’t read like Raymond Chandler and Banville’s Marlowe is different than the Marlowe we’re used to.
Not for me, thanks. Why do authors do this? If he’d named the character Phil Smith it would have removed so many expectations that were likely impossible to meet.
Rick, I totally agree with you. There are plenty of hurtles in a pastiche and Banville stumbles over some of them in THE BLACK-EYED BLONDE.
He’ll gladly stumble hurdles (or hurtles, or Hertels for that matter) in exchange for the A-list promotion and fat advance he’s getting.
Art, it’s always about the money…and the film deal.