reading (Charlotte's Web)

I finished rereading "Charlotte's Web" on Wednesday, I think. It was a bit of a shock to go from Roald Dahl to E. B. White. They both have a distinct place in children's literature, a distinctly different place.

I loved this book as a child. Rereading it as an adult I can see it's best suited to children who haven't reached the eye roll age. If a child rolls their eyes or sighs exasperatedly at anything the presentation of the morality bits of this book will probably elicit scorn. It covers some pretty big concepts for the pre-eye roll audience, but does it in a way they should be able to digest.

40. E. B. White " Charlotte's Web"

reading (The Maltese Falcon)

I finished "The Maltese Falcon" today. It's the first Hammett I've read. Having been exposed to film noir and various spoofs I was surprised by some aspects of the book. It seems film noir detectives have a habit of being first person, heavy on the voiceover. I was surprised to find this book written in a standard third person. The descriptions emphasis cloths, bodies, and facial expressions, that surprised me as well. Based on my experience with films of the genre, I expected more emphasis on atmosphere.

I won't give away the bits of plot that surprised me, because they might surprise you too. I'm not quite sure I get why Spade played out the endgame the way he did, could he have played it differently?

41. Dashiell Hammett "The Maltese Falcon"