WOAFT! Last Thursday I got my Amazon Kindle delivered. A few days earlier than Amazon had indicated, I might add. It is a is a belated belated wedding present from my wifey. And before you go blabbing “Oh that’s terrible, Mario has been married for 2 months now”, I need to point out that it was my fault. I didn’t know what I wanted, and by the time I had made up my mind on this badboy there was already a sodding three week waiting list on it. But have no fear. My wait is over – this thing is the bees-knees.

The Big Sleep

If you don’t know already (I’m surprised how many people look at my Kindle with a ‘What-the-fuck-is-that?’ face) the Kindle is an eInk ebook reader. You can download books from Amazon’s library straight to your device and begin reading instantly. Right up my tech-appreciation avenue.

It’s not just me that seems to be liking it though. I’ve taken it into work and as a result there is already a buzz about it. Another workmate has already ordered one based on seeing it in action and there are two other ladies, maybe three (you know who you are) who have indicated their desire to order one.

Don’t get me wrong, I totally get the argument “Nothing beats having a book in your hand and having it on your shelf”, but I thought long and hard about that and decided that the good far outweighs the bad.

So, as I alluded to in my last blog post, I’ve had to change the order I read the books in. Makes more sense for me. I should have went onto W.G Sebold’s Austerlitz but this, or A Heartbreaking work of Staggering Genius which is after that, ain’t in the Kindle store yet. So as soon as they come available I’ll go back to them.

Brucie doin’ a Phil Marlowe

The next one I could read on the Kindle was The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler so that had the privilege of being my first purchase.

This book is a wee gem. I really enjoyed it.

It’s a very complex detective story set in LA. There is loads going on, to the point where sometimes I found myself writing characters names down get their relationships with each other into my thick skull. Multiple crimes and characters criss-crossing along a path where Philip Marlowe is always one step ahead of both you and the characters within. This was refreshing for me as all books prior to this have been relatively linear stories.

It wasn’t just the story I enjoyed on this one though. I actually found myself appreciating the way it was written. The tone kinda reminded me of Max Payne and Sin City. I suppose, since this book was published in 1939, these were actually influenced by Raymond Chandler and not the other way around.

A good start to the Kindle experience. Big up to Steve for the recommendation in the comments on this post.

Rating:

I’m moving onto One Fine Day In the Middle of the Night by Christopher Brookmyre now.