In retrospect, starting with the first book during the Christmas/New Year holiday was probably not the best idea. I have promised my thoughts, however, so thoughts I will deliver.

I cracked open The Thin Man for the first time, and somewhere within the first two pages... it hooked me. There's something so effortless about Hammett's development of Nick Charles. Almost immediately, you get a sense of who this man is. He is slightly jaded (but not bitter), intelligent, clever, sarcastic, genuine. Hammett manages to convey this within just the first handful of paragraphs.

I love the dynamics of the relationship between Nick and Nora. They take verbal jabs at each other and throw accusations out at random intervals, but it's with such comfort and security that it becomes endearing.

I do find it interesting that the solution for most stressful or uncomfortable situations is to have a drink. This applies to not only Nick and Nora, but their friends and acquaintances as well. It could be completely insignificant, and just indicative of the era during which it was written, but I suppose that's something I'll have to wait to find out.

48 pages down.

William Powell and Myrna Loy

as Nick and Nora Charles