After today’s class, my view of the book “The Glass Key” has changed completely. I have never been able to analyze a book the way we did in class today, and it was interesting to break down the true meaning behind every word that Hammett writes. The scenes came to life, more than a film ever has done. I feel that the words Hammett uses in the book are so full of imagery, so full of meaning. The play between red and white in the room where Janet and Ned Beaumont are talking, their play on words, the furniture descriptions, really got to me.
The fact that Hammett never lets us as readers get into the character’s thoughts is a great way to tell the story, because the story is pretty much based on what everyone is thinking about everyone else. We are left on the outside, making us characters in the story, trying to solve the murder. It is a genius way to write a novel.
After analyzing the book like we did in class today, I have become excited to see what else we are going to be doing during the next three weeks.