The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M. Cain

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Crime and Drama in California

Do you believe in love at first sight?  Frank and Cora did. The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M. Cain is about a couple who instantly fall in love, tainted with a hearty dose of brutal lust.  He’s a drifter and she’s married to the owner of a roadside diner. They start a passionate and violent affair where bitings and beatings are all part of the fun. It isn’t long before they plan to take out Cora’s husband and then the fun really gets rolling.  Their quest brings them down a windy road with twists and turns around every corner. 

This crime novel was first published in 1934.  It is narrated in a “hard-boiled” roman noir voice where there’s some cheesy fast talk, punctuated with vintage exclamations like “swell, by golly, and grand.”  When it was first written, the violence and sexual heat caused quite a stir.  Offended Bostonians banned the book. But despite, or more likely because of the notoriety, this book has been popular for eight decades. There have been numerous film adaptations.  It’s a fast-paced, short book with only 87 pages in my version. 

See what all the fuss is about and make up your own mind as to what the title means since there is no postman in the book. 

Happy Reading,
Annette


Comments

Anonymous said…
I have always wanted to read this book and then forget about it. Thank you for bringing the interest back for me. Can't wait to read it.
December 15, 2014 at 9:10 AM
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