Too Many Women - comments and opinions? Warning -Spolilers

ConversazioniThe Black Orchid (A Nero Wolfe Group)

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Too Many Women - comments and opinions? Warning -Spolilers

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1wormread
Giu 28, 2007, 2:47 am

I have just finished reading Too Many Women and although it wasn't the strongest of the books it was still a very enjoyable read. Has anyone else read it? What did you think of it?

Archie was in heaven in that building full of women. Mr Goodwin puts it perfectly himself " One good glance and I liked the job. The girls. All right there, all being paid to stay right there, and me being paid to move freely about and converse with any one whoever, which was down in black and white. Probably after I had been there a couple of years I would find that the close-ups revealed inferior individual specimens. Grade B or lower in age, contours, skin quality, voice or level of intellect, but from where I stood at nine-fifty-two Wednesday morning it was enough to take your breath away. At least half a thousand of them and the general and overwhelming impression was of - clean, young, healthy, friendly, spirited, beautiful and ready. I stood and filled my eyes, trying to look detached. It was an ocean of opportunity."

The mystery is a little on the basic side in this book but a good romp even so.

2quartzite
Giu 28, 2007, 1:36 pm

It is a great book for Archie.

3wormread
Giu 28, 2007, 2:36 pm

Yes, he certainly is the main man in this one. He gets almost the entire book to himself.

4etrainer
Lug 2, 2007, 4:17 am

I found Archie's use of the term 'personnel unit' amusing.

Was the 'coolness' between Archie and Wolfe more pronounced here than in other books when they were on the outs? It seemed that way to me, but my memory of the other stories is not always the greatest.

5wormread
Lug 2, 2007, 12:48 pm

I think you are right. The 'coolness' is more pronounced but I think that is because it is the reason why Archie suggests going undercover.

6AdonisGuilfoyle
Set 27, 2007, 4:55 am

I'm re-reading this now, it's one of my 'underdog' favourites. I didn't find the 'coolness' especially pronounced - wasn't it over the purchase of a new car, like Archie is some sort of pet, and a new typewriter? - but Wolfe does apologise of sorts later in the story, by way of defending Archie before Cramer.

The only thing that bothers me is the name of the first corpse - Waldo Moore. He was supposed to be some kind of lady killer, charming women into wanting to marry him and hooking an older admirer, but he's called 'Waldo', for heaven's sake! Even the pet form, Wally, is ridiculous. I know this book was set in another generation, but I just can't take this character's reputation seriously.

Other than that, enjoying the Archie exposure - what was all that in the booth at Rusterman's? Is this the same proud prude as in all the other books? And I rather wanted him to take it further with Cecily Pine ... ;)

7etrainer
Set 27, 2007, 5:06 pm

I just read this one a few months ago but didn't remember the name Wald0! Ha! I agree with AG, it would be hard to believe that Waldo was a lady killer.