Thursday, July 13, 2006

Drink and the Noir Detective

Early in V I Warshawski’s career, a lot of people objected, loudly, to her drinking. One reader said when she came to a passage where V I got home from a hard day’s detecting and poured herself a whisky, she threw the book across the room hard enough to break its spine. Others weren't quite as violent, but they certainly didn’t think a woman should drink hard liquor. The occasional sip of chardonnay was okay, but not whisky—that’s a man’s drink.
Indeed, the great Fathers of the American hardboiled novel, Chandler and Hammett, were great drinkers, both on and off the page. Marlowe, in fact, kept a bottle of rye in his glove compartment for just those moments when he’d been knocked cold and needed a revivifying drink on gaining consciousness. He and his creator drank often, but Marlowe, at least, never actually got drunk. Chandler, unfortunately, had increasing problems staying sober enough to write at the end of his life.
Hammett, similarly, was a great drinker. Nick and Nora Charles, in The Thin Man, have a little drop of something to start the day, and, in the movie version, gulp down six martinis without flinching—Myrna Loy has five at the same time to catch up with William Powell, all without wrinkling her exquisite costume.
One weekend, when Hammett was drinking with William Faulkner. Faulkner’s editor, Bennet Cerf, stopped by to check on him and mentioned that he was dining that night at the Knopfs, along with Willa Cather. Miffed that they hadn’t been included—Blanche Knopf was Hammett’s editor—the two bullied Cerf into getting them an invitation. When they arrived that night at the mansion, Hammett and Faulkner promptly passed out. The staff were able to revive Faulkner and prop him up at the table, but Hammett they had to carry out to a taxi to take him back to his apartment.
Nowadays, when writers get together, they sip chardonnay. At a recent crime writers dinner, we all boldly ordered martinis—and then most of us, men included, took a sip and retreated to wine or even water.
When I first created V I, I gave her my own Scotch, Johnny Walker Black. As the years have gone by, I find myself able to drink less and less—a glass of wine with dinner is my sorry limit. Without realizing it, I’ve cut back V I’s rations as well. A reader recently wrote to complain that V I Warshawski—wasn’t drinking enough. I’m going to up the girl detective’s intake—she works hard, she’s fitter than I am, tougher in every way—I’m going to give her back her whisky bottle. But she will remain, as she always has been, a careful drinker: she doesn’t drink and drive, and when she’s hit on the head, she always has a hot sweet drink, sans booze. I worry that while this makes her more credible as a person, though, it sadly diminishes her noir credentials.

29 comments:

Anonymous said...

Speaking as a Scotch girl myself, although my preferences are Glenlivet, Macallan's and Famous Grouse Single Malt (and God help anyone who profanes them with water, mixers or ice!), a noir detective is nothing without a good, stiff drink.
I'm a big V.I. fan and discovered the joys of Hammett, Chandler, Cain and Woolrich at the age of 20. Part of their appeal is the hard-living aspect, which includes their drink of choice.
Thanks for bringing V.I. back in the Highland fold; she'll be a much happier woman with the occasional nip.
And thanks for this wonderful site. It's one of my first stops in my cyber-day.

Kevin Guilfoile said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
spookycatz said...

Hi Sara,

You are one of my favorite writers.

It was your Truth, lies and duct tape that made me begin to think about what is going on in this country. That was several years ago. It was a turning point for me.

I love reading V I and can't wait until she takes me on her next adventure!

All the best to you always,

Spooky
=^..^=

Kevin Guilfoile said...

[previous post deleted because of embarrassing typo]

I'm a wine (and occasional beer) guy myself but for some reason I made the main character in my first novel drink The Macallan. I don't know if this has happened with you and JW Black, Sara, but it seems that on every occasion in the last year--dinner parties, birthdays, Christmas--somebody brings me a bottle of it. I'm delighted when that happens because it shows that the person read my book and put some clever thought into the gift, but now I'm also pushing 18-year-old Scotch on the dude who comes to install kitchen blinds.

Lesson learned: When choosing a signature drink for your protagonist, pick something you like and make it the good stuff.

JD Rhoades said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
JD Rhoades said...

At a recent crime writers dinner, we all boldly ordered martinis—and then most of us, men included, took a sip and retreated to wine or even water.

You need to widen your circle of friends, darlin'.

Look me up when/if you get to Bouchercon.

Sean Chercover said...

Yowza. Dusty, you old dog, you.

I always loved VI's approach to drink. She never struck me as a 'female answer' to the male PIs who drink. She just struck me as an authentic woman who drinks. I'm glad she'll be hitting the bottle (at least, moderately) once again.

Kevin...The Macallan is a pretty high bar to set (especially the 18-year-old). Nice choice.

I first wrote my protag as a rum drinker. He spent his formative drinking years on the south coast of Georgia, drinking with fishermen...and men of the ocean drink rum. Then, I was warned that he had to be a bourbon drinker - big city PI, and all that - so I changed him. But during revisions, I changed him back. I know some folks see "rum" and think Pina Coladas and little pink umbrellas, but they don't know nothin'.

In fact, although my protag drinks rum first and foremost, during the course of the book he also drinks vodka, bourbon, red wine and beer. Like most of us who drink, his answer to, "What do you drink?" would be, "Whaddaya got?"

JD Rhoades said...

I know some folks see "rum" and think Pina Coladas and little pink umbrellas, but they don't know nothin'.

Damn skippy. Of course, 'til I met Bob Morris (Bahamarama, Jamaica Me Dead), I thought the only thing to do with rum was mix it with Coca-Cola. I learned better.

Anonymous said...

V.I. being one of my absolute all time favourites, I was always in awe of her whisky-drinking, because to me whisky tastes like something you polish furniture with. Her stiff drinks certainly didn't make me want to toss the book in the wall or anywhere else, I just admired her humbly.

According to critics I am not exactly writing crime blanche, if there is such a thing, but my first attempts seemed a bit odd even to me. Except for the hideous crimes, you do tend to write from your own daily experience, right? Well, when I took a closer look at my writing, I found that nobody, good or bad, either lied, drank or smoked. This, I realized, was not right. I have since bettered my ways, and now I am so deep into my characters, I can literally feel when one of them - male or female - needs a smoke or a tall drink. Or enjoy lying just for the purpose of controling somebody else.

Annika

Anonymous said...

I cam across V.I about 10 years ago when the 1st 3 books were grouped together as one.
I disappeared after those 3 books as I just didn't have time to read, but recently returned and have almosted completed "Blood Shot".
it funny reading these messages since V.I is drinking a fair bit and mixing it with Peanut Butter in this story, but I didn't put me off the book, as I just accept it as part of the character.

Anonymous said...

Hello, greetings from Poland. My first meeting with V.I. happens when my mother brings 'Dead-lock' from city library. I was 13-14-years-old.I wasn't thinking about drinks stronger then strong tea. But I learned to drink good alcohols-they are expensive but:primo-you drink less, secundo-you are stylish:)- even if you are veterinary student.
V.I. is my favorite female character, well, maybe in company of Anne Shirley.
Excuse me my english, cause I learn it only from from crime fiction and movies:)

David Terrenoire said...

My research took me to DC where I had the good chance to meet a woman who skipped about the Mass Ave social circles in '41, when the story takes place.

I asked her what young women of the day drank and she said, without a blink, "Gin."

"As in a gin fizz?"

"Martini," she said. "It was the only drink for a young lady."

They don't make 'em like that today.

Marcus Sakey said...

Hmmm...The characters in my first book drink Jameson, which I certainly wouldn't mind receiving bottles of. But had I realized that would be a trend, they somehow would have been blue-collar Irish drinkers of top-shelf bourbon.

Anyone eager to buy me booze, take note. ;)

Anonymous said...

Marcus-
If you are heading for Bouchercon 2008 in Baltimore, there'll be a Jamison on me, waiting for you! I'm a Marylander (currently living in Colorado) and figured it will be the perfect 1st convention for me. Crabcakes here I come!

Allison Brennan said...

My characters drink what suits them. Some drink beer. Some drink wine. Some drink scotch.

For me, I've definitely cut back as I've aged. Having kids does that to people. I prefer red wine, either Merlot or a Cabernet. In summer when it's hot, a cold beer, preferably from the brewery in town.

Anonymous said...

Real Authors drink scotch, right? They don't do like me, munch chocolate by the computer....? That image doesn't do it for you, does it...? OK, no glamour there...

Sara Paretsky said...

I know, AB, I know..Drinkers, problem drinkers especially, are romantic troubled figures; those of us found headfirst in a hot fudge sundae are ridiculous.

Anonymous said...

Great essay, perfect weekend reading.

Don't forget Cutty Sark, my favorite hardboiled drink and the drink of many Haruki Murakami protagonists.

Most importantly, it's the only scotch a starving writer or private dick can afford...

Marcus Sakey said...

Hey D.A.,

I'm sure I'll be there--I intend to keep going to Bouchercon till they start kicking me out. Thanks for the offer of a drink. Don't think I won't remember just because it's two years away. ;)

Anonymous said...

Dear Sara, that's it, and gender is also in the way of transforming into a romantically tragic literary genius. I've often wondered whether I should become the female equivalent of Bukowski - old, unshowered, cursing, drinking and beating my spouse. Would young females talk about me in awe then? Would young men burn with desire to share my life and bed, pick me up from the floor, keep me alive and serve my talent?

Guess not. To be a tragic woman of stature you must start coughing or at least live alone and virtuous, like Emily Dickinson. Failing all of the above, I'll just stick to chocolate...

Anonymous said...

I agree with Allison -- whatever suits the character. My main char drinks scotch. And probably bec that was my first official drink -- 'have scotch, Jeanne, it won't give you a hangover' . Uh-huh. (my father was horrified: 'only alcoholics and drunkards drink scotch!')
Can't drink that much anymore. Getting old or something. Beer puts me to sleep. My characters have the stamina ...

Jeanne

Anonymous said...

Marcus, we've gotta make sure you don't have to wait until the 2008 Bcon for Jameson. But I'm sure it will be flowing at the bar in Madison.

Debi said...

It seems bizarre to me that people might object to the recreational habits of a FICTIONAL character! We're not writing role models here ... so I guess that sort of response says more about the reader and their issues with alcohol.
The characters in my books drink little but do a lot of Class B drugs. Are we only supposed to write about people who are clean-living upright 'good citizens'? (Whoever they are - I don't know any myself!)
Anyway, great new blog. I've added you on my links.

Chris said...

Marcus,
Your predilection for top-shelf bourbon is duly noted. If ever you get the chance, pick up a bottle of Michter's Unblended American Whiskey. It's technically not a bourbon, but damn if it isn't the best American whiskey around.
Cheers,
Chris

Jenny Davidson said...

Yes, very good essay!

Dorothy L. Sayers famously regretted having given Lord Peter his wine-connoisseur chops--she didn't like wine much herself, preferred lemonade and was highly vexed when people brought out their most valuable wines & cigars & such & pressed them on her thinking she would of course enjoy them.

Anonymous said...

V I's an awesome character! I don't care what she drinks or even if she drinks. To me, her attitude's her attitude; her drinking isn't her attitude. It just may be a reflection of her attitude sometimes.

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Private Detective said...

It is Truth, lies and duct tape that made me think about what is going on in this country.

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