Published 1934
Ranked #98 of the 100 greatest novels of the 20th century by The Modern Library
An ideal novel for a "light reader" who would like to head in the direction of something a bit more highbrow. Like many modern classics, The Postman Always Rings Twice can be received on a very basic novel, the action perhaps overshadowing the true morale if this is the reader's chief focus.
An extremely sexually fuelled passionate crime novel is presented to us, with the stereotypical femme-fatale and carpe diem attitudes of our characters cleverly adapted so to not become cliché. The fiery infatuation that Cain portrays is effectively reflected through the use of shortly structured paragraphs and fluent casual language. This almost staccato style of writing gives the reader a sense of urgency and allows us to empathise with the character of Frank, who we read of as left in a terrifying limbo and agonising internal struggle.
I find the end to this novel extraordinary, a very similar scenario to James Baldwin's concluding chapter of Giovanni's Room. Haunting and traumatic, both are bound to move every reader.
One of my main praises of Cain is the way in which in minimal words, his characterisation is stunning, something a lot of shorter novels fail to achieve. In only a few pages we are presented with three characters which we may empathise with, judge, hate or love.
Why oh why have I not watched this film! Not unlike Fitzgerald's The Last Tycoon, this novel begs to be adapted for the screen. Indeed if you ask anybody of this piece of Cain's work, they will assume you are referring to the film. I need this.
4/5
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