Reading Charlie Chan

Just wanted to remind everyone that the six original Charlie Chan books by Earl Derr Biggers are available in beautiful trade paperbacks published by Academy Chicago Publishers.

I love it when a publisher makes an effort to package books in well designed editions. I'm also extremely fond of 'trade' paperbacks. They fit well in the hand no matter if you're sitting in a rocking chair, lying in a hammock, or just in bed, leaning back among a bunch of pillows. The type is usually just the right size, too. If it were up to me, outside of hardcovers, ALL books would also be published in 'trade' size.

For those of you who only know Charlie Chan from the films of the thirties and forties, take a look at these books. Even if they might seem a bit dated (especially in their view of Asian-Americans), they are still well written enough - Inspector Chan is never presented as less than a dignified, intelligent detective. But then, I enjoy being taken back to times and places that no longer exist especially when there's a crime to be solved and a savy detective to pal around with.