Being neither a writer nor a musician, but a lawyer, my mind was a bit boggled by the "intend" conversation. (In law, "intend" is used most often in the context of "crime of intent," meaning a crime the perpetrator has committed on purpose: as in, intended to murder someone, as opposed to being carelessly homicidal.)
So, I turned to the online dictionary for a more general meaning of "intend," and voila:
to have in mind; plan
to design for a particular purpose.
Intent, then, differs from motive. We may not be aware of all our motives, but, by definition, we are either conscious of our intent, or we don't actually intend it! ]]>
I enthusiastically second the nominations of Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil, April 1865 and Nickel & Dimed.
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Another mystery fan here. To the lists above, I'd add Martha Grimes (the earlier the book, the better, IMO), PD James and Tony Hillerman, whose detectives are members of the Navajo Tribal Police. ]]>
Whaitaker, I began a re-read over the Thanksgiving holiday and, as usual, am mid-book as the CR discussion begins. I first read it not long after it came out here in the US, and found it a bit tedious (all that Latin!) and more work than I was up for.
This time through, my mind no more interested in metaphysical debate than it was 20-something years ago, I am reading it for the humor. Like Libyrinths, I find it a lot of fun.
That said, I'm eager to read discussions from those willing to think harder and deeper than I! ]]>
Regarding the different receptions for Madoff & VM: timing is everything! You note the contrast between those who lost some of their fortune, vs. the many who suffered far more grievous losses during the war. Whereas Madoff's victims' losses were similar to those many people were (and are) feeling: loss of savings, devaluation of property, etc. And Madoff became a symbol of the "them" who caused the economic collapse.
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bookshelves: mysteries
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
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bookshelves: mysteries
Lots of period detail, well-researched, and lots of stock characters, from the dashing, clever, tormented hero who investigates the murder(s) to the victim, a young girl "of easy virtue" with the requisite heart of gold. The plot had a few twists and turns, but the cliched writing style took the joy out of it for me. Granted, I did not solve the murder in advance. Nor did I particularly care who did it.
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Mary Ellen
read and liked
Meagan's
review of What Angels Fear: A Sebastian St. Cyr Mystery (Sebastian St. Cyr, #1):
"I enjoyed this book more than the other mysteries I have read lately mostly because I enjoyed the flow of the author's style of writing. I did, however, feel that there was a little too much emphasis on the gruesome details of the murder/rape, along...more "
"I enjoyed this book more than the other mysteries I have read lately mostly because I enjoyed the flow of the author's style of writing. I did, however, feel that there was a little too much emphasis on the gruesome details of the murder/rape, along...more "