Ann’s Comments (group member since Dec 20, 2013)

Ann’s comments from the CPL's Book a Week Challenge group.

I like covers that tell you something about the book: setting, mood, genre. Or that look like works of art.

I'm currently rereading J.D. Robb's In Death series, I'm up to Ceremony in Death. Next up though is Trust Me by Hank Phillippi Ryan.

My favorite book of all times, The Lord of the Rings, was once burned outside a NM church (with other books) as satanic (in 2001). Seriously? The Chronicles of Narnia was once banned for "violence, gore, and mysticism", I can't even.

Over the weekend, I read The Secret, Book, and Scone Society by Ellery Adams, and Naked in Death by J.D. Robb. I am currently reading Glory in Death by J.D. Robb and The Jazz of Physics by Stephon Alexander.

I've read Murder on the Orient Express, Murder at the Vicarage, and The Body in the Library; and I've seen many more through PBS, and the newest movie version of Murder on the Orient Express. Based in part on the movies, my favorites are the Marple books, although I think I might prefer Kenneth Branagh to David Suchet's Poirot.

I have The Hobbit and The Hound of the Baskervilles, both in French. I keep hoping that my French will somehow improve enough for me to read them. Without my actually working on my French.

I've finished The Scarlet Pimpernel, The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Toucan Keep a Secret by Donna Andrews, and Four Funerals and Maybe a Wedding by Rhys Bowen. Next up is Death Below Stairs by Jennifer Ashley and The Prisoner in the Castle by Susan Elia MacNeal.

I enjoyed the book, and thought it was interesting. The heroine left a bit to be desired. The adventure was fun, though.
Lauren Willig has written a series of mysteries, based loosely on the plot of The Scarlet Pimpernel. The first is called The Secret History of the Pink Carnation, a group of English gentleman take over for the Pimpernel now that he has been unmasked and forced into retirement. Fun series, but it probably affected my opinion of the original, having read most of her series first.

Over the weekend I finished On Her Majesty's Frightfully Secret Service by Rhys Bowen, and am now reading The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare, The Scarlet Pimpernel, and The Prisoner in the Castle by Susan Elia MacNeal. I've also got a bunch of nonfiction I want to read.

I'd love to have the magical creatures in Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar books: a Companion, a bond bird, a Kyree (the not dog), and maybe a griffon or two.

I love Shakespeare, and at one point considered becoming a Shakespeare scholar (grad school the 1st time). I'm currently obsessed with musical theater, I'm jonesing to go to NY and see Frozen.
I spent a semester as an undergrad in London, and saw Vanessa Redgrave in Henrik Ibsen's Ghost, and Derek Jacobi in Breaking the Code (about Alan Turing). The highlight was watching Fair Maid of the West at the RSC, with a very young, very cute Sean Bean running right past me.

I've got a whole list of books I'm waiting for. :)
But the ones I'm really looking forward to are The Corpse at the Crystal Palace by Carola Dunn, 4 Funerals and Maybe a Wedding by Rhys Bowen, and The Prisoner in the Castle by Susan Elia MacNeal.

"I say, that was terribly rude. You must, that is- I am speaking to Miss Veronica Speedwell, am I not?"

Not counting the mysteries, I think my favorite would be The Graves are Walking: The Great Famine and the Saga of the Irish People. Definitely a book to make you think (and really, really tick you off). The other nonfiction I've read have been very informative as well.

Lepidopterist solves crimes.

I signed up!

I signed up as soon as we could. :)

I'm currently rereading The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King, having read the latest in the series (The Island of the Mad). Awesome series, fascinating characters (and not just Sherlock Holmes- Mary Russell, our narrator, is equal to Holmes.

I prefer fictional crime, but will read true crime if it's a good story: for example, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. The same with the histories I read.

I just finished Murder on Union Square by Victoria Thompson, and am now reading Crowned and Dangerous by Rhys Bowen. I'm waiting for Island of the Mad by Laurie R. King (June 12), and The Prisoner in the Castle by Susan Elia MacNeal (Aug 7). All of them are awesome series.