Mark Pghfan’s Comments (group member since Mar 06, 2014)

Mark Pghfan’s comments from the The Parlor PI's group.

Nicole, I agree about the library business. I was very confusing regarding how people got in, especially through the windows. And Miss Barton (I think) was the one accompanying her on this excursion had me wondering if this was a clue.

I may have said this before, but there is a lot of the book left out in the DVD version. It is sad in a way, not to have a more complete adaptation of a book which is often listed as Sayers' fans favorite.

There is certainly no end to the possibilities for a perp! I found it difficult on the first read to keep all the members of the senior common room straight. This is one place where seeing the DVD helped picture all of them.

There is certainly also a lot of extraneous people: the undergraduates, the scouts, to keep track of.

Sayers seems intend to displaying her knowledge of the workings of Oxford. Its hard to know when she is leaving a clue verses just showing off!

Sorry, I've been out of it for a few days, first for a few days off, but ended up spending the last two at home with a nasty cold. Sill not perfect, but now back at work!

I'm ready for the next section.

Strong Poison is indeed the book where Lord P first meets Harriet.

As far as the Jill Paton Walsh books go, I find them quite enjoyable. Her writing style is a bit different from Sayers, but a lot closer than Sophie Hannah's is to Christies! It is also very enjoyable to see the take on the relationship between Lord P and Harriet, after their marriage, and post- Busman's Honeymoon. The most current one takes them into the 1950's.

Between the Ian Carmichael versions and the Edward Petherbridge ones, there are still three Lord Peters not yet committed to a TV adaptation. Given the popularity of the BBC and PBS attention to mysteries, I'm surprised that this subject was not brought up.

And then there are the books with Lord P and Harriet "carried on" by Jill Paton Walsh. Have any of you read any of these? There are four of them now. Also good TV adaptation material.

Petherbridge is more like Lord P physically and age-wise than Ian Carmichael, who was too old when he made the first one. On the other hand, the longer, original adaptations did more justice to the stories than the mostly shorter later ones.

Its good, but finish the book first...

Great start to the discussion. Having been a great reader of Christie for decades, I started in on Sayers just a few years ago. Honestly, the two writers are poles apart in style and plotting, but I have become totally enamored with Sayers. I've read all the books at least once, and have the BBC radio versions and the TV adaptations as well.

Note: if you are going to watch the TV adaptation with Edward Petherbridge and Harriet Walter, though good, remember that it cuts out huge portions of the book in the process.

I'm ready for Gaudy at any time! Thanks for hosting!

That's the truth!

Yes, Tina, I didn't get the point of that either. I guess trying to continue the seance mood of part of the story!

Good heavens, I'm away for a few days and all heck breaks out! First, I don't want anyone to go. We have always picked titles that some of us didn't care for and frankly, I've joined in on reading books I didn't especially want to read, just to help move our group along. Like with Tina, this group is very important to me and I've made a lot of on-line friends this way.

I am certainly in on Gaudy Night as I have re-read it recently and would love to discuss it.

As far as Glass House goes, I will look into getting it and hopefully participate there as well.

I'm still good with Gaudy Night, since I've recently re-read it anyway and am ready to go!

Nicole, you should have watched the whole thing. The first 15 minutes doesn't even scratch the surface of the blasphemy!

Tina, specially for a character that wasn't even alive in the book!

Alert! The TV version is really nothing like the book. And note the names of the reporter and the Major carefully.

SPOILERS!!




And yet the whole thing was so simple, when you think of it. The Major was a great sportsman, they had skis, we were reminded many times that it was all downhill from Sittaford to Exhampton, and that Trevelyan put in competitions in other people's names. Fair and fooled us!

I would be in for Gaudy Night. It is a longish book, so be prepared!

Yes, an awesome yet believable ending!