Ruth’s Comments (group member since Oct 06, 2015)

Ruth’s comments from the Reading the Detectives group.

Thanks for that info Judy - I'd actually just set the recorder for the 2.50am repeat not realising it was signed. So I've reset it just in time!

Judy wrote: "My local libraries have loads of Marsh books available on Overdrive. I'm just starting the second Alleyn book, Enter a Murderer, and was surprised to see a cryptic note by the author ..."

Our library also had lots of Ngaio Marsh on Overdrive e-audiobooks. But they changed the format of the audio they offer and all the Marsh disappeared - I was very disappointed as I was working my way through them at the time.

A non-crime suggestion. Some of Elizabeth Goudge's books are set in the Channel Islands.

Back to crime - Elly Griffiths for Norfolk.

William wrote: "Ruth wrote: "I'm usually listening to an audiobook at the same time as reading another in paperback. At the moment I'm reading a book set around present day St Martin's Lane in London while listeni..."

Thanks William - I'll certainly look out for that one.

Susan wrote: "A light series that I have always enjoyed is Simon's Brett's Fethering mysteries. The Body on the Beach is the first one - I am not sure if it is on audio though. ..."

I've been listening to some of the later books in this series and thought I might go back and start at the beginning. The only option for audio that I found for the first book was to borrow the CDs from the library.

I'm regularly finding that there is a book missing from a series on Audible.

Susan wrote: "Maybe, but the audio versions of Agatha Raisin are SO good and she captures Agatha's character so well. She has that nosy, busy body attitude down so perfectly - Agatha has a little Margot in her I..."

They softened the character considerably for the TV series didn't they.

I really enjoyed them too.

Harper Collins have been posting an audio version of After the Funeral on Sound Cloud in installments over the past few weeks. As there's only one more installment to post now, I thought I'd make a start on it this morning and discovered that it starts off with a really interesting interview with Sophie Hannah.

She talks about various aspect of the way Agatha Christie develops her plots, and also how she came discover her when she was a child.

I enjoyed Malice in Wonderland by Nicholas Blake. This is one of his Nigel Strangeways novels which is set in a holiday camp.

Judy wrote: " Carol ♔ Type, Oh Queen! ♔ wrote: "Are we allowed to say comfort movies/TV programmes?""

Musical films are definitely at the top of my list of things to cheer me up! Although I haven't seen one for years, Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy films were always my favourites!

On the telly I blush to reveal it's Midsomer Murders....

Carol ♔ Type, Oh Queen! ♔ wrote: "Susan wrote: "Carol, Miss Happiness and Miss Flower was also one of my childhood favourites. It was re-published a couple of years ago in hardback and I brought it (and others by Rumer Godden) for ..."

I used to have a very battered copy of The Dolls' House which I read often as a child. I still have a tiny wooden doll like Tottie. I always enjoyed a good cry over it though because it's very sad.

My favourite comfort books are The Eliots of Damerosehay: The Bird in the Tree + Pilgrim's Inn + The Heart of the Family by Elizabeth Goudge and any of the Melendy Family stories by Elizabeth Enright

They are all books that are very familiar to me as I re-read them often, so I can lose myself in a different world.

Susan wrote: " I am sure everything will work out on both sides of the Pond. ..."

When in doubt, read a book.....

I don't think I've ever read this one. Has anyone else read this short story collection?

I had high hopes of the Tommy and Tuppence series, but although I enjoyed the first couple of episodes it didn't live up to expectations for me overall.

I suppose the T&T stories are more thrillers than detective stories but I just felt there was a bit too much running around and not enough plot.

Yes I'd love a Miss Marple read.

Susan wrote: "I am reading The Cold Calling

It is an early Phil Rickman, originally published under another name. I have only read one book by Rickman befor..."

I've read most of Phil Rickman's books but have stalled on the last few Merrily Watkins titles. My favourites are the stand alone novels and the two Marco teen novels originally published under the name Thom Madley

Sandy wrote: "Fifty years ago, applying for my first job, I was asked if I had a boy friend. They did not want to train me if I was going to leave to have children."

I had a similar conversation when I applied for a job in the Seventies. The employer started asking me if I had a steady boyfriend and if I thought we'd settle down and start a family. I thought it was a bit strange at the time and it only occurred to me later what he was getting at.

Assumptions were made by society even in the 1970s and equal opportunities legislation was very sketchy at that point. I didn't get that job but went into the Civil Service where men were routinely promoted into supervisory roles over women who had been there far longer.

I recently signed up to a site called ereaderiq which lets you know if books on your wish list or by certain authors drop in price on Amazon Kindle.

I got an email this morning to say that books in Kate Charles's Book of Psalms series were reduced to £1.99 - so I've bought the ones that I'm missing and I'm set to read the whole series!

Susan wrote: "The discussions will remain open, Carol, so join in as - and when - you wish :)"

That's good to know Susan - I've fallen behind somewhat but hoping to catch up later in the year.

HJ wrote: "I can just about see why it might be considered desirable to update names and scenarios which are so out of date that modern children wouldn't understand them. But what justification can there be for making Nancy less independent and adventurous? And dumbing down "complex sentence structures and good vocabulary" misses the whole point of good children's books; reading them, gripped by the adventure and the story, is how our language skills were improved without our even realising it..."

And they wouldn't dream of doing it with adult classic books like Jane Austen and Charles Dickens! Yes I know there are modern versions but they don't replace the originals. Can you imagine them 'updating' Tom Sawyer or The Secret Garden to make it more 'accessible'! I suppose the franchise wants to continue producing new material for today's young readers and so feels it's better to update the whole series. Thank goodness for secondhand bookshops!