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

Ruth’s comments from the Reading the Detectives group.

I recently read a romance writer saying she always feels crime writers are taken more seriously than romance writers so perhaps there is a pecking order which equates to volume of sales - i.e. the more sales your genre commands, the further down the ranks you are in terms of esteem!

Susan wrote: "Our next challenge has been decided on, Lady Clementina. I will unveil it next month :) I hope everyone likes our choice - it is always a little worrying and involves a lot of discussion and changi..."

Ooh! Exciting :-)

Sandy wrote: "Ruth wrote: "Sandy wrote: "I've signed up for Kindle Unlimited and downloaded both Trouble Brewing and Merisham Lodge so will be posting to both threads (fairly) soon. After all, the first month is free...
My mental notes never work very well, so I've set up a list on GR for the books I get via KU so I will be able to analyze my use. "

Great idea! I've just realised mental notes won't work for me either as I saw a book on Kindle Unlimited earlier and have already completely forgotten what it was.....

Judy wrote: "Ruth, Trouble Brewing isn't on KU in the UK, though Merisham Lodge is - I suspect the selection here is still more limited than in the US, but quite a few books I want to read are on it even so... ...
However, I belong to Scribd at the moment and don't think I could cope with both at once! "

Yes it's easy to take on too much then get overwhelmed isn't it!

Sandy wrote: "I've signed up for Kindle Unlimited and downloaded both Trouble Brewing and Merisham Lodge so will be posting to both threads (fairly) soon. After all, the first month is free. And everyone need mo..."

I'm considering signing up for Kindle Unlimited so I'd be interested to hear how you get on Sandy. I think I'm just going to mentally note how often a book I look at on Amazon is on KU to start with.

Annabel wrote: "I must admit I didn't like the 'Bunter's wife' element of the JPW books. It felt as though JPW felt uncomfortable about the class element of the originals and wanted to give more air-time and perso..."

It's almost as if JPW wanted to explore how the old social order was collapsing so thought she would introduce a love interest for Bunter, who was her own woman and wouldn't care about social conventions, and see how all the dynamics worked. But then decided it didn't really work or would take up too much of the storyline and sort of abandoned it mid-story.

Judy wrote: "I rather liked the JPW books but it will be a very long time before I get to the Poirot sequels (if ever) as I need to read most of the originals! ..."

I rather liked the Poirot sequels by Sophie Hannah, but they bear no relation at all to the original Poirot books. The side-kick, who I would actually say is the main character, is a police detective called Edward Catchpool and Poirot is unrecognisable.

Marcus wrote: "I was wandering if there is a particular period of time to attach to GA mystery and what's the limit. Besides I was not sure that the concept also applies to books written by american authors. I th..."

I think strictly speaking it applies to the period between the 1st and 2nd World Wars, but personally I would prefer to also include writing in that style up to the 1960s.

Sandy wrote: "I think I rate lower than most and it is strictly subjective based on GR's descriptions. I feel few books meet the five stars "it was amazing" criteria. There are definitely aspects that will affec..."

Like you I tend to stop reading books that I'm not enjoying, but I know I tend towards rating too highly. I suppose I start by thinking 'Is there any reason why I shouldn't rate this a 5?' which is probably the wrong way round!

This conversation echoes something I've been pondering lately. Is it ok to rate a book as 5 stars or very good even if there is a problem with the way the plot hangs together or the solution is contrived, because you just really liked the book in spite of these things?

Do you decide on stars subjectively or do you mark down because of certain aspects?

Susan wrote: "Definitely, Judy. I have been known to buy a copy of a book just because I like the cover, but tiny type is definitely a reason (especially as advancing age means I rely on reading glasses...)."

I've got a copy of the second book in Nicola Upson's Josephine Tey series which I keep picking up to read then deciding against it just because the book had a slightly awkward feel to it. I realised yesterday that it is because it's a print-on-demand book - it's very heavy and the layout is just uncomfortable to read.

I think I'm going to have to buy a different copy of it as it is a book that I want to read. I'll have to wait til I find one in a bookshop so I can check it's ok.

I'm currently reading Death at the Dog by Joanna Cannan which is excellent. She goes into a lot of detail about the locations and houses with descriptions of clothing, furniture and accessories, and also how the war was affecting people with things like the blackout. This is the sort of detail someone writing now will often put into a Golden Age style crime novel but you don't always find in contemporary writing which really sets the book in its period at the beginning of the war, which was when she wrote it.

The only problem now is that I'd love to read more of her books but they seem hard to find!

I was wondering whether there would be any more Lord Peter Wimsey books by JPW and came across this - http://www.thebookseller.com/news/new...

I can't find anything more recent than that article which was written in 2015.

Judy wrote: "Ruth wrote: "I have to say I've loved all four of these Jill Paton Walsh books - I wonder if there will be any more? I listen to them on audio and The Attenbury Emeralds is narrated by Edward Pethe..."

Probably A Presumption of Death

I have to say I've loved all four of these Jill Paton Walsh books - I wonder if there will be any more? I listen to them on audio and The Attenbury Emeralds is narrated by Edward Petherbridge who is wonderful.

I find them engrossing and love all the details of their home life and the elements of social history that she includes. I'm quite happy with them bumbling along with the story with their everyday life being included along the way.

Thanks for the warning Judy - I've just had a friend request which looks suspicious.

Yes mid-March is good for me Judy.

Sandy wrote: "I wasn't crazy about the first Marsh but read one of the later books years ago and liked it so I shouldn't give up so quickly. . ..."

I think I prefer the later ones as well, Sandy. I remember a while ago starting one of her books and not liking it at all. I hadn't looked at where it fell in the order of the books and now realise it was one of the earlier ones. I think her style changed over time.

So very sad to learn of Lynne's passing. It must have been such a shock for her husband and family. My thoughts are with them at this difficult time. I will remember her for her warmth and enthusiasm.

Learnin Curve wrote: "Just a heads up, Ruth mentioned Moon over soho in the OP. From the blurb the Ben Aaronovitch Rivers series look like they should be lovely cozy mysteries about a special unit of wizards within the ..."

The Ben Aaronovitch book was just on the edge of what I find enjoyable in crime fiction - I'm definitely more of a cosy crime sort. I haven't read the second one yet, it's there on my pile next to the sofa but I know I have to be in the right mood to start it.