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Dee, the Insanity Check
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Aug 13, 2013 11:26AM
yes, how dare work distract you from your reading...
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Dee wrote: "yes, how dare work distract you from your reading..."I AGREE! Try telling them that. That is ok...I am herstory for the day in 1/2 hour.
Hi all! I just found this group & joined. I have been finding myself drawn more & more to Nordic mystery authors the past year & am currently reading Snow Angels by James Thompson. Am really enjoying the book but don't think I could take living in northern Finland!
Welcome Jacquelyn! I agree. Love Jim's writing, but Finland would def. be out for me! I complain about the winters in IL!
and boy does she ever complain ;)Jim was my intro to NN (aside from Larson) and it was a random book pick-up at the library. He's a member of the group - so if you have any questions, they may get answered
Thanks for linking to BAD BLOOD. My library recently ordered this, and I'm on the list. Really enjoyed MISTERIOSO, so I'm looking forward to this one.
Richard wrote: "Thanks for linking to BAD BLOOD. My library recently ordered this, and I'm on the list. Really enjoyed MISTERIOSO, so I'm looking forward to this one."
Can't wait to see what you think of it. I only gave it 3 stars. It was kind of dry.
Oh wait, I did listen to The Healer (above, #84). Pretty good, and quite a consistent pronunciation (i.e. not as irritating with accents and names as any book that originally was in or was located in Denmark). Maybe not that noir, but a decent read/listen.Some books do translate much better than the others. But it's often also depending on the audience. So many Nordic (at least Finnish) books would not translate well because they have so much unsaid baggage. A local reader would understand "Matti and Maija went to sauna because it was Saturday", (the connection between sauna and Saturday in this case) any many many similar examples. The local readers don't need further explanations, but for anyone not grown inside the culture an explanation would often be needed. What's fascinating to me is how some series and books translate so well; Henning Mankell, Jo Nesbø, Karin Fossum, Åke Edwardsson... everything is contained. You don't NEED to know everything to enjoy your journey. But take a Finnish author (other than Jim), and it's awkward. At least any that I've read in original I've noticed would usually be untranslatable because you would have to break it, to explain... or just leave things out and let the reader wonder. Indridason is brilliant in his explaining all the small and bizarre details, but I'm wondering how even those are in the original. I've read one Indridason in Finnish a few years back, and I found it much harder as it seemed many "boring cultural tidbits" were perhaps removed. Perhaps the assumption was a reader there would be supposed to know, yet I'm quite a virgin for what comes to anything Icelandic.
Sometimes adding some small details or explaining a bit better may be needed for a better enjoyment and understanding of a book. But if some details are not there to start with, adding them there is breaking it.
I'd love to be able to read Swedish or Norwegian in original to see if there's anything that needed to be added later. Or maybe also wait to see if we can get some more ideas by some good translators here.. ^_^
While he wasn't a Nordic writer, I'd still think (hope) he influenced some of them; Elmore Leonard. He died today. RIP.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/21/boo...
His 10 point writing guide
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/07/16/art...
i have it checked out of the library but holding it for a challenge starting sep 1
FINALLY getting to read Eve's Eye, but only like 40 pages a night d/t other commitments!! I hate putting it down every night.
I read it, catches you up on her characters since it is her first book. Poor planing on her publisher.
Found it kind of strange, the going backwards for us readers. Someone who is grown up is now a baby in this book.
that's part of the reason i never read past Don't Look Back - kept hoping that the first one would come out
Currently reading a very different well written, first book by Hannah Kent, Burial Rites set in 1829 Iceland. She is a GRs author and it is quite a good read. I am about 3/4 along.....life in that climate in those times was hard. Very for a woman on her own. Good old religion or some folks idea of it, plays a role.....naturally!
Naomi wrote: "Richard wrote: "Thanks for linking to BAD BLOOD. My library recently ordered this, and I'm on the list. Really enjoyed MISTERIOSO, so I'm looking forward to this one."
Can't wait to see what you..."
I finished up BAD BLOOD over Labor Day weekend and enjoyed it enough to rate it 4 stars. Very uneven work, I didn't find any particularly slow spots, though. As in MISTERIOSO, I was bothered by the translation at times. At least I think it was the translation, it could be as written, in which case Dahl lost me. this was written in the late 1990's so all the airport stuff needs to be read with that in mind.
I missed the jazz references and enjoyment of the first novel. Also, referring to Kentucky as being in the Midwest put off this Virginia boy. I did appreciate the pop culture stuff such as the Pink Panther references, and I enjoyed all the plot twists, so I'm glad I read it and look forward to more.
just finished up Eva's Eye: An Inspector Sejer Mystery - ohhh boy, I liked it - i'll have to get a review for it up soon ;) and I liked the fact that the case at the very end that is mentioned is the one that features in the next book in the series
Reading The Bat (Nesbo). Would love to hear some comments about it.
I loved Nesbø's The Bat. Awesome to meet as fresh a Harry as one could ever imagine... I also loved the second one, Cockroaches, although I don't believe that one has been trasnlated in English yet.
Also just started "A Treacherous Paradise"by my beloved Henning Mankell. Would love to hear comments on Mankell's book too.
Naomi wrote: "I am really enjoying Lifetime by Liza Marklund. Not sure if it can be read as a stand alone. My initial reaction has been no, but it is really good without me reading all the books in the series. I..."I have enjoyed all her books...and read them in the wrong order too...went backwards! Looking forward to her next one.
I am well impressed by Helene Tursten's first book, Detective Inspector Huss. It is a very strong and focussed example of a police procedural, with sufficient drama without turning into a thriller, and sufficient psychology without completely getting swamped in it and losing the crispness of a good procedural, as some of the writers do, and it also has a great sub-plot about sexism in police work. I am so glad to see she has written a good few more as I was wondering what I would do when I had finished Sjowall-Wahloo, Wallander, Indridassur and Nesser, who I find the best so far. Nesbo is great but each one is bigger and scarier than the last and I sometimes can't quite face it!
Nothing wrong with writing a riveting yarn like Nesbo or a psychology based narrative like Fossum and Kallentoft but I do love to relax with one that stays within Sjowall-Wahloo's classic formula.
Elizabeth wrote: "Also just started "A Treacherous Paradise"by my beloved Henning Mankell. Would love to hear comments on Mankell's book too."ME TOO. A FRIEND HIGHLY RECOMMENDS IT AND I DID LIKE WALLANDER.
I am reading Kjell Eriksson's The Princess of Burundi now, and it is a very good example of NN, with a good team of detectives, including Ann Lindell (Eriksson's usual main focus) who is currently on maternity leave but itching to get involved again.But this isn't the first Ann Lindell story. It seems that the first few have not yet been translated, does anyone know why? Are they coming? Are they known to be good books? I like to start at the beginning with a new detective, and see what happened to Ann in her relationships etc.
Elizabeth wrote: "Reading The Bat (Nesbo). Would love to hear some comments about it."Everything happens to poor Harry. His close colleagues and friends seem to have a particularly short life-span. This guy has all the bad luck. It's an incredibly dramatic story, with Harry you have to be prepared to go through the terrible traumas and ethical dilemmas along with him; these are thrillers as well as police procedurals. I still don't get what happened to his sister and the elevator. Do we ever get told? is it in Cockroaches?
I don't remember that being told in Cockroaches.
Anna wrote: "I don't remember that being told in Cockroaches."It's odd because in later books he has flashbacks to this terrible event which sounds like his sister died, yet the only sister ever mentioned is the one with a 'touch' of Down's syndrome who is very much alive. Was there another sister who died in the elevator? does anyone other than Jo Nesbo know the answer?
Anna wrote: "I loved Nesbø's The Bat. Awesome to meet as fresh a Harry as one could ever imagine... I also loved the second one, Cockroaches, although I don't believe that one has been trasnlated in English yet."Cockroaches won't be available until Spring 2014. I have pre-ordered it on Amazon. Nesbo's writing seemed simplistic to me in The Bat because it is so much more complex with later books. Inconsistent release of translations is confusing and frustrating for avid readers. Polics comes out mid Oct and I wish I had not read Phantom until I had it in hand.
Jus started reading
although my title says "Mercy". Been a while since ive had a Nordic fix! & this is a new author for me, heard good things.
No, there was and has been only Sis.I'll dig my Cockroaches out some day for a refresh maybe, but I don't remember her Sis playing a role in it. Cockroaches happens 90% in Thailand (so the only way there could have been would have been as a flashback).
I was left unsatisfied by Kosto ikuisessa kaupungissa that happens in Rome, so now another one to try to get at least Rome right before moving on, so The Dogs Of Rome, so far enjoying it.
Anna wrote: "No, there was and has been only Sis.I'll dig my Cockroaches out some day for a refresh maybe, but I don't remember her Sis playing a role in it. Cockroaches happens 90% in Thailand (so the only wa..."
I've enjoyed the first three Conor Fitzgerald books and saw my library now has the fourth. The Aurelio Zen novels by Michael Dibdin are similar (and written before) Fitzgerald's stories. Zen was a Masterpiece Mystery series (3 epis) and Masterpiece did to Zen what they did to Wallander in compressing the action and injecting a different love interest than the novels have. So the Zen novels are much better than TV, like Wallander.
Speaking of dogs, if anyone is interested in a series narrated by a dog that is quite good, I recommend the Chet and Bernie series from Spencer Quinn. I'm on the sixth novel and much to my surprise, the writing remains fresh and interesting. I'm not an animal fan, so I'm a bit amazed to enjoy this series as much as I do.
Spencer Quinn
Reading The Double Silence by Mari Jungstedt. Loved all her other books that I have found in english. Read one review that was not very good but hoping that is not true for me.Comments!!
Andy wrote: "Jus started reading although my title says "Mercy". Been a while since ive had a Nordic fix! & this is a new author for me, heard good things."
Yes, I have read that book and loved it. The relationship between the main detective and his assistant is funny and very educational. Also, you have started on the first book. Great. You will want to follow up this series. I have just finished the third.
I just finished my first James Thompson -Inspecter Kari Vaari - Snow Angles. Though a couple of things really annoyed me beyond belief, in the end I have to admit I enjoyed it on the whole and will most likely purchase the next book in the series and give it a second chance.
Reading Killer's Art by Jungstedt. As usual wonderful!I have read probable 6 0f her books or so it is fun to identify with the charcters on Gotland.
Listening to Blind Goddess - library had it on the new audiobooks for download list - I was underwhelmed with the other book I read by her but it was also book 8 in the series
Hey, I saw last week a category for "paranormal romance" and "vampire romance" in bookstores... Uhh. Ø_öA few books that I have started but not finished are the Dawkins autobiography (didn't want to bring it with to Minnesota and back) - my cats love sleeping on it when I try to read it, and a few very short attention span books. I think I'll finish the Dawkins and then hit the crime again.... But can't decide what I'm in the mood for. Argh!
i picked up A Darker Shade of Sweden at the bookstore over the weekend - hoping to find some new authors for us to check out in the future (or to stalk, as the case may be)
Dee wrote: "i picked up A Darker Shade of Sweden at the bookstore over the weekend - hoping to find some new authors for us to check out in the future (or to stalk, as the case may be)"Well Dee I was in the same boat as you and I had success. I found Gunnar Staalesen "Consorts of Death" A murder mystery set in Sweden. Apparently he is highly regarded and his books are just being translated. I intend reading the lot. Also Where the Devil Can't Go Loved it Anya Lipska and have already ordered his next. And finally which I just started The Disciple by Hjorth and Rosenfeldt Already enjoying it. Did I also mention Dion Meyer. Just entering retirement is a difficult time but hey, someone has to do it. Have a healthy, safe New Year everyone.
I just finished up How To Be a Good Wife, which is set in Sweden. Not a thriller, per se, but pretty good. It was very similar to a book that I read which was written in the early 1900's but with a mental illness twist.
Will be starting Joe Nesbo's latest Hole thriller today Police: A Harry Hole Novel & then onto a brand new series Spring Tide so it's a double noir fix for me next week.
Nordic Noir
Books mentioned in this topic
Police (other topics)Spring Tide (other topics)
How to Be a Good Wife (other topics)
The Fire Dance (other topics)
How to Be a Good Wife (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Spencer Quinn (other topics)Jussi Adler-Olsen (other topics)
Mons Kallentoft (other topics)
Petra Hammesfahr (other topics)
Jan Costin Wagner (other topics)
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