When you're not reading a mystery...

[Susan]

You are right. I have no problem with Shetland either or Doc Martin.

[Bionic Jean]

I'm afraid some actors are just lazy with their articulation, whatever their accent :(

[Bionic Jean]

Rita wrote: "Matthew McConaughy has a strong southern drawl which is probably why you had a hard time ..."

Yes, could well be! I couldn't understand much of "Steel Magnolias" and gave up on it. But if I'm motivated then I'll use the subtitles :)

[Diane]

In my job, about 95% of I do is transcription of recorded statements from people about accidents (I work for an insurance company) or reports and letters dictated by adjusters. I'm a native Texan and I can handle most American accents, including Hispanic ones. I think this is largely due to experience. I've had coworkers from Minnesota and Michigan who couldn't handle Texas accents at all. I find this odd, since I usually have no problem unless someone doesn't speak English very well. I can usually understand most British shows without any issue, but some British accents are hard for me to understand. When I watched the Beatles' "A Hard Day's Night," I had to turn the subtitles on.

[John]

The only British production I've ever had to turn on the captions to watch was one of the series Prime Suspect that took place in, I believe, Manchester? Never noticed any Gaelic in Shetland.

I believe the award for most garbled speech goes to Jennifer Jason Leigh as Dorothy Parker in Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle!

[Victoria]

...Johann Hari. The subject matter interested me but I couldn't understand half of what he said. He had a very thick British Accent and it was the author narrating his own book.

Just looked him up and I see he's from Glasgow! That would explain why you had difficulty. With apologies to any Glaswegians here, but it is quite a difficult accent to follow if you're not familiar with it. I have a Glaswegian friend, and it takes me a bit of time to 'tune in' to her accent if I haven't seen her for a while.

I had trouble understanding Mark McManus in Taggart. I also find Kenny Dalglish (footballer) difficult, but he doesn't enunciate his words very clearly.

The entertainer John Barrowman is also from Glasgow, and he uses a Scottish accent sometimes, but he's lived away from Scotland for a long time, so it's no doubt toned down a bit.

[Susan]

The Glasgow accent is very difficult. In Ireland, it's the Cork accent that is difficult.

[GeraniumCat]

Rita and John, in Shetland no one speaks Gaelic. Well, that's not quite true, as many Scottish schools teach it and they do in Shetland, despite the locals' wishes. However, Shetlanders speak Shetlandic, which is a Norse language variant, because Shetland, Orkney and Caithness on the Scottish mainland were in medieval times Norse kingdoms. Many Scots find people from these places quite hard to understand, even when they are speaking in English. In the TV series the accents did slide about a bit, though I think they mostly did a good job (and the actor who played the younger policeman - I have temporarily forgotten both actor's and character's names - is a Shetlander).

[Pamela]

In addition to mysteries, I'm interested in just plain good storytelling, whether its nonfiction on an historic event or individual, or fictional, be it literature, thriller — even occasionally science fiction. I've read Jane Austen and Geraldine Brooks, E.L. Doctorow, Jack Higgins and Doris Kearns Goodwin.

[Susan]

GeraniumCat wrote: "Rita and John, in Shetland no one speaks Gaelic. Well, that's not quite true, as many Scottish schools teach it and they do in Shetland, despite the locals' wishes. However, Shetlanders speak Shetl..."

That's quite interesting. I believe the younger detective is a native because he's the one I have the hardest time understanding. :)

[Sandy]

Pamela wrote: "In addition to mysteries, I'm interested in just plain good storytelling, whether its nonfiction on an historic event or individual, or fictional, be it literature, thriller — even occasionally sci..."

I'll second Geraldine Brooks. People of the Book is a favorite of mine.

[John]

GeraniumCat wrote: "Rita and John, in Shetland no one speaks Gaelic. Well, that's not quite true, as many Scottish schools teach it and they do in Shetland, despite the locals' wishes. However, Shetlanders speak Shetl..."

As far as I've observed, all of the dialogue among the characters is still in English, locally accented though it may be.

[Pamela]

I'll read just about anything but I'm not especially fond of romance or science fiction (although I have read a couple of good ones).

Because I was out of town and working from my kindle I've read quite a few mysteries but last month (for Black History Month) I read Beloved by Toni Morrison and Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston.

I have a special fondness as well for historic fiction/nonfiction, such as The Knife Man: Blood, Body Snatching, and the Birth of Modern Surgery by Wendy Moore and The Atomic City Girls by Janet Beard.

[Leslie]

I am currently reading Black Lamb and Grey Falcon (Rebecca West's nonfiction travel book about Yugoslavia in 1937), The Recognitions in audiobook and Italo Calvino's Italian Folktales for light relief.

[Dorothy]

Sandy wrote: "Pamela wrote: "In addition to mysteries, I'm interested in just plain good storytelling, whether its nonfiction on an historic event or individual, or fictional, be it literature, thriller — even o..."

That is a fabulous book and I have recommended it to many people.

[France-Andrée]

I have pretty eclectic taste by genres I would say historical fiction, time travel, classics especially 19th Century and a newly discovered liking for nonfiction.

Right now, I’m reading a biography of Katey Dickens (the painter Kate Perugini) who’s the daughter of my favorite author and next is a biography of Denholm Elliott who I still list as of my favorite actors of all time (and still miss, he was sooo good in Bleak House and Maurice). On the fiction front, I’m reading House of Spirits and I just started the book club here for April.

My favorite book is War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy and it’s not long enough if you ask me and to answer the critic that’s it’s too long!

[Sandy]

Rita wrote: "Right now in addition to listening to Evans Above by Rhys Bowen (the book/author will not pull this book up), I'm reading The Girl with All the Gifts which would be classified as ho..."

I've also started the Evans series by Bowen. Book #3, Evanly Choirs, was one I took out of the library on my last visit. I should have taken more.

[Adrian]

I think that my book "type" other than mysteries is an eclectic mix, but then isn't that true of most of us.. So I like SF (like many others), travelogues (ditto), books on cycling (a little different), adventure novels (quite normal), most things Greek (I am a real Hellenophile) and Chinese Classics (where did that come from ?? - well in all honestly I think it came from watching The Water Margin as a teenager , anyone else remember it ? Yes it was a similar time to Monkey )

[John]

Adrian wrote: "I think that my book "type" other than mysteries is an eclectic mix, but then isn't that true of most of us.. So I like SF (like many others), travelogues (ditto), books on cycling (a little differ..."

Your post reminded me of this book that I quite enjoyed last year: Greek to Me: Adventures of the Comma Queen.

[Diane]

I enjoy history, especially medieval and Renaissance. I've also developed an interest in the period from 1914-1930, probably due to a couple of books I read about World War I. I enjoy biographies and I like listening to P G Wodehouse audiobooks and Old Time Radio (OTR), not necessarily mystery shows. A personal favorite is "Our Miss Brooks" starring Eve Arden. Very funny, though sometimes rather dated. I have a 50-minute commute, so I like to listen to something to pass the time.

[Leslie]

Wodehouse books do well in audio! I love Jonathan Cecil's narrations - I wish he had done all of Wodehouse's books. This reminds me that I have a few Wodehouse stand-alone books on my Kindle that remain unread. Maybe I will start one of those soon...

[Adrian]

John wrote: "Adrian wrote: "I think that my book "type" other than mysteries is an eclectic mix, but then isn't that true of most of us.. So I like SF (like many others), travelogues (ditto), books on cycling (..."

Thanks John. Your recommendation sounded so good, I've added to my TBR.

[John]

Adrian wrote: "John wrote: "Adrian wrote: "I think that my book "type" other than mysteries is an eclectic mix, but then isn't that true of most of us.. So I like SF (like many others), travelogues (ditto), books..."

I think you'll appreciate her being in the chorus of a production in classical Greek. The beginning is more memoir, but Greece appears soon enough!

[Diane]

Leslie wrote: "Wodehouse books do well in audio! I love Jonathan Cecil's narrations - I wish he had done all of Wodehouse's books. This reminds me that I have a few Wodehouse stand-alone books on my Kindle that r..."

Jonathan Cecil is the best! I like Martin Jarvis (narrator of "Carry On, Jeeves") but I don't like his Jeeves as much. He sounds a bit stiff.

[Leslie]

I have a couple of science fiction books going at the moment - The Forever War by Joe Haldeman in audiobook & The Time Traders by Andre Norton on my Kindle.

[Diane]

I've been watching musical theater clips on YouTube and was inspired to order "All That Jazz" with Roy Scheider. Now I think I'll listen to Fosse by Sam Wasson, which will be an epic undertaking considering its length. I love musicals, especially dancing.

[Thomas]

I read historical fiction, Bernard Cornwell. Travel, history,biography and some science.
Some reviews
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Diane]

Rita wrote: "All That Jazz is one of my favorites too. I also added the audiobook Fosse to my Audible wishlist."

I have the ebook as well, but haven't read it yet. I'm lucky to still have it because a friend of mine wanted to borrow it, but then changed her mind and borrowed something else instead.

[Pamela]

Just finished a mystery by Agatha Christie (checked out via my kindle from the local library, my first effort to do this but definitely not my last as I have half a dozen books to read to finish up a couple of challenges) and am starting a new knitting project after finishing up a couple of handcrafts.

[Leslie]

Thomas wrote: "I read historical fiction, Bernard Cornwell. Travel, history,biography and some science.
..."

Bernard Cornwall has been an author I have been thinking about reading ever since I watched the BBC TV show "Sharpe" adapted from his books.

[Susan]

Thomas wrote: "I read historical fiction, Bernard Cornwell. Travel, history,biography and some science.
Some reviews
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show......"

I am so excited that the new series based on Uhtred, The Last KIngdom (I think- I am having a senior moment) is starting a new season the end of April on Netflix.

[Susan]

Recently read The Spy and the Traitor by Ben McIntyre. True story, reads like a novel.

[Leslie]

I just finished Molly Keane's Good Behaviour. I thought it was excellent! My review is here:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I am currently listening to the audiobook of Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson. And on my Kindle I am reading Galactic Derelict, another sci-fi - I seem to be reading a lot of science fiction these days (when I am not reading mysteries)!

Next up will be Brat Farrar & Melmoth the Wanderer...

[Penny]

I'm currently reading I find anything by Tracy Chevalier to be worth reading. This book is part of a series where modern authors re-tell in an original way one of Shakespeare's plays . I am working my way through them and have found them very worthwhile.
The series includes

[PattyMacDotComma]

I read historical and contemporary fiction, memoirs, all kinds of things. I loved this recent read.
Elizabeth Strout deserved her Pulitzer Prize for Olive Kitteridge. Her characters are like nobody else . . . but really, they're like everybody. I loved her follow-up, Olive, Again
5★ Link to my 'Olive, Again' review

[Werner]

Generally, I read a few mysteries/crime fiction books each year (though not necessarily all English or in the "English style"), but I'm a pretty eclectic reader, so I read a variety of other things too. From the early 90s until just the last few years, I actually read more speculative fiction (fantasy, supernatural and sci-fi) than descriptive fiction, and still read a good bit in those genres. Where descriptive fiction is concerned, I read historical fiction, some Westerns, and action adventure; I read general fiction, too, though it's more often older classics than the more contemporary stuff. Also, for the last few years I've made a point to read at least one (prose) nonfiction book every year; and starting this year I want to try to read at least one book of poetry each year as well.

[Leslie]

Currently I am reading Mary Oliver's poetry - Dream Work - in honor of the U.S.'s National Poetry Month. In audiobook, I am listening to a fun nonfiction book, Stephen Fry's Victorian Secrets. And on my Kindle, I am reading a fantasy called The Sand Prince.

[Adrian]

Well I have just finished One Way Ticket: Nine Lives on Two Wheels by Jonathon Vaughters. All about life in the professional cycling peloton during the Lance Armstrong years. An interesting insight into doping as well as the life of a professional cyclist.
As a keen follower of pro cycling this was a good book.

[Dorothy]

That does sound interesting. I am not a cyclist myself but can be found glued to the Tour de France each summer (not this year sadly)

[Leslie]

I am currently reading Victor Hugo's The Hunchback of Notre-Dame and a science fiction book borrowed from the library - Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie.

[Adrian]

Dorothy wrote: "That does sound interesting. I am not a cyclist myself but can be found glued to the Tour de France each summer (not this year sadly)"

If you enjoy the TdF, then I think you'd enjoy this Dorothy. I'm an avid fan of the Tour myself and watched it it both on TV and in person when we moved to France 11 years ago.

[Adrian]

Leslie wrote: "I am currently reading Victor Hugo's The Hunchback of Notre-Dame and a science fiction book borrowed from the library - Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie."

Ancillary Justice is supposed to be really good. I look forward to your review.

[Thomas]

Here is my review of a historical fiction mystery, The King's Justice
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Thomas]

Not a mystery, but an enjoyable book of short stories Syrian Brides
My review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Thomas]

Not a mystery, but a heartbreaking story. Hunger for Life
My review, 3.5 rounded up
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[John]

I liked Diana Athill's memoir Stet: An Editor's Life, so have started Letters to a Friend; though the contents consist solely of her letters to him, additional italicized information is included for context.

[Pamela]

These days I find myself definitely going from one genre to another. I just finished Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi and I can't get over how impressed I was by the author's voice, her writing and her storytelling in what has to be so very personal to her. And I definitely can't just start another book like it.

So what should I read now? Perhaps a light British mystery? I just downloaded The Library Book from the digital library system but I don't think I could do it justice right now. Will have to think about this.

[Thomas]

I enjoyed Code Name Madeleine: A Sufi Spy in Nazi-Occupied Paris
My review, 3.5 stars rounded up https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Thomas]

My 3.5 star review(rounded down) of Heroes and Villains of the British Empire: Their Lives and Legends
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Thomas]

Historical fiction about witch trials in England, 1645-48
The Witchfinder's Sister
It is depressing, but realistic and informative. My 4 star review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...