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Helen
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Oct 09, 2012 04:23PM
I've moved on to Edith Pargenter's The Brothers of Gwynned and Josephine Tey's Daughter of Time ~ with Penman's The Sunne in Splendour waiting in the wings ...
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Jean-Luke wrote: "What are you currently reading? Are you enjoying it?I'm currently reading Unnatural Causes by P.D. James and I'm enjoying it greatly, as always. Want to start Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens..."
Which Dickens?
I've just started Blind Descent by Nevada Barr. I've read quite a few reviews of this, all stating that the readers felt claustrophobia while reading (it's about caving). I've only read one chapter and feel I little uncomfortable already.
Small Lorraine. Remember it's a book. Read it in an open space?
Thanks for the alibis, Tracey and Jemidar. I'll let you know when I need them...
I'm currently re-reading Sayers' Whose Body. I've started really loving re-reading. Does this have anything to do with getting older????
Actually, I've done less rereading as I've got older. I think I'm starting to panic about all the books out there I haven't read and at this rate, might never get to!
I tend to read what I have on my own personal book shelves, and since I never buy anything without either knowing the book or the author, I do an immense amount of re-reading! And, Ginger, I just re-read Whose Body last year, too. Oh, and I'm definitely getting older, but it's a secret that nobody else knows, so keep it quiet.
Karlyne wrote: "I tend to read what I have on my own personal book shelves, and since I never buy anything without either knowing the book or the author, I do an immense amount of re-reading! And, Ginger, I just ..."I will keep your secret if you'll keep mine! There just is no tiring of Lord Peter.
Well, one good thing about getting older is that I have accumulated so many books to re-read. I'm hoping to find my copy of "Murder Must Advertise"I haven't finished rating the books I can remember reading and now I've found there is another shelf here
for books I own.
This could become another career
Shera wrote: "Well, one good thing about getting older is that I have accumulated so many books to re-read. I'm hoping to find my copy of "Murder Must Advertise"I haven't finished rating the books I can rememb..."
Ah yes... I try to enter some everyday but I keep getting distracted by books I should reread because either I don't remember it at all or I remember it fondly... "Murder Must Advertise" is certainly in the second category!!!
My books used to be in sort of pretty easy-to-find order. Then my adorable 18 month old grandson decided that he really, really, really loves to read. Not all those dumb kid books in their own bookcase, but all the terribly interesting ones that Gramma reads. Now I have Louis Lamour next to Patricia Wentworth in the middle of Dorothy L. Sayers. Talk about shelving books! I can't even think about doing it on Goodreads!
Murder Must Advertise! Now there is another one I need to re-read!
I just got in the mail "The Wayward Apprentice" and Josephine Tey's "Man in the Queue". I've got some lovely reading ahead of me.
Karlyne wrote: "I tend to read what I have on my own personal book shelves, and since I never buy anything without either knowing the book or the author, I do an immense amount of re-reading! And, Ginger, I just ..."Shhhhhhhhhhh.
Leslie wrote: "Yesterday I started Brighton Rock by Graham Greene... undecided as to how I like it so far."It's years since I read it, but it made a strong impression on me. I won't say what type of impression so as not to spoil it for you in any way! Look forward to your comments once you finish.
Jemidar wrote: "Actually, I've done less rereading as I've got older. I think I'm starting to panic about all the books out there I haven't read and at this rate, might never get to!"I've just got ruthless. If it's not GOOD by chapter 2, either in a gripping plot or decent writing, preferably both, it's returned to the charity shop from whence it came (Aith, Shetland, 5 for £1) Life is too short to read bad books.
Karylne, I think it was CS Lewis who said the mark of a true reader is that they re-read, because they're getting more from the book than just wanting a story.
Now here's one that puzzles all our readers' group - one member ALWAYS reads the last chapter first.
Whoa, how in the world do they do that, Marsali?!? Ok, I confess to sometimes jumping ahead a page or two because I want to make sure that things are going ok, but read the last chapter first? Never!I never, ever disagree with CS Lewis, either.
HA! Last chapter first? Indefeasible in my book. Why bother reading? Authors work very hard to lead the reader to the last chapter and a satisfactory conclusion.. I simply cannot understand this behavior.
Harsh? Not at all. Spot on? Well Glad you said it because I am a too Kind, but one cannot stop my thoughts.Hello Idaho! From Tulum, Mexico.
FYI Crete (before the Tsunami on Santorini) http://www.minoanatlantis.com/Tsunami... which wiped out the Minoans, it seems odd that Cretin took on it's meaning.
She's a really lovely lady, and a keen, intelligent reader - but she wants to know it has a happy ending before she starts. I also use her as my 'first reader', so as a special favour to me, she left the last chapter of 'Death on a Longship' unread, and did concede that it was good to be surprised by whodunnit.Weird though.
Thinking of another discussion... how about C S Lewis as a detective ...? You could go for paranormal-style activities, like the Paul Gallico ones, which have people believing in spiritualism, or devil worship, and he could expose the fakes. I hereby copyright this idea.
Marsali wrote: "She's a really lovely lady, and a keen, intelligent reader - but she wants to know it has a happy ending before she starts. I also use her as my 'first reader', so as a special favour to me, she l..."Marsali - perhaps she should read romances only, because to qualify as a romance it has to have a happy ending... You can get a good number of mysteries which are also romances. Seriously, I cannot understand her reading the last chapter first. I don't even read the blurb, so I can let the book unfold for me exactly as the author intended.
That said, I do re-read, even though I have a huge TBR pile, because my favourites have characters I like to revisit and/or are written so well. Also, sometimes I need the comfort re-reading gives on top of the distraction first reading gives. And I sometimes re-read a book I've just read for the first time, this time to pay attention to how everything developed and where the clues were hidden rather than rushing through to get to the resolution.
I can't comment on your idea about C S Lewis, as the Narnia books were probably the last fantasy books I read, too long ago to remember at all well.
@Marsali my late Mum used to read the last page of a novel first, usually romances as hypothesized by Hj - her reasoning as well was that as she went along in the book she did not get too upset when "things" went wrong because she knew it was all going to end up right in the end - she loved "happy" stories ...
Can we please not be so judgmental about people who read differently to ourselves?! Why should people who like to read the last chapter first be sidelined to only reading romance? Books are there to enjoy and how people enjoy them is entirely up to them. And yes I'm a jerk, as I'm a chronic peeker and someone who often flips ahead when I'm reading. Why? Well, why not? I can't really be bothered explaining why I do it. Why should I have to justify something that hurts no-one and adds to my reading enjoyment?!
Jemidar wrote: "Can we please not be so judgmental about people who read differently to ourselves?! Why should people who like to read the last chapter first be sidelined to only reading romance? Books are there..."Yes, you've just articulated what I was working my way around - I wouldn't dream of telling my friend only to read romances, and I'm sorry if I was coming across as judgemental. I find it a weird habit (weird to me is a description, not necessarily negative - I'm weird myself) but it's what she does ... far, FAR more annoying are the pupils who've actually read the class text, whizzed through it, then insist on telling the whole class the ending, loudly!
Jemidar wrote: "I'm also happy to provide an alibi ;-D."I liked Fanny Price, poor child ... but has anyone killed Esther Summerson from Bleak House yet? If not, long overdue ... I've never been quite sure whether Dickens really meant her to be likeable or if it was a savage, accurate portrait of someone with no self-confidence. Either way, I'll start working on my own alibi now, via my shelf of Freeman Wills Croft for ideas.
Fanny Price is is probably only really annoying in comparison with Austen's other heroines but it always bothers me that she was A's personal favourite and my least favourite. You're right though, besides having a bad case of self-righteousness, she was basically harmless.Haven't read Bleak House (not a Dickens fan) but I think the most irritating heroine in Victorian literature for me is Hardy's eternal victim Tess.
@jemidar - I would never think of being judgemental - my Mum did read only romance novels, that was her choice - it does not happen to be mine but differences are what make life interesting don't you think?
Jemidar wrote: "Actually, I've done less rereading as I've got older. I think I'm starting to panic about all the books out there I haven't read and at this rate, might never get to!"I hear you. I know I will never complete my reading list even if I live to be 100, and that is not too likely.
Marshall, it's been done. Somebody did a graphic novel about the Inklings combating Ultimate Evil. It was kind of gloomy and irritating with lots of stuff about occult magic -- I had a different and clearer idea of how it should have been worked out. (My concept involved a Secret Hideout under the Eagle and Child pub; you accessed it with a secret elevator underneath the Inkling's favorite table. There was a convertible sports car too, for speeeding to crime scenes.)
Karen wrote: "I haven't read the other Ellis Peters books, Marsali, so thanks for that, will look them out.And I have to confess I hven't read any Val McDermid yet either (not that I can remember)
But following..."
I love Val McDermid's Kate Brannigan series - titles like Star Struck, Dead Beat, Blue Genes etc - Brannigan is a wise-cracking Manchester PI. The Lindsey Gordon ones are good too, but I find the Tony Hill series (Wire in the Blood) too gory. I'm not really into nasty serial killers.
Helen wrote: "@jemidar - I would never think of being judgemental - my Mum did read only romance novels, that was her choice - it does not happen to be mine but differences are what make life interesting don't y..."Certainly do, that's why I was puzzled that the way people chose to read their favourite novels was being condemned in a couple of the comments. I wasn't at all disparaging romance just trying to point out the ridiculousness of the earlier suggestion that people who like to check endings should only read them.
I like to read a cozy now and again, especially if it relates to a craft I pursue, like knitting. And there are even a couple of authors that own bookstores so those are fun. One author has a kind of unique spin. I am not so excited about her stories as they tend to be somewhat the same, but she starts all of her stories with five paintings representing five mysteries. At the end, she reveals the answers. (There is usually only one person that wins.) (I never ge them right, but perhaps you all would.) I think that some of these books, because we know they have happy endings, are a break from some of the suspense some of us read more of.
Val McDermid - I have never read his Kate Brannigan series. Will give that a try. The Wire in the Blood series is just too much for me. I used to really like fiction and non-fiction about serial killers. But now it is really too depressing for me.
However, I do think that there are some good authors being recognized out of Scotland lately. I like quite a few of Denise Mina's books.
Hj wrote: "Leslie wrote: "Yesterday I started Brighton Rock by Graham Greene... undecided as to how I like it so far."It's years since I read it, but it made a strong impression on me. I won't say what ty..."
Well, although I ended up rating this 4 stars, I waffled between 2 and 4 for quite a while... Well-written story of a sociopath (maybe the first since this was written in '38), I'm glad I read it but I'll never reread it!! Way too creepy for my tastes.
Reading Bruce Alexander's last book, Rules of Engagement. Don't know why I haven't read this before since I've read (and own) the rest of the series...
I had the pleasure of hearing Margot Livesey read from The Flight of Gemma Hardy yesterday at Southern Festival of the Books. What a delight!
Leslie wrote: "Reading Bruce Alexander's last book, Rules of Engagement. Don't know why I haven't read this before since I've read (and own) the rest of the series..."Leslie - I have read Bruce Alexander's books and really enjoyed them.
I imagine P. D. James publisher let this one get through just because she is P. D. James. Can't have thought it was worthwhile. I have not found one person who thought it was any good. Some I know read it as a "quick read", but they did not enjoy it. I read it hoping it would pick up somewhere. P. D. James is a great author and allowing this horrible work to taint her excellent portfolio of works is just wrong.
I have a friend who says that given her age she probably is not really all there anymore and that she will not be writing anymore works about Dalgliesh. That might be true. I just hope there are no more sad examples of her work like this one. It would be tragic if she was remembered for this rather than her other great works.
I have read all her Dalgliesh series and seen quite a few of the productions from PBS. They are complex with interesting story lines, filled with suspense and intrigue. The plot twists keep me interested. Although some may be able to tell the ending, I can't.
When I read books like this, I realize how very much talent it takes to put them together. I don't think my dislike of this book is based on my desire to only see books on Dalgliesh. It was really not worthwhile and not up to her standards. I hope that her publishers don't release any more bad writing like this. But I am sure many people bought it so doubt they will care about her overall reputation or legacy.
My take on it was that given her age it will be her last book and she wrote something that she'd always wanted to, just for her. It had the feel to me of pure self indulgence which never makes for a good book. The publisher wouldn't have been worried because it was always going to sell well because it had her name on it.And there are/were plenty of people out there who liked it. It was even reviewed positively in the NY Times.
Ginger, yes there is no getting tired of Lord Peter. I have been thinking of re-reading Sayers' work because I remember really enjoying about him. It is interesting how she wove the progression of his life through the mysteries occurring around him. I think I lot of authors have copied her style over the years, but without Lord Peter they don't quite have the same punch.
Marsali wrote: "Jemidar wrote: "Actually, I've done less rereading as I've got older. I think I'm starting to panic about all the books out there I haven't read and at this rate, might never get to!"I've just g..."
I rather enjoy the 50 page rule for books-if you don't like it by 50 pages, you may stop. Furthermore, for those older than 50 the rule is 100 minus your age is the number of pages you must read. Which means, once you turn 100, you may, in all good conscience, judge a book by its cover.
Shera, one of the toughest things for me was actually getting rid of most of my books!!! I kept a few authors I just could not give up, but I have reached an age where I don't want to leave this kind of a huge burden when I am no longer around. I think that others are lucky to have room in their houses for a library and to keep hundreds of books. I have downsized to a very small house and just could not keep them.
The good news is that a lot of the books I love are available at libraries. And I have been known to go out and buy one now and again!!! Especially from authors that I enjoy and will probably want to re-read.
And honestly some of the books I had were not a loss. They were authors that I liked at one time, but just don't really enjoy anymore. Those were just space wasters.
Kathy wrote: "I imagine P. D. James publisher let this one get through just because she is P. D. James. Can't have thought it was worthwhile. I have not found one person who thought it was any good. Some I kn..."I agree. I started to read it but, sadly, put it down. Also, I'm a bit suspicious of people who say they figure things out a few pages in.
Jean-Luke wrote: "I just finished A Man Lay Dead and then immediately started Enter A Murderer. I stopped in the middle of Shroud for a Nightingale because P.D. James' style was so dense that I didn't feel like I wa..."Love Roderick Alleyn and Troy too!
Kathy wrote: "Shera, one of the toughest things for me was actually getting rid of most of my books!!! I kept a few authors I just could not give up, but I have reached an age where I don't want to leave this k..."I know, I'm thinking about downsizing and buying a Kindle or Nook.But I work at a press clipping bureau and electronic media is a tool that seems nice but is seriously limiting the publishing industry
Leslie wrote: "Hj wrote: "Leslie wrote: "Yesterday I started Brighton Rock by Graham Greene... undecided as to how I like it so far."Well, although I ended up rating this 4 stars, I waffled between 2 and 4 for quite a while... Well-written story of a sociopath (maybe the first since this was written in '38), I'm glad I read it but I'll never reread it!! Way too creepy for my tastes. ."
I agree! It haunted me for ages, and is one of the reasons why I now avoid reading anything "horrid".
English Mysteries Club
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