Murder on a Bad Hair Day ~ Anne George ~ 9/98 ~ My Export

Yes, I Love A Mystery. I remember when I was growing up there was a radio show called I Love a Mystery. I think that was when I began enjoying a mystery story. Do you remember the first mystery that you read? I do. It was Death of a Peer by Ngaio Marsh. I have been an avid mystery reader ever since. I know that many of you read mysteries too. Please join us here in I Love a Mystery,our mystery book club.

Your host and discussion leader is Joan Grimes

Murder on a Bad Hair Day by Anne George

Synopsis
The totally opposite, 60-something sisters Patricia Anne and Mary Alice are once again drawn into a murder. While attending a party for local folk artists, the gallery's owner dies of an apparent heart attack. But the girls soon learn that many of the artists had murderous designs on the victim.

Let's consider these questions.

1. What are your criteria for a good mystery. Does this book meet those criteria?
2.Do the two sisters who are the detectives seem real to you?
3.How would you classify this mystery?
4.Does the crime seem real or does it seem to be a contrived situation?
5. Do you like humorous mysteries? Did you enjoy the humor in this mystery?
6. What is the author's purpose in writing this mystery? Did she achieve it?

To Begin our discussion here today, I would like to say that Anne George and I live in the same area . She lives on the other side of Birmingham from me. I have met her at a writers conference. Her wonderful sense of humor really come through as she talks to a group.

I am particulary impressed by the humorous way that she presents Alabama culture. It is not in the leas offensive to me an Alabama native but seems to me an excellent way to let people know what our state is like culturally speaking..

Joan

JOAN!! How fascinating! Not only do you live in the same area, you've actually met her! I'd very much like to know what she's like.

I've only got about 10 pages left and have tremendously enjoyed the book. I love her sense of humor and the accurate way she portrays some Southern expressions. Laughed out loud at some of them.

What wonderful questions in the heading, I can see we can settle down here for a super time, am looking forward to what everyone thinks.

Ginny

Joan or Ginny: What is the "fried pie" probably called in my part of the country that PA and Sister are enjoying?

šjane›

Jane,

A fried pie is a piece of pie crust that is folded over the filling. it is then literally fried instead of baked. Do you have this kind of thing in your part of the country?

Joan

I found this an enjoyable book to read although really didn't get too caught up in the story line. Guess the sisters are intended to be the story and did find that as I read I liked both of them and could visualize them as real people.

It seemed to me that there were almost too many side characters, but suppose that is needed to allow us to wonder about the villan.

Joan, does that iron statue really exist on the mountain as described in the book? Since you say Ms. George lives in that area I wonder if it does exist if she can see it from her home?

This was certainly a catchy title for a book. Speaking of funny title, at the back of the paperback edition of this book is an add for books by Jill Churchill and I thought they were great.

Grime and Punishment
A Farewell to Yarns
A Quiche Before Dying
The Class Menagerie
A Knife to Remember
From Here to Paternity
Silence of the Hams

Larry

I love Patricia Anne and Mary Alice. The whole Santa Claus routine tickled the daylights out of me.

I think Ann George does a good job of fooling us about characters. Sometimes mysteries are so contorted that I have to keep checking back to refresh my memory.

Joan: I don't know of anything like "fried pie" here.

I, too, enjoyed Patricia Ann and Sister. Everytime I read that "name" I could hear my former boss, a Louisiana native, speak of Sister (pronounced sort of like sis'tuh)...meaning her sister who was in a nursing home in St.Charles, as I recall. I never did know the woman's given name! I did find "Lynnie and Glynnie" to be a bit much.

I would put Anne George in the same category (sort of Southern Cozy)with Joan Hess and Diane Mott Davidson, though I honestly prefer both of them to A. George...at least after reading just one of George's books.

šjane›

Larry,

Yes The Iron Man, Vulcan ,really exists. Anne George probably can see him from her home. He is located atop Red mountain and overlooks Birmingham. He can be seen from many areas. I believe that Anne lives "Over the Mountain" as the area to the south of Red Mountain is called, and Vulcan does have his back to that area.

Joan

Larry: I actually read The Silence of the Hams! It was pretty silly, just as the title promises. Droll humor much in the same category as this book we are reading. Which I have not yet finished... so will save comments. Don't give it away, you guys!

I was SO impressed with The Silence of the Lambs when I read it. That is a mystery worth its salt!

A sense of family, thats what Anne George gives you in her books. Practical Patricia Anne, her husband Fred and their daughter then stir in fun-loving Mary Alice along with her daughter and you have a group of people that make you grin, smile and laugh out loud. All these characters are people I care about. I would just love to have lunch with them. Mystery? Oh yes thats there too. Anne George is honest, no red herrings here. She comes to the point and gives you an honest ending. All right, I know some will say this book is a bit of fluff with a lighter than air plot. I say maybe so but with out a little joy life would be a total bore. I'm not willing to go there. Look a little deeper into Anne Gorge and you will find a former schoolteacher,an Alabama State Poet, a co founder of the Druid Press. Her book of verse, Some of It Is True, has been nominated for a Pulitzer. I am lookin forward to her new book Murder Makes Waves.

Jeryl, There is a sequel to "The Silence of the Lambs" that is also good, if you can stand Hamilton Lechter. I also thought the movie was well done although never saw it until it was television.

Larry

Larry: Would love to read the sequel. I'll look for it.

My name is Jeryn! I know it's difficult but you wouldn't want to be called Larrl, would you? {I am laughing!]

Joan, can you tell us a little more about the Vulcan? Why is it there and why nude from the back? Is this visible where you live?

I got confused with the characters, the Truman and it seemed there were just so many of them. What part did the old lady with the wonderful quilts end up playing?

This was NOT a "can't put it down" book for me, but at the same time I did enjoy it. I like the little way she puts in little things native to the South so effortlessly.

Those are some wonderful questions in the heading. "What is your criteria for a mystery?"

Personally, I like an atmosphere or setting which is well drawn, and characters I can relate to. I like a plot which intrigues and also tells me something I didn't know when I started the book, if at all possible. I like a literary style which is similar to Reginald HIll's or John Mortimer's command of the language, rather than the "cute " more modern style, tho those are usually good reads. I read them all, regardless, but it's been a long long time since I read one I could get enthused about.

This one is cute. Not only did I enjoy it, I laughed out loud in parts.

Now, as far as Question #3, what are the categories we can choose from?

Ginny

Why are all the posts everywhere in bold?

Jeryn, I apologize for not getting your name right, no excuse since it was right in the message above mine. Just careless I guess. I understand how you feel as I get this all the time with the spelling of my last name as Hannah rather than Hanna. (I was glad to see you were laughing.)

I just checked the Thomas Harris books on Barnes and Noble and see he wrote two others called Black Sunday and Red Dragon. I think Red Dragon is the one I was thinking of, although it doesn't indicate it has the Hamilton Lecter character in the story. It has been a long while since I read the book, but do remember it was a page-turner.

Larry

Thanks, Larry. I started to read Black Sunday once but did not like the beginning and kind of gave up on Harris. I will try to find Red Dragon.

I am still reading Bad Hair. I can empathize--I think I have had a bad hair life!!!

Hi All,

Just passing through town (with the help of the banners) and chuckled when I read Larry and Jeryn's remarks about, "Silence of the Lambs". I remember when I was reading it I was glued to the pages and at the same time repeatedly asking myself why I was doing this to myself. The horror in it was SOOOOO graphic and horrific. But finish it I did and saw the movie the day it opened. Both were terrific. I have heard Anthony Hopkins saying that a new book may be in the works,with Hannibal. However he was kidding around and said he's coming back as a vegetarian this time.

I had heard that the other two books were a good read, but decided I had had enough of that brand of gore for awhile anyway.

Ginny and all,

Sorry that I did not put in the clickable for the categories of mysteries when I put it up. I meant to but that kind of thing happens when one is in a hurry. The categories are under Mystery Geners if everyone will click there in the heading.

I will write up something about Vulcan before the day or night is over today.

As for my personal feeling about mysteries are concerned, horror is very differnt from a good mystery although there may be a mystery element there. I do not read horror stories. I cannot take that kind of thing.

Joan

I read the bad hair day mystery and enjoyed it...sort of. I was bored by all the background fluff. Those sisters are rather what the young call "air heads." The ending was confusing. I had to reread parts to figure out who "dun it" and try to place all the characters in their proper slots at the end.

I like stories which accumulate the clues in a logical sequence to an ending which may be a surprise, but which, in retrospect, is the only possible conclusion. I always felt that Agatha Christie cheated the reader by holding back some of the facts until the solution was revealed. The bad hair mystery was honest is accumulating clues. The many extraneous events, unrelated to the mystery, were what confused. Maybe, because it was not a "page turner," I struggled to pay attention??

I liked Street Lawyer, better.

estherJ

I made a rash promise this morning when I said that I would write an account about Vulcan. As I sat in my broker's office this afternoon and looked out the window at Vulcan looming over us, I thought there is not way that I will get that account written as after I left there I then had to go to the grocery store. By then It was tinme for me to leave for the first of two funeral home visitations that I had to attend tonight.. I decided that I would just look him up on the Internet and make a clickable to a very good article about Vulcan and Birmingham. So here it is. Just click here to read about Statue of Vulcan

Joan

Joan, Thanks for the posting of that interesting article. I think you chose well considering your time commitments and the internet writeup provided a good general background of the Vulcan statue.

Larry

Larry, Thanks for understanding. I am extremely busy this week. I do hope that things don't stay this busy for me but on the other hand sometimes it is good.

As i looke dout that window yesterday I realized what an imprssive sight that statue is and what an attractive view. If we had not been discussing this book I probably would have not eve noticed that Vulcan was there. That is how we get used to things in our own area and just don't notice them..

Joan

JOAN! Loved it, how interesting, isn't the Internet a wonder?

Shelly!! Welcome, welcome!!

We are delighted to see you here, and hope to hear more frm you.

Would you believe I have NEVER read a Cadfael? I must remedy this situation. How do you like the PBS representation of him by Derek Jacoby?

I think Joan's questions at the top are among the best I've seen,and as far as # 2 goes, I thought they were very realistic. I didn't think some of the other characters were "real," but that may be me and not the author.

Ginny

You know, having read that fascinating article Joan put there and seeing the actual statue, it's certainly a wonder that one of the sisters saw him "mooning" the town, as she'd need binoculars, as the article points out. Wonderful stuff.

Ginny

Finally finished Bad Hair. I did not really get very excited over this book, I'm afraid. In my mind, it would set on the shelf with books by Joy Adamson, Jill Churchill, Diane Mott, and Elizabeth Squire. These are authors I've read once and probably won't bother with again. I prefer my mysteries to have some meat on their bones, I guess. Next?

Jeryn,

Tell us what you mean by meat on their bons? How would you classify the kind of mystery that you prefer. I f you look at the heading to the discussion you will see the clikable link to mystery genres which gives you the catagories.

Joan

Joan, I looked through some of the narrative on the "Mystery Genres" and think I find that I like the "hard-boiled" mysteries the best, along with police procedurals or mysteries involving the court room. Fortunately in my life I have had no personal experience with the side of life that many hard-boiled police mysteries relate to and I think that is why I enjoy reading them. I really don't like a lot of foul language in the stories although realize that in many situations such language is realistic to the story being told. However I feel that a good story teller need to resort to foul language to have a good story.

I have never really cared much for the "cozy cottage" mysteries as it seems there is too much description of the surroundings rather than descriptions of the action involved. Guess it is a good thing that we have many different types of mysteries.

In our current book I got the impression that the by-play between the sisters was almost more important than the mystery being written about. I suppose this was a plausible story but it seemed to be stretching in some respects. However, I did enjoy the book and my wife also read it.

Larry

I can't really say any one of the "genres" would be totally or my only cup of tea. I used to love the Miss Marple mysteries but I don't think these more modern "cosies" quite measure up or else I've moved on! I enjoy stories with some gripping suspense, something witty if it's not too contrived, a fairly plausible plot--you can imagine the events really happening, and no gratuitous violence or gore please. It's nice if there is a bit of a message lurking in the plot, as well. Example: Grisham's not-so-hidden agenda of spotlighting the plight of street people in our recent selection, The Street Lawyer.

"Mysteries" that just cutesy along with the darling little ladies and their sweet actions and reactions to this and that with a murder thrown in at the beginning and a solution thrown in at the end aren't really good writing nor even very entertaining. A day or two ago Esther posted her review of Bad Hair; I thought she summed it up quite well.

Joan-- Thanks for the neat page on the statue of Vulcan. A 37 foot crack through his groin!! OOOHH. Bet that smarts.

Oscar

Oscar,

I am LOL at your remark. I hate for our poor old Vilcan to be in such pain though. I hope eomthing is done to help him before it is too late. It is so neat to be on Birminham's southside and look out a window and see him Especially at night. It is lovely to ride down the freeway from the north and see him there looking over the city. I live North of Birmingham and am so used to seeing him when I drive in to the city. Birmingham is located in Jones valley It is sort of like a bowl with the city center in the bottom of the bowl and the suburbs spreading up the hills to the north, south and east with the mountain on the southern side.

Everyone, I will comment on Jeryn's and larry's posts when I return from my Lawyers office this morning. I must run now.

TTYL,

Joan

Larry, Thanks for your comments. I think maybe males tend to be more like you in their mystery choices. I may be wrong but I do think that.

Jeryn, I would like to know your criteria for good writing. It seems that you found nothing in Bad Hair that you liked.

This mystery that we are discussing is very funny. Maybe some of you don't see the humor because you do not live in the South.

How many of you think that Agatha Chrisitie's books are filled with humor?

I have a little story to tell you about that but it will have to be later today as this morning is my weekly volunteer job at my grandson's kindergarten, where I read to the children and help them with using computers.

TTYL,

Joan

I have a story, too, about Southern humor. As the only member of a Southern family that goes literally back generations raised in the urban North, I feel like I've had the best of both worlds,even tho I have been called "Yankee" more than once, and I think this joke is cute, tho my husband, from South Georgia, huffed he'd heard it before.

Anyway, it seems a man driving down the street in Birmingham, Alabama, spotted a ferocious dog attacking a child and jumped from his car in time to throttle the dog and save the child.

The editor of the local newspaper saw this and ran up exclaiming, "I can see the headlines now: Birmingham man saves child!"

"I'm not from Birmingham," said the man.

"Oh, then, Alabama man saves child from vicious dog."

"I'm from Chicago on my way to Florida on business," the man replied.

The next day's headline read "CRAZED YANKEE KILLS FAMILY PET."

hahahahah

I love that.

Ginny

I guess this "insane yankee" missed all the jokes in Bad Hair! <BG> I think the author stretched to try make her main characters cute; to me, the effort would have been better spent on giving some depth--and humor even--to her plot. I think "good writing" appeals to all, uses our language well [plenty of robust verbs, reasonable sentence length, appropriate terminology... so on so on], and does not put me to sleep! Sorry to be so subjective on that last criteria but it is true!

Gawrsh, I feel like I'm back in English 101!

Well, JERYN,

I am an old English teacher among other things. Taught it for 16 years. You must back up every statement with a quotation and never be subjective. LOL I usually keep quiet in most of the Books and Lit discussions because I do look at things as an English teacher would and i really like to keep my reading a personal experience. Seriously, to me a really good discussion must be one where one supports what he/she says without being too subjective. A good discussion promotes thinking and learning not just a statment of liking or disliking a book. A discussion of a book is not just a criticism of what the author has written without looking at the author's purpose and the reasons behind the writing.

All kidding aside, on the use of language issue, if an author is writing an atmospheric book using dialogue, don't you think they are allowed to use the dialect and expressions that the people of the area use? Isn't dialogue supposed to emulate the spoken language.

Ginny, that is a very funny joke. It took along time for me to be able to laugh at such jokes but I can really see the humor now. I realize that the people who feel so superior to a certain area just have alot to learn about the area.

While some people feel that the two sisters in this story are just too cute. I can tell you that I have known people who are very like them. They are exaggerated to some extent to make them more humorous but I see people I know in these characters.

What I was going to say about Agatha Chrisie was that I did not see the humor in her books when I first read them. I thought they were wonderful stories with wonderful descriptions of English life. Once, after I started traveling to England often, I was sitting in a theater with a young English friend watching a dramatization of one of Christie's stories. He was laughing so hard that he almost fell out of his seat. He later explained to me the humor in it all. It made me look at Christie in a different way and to enjoy her writing even more.

Joan

Now I know I'm in English 101! LOL Of course, you are right Joan--about backing up one's opinions with cold, hard fact. I could see Ms. George was trying to be humorous and I certainly have no problem with dialect as a literary tool. This was just not my brand of humor, I guess. These things are sometimes necessarily subjective!

I adored Agatha Christie when I was younger, especially the Miss Marple books which, at times, did have instances of droll humor--much better done than Ms.George's.

You taught English; I used it for a while in my life to make a living. However. The kind of writing I did required little introspection: "the facts, ma'am, the facts!" So perhaps I'm not prepared at my age to do book reports! [still smiling]

P.S. I love reading book reviews, though, and greatly enjoy the opinions and remarks of all of you on these books we read.

Twenty-five years ago one of my daughters went to school with sister's named Drussie and Prussie (Drucila and Pricilla), only in the south!

Hi Laura,

You are so right. that sort of thing does occur with names in the South, or it certainnly used to occcur often. I am not sure that it does as often now, as TV has probably influenced names alot.

Jeryn, I certainly wasn't saying that George was a good as Christie. George has spent much of her life as an English teacher not as a mystery writer. She is a fine poet also. She is fairly new to the mystery writing field but has really taken off as far as her books being poular is conerned. She publishes one fairly often also. I believe that Christie lived a very secluded life and spent much of it writing.

Joan

Joan: I read Christie's autobiographical Come Tell Me How You Live about her life with her second husband and also something biographical [CRS forget the title, author!] all indicating she was indeed very shy and secluded in her lifestyle. I can relate. She had a most unusual outlook on life, however. The autobiography interested me greatly.

Joan: You mention George has really taken off and is a popular author. You must not have difficulty finding her work there in Birmingham. They are very difficult to find here...the B & N in Cedar Rapids had one title, the used paperback stores had never heard of her, the Library here has none of her works...they, too, had never heard of her. I wonder if others outside the immediate area in which George lives has difficulty finding her books. You indicate she's fairly new to fiction, so her "regional availability" (if that's truly accurate right now...and not just an Iowa thing) may change so that she's as easy to find as Joan Hess or Diane Mott Davidson.

šjane›

Jane,

George's books sell out almost as fast as they come in according to the Barnes and Noble people here. They told me this when I bought my first one. There are never many on the shelves and that is the reason..

I notice earlier that someone from Canada and people from some other places had read and enjoyed her books. Also notice one or two from other areas who did not like them. I am sure that they will become more available in other areas as time goes on. I can understand why used book stores might not have heard of her. I have known about her for a couple of years but read the first one for me a few weeks after Frank died this year. I was having a terrible time reading anything. My friends kept telling me I needed to read George. I picked up one and started reading it. I was here in the house all alone at night and found my self laughing out loud. It was so good for me to find her. I have read several of her books since then and have met Ann George.

Joan

Jeryn,

Yes the Cristie biography was very interesting to me also. I would not have pictured her as she was according to that book if I had not read it.

I used to teach one of her short stories when I taught world Lit in the 10th grade. It has been dropped from I have read several that series of Lit books. I have read several critiques that state that she is not a good writer. There again we go again on who decides all of this and what makes a good writer.

Joan

Didn't she write two autobiographies? I'm thinking she did. I love Agatha Christie, loved her books under her pen name, too.

Ginny

Ginny,

I believe she wrote two memoirs, one of which tells of her experiences in Syria with her second husband and an autobiography, that was titled An Autobiography. It was published after her death.

I like Christie also. Her big talent is supposed to be her ability to fool the reader as he/shes tries to solve the evoling mystery. I have always been able to guess the perpatrator of the crime but I like the atmosphere of her novels and her detectives, Jane Marple, Hercule Poirot and Tommy and Tuppence Beresford( my favorites) especially.

I do not like her Romance novels that she wrote the name, Mary Westmacott.

Joan

Joan: you are correct! The Come, Tell Me How ou LIve was about her life with Max Mallowan and the Autobiography was later.

I thought, and I may be wrong, but I thought that in reading one of those two books, that Christie herself said that her favorite book was her A Daughter's a Daughter, written under the Westmacott name.

I think she gave two books that were the favorites of all her books, and I believe that is one, so that's why I read it.

I think she had quite a relationship with her daughter.

Well, at least Robert Barnard, no slouch himself as a mystery writer, thinks she's the greatest thing since sliced bread, and he was a University professor too.

You really guessed "who done it" in hers? I never did. How about the Ten Little Indians one? Not it's real name.

How about this one? Did you guess the murderer?

I didn't. And in answer to question #4, I think it was a little contrived, in fact, I felt a strain somewhat toward the end, just couldn't tie all the characters together and still don't know why the old black man was inserted into the plot at all? The artist??

Ginny

Oh yes, Christie wrote two autobiographies! When I went to put Tell Me How You Live back on the shelf, there sat the other one, right in front of mine eyes! So the posthumously published Autobiography is what I was grasping to think of this morning!

She may not have been classed as a "good" writer but she certainly had a knack for the popular mystery genre, and a special knack for writing conversation, I've always thought.

Have any of you ever watched either of the PBS series--one of Jane Marple, the other of Hercule Poirot? I thought they were both rather well done.

Jeryn: YES, and I love Joan Hickson particularly, did you see the PBS program that had Hickson herself being interviewed? She said that Christie had written her a letter saying she must create a character for her, and that...something about Christie did not care for the Margaret Rutherford Marple portrayal, but liked Hickson?

Hickson herself appeared in John Cleese's movie about the headmaster who was always on time? I can't think of the name of it, but you'd not have known her.

She left the series at 89, I believe, as she said she didn't want to be typecast.

Likewise David Suchet is very respectful of the Christie legend. I love the clothes in that series, so fabulous, why can't we have such pretty things today?

Ginny

Well, Ginny, probably because we're all wearing T-shirts! <BBG>

Jeryn, that's true, hahahahha, and our mysteries reflect that, too.

Now, I've looked at the genres in the heading, and am not sure where Hair Day should go. I think it's a new genre: the....what shall we call it, Kitchen Mystery.

I took a workshop, I think I've said this before, with the Poet Laureate of SC once who told us that a mystery, the new way of writing them, was sort of the author saying "I'm going on an adventure, you come too."

Of course, Robert Frost said it first.

She also said that with our modern limited attention span, if your work didn't capture the imagination in the first paragraph, the editors would chuck it out.

So now we have a whole new genre of....what would you call them? Funny mysteries? Casual mysteries?

Of the definitions given above, I think I like the "Cozy" best, as Agatha Christie practiced it, and, indeed, which just seems to be a copy of what she wrote. She could always find evil in a small town, and didn't have too much sappiness as I recall, nor humor, "cozy" might not be the best word for hers.

Ginny

Ginny,

At the writers conference I attend in Mardh, I attended a workshop with Ann George.

She said that her agent told her that the reason that she accepted Ann as a client was because her books made her laugh form the beginning. Then she said that the person that she deals with at her publisher told her that the book made her laugh from the first paragraph and that was the reason she gave for accepting the book for publication.

AS for Agatha Christie, I think there is much humor in her books but I think that we as Americans miss much of it because it is English humor. I say this because my English friends have told me this is true.

What is our next book?

I am sure we must have one chosen. I was just out of things for so long. Will try to keep up better now.

Joan

I don't think we do, Joan, maybe we need to get on that.

I have one to suggest for December, but that's a little bit off.

Ginny

Ginny,

We really must get a book then.

Someone please nominate a book and volunteer to lead the discussion on it.

It will be impossible for me to do it because I am movinginto my newhouse. Closing on it today and starting to move today too and it will take me a while.

Joan

I have two suggestions for upcoming selections: for October and December.

We keep talking about Agatha Christie in here, let's read one. Let's read a seasonal mystery,

Search Books

Hallowe'en Party by Agatha Christie Retail Price: $5.99 Our Price: $4.79 You Save: $1.20 (20%) In-Stock: Ships Immediately Format: Mass Market Paperback, 208pp.

ISBN: 0425129632 Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group Pub. Date: September 1991

Synopsis

The guests include ghouls, ghosts, gremlins . . . and one murderer. A little girl says she witnessed the grisly act, but no one listens--until she's found drowned. Now Hercule Poirot is looking to unmask the real devil of the night.

The above is from our very own Bookstore at the top of the page, it has the same speed and ease of Amazon, AND PRICE, but gives SeniorNet a percentage, usually 7%.

NOW, for Christmas, I'd like to recommend The Inn at the Edge of the World, by Alice Tomas Ellis, penguin edition short book, 184 pages, raves and raves and raves on this holiday mystery.

Five fugitives from Christmas are lured by an advertisement to a remote Scotish Island.

Ruth Rendell loved it. "A ghost story and a shrewd commentary on love and misunderstanding...is peopled with marvels. A fine balance between comedy and tragedy ensures the reader a sense of deep ssatisfaction after the last page."

Elizabeth Berridge said, "delightfully malicious wit."

David Hughes said, "a story full of pleasure."

I began to read it yesterday just to be sure it wasn't full of stuff I personally don't want to read, and stopped cold on about the third page with her fingering her diaphram. Such is the nature of modern fiction I had to read the pages over three times to finally discover to my shocked embarrassment that she was referring to her lungs and chest and not what we've all come to expect in a book.

It looks marvelous, the perfect....on the basis of three pages, Christmas mystery. I don't want to read it TILL Christmas. We may want to follow that with another locked island mystery to compare handling.

What do you think?

Ginny

Let's do both of those Ginny. I think the Agatha Christie sounds great for October.

I am so busy moving right now. But should be sett;led in time to read that one.

you will be leading the discussion in October then. Is that right?

Joan

Joan: Sure, no problem, if I can use some of your questions!

It's a go, then, and we need one for November. A Thanksgiving Mystery. Where are you all? Off to the Mystery Corner discussion.

Ginny

Here's an interesting Mystery Retirement Book Seller: Grave Matters with cats.

Ginny

Hey Ginny, You talking to me? So far I like the books you,ve picked.

I'm just not into reading Christie again. But in this discussion she was here more than Anne George, so I guess thats what the good folks want. I loved what you said about the Xmas book. I think I could really get into that. Graves Matters? I like that better than Christie. Well Hon I guess its back in your court. Ah Ginny don't thank me. What are friends for? Bunny

YES! Can't discuss with self in here, come all in!! REread a Christie and see if she holds up!

Ginny

Everybody, Bunny's having a vote over three nominations for Hillerman for November 15 in the Mystery Corner. Do go vote!!

Ginny

DADGUM IT!!

Attention attention! The Inn at the Edge of the World is not offered by Barnes& Noble online, by Amazon as an "out of print book service," but IS listed by Bibliofind and NEW from A Common Reader ...for ...Inn at the Edge of World (P) Ellis, A.T. #0236 $ 12.95

If you are a reader and you do NOT receive this catalogue, you are missing out on one of the very best.

Their toll free number is:

1-800-832-7323

How about let me know if you can get it in your libraries or if ordering it from A Common Reader would be a problem? They ship faster than light.

Or do we need another selection??

Ginny

Ginny,

Sorry I haven't been here but I have been moving into my new house and still am but did manage to get in here today.

Joan

Bunny Mills - 11:45am Sep 11, 1998 PDT

All right all my pals out there I have picked three Hillerman books for you to vote on. The Blessing Way, A Thief of Time, or Coyote Waits, Please pick one. Don't let me down. I'm new to this and you all want to help me. Right!!!!!!!!!! Bunny

Bunny, Thanks for agreeing to be the discussion leader. We take our mystery book discussions pretty casually so it isn't a major undertaking. I don't think I have read any of the Hillerman books but will try to check them out from our Barnes and Noble Bookstore site to see the comments on each and then come back and vote.

Larry

Thank you Larry. Now everyone if you don't vote you might come up with a mess you don't like. Think Washington. Love to all,Bunny

I, too, liked the older Hillerman books best. I'll vote for Thief of Time which was the first one of his I ever read. Therefore, I remember it fairly well! <BG> Welcome to our ranks, Bunny. I'm a newish host, too--so far, it's been fun!

I don't read Hillerman so I can't vote on this one. The rules in the mystery book club are that the person who nominates the book is the Discussion Leader for that book.

Joan

Jeryn: so far, having just joined and read most of the posts, you're taste comes closest to mine, although I have never enjoyed the COZY'S and prefer a novel with a body in it formatt and dislike the use of serial central characters. If I get involved with them and they are at risk I don't want to know beforehand that everything came out all right for them. I want them to suffer and maybe DIE.The exceptions have been John D McDonald and Hillerman.

I read thrillers bred with mysteries, ie Shirly Jackson or was that all thriller?. Too bad she died young. I thought she was wonderful.

As to how well it is written, that does matter to me but is completely subjective. The coroner stories of Patricia Cornwell (SP) were only good for a book or two. I don't think she's a good writer and got tired of the gory detail which didn't add anything to the story. . . a little like gratuitus sex. I was interested in her as a feminist, but not as a detective.

I read somewhere that in mystery writing the focus is on action and that character is just a distraction. However, I do like that "meat on my bones" and a certain rhythm and flow within the discription is appreciated as well. (G)

Claire

PS Please forgive casual spelling. I was not an english teacher and took subject A (dumbell English at UCLA) three times because of it and other subjective habits in writing. I like dashes and dots too.

I will try the Hillerman that is nominated here because I find now that I like some things that I did not think I would like. I am really game to try to read most anything. I just have not read anything but Ann George since my husband died in January. I need to find something that will interest me enough to make me stick with it to the end. I miss reading and need to get back to it.

Glad to see you here Claire.

Joan

We've had several people mention horror as a genre, wonder if we should open a folder for Horror Books? Nothing ventured.....

I've not read a Hillerman, will go along with whatever everyone else wants. I'd rather start with a good one, and all three of the nominations look good to me, so will be happy to go with the flow.

Ginny

Ginny,

Why not try a Horror Discussion. There are many people who enjoy that. I am not one of them but I am certainly in favor of having a place for people who do like it to discuss it.

I am with you on the Hillerman. Whichever one is chosen I will try.

I think I am going to start unpacking my books today. My new house will seem more like home with my old friends out where I can see them. Yesterday was taken up by my docent training at the art museum and Thursday will be kindergarten day. I have to wait on my new bedroom furniture to be delivered today. So it should be a perfect time to start on the unpacking of books.

Joan

Joan: Why not, indeed? Any volunteers to host it?

I can't wait to hear more about your new house, Joan, and your friends in their places smiling down.

Used to be an old bookplate, "A good book is like a friend, my friends I would forever keep." I like that.

Ginny

Hello,

Since so many of you haven't read Mr. Hillermans works I think maybe we should go back to the beginning with his Edgar winning book Dance Hall of the Dead.

You will meet lieutent Joe Leaphorn, and varied cultures of the great Southwest. I hope you enjoy. Bunny

Bunny that's a good one. I remember liking it and getting started because of it --dancehall of the dead. Just don't seem to remember titles.

Joan you are so POSITIVE. getting everything done and feeling good abut it. I really admire the way you're dealing with all of this.

Claire

Bunny, I think that is an excellent choice for a Hillerman. His early Leaphorn and Jim Chee books are the best and I'm sure these people will like him.

Claire, long time no see! You and I have crossed paths in other folders! Welcome to our books folders. Glad you like my taste in mysteries. Why don't you list some of your favorites and we'll compare notes!

Ginny,

I am sure you will hear more of my new house. I will try to get a photo of my friends smiling down at me. I have book cases here in the computer room and have started unpacking and filling them, along with those that are built in the family room. I also intend to put some bookcases in my bedroom.

Thanks Claire. I appreciate that comment.

Bunny, I will get the book right away and try to get started on it.

Joan

Wishing you all a very good afternoon, and a heartfelt thanks for helping me in the choice of Dance Hall of the Dead.

Joan thank you for your help even though you have a hard job of moving.

Jeryn, Thanks for being there.

Claire a big thank you and a wish that this book has enough meat on the bone.

Charlotte, thanks for your input. I needed it.

Jackie, sorry it wasn't the book you wanted but I hope you enjoy this one.

Ginny, what can I say to you. Thanks for getting me in this mess? Just a big thanks for being you.

Oscar, where in the heck are you when I needed you???????????

To one and all, Love, Bunny

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions for Christmas mystery authors. Here are four beginning paragraphs from four different authors, all in paperback, what do you think?

From The Christmas Night Murder by Lee Harris.

"It was my first Christmas as a wife and I discovered pretty fast that fifteen years as a nun and a little more than a year as a single secular woman had not prepared me for the holiday as a married woman. As thought a chemical change had occurred within me, I found it was not enough to put up a small tree and decorate it as I had the year before, my first Christmas out of the convent. From deep with n me came the desire to do more, much more, so that Jack, my husband of four months, would feel both the memories of Christmas a s a boy and the sense that we were starting our own traditions, our own way of celebrating, so that years from now, in the next century, I marveled, our progeny could describe Christmas in our house as wonderful and memorabilia , and the only way to celebrate, an old-fashioned Christmas."

From Tis the Season to be Murdered: by Valerie Wolzien:

"Jed Henshaw was admiring his wife through half-closed eyes. Candles on the mantel, logs blazing in the fire place, and hundreds of sparkling Christmas tree lights made the emerald earrings he'd given her that morning twinkle and shine as she…'That exactly are you doing?' he asked, suddenly puzzled by her behavior, 'You can't still be wrapping presents--Christmas is over."

From Corpus Christmas by Margaret Maron:

"Thursday, December 10

Snow was predicted by Sunday and a chill morning rain had drenched the city streets but it had stopped by ten AM when Rick Evans arrived at Sussex Square, that little gem of urban felicity down in the East Twenties. He paus3ed a moment, propped his tripod on the wrought iron fence which enclosed the tiny park, uncapped the lens of the camera slung around his neck, and slowly panned the area."

From Rest You Merry by Charlotte MacLeod:

"'Peter Shandy, you're impossible,' sputtered his best friends wife. 'How to you expect me to run the Illumination if everyone doesn't cooperate?'

'I'm sure you'll do a masterful job as always, Jemima. Isn't that Hannah Cadwall across the way ringing your doorbell?'

With a finesse born of much practice, Professor Shandy backed Mrs. Ames off his front step and shut the door. This was the seventy-y third time in eighteen years she'd nagged him about decorating his house. He'd kept count. Shandy had a passion for counting. He could have counted the spots on an attacking leopard, and he was beginning to think a leopard would be a welcome change. Every Yuletide season since he'd come to teach at Balaclava Agricultural College, he'd been besieged by Jemima and her cohorts. Their plain was ever the same; 'We have a tradition to maintain.'"

There are four excerpts from Christmas mysteries, do any of them appeal?

Ginny

Wow! MacLeod and Harris are old and dear friends of mine. Maron sounds like she will become a new friend. Wolzien I've never read, but those emerald earrings got my interest. Any of these will do me fine. Great detecting job, Ginny.

Ginny, it sounds like any of the 4 would be fine. The Lee Harris book sounds particularly interesting, although there is no clue as to what the mystery might involve. Guess we have a mystery right here in terms of all 4 books.

Larry

Hi Ginny,

Anything written by Charlotte MacLeod gets my first vote. You did a wonderful job of hunting down Xmas books. Murder at Xmas, this will be fun. Bunny

BUNNY I like her too Charlotte Mccloed. Rest You merry is good immediate snag the reader writing. I vote for that one.

Claire

Ginny,

They all look good just choose one.

Joan

OK, let's do Rest You Merry by Charlotte MacLeod, and we can try the others in the future too. Might be fun to do lots of holiday mysteries, but we'll get a roaring start with Agatha Christie's Hallowe'en Party.

I must confess I'm looking forward to it, we're always comparing everybody else to her, let's see what SHE does in this one.

Ginny

Sounds good to me Ginny. I'll get that book going right away. I'm so excited about the up coming books. Can't wait to hear what all our friends have to say. They are just so book smart. Bunny

Hey Ginny,

That sounds great to me. I am looking forward to reading it. I am getting back to reading now. Just read one of my books I bought in England but won't talk about it here as it isn't a mystery.

Joan

I need to do this guys. I'm wearing my CLINTOBN/GORE t-shirt Yeeaahh!

Dadgum it. Larry informs me that the MacLeod is not available. WHY IS IT that the good books are out of print? There's something very wrong somewhere when trashy novels sell and stay in print while many "good reads" die. ANYHOO, Larry says there's another MacLeod Christmas mystery, but the two others above looked really good too. Phooey. Give me ONE MORE DAY and I'll try to get the other Macleod in here, since NOBODY can get their hands on it!

Too bad we can't get the Ellis in the first place.

Oh well, third time's the charm!

Claire: Clinton Gore tee? PLeeeeeeeeease.

hahahahah

Gags

Larry was right!! Is he ever wrong? What on earth? It seems she has written another Peter Shandy Christmas book? Let's try it:

Here it is: Counterfeit Christmas by Charlotte MacLeod.

In-Stock: Ships 2-3 days. Charlotte MacLeod / Audio / Date Published: November 1996 Retail Price: $4.99 Our Price: $3.49, You Save $1.50 (30%) More info on this book:

Synopsis

Peter Shandy, a professor at Balaclava Agricultural College, is a scrooge who attends the annual Grand Illumination Christmas events. When some counterfeit funds start to materialize, he tries to find the "artist" who is responsible in Counterfeit Christmas. In Live Tree, Clayton Blake is tired of Christmas. He would like to buy an artificial tree, much to the dismay of his family. It takes his ex-con brother to make Clayton realize the mystery and wonderment of the holiday. "

This looks cute, let's try it!~! (The above is from our own Bookstore).

Ginny

OK Ginny (G) takes all kinds. how do I buy the Maclead book from our bookstore. I'm new to this service. It's a very comfortable Teee.....really fits and doesn't have stains on the front yet. as to going outside in it --that's another matter.

Claire

Claire: you're funny!

No! No! No! I ran to the library the other day and started Rest You Merry its just great. There is the funnest scene about Xmas lights. Well I plan to finish this book and please if all can find it at the library do, you will enjoy, I give you my word. Opps someone may not but!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! O. K. on to Counterfeit Christmas. Claire that Tee has to go. You very fuuny Lady.

Bunny

Claire,

It is very easy to use the SN Bookstore, which is just an affiliation with Barnes and Noble. At the top of every page of the RoundTables, right under the SN logo, you see the word Bookstore. Just click on that and then you can click on the search button of the Bookstore page and then any books you buy while on the B&N site will provide the credit to SN. There is a code that identifies the link to SN and in fact you will see a little banner in the left-hand column that says "return to SeniorNet" which shows the connection.

As soon as I get it set up there will be a direct link from the Recommended clickable on the SN Bookstore Page that will take you to the MacLeod book. However, you can do the same thing from the buttons at the top of the page. Please let me know if I have totally confused the situation. It sounds much more complicated in the description than it is in the doing.

I bought my first book off the site a few days ago and found the process very simply. You can establish your account with them and it makes subsequent purchases even easier. The key to assuring that SN gets the benefit of the sale is starting from the SN Bookstore page.

Larry

Larry's right, I'm absolutely hooked on our B&N Bookstore, really fast.

OH NO BUNNY, well, those of us who have read the FIRST Peter Shandy Rest You Merry, can discuss IT, too, isn't it great? It set me off on a tangent of her books, but she disintegrated after a bit, but that one is really a good one. You'll be happy to learn our new choice is a sequel and we can compare notes. So all is not lost!

Claire, try it, you'll like it.

Ginny

Thanks Larry and Ginny. In setting up the account do I put my charge number on the net --something I'm loath to do, or by telephone. Larry printed your directions, understandable and fine. doesn't the difference in price get used by the freight? I don't see a savings for moi..and what does our bookstore credit get applied to. later, Claire

Claire, if you live close to a B&N, you can probably do even at the store? Amazon and B&N discount the books they sell and then they add on the $3.00 something for shipping, so sometimes if you are very close to a B&N or other bookseller, you CAN save by buying direct.

In my own case, I have to ride 30 minutes to a B&N and so by the time I've put an hour in travel and gas and gotten no discount, I've saved nothing. Plus, as I said, I'm lazy and ordering one in the middle of the night on Saturday appeals to me. PLUS they are quite fast here, not sure on the West Coast how fast they'd get to you, but they're like the speed of a bullet here.

The agreement, and Larry can speak to this better than I, has B&N paying SeniorNet 7% of the purchase price. So though Amazon and B&N are equal in their "discounts," only B&N will additionally pay SeniorNet 7%. That's nice. Everybody says, O I'll get it from Amazon and save money, but not only does B&N match them penny for penny, they also donate the 7%, and I bet it's adding up. We're probably a very good outlet for them.

But again, if one lived quite close to a discount bookstore, one (I hate saying one) could save also by just going there.

But you know something, Claire, that's an EXCELLENT question about the monies, and I'll ask where they are going.

Ginny

Clarie, I believe you can elect to call an 800 number and give your credit card number. However, when you provide your credit card number via this Internet site it is a secure server to which it is directed. I shared your same reluctance for a long time until I really thought about what happens when we give our card to a waiter who walks away from the table and later brings it back. We have no way of knowing who sees the credit card slips, that include our signature. I decided my number was probably safer on a secure server on the Internet than when I use it personally.

As to what SN uses the money for, I am sure it is used to provide general support for the SN organization, of which this website is one element. They also are doing great work in getting Learning Centers established and then supporting them and they are making significant efforts to bring computer training to underserved and less economically advantaged locations. If you haven't done so you might find some interesting reading on the Homepage for SN.

Larry