Author Topic: Mystery Corner (Read 160485 times)

Alexan · « **Reply #560 on:** May 04, 2009, 02:49:27 PM »

P.S. Louise Penny site - some pretty pictures.

http://www.louisepenny.com/

Rainbow · « **Reply #561 on:** May 04, 2009, 07:09:30 PM »

This is my first post on Mystery Corner. I am finally finding time for some serious reading after a very hectic few months. It is so great to have a place to check out new authors and books.
I have read many of Elizabeth George's books and just finished Careless in Red. I think I am one of the few of her fans who liked her last book, although it was a break from her usual
subject. I did find it very heavy reading and quite depressing. I am now reading Alexander McCall Smith's Friends, Lovers, Chocolate. His books are a nice break from longer, more intense mystery. I enjoyed his #1 Ladies Detective Agency Series.

It's so great to have a long list of new books and authors to look for on our library site. I am sometimes at a loss for a new author and often return home with books I have already read. $:-\$
I'm sure that won't happen now.

I have also read a lot of Patricia Cornwell's novels. Now I am off to look for Louise Penny.
Thanks for all the information.

Alexan · « **Reply #562 on:** May 05, 2009, 01:07:30 AM »

Currently reading Laurie R. King's The Moor. This is the first one I've read. Enjoying it - if I don't get into a book beyond the second chapter - then that's it. When I was young I used to think if I started a book I had to finish it - not any more. I wasn't able to find "The Beekeeper's apprentice, but I'll keep trying.

Rainbow - as you say this is a great place to find new authors. I have read Friends, Lovers and chocolate - I enjoyed that one too. Also have read the No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency.

Rainbow · « **Reply #563 on:** May 05, 2009, 02:34:21 PM »

I requested Louise Penny's Still Life from our local library and I'm pleased to see that it is available for pick up. I understand this is the first of a series. Can't wait to try a new author.

I've also read a lot of Tony Hillerman. I enjoyed the series they had on PBS. Trouble is, I always forget which ones I've read. I had a book journal for years but lost in during one of our moves. If it's been a long time I usually don't realize I've read the book until I get to the second or third chapter. Guess that comes with age!

JoanK · « **Reply #564 on:** May 05, 2009, 02:53:10 PM »

Many of the people in the f2f bookclub hadn't read the book ("Iron Maiden" by Joe Lansdale"), but of those who had, I was the only one who didn't like it. Oh well, what do I know.

maryz · « **Reply #565 on:** May 05, 2009, 03:37:21 PM »

Hey, JoanK - you know what you do and don't like! Hang in there! I'm the only one in our beach crowd and family who doesn't read Janet Evanovich. It's okay!

Rainbow · « **Reply #566 on:** May 05, 2009, 07:36:20 PM »

I read about one third of Barbara Hambly's A Free man of Colorand could not get into that one. I was disappointed as I thought I would really enjoy it do to the time and location.
I just didn't finish it. Life is short, so many books......

Babi · « **Reply #567 on:** May 06, 2009, 09:51:04 AM »

Yeah, MARYZ. I read, and enjoyed, Evanovich's books for a while, but then it
got to be a bit much and I decided to give them a miss. Like RAINBOW said, there are so many books out there; I'd be sorry to miss a great one.

Golden State Poppy · « **Reply #568 on:** May 06, 2009, 12:12:56 PM »

Quote from: JoanK on May 01, 2009, 05:42:37 PM

I like Nancy Martin too. Do the "Princeton" muders take place in Princeton, NJ? I spent a summer there once.

They take place at Princeton Univ.

JoanP · « **Reply #569 on:** May 06, 2009, 12:23:54 PM »

As often happens when there are so many nominations, the results tend to be scattered. So that we come up with the title for the next book discussion with the most interest, we have set up a new poll with the top FIVE contenders. You will only get to vote for one of them this time.

Before opening your ballot, please be sure that you are familiar with the following titles so you know what they are each about - (You can learn about them by clicking the title in the chart in the heading at the top of the page in the Suggestion Box Discussion)

Quote

The Last Dickens by Pearl (read together with The Mystery of Edwin Drood by Dickens)
The Book Thief by Zusak
People of the Book by Brooks
Bridge of Sighs by Russo
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by Wroblewski

VOTE HERE: Run-off Vote for Future Book Discussions

mabel1015j · « **Reply #570 on:** May 06, 2009, 01:07:34 PM »

Rainbow - i had the same experience w/ Free Man of Color. It was some how too wordy, too many characters that appeared briefly and then i had too figure out who they were when they appeared again. The topic was interesting, but the writing seemed laborious to me.

I just finished a Tamar Myers book about the Mennonite Inn. I pushed myself to finish it. It had it's humorous moments, but her humor often seemed forced. ...........jean

JoanK · « **Reply #571 on:** May 06, 2009, 01:26:02 PM »

Too bad, RAINBOW. I agree -- there are too many good books out there to waste time on one you don't like.

Rainbow · « **Reply #572 on:** May 06, 2009, 03:56:59 PM »

Yes, Mabel, I also had trouble keeping the characters straight. There also seemed to be a lot of trivial information, gossip, etc. I would like to find other books about that area and period in history, I enjoy historical novels of most types.

mrssherlock · « **Reply #573 on:** May 06, 2009, 04:03:09 PM »

Have you ever read Cane River? It is a novelization of the author's family history, I found it to be compelling. http://www.bookbrowse.com/reviews/index.cfm?book_number=803

Rainbow · « **Reply #574 on:** May 06, 2009, 04:18:08 PM »

No, I haven't read it....tell me more.

mrssherlock · « **Reply #575 on:** May 07, 2009, 01:31:29 PM »

Lalita Tademy, from Berkeley, was VP of a Fortune 500 Silicon Valley company when she packed up her laptop and began her second career as a writer. She had heard tales of her family's slave beginnings in Louisiana and she wanted to know more,she found that genealogy became all consuming. As she collected documents relating to her family she realized that there were stories and more stories, leading her ever onward. Finding the record of the sale of three of her ancestors ignited a fire. It's still burning. That's what makes Cane River so engrossing, throughout the book are those documents which mark important milestones of her family , I can only barely imagine the jolt when she held bill-of-sale in her hands. Tademy's passion is evident in her writing. I highly recommend this book.

Rainbow · « **Reply #576 on:** May 07, 2009, 05:50:47 PM »

It does sound like a must read. I'll add it to my library reserves. Thanks for the added information.

Babi · « **Reply #577 on:** May 08, 2009, 08:38:05 AM »

And my library has it! Thanks, Jackie.

JoanK · « **Reply #578 on:** May 09, 2009, 02:32:41 PM »

I picked out a bunch of light mysteries this week at the library. I got one I thought would be a mix of Janet Evanovich and Kinsella (the Shopaholic Author). "Knock Off". It was a lot better than I expected. The protagonist irritated me: she judged everyone by what clothes they wore, even while she was ruining her finances buying clothes. (I know where I would stand, with my 10-year-old t-shirts). But it was a good read.

And I read a Leslie Maier -- "Bake Sale Murder", which was good. I think several of you have recommended her, but I hadn't tried her yet. This is a good find: my library has a lot of them.

I must have been hungry when I went -- most of the books I got have food in the title.

Babi · « **Reply #579 on:** May 10, 2009, 09:08:20 AM »

JOANK, I have learned not to go grocery shopping when I'm hungry. It
plays havoc with my budget!

JoanP · « **Reply #580 on:** May 10, 2009, 09:26:08 PM »

I came in this evening to ask if any of you are watching Maspterpiece Mystery this evening on PBS. Tonight is the first of three episodes of " Wallander:Sidetracked" with the Irish actor, Kenneth Branagh.

These episodes are based on best selling books by Henning Mankell -
Sidetracked, Firewall and One Step Behind Are you interested in a discussion of these thrilling mysteies?
SeniorLearn has been contacted by Masterpiece HGTV - offering us free sets of two lf these books if we are interested. (Masterpiece is one of our Reading Promotion Partners in the Library of Congress Center for the Book.)

If you are intersted in these books and chatting about the PBS adaptations, please post here and we'll open a discussion - and send you your set of novels.
I'm watching the first episode right now - Kenneth Branagh is Detective Wallender!

Frybabe · « **Reply #581 on:** May 10, 2009, 10:27:15 PM »

JoanP, Thank you for the offer. I wanted to watch it, but completely forgot it was on. I was watching the program on History Channel about the upcoming "Angels and Demons" movie based on Dan Brown's book. I've just turned the TV back on to catch the last half hour.

JoanP · « **Reply #582 on:** May 10, 2009, 10:48:09 PM »

FryB - They repeat these shows during the week - and then next week there will be an entirely new episode. Really offbeat. Kenneth Branagh was absolutely amazing - in an understated way.

Frybabe · « **Reply #583 on:** May 10, 2009, 10:55:55 PM »

My PBS station is repeating it at 1am Eastern, Joan, so I won't miss it after all.

The network just slowed down to a crawl here.

JoanK · « **Reply #584 on:** May 11, 2009, 06:21:35 PM »

I saw it last night. Brannaugh is very good, as usual. They are now filming the first three in the series for later broadcast. I have not read the series yet, but I have the first one, "Faceless Killers" for my f2f group next month.

JoanP · « **Reply #585 on:** May 11, 2009, 06:54:37 PM »

OK, we've opened a General PBS Masterpiece Discussion to determine if there is interest in the Wallanders -
This is the question in the header of the new discussion.

Would you like to form a Wallander Book/Film club? We could discuss the PBS adaptation of Henrick Mankell's novels and/or discuss Mankell's novels if you are interested. We can send you a set of two of the Wallander novels for the price of postage - if supplies last. Are you interested?

Since I had posted in several discussions about the series yesterday, I'm going to ask those of you who expressed interest to go into the new discussion, so all the information is in one place.
I'll be looking for you there, ready to take your orders!

Thanks!

Rainbow · « **Reply #586 on:** May 12, 2009, 02:49:25 PM »

I am so disappointed that I missed the start of this PBS Mystery series. That's what I get for ignoring T.V. I need to always check PBS. If nothing else I can record these to watch on my sleepless nights. I will check to see if there is a rerun sometime this week. If I can find it I will post on the PSB Mystery Discussion.

I just finished Louise Penny's Still Life and ordered another of her books from our local library. I total enjoyed Still Life, the place, the characters and her style. I could just picture Jane's paintings in my mind. My husband and I both paint, my style is somewhat like Jane's, a simple Grandma Moses.

Of course, she had such a story to tell!

Frybabe · « **Reply #587 on:** May 12, 2009, 03:03:47 PM »

Tanks for the review of Still Life, Rainbow. I've ordered two Louise Penny books for my Mom for Mother's Day. Mom doesn't like a lot of gory details, gratuitous sex or swearing. I read that Louise Penny weaves a fine story without resorting to same.

Rainbow · « **Reply #588 on:** May 12, 2009, 03:30:18 PM »

I'm sure your mom will enjoy her books. I can't wait to read the next one.

Babi · « **Reply #589 on:** May 13, 2009, 08:25:21 AM »

I haven't read any of the Mankell books, but I did manage to see a taping of the PBS Mystery feature. I don't know, perhaps it was the film. Gray seemed to predominate, and the progression seemed somewhat plodding. Did anyone else feel this way about it?

mrssherlock · « **Reply #590 on:** May 13, 2009, 12:24:14 PM »

Babi: It's hard to explain my fascination with Wallander. Maybe reading it, sharing his thoughts, creates a bond which doesn't translate well to the screen. (I haven't viewed it yet.) Maybe on a subliminal level his grayness equates wth my perceptions of what living in Sweden would be.

marjifay · « **Reply #591 on:** May 14, 2009, 12:42:34 AM »

Babi, I haven't read any of the Wallander mysteries nor seen the PBS program (I love to read mysteries, but don't care to watch them on TV or film), but the Publishers Wkly review of THE FIFTH WOMAN said "Mankell is a talented writer, but the narrative of this police procedural is so bleak and brooding that it certainly qualifies as the darkest of Swedish noir." Perhaps that's why everything looked so gray.

My favorite mystery so far by a Swedish author is THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO by Stieg Larsson. I'm really looking forward to reading his next one, THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE, which will be published in July.

Babi · « **Reply #592 on:** May 14, 2009, 08:27:46 AM »

JACKIE & MARJIFAY, I think you are both right. Living that far north, where bright sunny days are probably far from the norm, I imagine 'gray' would likely well describe the atmosphere and, often, the temperament of the inhabitants.
No insult to Sweden intended; I'm sure it is a beautiful country, and certainly it has beautiful people. I just suspect the dark and cold of the far north also results in a high percentage of depression among the population.

PatH · « **Reply #593 on:** May 14, 2009, 05:41:56 PM »

JoanK asked me to tell you that her computer is totally nonfunctional, so you won't see her until she can find out what's wrong.

JoanK · « **Reply #594 on:** May 15, 2009, 03:16:47 PM »

I'm back, I hope. Not sure yet whether everything is working.

I just finished the first Mankell "Faceless Killers". It's a genre I don't usually like, but this one pulled me along. I'll certainly read more.

This seems to be a type that is popular in Europe. He reminds me of Rankin, who has a similar detective living in Edinburgh. Scotland has a grey climate: perhaps you're right -- they're all suffering from SADD. I had heard that the depression rate in Finlanmd is very high.

The reason I could read Mankell, where I can't read Rankin is that the books are short. Rankin's detective is not only depressed, he is depressed on and on and ....

The last "Prime Suspects" on PBS followed the same pattern, as Helen Mirren becomes more and more isolated, and finally goes off alone to battle alcoholism. I expect Lars to follow the same path through the series.

Do I sound too cold?

Babi · « **Reply #595 on:** May 16, 2009, 11:53:03 AM »

Nope, JOANK. Just observant and analytical. Glad to see your computer is behaving again and you're back with us.

PatH · « **Reply #596 on:** May 17, 2009, 10:56:11 PM »

Alas, Babi, JoanK is offline again. Phone conversations with Matt produced a possible diagnosis, but actually trying to fix it will have to wait until Matt drives me down there on Wednesday.

Babi · « **Reply #597 on:** May 18, 2009, 07:28:11 AM »

I do hope Joan gets her computer in good repair soon. I miss her posts when she is away. Thank goodness she has Matt to help her with that.

mrssherlock · « **Reply #598 on:** May 18, 2009, 02:29:46 PM »

Read the new Laurie R KIng, The Language of Bees, which has a shocking story line. Not as fastr-paced as some but I couldn't wait to see how it all played out.

Babi · « **Reply #599 on:** May 19, 2009, 08:26:17 AM »

Speaking of which, I am just starting the Laurie King book, "The Letter of Mary". I've enjoyed the other Russell/Holmes books I've read, and I'm sure I'll enjoy this one. A very different flavor of Holmes than A.C. Doyle's originals.

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Author Topic: Mystery Corner (Read 160485 times)

Alexan

Alexan