Author Topic: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2 (Read 776286 times)

jeriron · « **Reply #1880 on:** May 12, 2011, 07:55:51 AM »

This is the place to talk about the works of fiction you are reading, whether they are new or old, and share your own opinions and reviews with interested readers.

Every week the new bestseller lists come out brimming with enticing looking books and rave reviews. How to choose?

Discussion Leader: Judy Laird

I did watch 4 of the Margaret Rutherford "Miss Marple" yesterday. Because I hadn't seen her before but I found I liked Joan Hickson. There's one thing being old but another to being ugly and old.

Babi · « **Reply #1881 on:** May 12, 2011, 08:46:02 AM »

Bite your tongue,JERIRON!!

MaryPage · « **Reply #1882 on:** May 12, 2011, 09:36:46 AM »

I take your point and am not the slightest bit offended by your opinion, but I have to tell you that Margaret Rutherford was, in her time, one of the jolliest actors on stage or screen and we all loved her to bits and to me she WAS Miss Marple!

Having seen her now, you can appreciate what I meant when I said the new Miss Marples took some adjusting on my part!

However, I agree that the new ones are better by the book.

marjifay · « **Reply #1883 on:** May 12, 2011, 10:12:18 AM »

I never watch mysteries on TV. For one thing, the characters never match what I have in my imagination from the book's characters. For another, you have to watch every minute or you might miss something and then the rest doesn't make sense. I never watch any TV that closely, for that matter. Reading a book, you can back up and re-read a page or paragraph if you miss something, but that's not possible on TV.

Marj

jeriron · « **Reply #1884 on:** May 12, 2011, 11:13:28 AM »

I of couse liked Helen Hayes and thought she would have made a great Miss Marple although she only did one or two I think.
Oh I'm also with most of you on liking Miss Marple better the Poirot. I just realized I have Miss Marple with Joan Hickson. Maybe I'll watch them again. The box doesn't say CC though so I will have to put one in and find out.

Why do we Americans think we can copy English films/tv shows and get it just as good as they did. and next season they are doing a remake of Prime Suspect with someone named Maria Bello. I have no idea who she is. But I bet there will be car chases and lots of guns in this one.

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #1885 on:** May 12, 2011, 11:27:16 AM »

I think Joan Hickson was definitely the best one, although I thought Julia McKenzie came a good second. Joan Hickson was the one who really brought the character to the wider TV audience, and I think that many people would see her as "being" Miss Marple.

Rosemary

jeriron · « **Reply #1886 on:** May 12, 2011, 12:35:07 PM »

Rosemary

I agree. As I said I had never seen one with Rutherford until yesterday.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #1887 on:** May 12, 2011, 04:44:30 PM »

Posted this is "the library", but it goes here too, i guess.

Am reading a delightful Haywood Smith fiction based near Atlanta; a middle -aged, uptight, controlling banker has a stroke and is in a coma for 6 months. When he is given a special treatment to wake him from his coma, he awakes a different personality - impulsive, cussing, repentant (for his past meanness, espescially to his wife), do-gooder, who horrifies his uptight, upper crust Mother and sometimes his wife and children. It has humor and thought provoking bits and pieces.

Have a Chiaverini - A Christmas Quilt, and am still reading the second volume of John Jakes' The Rebels. I read the Jakes' series decades ago, but am enjoying them again. Historical fiction, well researched. He includes real historical characters in, obviously fictional, but possible circumstances: Ben Franklin, Henry Knox, Thomas Jefferson, Geo Washington, etc. Yes, all male, i think the series was written in the 70's, before there was a new concentration
on women in history......i recommend these if you haven't read them....... Jean

Steph · « **Reply #1888 on:** May 13, 2011, 06:08:30 AM »

I have never been a Jakes fan, but we did sell a lot of him in my used bookstore.. He is popular, more with men than women.
I seem to be stuck in not quite fiction at the moment.. 97 Orchard is a story of a tenement in Manhattan(true) with the different ethnic groups who lived there in sequence and what they ate and how they cooked it. Interesting.. Then I picked up the Tracy Kidder about the Nursing Home and the two gentlemen,, again non fiction. Both are good.. Reading a Chris Bohjalian.. Secrets of Eden as my bed book. I loved his Midwife, but this one is not holding my attention.

Tomereader1 · « **Reply #1889 on:** May 13, 2011, 11:57:03 AM »

jeriron, Maria Bello is a very competent actress. You don't see her in many movies, most of them are independent movies. I can't picture her as the lead detective in Prime Suspect, but then, how does one replace Helen Mirren? Duh...you can't. I think Maria will give it a good go, and it will depend on the writing as to how good the re-make is.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #1890 on:** May 13, 2011, 04:17:55 PM »

Just realized i didn't give you the title of the Smith book....... Waking Up in Dixie. I finished it last night and i definitly recommend it...... Jean

CallieOK · « **Reply #1891 on:** May 13, 2011, 06:16:08 PM »

I've just finished reading "An Object of Beauty" by Steve Martin (yes, the comedian). I loved it!

The jacket blurb says "With twenty-two lush, four-color art reproductions throughout, (the book) is both a primer on the business of fine art collecting and a close study of the personalities that make it run."
Main character Lacey Yeager is "groomed at Sotheby's and hungry to keep climbing the social and career ladders set before her....Her ascension to the highest tiers of (the New York art dealer world) parallels the soaring heights - and, at times, the darkest lows - of the art world and the country from the late 1990's through today."

The book was published last fall and the last chapters take place in 2009. I thought it was well written.

I've never been to New York but i've spent all afternoon Googling locations, street level pictures and information about all the restaurants mentioned in the book. Wow!

Steph · « **Reply #1892 on:** May 14, 2011, 11:03:19 AM »

I understand that Steve Martins book is excellent. I am just so far behind on reading at this point.
Not sure if I read slower or have less time.. Hmm.

maryz · « **Reply #1893 on:** May 14, 2011, 01:19:21 PM »

I've read the Steve Martin book, and although I think he's fabulous, I wasn't too impressed with this book. I did finish it, but never really did care very much for the characters. Glad you liked it better, Callie.

CallieOK · « **Reply #1894 on:** May 14, 2011, 02:04:53 PM »

Maryz, The fact that I spent all afternoon with the internet and a map of NYC looking up information, locations and pictures of the many restaurants where the characters ate - instead of looking up information about the art work/artists mentioned throughout the book is probably a good indication of the intellectual level at which I read fiction. $:-\$

Frybabe · « **Reply #1895 on:** May 14, 2011, 03:44:16 PM »

Callie, I just love to take a map and trace a character's movements or places mentioned in a book. My favorites, after all these years, are still Oliver Twist and Two Years Before the Mast, More recently, on the internet with maps and pix of the area for Guy Gavriel Kay's Ysabel (Aix-en-Province) and Steve Berry's The Templar Legacy(Rennes-le-Chateau). In the case of the latter, I also looked up the historical characters involved. The place is tourist attraction now. Fascinating.
http://www.renneslechateau.com/default-uk.htm

maryz · « **Reply #1896 on:** May 14, 2011, 03:58:21 PM »

We both love to read with maps in hand. And spent a lot of time in NM and AZ following the back roads from Tony Hillerman's books. He was very precise, and it was easily done. But, I've got to at least care about the characters.

CallieOK · « **Reply #1897 on:** May 14, 2011, 06:01:02 PM »

Gee - maybe I'm not as "out of the loop" as I thought!

I have a map of Medieval England that is literally taped together because I've used it so much.

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #1898 on:** May 15, 2011, 01:53:40 AM »

I am always overcome with joy if I come across another of A McCall Smith's Edinburgh locations (the Scottish Gallery, Glass & Thompson, Valvolla & Crolla...). And the other day I was sitting in a coffee shop at Fettes, when It suddenly dawned on me (please make allowances....

that the police station across the road is of course the Fettes of Ian Rankin's Rebus novels (- I think Rebus is based at St Leonard's but goes frequently to the station at Fettes). And Cramond always makes me think of Miss Jean Brodie.

Barbara Pym refers to locations in London that I remember from my youth, although I don't think she would recognise most of them today. And I love the way that Donna Leon includes a map of Venice at the front/back of her books - I like to try to see what is happening where. Surely there are few things more evocative than maps - Callie, the jigsaw I just finished that was a map of mediaeval Britain was absolutely fascinating - I wish they still made maps with little pictures of what they thought was there. We also have a 1960s puzzle of the USA with illustrations - little people doing whatever is (or was then) associated with each state - I suppose it's a children's puzzle really but I love it.

Rosemary

Steph · « **Reply #1899 on:** May 15, 2011, 09:27:37 AM »

When I lived north of Boston in the 80's,I could retrace Spensers trips and where Susan was supposed to live in Cambridge.. I always wanted to go back to the southwest and trace Hillermans books. I know that he used real places..So I envy you for getting to do so. There is another Boston Author.. Linda Barnes and Carlotta, her taxi cab driver heroine.. She also uses real places.

Babi · « **Reply #1900 on:** May 15, 2011, 12:59:17 PM »

Those map puzzles with figures are great educational tools, too. The images
stick with you so much better than notes from a lecture. Cowboys, cows and oil wells for
Texas!
And songs. Having listened to "I'm as corny as Kansas in August" from South Pacific, I have a
fact I will always remember. Kansas grows a LOT of corn.

maryz · « **Reply #1901 on:** May 15, 2011, 02:11:00 PM »

Steph, there are some great Elderhostels (Road Scholars programs) in Hillerman Country - and a number that have sections on his writings. We've done several out there.

Steph · « **Reply #1902 on:** May 16, 2011, 06:05:31 AM »

I have been doing Elderhostels close to home, but I may look into the Hillerman ones.. He is such a favorite author or mine and his characters always feel so real.

ursamajor · « **Reply #1903 on:** May 16, 2011, 08:55:32 AM »

The best Elderhostel we ever attended was at Farmington, NM. We studied the Navaho and the works of Tony Hillerman. One of the Navaho code talkers, now a college professor, gave us a lecture on the difficulty of educating their children for today's world without destroying their native culture. I would like to do it again.

maryz · « **Reply #1904 on:** May 16, 2011, 11:42:37 AM »

Ursamajor - were we there at the same one? We've done that one, too. It is fabulous! Pat Westerbrook happened to be at that one when we were.

Do you live in TN? You mentioned something about going to the Knoxville library.

roshanarose · « **Reply #1905 on:** May 16, 2011, 09:25:05 PM »

maryz - I love your Cherokee saying.

Rosemary - Have you found that fish 'n' chips shop that sells battered haggis yet? I never really could get into Ian Rankin books, probably because I am not fond of the actor who plays his detective in movies. He has about as much charisma as a cockroach. He was quite cute as the brother in "The Mummy's Curse" though. I think he is a better comedian than detective. imho the same applies to Hugh Lawrie (sp) in "House". I can never take him seriously after his role as the crazy prince in Blackadder. Two classic cases of typecasting.

maryz · « **Reply #1906 on:** May 16, 2011, 10:07:13 PM »

Thanks, Rose. Would you believe it was the quote in my "quote-acrostic" puzzle in the paper the other day?

Steph · « **Reply #1907 on:** May 17, 2011, 06:10:11 AM »

I will make time to look up New Mexico in my Elderhostel catalogue and see what is up for the rest of the year.
I am now the champion toilet seat installer.. I read the directions.. carefully followed them and voila.. new seat.. Hooray for me.

MaryPage · « **Reply #1908 on:** May 17, 2011, 08:54:49 AM »

Good on You, Steph!

I had to get a new one last year, and just yelped for my son-in-law. He bought and installed it and I wrote the check.

Piece of cake my way. YOUR way makes me want to dash for my bed and hide under the covers!

JoanK · « **Reply #1909 on:** May 17, 2011, 02:52:40 PM »

Hoorah, STEPH! But if you disappear, should we assume you fell in?

Tomereader1 · « **Reply #1910 on:** May 17, 2011, 03:04:19 PM »

Okay, Steph, are you ready to "install a new flushing mechanism?" The float thingy?

Steph · « **Reply #1911 on:** May 18, 2011, 06:20:10 AM »

The floaty thing. My sons installed some new ones last year, so hopefully that will be a future project for me.
I have also gotten out a ladder and changed the batteries in my husbands beloved weather station. It is quite high on the wall for various reasons, this is the reporting end, not the end I look at.
Now to figure out the garage vacuum.. The car needs vacuuming..

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #1912 on:** May 18, 2011, 09:07:54 AM »

Roshanarose - no, haven't come across the battered haggis yet myself, although I imagine that you can get in a lot of chip shops, I will have a look. The battered mars bar is everywhere.

Ken Stott was much better, IMO, than John Hannah, the first actor who played Rebus. In the recent adaptation of Nigel Slater's "Toast" (his story of his childhood) Ken Stott played Nigel's father - he was brilliant, I didn't even realise he "was" Rebus until my husband worked it out.

I agree about Hugh Laurie - for me he will always be the various characters he played in Blackadder, which the girls and I love and often re-watch. However, I believe he has made an absolute fortune doing House (which I have never seen).

Rosemary

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #1913 on:** May 18, 2011, 12:31:46 PM »

I used to watch 'House' faithfully and then enough - Hugh Laurie with all his incarnations in the part does have a tongue in cheek sensibility that is constant - the part has him cold - then in love - playing the field then back in love - a drug addict - in recovery and a successful after recovery - fired, sued, hired back - on and on it goes - and nothing seems to hit his soul so to speak - so that under it all you know beats the heart of Lieutenant George -

House's personal hygiene standards and his clever solutions to extraordinary illness as well as his perceptive views on everyone is part of the character so it is a bit like watching Lieutenant George's twin without the ribaldry of support characters so that it is not a comedy - could be that it is actually Hugh Laurie brining Hugh Laurie to all his characters.

For me he is always Bertie Wooster...

Steph · « **Reply #1914 on:** May 19, 2011, 06:31:28 AM »

Idont watch House any more. mdh loved it, but I never did. I cannot imagine how anyone would tolerate the behavior of the character anywhere.. He might heal them, but the cost is amazing to me.. Not a fun show.. I dont think I have ever seen him in the British series stuff.. Will try to some day.

Tomereader1 · « **Reply #1915 on:** May 19, 2011, 11:50:34 AM »

The first couple of seasons, hubby and I watched House and enjoyed. As his character became more and more dependent on pain killers, he became nastier and nastier, and I couldn't see how any of his doctors could even stand to work with him. This season, we have watched maybe one or two episodes and then only because there was nothing else appealing to us on TV. I've given up on the series. He's also made a couple of movies that I've seen. He is a good actor.

Steph · « **Reply #1916 on:** May 20, 2011, 06:04:36 AM »

I am still having fun with netflix.. Watching old tv shows that I misses and some of the HBO shows that are interesting as well..

maryz · « **Reply #1917 on:** May 20, 2011, 11:04:16 AM »

Re House: I watched a couple of times because a couple of our daughters loved the show. I found the character totally unsympathetic and unpleasant, so quit watching it. Just different responses to characters.

marjifay · « **Reply #1918 on:** May 20, 2011, 05:22:06 PM »

I can't watch House. Every time I've breezed over it, people were in a hospital of talking about somebody's illness. I've been to a hospital enough times that I sure don't want to watch anything connected with one! And House needs a good shave. Yuk!

Marj

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #1919 on:** May 21, 2011, 03:49:45 AM »

News:

Author Topic: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2 (Read 776286 times)