tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-499247432649483938.post4172719145550445154..comments2024-03-11T01:39:11.362-04:00Comments on At the Scene of the Crime: The Care Bears Solve a MurderPatrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01844617192737950378noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-499247432649483938.post-86558253250912826262011-11-19T16:36:45.782-05:002011-11-19T16:36:45.782-05:00I read one when I was probably too young to apprec...I read one when I was probably too young to appreciate it... I think it was called The Black Tower or something similar. It was fine, but future attempts at her work never involved me getting past chapter one.<br /><br />To be honest, for me, anyone who is being praised for the imagery and language rather than the plot, probably isn't my cup of tea...Puzzle Doctorhttp://classicmystery.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-499247432649483938.post-40796148122928035412011-11-17T23:04:43.995-05:002011-11-17T23:04:43.995-05:00@Christopher
Your term is absolutely marvelous. In...@Christopher<br />Your term is absolutely marvelous. In fact, I think I'll start using it from now on. It's the perfect way of summing up how I feel about authors like this.<br /><br />As for the religion comment... you make an interesting point, but I still think it's rather offensive and unnecessary. It's treated as though it were some sort of clue, since it was repeated over and over again in the text that so-and-so was religious. I find it adds nothing to the character, considering that person's position in life which they seemed to accept as granted. I find it simply an ignorant statement thrown in there at worst as a clue, at best as a "statement" that carries no weight.<br /><br />How's that for navigating spoiler-filled waters? ;)<br /><br />@TomCat<br />Now you know the pain I had to actually endure. At least your pain is only in your mind. :)<br /><br />Based on this book alone, I don't think I'd become a James fan, but I'd have to give her a fairer test...Patrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01844617192737950378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-499247432649483938.post-25168560639077580552011-11-17T20:35:40.283-05:002011-11-17T20:35:40.283-05:00Like TomCat, I enjoyed James's early books, in...Like TomCat, I enjoyed James's early books, including Unsuitable Job. Too bad she began taking herself so seriously.<br /><br />Christopher: Excellent idea. PD James: Queen of the Respectables.Bob Houkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16982822149146722008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-499247432649483938.post-51303361797379706962011-11-17T16:26:19.042-05:002011-11-17T16:26:19.042-05:00The book is pretty good when you read it yourself,...The book is pretty good when you read it yourself, but I've never really gotten into P.D. James. <br /><br />As for the comment you mention, I also dislike it, but... well, a lot of New Atheists (or at least skeptics/agnostics) in England talk like that all the time. They can't go ten minutes without some sort of slur against religion, particularly Christianity, especially Catholicism. The line doesn't reflect P.D. James's own beliefs, as far as I know, so it serves mainly to distinguish and develop the character speaking the line, who comes from an academic culture where it's practically expected for people to speak like that all the time.<br /><br />I think that we need to come up with a new category, like the "Humdrums" or the "Golden Agers." I call them the "Respectables." These are the mystery writers who seek to describe themselves as the really intelligent, literary authors who are better, smarter, and more worthy of critical adulation than the popular scribblers. Of course, the "Respectables" bash their more successful or famous peers every chance they get. "Respectables" rarely explain why they write mysteries instead of "straight" novels, other than for a little much-needed money and the desire to "elevate" the genre. There is always an implication amongst "Respectables" that if the judges of the Booker Prize or Pulitzer Prize or Nobel Prize for Literature ever wanted to honor a mystery writer, than that "Respectable" would be the one to select.Christopherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03343947041898057102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-499247432649483938.post-63907525599282680392011-11-17T15:57:59.271-05:002011-11-17T15:57:59.271-05:00I read half a dozen or so of her novels when I rea...I read half a dozen or so of her novels when I really got into GAD, but the later books were really off-putting and never attempted another one after <i>Devices and Desires</i>. However, I remember liking the very early <i>A Mind to Murder</i> and <i>Unnatural Causes</i>. <br /><br />Now if you'll be so kind as to excuse me for a moment, I have to go listen to Vincent Price reciting <i>The Raven</i> over and over in order to banish that unholy mental sound that, thanks to you, is ringing in my ears.TomCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03415176301265218101noreply@blogger.com