What I'm Reading Wednesday (now at least bi-annual)

[thisbluespirit]

(I'm still not doing anything for fandom_stocking. Luckily it should open soon and then I can relax and do something else! I forget, of course, that 'better' when you've been bad is a relative term.

Also I seem to have given the impression to everyone that Manhunt is rubbish and it really isn't; it was just a bit up and down and sexist to begin with & I get very little out of protracted 'action' sequences. It's now reached an impressively consistent high standard. Vincent, Nina, and Jimmy, though, remain the most rubbish. Strangely, everyone was a lot more interested in watching it despite this, much more so than anybody is when I tell them old TV is good. Reverse psychology??)

Anyway, look at me, this makes it twice in a year (not calendar year) at least this time. I probably won't read enough to make it every Wednesday, but hopefully more often. I am optimistic!

What I've Just Finished Reading

And So To Murder by Carter Dickson, which I finished up quite quickly after I posted the other day. It was good fun and I enjoyed it. I still don't know whether to praise the BBC for giving me lovely mental casting (the three characters who were the most fun were played by Suzanne Neve, William Russell, and Stephanie Bidmead) or curse them for burninating it, but it did add to the book, so I suppose I'd better at least be a tiny bit grateful.

As I said, Monica Stanton (aka Suzanne Neve) is a vicar's daughter who writes a steamy Romance novel in 1939; her aunt, distressed, wonders why she couldn't write a nice detective novel, like those by Bill Cartwright (Wm Russell):

Now Monica Stanton, to begin with, had no real grievance against that inoffensive form of entertainment known as the detective-story. She neither liked nor disliked it. She had read a few, which struck her as being rather far-fetched and slightly silly, although doubtless tolerable enough if you liked that sort of thing. But, by the time her aunt had finished, Monica was in such a state that she had come to curse the day Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was born. It was a wordless, mindless passion of hatred. As for Mr William Cartwright... Monica felt that she would like to poison Mr Cartwright with curare, and dance on his grave.

And so of course, Monica gets a job at a film studio only to find that she has to write the screenplay for William Cartwright's detective novel while he has to write the screenplay for her distressingly sexy romance. (He thinks it's lousy.) Cue much arguing, an almost instant murder attempt based on one of Bill's books, and, of course, the big question - will Monica persuade Bill Cartwright to shave off his horrible beard?

Which is all good fun. I'm not sure about Sir Henry Merriville, who is theoretically the detective. He even manages to beat Alleyn for lack of time spent on the page, but, unlike Alleyn, I can't help feeling he'd be very annoying if he was around for much longer. (Although, talking of Alleyn, given that Sir HM is head of British Intelligence in WWII, and Alleyn did Intelligence work in WWII, he presumably had to work for him. He probably returned from New Zealand with a carefully filled out file of detailed intel and Henry Merriville just stuffed it untidily in a drawer and told him he knew what was going on from the first radio message anyway. Poor Alleyn.)

I might see if the library has any more by the author under either pseudonym (Carter Dickson or John Dickson Carr), but I suspect this one was just a fun idea, really. The back cover announces, engagingly, that it can't have a photo and autobiographical note about Carter Dickson because he "prefers to conceal his identity behind the mystery of not only one but two pseudonyms; and it is therefore not possible to satisfy the reader's curiosity about a person who to all intents and purpose does not exist." Sadly for Mr Dickson, the internet is a great spoilsport if you want to maintain a secret identity beyond the grave.

Before Christmas, I can now say that I was for obvious reasons, re-reading a lot of Miss Marple as well as reading Dracula for the first time (my reactions are in my Yuletide reveals post).

I also finished Venetia by Georgette Heyer, a re-read, although it was one of the books I rashly gave away a while ago, so it had been a long time. Very enjoyable, of course, and I am very happy to have a copy again. It is very sad that after a year of reading Regency Romances, I still haven't found anyone even a tiny bit like Georgette Heyer. I wish there would be, somewhere, in some period or other.


What I'm Reading Now

I'm a bit between things, but I continue with the very excellent The Victorian City by Judith Flanders in NF. (I am even taking notes for family history, which is a very exciting development as of the last few weeks and months. It's taken a bit of patient building up, but I'm able to do it a little again.)


What I'm Reading Next

That is the question. I was looking at my TBR (when spoons) pile and seeing whether any of them clicked easily, but I haven't decided which one to try next or whether just to re-read something to build up a little more stress-free stamina first before I risk reading a new-to-me book that might get killed by CFS. (I'd rather wait and be fair in my first reading). We shall see!

Comments

[john_amend_all]

I think And So To Murder is the only Dickson I've read, so can't comment on whether the rest published under that byline are similar. I've read several of the Carr ones; most of those rely on fiendishly complicated locked-room mysteries, and they vary considerably in tone. The Case of the Constant Suicides is, I think, the most like ASTM, with the young couple who can't stand each other (this time they're historians who constantly argue about Barbara Villiers). Whereas It Walks By Night has a much more oppressive atmosphere that steadily builds.

He did do a couple of time-travel murder mysteries I quite liked: The Devil in Velvet, wherein an academic sells his soul to the Devil so he can travel back in time to 1675 and solve a historical murder. Or better yet, prevent it. And Fire, Burn!, wherein a present-day (ie, 1950s) policeman gets out of a taxi and finds himself in 1829, and has to solve a murder without any of the crimefighting apparatus he's used to.

[thisbluespirit]

I'll definitely see if the library has any more by either name when I'm next in there.

Someone else recced Fire, Burn!, on LJ, and as time-travel detective stories are rare, I'll certainly have to look out for it - and the other, two.

[john_amend_all]

I should also perhaps have mentioned Captain Cut-Throat, which is more of a spy novel set in 1803 (no time travel involved). It seemed to me rather as if Carr had read The Scarlet Pimpernel, and decided he'd write his own story with an estranged English couple engaging in derring-do under the noses of the French. Only they're not up against Chauvelin, but Fouché, who's a lot more on-the-ball.

[thisbluespirit]

Clearly, I'll just have to keep an eye out for him generally now! :-)

[earthspirits]

I find reading vintage books to be quite interesting, and rather soothing. Sounds like you have a very nice assortment!

[thisbluespirit]

Thanks! I probably should read something new one day, but in the meantime, you can't beat an old Penguin greenback. :-)

[mab_browne]

For all that she created a genre, there isn't really anyone like Georgette Heyer. I find it interesting reading her books and watching how she developed her craft, and then got bored with tropes she'd created....

[thisbluespirit]

She certainly wasn't that keen on the genre she accidentally created! (It's not hard to see why, sadly. And then people reverse-lump her in with them all.)

[garonne.livejournal.com]

I still haven't found anyone even a tiny bit like Georgette Heyer

Exactly! Once I'd read my way through all of Heyer's books, I thought, "Great, there must be loads more of this Regency Romance genre out there. Can't wait to read it." But actually nothing comes close to Heyer's style and wit. Everything I could find was more like "Mills and Boon in the 1800s".

I really enjoyed 'Inside the Victorian Home' by Judith Flanders, but didn't realise she'd written other books too. I must take a look at that one you mention.

[thisbluespirit]

Everything else I've been reading actually is Mills & Boon (or Avon or similar) in the 18th/19th C, so I can't really blame anyone. But if you ask who writes like Heyer, that's all you get and, no offense to them, they don't write like Heyer!

Maybe someone's hiding some gems in a different period? Maybe... *wistful*

I really enjoyed 'Inside the Victorian Home' by Judith Flanders, but didn't realise she'd written other books too. I must take a look at that one you mention.

Oh, she's written quite a few & she's usually very good, too. I've really enjoyed all the ones I've read by her (although I haven't yet got the Inside the Victorian Home' one) - Consuming Passions, The Invention of Murder and The Victorian House are all good. The Victorian City is probably something her publisher foisted onto her as it's actually about Dickensian London, so covers his lifetime, and she clearly couldn't be more enthused about the subject. (Yesterday my reading section of it including very rude Victorian drinking songs. You can't ask for more, can you? ;-D) (I also particularly loved The INvention of Murder all about the newspapers and crime and fiction in the 19th C, but, as I said, she's v enjoyable generally.)

[hamsterwoman]

(I'm still not doing anything for [community profile] fandom_stocking. Luckily it should open soon and then I can relax and do something else!

Looks like reveals are pushed to the weekend now. I was kind of hoping for the window of opportunity to be closed, too, this year, because I feel just well enough to want to do something more but not well enough to actually do it, I think... :/

[thisbluespirit]

Yes, exactly! Oh no, I shall have to g on feeling guilty for days! /o\ (Well, I suppose I might manage something, you never know.) *sighs* Oh, fandom_stocking. Next year I'll try and make myself give it a miss!

[swordznsorcery.livejournal.com]

Oh good, I'm glad the Carter Dickson turned out well, even if the BBC were evil about it. My favourite of his (so far) is one of the ones he wrote as John Dickson Carr, and it's about a modern (then!) detective who suddenly finds himself in 1829 England; so basically shrugs, rolls up his sleeves, and starts detecting then too. It's called "Fire, Burn!", and I rather recommend it.

I wish you much stress-free stamina. Nothing should ever be allowed to ruin reading.

[executrix.livejournal.com]

I like The Burning Court!

[swordznsorcery.livejournal.com]

That one sounds interesting. He must have had a heck of an imagination.

[thisbluespirit]

Fire, Burn! must def. be a good one, because someone's recommended it on the other side, too! (By which I mean Dreamwidth, not the great beyond.)

[swordznsorcery.livejournal.com]

It's fun, because it combines the murder-mystery aspect with a sprinkling of fantasy/sci-fi. I doubt it's the greatest whodunnit ever written or anything like that, but it's a good adventure, and he knew how to spin a good tale. I know that it does annoy some people though, as there's very little attempt to explain exactly how our 1950s copper is just suddenly in 1829! Personally I felt that that didn't really matter, but I guess maybe it depends on how much science you expect in your sci-fi.

[thisbluespirit]

But maybe he was actually a time traveller himself and couldn't explain the apparent time-travel bit until LoM and Ashes to Ashes had finished? ;-D

Clearly, I'll have to see if I can pick up some more of his, either via the lib or second hand. He certainly seems light and readable enough, which is very important for me right now!

[evelyn-b.livejournal.com]

That Carter Dickson sounds AMAZING. Even if I am preemptively very put out on Alleyn's behalf. I mean, Alleyn is used to dealing tactfully with a great deal, but still. All his hard work! D:

I hope you get the chance for more stress-free reading in the future. <3

[thisbluespirit]

It was good fun! I'm not sure how much more of it it would take to become annoying, but everyone is saying that his books under the John Dickson Carr name are v interesting and vary a lot, so I can see I shall have to see whether the library has any more of either.

Yes, poor Alleyn! Although, he would know Sir Henry Merriville's brilliant and eccentric reputation and would no doubt just say that it works for him, but obviously the rest of them have to stick to the dull but thorough routine work.

I am v hopeful about the reading! I think the Regency Romance cure seems to have worked. :-)

[jaxomsride.livejournal.com]

There hasn't been one like Heyer, more's the pity.
Just readThe Spirit of St Mary Mead. I must say it sounds all too plausible!

[thisbluespirit]

No, dammit. I keep feeling sure there must be! Someone must be able to write entertaining comedy of manners probably set at some point in the past... where are they???

:-/

Still, at least we do have Heyer.

ETA: And thank you! :-D

[a-phoenixdragon.livejournal.com]

*HUGS*

[ragnarok-08.livejournal.com]

The Carter Dickinson sounds really amazing :)

I hope that you get the chance for stress-free reading soon.

[thisbluespirit]

It was fun. It's kind of a novelty to me now to find a book fun. I hear some of his under the John Dickson Carr name are maybe more interesting, so I might see if the library has some!

[ylla.livejournal.com]

I do wonder if it's that Heyer wasn't really setting out to write romance in the modern sense, where everything else is just background, but wanted to write about historical happenings, some of which happen to be romantic - because the only other people I can think of with anything of the same flavour to them are Patrick O'Brian and Susanna Clark, both of whom were writing something else, just with occasional incidental romance. (I may have said this before, can't remember!)

[thisbluespirit]

Well, not in the 'how often can they have sex/think about having sex sense' but she's definitely a romance structure, which is a huge part of her appeal for me. I love JSMN, too, but that's a whole different thing, even if I know what you mean about the style - it's a delight. BuT GH also has the romance structure - it's the combination of that dance of romance/comedy of manners but done with wit, style, knowledge of the period and the feeling of pleasure in the performance, maybe.

The others vary, but they are basically Mills & Boon and Avon or equivalent and they have x many sex scenes to get through, while other people who write historical fics, romance or not, tend to be 'this is my srs business novel'. But I don't see why there couldn't be someone a bit similar writing in some period somewhere. One day! :-/

(Patrick O'Brien's M&C series is on my big TBR-when-spoons pile, though. I mean, the literal one at the bottom of one of the bookshelves, not a mental or virtual or metaphorical one. I've been collecting them in charity shops in optimism. I feel sure they could be okay, given time!

But Heyer... someone could try just a little bit. In any period they liked as long as it's not modern because it ruins comedy of manners when you have to swear like Bridget Jones and have sex casually.

(I'm not demanding and unreasonable. :lol:)

[flowsoffire.livejournal.com]

Yay for reading :)

*hugs*

[thisbluespirit]

Indeed! :-)

[liadt]

I'm glad 'And So To Murder' was a fun read. Why would the BBC want to get rid of something featuring a dodgy beard?

I hope whatever you read next goes well too.

[thisbluespirit]

Thank you! I don't know. Why did the BBC and ITV burninate anything; I don't think they kept all the dodgy beards even if it feels like it sometimes.

[dimity-blue.livejournal.com]

My mum used to have some books by John Dickson Carr, but not by Carter Dickson.

I love your idea of Alleyn's meticulous file being stuffed in a corner by Sir Henry Merriville. At least Alleyn would soon be comforted by Troy.

I'm thinking of doing a re-read of Ms. Heyer. Her books are splendidly superb.

I hope you have more spoons soon. *hugs*

[thisbluespirit]

Yes, I feel however annoyed Alleyn might be over it momentarily, he'd be philosophical - and as you say, he'd have Troy to go home to and that's what matters. ♥

A Heyer re-read is always a good idea to make things seem a bit better!

Let us all have all the spoons we need! And forks. May nobody wrest items of cutlery from us! (Btw, in the light of your recents 'adventures', I feel I should tell you that in Spooks someone once killed somebody with a fork. Maybe you were getting a suspicious look, because after all, someone like that... there could have been murder attempts before! ;-p *hugs*)

[dimity-blue.livejournal.com]

Ha! That explains it all! *keeps a fork on her desk for next time*