Alan J. Bishop
posts on 7/5/2005 7:23:56 AM
I'm halfway through "A Presumption..." and while I'm enjoying it, it isn't really a Wimsey story. It revolves around Harriet and village life during WWII and, while the crime is intriguing, the novel seems too laboured. It tries to have the humour of "Busmans Honeymoon" a little too blatantly. I repeat, I AM enjoying it but it feels more like a mystery story that happens to use Sayers' characters.
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Alan J. Bishop
posts on 5/29/2005 2:53:22 AM
Don't worry - the messageboard rumbles on!
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Janeite
posts on 5/29/2005 1:05:11 AM
What happened? Did my last post put
the kiss of death on these discussions?
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janeite
posts on 4/10/2005 12:16:47 AM
Nope, they're two different books. I
bought "Thrones and Dominations" but
got "A Presumption of Death" from the
library.
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Nichola
posts a bold assertion on 4/7/2005 7:31:35 PM
I'm trying to post a message here, Alan, but I'm being constantly rejected by the system.
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Alan Bishop
posts on 4/7/2005 3:23:02 AM
Perhaps "Thrones and Dominations" is published in America as "A Presumtion of Death".
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janeite
posts on 4/7/2005 2:40:45 AM
Mike - I'm the one who made the remark
about Swedes being humorless. I must
confess I can't remember if I've read a book by a Swedish author. And I take
back what I said about lack of humor.
For example, I've just learned that Swedish gerontologists refer to the elderly who live independently in their own homes as the "free ranging elderly."
Seriously, I doubt that's meant to be
funny but it strikes me as hilarious.
I hope you're not a gerontologist be
cause if you are I've put my foot in
mouth again. A comment about the last
book about DLS characters - Thrones and Dominations - I enjoyed the book
but felt the tone was just a tiny bit flat. But who can equal DLS?
Cheers! Janeite
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Nichola
posts a bold assertion on 3/23/2005 6:39:24 PM
Alan, this 'new' book by Jill Paton Walsh (based on DLS's notes) is called 'A Presumption of Death', and my copy is published by Hodder & Stoughton (2002). I found this at my local library. Haven't started it yet - but I'll get back to you about it.
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Alan J. Bishop
posts on 3/23/2005 4:48:36 PM
Hang on a mo'! The last 'new' book I'd heard of was "Thrones, Dominations" with Jill Paton-Walsh. A nice tribute - and knowledgeable work - to a dead author. There's another uncompleted work that's been 'completed'? Tell all!
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Nichola
posts on 3/22/2005 4:52:28 PM
Mike, it was I who posted the message that made reference to Henning Mankell. I know perfectly well that Mankell's books are not meant to be humorous --- I made that remark more to highlight the difference between Kurt Wallander and Ian Rankin's Scottish detective ( who has a rather cynical but nevertheless endearing sense of humour, with 'dead-pan' one liners). Here is my original message:
I've just finished reading Scottish author Ian Rankin's latest novel 'Fleshmarket Close', with his detective character John Rebus. I like Ian Rankin's work --- for its humour as well as its humanity. This last book concerned the plight of asylum-seekers and those who are prepared to exploit the situation. I'm also reading 'The Dogs of Riga' by Swedish author, Henning Mankell. His series of detective novels involve the main character Inspector Kurt Wallender. Not a lot in the way of humour --- unless the books suffer from the translation from Swedish to English. But very readable nevertheless. I'm still getting used to remembering all the Swedish place names, and surnames. Again, there is a strong humanitarian interest in these novels.
Mike, I CERTAINLY was not suggesting that Swedes are humourless. I'm sorry if you got that impression. I have read every one of Mankell's books and love them. As I mention in my original post --- there is a strong humanitarian aspect to his work, just as there is in Rankin's. But yes, humour as well --- for example, often when Kurt W. buys something he is 'schocked by the price'. He's an interesting character. I also liked the main character in the Return of the Dancing Master. I am just about to start reading the 'new' Dorothy Sayers book. I will report back on that topic.
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