tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post4687862231371928784..comments2024-03-28T08:40:52.180-07:00Comments on Bitter Tea and Mystery: Short Story Wednesday: The Fever Tree by Ruth RendellTracyKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-12954446320017548772020-11-27T14:02:40.129-08:002020-11-27T14:02:40.129-08:00Col, I am really hoping in 2021 I can stop buying ...Col, I am really hoping in 2021 I can stop buying so many books. I had that goal in 2020 and it did not work out.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-91978553731672611222020-11-27T03:54:36.844-08:002020-11-27T03:54:36.844-08:00I don't think I've got any of her shorter ...I don't think I've got any of her shorter stuff. I'll keep an eye out for this one, even thyough I need more books like a hole in the head.col2910https://www.blogger.com/profile/06422138069939709043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-21735058468349323322020-11-15T21:27:36.888-08:002020-11-15T21:27:36.888-08:00Moira, I read most of the Wexford novels, but I th...Moira, I read most of the Wexford novels, but I think I never read the last one. And some of the standalone novels, but most of them too intense for me. I did read A Judgement in Stone, long ago and plan to reread it.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-57795061874039756332020-11-15T12:53:00.970-08:002020-11-15T12:53:00.970-08:00I read a lot of Ruth Rendell short stories back in...I read a lot of Ruth Rendell short stories back in the day, including this collection. She was very clever and had a vivid imagination - there were some bangers in there.<br /><br />She is one of the authors whom I used to love - I read absolutely everything by her over a period of years - but I am less keen now: I didn't read the later ones, and rarely re-read her. The only one that I still strongly favour is A Judgement in Stone, which I think is a wonderful book, and which I do re-read. Clothes in Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00058207970686573597noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-42031608482761946422020-10-29T12:40:53.130-07:002020-10-29T12:40:53.130-07:00Patti, I was glad I found this book of short stori...Patti, I was glad I found this book of short stories and expanded my knowledge of Ruth Rendell. While I still have a few of her standalone books to try, I have mostly avoided them.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-64539904374066766952020-10-29T10:14:02.398-07:002020-10-29T10:14:02.398-07:00She would certainly rank among my ten favorite mys...She would certainly rank among my ten favorite mystery writers. Surely there is no one more versatile. Although I doubt she could turn out a good cozy. R.I.P. Ruthpattinase (abbott)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02916037185235335846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-21298311630064093962020-10-28T21:29:23.984-07:002020-10-28T21:29:23.984-07:00Cath, the stories can be disturbing, about twisted...Cath, the stories can be disturbing, about twisted or amoral people, although some also have their humorous side. None of them in this book are gruesome or horrifying. I liked them a lot.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-36670121013361489982020-10-28T16:26:07.943-07:002020-10-28T16:26:07.943-07:00I'm starting to become addicted to short stori...I'm starting to become addicted to short stories and quite enjoy always having a volume on the go. I'll look out for this one as I imagine Ruth Rendall's short stories might be on the macabre side?Cathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06371069000185280668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-23649882502269852072020-10-28T11:44:47.273-07:002020-10-28T11:44:47.273-07:00Prashant, I probably read that book over 30 years ...Prashant, I probably read that book over 30 years ago, so I haven't reviewed it and I would probably enjoy rereading it. If I did not have too much of a backlog of books to read, I would seriously considered rereading the Wexford books from the 1980s and 1990s.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-60109602890349590612020-10-28T11:37:17.167-07:002020-10-28T11:37:17.167-07:00Yvonne, I have been reading short stories more in ...Yvonne, I have been reading short stories more in the last 3 or 4 years than I ever did before. Don't know why. And I have periods of reading more of them and periods where I don't read them at all. <br /><br />I do have Roald Dahl's book of short stories Tales of the Unexpected but have not tried any yet. Nor seen any of the TV series.<br />TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-47602845666420750052020-10-28T11:10:53.263-07:002020-10-28T11:10:53.263-07:00Tracy, I'm currently reading my first book by ...Tracy, I'm currently reading my first book by Ruth Rendell titled "The Speaker of Mandarin," which I'm sure you may have already read and reviewed here.Prashant C. Trikannadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16079354501998741758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-37417235007745056432020-10-28T10:17:41.023-07:002020-10-28T10:17:41.023-07:00Hi Tracy,
I have only recently discovered that I ...Hi Tracy,<br /><br />I have only recently discovered that I quite like the idea of a short story collection, as I have hitherto always side-stepped them and I have no real idea why.<br /><br />One of your previous commenters, Nick, observed that Rendell short stories could be likened to those of Roald Dahl, whose short stories we always watched on TV, when they were aired as the series 'Tales Of The Unexpected'.<br /><br />I have only read a selection of Ruth's early stand alone stories, as I preferred to watch the 'Wexford' series when it was made into a TV series, of which I missed not a single episode!<br /><br />I shall definitely be adding this one to my list, thanks for sharing :)<br /><br />Yvonne<br />xxYvonne @ Fiction Books Reviewshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14821114534056290177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-4311304527296681212020-10-28T09:41:57.094-07:002020-10-28T09:41:57.094-07:00The standalone novels that I have read are very in...The standalone novels that I have read are very intense, Margot, but I have a few more on my TBR to try anyway. Loved the short stories though. Not predictable at all.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-55833365576169341492020-10-28T09:39:57.193-07:002020-10-28T09:39:57.193-07:00Rick, I was very surprised to like these stories s...Rick, I was very surprised to like these stories so much, given my reaction to some of Rendell's novels. I have read all but the last of the Inspector wexford novels, though, and enjoyed them all. I did not enjoy some of the earlier ones in that series when I reread them, though.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-47622058752988788432020-10-28T08:24:36.820-07:002020-10-28T08:24:36.820-07:00I know what you mean, Tracy, about the intensity o...I know what you mean, Tracy, about the intensity of Rendell's work. It's not for everyone. I'm glad you liked these short stories, though. It takes a skilled writer to do both novels and short stories well.Margot Kinberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08599589137890528065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-27060841374877763582020-10-28T08:06:21.695-07:002020-10-28T08:06:21.695-07:00For the reasons you state, I’m not a Rendell fan.For the reasons you state, I’m not a Rendell fan.Rick Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07978136287154214297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-1448206830161118092020-10-27T21:17:30.160-07:002020-10-27T21:17:30.160-07:00Nick, The Wrong Category is as you describe it. I ...Nick, The Wrong Category is as you describe it. I had to go back and reread it to make sure. <br /><br />I also liked the unexpected ending of Paintbox Place. So many good stories in one collection is amazing.<br /><br />I will look for The Fallen Curtain. TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-8391379556973113632020-10-27T20:46:40.546-07:002020-10-27T20:46:40.546-07:00Rendell was brilliant at those nasty twists in the...Rendell was brilliant at those nasty twists in the tale - rather like Roald Dahl. Have you read The Fallen Curtain, an even finer collection? <br /><br />"The Wrong Category" (if it's the one I'm thinking of) is a little gem of misdirection.<br /><br />I like some of the stand-alone novels, but others, like you, I find too intense / too grim. Not in any hurry to reread A Demon in My View! Nick Fullerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05668031989499870182noreply@blogger.com