tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post5585746573673064273..comments2024-03-28T22:42:54.810-07:00Comments on Bitter Tea and Mystery: Books of 1915: The 39 Steps by John BuchanTracyKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-12220090670525064162015-01-20T12:46:07.736-08:002015-01-20T12:46:07.736-08:00Rebecca, it will be interesting to check out other...Rebecca, it will be interesting to check out other books chosen and what people thought about them, because some of them would never appeal to me. I am sure that there are exceptions.<br /><br />Spy fiction is variable. There are a lot of mystery readers who don't like that sub-genre at all. TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-53491418767412913642015-01-20T05:55:25.725-08:002015-01-20T05:55:25.725-08:00You bring up some of the things that bother me abo...You bring up some of the things that bother me about 100 year old books as well-- and in my case I just couldn't finish my 1915 book pick.<br /><br />Spy fiction is a big blind spot in my reading, and while I'd like to read some, I'm not sure when I will get to it!RebeccaKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14720581274534125405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-17186334845181231852015-01-19T12:11:49.136-08:002015-01-19T12:11:49.136-08:00I remembered another thing I prefer about the olde...I remembered another thing I prefer about the older mysteries... the fact that technology is so prevalent in recent fiction really turns me off. I work in information technology but I don't want to read about it in crime fiction so much. I do like some science fiction, but most of that is more hopeful.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-62777897312221645812015-01-19T00:44:34.827-08:002015-01-19T00:44:34.827-08:00We do become anaesthetised to misery and horror bu...We do become anaesthetised to misery and horror but in my case the anaesthetic has worn off!dfordoomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02306293859869179118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-30913695780716250702015-01-18T11:14:38.117-08:002015-01-18T11:14:38.117-08:00That is very interesting, dfordoom. I certainly do...That is very interesting, dfordoom. I certainly don't go for misery and horror, but somehow we become anesthetized to it. I will have to pay more attention to how much I read from various time periods. Doesn't seem like I read a lot of new stuff, but I do like 60's, 70's and 80's books.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-37368466386050527002015-01-18T10:43:07.468-08:002015-01-18T10:43:07.468-08:00I have the opposite bias. I can't read anythin...I have the opposite bias. I can't read anything written in the past half century - too much cynicism, too much nihilism, too much political correctness. And in modern crime fiction, too much misery and horror.<br /><br />In older books I tend to see the positive aspects - the beliefs in honour, and duty, and courage, and a certain basic decency.dfordoomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02306293859869179118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-32987040315644343662015-01-16T16:16:46.152-08:002015-01-16T16:16:46.152-08:00Thanks, Nancy. I am glad you are enjoying the crim...Thanks, Nancy. I am glad you are enjoying the crime fiction you are reading. Like any type of fiction, it is variable and different readers have different tastes, but there is a lot of good writing in crime fiction.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-54778781028842710072015-01-16T14:30:55.729-08:002015-01-16T14:30:55.729-08:00I enjoyed your analysis. I never think to look for...I enjoyed your analysis. I never think to look for stereotypes, slurs, bigotry or the role of women. I have much to learn about crime fiction! Just finished my 2nd book...crime is becoming addictive!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-84904023257898681192015-01-16T13:09:12.489-08:002015-01-16T13:09:12.489-08:00Thanks for the kind words, R.T. I do hope you enjo...Thanks for the kind words, R.T. I do hope you enjoy re-reading The 39 Steps. TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-25938489871628808992015-01-16T08:32:11.754-08:002015-01-16T08:32:11.754-08:00I am intrigued by your postings and your style -- ...I am intrigued by your postings and your style -- and I stumbled onto your site via Patti's -- so I am going to include your site among my "favorites" at Beyond Eastrod. Now, though, I have to grab my copy of Buchan's novel and revisit it. See what you've started!R.T.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13220814349193561823noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-80228022949775389022015-01-15T18:16:47.373-08:002015-01-15T18:16:47.373-08:00I am sure you would see it differently now, Moira,...I am sure you would see it differently now, Moira, whether for better or worse. But I am not sure it is worth a reread.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-61927294275122364332015-01-15T18:10:36.435-08:002015-01-15T18:10:36.435-08:00I read this book as a teenager and absolutely love...I read this book as a teenager and absolutely loved it - I probably wasn't too bothered about aspects that would certainly trouble me now. It would be interesting to read it again, from that point of view, but perhaps life is too short... Clothes In Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14680610242823846662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-3667442395522945832015-01-15T16:50:29.030-08:002015-01-15T16:50:29.030-08:00Margot, I try to read "around" the isms ...Margot, I try to read "around" the isms and I don't know if that is good or bad. Regardless, the book did have its good points.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-68290248006013755072015-01-15T16:49:24.611-08:002015-01-15T16:49:24.611-08:00Thank you, Prashant. I was glad I finally read thi...Thank you, Prashant. I was glad I finally read this book. And now I get to watch the Hitchcock movie again. I have never seen any other adaptations.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-65745478205454887002015-01-15T07:05:58.809-08:002015-01-15T07:05:58.809-08:00Tracy - Very nice and objective review. I get real...Tracy - Very nice and objective review. I get really bothered by the 'isms' of older crime fiction too. It's hard to put those feelings aside when you're looking at the quality of an older story. But I'm glad you found things to like here.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-66523312067689970072015-01-15T00:43:16.193-08:002015-01-15T00:43:16.193-08:00Tracy, I think you reviewed this "hard book&q...Tracy, I think you reviewed this "hard book" very well and I'm even more curious to read it now. Like you, I have read several reviews of this classic tale.Prashant C. Trikannadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16079354501998741758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-53807084532737910822015-01-14T22:53:02.697-08:002015-01-14T22:53:02.697-08:00I would like to try Greenmantle, Col, but don'...I would like to try Greenmantle, Col, but don't know how much more I would read of his books.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-88130838257957771122015-01-14T21:07:47.811-08:002015-01-14T21:07:47.811-08:00That is a very interesting insight, Ryan. Having t...That is a very interesting insight, Ryan. Having to deal with prejudices in one's personal life does make one more sensitive. I get really bugged by sexism, more than other "isms". I see all of those nowadays too, though, people are just not so open with it.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-22792697862898234712015-01-14T21:04:59.747-08:002015-01-14T21:04:59.747-08:00You are right, Bernadette, I am much more of a fan...You are right, Bernadette, I am much more of a fan of spy fiction. One of favorite genres, although I will admit spy fiction can be very variable.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-5130669121630320592015-01-14T20:45:42.562-08:002015-01-14T20:45:42.562-08:00Glad you were entertained Tracy and thanks for lin...Glad you were entertained Tracy and thanks for linking to my posts on it. I probably enjoyed it the same as you, but haven't rushed to read his next Hannay adventure.col2910https://www.blogger.com/profile/06422138069939709043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-18489202829357958892015-01-14T19:19:27.490-08:002015-01-14T19:19:27.490-08:00I've always been bugged by sexism and racism i...I've always been bugged by sexism and racism in early books, but I've always been able to brush it aside and blame the times. What I've come to realize about myself, especially after the way I reacted to Murder is Easy by Agatha Christie and That Which Is Crooked by Doris Miles Disney, is homophobia is what kills me. I think it's because what I personally have to deal with in my own life, so it's harder to forgive for me. And while racism and sexism bug me, since it doesn't affect me personally, I'm able to brush it aside easier.Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17786139533776263328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-66410167850741933842015-01-14T18:31:29.648-08:002015-01-14T18:31:29.648-08:00You're clearly more open-minded than me Tracey...You're clearly more open-minded than me Tracey - but also more of a fan of spy fiction in general than I am - I'm too cynical or something, can never seem to suspend my disbelief in the way I do for other genres. Bernadettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07641617609801125707noreply@blogger.com