tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post5956149173721401440..comments2024-03-18T22:01:28.147-07:00Comments on Bitter Tea and Mystery: Close Quarters: Michael GilbertTracyKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-33524985398610956992017-11-01T14:12:29.867-07:002017-11-01T14:12:29.867-07:00I have several more books by Gilbert sitting on my...I have several more books by Gilbert sitting on my TBR pile, Yvette, and I hope to get to them soon. I expect I will like them all.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-77615945434734322262017-11-01T14:10:50.689-07:002017-11-01T14:10:50.689-07:00I know very little about Cathedrals in the UK, Moi...I know very little about Cathedrals in the UK, Moira. I had never heard of the Dean of a Cathedral until I read this book. When I was looking up Melchester close specifically I primarily got real estate information for the area, which confused me even more. Live and learn.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-64830668577273571702017-11-01T12:55:19.035-07:002017-11-01T12:55:19.035-07:00All Cathedrals in the UK have a 'close'! I...All Cathedrals in the UK have a 'close'! I live very near to the Close in my home town - it's the area around the Cathedral, would probably have been walled originally, and contains the houses where the Dean and senior clergy live. It is usually a very attractive, pretty, green area - and anyone can walk freely through it. Our own one is a very welcoming area, with events staged there all the time. Locals use it as a cut-through, or lounge around there and socialize if the weather is nice. It is a lovely open space in the middle of the town.<br /><br />I am forever meaning to re-read this book, which I first picked up long ago, perhaps you will inspire me to do so!Clothes In Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14680610242823846662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-58595049822973314952017-11-01T11:53:35.804-07:002017-11-01T11:53:35.804-07:00I really do like all the Michael Gilbert books I&#...I really do like all the Michael Gilbert books I've read so far,<br />Tracy (except for one which I'm convinced was just an anamoly). Going to order this one in my next batch of Gilberts. :)Yvettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-64811639609722976812017-10-29T14:42:19.387-07:002017-10-29T14:42:19.387-07:00You are so right, Mathew. If I had to choose just ...You are so right, Mathew. If I had to choose just one sub-genre, that would be it. Luckily, I don't.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-78867126296610464952017-10-29T14:07:06.415-07:002017-10-29T14:07:06.415-07:00Sucker for a good spy story, aren't you, Tracy...Sucker for a good spy story, aren't you, Tracy. ;-)Mathew Pausthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06157135006791553019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-45518285990106363782017-10-29T11:56:31.559-07:002017-10-29T11:56:31.559-07:00I had the same question, Mathew. The term was unfa...I had the same question, Mathew. The term was unfamiliar to me, also. It took a lot of searching, since close is mainly used as verb or adjective, but this was what I found: Chiefly British, enclosed grounds around or beside a building; or, the grounds and buildings that surround and belong to a cathedral. I guess I had heard it used that way, but not a lot.<br /><br />I have only read a few books by Michael Gilbert so far but I am already a big fan. As soon as I read the Calder and Behrens spy stories, I was hooked.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-91315058635839574302017-10-29T11:01:18.306-07:002017-10-29T11:01:18.306-07:00First mystery: a definition of "close" i...First mystery: a definition of "close" in this context, Tracy. Google didn't help, but I'll admit to a pretty good idea what it is. Haven't read any Gilbert yet, but I've seen he's well regarded here. And this book sounds interesting. Mathew Pausthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06157135006791553019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-20863260706661985862017-10-27T12:46:52.491-07:002017-10-27T12:46:52.491-07:00Thanks, George. My favorite Michael Gilbert book s...Thanks, George. My favorite Michael Gilbert book so far is GAME WITHOUT RULES (Mr. Calder and Mr. Behrens short stories). I have many more that I want to read.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-7801894176713896532017-10-27T12:39:41.707-07:002017-10-27T12:39:41.707-07:00Rollercoaster sounds interesting, Col. Death in Ca...Rollercoaster sounds interesting, Col. Death in Captivity is very good.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-34318006700157653342017-10-27T12:36:26.487-07:002017-10-27T12:36:26.487-07:00I haven't read a lot of Michael Gilbert books,...I haven't read a lot of Michael Gilbert books, but I plan to read more of them, Sergio. TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-29214520178957240992017-10-27T12:34:24.192-07:002017-10-27T12:34:24.192-07:00Well, I am glad to know I am not the only one, nee...Well, I am glad to know I am not the only one, neer.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-45447836843817792262017-10-27T07:12:25.509-07:002017-10-27T07:12:25.509-07:00I've enjoyed all the Michael Gilbert books I&#...I've enjoyed all the Michael Gilbert books I've read. I'll have to track down a copy of CLOSE QUARTERS after reading your fine review.Georgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04546161337366365635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-62945042609720453262017-10-27T03:17:46.418-07:002017-10-27T03:17:46.418-07:00Glad you liked it, but not one for me I don't ...Glad you liked it, but not one for me I don't think. I do have something by him - Rollercoaster and Death in Captivity.col2910https://www.blogger.com/profile/06422138069939709043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-81532912553531045062017-10-27T00:41:41.415-07:002017-10-27T00:41:41.415-07:00More Michael Gilbert is always good - a really sup...More Michael Gilbert is always good - a really superb and thoroughly unpretentious storyteller. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-34676673748262619762017-10-26T23:23:46.301-07:002017-10-26T23:23:46.301-07:00No problem, Tracy. In fact, I laughed when I read ...No problem, Tracy. In fact, I laughed when I read it because that's how almost everyone writes the name of my blog:). Thanks also for your kind words regarding the review. Looking forward to the review of Smallbone Deceased.neerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01986509319841061021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-30706438599569034662017-10-26T12:15:19.436-07:002017-10-26T12:15:19.436-07:00It is interesting about the humor in Gilbert's...It is interesting about the humor in Gilbert's writing, Margot. I don't think of the books as humorous, but it is the underlying humorous touch that makes them special.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-87459725589263605472017-10-26T09:28:18.433-07:002017-10-26T09:28:18.433-07:00Thank you, Tracy, for the kind mention. I agree wi...Thank you, Tracy, for the kind mention. I agree with you about the nice, light touch of wit. I think that aspect really added to the story. There are, as you say, a lot of characters; I'm glad, because of that, that Collins provides a cast of characters, so that the reader can refer to it. You have a fine review here, for which thanks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-69545042362347633372017-10-25T22:03:49.738-07:002017-10-25T22:03:49.738-07:00I am so sorry, neer, I will fix that right now. I ...I am so sorry, neer, I will fix that right now. I seem to switch words all the time now. I was happy to include your review and enjoyed all the nice covers you showcased.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-37851458322928548822017-10-25T20:48:50.526-07:002017-10-25T20:48:50.526-07:00Was looking forward to your review, Tracy and am g...Was looking forward to your review, Tracy and am glad to note that I wasn't the only one who got confused with the characters :). Thanks for the link to my blog though the name is A Hot Cup of Pleasure:)neerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01986509319841061021noreply@blogger.com