tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post5997841161400805766..comments2024-03-28T14:38:25.395-07:00Comments on Bitter Tea and Mystery: Malice Aforethought: Francis IlesTracyKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-40354899494588351322018-05-07T16:59:40.308-07:002018-05-07T16:59:40.308-07:00It is different from the inverted mysteries I have...It is different from the inverted mysteries I have liked, Moira, but I think one problem might have been my high expectations based on reviews. TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-15101447915482118352018-05-07T16:58:09.245-07:002018-05-07T16:58:09.245-07:00Lots of mystery readers do like Malice Aforethough...Lots of mystery readers do like Malice Aforethought, Yvette, but I would not push it on anyone. I might like an adaptation better than the book.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-66830487701421467582018-05-07T13:37:39.079-07:002018-05-07T13:37:39.079-07:00I read this years ago, and liked it. And I normall...I read this years ago, and liked it. And I normally don't like inverted mysteries, so we have opposite positions, maybe there's a clue in there. Berkeley isn't a great favourite of mine, I find him very cold-hearted: but it seems to suit this book. And of course maybe if I re-read it now I wouldn't like it so much...Clothes In Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14680610242823846662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-50202839093296375312018-05-07T08:39:12.754-07:002018-05-07T08:39:12.754-07:00I knew there was a reason why I hadn't read th...I knew there was a reason why I hadn't read this, Tracy. It never did sound like something I'd enjoy. Though I had heard of it and also PBS Mystery did an adaptation years ago. I may have seen that. Yvettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-58332020691309560702018-05-05T13:34:53.944-07:002018-05-05T13:34:53.944-07:00I was looking at the author's other books and ...I was looking at the author's other books and No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front in World War II is more my type of thing. And ONLY 768 pages.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-2564373486697361822018-05-05T12:42:35.708-07:002018-05-05T12:42:35.708-07:00She's an engaging writer, Tracy. And her mater...She's an engaging writer, Tracy. And her material includes so much primary sourcing--diaries and letters--and, of course the topic is irresistible. Mathew Pausthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06157135006791553019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-76024298635232055622018-05-05T12:35:43.133-07:002018-05-05T12:35:43.133-07:00That is one long book, Mathew. I don't think I...That is one long book, Mathew. I don't think I would ever finish a book that long, but then I don't do well with nonfiction books. The approach of the book sounds good.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-26776274970042498352018-05-05T11:17:01.362-07:002018-05-05T11:17:01.362-07:00After watching the movie Lincoln again last month ...After watching the movie <i>Lincoln</i> again last month on DVD and watching the special features, and learning the film was based on a section of Doris Kearns Goodwin's <i>Team of Rivals</i>, I went ahead and read it. I don't believe I shall ever need to read anything on Lincoln again. It took me a couple of weeks, but I was rapt all the way. I loved the film, too, even tho it strayed far afield of the very brief 13th Amendment section of the massive book. I was thinking of reviewing it here, but decided to do so would be invite ridicule--in fact it would be impossible to do the book justice. Mathew Pausthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06157135006791553019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-77306503522476146012018-05-04T22:27:34.370-07:002018-05-04T22:27:34.370-07:00Thanks, Nancy. Readers of Lincoln in the Bardo wer...Thanks, Nancy. Readers of Lincoln in the Bardo were indeed very divided in their reactions. I plan to read it sometime this year, soon I hope. TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-10944870461669210742018-05-04T12:58:59.939-07:002018-05-04T12:58:59.939-07:00It is such a strange sensation when a book gets ra...It is such a strange sensation when a book gets rave reviews...and you think: "Am I reading the same book as those people?"<br />But it is always fun to stick to your opinions and respect those of others. Two books that fell into this category were Lincoln in the Bardo (G. Saunders) and Angel of Respose (W. Stegner). C'est la vie! <br />PS Loved your review "It was so rad." :) (LOL)NancyElinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15021569006682648126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-9545199895093360022018-05-04T12:31:29.259-07:002018-05-04T12:31:29.259-07:00I rarely give up on a book, Mathew, but usually I ...I rarely give up on a book, Mathew, but usually I am pretty sure going into it that I will like a book. I like that title for your novel but I would not want to be that man.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-87881542016254046272018-05-04T12:29:08.032-07:002018-05-04T12:29:08.032-07:00I wish I had been taking notes on the books I read...I wish I had been taking notes on the books I read for that long, Rick. I only started recording the books I read in 2002, and even then I did not add any thoughts on each book. Now with the blog, I have some record for the last 6 years.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-54509336490984498962018-05-04T12:24:53.760-07:002018-05-04T12:24:53.760-07:00Probably not one you would enjoy, Col. Probably not one you would enjoy, Col. TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-37181090667180648332018-05-04T09:18:29.972-07:002018-05-04T09:18:29.972-07:00I'm like you, Tracy, in slogging along thru a ...I'm like you, Tracy, in slogging along thru a book that's not working, in the hope something will crop up to make it all come clear. But, alas, I don't like unlikable characters, so I believe I shall take a pass on this one. By the way, yesterday I came up with the best working title yet for my novel-in-progress: <i>The Man With the Slap-Me Face</i>. Fortunately I've offset him with more sympathetic types.Mathew Pausthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06157135006791553019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-19187755368712607402018-05-04T07:17:07.622-07:002018-05-04T07:17:07.622-07:00I tried it in the 70s, and per notes, it was a Did...I tried it in the 70s, and per notes, it was a Did Not Finish. No idea how far I got in it, but I'd guess less than half.Rick Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07978136287154214297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-23249674900517469232018-05-03T22:41:42.269-07:002018-05-03T22:41:42.269-07:00Not one I'll be seeking out thanks.Not one I'll be seeking out thanks.col2910https://www.blogger.com/profile/06422138069939709043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-19177752155962696252018-05-03T19:01:08.546-07:002018-05-03T19:01:08.546-07:00I wanted to like it, Margot. But you are right, we...I wanted to like it, Margot. But you are right, we are all different in our reading tastes.<br />TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-71223708769330586452018-05-03T08:23:31.719-07:002018-05-03T08:23:31.719-07:00No book is for everyone, Tracy. And I know exactly...No book is for everyone, Tracy. And I know exactly what you mean about not finding any of the characters to be interesting. If there isn't at least one character to hold the interest, it's almost impossible to be drawn into the story. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com