Messages

736

Welcome and General Discussion / Re: POLL: Married Detectives

« on: December 19, 2019, 09:54:27 pm »

Do you have suggestions for couples to add to the poll? I'm pretty sure I can add to it.

737

Welcome and General Discussion / POLL: Married Detectives

« on: December 19, 2019, 10:06:37 am »

Feel free to add write-in votes in the comments. My favorites in the poll are closely tied between Tuppence and Tommy and Roderick and Troy Alleyn. But I'm also very fond of Gemma James and Duncan Kincaid in Deborah Crombie's books.

Nick and Nora Charles are also right up there, but only in the movies. I will always envision Myrna Loy and William Powell - and the fabulous Asta - when I think of Nick and Nora.

738

Welcome and General Discussion / Re: POLL: Favorite Kid Detective

« on: December 19, 2019, 01:25:03 am »

I voted for Nancy Drew, because I devoured all of the books that had been written at that point when I was a kid. When we visited my aunt, my cousin had a bunch, so I would read them there, and a neighbor had the whole series, so I borrowed most of them from her. I only owned a few.

I was given two secondhand Trixie Belden mysteries, which I also enjoyed, but never read any more than that.

Those are the only two of these series that I've read any of. But I also LOVED the Bobbsey Twins mystery series when I was kid!

The Trixie Belden books were available in a sort of laminated cardboard pseudo-hardcover that sold for under a dollar at Ben Franklin when I was a kid. I don't remember finding those at the library but I did eventually buy a couple. :-)

739

Favorites / Re: LGBTQ Mysteries & Thrillers

« on: December 19, 2019, 01:22:17 am »

Lawrence Block's BURGLAR series stars Bernie Rhodenbarr and his best friend and sort-of partner Carolyn, who is lesbian. I like the wittiness of these novels, and the way Block is straight-forward about Carolyn's sexual preferences without making a big issue of them.

740

Favorites / Re: What are some of your favorite blogs or Facebook pages for mystery lovers?

« on: December 19, 2019, 01:10:36 am »

Becke, if you ever go to Crimebake, you'll have to let me know! I live very close to Woburn, so we could get together! I checked out their website, and it seems to really be for authors, so I don't think it's for me.

I haven't been out to visit my brother in Vermont in years, so I'm overdue for a trip to New England. If I do get out there I'll definitely let you know!

741

Bouchercon 50! / Re: Past Anthony Winners to be honored

« on: December 19, 2019, 01:07:08 am »

Is your husband a mystery fan, Becke?

Not so much. He IS a fan of mystery movies and TV shows like Poirot and Midsomer Murders, but for books he's more likely to read Alan Watts or books on mindfulness.

742

Bouchercon 50! / Re: Past Anthony Winners to be honored

« on: December 18, 2019, 12:23:02 am »

I hear as part of the 50th Anniversary Bouchercon they're going to try to somehow remember/display/honor all the past winners of Anthony's.

My wife Kate is a three-time winner so I thought it would be good to be there, but--if you can believe it--she would rather go to Paris for our 20th wedding anniversary which is happening at the same time.

So we'll miss it. 

Who's going, or wants to go?

Turns out there are several book fairs in Paris. You could juggle your calendar a bit and do both! https://www.tradefairdates.com/Book-Fairs-France-FSL67-L73-S1.html

I ran this by my husband and his vote goes for the Paris trip. I have to say, it's a tough call. The last time we went there - a long time ago - I picked up a copy of Agatha Christie's THE TUESDAY CLUB MURDERS in French. I now wish I'd picked up a few more French translations.

On the subject of anniversaries, my husband and I tied the knot in 1971 so we're within shouting distance of a biggie. Since he retired we're pinching pennies. Do you all have any suggestions for ways to celebrate that don't involve spending a fortune?

743

Bouchercon 50! / Re: Past Anthony Winners to be honored

« on: December 17, 2019, 07:08:34 pm »

I hear as part of the 50th Anniversary Bouchercon they're going to try to somehow remember/display/honor all the past winners of Anthony's.

My wife Kate is a three-time winner so I thought it would be good to be there, but--if you can believe it--she would rather go to Paris for our 20th wedding anniversary which is happening at the same time.

So we'll miss it. 

Who's going, or wants to go?

Turns out there are several book fairs in Paris. You could juggle your calendar a bit and do both! https://www.tradefairdates.com/Book-Fairs-France-FSL67-L73-S1.html

744

Bouchercon 50! / Re: Past Anthony Winners to be honored

« on: December 17, 2019, 07:05:42 pm »

I may have mentioned this, but if I had one request about Bouchercon, it would be that authors wear sandwich-boards with their names and booklists printed on the back. I saw so many faces that I recognized from book jackets, with one minor problem - I could recognize the face, but in many cases couldn't place the author's name.  It can be a little creepy trying to focus on a name tag unobtrusively!

745

Favorites / Re: What are some of your favorite blogs or Facebook pages for mystery lovers?

« on: December 16, 2019, 09:54:13 pm »

Magna Cum Murder is now held in Indianapolis at the Columbia Club on the Circle. It's still sponsored by Ball State University and is a wonderfully relaxed and welcoming conference.

In the Northeast, there's Crimebake which is held in Woburn, MA. It's sponsored by MWA ands Sisters in Crime and has lots of interest for writers, but also for fans. They tend to sell out so check the website when registration opens in May.

In addition to the author email newsletters already mentioned, Louise Penny has an excellent newsletter.

I was excited to see this on Louise Penny's website: "Lots of exciting things happening. If you'd like to follow along, feel free to either join me on Facebook, or sign up for the newsletter.

There is also the site, Gamacheseries.com, a sort of virtual bistro where we discuss various themes and issues in the series. There’s a new feature, leading up to the publication of A BETTER MAN. We call it The Annotated Three Pines. There’s also the Cultural Inspirations for Three Pines. The merry minstrel of Three Pines, Paul Hochman, takes it one book at a time, and examines the art, literature, poetry, music, philosophy that informs the themes of the series. The latest addition to the virtual bistro are the Postcards from Three Pines. Love for you to join us there."

Paul Hochman was one of my supervisors at Barnes & Noble. Small world! :-)

746

Favorites / Re: What are some of your favorite blogs or Facebook pages for mystery lovers?

« on: December 16, 2019, 09:49:40 pm »

Magna Cum Murder is now held in Indianapolis at the Columbia Club on the Circle. It's still sponsored by Ball State University and is a wonderfully relaxed and welcoming conference.

In the Northeast, there's Crimebake which is held in Woburn, MA. It's sponsored by MWA ands Sisters in Crime and has lots of interest for writers, but also for fans. They tend to sell out so check the website when registration opens in May.

In addition to the author email newsletters already mentioned, Louise Penny has an excellent newsletter.

Well, I am critically out-of-date! Here's the link to Magna Cum Murder if any of you wants to register. Crimebake sounds like it would be a lot of fun - maybe someday! http://crimebake.org/about-crime-bake-2/

I just signed up for newsletters from both Louise Penny and Tana French. :-)

One newsletter that always makes me laugh is Brad Parks'. His books can be dark but are still witty.

Any other newsletter recommendations? I sometimes set them aside in my "Blogs and newsletters to read later" folder, but I do get to them eventually.

747

Favorites / Re: What are some of your favorite blogs or Facebook pages for mystery lovers?

« on: December 16, 2019, 12:48:04 am »

Have you ever gone to Bouchercon? I've only been once and I found it a little intimidating but also thrilling to meet so many wonderful authors in real life!

I've never been to Bouchercon. It's just not financially possible for me. Maybe if they ever brought it to Boston I could think about going otherwise it isn't in the cards for me.

I can relate. The only one I went to was in Indianapolis, and I was living in Cincinnati - two and a half hours away - at the time. The most reasonably priced mystery event I attended was Magna Cum Murder but since that is in Muncie, Indiana, it's still a trek for you.

748

Welcome and General Discussion / Re: Agatha Christie on the Big Screen and on TV

« on: December 15, 2019, 04:55:46 pm »

I also loved Mulberry (too bad it was canceled before they could come to an ending, but the logical conclusion could have been very sad, too). Also loved McEwan and Prunella Scales (aka Sybil Fawlty) in Mapp and Lucia.

I really like Francesca Annis, but I felt she seemed a bit too sophisticated for Tuppence. I don't think I've ever seen anybody else play Tuppence, who is one of my favorite Christie characters. James Warwick was fine, and Albert was very well-cast. I know there's a newer series, but I've never seen it.

As to the newer series, be glad you haven't seen it. I was only able to stomach one episode. This review says it all: https://bookriot.com/2015/07/29/dammit-tommy-bbc-messed-latest-agatha-christie-adaptation/

While it's possible viewers who aren't familiar with the books might enjoy this show, to me it was like they stuck two random actors with the names Tuppence and Tommy and just made it up as they went. (Go ahead, Becke, tell us what you REALLY think.) (Sorry about whining...)

749

Welcome and General Discussion / Re: POLL: Favorite Kid Detective

« on: December 15, 2019, 04:47:32 pm »

Here's a poll asking for your favorite young detective.

I voted for Nancy Drew - I don't think the Nancy Drew books hold up for an adult reader, but I still remember the thrill of finding a title I hadn't read in the library. And my beloved aunt Emily would often surprise me with a new book, which was the best treat ever!

When I look back on those books, it's the titles I remember most. They were so evocative - exciting without being terrifying. And I still remember a lot of the words I had to look up - bayou, coupe, hearth, pavilion - although it was years before I learned to pronounce those words correctly.

There was something so intriguing about THE SECRET OF THE OLD CLOCK, THE HIDDEN STAIRCASE, THE CLUE IN THE CRUMBLING WALL, THE CLUE OF THE LEANING CHIMNEY, THE SIGN OF THE TWISTED CANDLE, THE MOONSTONE CASTLE MYSTERY (which inspired an interactive story, a continuing saga, with my best friend and a heroine called Lillian P. Potter. Yes, Harry Potter's mom-to-be! Little did we know...) and so many more. Just going through the titles makes me want to read them again.

I liked Trixie Belden and her friend Honey a lot, too. Also Judy Bolton and occasionally Cherry Ames.

750

Favorites / Re: What are some of your favorite blogs or Facebook pages for mystery lovers?

« on: December 15, 2019, 04:32:11 pm »

I've met Hank, Julia, Hallie, Lucy and Rhys from the current membership plus Ingrid Thoft who isn't a member of the blog now.

Have you ever gone to Bouchercon? I've only been once and I found it a little intimidating but also thrilling to meet so many wonderful authors in real life!