There is something comforting about a murder mystery or at least certain murder mysteries. I am speaking particularly of the ones where one finds oneself in a small hamlet, with an over large cemetery. These are the ones where every time you meet a new character they are either a victim or a murderer. Stir in a lead character with some pluck and let the mayhem ensue. It is a little certainty in an uncertain world.
I am generally a fan of mystery type shows by which I mean at the beginning of the show there is a problem which through a series of steps clues begin to unfold leading the cast down a path of twists and turns ending up at a resolution. And they come in so many delightful forms these days: Castle, Bones, Leverage, etc
But every once in a while I like to return to the classics. Maybe it was all those late nights watching Murder, She Wrote reruns with my dad.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Monday, September 6, 2010
On Jane Austen and other things
As of late my biggest project for the last couple of months has been buying and moving into our new condo. I think I am officially a grown up now (or if I wasn't after getting married I am now). I haven't been doing much crafting in general, I am not in the right frame of mind to play with recipes, and even my knitting has been only plodding along.
I have been reading however. My latest brain candy are a series of mysteries utilizing Mr. & Mrs. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice fame. The series isn't brilliant literature by any stretch and the author occasionally over uses stereotypes to an annoying degree but overall they have been enjoyable reads. I have waxed poetic (that is a nice of way saying I was unreasonably indignant) over my absolute disgust at the whole "Classic novel + Monster" series that has been showing up on bookshelves of late. I am somewhat mollified that Jane Austen has not been the only target but only slightly.
While I am waiting for the next two books in the series to come to my local library, I picked up Pride and Prejudice again. I haven't read it in a while because the movie adaptation is so faithful to the book I haven't really needed to. But there were a few things I had forgotten and wanted to get re-acquainted again. In doing so I think I discovered what it is about Ms. Austen's works that is so important to me. Her characters are so perfectly drawn that you can really imagine them - good qualities and bad. They feel more real than any of the other characters I have enjoyed in novels. Re-reading Jane Austen is like being re-acquainted with long lost friends. Which why the idea of having my "friends" eaten by sea monsters or zombies is so entirely unpalatable to me. (Well, that and it doesn't need fixing). So while I don't mind reading some Austen based fiction (as long as the author remains true to the original characters) I do have a problem with Austen-based abominations.
In any case, my brain is getting stuffed full of fun literary bits at present even if my string habit is being somewhat neglected. I am almost finished with my fingerless mitts and am very close to the half way point on my lace scarf.
In other news, Sharon Shinn has a new book coming out in October...SQUEEE
I have been reading however. My latest brain candy are a series of mysteries utilizing Mr. & Mrs. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice fame. The series isn't brilliant literature by any stretch and the author occasionally over uses stereotypes to an annoying degree but overall they have been enjoyable reads. I have waxed poetic (that is a nice of way saying I was unreasonably indignant) over my absolute disgust at the whole "Classic novel + Monster" series that has been showing up on bookshelves of late. I am somewhat mollified that Jane Austen has not been the only target but only slightly.
While I am waiting for the next two books in the series to come to my local library, I picked up Pride and Prejudice again. I haven't read it in a while because the movie adaptation is so faithful to the book I haven't really needed to. But there were a few things I had forgotten and wanted to get re-acquainted again. In doing so I think I discovered what it is about Ms. Austen's works that is so important to me. Her characters are so perfectly drawn that you can really imagine them - good qualities and bad. They feel more real than any of the other characters I have enjoyed in novels. Re-reading Jane Austen is like being re-acquainted with long lost friends. Which why the idea of having my "friends" eaten by sea monsters or zombies is so entirely unpalatable to me. (Well, that and it doesn't need fixing). So while I don't mind reading some Austen based fiction (as long as the author remains true to the original characters) I do have a problem with Austen-based abominations.
In any case, my brain is getting stuffed full of fun literary bits at present even if my string habit is being somewhat neglected. I am almost finished with my fingerless mitts and am very close to the half way point on my lace scarf.
In other news, Sharon Shinn has a new book coming out in October...SQUEEE
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