Member: brive

I adore The Prisoner of Zenda and Rupert of Hentzau. I consider Hope to be the first modern thriller writer - his style is extraordinarily modern. He is a writer I try to emulate.

posted by Lil_Shepherd at 10:32 am (EST) on Dec 30, 2009

Hi Brive,

I'm about to read a de facto sequel to Nicolson's book, about the two years immediately following WW1. I did find the first book a bit episodic and jumpy, focused on anecdotal color rather than theme, although I agree with you that it did remind me of the important political and social 'back stories' of the era. I think the biggest problem that I had with the book was the looming knowledge that any reader has: of the events of 1914-1918, which would turn that world topsy-turvy. It's almost impossible to read about that period in isolation -- and Nicolson had a difficult task. Which is why I think [The Great Silence] will be a real test of her abilities. Have you read any books by her brother, Adam Nicolson? I find him a much more intriguing author. I've read two of the three in my library [Sea Room] and [Earls of Paradise] and will tackle the third, God's Secretaries, this year. He's also written about Sissinghurst, which is his home.

I love Josephine Tey, and especially Brat Farrar and [The Franchise Affair], which is even more brilliant. And Michael Gilbert, IMHO, is one of the overlooked geniuses of mystery stories. If you liked Mr. Calder & Mr. Behrens (which was also one of the first of his I read), you might take a look at [Paint, Gold and Blood] or some of the other short stories. Alas, the posthumous collection of stories just released doesn't measure up to his novels or previously-published stuff -- there is a reason why they had remained un-collected until now...
cheers,
Chatterbox/Suzanne

posted by Chatterbox at 6:00 pm (EST) on Dec 27, 2009

Hello brive,

Thank you for your kind comment. Though I write what I write purely for my pleasure, it's always nice when somebody else finds something to enjoy in my ramblings.

I confess there are some people who claim to like me or my reviews, but somehow I cannot bring myself to believe them.

Happy New Year to you too.

P. S. Terrific picture of Ravel in your profile. It's Ravel, isn't it? He is like most characters of Maugham - a queer fish. Not one of my favourite composers, I have to admit, but I like him all right. Conservative as I am, Ravel is exactly on my personal border of musical modernism which I never cross. But Maurice does have a certain charm, the piano works especially. "Gaspard de la nuit" is a masterpiece. So is his orchestration of the "Pictures". And I should shut up! Forgive my loquacity.

posted by Waldstein at 12:41 pm (EST) on Dec 27, 2009

Hello brive,

I'm pleased you enjoyed The Pupil. The next in the series is Judicial Whispers. It is in this second book that Rachel Dean appears. I seem to have been getting the first two titles in this series confused.

In your review you speculate whether the class divide depicted in The Pupil are still present? I think the book was probably set in the early 1980s rather than the 90s. By the mid 1990s it was widely believed, at least by parts of the media and the Labour Party, that the majority of people in England belonged to a broad middle class. Many in Scotland, Wales and the industrial north took a different view. I guess a lot depends on whether one defines class in cultural or economic terms. People from across the class spectrum now seem to enjoy much of the same fashion, pop/rock music and the likes, but I keep reading that the gap between the earnings of the richest and the poorest has widened more rapidly since the mid 90s than ever before. I don't know enough about our contemporary legal system to judge the extent to which it still revolves around class. My impression is that, whilst it is not necessary to have attended a particular school or to have had wealthy parents, to succeed in the most competitive professions it does still help to have connections. I can't cite much evidence for that, it is just an impression gathered from things I have read or heard.

Happy New Year (and new decade) to you too.

David

posted by dsc73277 at 7:14 am (EST) on Dec 27, 2009

Brive:

Simon Raven wrote a series of novels titled collectively "Alms for Oblivion." That's where you should start, and as there are nine novels in the "Alms" series, I expect they'll keep you busy for a while. The first in the series is _The Rich Pay Late_. "Alms for Oblivion" is available in three paperback volumes.

Happy reading,

dcozy

posted by dcozy at 9:21 pm (EST) on Dec 11, 2009

You asked me about Caro Fraser's "The Pupil", I like it a lot and carried on with the series, though I've not yet read them all. I can see where you get the impression that it combines "stuffiness and mayhem", since it does show the formality of the legal system contrasted with the chaotic, or even wild nature of the lives of some of its practitioners.

The character whose legal role gives the book its name is a guy from humble origins who has nevertheless managed to break into the privileged world of the law. He develops a hero worship for one of his colleagues, which grows into something far more dangerous for all concerned. I have to admit I didn't like him very much, primarily because he breaks the heart of female solicitor (Rachel, if I remember correctly) who is instructing him. I'd rather fallen for her myself, and didn't like to see her getting hurt. As the series progresses, quite a tangled web is spun involving the young barrister, his older colleague and the solicitor.

If you do read it, I'd be interested to hear your reaction.

posted by dsc73277 at 10:53 am (EST) on Dec 6, 2009

Thank you for adding my collection to your "interesting libraries" list. I will reciprocate.

I see your most recently added title is The Lost Art of Gratitude, which I currently have on loan from the library. I am looking forward to starting it in the next few days. I have always enjoyed escaping to the rather charmed world of Isabel Dalhousie.

posted by dsc73277 at 8:01 am (EST) on Dec 5, 2009

Howdy,

I'm happy you found something of interest in my library, and that you let me know about it.

Take it easy,
bookstothesky

posted by bookstothesky at 12:23 am (EST) on Aug 28, 2009

Thank you for finding my library interesting.
A

posted by artymiss at 9:33 am (EST) on Aug 19, 2009

I enjoy all of Michael Gilbert's books but I think "The Long Journey Home" is a little bit different from the others. I have limited space for books so one of the criteria I judge on is "worth rereading". This is a book I have enjoyed each time I've read it.

posted by robrambusch at 5:53 am (EST) on Aug 14, 2009

I am pleased you find my library interesting. It is a bit different from other libraries on this site, since it only includes books I have read. Books I own but have not read in full are not included

posted by Schmerguls at 5:03 am (EST) on Aug 14, 2009

If you haven't read it yet, I recommend "The List of Adrian Messenger". - Phillip MacDonald.

posted by robrambusch at 9:00 pm (EST) on Jul 29, 2009

Thanks, fixed it!

posted by karenharris at 2:02 pm (EST) on Jul 6, 2009

Thanks for your kind remark about my savoury review. I enjoyed Riddle of the Sands immensely, as I hope was apparent.

posted by macnabbs at 12:07 pm (EST) on Jun 20, 2009

Brive,
Thanks fro adding me to your inteesting libraries. I'm keeping an eye on your crime collection.
Pam

posted by pamelad at 2:41 am (EST) on Jun 10, 2009

Brive, Thank you for writing me! If you like the Mr. Calder and Mr. Behrens volue, you probably also have the previous collection of their stories Game Without Rules.
It is a massive task to enter my library into Library Thing, and I suspect only 10 - 15 % has been entered - I calculate I have around 25 to 35 thousand books! Most of what you see is what I have purchased through Amazon in the last 13 years, as there is an easy import facility for Amazon purchases. The completion of my personal inventory of over 40 years purchasing or being presented with books looks almost impossible to me!
The Stalingrad book is actually a pre-purchase as it will be released in April or May. There are about 40 more of these pre-orders in the library.
By the way, I only lived in Chicago the first 3 weeks of my life - my parents were Puerto Rican students with grants to do post-graduate studies in the University of Chicago where they got married and my older sister and me were born.
Best regards, Enrique F. Bird

posted by EnriqueFBird at 8:25 pm (EST) on Mar 14, 2009