MobileRead May 2013 Book Club Vote - Page 2

Synamon · 04-23-2013, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orlok

I've only voted for my own nomination this time, In Pale Battalions, (

) because I really would like a Robbert Goddard to win. I genuinely think a lot of MR readers would enjoy his books (at least those that enjoy family murder mysteries, particularly ones that go back generations, as many of his do).

Goddard has a fairly large canon of work, and is the favourite living author of William Haig (ex-leader of the Conservative Party and our current Foreign Secretary).

My library doesn't have In Pale Battalions, so I didn't vote for it, but I did put another of his books on hold. Thanks for the recommendation.

A quick search didn't turn up the Ruth Rendell/Barbara Vine book in Canada, so I gave that one a pass too.

I hope The Big Sleep doesn't win, I found it very dated and a struggle to read.

orlok · 04-23-2013, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Synamon

My library doesn't have In Pale Battalions, so I didn't vote for it, but I did put another of his books on hold. Thanks for the recommendation.

Interested to know which one? He mostly doesn't write in series, but there are a couple of sequels which would benefit in being read...err...sequentially.

issybird · 04-23-2013, 11:26 AM

I voted for the ones I haven't read*, all of which sound excellent. I'd choose Chandler if it's going to be a reread; it's one of two classics on the list and I didn't think the Tey was as good as I remembered when I reread it a couple of years ago. Still, I'd vastly prefer one of the new to me options.

*Except for Great North Road, which I doubt I'd like.

caleb72 · 04-23-2013, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Synamon

A quick search didn't turn up the Ruth Rendell/Barbara Vine book in Canada, so I gave that one a pass too.

Sorry - didn't check Canadian availability when I nominated. Checked for quite a few others but not that one.

Geographic restrictions are a pain.

Synamon · 04-23-2013, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orlok

Interested to know which one? He mostly doesn't write in series, but there are a couple of sequels which would benefit in being read...err...sequentially.

Borrowed Time was the one I put on hold.

Quote:

Originally Posted by caleb72

Sorry - didn't check Canadian availability when I nominated. Checked for quite a few others but not that one.

Geographic restrictions are a pain.

Many of her Ruth Rendell books are available digitally in Canada, but I only found a couple of the Barbara Vine ones in ebook form. Different publishing companies probably.

orlok · 04-23-2013, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Synamon

Borrowed Time was the one I put on hold.

That's one I have read, but don't remember very well. Not a serial one though. Hope you enjoy it.

WT Sharpe · 04-23-2013, 03:25 PM

Okay, let's do May over, starting with the nominations. I was so busy I forgot to nominate Black Jack Justice by Gregg Taylor. 24 reviews at Amazon give this book an overall 5-star rating. Just finished it a couple of weeks ago and the stars are well-deserved.

I love "Old Squarejaw" and his partner Trixie Dixon, "Girl Detective". For the uninitiated, their exploits can be heard via podcast at Decoder Ring Theater. The book is a prequel to the web series and tells how they met and why they decided to go into business together, even though they profess to hate each other's guts. I could not recommend this book highly enough; it's one of my most enjoyable reading experiences of this or any other year.

Synamon · 04-23-2013, 03:50 PM

I'm surprised that The Dinner isn't getting more votes. The blurb sounded excellent and I put it on hold at the library as soon as it was nominated. Seems popular there, I'm 38th in line and the library has 11 copies (which is a lot).

I can recommend The Redbreast. I'd never read anything before about Norwegians fighting for Germany on the Eastern Front, which was the fascinating back story for this mystery.

issybird · 04-23-2013, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Synamon

I'm surprised that The Dinner isn't getting more votes. The blurb sounded excellent and I put it on hold at the library as soon as it was nominated. Seems popular there, I'm 38th in line and the library has 11 copies (which is a lot).

It got an excellent review in the NY Times, which is how I first heard of it. I'll read it in any case; it's come up on Overdrive for me.

Tarana · 04-23-2013, 06:22 PM

What was very interesting about the selections is that I've never even heard of many of these authors. I just had to pick one. I'm sure I'll enjoy whatever wins.

Synamon · 04-23-2013, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tarana

What was very interesting about the selections is that I've never even heard of many of these authors. I just had to pick one. I'm sure I'll enjoy whatever wins.

You could have picked more than one, the poll is multiple choice.

crich70 · 04-24-2013, 01:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tarana

What was very interesting about the selections is that I've never even heard of many of these authors. I just had to pick one. I'm sure I'll enjoy whatever wins.

Don't feel bad Tarana, the only one of the ten I have ever heard of is the one I nominated.

caleb72 · 04-24-2013, 01:36 AM

Well - I'm not surprised about the Great North Road showing in this vote. I've only read one Peter F. Hamilton book and I enjoyed it. I'm sure this book is good too and Jon has been giving it a good report - but I just couldn't see a wave of people voting for it this month.

I have a feeling that I'm going to commit myself to A Dark-Adapted Eye regardless of who wins as it's on my reading list for this year. I don't know if I'll be able to squeeze another option in. I might give it a try if Chandler or Tey win - we'll see.

issybird · 04-24-2013, 07:42 AM

C'mon Goddard or Nesbo!

caleb72 · 04-24-2013, 08:26 AM

Cor Blimey - coincidentally, A Dark-Adapted Eye is currently $1.99 at Amazon (US). Even if you've already voted or if you don't particularly want to vote for Barbara Vine's entry, here is an opportunity to pick up a copy of the book at a good price.

LINK

This novel was given the Edgar Award for Best Novel in 1987. I haven't read it myself, but I've loved the handful of Barbara Vine books I've read.

View Poll Results: Which mystery shall thrill us in May?
The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey	14	37.84%
The Dinner by Herman Koch	8	21.62%
The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler	16	43.24%
A Suspension of Mercy by Patricia Highsmith	6	16.22%
The Flower Net by Lisa See	8	21.62%
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley	10	27.03%
A Dark-Adapted Eye by Barbara Vine	5	13.51%
The Redbreast by Jo Nesbø	13	35.14%
In Pale Battalions by Robert Goddard	11	29.73%
Great North Road by Peter F. Hamilton	3	8.11%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 37. You may not vote on this poll

04-23-2013, 03:25 PM	#22
WT Sharpe Bah, humbug! Posts: 39,072 Karma: 157049943 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Chesapeake, VA, USA Device: Kindle Oasis, iPad Pro, & a Samsung Galaxy S9.	Let's do May over. Okay, let's do May over, starting with the nominations. I was so busy I forgot to nominate *Black Jack Justice* by Gregg Taylor. 24 reviews at Amazon give this book an overall 5-star rating. Just finished it a couple of weeks ago and the stars are well-deserved. I love "Old Squarejaw" and his partner Trixie Dixon, "Girl Detective". For the uninitiated, their exploits can be heard via podcast at Decoder Ring Theater. The book is a prequel to the web series and tells how they met and why they decided to go into business together, even though they profess to hate each other's guts. I could not recommend this book highly enough; it's one of my most enjoyable reading experiences of this or any other year.

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04-23-2013, 11:26 AM	#18
issybird o saeclum infacetum Posts: 21,325 Karma: 234636059 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: New England Device: Mini, H2O, Glo HD, Aura One, PW4, PW5	I voted for the ones I haven't read, all of which sound excellent. I'd choose Chandler if it's going to be a reread; it's one of two classics on the list and I didn't think the Tey was as good as I remembered when I reread it a couple of years ago. Still, I'd vastly prefer one of the new to me options. Except for Great North Road, which I doubt I'd like.

04-23-2013, 03:50 PM	#23
Synamon Lunatic Posts: 1,691 Karma: 4386372 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Land of the Loonie Device: Kindle Paperwhite and Keyboard, Kobo Aura, iPad mini, iPod Touch	I'm surprised that The Dinner isn't getting more votes. The blurb sounded excellent and I put it on hold at the library as soon as it was nominated. Seems popular there, I'm 38th in line and the library has 11 copies (which is a lot). I can recommend The Redbreast. I'd never read anything before about Norwegians fighting for Germany on the Eastern Front, which was the fascinating back story for this mystery.

04-23-2013, 06:22 PM	#25
Tarana Wizard Posts: 4,039 Karma: 38840460 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Minneapolis Device: PWSE, Voyage, K3, HDX, KBasic 7 & 8, Nook Glo3, Echos, Nanos	What was very interesting about the selections is that I've never even heard of many of these authors. I just had to pick one. I'm sure I'll enjoy whatever wins.

04-24-2013, 01:36 AM	#28
caleb72 Indie Advocate Posts: 2,863 Karma: 18794463 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Melbourne, Australia Device: Kindle	Well - I'm not surprised about the Great North Road showing in this vote. I've only read one Peter F. Hamilton book and I enjoyed it. I'm sure this book is good too and Jon has been giving it a good report - but I just couldn't see a wave of people voting for it this month. I have a feeling that I'm going to commit myself to A Dark-Adapted Eye regardless of who wins as it's on my reading list for this year. I don't know if I'll be able to squeeze another option in. I might give it a try if Chandler or Tey win - we'll see.

04-24-2013, 07:42 AM	#29
issybird o saeclum infacetum Posts: 21,325 Karma: 234636059 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: New England Device: Mini, H2O, Glo HD, Aura One, PW4, PW5	C'mon Goddard or Nesbo!

04-24-2013, 08:26 AM	#30
caleb72 Indie Advocate Posts: 2,863 Karma: 18794463 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Melbourne, Australia Device: Kindle	Cor Blimey - coincidentally, A Dark-Adapted Eye is currently $1.99 at Amazon (US). Even if you've already voted or if you don't particularly want to vote for Barbara Vine's entry, here is an opportunity to pick up a copy of the book at a good price. LINK This novel was given the Edgar Award for Best Novel in 1987. I haven't read it myself, but I've loved the handful of Barbara Vine books I've read.

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