tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9995206.post8951553485915699238..comments2023-11-03T06:20:06.604-05:00Comments on Lesa's Book Critiques: Barry Award NomineesLesahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12946133849271512083noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9995206.post-11014738030933829472010-06-18T07:56:59.949-05:002010-06-18T07:56:59.949-05:00I think you're right, Kathy. Too bad the publ...I think you're right, Kathy. Too bad the public is fickle. There's already a backlash with readers saying they're not on the Stieg Larsson bandwagon. The publishers are probably looking in the wrong place for the next phenomenon.Lesahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12946133849271512083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9995206.post-18975733105236142042010-06-17T23:52:09.954-05:002010-06-17T23:52:09.954-05:00I think that readers in Europe, including in the U...I think that readers in Europe, including in the UK, read a lot of international fiction, more than U.S. readers.<br /><br />Fred Vargas is read widely there, more than here. <br /><br />The exception is probably Stieg Larsson's trilogy which is being read like crazy here. (See New York Times, June 16.) And, now, according to the Times, publishers are looking for the next Larsson phenomenon, to sell books.kathy d.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9995206.post-84728553241177158732010-06-17T06:49:18.874-05:002010-06-17T06:49:18.874-05:00I always liked John Dickson Carr's "locke...I always liked John Dickson Carr's "locked-room" mysteries as well, Kathy. Sounds as if there's an interesting mix of books. Everyone has there own list of "best of" books. It's interesting to see the 100 Best Mysteries lists, and how they differ when the Americans and British compile them.Lesahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12946133849271512083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9995206.post-68971877311431940012010-06-17T00:29:22.719-05:002010-06-17T00:29:22.719-05:00Sorry I didn't see "The Lincoln Lawyer,&q...Sorry I didn't see "The Lincoln Lawyer," on the best of the decade list. It's a very well-written book.<br /><br />It's true. It's a very hard call to list these. I just found Sarah Weinman's list which I could copy here; it's an interesting group of books.<br /><br />I'd also add a book by Kate Atkinson, "Case Histories." <br /><br />One has to have the taste for Vargas. Her mind goes where none have gone before. She is brilliant but very unpredictable, nothing comfortable or mundane. You have to fasten your seatbelts before beginning one of hers.<br /><br />I will go through my old lists and try to find what books made me say, "Wow," when I finished.<br /><br />Just finished "The Black Path," by Swedish Asa Larsson, very well-written but so brutal, I have to recover and read a comedy before any more Nordic fiction, or a legal thriller with banter or a fun Harlan Coben or Grisham or Carl Haiason or Elaine Viets.<br /><br />Yikes--what happens to people who don't get enough sunlight?<br /><br />I like puzzles, mysteries with a murder done in a library or in the woods, that we hear of, no gristly torture or murder methods.<br /><br />My uncle reminded me tonight that he and my dad liked John Dickson Carr. He was the best of the "locked-room" classics, and they liked him because of the puzzle element. I will try his writing.kathy d.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9995206.post-78570848372306870512010-06-16T11:08:32.270-05:002010-06-16T11:08:32.270-05:00Thank you, Kathy.
This actually helps me, too. I...Thank you, Kathy.<br /><br />This actually helps me, too. I'm working on a list of must-reads for a chapter on mysteries in a book. I already had Indradason. Michael Connelly's The Lincoln Lawyer is actually on The Barry List. I don't have a Tana French or Sara Paretsky's Hardball, or a Fred Vargas. Hmmm.<br /><br />Thank you. I hope George comes back and reads this.Lesahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12946133849271512083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9995206.post-48146689996193491872010-06-16T09:32:16.475-05:002010-06-16T09:32:16.475-05:00I will be glad to reply but later will dig out my ...I will be glad to reply but later will dig out my lists of what I've read and starred and enter them.<br /><br />Right off the bat, I see no books by Fred Vargas, a brilliant writer, won the Dagger three years in a row. There's also Hypothermia by Indridason which everyone says is his best. Winter and Night by Rozen is excellent. I'd add one by Tana French. There's The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly, Hardball by Sara Paretsky.<br /><br />But I need to check further. Sarah Weinman had such a list and I'll look for it at her website.<br />But I'll look at my lists, too.kathy d.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9995206.post-19574239664837313432010-06-14T18:36:38.822-05:002010-06-14T18:36:38.822-05:00Well, Gary,
That's up to George, but I kind ...Well, Gary, <br /><br />That's up to George, but I kind of doubt it. (smile)Lesahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12946133849271512083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9995206.post-68486672164528250582010-06-14T18:34:19.376-05:002010-06-14T18:34:19.376-05:00Rebecca Cantrell, Stuart Neville and Sophie Little...Rebecca Cantrell, Stuart Neville and Sophie Littlefield have all produced outstanding first novels. <br /><br />Am I allowed to vote three times?Gary Corbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14759372069119740227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9995206.post-32718178550667937592010-06-11T11:30:27.377-05:002010-06-11T11:30:27.377-05:00Thank you, George! It's interesting to see th...Thank you, George! It's interesting to see the longer list of titles that were considered. Like you, I'm interested in Kathy's ideas. She usually returns to respond, and if she doesn't, I'll try to ask her as soon as I hear from her. <br /><br />Thank you for the longer list!Lesahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12946133849271512083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9995206.post-86901634543449463392010-06-11T09:59:18.298-05:002010-06-11T09:59:18.298-05:00My name is George Easter and I'm the editor of...My name is George Easter and I'm the editor of Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine and supervise the nomination of the Barry Awards. I was interested in kathy d.'s comment. When you think how many mystery/crime novels have been published in the last decade, it is a near impossible task to whittle them down to six titles. Of course, "several heavy-hitters" will be left off. Our nominating committee is made up of people who read widely but have differing tastes so it is always a surprise to me what they come up with. Here are the titles on the long list of Best of the Decade that didn't make the cut:<br />Reginald Hill, DIALOGUES OF THE DEAD<br /><br />Lee Child, ONE SHOT <br /><br />Jasper Fforde, THE EYRE AFFAIR<br /><br />Arnaldur Indridason, JAR CITY <br /><br />Joe Lansdale, THE BOTTOMS<br /><br />Laura Lippman, EVERY SECRET THING<br /><br />Thomas H. Cook, RED LEAVES<br /><br />Alexander McCall Smith, THE NO. 1 LADIES DETECTIVE AGENCY<br /><br />I'd be interested in knowing what "heavy hitters" kathy d would add to these and to those nominated. mysterygeorgeUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05972229830790017055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9995206.post-39307717500582308212010-06-10T22:15:16.040-05:002010-06-10T22:15:16.040-05:00Which books would you add to that list of mystery ...Which books would you add to that list of mystery of the decade, Kathy? I'm curious.Lesahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12946133849271512083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9995206.post-7617454789197484982010-06-10T20:58:24.787-05:002010-06-10T20:58:24.787-05:00I have actually read some of these myself and they...I have actually read some of these myself and they are good books. But in the mystery of the decade, I think several heavy-hitters are absent.kathy d.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9995206.post-2599058509924142022010-06-10T17:27:00.748-05:002010-06-10T17:27:00.748-05:00I'm with you, Beth. In fact, I ordered 4 book...I'm with you, Beth. In fact, I ordered 4 books today. (sigh)Lesahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12946133849271512083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9995206.post-1795198350406547662010-06-10T17:25:55.060-05:002010-06-10T17:25:55.060-05:00It is interesting to see what books readers actual...It is interesting to see what books readers actually nominate, isn't it, Bev? I've actually read some of these books.Lesahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12946133849271512083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9995206.post-77824111206875278612010-06-10T17:23:31.967-05:002010-06-10T17:23:31.967-05:00Congrats to the nominees! And thanks for posting t...Congrats to the nominees! And thanks for posting this list, Lesa. It's nice to have it as a reference when I'm heading to the bookstore.Beth Hoffmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16770840174293503835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9995206.post-32600409229457786682010-06-10T15:49:38.442-05:002010-06-10T15:49:38.442-05:00It's interesting to see which books readers no...It's interesting to see which books readers nominate, as opposed to the other awards. There is very little duplication.Bev Stephansnoreply@blogger.com