tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post2418975140793649464..comments2023-10-31T10:59:03.023-04:00Comments on INKSPOT Crime Fiction Blog | A Place for Mystery, Mayhem, Writing and Life: Book Club Picks - The Best and the BombsLinda O. Johnstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01512430135042480450noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-76528543589255463722007-09-14T16:03:00.000-04:002007-09-14T16:03:00.000-04:00I agree with Sue Ann about MI mysteries. But if y...I agree with Sue Ann about MI mysteries. But if you're looking for a non-mystery novel that grapples with issues of rearing children, marriage, and friendship, try Songs without Words, just out by Ann Packer. (It is on today's Wall St Journal bestseller list.) Ann also wrote The Dive from Clausen's Pier.Keith Raffelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02926077627965529183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-16953422147902941782007-09-14T15:31:00.000-04:002007-09-14T15:31:00.000-04:00JB, you mentioned one of my all time favorites, TH...JB, you mentioned one of my all time favorites, THE THIRTEENTH TALE by Diane Setterfield. I was absolutely transfixed by it and highly recommend it. I've also read some interviews with Setterfield about her love of books and reading that are well worth the read. What's most interesting is that despite the hoopla, huge advance and strong sales, the novel was largely panned by reviewers. The book was so well written, IMHO.Felicia Donovanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03556232226152556397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-7563036903577709692007-09-14T03:42:00.000-04:002007-09-14T03:42:00.000-04:00This one is a bestseller, so it may be too obvious...This one is a bestseller, so it may be too obvious, but EAT, PRAY, LOVE prompted a terrific discussion in my book club. We each took our favorite third of the story--Italy, India or Bali--and related it to our own journeys through life. It was definitely a good pick for our particular group.Kathryn Lilleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05701558750790059307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-80848860049726645522007-09-13T21:11:00.000-04:002007-09-13T21:11:00.000-04:00I keep hearing great things about Bel Canto too. I...I keep hearing great things about Bel Canto too. I also just finished Blood of Flowers and really liked it. I think I'll try Mark's Byzantine suggestions just for myself. I love that setting. If nothing else, my TBR pile is going to expand. I really like to see what you guys are reading. I'm about to start Amy Bloom's Away. Will let you know about it and if you haven't picked up The Thirteenth Tale, get it! Easily my favorite book of the year.jbstanleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05839153589205692508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-48770438207226249282007-09-13T20:47:00.000-04:002007-09-13T20:47:00.000-04:00You mentioned Carol Shields' STONE DIARIES. I've r...You mentioned Carol Shields' STONE DIARIES. I've read most of her work (what a loss to this world when she passed) and really enjoyed one of her final books, UNLESS. Another fav is Elinor Lipman's THE INN AT LAKE DEVINE, which I was able to enjoy as part of an on-line book club with Elinor moderating.Felicia Donovanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03556232226152556397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-72636528774757260792007-09-13T17:07:00.000-04:002007-09-13T17:07:00.000-04:00I just read Blood of Flowers, and it was a gorgeou...I just read Blood of Flowers, and it was a gorgeous read. Every time I try to explain it, I do it a disservice. Let's just say it's beautifully set in ancient Persia, makes rug-making seem like something I want to take up, and it has TONS of "meat" for discussion.<BR/><BR/>Here's <A HREF="http://www.bloodofflowers.com/" REL="nofollow">the website for Blood of Flowers</A>.Spy Scribblerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14299551957327543491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-83654701846242329202007-09-13T16:29:00.000-04:002007-09-13T16:29:00.000-04:00The Chemistry of Death by Simon Beckett.It's a mys...The Chemistry of Death by Simon Beckett.<BR/><BR/>It's a mystery, and a forensic procedural about a serial killer to boot, but I think your group would be surprised by how much there is there.<BR/><BR/>And to keep it on the thrillers titles, because that's what I know best, anything by John Ramsey Miller would probably work for a book group.<BR/><BR/>Or historical mysteries, check out all six by Mary Reed and Eric Mayer (they take place in 6th century Byzantium).Mark Terryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09410424046477699059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-13500862060873219432007-09-13T16:19:00.000-04:002007-09-13T16:19:00.000-04:00I say put the titles of all of the current Midnigh...I say put the titles of all of the current Midnight Ink books in a bag and pick one.<BR/><BR/>Get your book club to think outside the Best Seller List and discover new authors and new ideas. Some of the best books are not on the big lists.Sue Ann Jaffarianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09984054116933714621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-2633191300324937462007-09-13T16:18:00.000-04:002007-09-13T16:18:00.000-04:00I'm a big Cormac McCarthy fan and my favorite of h...I'm a big Cormac McCarthy fan and my favorite of his is "No Country for Old Men." They are making a movie of it:<BR/><BR/>http://www.nocountryforoldmen.com/<BR/><BR/>Directed by the Coen Brothers. Looks great and a nice tie in for the group. <BR/><BR/>Fair warning, if you are squeamish - McCarthy pulls no punches....Mark Combeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01270361794228887282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-22178470582087532652007-09-13T16:04:00.000-04:002007-09-13T16:04:00.000-04:00Boy, is this timely. All three of those books have...Boy, is this timely. All three of those books have been read or are on our list to be read. I grow so tired of the group choosing the most likely suspects. This month I forced them into reading On Chesil Beach, which I though provoked a great discussion. I have some of it on my website. Some books we liked were Bel Canto (Patchett), Revolutionary Road (Yates), Disgrace (Coetze), Oleanna and The Piano Lesson (two plays we did together), Small Wonder (Barbara Kingsolver), Light in August (Faulkner), Housekeeping (Robinson)<BR/>Stone Diaries (Shields).pattinase (abbott)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02916037185235335846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-25239663883041158762007-09-13T15:45:00.000-04:002007-09-13T15:45:00.000-04:00JB, have you guys tried Tasha Alexander's Lady Ash...JB, have you guys tried Tasha Alexander's Lady Ashton books? AND ONLY TO DECEIVE and A POISONED SEASON. They aren't your typical historicals, and are brilliantly written.JT Ellisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08034115593738265631noreply@blogger.com