Byens jernkledde innvolder arbeider

[nirinia]

In an attempt to cheer up before a dreadful two-hour seminar, I went to one of my favourite bookshops. I read crime fiction at Easter, when we're at the cottage and when my brain is so mushy I need a film in writing. Usually, crime fiction means Patricia Cornwell, or P.D. James. The bookshop had no new titles of either. And so I am stuck. What do I read, then? Fiction I can do, I know most of the authors, and if there's a new name, I research. But with crime fiction I don't know where to start. Any recommendations?

One essay down, and the other as close to done as it is ever going to get (it has structural issues – I ought to deal, but know I will pass, regardless). I have acquired a case of essay-postpartum depression, which probably explains my urge to strangle half the world, and throw scalding coffee in the eyes of the other. Just you wait, world, on Monday I will let my hair down, find a pair of delicately towering heels and twirl in the sun. Until then I will work on not killing someone.

Comments

[resuscitation.livejournal.com]

damn, my first shout was going to be Patricia Cornwell, I've read a lot fo her books. Next shout would be Ian Rankin, I keep being told to read his stuff but never got around to it, he's supposed to be very good though.

You've got p.d james, there's also Ruth Rendall... but no doubt you tried all of the names I know :os

[nirinia.livejournal.com]

I'll have a look at Ian Rankin, thank you! I tried going through the bookshelves in the house, but none of us seem to be reading any crime. Cornwell is surprisingly good.

I tried Rendell, a few Easters ago and never really got past page four.

[resuscitation.livejournal.com]

you're welcome :o)

to be fair I'm simply naming those that have been recommended to me, I kind of went through patricia cornwells then stopped. I'll have to start reading them all again...

[nirinia.livejournal.com]

Re-recommending is always great! That's the good thing about Cornwell, they're so easy to get through.

[necropalice.livejournal.com]

If you like Japanese fiction, try Natsuo Kirino's Out.

The Long Firm by Jake Arnott is also meant to be good... if you like the sound of it, I'll post you my copy as I won't reread it (not much of a crime reader, but I got a copy of this one when I was writing a quest-thriller during my degree... I only read about ten pages of it, lulz).

[nirinia.livejournal.com]

Out seems very promising, I'll see if I can find it somewhere. Thanks!

Haha, I'll spare you the shipping costs (they're likely atrocious to Norway). I'll keep that in mind as well. Oops, so much for research? Can't imagine you writing a thriller of any kind.

Just struck me that this whole tradition of reading crime at Easter is really weird. Half the country reads crime, the other watches endless re-runs of Morse on tv. All because it's Easter.

[necropalice.livejournal.com]

Haha, really? That's weird.

It was a quest-thriller, but ended up more of a noir, as I read a lot of Raymond Chandler (my favourite crime writer, and I can't believe I didn't mention him earlier).

[nirinia.livejournal.com]

I exaggerate, of course, but it's not far from it. Most of us also run away form the city to our cottages. It is blood weird.

Haven't heard of him, will definitely look into him as well. It's interesting how things always tend to morph, they never end up as planned. But noir sounds more like you.

[necropalice.livejournal.com]

You have heard of Raymond Chandler's work, I guarantee! He wrote The Big Sleep, Kiss Me Deadly... my mind's gone blank now, haha. Looooads of 50s noir films are based on his books anyway!

[nirinia.livejournal.com]

D'oh, I do know him! Never mind the brain's leave of absence.

[stolenokisses.livejournal.com]

I really like Kate Atkinson's crime fiction. She writes about a detective called Jackson Brodie. They're quite literary, but in an easy to read sort of way. 'Case Histories' is the first one, and is really good.

[nirinia.livejournal.com]

Literary sounds good, I'll add her to the list. Thank you! Good to know where to start, as well. These crime series seem to always encompass half a shelf each, I never know which book to choose.