the Rhubarb meme

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

So jesse_the_k picked three of my interests:

Dorothy L. Sayers.

Great things about Dorothy L. Sayers:

She was very intelligient as well hard-working, gifted, and clever and she created one of my favorite fictional characters, Lord Peter Wimsey & his world.

But I don't think I would've liked her (and I know she would've had no use for me). If we're talking Great Detective Novelists who Make Poor Life Choices, I am much more of an Agatha Christie than a Dorothy L. Sayers. I find the business of the Detection Club and the 'rules' for writing detective fiction a bit silly. I think she took herself far too seriously. And the whole business of having an illegitimate child who you never recognise publically your whole life rubs me the wrong way, especially when you're known as a feminist and exault these women-only worlds (like in Gaudy Night, the women's college). I mean, it's not my business, but abortion or keeping the child and raising it (I realise this would have killed any thoughts of a career) or to eventually when you are established and financially solvent to recognise him. It strikes me as horribly cruel and hypocritical to go about things the way she did. But it isn't my business nor do I have all the details.

By comparison, I can COMPLETELY understand disappearing for 9 days and checking myself into a spa under my husband's mistresses name and pretending (or being!) in a fugue state. THAT I could have easily done this morning on the way home from the shops :)

Gervase Fen He is a fictional detective who is an Oxford professor written by Edmund Crispin. He is kind of silly and says things like 'Oh my fur and whiskers!' Think of any slightly silly Oxford professor side character in an episode of Lewis. He's sort of bland but the plots are rather interesting and it's a good thing to put on the background while I'm cooking, cleaning, or doing other household tasks. All the novels are available on the Youtube and done by excellent narrators like Stephen Thorne (who is top shelf). The most known novel is The Moving Toyshop. In my mind, he looks like Peter Davidson, who played Campion on TV a long time ago.

Any British detective I don't like. There are some who are just too bland (and the plots too bland) to catch my interest. Among the four Queens of Crime, [Christie, Sayers, Marsh, and Allingham] the last is my least favorite. I've tried to read Campion, but it always comes down to why should I read Campion when Lord Peter is in the world (or Bertie Wooster for that matter). I need a strong plot and/or a strong detective. I love Christiana Brand's plots even though her Inspector Cockrill is forgettable. Inspector Littlejohn (by George Bellairs) slaps a hysterical witness (that's a no). Inspector Ghoti (by H. R. F. Keating) is sort of silly. I love Miss Marple but I can't think of another female detective I like. :( Sadness. Edited to add that I thought of two female detectives: Perveen Mistry by Sujata Massey and Su Lin by Ovidia Yu.

Comments

[smallhobbit]

I'm not a particular fan of Dorothy L Sayers, and like you am not taken with her as a character. Agatha Christie seems much more likeable.

I listened to a radio adaption of a Lord Peter Wimsey which I quite enjoyed, so I think I'll try for those, rather than rereading any books. The BBC broadcast them ever so often, which fits in with my listening habits, so I'll go that way.

I've not yet read Gervase Fen - he's still sitting on the shelf. I quite like Campion, but again that was purely audiobook, and edited at that, so the plot but without the annoying bits. And I've decided I prefer Miss Marple to Poirot.

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

Is the Lord Peter radio adaptation with Ian Carmichael?

Fen can sit on the shelf, I think. He's not compelling. Imagine an episode of Lewis where they make the professor of English literature the detective and you sort of have it.


Yeah, Miss Marple over Poirot, definitely. I've tried some of the Campion audiobooks but I tend to do unabridged versions and get bogged down and forget what's happening.

[smallhobbit]

Yes, it's a classic BBC version, so Ian Carmichael.

[lunabee34]

I have never read any Sayers; I should remedy that.

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

I like Whose Body? or Cloud of Witness. There's also Murder Must Advertise or if you want to romance, too, Strong Poison.

[lunabee34]

Thanks for the recs! It's good to have a place to start.

[mightymads]

Re: likeable female detective, have you come across Phryne Fisher? I didn't read the books but I LOVE the tv-series (and as far as I could gather, there are significant differences between the book and the series, and I like the way it is done in the series).

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

Ah, I do like Phryne Fisher. I've read 2 of the books (the first and third, I think). There were cringe-worthy moments in the books, but in general, I liked them. And I like the series, too. I've seen a good bit of the first two seasons. The clothes are so nice, and I like that she is shows solidarity with all kinds of women, regardless of class or different view points. I like Mac, too, but was sort of sad to see they went with a 'bury your gays' trope early on with her.

[luthienberen]

Outside Sherlock Holmes I read almost no detective fiction (my mother is the crime /detective lover in the house) as I'm more of a historical and/or fantasy lover.

However, I do enjoy watching some detective shows, such as Miss Marple and Poirot, and of course a number of Holmesian adaptations.

I think mostly because I need the historical aspect to set the scene and I found the Poirot books difficult to get through, though now I have tried again I did enjoy Death on the Nile and Murder on the Orient Express.

Therefore, it is very interesting to read your opinion on the subject. :) Also, I agree on the disappearing for 9 days! Definitely understandable.

Have you read any books by Edward Marston? My mum loves a few of his series, particularly The Railway Detective books.

Oh I third both you and mightymads on the tv series Phryne Fisher! Loved that due to Phryne, the clothes and era ~ I also quite liked Mac and wished she appeared more in the series.

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

I'll add Marston to my list! Thanks!