Tuesday, August 22, 2006

I need more books...


like I need a hole in the head. But who cares? I'm going to buy more anyway.

Next on my TBR list is The Red Hat Club by Haywood Smith. Lucy recommended it, and I've always wanted to read it. But then I realized that I don't have it! So, despite the fact that I have piles of unread books lying around, I need to make a trip this weekend to Books a Million and get it. Along with a few more books that I simply must have. Meanwhile, I'm eating up Eloisa James' Kiss Me, Annabel (so far- fantastic!)

It only took me nearly a month (lots of interruptions), but I just finished reading The DaVinci Code. I know, I'm like the last person in America to finally get around to it. I liked it. It was a well-paced interesting read. Although I do have to say I feel just a tad bit betrayed by Dan Brown.

Warning: Spoiler about to take place.

I loved the fact that Sir Leigh turned out to be The Teacher. It was a great twist. However, after being in Rhemy and Sir Leigh's deep pov many times, I can understand why once upon a time, people were so upset with Agatha Christie that they threw her out of the Mystery Writer's Club. (At least I've heard that this insult was done to Agatha, but don't quote me or anything) As a reader, if you're in a character's deep pov, shouldn't you be privy to what that character knows? I could have dismissed that, except for the scene where The Teacher murders Rhemy by putting crushed peanuts in his brandy (diabolical, wasn't it?). Rhemy never once thought of The Teacher as anything but that, never spent his last minutes thinking about him as Sir Leigh, etc... Sybil (my friend from work) says that only a writer (that would be me!) would think that way. I don't know. But it was a good lesson in how not to do something, although since The DaVinci Code made a zillion dollars, I suspect not too many readers were as prickled about that as I was.

On a humorous note, at least I find this funny, and I suspect that Mel will too, I actually emailed Louisa instructions last night on how to add a "What I'm Reading" sidebar to her blog. Yes. Me. The most technically challenged woman in the modern world is actually dispensing computer advice to others. Scary, isn't it? But Kristen helped me with this and she made it so easy that even I could do it, so I have every faith in the world that smart Louisa can too.

10 comments:

Lucy said...

I haven't read The Red Hat Club yet Maria (I do have it though - bought based on its sequel). I read The Red Hat Club Rides Again. I have every confidence that The Red Hat Club will be as good as its sequel but, just in case, I wanted to clear up which one I recommended. :o)

Oh, and I haven't read The DaVinci Code (and not sure I will).

KimAmburn said...

If it makes you feel any better, my husband picked up on the same thing (the peanuts) in DaVinci and said it threw him too. And he's not even a writer! Of course, he lives with one, so maybe I'm rubbing off on him.

Maria Geraci said...

Ah! Duly noted, L! I planned on getting them both anyhow, along with "Queen Bee of Mimosa County". With a title like that, you just can't go wrong!

And Kim, I'm glad I'm not the only one that picked up on that! I mentioned it to my husband, but he read DaVinci Code when it first came out so it had been awhile and he couldn't remember the scene :(

The Girl You Used to Know said...

Ahem.

I knew you'd be able to give her instructions, oh ye of little faith. You're not nearly as techno-challenged as you think you are...

Maria Geraci said...

LOL! I know what you mean. But when I was almost the only person who hadn't read the book, and here I am a writer, I finally had to give in.
And your blog site looks great!

Ellen said...

Ooh, I need to get those Red Hat books.

I listened to DaVinci Code on audio, and really liked it--but I had to make myself listen some days. Anyway...I'm often terribly unobservant, and this must be a case in point, because I'm not sure to what you're referring. (See me blush?) Do you mean that Remy should've thought of the old guy as Sir Leigh instead, since "The Teacher" betrayed him? Sorry to be so dense.

Unknown said...

I still have yet to read The Davinci Code.

Or listen to it.

Did see the movie.

Might pick up the Red hat series...maybe after I plow through the RS's and para's that won't stop whispering read me.

Happy reading, Maria.

Maria Geraci said...

(listened to DaVinci Code on audio, and really liked it--but I had to make myself listen some days. Anyway...I'm often terribly unobservant, and this must be a case in point, because I'm not sure to what you're referring. (See me blush?) Do you mean that Remy should've thought of the old guy as Sir Leigh instead, since "The Teacher" betrayed him? Sorry to be so dense.)

Ellen, I listened partially on tape too, then decided to read the book because the tape was abridged, so I'm not sure if the tape covered all that the book did. But basically, I feel that if we're in a character's deep POV for extended scenes, then we should be privy to what that character knows. So when Rhemy was murdered by "The Teacher", I think at some point he should have refered to him as Sir Leigh. But that's just me. Those sort of little details bug me!

Tempest Knight said...

Great list! I'll have to check some of these out next time I go to Borders. :)

Maria Geraci said...

Ooh, I love Borders! I can never get out of that place without a couple of new CDs as well as an armful of books. :)

 

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