R.I.P. Challenge book #5

[_lethe_]

My last book in this year's Challenge is a reread. In 1996 I borrowed Knollekop (Bucket Nut) by Liza Cody from the library, and loved it so much that when I came across it at the annual Centraal Boekhuis book fair the next year, I picked up a copy.

Comments

[heartofdavid]

Bucket Nut sounds good, but it should have a squirrel character somewhere in it, going by the title.

because I tend to regard thrillers and mysteries as junk food: tasting good (hopefully) while it lasts, but containing nothing but empty calories and therefore leaving you ultimately unsatisfied.
I beg to differ. Cozy mysteries do tend to favor that description, but a good mystery or thriller leaves you thinking about how things turned out and how by a few twists of fate things could have been much different. Actually, I think most books are thrillers in some sense of the word, unless they are outright humor or romantic pap.

[_lethe_]

No squirrels in sight, sorry. "Bucket nut" is what a man in the audience shouts at her, because of her ugly face.

I think what I mean is that thrillers are generally plot-driven, while I prefer character-driven novels. The latter usually pay more attention to style too, IMO. Which is also why I liked this book so much. The plot is rather flimsy, but Eva is a great character.

Funnily enough, I love Agatha Christie's cosy mysteries as comfort reading, and I'm just sorry there aren't any new ones for me to discover, since I know most of them practically by heart.

how by a few twists of fate things could have been much different.
I guess I don't like twists of fate, because they have a tendency to make me sad (see The Cave and "A Good Man Is Hard to Find"). :)

I think most books are thrillers in some sense of the wordYou're probably right there, a lot of books are indeed suspenseful in one way or another. I think the alternative would be a book in which nothing happens. That'd be a boring read

[heartofdavid]

I think what I mean is that thrillers are generally plot-driven, while I prefer character-driven novels. The latter usually pay more attention to style too, IMO.
I prefer character-driven novels as well. Great characters can make up for a weak plot, but the best plot can be destroyed by flimsy characters.

I love Donna Tartt's books. I think you could call them thrillers, but they are also beautifully written.
I loved Secret History but didn't like The Little Friend, although I can't exactly remember why just now. I couldn't get into it and dropped it after 60 or so pages - could be I just wasn't in the mood for it at the time. That sometimes happens to me with books. I realize the book is good but it isn't working for me, so I figure the problem is me and not the book and I usually go back to the book at a later time and end up enjoying it - that is exactly what happened with The Thirteenth Tale. Gave up after 20 pages on the first try but felt I wasn't giving the book a fair chance. Second attempt...I plowed through it, lol.

[_lethe_]

I figure the problem is me and not the book

In the case of The Little Friend it is probably the book, because I only know of a very few people besides me who not only finished it, but also loved it. Most people gave up.

Personally, I thought it was great. Completely different from The Secret History though.

I particularly remember a scene towards the end of the book, which took place near a water tower. It had me on the edge of my seat.

[chetbakerfan]

Another liza cody book you might enjoy (and not a mystery) is Rift. It concerns a British film crew stranded in Africa back in the mid 70s. It's more of a journey than a story, and is a bit reminescent of The Sheltering Sky (the film at least; I never read the book).

[_lethe_]

That sounds good too, thanks for the tip!

(How sad that apart from a collection of short stories all her books are out of print. She deserves better, with all those glowing reviews.)