From snow-bound New York to countryside England to another world

[emmaco]

I'm being lazy here and nicking bits of my quick reviews from goodreads, so if you're one of my friends there please don't be surprised if you have deja vu.

A new mystery book that I enjoyed a month or so ago was In the bleak midwinter by Julia Spencer-Fleming. This is a modern mystery/crime book set in a small town in New York and starring a

Comments

[colliemommie]

The Sharing Knife books are not even close to being my favorite Lois books. I don't dislike them, but I feel no need to own them. In some ways I think she intended something very different with these books as opposed to the Vorkosigan books and the Chalion books, and is writing a type of book I suppose I'm not as fond of.

I agree that the characters are not the most likeable, nor do I think they are the best drawn. They are nowhere near as real to me as everyone in Paladin of Souls, which I have this very deep emotional connection to for some reason. Paladin and Barrayar both grab me somewhere behind the solar plexus and twist, and I get nothing like that response to the Sharing Knife books.

The settings in Sharing Knife are great, though. Coming from Western PA, a lot of it is very familiar, just a bit flatter than I remember. The scenery resonates with me more than anything else in those books.

[emmaco]

I think that's why I'm not planning on adding the books to my collection, the emotional connection isn't there.

I don't even know the area the book is based on but it feels very real.

[breathingbooks]

I don't think there's anything horribly wrong with the Sharing Knife books, but there's nothing that stands out beyond the setting, and it always seems odd to me when what people praise most is that. I thought part of the problem was that Fawn and Dag were too nice. A bit of malice (unintentional pun, I swear) would have sharpened the book nicely.

[emmaco]

I'm a sucker for good scenery, but agree that generally a book needs more thqn that :)

[jensbookpage]

Glad you enjoyed the Spencer-Fleming book. I love that series!!

[emmaco]

The second one is on its way to me now. Thanks for the rec!

[checkers65477]

Not this Bujold fan. I can't seem to muster up the enthusiasm to read more of the sharing knife series. I just reread Miles.

[emmaco]

I'm thinking that's part of the problem, we all started with Miles and like that type of book. I'm sure there must be Sharing Knife fans who don't like the Vorkosigan books :)

[checkers65477]

BLASPHEMY!

[gauroth]

The Sharing Knife books are ok, but a bit twee. They're nothing out-of-the-ordinary - in fact, if not for the Author's Name I wonder if they'd've been published at all?

As well as Elizabeth Goudge's children's books, try her adult books, too. You may find them old-fashioned and a bit 'cosy' now, but I remember finding 'The Middle Window', a historical novel set in Scotland (written waaay before Diana Gabaldon took up a quill) simply harrowing and wonderful when I read it as a teenager in the early 70s.

Have you read any Mary Stewart? Before she wrote her Merlin boks (brilliant - and I don't like Arthurian retellings as a rule) she wrote some cracking romantic thrllers, with kick-donkey - oops I mean ass - heroines. Mind, I suppose they're 'historical' too, being set in the 50s and 60s. Tempus fugit and all that jazz. Well worth a read.

[emmaco]

I got a bit bored reading Green dolphin country but shall try the The middle window, thanks for the suggestion!

I have a feeling I've tried Mary Stewart before but now that I google her none of her books seem familiar. She has been added to my TBR list too! Thanks!