1001 Books Challenge - UPDATE 53

[emmyangua]

Oh lordy... I suffered through this one.

The Nine Tailors by Dorothy L. Sayers

And really, I'm a bit annoyed that I had to suffer through it at all, because it had all the hallmarks of a book I'd normally enjoy - a 1930s detective novel, a Jeeves and Wooster style relationship between Lord Peter Wimsey and his manservant Bunter, and it being set in

Comments

[grail76]

I'd be curious about how you did with Murder Must Advertise. Whimsey has much more of an active part in it, but he gives up very little of himself say what he actually says in all of them.

[martinius]

I realized I never comment on any of these posts, but this seemed a good one to start with, since I generally find bad reviews to be more entertaining than good ones :p I've kept away from Sayers for almost exactly those reasons. I've been informed that I wouldn't like them by someone who both knows me and loves the books, and reading this I feel rather justified.

Also, a note on "Girl With the Dragon Tattoo". It's... I want to say it's a good book, being Swedish and all, but it's not. It's an interesting plot, certainly, but the writing is horrible and frankly, the male main character is the self insert to end all self inserts. But it's a quick read, being very uncomplicated, and you can always skim the bits where the author treats the Macintosh spec catalogue like porn :p

[emmyangua]

Thanks! I don't usually think anyone reads these reviews so it's nice to have some comments :)

And yeah... I'm sure the series is excellent but I just found I didn't like her writing style. I probably will give an earlier novel a go but I'm not hugely hopeful.

As for GWaDT. I get what you say - I liked it personally (accepting the Gary Stu quality of the lead) but my interest in the latter books has kinda ebbed...

[falling_voices]

I take it you hadn't read any Wimsey novels before. This makes me understand your dislike of Peter's characterization in this book a little better, because in the later ones (of which this is a number) most of it is very subtle, as Sayers takes it for granted that the largest chunk of her readers is already familiar with his usual attitude. If you've never read another novel in the series, you would miss a great number of important cues in the way this characterization is altered from what we knew of him beforehand. This is a much more introspective and dark Wimsey than the dancing dandy we were introduced to in the very first novels. He's also, at this point in his life, trying to come to grips with the woman he loves, and who is slowly and steadily forcing him to change his perspective on life and its extras. Most of his characterization in this book hinges on what we don't see him do, rather than on what we do

[emmyangua]

Thanks for the comment. I never think anyone reads these things!

I certainly didn't set out to bash a beloved series - but it stands to reason that everyone will have different likes and dislikes and I think her style just isn't to my taste.

I think what you say is fair enough - and I'm not against reading the other earlier novels. I did make for an allowance as I was reading, knowing that I hadn't read the earlier books, and if had just been his character I had an issue with I might have given a more charitable review... but I found it hard to get to grips with all the characters due to the overabundance of dialogue.

[falling_voices]

Rereading my comment now it does look a little passive-aggressive, sorry about that. D: it really wasn't my aim to try and force you to read more or to change your opinion about it, honest; I just thought I'd add an exterior opinion.

I'm pretty much the only person in my family who likes Sayers' style - my brother has read it without much enthusiasm, and my father couldn't even get through the book I gave him (can't quite recall which one it was, though). The very dialogue-y style sometimes does make it difficult to wangle through - Gaudy Night would be more descriptive, and certainly centers more around the characters' feelings than around the mystery plot. It's also true that the huge number of characters involved in TNT must make it rather confusing if you don't have an earlier attachment to Wimsey and Bunter.

Different strokes and all that, yeah?

[shouldboverthis]

Oh, dear--I do have to second the idea of giving an earlier Wimsey a chance. I enjoy them very much--far more than Christie.

[ginbitch]

Bizarrely, even though I adore Sayers, I found 9 Taylors hard. And I really do adore her! I'd actually suggest trying "whose body" (a more conventional mystery) or "Strong Poison". Strong poison has the radiant Harriet Vane - one of Sayer's best examples of characterisation. I can guarantee that if you hate it then Sayers really isn't for you. But I wouldn't judge the series on 9 taylors - it's a very odd book and not easy.