scripsi: (Default)
scripsi ([personal profile] scripsi) wrote2015-06-24 05:16 pm

What I am reading Wednesday

What I am reading now: Unnatural Death by Dorothy L. Sayers, and A Private Disgrace by Victoria Lincoln.

What I have finished reading: Clouds of Witness by Dorothy L. Sayers. This is the second Lord Peter-story and it is not as good as the first book, IMO. Whose Body is a tight story with few characters and settings, while Clouds of Witness is a sprawling story with, as the title says, lots of witness, not to mention clue. The fiancé to Lord Peter’s sister Lady Mary is found shot and their elder brother, the Duke of Denver is arrested for murder. As Lord Peter investigates he suddenly realise that if he manages to free his brother, he might have to arrest his sister. It’s still a very enjoyable story, we get to know Lord Peter’s family better and there are plenty of amusing scenes and Lord Peter’s famous banter.

The book was made into a rather competent TV-series in 1972, starring Ian Carmichael. My only complaint about this adaption is that the actors are, on the whole, too old for their characters. Lord Peter, for instance, is 33 in the book, Ian Carmichael was 52. And for you Anthony Ainley fans out there, he plays Lady Mary’s deceased fiancé, and if, for once in this series, actually the same age as the man he plays. It’s a small role, you mainly get to see him in the first 15 minutes of the first episode.

He by H. P. Lovecraft. a man, walking New York by night, manage to walk into the past, the 18th century to be precise and encounter a sinister old man. If one can swallow the rampant xenophobia, then it’s a decently scary story.

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying by Marie Kondo. As I mentioned earlier I’m currently purging my books and then I read an article about this book which seems to have been a bit of a Thing in USA over the winter. I’ve never heard about it, but got curious and bought it for my Kindle. It was a rather quick read and quite enjoyable. I actually think that the book offer some sound advice on tidying (not cleaning), but I recommend you read it through before either embracing or dissing it.

What I will be reading next: Unnatural Death by Dorothy L. Sayers.

Dreams In the Witch House by H. P. Lovecraft.

What I have been watching: The finale of Orphan Black, which delivered, but I’m really, really glad there will be another season.


Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries has started again and I’m enjoying it a lot. Twenties glamour and a heroine that is past 40, independent. I’ve also started watching Hannibal. It do squicks me, but it’s so beautiful too and actually better than the books, which one isn’t, perhaps, allowed to say.

I have also enjoyed two seasons of Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) from 2000/2001. Two private detectives and best friends continue to solve crimes even after one of them dies and becomes a ghost. I looked it up because Tom Baker is in it and it was rather fun. It starts out with more usual crime stories, but eventually gets more and more supernatural. Not always very logic and with some really bad CGI. tom Baker plays Tom Baker Wyvern, Hopkirk’s spirit guide.

[identity profile] flowsoffire.livejournal.com 2015-06-27 02:26 pm (UTC)(link)
I've heard so many good things about Hannibal! But now apparently it's getting cancelled :/

Book adaptation can get really very good…

[identity profile] scripsi.livejournal.com 2015-06-27 10:14 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, what a pity! I really like it, it's so dreamlike and beautifully made with complex characters. But a lot of blood and, of course, cannibalism. I hide a lot behind a pillow when I watch it. :)

[identity profile] flowsoffire.livejournal.com 2015-07-04 08:08 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, it sounds really good. Looks like it might be saved in some way right now, though I haven't really been following since I don't watch it… Fingers crossed for quality shows!

[identity profile] scripsi.livejournal.com 2015-07-05 09:59 am (UTC)(link)
Yes, if some other network picks it up, so I hope! Though the director is involved in American Gods, so next season seems to be on hold anyway. on the other hand, I can't wait to see what he does with American Gods as it is one of my favourite books! :D

[identity profile] flowsoffire.livejournal.com 2015-07-09 03:07 pm (UTC)(link)
Fingers crossed!

I don't know American Gods, but that does sound exciting :)

[identity profile] scripsi.livejournal.com 2015-07-09 04:52 pm (UTC)(link)
It's a great book if you ask me, by Neil Gaiman. The idea is that every deity that an immigrant has sacrified to in America has given them a place in the American phanteon. A young man, Shadow gets released from prison only to find that his wife just died in a car accident and that the mysterious Mr. Wednesday wants him to work for him. Oh, and that there is a war in heaven between the old gods and the new ones. And his dead wife isn't very good at staying put in her grave.

I don't know how well known Scandinavian mythology is known, but I don't think I spoil anything if I say that it was pretty easy for me to realise who Mr. Wednesday really was... And there are a number of other gods and other mythological creatures in a very long and rather slow book, which I kind of love. (Husband found it dead boring, though.)

[identity profile] flowsoffire.livejournal.com 2015-07-13 07:09 pm (UTC)(link)
Ohhh, Neil Gaiman! And that does sound like a pretty great story :D

[identity profile] scripsi.livejournal.com 2015-07-13 09:42 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, Neil Gaiman kind of vouch for a good story, doesn't he? :)

[identity profile] a-phoenixdragon.livejournal.com 2015-06-28 04:10 pm (UTC)(link)
Ohhh, need to catch up with some of these books...and with Orphan Black, lol!!

*HUGS*

[identity profile] scripsi.livejournal.com 2015-06-29 05:09 am (UTC)(link)
You have some good things to look forward to, then! *hugs*