THE JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB discussion

Stuart wrote: "Me Cheeta: The Autobiography by James Lever for the fun of it. I am hoping it will end up a good Hollywood satire."

as a great fan of the Tarzan films, Stuart,I would be very interested in your take on the book- as I recall- I saw an interview with Maureen O'Sullivan- who said that Cheeta was a homosexual(tongue in cheek) he wanted nothing to do with her

has anyone read- The Elegance of the Hedgehog?? really wouldlike to hear reviews

Rick wrote: "I always read two books at the same time! Usually a current thriller or mystery and a classic- Right now I am just finishing up- The Elusive Pimpernel- the sequel to The Scarlet Pimpernel- so my mi..."

I'm planning on starting "The Scarlett Pimpernel" in the next few weeks. Glad to see it mentioned here.

Rick wrote: "Tod wrote: "I just started The Unabridged Edgar Allen Poe. Poetry isn't really my thing, unless there is a substantial mood to it. I want to understand his work better though and will try to get th..."

In my humble opinion, Poe is always worth the effort! A genius if there ever was one!

I'm usually reading two books at once, like Rick...sometimes three. I try to choose one contemporary or 20th century title and either a classic or a nonfiction...sometimes poetry...

I'm reading "The Shadow of the Wind" and "The Namesake" at present.

Both are on the latest version (2010) of the 1001 Books You Should Read Before You Die" list, which I frequently use as a source for titles. I use several other lists as well.
Another fav is the Modern Library's Best 100 Novels of the 20th Century.
Anyone else using these or other lists for ideas?

I FINALLY finished Frankenstein, and really enjoyed it. Not at all what I was expecting!

Sadie wrote: "I FINALLY finished Frankenstein, and really enjoyed it. Not at all what I was expecting!"

I believe Frankenstein has a sub-title The Human Prometheus or something like that.

Sadie wrote: "I FINALLY finished Frankenstein, and really enjoyed it. Not at all what I was expecting!"

Sadie.........have you read Bram Stoker's "Dracula"? It is quite good and has significant differences from the original film with Bela Lugosi Also try "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde".......another oldie but goody!!!!

Jill wrote: "Sadie wrote: "I FINALLY finished Frankenstein, and really enjoyed it. Not at all what I was expecting!"

Sadie.........have you read Bram Stoker's "Dracula"? It is quite good and has significant ..."

to me- the common denominator between the Frankenstein (Lugosi was offered the role first) and Dracula is the wonderful Dwight Frye- Iogor

True.

Mike wrote: "True."

sad he died at 42. His son Dwight Frye jr shows up at many memorabilia shows I attended in LA

Rick wrote: "Jill wrote: "Sadie wrote: "I FINALLY finished Frankenstein, and really enjoyed it. Not at all what I was expecting!"

Sadie.........have you read Bram Stoker's "Dracula"? It is quite good and h..."
Rick.....I think one of the best scenes in the "Dracula" film is when the ship docks and Frye looks up from the hold in total madness. That laugh chills your bones!!!

Jill wrote: "Rick wrote: "Jill wrote: "Sadie wrote: "I FINALLY finished Frankenstein, and really enjoyed it. Not at all what I was expecting!"

Sadie.........have you read Bram Stoker's "Dracula"? It is quite..."

True! and yet in reallife- he was a very friendly, stable family man
Colin Clive (Victor Frankenstein) was a different story- a brilliant actor- tormented by inner demons- he succumbed to alcoholism in 1937- just 6 years after Frankenstein - he was in his late 30's

Lugosi was offered the first Frankenstein movie and turned it down. I've read he regretted that for most of his life. He was such a great actor and ended as a somewhat sad figure. I miss him (and for that matter I miss Boris Karloff, not to mention Vincent Price, Peter Lorre, and Lon Chaney [Jr. and senior:]).

Rick wrote: "Jill wrote: "Rick wrote: "Jill wrote: "Sadie wrote: "I FINALLY finished Frankenstein, and really enjoyed it. Not at all what I was expecting!"

Sadie.........have you read Bram Stoker's "Dracula..."

Yes, it is sad about Colin Clive. I think he had problems dealing with his sexual identity in those days when intolerance was rampant.
The next time you watch "Frankenstein", carefully watch his lips in the "It's alive" section. The studio cut the audio but you can see him say "I know what it feels like to be God".
I also miss all those actors that Mike mentioned. Weren't they great back in the day?????

Jill wrote: "Sadie wrote: "I FINALLY finished Frankenstein, and really enjoyed it. Not at all what I was expecting!"

Sadie.........have you read Bram Stoker's "Dracula"? It is quite good and has significant ..."

I've actually read both Dracula and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. I liked both of them quite a bit.

Thalia - I have read all of those books and loved them. Lisa See and Gail Tsukiyama are two of my favorites. You should read The Samurai's Garden. It is fantastic.

For fun: The Endearment

For Victorians group: The Picture of Dorian Gray and Other Writings

For Book Addicts group (side read): Rebecca

The 1990's saw PAN release a classic crime series. These included Edmund Crispin, Christiana Brand, Eric Ambler and Francis Iles as well as Nicholas Blake. The Beast Must Die is certainly a classic of its type but Malice Aforethought and others by Francis Iles are different class altogether. The Amblers are not really crime novels but his idea of depicting ordinary people caught up in extraordinary events at extraordinary times is hugely rewarding to the reader. Robert Goddard's novels are the modern equivalent of these.

Paul wrote: "The 1990's saw PAN release a classic crime series. These included Edmund Crispin, Christiana Brand, Eric Ambler and Francis Iles as well as Nicholas Blake. The Beast Must Die is certainly a class..."

I recently bought 7 of the Edmund Crispen books and all four Nicholas Blake Tresuries - (12 books in total) his real name was Cecil Day-Lewis

never hear of Francis Iles - was she like Sayers/Christie/Innes?

just looked up Francis Iles - pen name

Published as by Anthony Berkeley
[edit:] Novels about Roger Sherringham
The Layton Court Mystery (1925)
The Wychford Poisoning Case (1926)
Roger Sheringham and the Vane Mystery [US title: The Mystery at Lovers' Cave] (1927)
The Silk Stocking Murders (1928)
The Poisoned Chocolates Case (1929)
The Second Shot (1930)
Top Storey Murder (1931)
Murder in the Basement (1932)
Jumping Jenny [US title: Dead Mrs. Stratton] (1933)
Panic Party [US title: Mr Pidgeon's Island] (1934)
The Roger Sheringham Stories (1994)
The Avenging Chance and Other Mysteries from Roger Sheringham's Casebook (2004)
[edit:] Other novels
Professor On Paws (1926)
Mr Priestley's Problem [US title: The Amateur Crime] (1927)
The Piccadilly Murder (1929)
Not to Be Taken [US title: A Puzzle in Poison] (1937)
Trial and Error (1937)
Death in the House (1939)
The Scoop and Behind the Screen (1983) (Originally published in The Listener (1931) and (1930), both written by members of the Detection Club)
[edit:] Short stories
Mr Simpson Goes to the Dogs (1934)
The Policeman Only Taps Once (1936)
Publicity Heroine (1936)


Published as by Francis Iles
Novels
Malice Aforethought (1931)
Before the Fact (1932)
The Rattenbury Case (1936)
As For The Woman (1939)
[edit:] Short stories
Outside the Law (1934)
Dark Journey (1935)
It Takes Two to Make a Hero (1943)
[edit:] Novel published as by A. Monmouth Platts
Cicely Disappears (1927)

has anyone read any of Secombe's Vicar novels? I just picked upan omnibus of three of them- and ordered the first three- seems to take place in a Welsh village

I am reading One Hundred Years of Solitude and Bleak House because one: I had a friend tell me he read a chapter of One Hundred Years once a year over a ten year period because when he first started reading the book he never wanted it to end. That sold me. And I've never read a Dickens and that was one of my goals.

Hey everyone, I've just picked up Dracula for myself. My primary school teacher read it to us and I had nightmares for ages! I'm curious to see if it will still be scary to me now.

Rick wrote: "just looked up Francis Iles - pen name

Published as by Anthony Berkeley
[edit:] Novels about Roger Sherringham
The Layton Court Mystery (1925)
The Wychford Poisoning Case (1926)
Roger Sher..."

I discovered Francis Iles and Edmund Crispin via P. D. James: I saw a list of her favorite mysteries and sought them out. "Malice Aforethought" is one of the best mysteries I've ever read.

I read "Dracula" just last year. I was surprised at at all the differences in Stoker's vampire to all the vampire lore that has been created since. I felt I was getting "the real deal" only with Dracula! (smile)

I just finished listening to The Counte of Monte Cristo. I have read it before and it was even better this time around. I love this book! It is one of my favorites.

Almost all of the mystery stories/authors we have discussed in this page are listed on the Haycroft-Queen listing of greatest mysteries. I guess that means that we all have good taste!!! I use that listing when searching for a new author or book in the mystery genre. Just finished "The Poisoned Chocolate Case" by Anthony Berkeley....it is a short story and was contained in an anthology that I have. Also "Malice Aforethought".....what a great book that is!!!!

Rick, to be exact, Mary Shelley's alternate title for Frankenstein was The Modern Prometheus.

Sadie wrote: "I just finished listening to The Counte of Monte Cristo. I have read it before and it was even better this time around. I love this book! It is one of my favorites."

I am really looking forward to reading this book!

curious if anyone has comments on Wolf Hall? debating whether to buy it

Rick wrote: "curious if anyone has comments on Wolf Hall? debating whether to buy it"

I own it and plan to read it. I have heard some good things about it.

I just bought it- very rare for me to buy a new hardback- but I just felt a real pull to buy Wolf Hall

Judith wrote: "Rick wrote: "just looked up Francis Iles - pen name

Published as by Anthony Berkeley
[edit:] Novels about Roger Sherringham
The Layton Court Mystery (1925)
The Wychford Poisoning Case (1926)
Rog..."

I have never read Francis Iles, but after all this talk, I am adding Malice Aforethought to my TBR.

I just discovered Dorothy Sayers in January, reading The Documents in the Case and of course Agatha Christie is one of my favorites.

Sadie wrote: "I just finished listening to The Counte of Monte Cristo. I have read it before and it was even better this time around. I love this book! It is one of my favorites."

I am currently reading the Penguin Unabridged Edition of The Count of Monte Cristo, and I agree, the story is fantastic. I am about halfway through.

well I ordered 3 Francis Iles novels- one is never enough!!

Same here on Wolf Hall, I own and plan to read it soon.

Lyn M wrote: "Judith wrote: "Rick wrote: "just looked up Francis Iles - pen name

Published as by Anthony Berkeley
[edit:] Novels about Roger Sherringham
The Layton Court Mystery (1925)
The Wychford Poisoning C..."
I just started reading Dorothy Sayers this winter too. I've read "Cloud of Witnesses", "The Nine Tailors" and "Mind of the Maker." I enjoyed them all. I used to really like Agatha Christie, but after Sayers she seems to lack complexity.

Clouds of WitnessClouds of Witness

Andrea - My sister read Nine Tailors and really liked it. I am putting Clouds of Witness on my TBR.

Lyn M wrote: "Andrea - My sister read Nine Tailors and really liked it. I am putting Clouds of Witness on my TBR."

COINCIDENCE!! I bought Nine Tailors yesterday!! at used bookstore- have about eight others- Whose Body? Gaudy Nighy, Murder must Advertise ect- and I agree that her books have "more meat" to them then Christue- which focuses more on detection then characters- still live Christie- especially the early Poirot when Hastings narrated as a kind of Watson.

BTW- I also bought the same book twice yesterday!!! and a Ngaio Marsh title I already had! so a mixed day!!

I keep buying books and not reading them - what's up with that? I start a book, and then lose all interest. I'm hoping it's just my new meds and that I'll adjust.

Rick wrote: "has anyone read- The Elegance of the Hedgehog?? really wouldlike to hear reviews"

I read it and loved it - my review should be posted here, if you know how to access it. Personally, I forget, but I know I've done it.

Rick wrote: "BTW- I also bought the same book twice yesterday!!! and a Ngaio Marsh title I already had! so a mixed day!!"

Rick.....I think we all must do that.....buying a book and then discovering that we already have it!!! Or, pick up a book and get into about three chapters and think "This seems familiar"....of course, you have read it before. I have gotten into the habit of asking my librarian to check and see if I have taken the book out before. Although, I do re-read some books on purpose. So many books, so little time!!!!!!

Jill wrote: "Rick wrote: "BTW- I also bought the same book twice yesterday!!! and a Ngaio Marsh title I already had! so a mixed day!!"

Rick.....I think we all must do that.....buying a book and then discoverin..."

Thats kind of you to say Jill, but I bought the same book twice at the SAME TIME! I bought about 8 books at a used bookstore- and didnt even notice two were the same!

Just finished THE BLADE ITSELF BY MARKUS SACKEY- its my second book by him and it was supurb- part thriller-part social drama- an excellant book- this is an author to watch out for!

Judith wrote: "Rick wrote: "just looked up Francis Iles - pen name

I mostly read history, which leads me to a mystery you should look up. This is "The Daughter of Time" by Josephine Tey. I have read other Tey and found her so-so, something of an Agatha Christie wannabe. But this one is a gem. The mystery is the disappearance of two young lads (princes, in fact) who entered the Tower of London ca. 1485. A Scotland Yard detective who is in hospital and bored takes up the investigation. What he finds is a pretty good discussion of the actual facts and, in my case, led me to Thomas More's "Life of Richard", Shakespeare's play (of course), and Paul Murray Kendall's magnificent biography of Richard. It also got me interested in the fifteenth century in England, one of the more exciting bits of the Realm's ongoing saga. Have a look.

Howard

Mea Culpa. Senior moment there. It is not Dorothy Sayers, and my apologies to the good lady. It is Josephine Tey. All else is as described.

Howard wrote: "Judith wrote: "Rick wrote: "just looked up Francis Iles - pen name

I mostly read history, which leads me to a mystery you should look up. This is "The Daughter of Time" by Josephine Tey. I have ..."

Howard
I am reading THE PRINCES IN THE TOWER- a historical book about the murdered Princes and Richard III's role in it- I have heard of a mystery book which deals with this - I have 4 Tey mysteries in my personal library- but not that one
need to look it up
Thanks!

I am currently reading The Robe. My mom recommended it! She said it was one of her favorites and that's always good enough for me. Also getting ready to start an Agatha Christie for challenge. I had not read any Christie until recently and I am enjoying her work. I will be reading a Poirot story for the first time and am looking forward to it.

Melissa wrote: "I am currently reading The Robe. My mom recommended it! She said it was one of her favorites and that's always good enough for me. Also getting ready to start an Agatha Christie fo..."

I really like the early Poirot with his sidekick Hastings narrating - The ABC Murders is one I would highly recommend - a later one Evil under the Sun is another great Christie mystery

for sdome reason I am finding very hard to get into Northanger Abby - nothing seems to be happenning- but then I have only read 50 pages- Catherine goes to Bath with the Allens- who meet the Thorpes who have a daughter Isabella -who becomes fast friends with Catherine- who is yearningto meet Mr tinsley- hope more happens!!

Rick wrote: "for sdome reason I am finding very hard to get into Northanger Abby - nothing seems to be happenning- but then I have only read 50 pages- Catherine goes to Bath with the Allens- who meet the Thorpe..."

Rick....I would agree that Northanger Abby is a very slow read but keep with it. It's one of those books that when you are done, you reflect on it and think "I really did like that after all".