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P.D. James
Jul. 26th, 2007 05:34 pmLast Spring my brother suggested that I read the book, Children of Men, by P.D. James, from which the movie of the same title came. Took me a while to get around to it once bought, but once finished, I figured I'd better give this author another try. An Anglican grandma could write this?! Cool. So I visited one of the local used book stores and picked up 2 slim volumes: Cover Her Face and A Mind for Murder. Blazed through 'em.
By now most anyone can guess that I've managed to find every book she's ever published, either at a used book store or new. Am working on one of her most recent now, The Murder Room. She is an expert at plot twists, creates very well rounded characters, and has a detective who might not be very realistic, but is certainly worth note. Adam Dalgliesh is a fascinating character, IMMBAO. He reminds me a bit of my elf, Morfindel, who I tend to guard with pen and keyboard ready for defense. No Dalgliesh Fanfic will be forthcoming, I'm glad go confess. I like him too much the way Mrs. James has created him.
Now comes the problem. (hee hee hee) I've been wondering if she might be considering a revision of those first stories to bring them more in line with the later ones. Dalgliesh's age presents a problem. If he's about 40 in 1972, he would have to have been born close to 1930. BUT, one of the later books reveals that he was born after WW2, or at least after the London Blitz. If he was born between 1942 and 1945, that would make him between 17 and 20 for Cover Her Face, the first Dalgliesh novel, which is a bit young to be a Detective Inspector for The Yard.
Chuckle chuckle. Yes, this is one way English teachers spend a summer vacation, reading books and analyzing them. Of course, during the school year, most of what I read isn't nearly James's quality. May her tribe increase.
By now most anyone can guess that I've managed to find every book she's ever published, either at a used book store or new. Am working on one of her most recent now, The Murder Room. She is an expert at plot twists, creates very well rounded characters, and has a detective who might not be very realistic, but is certainly worth note. Adam Dalgliesh is a fascinating character, IMMBAO. He reminds me a bit of my elf, Morfindel, who I tend to guard with pen and keyboard ready for defense. No Dalgliesh Fanfic will be forthcoming, I'm glad go confess. I like him too much the way Mrs. James has created him.
Now comes the problem. (hee hee hee) I've been wondering if she might be considering a revision of those first stories to bring them more in line with the later ones. Dalgliesh's age presents a problem. If he's about 40 in 1972, he would have to have been born close to 1930. BUT, one of the later books reveals that he was born after WW2, or at least after the London Blitz. If he was born between 1942 and 1945, that would make him between 17 and 20 for Cover Her Face, the first Dalgliesh novel, which is a bit young to be a Detective Inspector for The Yard.
Chuckle chuckle. Yes, this is one way English teachers spend a summer vacation, reading books and analyzing them. Of course, during the school year, most of what I read isn't nearly James's quality. May her tribe increase.
