[books 2009] Patricia Cornwell & History of Florida

[inulro]

48.Point of Origin by Patricia Cornwell

Having finished the Kathy Reichs books, and with only two Karin Slaughters left, I decided to check out the competition.

I spent the first half taking back every bad thing I ever said about Reichs and Slaughter (while still admitting that Reichs didn't even try with her last book). Eventually I got sucked in enough by the mystery to finish the damn thing.

I didn't like the writing; I didn't like the characters (even measured against Slaughter's characters who drive me nuts), but most unforgiveably in a detective novel, I completely failed to care Who Dun It.

Even worse, there is a basic error in converting imperial units of measure to metric. Most of the US audience might not pick up on it, but the rest of the world knows that 26 inches (a human femur) does not equal fifty-five millimetres.

I think I'll be making my way through the Dresden Files, the Wallander books and the Falco series before I come back to another of these.

49. A New History of Florida edited by Michael Gannon
Basic survey textbook from the beginning to 1996. Interesting enough, but didn't leave me wanting to know as much more as these things usually do; whether that's the fault of the book or the subject matter really isn't that interesting, I'm not well informed enough to know.

Comments

Cornwell Urgghhhhhhh

[dghaem.livejournal.com]

I got a random Cornwell from Readitswapit to see what all the fuss was about. I got about 25 pages in and that was it. Back on Readitswapit. Why is she so popular? I once saw a crime writers documentary where Ian Rankin said some not too complemetary things about her and Val McDemaid (is that right spelling)

Re: Cornwell Urgghhhhhhh

[inulro.livejournal.com]

I know that Rankin has commented about how all the writers of the forensic science mysteries are women and how women are the primary readers & that's an interesting sociological phenomena, but I can't recall having heard him say anything non-complimentary about particular writers.

I may get annoyed and frustrated & occasionally shout at the books with Reichs and Slaughter, but they know how to suck you in from page 1 and not be able to put the book down.

Re: Cornwell Urgghhhhhhh

[dghaem.livejournal.com]

Ah the comment I was referring to seemed to be along the lines of 'lesbians write the most gruesome murder scenes'

Re: Cornwell Urgghhhhhhh

[moral-vacuum.livejournal.com]

I gather this was all whipped up into a feud by the media, but it never really was.

[mimmimmim.livejournal.com]

I love the Harry Dresden books. I've been rereading them again lately. Silly, but in the best way, lots of brainless fun.

[ivory-goddess.livejournal.com]

I gave up on Patricia Cornwell after about book 5 - the main character was turning into such a miserable cow! Same reason I stopped reading the V I Warshawski books by Sara Paretsky. If I want to read something that depresses me for days I'll read a newspaper!