tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1999659125625323494.post8469537489646493264..comments2024-03-18T17:23:44.789-07:00Comments on Kittling: Books: Whose Body? by Dorothy L. SayersCathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01774383554326288663noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1999659125625323494.post-61244626848160339932014-08-14T02:06:22.349-07:002014-08-14T02:06:22.349-07:00I remember reading a biography of one of America&#...I remember reading a biography of one of America's very best editors, Maxwell Perkins. I would imagine that there are many editors today who wish they were allowed to work with and to develop writers the way Perkins did.<br /><br />I have another confession to make about reading Sayers: Barbara Peters has made several references to Sayers and some of the things she did in her books that make me think this is one GA author I'm really going to like.Cathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01774383554326288663noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1999659125625323494.post-19271134436021061572014-08-13T18:12:41.751-07:002014-08-13T18:12:41.751-07:00Boy, that sounds like my first experience with Dor...Boy, that sounds like my first experience with Dorothy Sayers. I started reading "Whose Body?" and gave up after getting disgusted with it in short order. Went on to read most of the rest of the Lord Peter books before circling back to try it again. Still didn't think it was as good as the others, but it was better than I was expecting.<br /><br />These days we're used to books that are pretty polished, but I've noticed a number of first novels from earlier years that were not nearly as polished as you have to be today. It's been said publishers used to have time to develop their authors, but you're expected to be word-perfect out of the gate these days.Pepper Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00088936125225559789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1999659125625323494.post-85146748737498942502014-08-13T13:32:14.039-07:002014-08-13T13:32:14.039-07:00Thanks for the praise, but I'm afraid I don...Thanks for the praise, but I'm afraid I don't really deserve it, seeing as how it's based on the rather childish dread that I'm missing out on something all the other kids have already gotten to enjoy!Cathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01774383554326288663noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1999659125625323494.post-60472947411974667762014-08-13T13:30:01.824-07:002014-08-13T13:30:01.824-07:00Thanks so much for your advice, Cath.
I read sev...Thanks so much for your advice, Cath. <br /><br />I read several recommendations from Sayers fans suggesting that new readers start with Harriet, but I chose not to do that because I wanted to see what Wimsey was like *before* Harriet appeared on the scene. All the nuggets of information I've gleaned about these books give me the impression that it's Harriet I'm really going to like, and I didn't want to begin with the reward, as it were. <br /><br />Wimsey's dialogue was beyond annoying at the beginning, but after those first few chapters it's like Sayers flipped a switch and stopped writing a topical mystery that would only appeal to that day and age and began writing something that just might stand the test of time.Cathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01774383554326288663noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1999659125625323494.post-36537458756099071222014-08-13T06:47:12.431-07:002014-08-13T06:47:12.431-07:00Cathy - I give you credit for giving different sub...Cathy - I give you credit for giving different sub-genres, including classic/GA crime fiction, a chance more than once. I need to do that kind of thing more often. I'm glad to hear that you weren't so put off by <i>Whose Body?</i> that you're unwilling to try more. Like Cath, I recommend trying <i>The Nine Tailors</i> and <i>Have His Carcase</i>. They are both great examples of Sayers' work.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1999659125625323494.post-63729899548437538052014-08-13T02:22:44.755-07:002014-08-13T02:22:44.755-07:00I started reading these last year, having tried on...I started reading these last year, having tried once before and, like you, found Wimsey's dialogue very annoying. Someone suggested I didn't start at the beginning but read the ones that involve Harriet Vane first. Those start in the middle with Strong Poison and I was doubtful as I do like to start at the beginning of any series that's new to me. I did as suggested though and found the later books a lot less annoying. Wimsey's way of speaking still grates a bit but the stories more than make up for that. I loved Nine Tailors and Have His Carcase. They were both intelligently written and excellent mysteries. Good luck!Cathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06371069000185280668noreply@blogger.com