Recently, I had the pleasure of listening to three blogger pals discuss John Dickson Carr on the podcast that two of them host on a bimonthly basis. Dan, of The Reader Is Warned, is an artist, and JJ, of The Invisible Event, is a mathematician, so between them they brought a lively blend of stats … Continue reading GOING OCD ON MY GAD
A GREAT CONVERGENCE: Agatha Christie’s Towards Zero
“I like a good detective story . . . But, you know, they begin in the wrong place! They begin with the murder. But the murder is the end. The story begins long before that – years before sometimes – with all the causes and events that bring certain people to a certain place at … Continue reading A GREAT CONVERGENCE: Agatha Christie’s Towards Zero
YA DYSTOPIAN DIVERTISSEMENT
Alright, I’ll admit it: this GAD mystery lover needs a little break. I could tell something was happening as I watched the stack of books beside my bed grow taller and taller. These are the one that I’ve removed from my veritable TBR Tower of Babel and am “actually" reading, yet each of them has … Continue reading YA DYSTOPIAN DIVERTISSEMENT
UNRELIABLE ME: The Woman in the Window
As mysteries go, you may know that I'm an "old soul." The unfortunate side effect of this is that my relationship to modern crime novels is . . . er, problematic. I get especially angry when today's writers create or seek comparisons with past greats. Only today, I picked up the latest Ruth Ware novel … Continue reading UNRELIABLE ME: The Woman in the Window
A MESSAGE TO MICHAEL (ON A TWO-TOON DAY)
You can tell summer vacation is going well when it races by. I’ve been busy! I’ve been playing a LOT of bridge. I wish I was getting better faster . . . but I do have to mention that I came in second a week ago in the 99er’s division at a local tournament. (Gimme a … Continue reading A MESSAGE TO MICHAEL (ON A TWO-TOON DAY)
THEATRICAL OCTET, PART FOUR: Strangers in a Strange Land
I went to New York this summer under the apprehension that the theatre world was in a bit of trouble. Tourism has been down in the Big Apple for several years now, and the high box office numbers point not to full houses and a play in every house but to exhorbitant ticket prices at … Continue reading THEATRICAL OCTET, PART FOUR: Strangers in a Strange Land
THEATRICAL OCTET, PART THREE: Social Upheaval on Broad
We view art through a lens that includes social context. It’s the reason you can see a movie or a painting or a play multiple times and have different reactions. As I explained yesterday, two classics became problem plays in light of the raucous atmosphere that has been generated over the past year and a … Continue reading THEATRICAL OCTET, PART THREE: Social Upheaval on Broad
THEATRICAL OCTET, PART TWO: Reconstructing the Classics
I consider myself lucky to be in New York when Bartlett Sher has directed a musical. His determination to tackle the great classics of musical theatre with the same loving care he puts into opera has proven a boon to audiences. I only saw South Pacific on tour, but I caught the original cast on … Continue reading THEATRICAL OCTET, PART TWO: Reconstructing the Classics
PAUL ET MOI DANS LE GRAND POMME!
Before we start, let’s take a quiz. One question only, multiple choice. Go on – you know you want to. QUESTION: Look at the picture below: Can you identify who this is? Is it . . . A brilliant but disreputable (and proud of it!) classic mystery blogger (HINT: his name rhymes with “cray-cray”); A … Continue reading PAUL ET MOI DANS LE GRAND POMME!
THEATRICAL OCTET, PART ONE: Save the Children
Yes, thank you, I had a very nice trip to New York. We even had a weekend of glorious weather, with no humidity, cool breezes and (relatively) fresh air. And thanks again for understanding my desire to not sit in front of the laptop every night, putting words together to describe my feelings about the … Continue reading THEATRICAL OCTET, PART ONE: Save the Children
Ah Sweet Mystery! 