Cocaine Blues by Kerry Greenwood was suggested for our book club as a lighter read and boy do we all need lighter reads right now.
Split verdict at book club. Two of us were not enamored with it and three people were obsessed. It's not a book for everyone, but it is for some. 2.5/5 stars
Lines of note:
He was wearing a new cigarette. (page 13)
What does this even mean? The verb wearing seems wrong to me.
She was forty-five if a day...(page 9)
AND
For all her age and bulk, Dr. MacMillan was as fit as a bull. (page 41)
I was so insulted on Dr. MacMillan's behalf. Forty-five! Might as well start digging her grave.
Things I looked up:
halate (page 12) - a salt of chloric, bromic, or iodic acid
threaded a fillet through the shining strands (page 15) - a ribbon or narrow strip of material used especially as a headband
Erté (page 50) - Romain de Tirtoff, known by the pseudonym Erté, was a Russian-born French artist and designer. He worked in several fields, including fashion, jewelry, graphic arts, costume, set design for film, theatre, and opera, and interior décor.
Wilfred Owen (page 53) - an English poet and soldier. He was one of the leading poets of the First World War.
blistered door (page 139) - “Blistering” is the formation of “bubbles” in the exterior decorative paint film, resulting from localized loss of adhesion and subsequent lifting of the existing paint film from the underlying surface
viridian green (page 146) - a blue-green pigment
Gallipoli (page 147) - peninsula in Turkey, site of a WWI battle that was a defining moment in the history of both Australia and New Zealand and also lead to the formation of modern-day Turkey
cochineal (page 155) - a scale insect from which the natural dye carmine is derived
Hat mentions (why hats?):
She cut a distractingly fashionable figure in pale straw-coloured cotton and a straw hat...(page 13)
She ascertained that the Block Arcade was still open, it being Saturday, and returned to her room to change into trousers and a silk pullover, stout shoes, and a soft felt hat. (page 15)
She was innocent of gloves, hat or coat and had scuffed house-slippers on her feet. (page 20-21)
...perfectly dressed as to coat and shirt and hat...(page 23)
...dark hat and suit...(page 26)
"We couldn't see his hair because he had his hat on..." (page 28)
She sighted the flat cane hats of the Chinese working among the winter-cabbage and broccoli. (page 116)
Bert took off his hat, wiped his forehead, and replaced it. (page 116)
a dreadful cloche hat (page 126)
"...Bash that appalling hat in and out." (page 126)
"..I've scuffed the shoes and the hat will never be the same again," she added. (page 131)
...dressed in a respectable dark velvet gown and hat...(page 135)
Dot did as she was bid and arrayed Phryne in the damaged dress, the carefully holed stockings, the scuffed shoes and the battered hat. (page 143)
I've read all of this series, and I have mixed feelings. The mystery part is well plotted, and I like some of the secondary characters. But she's a 'dea ex machina" a lot, and I don't like how she treats her maid. The advantage to having a long series is a character can develop, but I don't think she ever changes much.
ReplyDeleteFor someone as young as she is, she sure has experience with a lot of things, right? I did not care much for her, but some people really do like her and think it's fun and that's cool for them!
DeleteI keep thinking me is you (Engie), but you're answering me (him/her). Do we know who me is (does anyone?) I am intrigued.
Deleteme is mbmom11. LOL. I love that it seemed like a little mystery to you!!
DeleteSorry about the me- I have no idea how to fix that. Not trying to be a woman of mystery! Just it's early when I comment, and I forget to add my nom-de-plume.
DeleteI listened to this audiobook several years ago, and it was a case of the narrator making all the difference because she (the late Stephanie Daniel) did a such a great job. I've listened to several in the series and I remember them as being fun, but also disturbing. Apparently I didn't feel the need to listen to all of them.
DeleteDid anyone note the tv series? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miss_Fisher%27s_Murder_Mysteries
ReplyDeleteThere was later a spinoff of her niece (I think it was) taking up the sleuthing mantle. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ms_Fisher%27s_Modern_Murder_Mysteries
Sue liked the first series, largely for the times and costumes.
There was some discussion about the tv series at book club. I (obviously) haven't seen it, but people say it's good!
DeleteOooh thanks Anvilcloud! I saw the TV show a few years ago, and liked it well enough. It wasn't my all time favorite, but it was nice reliable entertainment. I didn't know about the 2nd show, so I might check that out sometime. The Aussies make good TV.
ReplyDeleteRead the book? Nah, it doesn't sound like I'm missing anything.
Ha! I should have written about the tv show I didn't watch instead of the book.
DeleteI LOVE the the tv series - so stylish and fun - then I tried to read one of the novels and it wasn't really for me. For one thing, a lot of my love of the tv show had to do with the slow burn romance between Phryne and the lead detective, which I gather isn't a thing in the novels.
ReplyDeleteThere was also a Chinese version of Miss Fisher Murder mysteries that you can watch on Max - I watched, but that wasn't the same kind of romantic tension. The fashions and visual styling was amazing, though.
Oh, yeah, this has ZERO hint of romance. Interesting that the tv show(s) add it.
DeleteI LOVE Phyrne [and Dot] so this post is the best post ever. I learned about the Miss Fisher Mysteries from a long gone blogger who pointed me in the right direction. Have you seen the Ms Fisher Modern Murder Mysteries with Peregrine? Not as clever but a good way to pass the time.
ReplyDeleteWell, since I barely watch television, I will probably never watch it, but I love that everyone's talking about the tv show in the comments.
DeleteI read some Phrynne ages ago. was never big on the books but I LOVED the television series. Phrynne was good and the costumes and sets were fabulous! The books never did it for me. (And thanks for popping by yesterday! Nice to see you!)
ReplyDeleteOne person in my book club is obsessed with the books, so it was time for us to dive in. I'm glad I read it, though, so I don't feel like I'm missing out on too much.
DeleteThis does not sound like my jam at all! We are reading a lot of heavier books this year in book club... Feb's book was all about death but it made for an interesting discussion. In March we are reading "The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows" which is a quirky little book of made up words to describe various feelings. It feels pretty perfect for this moment in time as we are all feeling quite heavy/sorrowful about the state of the world.
ReplyDeleteWe try to read lighter fare in the winter. I think it's actually the time I want to just hunker down and be depressed with my depressing books, but people in my book club do not share that sentiment. I think your book club might be too stressful for me!
DeleteWas cocaine a "problem" in that period? I thought it was readily available to troops and teething babies? Anyway, thank you for your service, Engie; probably not gonna read. (But I do love over-the-top art deco Erté, and Wilfred Owen and all the WWI poets are heartbreakers.)
ReplyDeleteFrom what I understand (very little, admittedly), it was both. WWI brought on greater use of cocaine, particularly for folks who had been given it when they were in the infantry, but also brought on a more comprehensive temperance movement that did focus on alcohol, but also things like cocaine and morphine. Sort of a moral panic re: drug use.
DeleteI watched a tiny bit of the tv series, and thought she cut a stylish figure, and was also a bit surprised at all the promiscuous sex (is she a social outcast?). I feel like I would feel the same as you about the book.
ReplyDeleteI think she's just a rich lady, so she gets away with more than others might. I have prudish tendencies, so that really turned me off.
DeleteWell, at least there were a lot of hat mentions. It doesn't sound like something I would like either.
ReplyDeleteGreat hat mentions, too. I was happy about that!
DeleteI agree, one doesn't wear a cigarette. I like your choice of words: This wasn't my jam. Doesn't sound like my jam either. I appreciate a 200 page book, but even so - this doesn't appeal to me.
ReplyDelete