December / Crime Fiction Poll [Archive] - Literature Network Forums

Scheherazade

10-01-2009, 05:10 PM

Please nominate the "crime" novel you would like to read in December in this thread.

Please remember that:

- Only those members with 50+ posts can nominate.

- One nomination per member.

- Only the first 10 nominations will be included in the poll.

The Book Club readings are for those who would like to read and discuss books together with other members.

If you are not able to take part or unwilling to (re)read your own nominations, please refrain from nominating book.

The top 100 crime novels of all times (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Top_100_Crime_Novels_of_All_Time)

rimbaud

10-01-2009, 06:26 PM

it seems I'm the first to nominate :)
:banana: :banana:

Edgar Allan Poe: Tales of Mystery and Imagination

Dark Muse

10-08-2009, 03:38 AM

At first I thought I would have to sit this one out, Crime Fiction is not usually my thing, but I clicked on the 100 Best link and say a few books that I want to read listed there. It is a tough choice but I think I am going to have to go with

The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris, I have been wanting to read that for a long time but never seem to get around to it.

Jozanny

10-08-2009, 04:41 AM

I am a bit torn myself, and may have to hope 2010 will offer something more daring than has come up in 09. I did a number of mysteries in a live book group some years ago, and it was much more interesting than posting to this forum (sorry). I still remain fascinated by Patricia Highsmith, because her lesbianism seems to inform upon her pathological insights into murder. I will go with The Boy Who Followed Ripley (http://www.amazon.com/Boy-Who-Followed-Ripley/dp/039333211X/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_c) because in this cycle, our pathological killer gets to be a hero, rather like Dexter of Showtime fame, and I think it creates an interesting tension.

balehead

10-11-2009, 05:19 PM

This might be more of a spy/mystery book ... so if it doesn't fit the genre well enough, just don't put it up :lol:

The Secret Agent - Joseph Conrad

Eryk

10-11-2009, 05:24 PM

Patricia Highsmith: The Talented Mr. Ripley

I've read some of her short stories and I'd like to try her novels.

Scheherazade

10-11-2009, 05:25 PM

Nominations so far:

1. Tales of Mystery and Imagination by Edgar Allan Poe

2. The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris

3. The Boy Who Followed Ripley

4. The Secret Agent - Joseph Conrad

Eryk

10-11-2009, 05:27 PM

bouquin

10-13-2009, 03:15 AM

I would like to nominate Rape: A Love Story by Joyce Carol Oates.

Thanks.

Jozanny

10-13-2009, 05:54 PM

If there is a rule about nominating two titles by the same author, I will withdraw my Ripley and bow to Eryk's more notorious work, as he is a newer member as well, and I am, by now, familiar.

I am busy too, and December is the holiday. I am perhaps better off honing in on the November pick, and then see what happens over the winter.

Eryk

10-13-2009, 05:58 PM

Scheherazade

10-13-2009, 06:05 PM

1. Tales of Mystery and Imagination by Edgar Allan Poe

2. The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris

3. The Boy Who Followed Ripley

4. The Secret Agent - Joseph Conrad

5. The Talented Mr. Ripley...

6. Rape: A Love Story by Joyce Carol Oates

Jozanny

10-13-2009, 06:21 PM

Oops, I didn't see your nomination above mine... I thought Scheherezade's post was a mistake, so sorry.

No biggie Eryk; I like driving myself nuts with the book reads:lol: ;it is my favorite thing to do and what I least have time for, but Sher is Solomon today, apparently. ;)

I am vascillating about holiday commitments, truthfully.

dfloyd

10-22-2009, 10:37 PM

by the best American mystery writer ever: Raymond Chandler.

Thespian1975

10-25-2009, 06:08 PM

Five red herrings - Dorothy L Sayers

Scheherazade

10-25-2009, 07:53 PM

Nominations so far:

1. Tales of Mystery and Imagination by Edgar Allan Poe

2. The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris

3. The Boy Who Followed Ripley

4. The Secret Agent - Joseph Conrad

5. The Talented Mr. Ripley...

6. Rape: A Love Story by Joyce Carol Oates

7. The Big Sleep Raymond Chandler.

8. Five Red Herrings by Dorothy L Sayers

OrphanPip

10-26-2009, 09:04 PM

Um, how about And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie, it's 1930s pulp fiction so it's not exactly artistically great, but she's had a significant influence on crime fiction in popular culture.

(This novel has also been published under the names Ten Little Niggers and Ten Little Indians, but the more PC title above is probably the one you'll find it under.)

kasie

10-27-2009, 07:34 AM

I know I suggested this under the Detective Fiction heading, but I'm going to nominate it again: The White Lioness by Henning Mankell.

I find it hard to distinguish between 'detective' fiction and 'crime' fiction. I suppose in the former, the detective and his deductions is of prime interest to the readers, while in the latter, the nayure of the crime is main interest in the book. I think perhaps Mankell's books fit into both genres: his Dective Wallander is of interest in his own right as a character that develops through the series of nine books, but in his role as detective, he is given to musing about the nature of Crime and the state of society that produces the criminals he seeks.

OrphanPip

10-27-2009, 12:31 PM

I think detective fiction is a sub-genre of crime fiction so you should be OK.

Scheherazade

10-28-2009, 01:44 PM

Scheherazade

10-31-2009, 08:27 PM

Please vote for the crime novel you would like to read in December by November 30th.

bouquin

11-09-2009, 07:05 AM

I encourage you to vote for Rape: A Love Story. It's only a short read (153 pages) so won't get in the way of your Christmas shopping and holiday-making!

Rachel1965

11-13-2009, 02:56 PM

I just had a quick look at a review for "Rape: a love story" but dont think I could read it. as I get older I find books like that extremely unsettling. give me Ms Cristie anyday.
sometimes books can be too realistic, funny when I was much younger I adored horror and crime the more grusome and bloodthirsty the better.

Rachel

OrphanPip

11-13-2009, 05:44 PM

I think everyone voted for their pick except me haha.

motherhubbard

11-13-2009, 05:49 PM

I can join in on a December read. I'm excited! But, if it's too scary I'll have to sit out. I can't take it. I'm still having bad dreams after reading The Road some time back.

Scheherazade

11-15-2009, 08:01 PM

I can join in on a December read. I'm excited! But, if it's too scary I'll have to sit out. Same here!

balehead

11-18-2009, 09:27 PM

Hmmmm... I ended up voting for my own suggestion (lol) but was close to choosing And Then There Were None, I read that recently and loved it.

MANICHAEAN

11-19-2009, 08:13 AM

Poodle Springs by Raymond Chandler.

Jozanny

11-20-2009, 01:38 AM

The Oates novella is out of stock. I just checked, but we have no break away voting here. I don't know if I am in or not, since as much as I struggle with the woe of instant gratification, kindle has besotted me and I have not gotten over my delight with my instant library, and not just the Gutenberg free stuff. I spent some money, and don't care.

Meaning that if I cannot download the eventual winner, I'm not sure I want to stroll up and back the Parkway chasing the selection down.

MANICHAEAN

11-20-2009, 03:20 AM

Apart from Project Gutenburg which seems to include books only written up to the 15th Century, you might care to look at free downloads on "The Burgomeister's Books". Plenty of crime/detective novels, especially Raymond Chandler & Dashell Hammett.

Michael T

11-20-2009, 10:13 AM

by the best American mystery writer ever: Raymond Chandler.

'The Big Sleep' gets my vote! :nod:

JamesHarrisburg

11-20-2009, 10:43 AM

you know i have yet to read the silence of the lambs!

Freetobeme97526

11-20-2009, 01:27 PM

Hi I am new to the forum and dont have the points to vote but am on board for a book club as I have been searching for one for a while. How in the world do you get points on here? Look forward to reading with you..

Jozanny

11-20-2009, 02:05 PM

Free, just post. Look under your handle name. It has your profile information, join date, location, posts. You have 3. I believe any number over 50 posts will allow you to engage in most forum activities, including the selection vote, but anyone can join the discussion thread on the books once the monthly pick is selected.

I think I only ever read one book fully for the club--my other discussions I rather picked at the bones, but I suppose it has to come together for me, right time, right place, right author, my buying mood, or willingness to troll at the library.

Enjoy, at any rate.

Dark Muse

11-25-2009, 01:22 AM

Wow I guess most people are not that excited about Crime Fiction, or maybe just a bad time of year, almost the end of the month and the highest nomination is 3 votes.

kasie

11-25-2009, 06:52 AM

Can anyone tell me why in the polls before you vote, you can see the breakdown of voting, who's voted for what, but after you have cast your vote, those details are no longer available. I'll be voting for my own nomination, the Henning Mankell title, but I'll leave it to the last minute, so that I can see how people are voting.

Maybe you are right, DM, it is that time of year, end of term assignments due, Thanksgiving for those across the Pond, Christmas on the horizon - not really a 'Crime' sort of season, perhaps?

Dark Muse

11-25-2009, 02:16 PM

Maybe you are right, DM, it is that time of year, end of term assignments due, Thanksgiving for those across the Pond, Christmas on the horizon - not really a 'Crime' sort of season, perhaps?

Perhaps not, but than for me it is a bit of breath of fresh air, considering 2 or three of the other groups I am involved in are doing Christamas stories for December, and I for one am not into hoxy, "heart-warming" cheeseball holiday stories.

Though I will be reading Christmas Carol that is a ghost story at least :D

Freetobeme97526

11-25-2009, 04:07 PM

Perhaps not, but than for me it is a bit of breath of fresh air, considering 2 or three of the other groups I am involved in are doing Christamas stories for December, and I for one am not into hoxy, "heart-warming" cheeseball holiday stories.

Though I will be reading Christmas Carol that is a ghost story at least :D

I agree with you. I am ready for a diversion perhaps with a good crime mystery. I dont feel like being heart warming right now as I am trying to survive fall term.

qimissung

11-26-2009, 03:23 PM

Dark Muse, I love crime fiction and would love to read one of these books. I haven't had much luck with the online book club yet, but am still willing to give it a try. I am interested in "The Big Sleep." I have read it, but it's been years. I've also read "And Then There Were None," also years ago. What is "The Boy Who Followed" about? Sounds intriguing, as does "The White Lioness."

I've seen "Silence of the Lambs" and I think I've read the book. I know I've read the other one, the prequel is it, "The Red Dragon" , and I've seen "The Talented Mr. Ripley." I know Patricia Highsmith is well thought of, but I can't get into her stuff for some reason.

Scheherazade

11-26-2009, 06:11 PM

'The Big Sleep' gets my vote! :nod:I am really looking forward to reading that one! :)

Michael T

11-26-2009, 08:36 PM

I am really looking forward to reading that one! :)

You could always close the thread early Scher, whilst 'The Big Sleep' is ahead! ;)

neilgee

11-27-2009, 04:02 PM

I'm voting for The Big Sleep because I know it's in my library [not all of them are]. Crime fiction's not really my thing but I'll try and join in this time.

qimissung

11-27-2009, 05:23 PM

The Big Sleep it is (for me, that is)! :)

Jozanny

11-27-2009, 06:52 PM

I can download it but will have to think about it, since I do not mind paying Amazon for what I want to keep, but what I might like to read only once and then dispose of is another matter--not that I cannot suffer a stroll to the library, but it is getting cold, and I am not partial to the Parkway in bad weather; it is a semi-dangerous thoroughfare for powerchair users.

Of course you can tell me to shut up already and make up my own mind ;). Not that I do not like the genre, mind you, but I'd like it to be a read I'd want to return to.

***
I decided to pass, for now; my plate is full and I have non-paying projects I am neglecting, but with the two year rule in mind maybe I will pull up the thread when I want to indulge higher end popular fiction, since I've never read Chandler.

dfloyd

11-28-2009, 06:43 PM

the books is very convoluted, as was the movie which was shot in two versions. It is now on disc with the different versions on either side. In fact, the book and movie were convoluted enough so that one of the murders is never solved. When making the movie, Chandler was called and asked who did in so and so. His reply was, "I don't really know." And the title, a euphemism for death, really has nothing to do with the book.