Feedback or ideas? Post them here!

[vicki]

Hi, all!

As the LRK webiverse evolves and grows, we'd like your feedback on what we're doing and your ideas on what we could be doing to better connect with readers around the world. Let us know what you think!

[Kerry]

Hey, Vicki -- I don't know if this is the right place or not, but I just wanted to say thanks, both for the VBC in general, and the ROCKING items now on sale at cafe press! You rock, too :D

[vicki]

It is indeed the right place--thankee kindly, Miz Kerry! We should have a link to the LRK store (http://www.cafepress.com/laurierking) on the sidebar soon, so it'll be just a click away.

I hope y'all enjoy the store as much as I'm about to. <Twitches fingers above credit card holster> :) I'm getting a VBC-logo tote and a VBC and Touchstone t-shirt to wear to B'Con. Wheee! Life is good. :cool:

If anyone has ideas or feedback about the store (or anything else in the LRK webiverse), please email me at the address on my profile or at info@laurierking.com.

[Nara]

Hey guys :)

I recently joined a group that writes and solves mysteries, entirely for fun and just for ourselves. It's REALLY fun, especially since I'm the oldest one (most are in their teens.) The cleverness is brain-stretching for sure. I was wondering, being that there are so many mystery fans here, if there were others who were interested? I think it would be fun to be able to pose a mystery to the group, and see who gets closest to the solution.

No idea if anyone else is interested, but the current group is a little small so the turnaround time (about a week) isn't enough for me to write a full-fledged case. We could take turns posing cases for each other... who knows. maybe it's a silly idea!

Nara

[vicki]

That sounds like fun! If you want, start a thread for it in the Great Room area. I wouldn't mind trying my hand at one of those!

[Bachi]

Hi Vicki,
I always have an idea or two lying around –
The first is a couple of questions instead of an idea. I will not be getting Darker Place in time for the VBC Oct. title (I will be getting it though!). When will you announce the Nov selection and Where is it first announced?

Now an idea, I mentioned previously that I purchased both the MR and KM series as series through Recorded Books. Is there anyway you could get them to insert a notice about the VBC to other series renters or purchasers?
Regards

[Bachi]

Never-mind my When and Where ? Finally saw it on the Forum Home! oops!

[vicki]

Actually, it was this post and another VBCer's email that reminded me to get off of my bo-hunkus and get the schedule posted. And wow--it looks kind of impressive all lined up like that, doesn't it? Thankee for the prod! :)

You're absolutely right about playing up LRK's web-venues on the recorded books. I tend to focus most on the printed books for that sort of thing, but there is a big audio-audience out there that needs to be factored in more fully. I'll definitely pass your ideas on to Laurie to see what she can get the audio-publishing gods to do.

I keep sending the print-publishers messages about putting the vbc url and Miss Russell's myspace url in the books, but so far, it hasn't happened. :..( Oh, well--gotta keep trying. They are very good about including the website url in a prominent place, at least, and there are gateways to the rest of the LRK webiverse there.

Great stuff! Keep those ideas coming whenever they pop up. Say--maybe we need some kind of periodic idea-award or something. Hmmmm. <Contemplates>

[Bachi]

The only month I am going to have trouble with is Feb 08. Although both those books seem to be available in audio format, they are hard to come by and both are quite pricey. I'm going to see if my library can get one or the other.

An idea-award should bring in some interesting results!

Although I'm new and my involvement is limited so far, I am enjoying the VBC and think you've done & are doing a great job. Thanks!!!

[vicki]

I'm going to see if my library can get one or the other.


Bachi, let me know if you can't get at least one of those two February audio-books through the library. If nothing else, maybe several of us could tape ourselves reading a section of the book and send the tapes to you. You know, it might be funny to hear one book being read in several different accents. :D


I am enjoying the VBC and think you've done & are doing a great job. Thanks!!!


Thanks to you, too, for being part of the community here! You help make this a nice place to be. :)

[Bachi]

several of us could tape ourselves reading a section of the book and send the tapes to you.

lol-I just love your mind!!!

[vicki]

I'm serious--just give us a couple of months' advance notice and I'll bet we can organize a group of folks to each read a few chapters onto tapes and send them to you. It shouldn't be too hard to pull off.

[embee]

This is one of those questions I didn't know quite where to put. Hope you don't mind it ending up in your lap Vicki.

I tried to supply the bibliographic info for Touchstone to a site which lists what is going to be published in SciFi/Fantasy and Mystery genres. I duly sent off all the info they asked for, within what I know, but the listing never made it to the website. Do you know anything about getting new books posted on non-commercial sites?

The site I tried at was http://www.booksnbytes.com/pubdate/index.html

[vicki]

Wow--thanks for submitting that info to booksnbytes, embee! That's so cool of you! I did send a follow-up email with the offer of a review copy.

It may be that you got caught in their spam filter. I've had that happen several times in the last year. I had to use a different isp to send a second email through, and then the recipient found my first message in their trash. :..( Being in the trash is not cool. That reminds me that I need to review my email trash file every few days to make sure I'm not losing something important. :)

Again, thanks so much to you and to others who have posted stuff about Touchstone across the internet! It's great to have our VBC folks mobilize to get the word out about Laurie's latest release!

[Pat Floyd]

Long before I made a comment about one of Laurie's blogs or joined VBC, I regarded her website as the best author website I had seen--by far. What a wealth of material about Mary Russell's world, Kate Martinelli's world, Laurie's writings on a number of subjects--and if that weren't enough, an excellent index to the blogs by date and subject no less, and to other writers. Now that I'm participating more actively, I'm glad to find a place to say to those responsible: Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

[vicki]

Thankee for the snaps, Pat! It's cool readerly folk like you who make all the effort so much fun and so rewarding--we've got a great bunch here!

[Pat Floyd]

Vicki, somewhere you asked if we wanted sidebars on all forum pages. I know I replied that I like the pages the way they are. It would, however, be convenient to have Forum Home at the bottom of pages as well as at the top, but this is no big deal. You do a wonderful job.

[vicki]

That *would* be a nice feature to have! I'll put it on the list of things to talk about with the Technical Department. :) If it's doable, we'll try and do it.

Thanks so much for the suggestion!

[vicki]

Pat--when you go down to the bottom of a VBC page, you will see some navigational links to the right of center. First there is a "contact us" link and then there is "the Laurie R. King Virtual Book Club" link. This second link is supposed to go to the VBC front page, but it has been broken.

I finally figured out where to fix that, so it should be working now. So no more scrolling up to get back to the front--yay!! Sorry it took so long!

[Pat Floyd]

Vicki,
I just tried it and it works beautifully. Thank you.
Pat

[vicki]

Yay! Much better and more convenient--that was an old oversight on my part. Thanks for the heads up! :)

[alina]

I'm serious--just give us a couple of months' advance notice and I'll bet we can organize a group of folks to each read a few chapters onto tapes and send them to you. It shouldn't be too hard to pull off.

Vicki/Bachi, if either of you are still serious about this and if there's any need for anyone on any of the books, if I can get a copy, I'd love to put them on tape. I'm an acting major with a concentration in voice, so I tend to enjoy reading books out loud for fun! If you can give me advanced notice, I'd love to help out!

[The Grey Badger]

I noticed the discussion always dies down after a couple of weeks, with a brief flurry at the very end of the month. Does this mean there is only half a month's worth of discussion per book?

Then I noticed that the Georgette Heyer mailing list has a schedule of two books per month. Now, the Heyer books are shorter than Laurie's books. But if you want the discussions to keep going, it might be worth considering. Unless, of course, it means we run out of books before she finishes writing any more.

[vicki]

Wow--thanks for the offer, Alina! That would be terrific! I'll keep that in mind going forward. Oh, and you ought to check out the librivox website, which features public domain audiobooks read by volunteers. They even have a weekly podcast on audiobook recording tips and stuff like that. Some of the stuff on the site is really quite good. The one for Kim is terrific, for instance.

Badger, that's not a very uncommon pattern in monthly discussions I've seen on other sites, absent huge traffic (which we're working on in conjunction with the 15 weeks of bees campaign) or the subject being a current pop phenomenon like the Harry Potter books while they were still coming out. And we did consider a bi-monthly set up initially. But for various reasons, including the fact that we have a limited number of LRK books to work with, we decided to go with a monthly format. And we're getting to the end of the road with TLoB later this year.

Any suggestions on where to go with the discussions after TLoB? There are a number of interesting possibilities. We can take themes or subjects in LRK's work--ie theology, travel etc. Or we can compare certain books, focus in on particular characters or sets of characters. I might also like to see us do maybe a book or two by other mystery writers working today, and have them come visit the discussion.

What think ye?

[Pat Floyd]

Any suggestions on where to go with the discussions after TLoB? There are a number of interesting possibilities. We can take themes or subjects in LRK's work--ie theology, travel etc. Or we can compare certain books, focus in on particular characters or sets of characters. I might also like to see us do maybe a book or two by other mystery writers working today, and have them come visit the discussion.

What think ye?

These are great ideas! I wondered where we would go next. I especially like the idea of themes or subjects from LRK work and a book or two by another mystery writer. I like the idea of theology broadly defined as thought about the divine and coupled with the ethics we find in LRK books. Other possibilities are male-female relationships, vocation, identity--what is essential to being oneself--to integrity, responsibility to others--to community, and confronting evil or darkness within and without.

[Millie]

They are great ideas. I'd also like to compare Russell and Rae at some point. As for other writers, how about Val McDermid?

Just some thoughts...

[alina]

Oh, and you ought to check out the librivox website, which features public domain audiobooks read by volunteers. They even have a weekly podcast on audiobook recording tips and stuff like that. Some of the stuff on the site is really quite good. The one for Kim is terrific, for instance.

Any suggestions on where to go with the discussions after TLoB?

As to the first: I will most definitely research that website and keep my nose to the screen for that one! Too exciting!

And as to discussions: Is there any way we could have multiple discussions set up? I find that, once a discussion goes one direction, it is very hard to insert ones self into an already deeply involved discussion. Is there any way we could separate some of the discussions for different sections, like a thread for characters and development in relationships, one for plotlines, one for historical content and seamlessness, etc? I think it would make discussions flow a little more smoothly.

As to TLoB? After this one, I think the idea of changing up themes and topics would be great! I would love to see what everyone else thinks about religion's part in the books, and the development of Russell and Holmes' relationship! Mmm...so many good things to look forward to...

Loves, dearest Vicki,
Alina

[vicki]

I like the idea of theology broadly defined as thought about the divine and coupled with the ethics we find in LRK books. Other possibilities are male-female relationships, vocation, identity--what is essential to being oneself--to integrity, responsibility to others--to community, and confronting evil or darkness within and without.

That sounds like some good, meaty stuff!

I'd also like to compare Russell and Rae at some point.


Interesting! Both have a lot of life-trauma and loss of family connections. There could be some good stuff there.

As for other writers, how about Val McDermid?

I'd love to read some of her stuff for a discussion--I haven't read anything of hers before and it's supposed to be *fabulous*. She and Laurie are good friends, too--maybe she'd be willing to swing in and chip in her two bits during the discussion!

Bill has also mentioned doing a Maisie Dobbs book, and there are some other great possibilities. Julia Spencer-Fleming has a good series that I recently dipped into, for instance, and she's a friend of Laurie's also. Any other suggestions?

Alina, I'm trying to get a friend of mine to practice some audiobooks on LibriVox--she's got a fantastic voice, and I think she might be able to get a paying gig reading audiobooks if she had something to send as an audition.

Re: opening up the monthly discussion areas to new threads--here's my thinking, and I'd love some feedback: I was thinking about maybe opening up the various book forums to new threads after the spotlight month is over. My reasoning in restricting the discussion to one thread during that month is to keep the traffic flowing into one place, so the activity gets concentrated there--that's easier for visitors to check on, and for LRK too--I think she keeps a pretty close eye on the monthly discussions unless there's a copyedit or something huge going on that limits her online time. Keeping it in one thread for that month helps her see what's going on and chime in where need be (which is also why we're encouraging people to post in one thread in The Author's Study).

But what do y'all think about opening each monthly discussion area to new threads after that month?

Oh, and we had talked about simplifying front page of the forum. I think Sheri and someone else had asked about getting the B'con forum into its own area, which I'll look at. I can move it farther down on the page until closer to B'con 09, anyway (assuming the B'con 09 organizers want to have a forum over here). Any other suggestions for simplifiying the VBC front porch?

Oh, if someone can assemble a list of 5-7 URLs of the most popular threads, I'll get those posted. Wheee!

[vicki]

<whooshing in>

Hey! What do y'all think about the recent changes? Things looking spiffier for the 15 Weeks?

I want to get a plug-in that lines the subforums up more nicely rather than running them all together, but we need to get the forum software updated first. Our web designer tried to do that the other night, but it didn't take. :(

Oh--the new acronym is LANG. That's more consistent with the others, really.

And we kind of spotlight the monthly discussions, while hoping to convince people who join us (or just observe) to stay and hang with us for other discussions, too. :D

Y'all like the countdown timer? I was excited to find that. It won't work on the FB page though because they have so many restrictions on flash. :( Oh, well.

[Strawberry Curls]

I meant to post something this morning about the "new look" but time got away from me. One of the hazards of having a day off, you waste a great deal of time. Anyway, I love the new look. It is lean and easy to navigate and as I told you off list, I LOVE the countdown clock. Just seeing the seconds and minutes falling way makes me all twitterpated. :p --Alice

[2bnallegory]

Usually I just rush and log in but the last few days I had noticed the changes and think it looks cleaner and friendlier, I especially liked the boxes with popular threads, and LRK Virtual tour.

[Bachi]

...
I want to get a plug-in that lines the subforums up more nicely rather than running them all together, but we need to get the forum software updated first. Our web designer tried to do that the other night, but it didn't take. :(
...

How about a larger font also, making it easier to click on! :p
And maybe they could be a little higher up on the grid.

(my 2cents for now)
w

[vicki]

I'm glad y'all like the spiffing up so far!

Okay, I added a twitter widget to the left side, so it pretty much matches the length of the discussions. I'll look for something good on the right side also.

Re: the font on the subforums, I'll look among the vbulletin plugins, but IIRC, most of them just make those line up nicely, after which they should be easier to click on. But I'll look.

If other stuff occurs to you, just post away. We may not be able to get to everything, but we'll do what we can before the party gets swinging! :D :D :D

[Pat Floyd]

Vicki,
I love the changes, especially the things in the right-hand column. I think it will be great for helping new people get started as will the favorite threads. The countdown is exciting!
Pat

[vicki]

Glad you like the new stuff! I'm working on a few other little bells and whistles that should be fun. :D

Oh, and there's some fun new stuff on Russell's myspace (http://www.myspace.com/maryrussell), too. Still in construction mode, and one or two things may shift around a bit, but it's coming together.

[vicki]

Okay--I bumped each side out 10 pixels for the twitter widget, but I think I can reduce that down a bit and put them back the way they were. I'll do it after I get the kids to school. :D

[KarenB]

Love the countdown! I going to see if I can get a VBC virgin to check it out and see if she has any comments.

[vicki]

Oooh, cool--a virgin! :D

Sheri, I took it back down 10 px on each side. Does that fix your display?

[vicki]

I think there must be a minimum width for the twitter account. :( I'll look at getting the non-flash widget, which looked like it might be more narrow.

<edit> Okay, the non-flash widget is thin enough without any tinkering to put in the sidebar. I had to adjust the code on the flash widget, but it evidently wouldn't go lower than a particular width of pixels.

Sheri, is that better?

[Meags2387]

Hey! Just got in and noticed the countdown clock! I love it! Nice job on all the changes. They look great! -Meags

[tangential1]

Where is there a countdown clock? I can't see one. Most likely my stupid web blockers at work *grumbles* :(

[Strawberry Curls]

The countdown clock is on the right panel, just under "January On The VBC." Oh, this is all on the home page, btw.

Love the Red box for Russell's Tweets, btw. Vicki, you are a marvel!! --Alice

[jtb1951]

It looks great! It is well, and evenly, laid out, and visually clean. The countdown clock is terrific, and I am quite impressed!!! Great job!

John.

[Bachi]

I think the forum is very well laid out. I do have one request (if possible) could the search be capable of searching with only one or two words. A few times I have wanted to locate something talked about but could only remember a word or two and I was out of luck. For example an author (not LRK) was discussed but unless you know more that the authors name.

[Millie]

Looks great...but just one thing - it says Language of Bees Coundown rather than counTdown.

[Bachi]

Looks great...but just one thing - it says Language of Bees Coundown rather than counTdown.


lol - nice catch!

It just proves the point made a while with the message that had the beginning and ending of a word with all the letters in-between all mixed up and we all could read it!

[KarenB]

Is everyone getting the pop-up ads where the counTdown is, or is it just me? And if it's everyone, can we get rid of them?

[vicki]

Arrrghhh--I did a little research and found that this was one of the "small percentage" of widgets that the widgetbox service (where I created the countdown) runs ads on. Sneaky--they didn't show up at first. I'll take it down. I'm working on another widget to take its place. Grrrr!

[Strawberry Curls]

Love the new countdown clock, Vicki. I'm not a huge fan of the deerstalker, but on Russell, it is cute. ;):D;):D --Alice

[tangential1]

I can actually see the clock now! Looks good.

P.S. to Alice: aren't those the silhouettes from the the early MM editions of the Russell books?

[Strawberry Curls]

I can actually see the clock now! Looks good.

P.S. to Alice: aren't those the silhouettes from the the early MM editions of the Russell books?Yes they are, but the older paperback I have has the silhouettes of Russell and Holmes on the BEEK (thank you Roxanne) and Russell isn't wearing the deerstalker. I just pull out my Picador and she isn't there either, or on MREG where they are back to back (huge symbolism there) or on LETT where they are both with pipe in their mouths (I guess showing they were equals???) but MOOR has Russell with the deerstalker. I like the silhouettes from my older copy of BEEK because Russell looks more mature than the child like one on the other books, in fact even the Picador BEEK has a more mature looking Russell than the other three books...odd that.

[Pat Floyd]

Vicki,
I love the new countdown!

[tangential1]

Yes they are, but the older paperback I have has the silhouettes of Russell and Holmes on the BEEK (thank you Roxanne) and Russell isn't wearing the deerstalker. I just pull out my Picador and she isn't there either, or on MREG where they are back to back (huge symbolism there) or on LETT where they are both with pipe in their mouths (I guess showing they were equals???) but MOOR has Russell with the deerstalker. I like the silhouettes from my older copy of BEEK because Russell looks more mature than the child like one on the other books, in fact even the Picador BEEK has a more mature looking Russell than the other three books...odd that.

You know, I hadn't actually noticed that each one had a different version. I'm going to have to go look at them now.:) That is definitely odd, though.

[laurierking]

You know, I hadn't actually noticed that each one had a different version. I'm going to have to go look at them now.:) That is definitely odd, though.

If you put the four Picador editions next to each other (or look at them on the web site) you'll see a touch of whimsy in how they arranged the silhouettes. It's always lovely when a publisher cares enough to play with the small things...

Laurie

[Meredith47]

First chance I've had to go look at anything: the new stuff looks swell. (don't you love words like "swell"). I hadn't realized the pub put forth the idea of the progressive silhouettes, which indeed produce a smile. They lead one to buy the whole set, of course. Wonder if we could get a more mature looking Russell silhouette... (I agree with Alice SC). best//Meredith

[vicki]

Those are so much fun--I love how the silhouettes change on each of the first four. Good stuff!

Thanks to everyone for feedback and suggestions! We do see them and are trying to get to the ones that we're able to get to in the short term, and we'll keep them longer-term possibilities in mind as well.

And sorry to be so absent--to say that it's been busy is the understatement of the decade, but it's a wonderful, fun sort of busy! :D :D :D

[Meags2387]

Vicki, is it just me or did a couple of pages disappear from the "What are you reading today" thread in the Great Room? I'm also not getting the usual top banner to show up...is it just my computer? -Meags

[Elizabeth Cornwall]

Vicki, is it just me or did a couple of pages disappear from the "What are you reading today" thread in the Great Room? I'm also not getting the usual top banner to show up...is it just my computer? -Meags

Yes, the same thing happened to me, as well as the fact that the log in screen is telling me that I haven't been here since the 23rd, when I was here yesterday.
About 3 of my PM's that people had sent me and I had been saving have also dissapeared. Everything about my personal account has vanished up until the fatefull 23rd.
The Introduction thread has also vanished, I presume upto the 23rd

[Carlina]

New blog looks hella cool!

Here's an idea...given all this twittering and youtubing and..its getting like www.nin.com round these parts...which is really cool...but I digress. Has anyone considered a real time chat thingy? Be nice to catch up with some of you real time...

Just a pence for me thoughts; back to Capt' kirkin' for me pitch n toss.

[JTACorwyn]

I would participate in a real-time discussion.

I have some experience in moderating chats, if necessary.

[Jennifer]

Vicki,
I also noticed that pm's I'd sent weren't in my list of sent messages as well as some I'd rec'd. And a conversation I had with someone in "What are you reading today" disappeared! What gives?
Jennifer

[Bachi]

It looks like activity from 1/25 through 1/31 may have gone missing, I'm sure that, when and if they find them, we'll see them again!

[Millie]

But how good does the new webpage look? It's fab, Vicki!

[vicki]

Oh, missed your kind words there, Millie--I'd love to take the credit for all the great new changes on the site, but it's all Zoe's work--she's the mixmaster at this web site stuff--wooohooo!

And sorry about the missing data--I'm not sure we ever did get that back. :( It seems like I posted about that recently. Did we get the data back? I know I lost a pm that never reappeared.

Tammy and Carlina, I know that one thing Laurie would like to do is some live chats. I'll try to move that up on the list of possiblilities. I'm thinking there may be a chat function with our forum software, but it may be only via a plug in. I'll look at that. That's cool that you have mod. experience, Tammy!

[annie]

Big fan here!

Lefanu wrote quite a lot of short stories, one which is more of a novella, and credited with being the first lesbian vampire story (Elvira). His short stories are really creepy and I have to say that I cannot join in the current fashion for drinking green tea since reading his story of that name, foolishly, on a night bus from Charing Cross (LOL!)
His most accessible is The Wyvern Mystery, credited with being an inspiration for Jane Eyre and more distantly The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. It concerns an abused wife.

Wilkie Collins is one of the godfathers of detective fiction. The 2 books that have remained popular are The Woman in White and The Moonstone. The latter is credited with being the first detective novel ( if you allow that Poe wrote short stories). Marion in tWiW is, to my mind, the first female amateur detective. To echo our current discussion of The Maltese Falcon, these were the cliches before they were cliches.
Also, we don't really do magnificent villains in these modern times - they are either disturbed or plain greedy. Count Fosco (tWiW) is a true Victorian villain that you can boo & hiss at (which reminds me, I'm told that Americans don't have pantos, and therefore no tradition of the pantomime villain - is this true? Boo Hiss)

[Pat Floyd]

Count Fosco (tWiW) is a true Victorian villain that you can boo & hiss at (which reminds me, I'm told that Americans don't have pantos, and therefore no tradition of the pantomime villain - is this true? Boo Hiss)

When I was a youth, roughly the 1940s, we had a lot of pantomimes and charades at youth events and parties and sometimes for fun by adults with loud hissing for the villain, ahhhs for the heroine and other responses. I very rarely see this kind of fun now, but it occasionally pops up.

[annie]

When I was a youth, roughly the 1940s, we had a lot of pantomimes and charades at youth events and parties and sometimes for fun by adults with loud hissing for the villain, ahhhs for the heroine and other responses. I very rarely see this kind of fun now, but it occasionally pops up.

Pantos are a big fixture of the Christmas season here. They range from expensive productions at major theatres with well-known actors (including the odd American import) right down to small amateur productions in village halls, and all points between. They all follow the same format, lots of audience participation. They are bankers for struggling regional theatres.
As always on this board I get off-topic!

[Millie]

We had Christmas in London in 2007 with my sister, and they took us to see Nigel Havers in Cinderella at Richmond. It was loads of fun, especially watching a somewhat the worse for the drink Nigel exclaiming that Buttons could scrub the floor ''wish a tooshbrush''!

And during the interval dd, who was 8 at the time, solemnly announced to us all that she'd discovered that the ugly stepsisters were MEN!

[vicki]

Okay, I'll pitch TWiW idea at Our Fearless Leader--we need to start thinking about the fall discussion line-up, as we'll be officially out of LRK books after we do LANG. We've also had a Maisie Dobbs suggestion, as it has some similarities to the Russells, and we've also talked about doing thematic discussions of LRK work--themes and ideas that stretch across her work.

I don't think I've ever seen a pantomime outside the occasional game of charades, and even those are pretty rare. Kind of sad.

Christmas in London with a trip to the theater sounds deevine--what a great trip that must have been, Millie!

[Pat Floyd]

Maisie Dobbs Birds of a Feather has a strong relationship to Justice Hall.

[Bachi]

I keep chirping up "include another round of LRK's work" even if more spaced out with those "themes and ideas that stretch across her work" in between.

I can't be the only one who feels this way????

[vicki]

Oh, I seem to recall people talking about Birds of a Feather and Justice Hall. That may be an idea.

Wanda, that's kind of what I was thinking--maybe sprinkle some thematic discussions of LRK's work among other discussions--some other authors' stuff that is related to LRK work or themes. And/or maybe a "History of the Mystery" tour where we could start off with some Collins and Poe and work up through the major subgenres and landmark works.

[Meags2387]

Vicki,
Just as an idea for other things to add to our book reading lineup, what about some of ACD's stories? I know that for me re-reading some of his short stories and even the longer ones (are they classified as novel-length?) helped me understand some of the subtle references that LRK makes in the Russell books. It's a thrill for me to understand the references and perhaps it will help others as well. -Meags

[Strawberry Curls]

Vicki,
Just as an idea for other things to add to our book reading lineup, what about some of ACD's stories? I know that for me re-reading some of his short stories and even the longer ones (are they classified as novel-length?) helped me understand some of the subtle references that LRK makes in the Russell books. It's a thrill for me to understand the references and perhaps it will help others as well. -MeagsWhat a great idea, Meags. I'm one of the latecomers to Doyle's' Holmes. I read Canon after falling in love with Kanon. I too wanted to understand the references and the man Holmes was before 1915. I think one of the things that really is genius in the Russell books is the way Laurie has extrapolated the Holmes from "His Last Bow" and made him appear on the downs a distracted, and unhappy man ripe for his meeting with a 15 year old who would challenge his intellect and breathe life back into him. --Alice

[vicki]

Oh my dog. I can't believe we didn't read HOUND before we discussed MOOR. *Thwaps self repeatedly*

We definitely need to read some ACD.

[Bachi]

Are you sure we didn't, I thought we did, I did at least :confused:

[vicki]

I think we talked about it during the discussion, but it wasn't the subject of its own monthly discussion--I went back and checked the 2008 discussion list to make sure. We jumped straight from Touchstone to The Moor. We probably should have made a pit-stop for HOUND. But then again, we can do it as part of an ACD series, and that would be good, too.

[Bachi]

I think we talked about it during the discussion, but it wasn't the subject of its own monthly discussion--I went back and checked the 2008 discussion list to make sure.

Yep, I did too, so I'm pretty darn proud of myself for reading it anyway - yeah me! ;)

[vicki]

Go, Wanda--you definitely get extra credit for background reading! :)

[annie]

And/or maybe a "History of the Mystery" tour where we could start off with some Collins and Poe and work up through the major subgenres and landmark works.

I'm very interested in the history of the mystery - partly because my grandparents had so many Victorian books that I read in my childhood, and ms. King's work does touch on many of the major sub-genres.

[Meags2387]

I think we talked about it during the discussion, but it wasn't the subject of its own monthly discussion--I went back and checked the 2008 discussion list to make sure. We jumped straight from Touchstone to The Moor. We probably should have made a pit-stop for HOUND. But then again, we can do it as part of an ACD series, and that would be good, too.

As I was thinking about it, I think that in reading the ACD stories that it would also be interesting to discuss some of the changes that ACD makes to Holmes, taking him from an arrogant, rather selfish (imo) misogynist (sp?) to the Holmes we meet at the beginning of BEEK. -Meags

[Pat Floyd]

I think we have some very good suggestions here. I like the idea of revisiting LRK books coupled with related books that we would read at the same time. MOOR and HOUND are naturals, and I think JUST and Winspear's Birds of a Feather would be good together. I've started to look for something to go with MREG. Susan Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton are fascinating forerunners. Ideal would be a book about Eva and/or Constance Gore-Booth who lived into the 1920s, were from the UK, and had very unconventional lives. A book about women in 1st and 2nd century Christianity and Judaism would go well with LETT. For these latter two suggestions finding books that are accessible and enjoyable would be important. Pursuing themes in LRK also appeals to me.

I also like the idea of reading some of ACD and TWiW.

[vicki]

*Taking notes*

A lot of great ideas here from the excellent VBC readers--we certainly won't lack for discussion books/themes/subjects after we run out of the LRK books! :D

[annie]

Another idea (is this too many?) I've had is to read books by or about MR's contemporaries (just read The Golden Arrow by Mary Webb, not itself suitable, but set me thinking). Harriet Vane & Maisie Dobbs have been mentioned, but I was thinking of women who led very different lives to MR.
I'll only suggest british ones: Winifred Holtby would be an obvious choice (the friend of Vera Brittain's Testament of Friendship); an amusing one would be The Diary of a Provincial Lady which began as short pieces in Time & Tide (so called because it "waits for no man"). And we could always discuss Ballet Shoes!

[Pat Floyd]

In thinking about women of Russell's period, I would suggest Constance Markievicz (1868-1927) who is earlier, but overlaps. She was a most unusual woman: Anglo-Irish, an artist, married a Polish count, worked for women's suffrage and the labor movement, became passionately involved in revolt from Britain and led troops in the 1916 Easter rising, spent time in prison, served as a cabinet minister in Ireland, and was the first woman elected to Parliament. Two recent books about her are easily available: Constance Markievicz, by Anne Haverty, 1988, 1993, and The People's Countess, by Joe McGowan, 2003. I have read the Haverty book. It's not deathless prose, but well-done and readable.

[The Grey Badger]

This week The Economist reviewed "The Morbid Age: Britain Between the Wars" by Richard Overy. The cost is given at 25 pounds. The period, according to the review, was riddled with anxiety and a sense of impending doom on many, many fronts including the cultural and psychological. In fact, it sounds like the first decade of the 21st Century on meth. This might be a valuable source work for her.

[Jennifer]

Grey Badger,
I was reading my dd's history book and it took took the tack that the time between the wars was a time of extreme anxiety. I never got that impression from the things I read that were written between the wars. I know I haven't read in a tremendously broad way, but I wonder why the authors I have read never picked up on it. You'd think some of them would if the situation was so filled with anxiety. It seems like a new paradigm to me, even in my reading of history in general.
Jennifer

[The Grey Badger]

And on another tack, having recently purchased a book reader, I went looking for Laurie's books. Fictionwise had several. Two of the ones I wanted were formatted for "secure reader only" which they were very firm about excluding the Sony. But which they did specify included the Palm (a PDA) and I think an iPhone, but to me, "Secure reader" is b**s*y*t for "Kindle." And yet - Fictionwise is owned by Barnes & Noble. Can someone fill this newbie in on the ins and outs thereof before I end up paying for downloads I can't use?

Though I do have the Free Bee snugly parked on the Sony. Thanks!

[vicki]

There are some great suggestions for reading selections here. I'll add these into the hopper for discussing with Our Fearless Leader when the Fifteen Weeks are over--can't believe we're almost done!

Badger, I'll send that suggestion for The Morbid Age to Laurie. It sounds like a terrific companion book for The Long Week-end--which was written from a period much closer to that time, lending more immediacy but far less perspective. That might be a great tandem read. And it certainly, sounds like something that would be right up her alley.

The anxiety between the wars seems to have been well-founded. There was a *lot* of unfinished business left at the end of WWI, and it was not taken care of properly, which added to the general economic and social upheaval of the time. Fortunately, we had gotten through a lot of necessary transitions by the end of WWII, and applied some valuable lessons learned (ie the Marshall Plan) in forging a peace with the axis powers.

[vicki]

Badger, the ebook situation is something of a mess right now. There are a number of different readers and formats running, and the ebook communiy is very upset about most copies being under a DRM lock-down. Publishers don't seem to have a plan or policy in place, which is a bit crazy-making for someone trying to connect ebook reading people to an author's work. Right now, we're pushing to at *least* get everything into the kindle store for a start. Then we'll start chipping away at the other formats.

I did see recently that quite a few of Laurie's books are available in e-format directly from the Random House website. Have you checked there? The first four Russells won't be there--they're with Picador. The Picador folks were planning to get the first four Russells in the kindle store around the same time as LANG came out, but that doesn't appear to have happened. :( I do see that OJER is finally in there, however--excellent!

I'll touch base with the Picador folks soon to see what's going on with the ebook rollout.

I don't have a kindle, but my kindle for iphone app works beautifully--yay! So I'm starting to buy some books that way. It's very convenient to read on the iphone, I've found. I might actually prefer it to reading on an actual kindle (other than battery life), as I have it in my hand half the time, anyway, checking one thing or another. It's a snap to just pop open my kindle while standing in line at the grocery store or even at a long red light.

[Pat Floyd]

Another thought for books to discuss is a biography of Gertrude Bell or T. E. Lawrence with OJER. There are several recent books about Bell. I've just requested one from our library, will let you know if I like it.

[annie]

Badger, the ebook situation is something of a mess right now. There are a number of different readers and formats running, and the ebook communiy is very upset about most copies being under a DRM lock-down. Publishers don't seem to have a plan or policy in place, which is a bit crazy-making for someone trying to connect ebook reading people to an author's work. Right now, we're pushing to at *least* get everything into the kindle store for a start. Then we'll start chipping away at the other formats.

I did see recently that quite a few of Laurie's books are available in e-format directly from the Random House website. Have you checked there? The first four Russells won't be there--they're with Picador. The Picador folks were planning to get the first four Russells in the kindle store around the same time as LANG came out, but that doesn't appear to have happened. :( I do see that OJER is finally in there, however--excellent!

I'll touch base with the Picador folks soon to see what's going on with the ebook rollout.

I don't have a kindle, but my kindle for iphone app works beautifully--yay! So I'm starting to buy some books that way. It's very convenient to read on the iphone, I've found. I might actually prefer it to reading on an actual kindle (other than battery life), as I have it in my hand half the time, anyway, checking one thing or another. It's a snap to just pop open my kindle while standing in line at the grocery store or even at a long red light.

Vicki - please do not read at red lights! We need you here, so look after yourself and keep safe!
Please can you explain "DRM lockdown"? Thanks so much

[The Grey Badger]

Note: I didn't buy a Kindle because of possible monopoly issues such as "coded for secure readers only" and amazon having a lock on the market. I bought a Sony 505. If amazon will sell me an ebook for the 505 I'm down with it. If now, down with them.

[Bachi]

Annie
DRM = Digital Rights Managment is a way of coding a product for use by specific device(s) thereby limiting its use. There's more to it than that but that is the quick reply.
w

[Pat Floyd]

Thinking again about our agenda after LANG, I observe that for the most part we respond more enthusiastically to fiction than to non-fiction, and to fiction that has some depth of personal and social issues. Two authors I've met through recommendations here might be good subjects: Charles Todd, whose protagonist has returned to Scotland Yard, still suffering shell shock after WWI. Books in the series so far are set in 1919 and 1920. Will Thomas' books, set in the 1880s, merit comparison with Holmes and Watson. The first book in the series, Some Danger Involved, includes issues of anti-Semitism at that time.

[vicki]

Hi, again! Sorry not to have checked in for a while--I was so consumed by the 15 weeks, I barely had time to go to the bathroom there for a while! :D

No worries, Ruthie--I only read at the red lights (long ones)--and not after they turn green. So all I'm in danger of is people honking at me if I fail to notice everyone's started to move. :D

Pat, I have the first couple of Charles Todd books--I need to get to those! Haven't heard of the Thomas ones, but we can add those to the list of potentials--thanks for bringing those up!

I caved and got the free kindle for iphone app on my iphone--they made it awfully easy. It's not quite as nice to read on as the actual kindle--I tried Alice's and it rocks!--but it's still very easy to use, and I notice that I seem to read faster with it--perhaps because the text is so narrow on the screen. Maybe it promotes reading in blocks--as speed reading courses teach. It's also not quite as easy to buy books on it, but it's still *awfully easy*--just hit the one-touch buying button while you're on your laptop, and it automatically appears as soon as you open your kindle app on the phone. Pretty diabolical.

But I'll have to agree with Badger that I'm starting to get annoyed with amazon over some stuff--not only the drm issues of the kindle, but some other stuff they're starting to pull. Specifically, they've decided not to carry any self-published books unless they're published on their own self-publishing press--booksurge. I think that really stinks and may be a violation of monopoly laws. By doing that, they ensure that they can give worse service and charge more than their competitors just because most authors need to sell on amazon as a practical matter. Boo! Hiss! *Throws rotten tomatoes* As the twitter folk say, #amazonfail! (actually that phrase had to do with another issue, but I think it needs reviving).

[Strawberry Curls]

Vicki and all, when you have the Kindle you can access the Kindle book store on the Kindle itself and purchase books that appear on your Kindle in minutes or less. The Kindle has it's own internet call Whispernet that is just to the Store to peruse and purchase books. So easy, and yes, I do over indulge, but on a trip such as the one I am on now, I loaded up the Kindle and only had to bring it for my 19 days, not several books that add weight and take up room. LOVE my Kindle. <end of commercial> ;)

[Millie]

How's your trip going, Alice? When are you due back? (I have something to put in the post for you but want to make sure you'll be there to get it.)

[Strawberry Curls]

How's your trip going, Alice? When are you due back? (I have something to put in the post for you but want to make sure you'll be there to get it.)Hi, Millie. Merrily and I are now in Sussex and won't fly out of London until the 19th and I'll fly home from Virginia on the 22nd.

We have been in London, Oxford, Dartmoor (Lewtrenchard Manor is just like the book!!!) and now we are stationed in Eastbourne for a few days. Spent the morning on the cliffs overlooking Beachy Head and walked some of the downs along the cliffs. Tomorrow we may venture further and go to The Long Man. I saw it driving in on Saturday, but we haven't been there yet.

The trip is going very well and yesterday Merrily and I spent the day with Ruthie and Yolanda, chums from LOM, and Ruthie posts here from time to time. Such great ladies and we had a wonderful time together. I hope to post many pictures when I have the time. :D:D

[KarenB]

Alice - it sounds like you and Merrily are having a wonderful time! How fun to see all those places and get to meet up with Ruth and Yolanda! When you get a chance I'd love to see pictures. Hi *waves* to Merrily!!

[Strawberry Curls]

Alice - it sounds like you and Merrily are having a wonderful time! How fun to see all those places and get to meet up with Ruth and Yolanda! When you get a chance I'd love to see pictures. Hi *waves* to Merrily!!Merrily waves back, Karen. She is lying on her bed reading her Kindle while we listen to the waves of the English Channel hit the shore across the street from our hotel in Eastbourne.

I will attach one picture here. We walked the downs along the cliff overlooking Beachy Head this morning and there was a slight mist that gave a lovely quality to the light. So, here is a picture of the East Sussex Downs looking west from the south coast.

[Millie]

Say hello to Sussex for me! If you drive past Danehill near Haywards Heath, give it a wave from me - I lived there for about 18 months when I was 18 or thereabouts. Alas, so long ago!

I'm glad you're having such a great time :) I'd love to see Lewtrenchard Manor. Maybe one day!

[Bachi]

Fantastic Alice and Merrily
ENJOY!

[Strawberry Curls]

Say hello to Sussex for me! If you drive past Danehill near Haywards Heath, give it a wave from me - I lived there for about 18 months when I was 18 or thereabouts. Alas, so long ago!

I'm glad you're having such a great time :) I'd love to see Lewtrenchard Manor. Maybe one day!We were in that area on Sunday having picked up Ruthie and Yolanda at Haywards Heath train station, so I'm sure we went past Danehill. It is such beautiful country with very narrow lanes.

[LaideeMarjorie]

I don't know when this happened, but I thank you for increasing the number of PMs that can be stored from 50 to 100. I appreciate it very much.

--Marjorie

[vicki]

I think that was a change for the LRKers when we started that group earlier in the year. :) In any case, you are very welcome!

[KarenB]

Vicki (she asks plaintively) why does Twitter want me to log in when I go to the VBC? I don't really want to tweet.

[LaideeMarjorie]

Vicki (she asks plaintively) why does Twitter want me to log in when I go to the VBC? I don't really want to tweet.

Vicki,

I got that, too!

--Marjorie

[Roxanne]

Me, too! Me, too!

I would maybe read tweets (or twits or twigs or whatever they are called)--if I had the time.

Is this a hack or just a new feature?

Roxanne

[nkk1969]

Vicki (she asks plaintively) why does Twitter want me to log in when I go to the VBC? I don't really want to tweet.

I got the same thing. I sent Vicki and Zoe an email about it, figuring that would be faster than waiting for either of them to see the thread here. We'll see what they say...:confused:

[vicki]

Oh, dear--so sorry! I didn't realize everyone was getting that login request. The reason you're seeing that (I think) is because Mary Russell's twitter account was wrongly suspended. We're getting is sorted out with the twitter gods (twods?) right now but in the meantime, the twitter widget is sad, bereft and looking for its lost tweets, which is why I think it's asking everyone for the right login info. Poor little widget! :(:(:( I've sent it on vacation until we can get Miss Russell back in the twitter-saddle again. :D