Favorite LRK???

[irish]

Okay, so we've listed all kinds of favorites on this site, but what's your favorite LRK??

For me, Monstrous Regiment of Women is my favorite Russell and With Child is my favorite Kate.

MREG because of the tension that comes to a head between Russ and Holmes, along with all the mystery and the great personalities of both Veronica and Margery.

WC because we get to see Kate on her own, struggling with herself and her situation at the same time as Jules goes through the pain and struggle of being an adolescent further complicated by her family situation and intellect. The conclusion of this book is fantastic and gets better everytime I read it.


Your turn.................:)

[vicki]

Hmmm--tough question!

I particularly love the Russells, and among those, it's hard not to have special affection for BEEK, as that was my introduction to the series, and for MREG, which I inhaled immediately after BEEK, so that I almost think of them as two halves of one book. Among the Martinellis, I am especially fond of To Play the Fool, as I like the ideas behind it so much. Among the standalones, Folly is probably my favorite (great story/protagonist and my inner architecture geek loves the house-building stuff), although Keeping Watch has this spectacular Vietnam sequence that is probably my favorite passage of LRK writing.

Love your new avatar-picture, BTW!

[jtb1951]

Yes, definitely a tough question; LRK is amazingly consistent in the high quality of her writing!

Until recently, I would have said that my favorite was Folly, but I think The Art of Detection is my current fave; the interweaving of her two major series timelines was masterfully accomplished. I found it to be very engaging. Kudos for the new thread!

John.

[Ms. Kay]

This is a toughie. With the Russell novels it's between The Beekeeper's Apprentice and Locked Rooms. My favorite Kate Martinelli is The Art of Detection. I've not read any of the stand-alones.
I also congratulate irish on her thread idea! :cool:



Ms. Kay

[Carlina]

Hmm...favs...I have more than one...does that count? I shall rank them...

BEEK -- I just love meeting Holmes...even if he is 54.
MRW -- I just love the tension and of course the end.
MOOR -- I can not stop laughing when I read this one. I find it hysterical at times, the grating sarcasm and humour between R & H. Favourite scenes...well gee you think that after close to three years of marriage you think the man would be able to say wife without problems...I think LRK gives us a little insight to Holmes here and his emotions for Baring Gould. The violin music is the key. Is anyone else bothered by the fact Russ does not have much to say about his violin playing?
LoM -- I like to see how the relationship between H and R has grown and changed here. I also love that chair scene...so much not said, but said there.

[spiston]

Picking a favorite is hard because I'm new to the Martinellis and haven't read any off-series yet. In addition, each book which I have read has come to me during different times in my life.

I found MREG by chance and was thrust into the Russell series with such passion it's hard not to pick that one. I had just finished reading Elmer Gantry by Sinclair Lewis and the parallels made me feel like I was fated to meet Mary Russell at that time in my life. I agree with others who picked MREG as the story was wonderful and the tension between Mary and Holmes was super exciting.

However, Locked Rooms holds a special place in my heart. I was fulfilling a lifelong dream of taking the train across America a few summers ago. The trip was from New York City(my hometown) to Tucson (my newer home) and I purchased the audiobook to accompany my journey. I didn't want to miss a thing on the trip; listening to LR while in the observation car, rolling through mountain passes and being a part of the remarkable western landscape (the stretch between Minneapolis and Portland, OR was particulary exquisite) is a memory I shall forever treasure. I think I listened to it two or three times by the trail's end.

I also brought Colin Dexter's "The Way Through the Woods," an Inspector Morse series audiobook, and listened to the two alternately. That was a good one, btw, and the two are going to be forever merged in my psyche.

I look forward to its position being supplanted by reading more LRK as time goes on...

[irish]

The violin music is the key. Is anyone else bothered by the fact Russ does not have much to say about his violin playing?
.

The violin playing particularly in MOOR or in all of the books combined?

There is a moment in "A Letter of Mary" where Russell is in her boarding house in the middle of the night after reading the colonel's manuscript and "At the end of it, I turned off the lights and sat passively, wishing vaguely that I smoked a pipe or played the violin or something, and then went to bed." ( MARY, P. 166)

I think she considers Holmes' violin an extension of his mind and emotions, so it would seem out of place if she were to start talking about it, just like it would throw the balance of the book off if she started talking about Holmes' feelings. It's there, like the emotions in MREG, but not there at the same time. Does this make sense to anyone else or am I way off?

Irish.

and thanks for the kudos!! :o

[Ms. Kay]

I believe that Mary Russell is tone deaf. So, perhaps, it wouldn't make any difference? :confused: Something to think about.

Ms. Kay

[Strawberry Curls]

I agree the violin music is an extension of Holmes' mind. He uses it to calm and to clarify his mind. I think this was less necessary after Russell came into him life and eventually became his wife. If in her absence he needed to play, well, she wasn't there and wouldn't know.

Russell says she has no great head for music so her not commenting on it seems perfectly natural for me.

My biggest question is why did he have the violin at all while in Dartmoor? Holmes he was on his way to Berlin three weeks before the time of the beginning of the book. Gould wrote him and it took a week for the letter to catch him up. Did Holmes then go by Sussex and pick up his violin as he was passing through because he felt Baring-Gould would enjoy a concert? There is no evidence he traveled with the darn thing on a regular basis. This has always bothered me a bit. Comments? Speculations?

[Carlina]

No..no you make sense Irish both you and SC and Ms. Kay bring up good points. I meant in MOOR. The reason I ask is because Watson commented (and Strawberry can take me to task on this since my canon has now been moved yet again and must be excavated from underneath a pile of books on history) on Holmes' violin playing and the melancholic sounds that came from it. Indeed it is an extension of his emotions. I agree. Don't mind me..I'm just a canon based Holmes. :)

Perhaps it is just subtle since she asks him eventually after one of his "recitals" with BG if BG is dying. What I am trying to say in a round about way is that the key to Holmes' emotions regarding BG is in the fact he is playing the violin...He is clearly disturbed or upset by the fact that BG is dying.

SC..I'm not sure with Holmes and his violin. The man has the most annoying slight of hand at times ;). Really we don't know. I guess he would have swung by Sussex to grab some things...although it is rather odd he forgot the maps. Perhaps Mrs. Hudson sent it along..

[irish]

Maybe he kept a violin at BG's house, like one of his bolt-holes??

[Kerry]

BEEK will always have a special place in my heart as my first LRK. I was captivated from the moment in which Russell explained the bees, and enraptured when she snatched off her cap.

Nonetheless, Califia's Daughters remains my favorite LRK, followed, I think, by both Folly and Locked Rooms. Something in the prose of the latter simply sang to me.

[M. Diane]

O.K., I just had to take a break from all this moving to Tucson business; two resumes sent, four lodgings investigated, one car with no airconditioning sold. So I've a chicken in the over roasting with rosemary and I have iced tea and coconut maccaroons to sustain me while I graze at this lovely site.

This is a fascinating thread. At first I thought favorite book!, how could one pick, rather like picking a favorite moment with one's lover of 24+ years, I mean really. But then as I read ya'll (yeah, another Southerne gal Georgia raised) I saw I DO have favorites.

Spiston, when you mentioned audio books welding into your brain inexorabily with the landscape of your train journey I "got" why I am so hooked on certain books. Oh Jerusalem rules. I am there, in the desert barely able to take another step, riding hard with Holems slumped on my back. And then there is that swimming scene in the Dead Sea, oh my, talk about well written erotica, whew! The narriator is supberb. I am that picky. Also can not abide abridged books. I want every word.

I am particularily attuned to audio. My mother read to me as a child and I forever associate hearing audio books with those precious moments. That and I learn best by listening.

Then next is A Grave Talent. The first LRK read for me. Very there, grew up in my hippie days wandering the Los Gatos hills, swimming in the Santa Cruz sea, dancing in Golden Gate Park. Laurie as always got it right. And so back one is taken.

Like wise for To Play The Fool, Berkeley being the second city of choice for we hips. I can't count the number of times I hitched hiked from San Fran to Bzerley...

Oh say I'd best stop I'll be too easily recognized by the Homeland Security Folks.

Bye for now,

M. Diane

[sherrie221]

Much as I love my introduction to LRK with BEEK, Folly just reaches down deep and speaks to my soul. Laurie said it best when she had Rae explain sanity, and lack thereof. I, too, fall somewhere in between totally normal and totally... not. I guess I'm in good company :D

What I'd love to see next, other than the next Russell, is a follow-up to Folly and Keeping Watch, telling Rae and Allen's combined story. Also, I would love to see more from Laurie's universe of "A Darker Place". Anne Waverly is a fascinating character who deserves to have more of her story told.

[jtb1951]

What I'd love to see next, other than the next Russell, is a follow-up to Folly and Keeping Watch, telling Rae and Allen's combined story. Also, I would love to see more from Laurie's universe of "A Darker Place". Anne Waverly is a fascinating character who deserves to have more of her story told.

I'm right there with you, sherrie! Folly is one of my favorites, speaking to me similarly to what you mentioned regarding what is considered normal, sanitywise (reminds me of the Marx Brothers bit in "Night At the Opera": "Sanity Claus! Sanity Claus! Everyone knows there ain't no Sanity Claus!" Sorry, senior moment!) Anyway, I totally agree that the stories of Rae and Allen have much more to reveal, and I hope to see it in the future.
And Anne Waverly certainly needs to have her further story told; I'm glad to see another fan out there of these characters! Thanks for sharing!

John.

[sherrie221]

I just finished re-reading "With Child" and I discovered that Lee's Aunt Agatha appears to be Rae Newborn's neighbor, as she lives on one of the islands near Sanctuary!

It appears we have another case of "When Worlds Collide"! :D

Sherrie

[vicki]

Good catch, sherrie--series-crossing alert! And I just noticed several references to "the Newborns" in my reading of A Grave Talent for this month's discussion. My last read of AGT was several years ago, before I read Folly or Keeping Watch.

I think it is especially interesting in Folly to see how Rae deals with her precarious emotional state. I'll be interested to hear LRK talk about her process of conceiving and writing it when we have the official Folly discussion, tentatively scheduled at this point for August 2008. (Wow--that sounds far off!)

Y'all are reminding me of how much I like O, Jerusalem. I'm wanting to reread it now.

Also can not abide abridged books. I want every word.


<Sits on bench next to M.Diane> Abridged books bad. Very bad. <Looks hopefully around for leftover coconut macaroons>

I am particularily attuned to audio. My mother read to me as a child and I forever associate hearing audio books with those precious moments.

I've never thought about that association, but I'll bet that is one reason many people are attracted to that format. My parents didn't read all that much to me after I was able to read for myself, but one of my greatest joys is reading to my kids at bedtime, although they're well able to read by themselves. I guess they'll want me to stop doing it once they get old enough to start driving. <Sob!>

And I love the idea of associating certain audiobooks with particular journeys--almost like the book helps give the journey a flavor or a theme. Cool.


...although it is rather odd he forgot the maps.


I think he left the maps on purpose, so as to have an excuse to pull Russell away from her books and into another fun investigation. All the better for us readers!

reminds me of the Marx Brothers bit in "Night At the Opera": "Sanity Claus! Sanity Claus! Everyone knows there ain't no Sanity Claus!"


I looove the Marx Bros. They're my favorite anarchists.

[jtb1951]

although Keeping Watch has this spectacular Vietnam sequence that is probably my favorite passage of LRK writing.

The story of Allen Carmichael and Into The Green was as gripping and haunting a piece of prose as you will come across. I had arrived extra early at my local bookshop for Laurie's appearance on her Keeping Watch tour, sat down with my newly purchased copy, started reading through the beginning alternating sections of Allen's "green dreams" and the case he was faced with, and then was absolutely rapt with Into The Green! I was actually torn between finishing the section, or listening to Laurie!:;) It left quite an impression on me; I don't know how she wrote it! Whew!

John.

[Kiyomi]

While 'Locked Rooms' is one of my favorite I think I have to vote for 'The Moor' which brought back two of my favorite characters at a time when Russel and Holmes were already married. Otherwise I would have to toss a coin between 'O Jerusalem' and 'Locked Rooms'.

[jtb1951]

While 'Locked Rooms' is one of my favorite I think I have to vote for 'The Moor' which brought back two of my favorite characters at a time when Russel and Holmes were already married. Otherwise I would have to toss a coin between 'O Jerusalem' and 'Locked Rooms'.

It's almost unfair to even think about choosing our fave of Laurie's books because she is so consistently brilliant, but it is a lot of fun reading about everyone's choices, with the whys and wherefores!:) Keep 'em coming!

John.

[Kathryn]

It's so hard to pick a favorite from the Russell series - I love them all for completely separate reasons.

I think I have to pick MOOR though, simply because of the delightful banter, as well as being set against my second favorite canonical Holmes story (I've seen about six different movie and television versions of Baskervilles!). Poor Holmes, I kept thinking, having to relive that infamous case anytime someone mentioned it! There are a couple of humorous scenes that are just imprinted into my brain, so much so that I've had to draw them. I giggle with girlish glee anytime I think about Holmes and Russell running from the longhorned cattle.

I'm actually rereading BEEK at the moment. I just adore the first half of the book, and am really enjoying this second look at their early relationship. I love the audioplay (abridged though it is) but wish I could get my hands on a better copy.

Preferring historical mysteries to ones set in a more modern period, I have yet to read any of Laurie's other works, but I'm sure that, with enough poking, I'll give them a try. ;)

[VictoriaMisselthwaite]

Now that I've finally read them all, I think I can answer this, at least in regards to the Russell books...[though I did touch on this in another thread, I'll go a little more in depth here, since I just noticed this one]....I admit, I haven't picked up any of the non-Russell works -- at this point, I'm too besotted by Holmes [both canon and kanon] and Russell to really keep focused on anything else...when it cools down a bit, I'm sure I'll read further.


Since the Beekeeper's Apprentice is where it all began, it holds a very special place...aside from that, Locked Rooms is my favourite. I love the San Francisco locale...even if I did grow up in Los Angeles, it's close enough to remind me of "home", even if it is in a historical sense...and I love Holmes and Russell's married relationship...they're just so suited to each other. Very well done!!!

Now that I've just finished Justice Hall, I'd have to say that's my very next favourite. The supporting characters are fantastic! I love the intrigue in the Hughenfort family, and how different, but how much the same we find the "brothers"!


And since this was discussed earlier, I might as well comment on the violin playing...I think Mary Russell's lack of a musical ear is the one thing I tend to dislike about her character...maybe dislike is too strong a word, after all, it does keep her from being a Mary Sue, [which she's too well written to be anyway, but I'm sure you understand my meaning] more like I just don't understand or connect with her at all on that note...[yes, the pun was intended] I've always had an ear for music, being a singer and all, so it's one of the things that I do connect with Holmes on, [though I'm probably much less picky about what I listen to, but that's neither here nor there] and I'd like to think he played well...


Anyway, I really need to own these books so I don't have to keep checking and rechecking them out from the library!

[marahute]

I have to pick Folly & Keeping Watch as my all-time favorites. Of the MR series, I don't know - I love 'em all. I also like A Darker Place.

--Janet

[Infogoddess]

I love the Russell and Martinelli series, but I have to say my favorite LRK book is "Folly" -- in fact it is one of my two absolute favorite books, the other being Ken Follett's "Pillars of the Earth." I still have a couple of the Martinelli books to read, and standalones. But I doubt any could beat Folly from my POV.

~~ Info ~~

[Smurrey]

My favorite MRH is The Moor because it was my introduction to the series. I was traveling from Colorado to Kentucky and checked out a couple of books on tape from the local library for the trip. I listened to it twice and have loved the series ever since. I can just imagine people sitting beside me in the traffic of St. Louis watching me laugh with no one in the car, but characters have such dry humor and truly classic one liners. I don't think I hit anything along the way (as far as I could tell there wasn't much to hit-- just a lot of corn fields) but it certainly made the trip go quickly.

[FerryPerson]

It's so hard to pick a favorite from the Russell series - I love them all for completely separate reasons.

I am the same way - hard to pick a fave. I do love Locked Rooms for the insight into Mary's past. And love Justice Hall for bringing back those wonderful "Arab" brothers!

I'm actually rereading BEEK at the moment. I just adore the first half of the book, and am really enjoying this second look at their early relationship.

I'm rereading BEEK also - I had to stop at the point where Mary asks if their adversary might be a woman. (My ferry boat stopped and they made me drive off! Hmph!:mad:) The book is immediately engaging and the characters grab at you right away!
See? Couldn't pick just one!:cool:

[quitequiteknuts]

Much as I love my introduction to LRK with BEEK, Folly just reaches down deep and speaks to my soul..

.....

I agree with all you Folly lovers, but Sherrie's post especially struck just the note I wanted -

As a woman of about Rae's age, the book's idea of new life, and new hope for her also struck a strong chord for me. I think many of us are surprised to find the 50's a time when we have a chance to embark on a new stage of life - do new things, form new relationships, take steps in directions we haven't tried before. I am finding this to be true for myself, and so Rae's story, as Sherrie said, really did "speak to my soul".

I don't think when I was in my 20's and 30's I connected the idea of adventure with being "middle-aged". (in fact, I remember that I just hoped by then to have reached a time when I could sleep late in the morning - it seemed like all that being o much older could offer me!)

How nice to have found I was so wrong about that - and how nice to read a book that articulates the idea of life as an ongoing adventure so very well.

[Bachi]

I have had the great pleasure of ‘reading’ all the MR and KM series in order and like many others have already said; choosing a favorite is no easy task. After considerable thought, I’ve come up with the following:

BEEK is my favorite MR. That may well be more because of the thrill of discovery than anything else. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed each book in the series and that’s saying a lot.

In the KM series it’s a hard call but I’m going to say AOD. I absolutely loved the story in the story and yet the depth of character in AGT makes it a close 2nd.

I have not yet read all the stand-alones, so I’ll have to hold off on that choice. In fact Folly happens to be one I haven’t read yet and after reading everybody’s comments I’m full of anticipation.

LRK is a true artist who clearly enjoys using well-chosen words to paint intricate and thoroughly enjoyable tales.

[Jennifer]

You all make me want to sit down and read the whole MRH series again, and quickly! When each of you talks about why such and such is your fave book, I go (in my head, of course!) "Yes! I love that part!" or "That's exactly my thought!" I agree with Smurrey who loves "The Moor" because I read it first too! I fell right in with Holmes having this singular young woman (who could tell him off as easily as look at him) for a wife. I didn't have the foggiest notion what a "pastiche" was and didn't care a fig either. Just found the next book I could get my hands on "BEEK" and felt like I was simultaneously coming home and opening a large box of chocolates! "Montrous Regiment" took more than one read to catch all the nuances for me. But mama! The tension was thick in that one and I'll always relish that book for the slow building of feelings until one fair wants to holler. But to pick a favorite, I'd be no good. I'd pick the one I was reading at the time, I am sure. I do wish we'd see more of Ali and Mahmood. Don't you think there's another adventure/mystery out there they could be part of? I didn't enjoy Marsh and his cousin much, truth be told. But Ali and Mahmood, now those were the men adventures (and dreams) were made of.
Jen D. (running off to reserve the MRH books on cd asap!)

[Carlina]

I agree the violin music is an extension of Holmes' mind. He uses it to calm and to clarify his mind. I think this was less necessary after Russell came into him life and eventually became his wife. If in her absence he needed to play, well, she wasn't there and wouldn't know.

Russell says she has no great head for music so her not commenting on it seems perfectly natural for me.

"Art in the blood is liable to take the strangest forms."

I've often wondered about this...or perhaps we don't hear much of the violin playing from Russell's accounts since she is rather non musically inclined (to put it politely). Holmes not only played the violin as an extension of himself and his emotions, as SC pointed out, but also because he simply liked playing the violin. The man loved music. He'd return home from a concert and immediately sit down with his violin and rework the masterpiece. During those times, it wasn't an emotional issue, he just loved music.

Perhaps he's just not concerting as much in his later age or perhaps he says in London after attending concerts. Dear lord if Holmes forgoes music...*shudders*

[AbiG]

My own answer is limited to the Russell books, each of which I have read at least three times apiece. BEEK is, of course, best-loved. I picked up the book from a shelf of miscellaneous paperbacks (not even mystery!), read the first sentence of chapter one, and that was that.

O Jerusalem is a very close second. I'm surprised it isn't as popular. Who can resist Ali and Mahmoud?

[vicki]

Hi and welcome to the VBC, Abi! I'm with you on OJER--Ali and Mahmoud are terrific characters. How did you find out about the Russells? If you haven't tried LRK's non-Russell books, you have quite a treat in store--the Martinelli series and the standalones are excellent, too!

And there are some fun discussions here in the VBC where we trade recommendations on what to read until the next LRK book comes out (which is 12/26/07, btw--the on-sale date for Touchstone! Wooohooo!). If you get a chance, come by and tell us what you're reading now (http://laurierking.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=62). :)

[TraceySK]

Like many of you, I find it very hard to pick just one favourite, but there are a couple of standouts, both exploring the British Empire's reach in the post-WWI era. The intricacies and intrigue of the post-colonial era are used as the setting in both O Jerusalem and The Game. The autheticity and historical detail are astounding. Of the two, the latter ranks slightly higher, only for my own interest in the British Raj, its end and influence.

[vicki]

Hi, Tracey and welcome to the VBC! It's great to have you on board!

The Raj really is interesting, isn't it? I was always fascinated with the opening sections of The Secret Garden as a child--that uncomfortable mix of a familiar culture and a strange one was interesting to read about. In later years, I enjoyed A Passage to India (the film, unfortunately have not read the book), Kim and The Game.

[ladyrothschild]

Hmmm favorite LRK....I have to say that I have not read any of her other works aside from the Mary Russell Novels. I have heard of the other titles, but usually find more reading material on the bedside table. (I have a list of books to read and I will add her further titles to this list).

I would have to say that 'A Monstrous Regiment of Women' is my favorite. But of course Beekeeper's is next as it is the introduction. What draws me to AMROW, is that Mary comes of age and I find many similarities to her in this book such as writing papers, university life, being aloof, keeping company with older people, thinking quite outside the box.

I find that when I get depressed or need some time away, I throw in my bag a Russell Novel, everytime. I find that they relieve stress and tension...does anyone else find this similar?

cheers

Jen

[tangential1]

I find that when I get depressed or need some time away, I throw in my bag a Russell Novel, everytime. I find that they relieve stress and tension...does anyone else find this similar?

For sure:) I invariably picked up Beekeeper's Apprentice at the beginning of every finals week. Kind of like a security read.

[vicki]

The Russells are great comfort reads for me. They restore my equilibrium in times of turmoil We could have a whole thread on comfort reads, I think! Little Women and The Secret Garden are another of my two favorite CRs. :)

[KarenB]

Oh, girlfriend - my two favorite books from fifth grade or so! Still remember getting in trouble for sobbing about Beth . . .

I was baby-sitting my baby bro and Mom came home and assumed something horrible happened. Now, of course, I can see her point of view.

[Carlina]

There's a sequel to the Secret Garden! Oh my! *adds to list of books to read* This is joining the Enola Holmes series by all means!

I went back and redid MOOR recently. I still say its my fav Laurie book hands down. There's so much happening in that book. When we get to discussing it be prepared for long posts from me :) or :eek: depending on how you look at it. I also have numerous issues I'd love to bring up with our humble author about it because I wonder if something were intentional or not. I see MOOR as an onion with numerous succulent layers...well perhaps a bloomin' onion (makes it more edible). There is just SO MUCH happening in that book. To me its really a clever masterpiece and insightful glimpse into Holmes and Russell....

[VictoriaMisselthwaite]

Vicki... have you ever read Susan Moody's Misselthwaite?? It's been a long time since I have, and it's suppose to be the sequel to The Secret Garden. It's... an experience.... educational.... different.... If you don't wish your enjoyment of TSG tainted.. I don't recommend it. http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/m/susan-moody/misselthwaite.htm

OK, so I'm not the Vicki you addressed this to, but you can probably guess from my screenname that I love The Secret Garden, though I didn't read it until after I'd heard the Lucy Simon musical [which I must admit, I prefer, but the book is still a favourite], when I was quite grown up...and I've heard of the sequel, and now that you've reminded me, I'm even more curious!

Little Women was another favourite of mine, which I actually did read when I was supposed to!

And...now that I've got my copies of Letter of Mary and The Moor, I'll be rereading those soon, and I'm sure gaining new appreciation!

[Kiyomi]

There is a musical of 'The Secret Garden'? What was it like? I had no idea!

And you will love Letter of Mary and 'The Moor'

[Carlina]

There is a musical of 'The Secret Garden'? What was it like? I had no idea!

And you will love Letter of Mary and 'The Moor'

Oh I've got the musical somewhere...dang it...its in my CD bin! It's delicious. I loved it! I've had it since I was a teenager and really like it. Not that that helps any, but it is good. You may want to check on itunes or amazon to see if its available. It's worth it. :)

[Kiyomi]

I'll have to give it a try. I am very into musicals and plays, currently my husband and I are rehersing for 'Social Security'.

[VictoriaMisselthwaite]

There is a musical of 'The Secret Garden'? What was it like? I had no idea!

And you will love Letter of Mary and 'The Moor'

The musical is absolutely amazing! There are a few liberties taken, the biggest example is that Dr. Craven is not Archie's cousin, but his brother Neville, who was also in love with Lily, but it doesn't detract at all from the basic story...and to me, enhances it...

I saw it performed in London in 2001, starring Philip Quast, who is a favourite performer of mine...that recording is available, but perhaps harder to find than the original broadway cast, starring Mandy Patinkin, who is also very good.

There are various clips from various productions to be found on YouTube...I recommend the song, Lily's Eyes, which is the first thing I heard from the Secret Garden in any form [as far as I could remember at the time]!

[tangential1]

I saw it performed in London in 2001, starring Philip Quast, who is a favourite performer of mine...that recording is available, but perhaps harder to find than the original broadway cast, starring Mandy Patinkin, who is also very good.

*rae* Mandy Patinkin?? As in "You killed my father. Prepare to die."?? On Broadway??

[Kiyomi]

If I remember correctly Mandy Patinkin is one of those actors that crosses back and forth between stage and screen on an irregular schedule. :)

[tangential1]

It always throws me when TV or movie actors show up on Broadway. Like when Lucy Lawless did a summer production of Grease:eek:

Granted in this case, search results show that he actually started on stage and moved to screen, but it is still shocking.

[Kiyomi]

I don't keep up on whose on Broadway too much but David Hyde Pierce is currently staring in 'Curtains' and the gal who played Lilith on Cheers and Fraiser also does a lot of Broadway shows, if I remmeber correctly both of them went to Juliard and their first home was the stage not TV. I think more and more actors are starting to go both ways, especially people who start off in plays and musical theater going into TV spots.

[VictoriaMisselthwaite]

*rae* Mandy Patinkin?? As in "You killed my father. Prepare to die."?? On Broadway??

LOL...yeah! Actually, as far as I know, Patinkin was on Broadway long before any of that TV stuff! First I'd heard of him was on the original broadway recording of Evita as Che...

...it kind of weirded me out seeing him *not* singing! ;)

[Canzonett]

My all-time favourite is definitely O Jerusalem, because this book simply has it all: A unique atmosphere, a fascinating country in an era of change, memorable characters, a stirring plot ... I remember that I was prepared for disappointment when the book came out, because I wanted to read more about Russell and Holmes as wife and husband, not jump so far back in their relationship. Boy, was I wrong. The most re-read of my LRK books.

[kriddle]

My all-time favourite is definitely O Jerusalem, because this book simply has it all: A unique atmosphere, a fascinating country in an era of change, memorable characters, a stirring plot ... I remember that I was prepared for disappointment when the book came out, because I wanted to read more about Russell and Holmes as wife and husband, not jump so far back in their relationship. Boy, was I wrong. The most re-read of my LRK books.

I'm right there with you! OJer. is my fav as well. You pretty much hit the nail on the head with reasoning. My second in line is The Game. Probably for the same reasons.

[joycartwright]

My favorite is O Jer also for the same reason mentioned above. I also liked Justice Hall. They are my favorites so far. I still have to read Locked Room and then I will be finished with the Russells until the new one comes out. I did reread BEEK after I read Justice Hall to refresh my memory. I just finished reading The Game.

[Pat Floyd]

Of the Russells, BEEK and LOCK, are my favorites for companionship. I most admire OJER and JUSTICE and find them also great to return to. In making this analysis, I realize that there is little in this series I dislike: Mary's undercover role and the banality of the villains in LoM and the pathology of the maharaja in GAME.

In the Martinelli series, I find FOOL most intriguing, CHILD great for developing relationships, and AoD an entertaining and fascinating merging of the two series. I have read NIGHT only once and didn't like it as much as the others. A re-reading may give me a different take on it.

Of the stand alones, I haven't read Califa's Daughters and am only part way through Keeping Watch. I do like Folly and Touchstone./I] They are so different it's hard to make a choice.

I hate [I]A Darker Place. I'm not sure why this book gives me such a strong sense of foreboding, dread, and revulsion and makes me want to cry out, I hate it, I hate it, I hate it.

[NauticalAcronym]

I havn't read any of the standalones or the KM series - yet. I think that I am just so in love with Holmes and Russ that I'm not ready to put them down :o
So far, BEEk is probably my number one fave. When I read it... I don't know how to explain it. I get excited about it and there is something about it that makes life seem good and fresh. Gosh, I'm too romantic for my own good :P
My second fave would be MREG and my third would be MOOR.
There are very few books that make me laugh out loud and these certainly did that.
It's actually kind of funny how I found the MR books. I was at a second hand bookshop when I was in grade 10(?) about there anyways, and I was looking through the mystery section. Then I saw BEEK, battered and shoved between some other novels. I pulled it out and started reading some of it in the store. I remember thinking "I have to come back for this!" because at the time I had no money to buy it. Well, when I went back it was gone! I searched for it and even after I had scowered every part of the store I would find myself occasionally scanning the area I had found it in just in case I had missed it.
Well, some time went by and I found MOOR in my school library, but, unfortunatly, was not able to appreciate it. I read through a small section of it and felt as though I had missed out on something really big between Russell and Holmes. I just couldn't finish it.
Grade 11 and 12 went by and I found myself in that bookshop, perusing the mystery section once more when my eyes fell upon O'Jerusalem. I was wary. Would I be able to appreciate it without having read the first book? Would I get it? I wasn't sure. Well, I purchased it and read it eagerly. It was amazing! Once I moved to Montreal, I went to the store and picked up BEEK and moved on from there. I have not read them all yet, but I certainly will ^_^
OH MY! Sorry for the long post that was mostly off-topic. I shall now depart :P

[tangential1]

Awesome story Nautical! I for one always love to hear how people came to the Russell series. Each story seems to be a bit different. Thanks for sharing!

[alina]

I have been reading through the series one more time; the last time I perused these novels seriously was at least two years ago. I am only just beginning Justice Hall again, but I suddenly realized the depth of MOOR.

I admit, the last time I read MOOR was back in the 90's, right out of 9th grade. And thank God I picked it back up again! I am just beginning to realize the peculiar rough-hewn flavour of the piece, its excessive quirkiness in comparison to the first three. Going through two and some years of college after a brief hiatus traveling parts of Europe helped, I think, broaden my sense of humour to include this little gem of a novel.

I believe the duo of BEEK and MREG will always be my favourite--I consider them one book in two volumes rather than two separate works--but I now have a new-found appreciation for a novel that I had once believed to be sub-par for an LRK work. Silly childhood me!

[Strawberry Curls]

Don't be so hard on yourself, Alina. Good to hear from you again, BTW. I read the Kanon when I was 58 and thought MOOR was the weak book of the series. Then I read and reread all the books again and I slowly (I'm a slow learner) discovered what a rich and wonderful book MOOR really was. It has more humor than the other books and really shows us the married Russell and Holmes, their partnership in life and in detection. I really love MOOR now. --Alice

[Pat Floyd]

Alina and Alice,
I still have trouble with MOOR, not the people and the story, but the atmosphere I get plunged into. I may carry something over from "The Hound of the Baskervilles." I need to reread it only when all is sunny within and without.

[JTACorwyn]

I confess I cannot pick a favorite.

I've read them all, most of them 4-5 times, and each time I'm just as pleased as the first, minus of course the thrill of any first read.

I find it particularly telling that they have not decreased in quality throughout the series'.

Any of you who've not read Touchstone, BTW, it's really great. I'm hoping it will not remain a "stand-alone" for long.

Still pacing the floor, awaiting April,