Thursday, November 5, 2020

The Murder Room by P. D. James - BOOK BEGINNING

 



I know it is now Nonfiction November but I don't think nonfiction is going to do it for me this month. Are you reading nonfiction in November?

Mysteries seem to be the only thing that engages my brain these days. I'm trying to read a Nabokov novel, Bend Sinister, which has a mysterious title but is no mystery. Although it's killing me! I get though about ten pages each night before the words are swimming and I'm snoring. 

I'm having much better luck with P. D. James's The Murder Room, which I'm reading with my ears. I have no trouble paying attention, even to the audiobook. P D. James always builds the story up layer by layer and they are never rip roaring thrillers, but they are always well-written and completely engrossing. This one is no exception. I love it.


BOOK BEGINNINGS ON FRIDAYS

So let's play Book Beginnings! Please share the first sentence or so of the book you are reading this week or a book that caught your fancy. Share the link to your post below. 

If you don't have a blog but posted on social media, leave a comment and explain where we can find you. Please use the #bookbeginnigns hashtag to make it easier. If you just want to play along here, leave a comment with the opening sentence, name of the book, and the author. 

MY BOOK BEGINNING

From The Murder Room by P. D. James:

On Friday 25 October, exactly one week before the first body was discovered at the Dupayne Museum, Adam Dalgliesh visited the museum for the first time. 

All P. D. James mysteries are set in some version of a "locked room" type closed community -- a hospital, a publishing house, a religious seminary. It's a sophisticated twist on the Golden Age, Agatha Christie style country house mystery where the cast of characters literally ends up in a locked room with the detective forcing a confession in the final scene. 

YOUR BOOK BEGINNING

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THE FRIDAY 56

Freda at Freda's Voice hosts another teaser event on Fridays. Participants share a two-sentence teaser from page 56 of the book they are reading -- or from 56% of the way through the audiobook or ebook. Please visit Freda's Voice for details and to leave a link to your post.

MY FRIDAY 56

Coming out into Harley Street, he decided to take a taxi to Hampstead Heath station and walk across the Heath past Hampstead Ponds and the viaduct to Spaniards Road and the museum. He found himself mentally summing up his life with a detached wonder that fifty-five years which had seemed so momentous could have left him with so meager a legacy.

This teaser is a good example of the layering. She introduces each character in such detail! This is from page 56 of the hardback edition, which I had on my shelf. There was no dead body until 35% of the way into the audiobook. 
 


8 comments :

  1. Hi Gilion,

    The classic, 'Golden Age' authors certainly had a style of descriptive narrative and dialogue, which I can really relate to and enjoy.

    I have read one or two P.D.James books, however I generally tend to make a choice between reading a series, or watching the screen versions, as I find that one often spoils the other. With the 'Adam Dalgliesh' series, I was an avid screen fan.

    However, as the televise series was on many years ago now, who knows, I might catch up with the books again one day!

    Agatha Christie is about the only author I made an exception for and have both read and viewed her stories avidly, for many years.

    Thanks for sharing and I hope that you enjoy(ed) the book :)

    Yvonne xx

    ReplyDelete
  2. I don't know how this new link works. I enter an image, click enter and done. When I come back to the web-site I click next and the procedure starts from the beginning again? I probably do something wrong, but don't know what.
    Anyway, my link is here: https://thecontentreader.blogspot.com/2020/11/book-beginnings-on-fridays-and-friday-56.html

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  3. PD James is always good. I like the beginning, gets you right into the book.
    I agree with you. In the beginning of the pandemic I could only read 'lighter' books, a lot of thrillers and detective stories. Now, I am back to reading a variety of books, a lot nonfiction for the moment. Yes, I am following Nonfiction November.
    Thank you for continuing this meme.
    Stay safe and take care!

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  4. I have been meaning to read P.D. James, and this one sounds like the perfect place to start.

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  5. I've heard great things about this author! Happy weekend!

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  6. I'm reading a YA nonfiction book for the month about how we got to the moon. I can pay attention to a few pages at a time, so it is working for me. With all the politics news intruding that is about all I can manage.

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  7. I am having such a hard time reading right now. I'm so anxious about this election. I do enjoy P.D. James and hope you are enjoying this book. Have a great weekend!

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