Because, um, I've never read Three Men. And still quite enjoyed To Say Nothing. And keep thinking I should read Three Men, and then re-read To Say Nothing, and haven't, yet.
Heh - meara is me.
I'll be fine. I'll be your bounty, Jubal Early. And I'll just fade away.
River ,'Objects In Space'
Literary Buffistas 3: Don't Parse the Blurb, Dear.
There's more to life than watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer! No. Really, there is! Honestly! Here's a place for Buffistas to come and discuss what it is they're reading, their favorite authors and poets. "Geez. Crack a book sometime."
Jessica - May 26, 2008 4:30:02 am PDT #5910 of 28359
And then Ortus came and said "It's Ortin' time" and they all Orted off into the sunset
Steph L. - May 26, 2008 8:08:17 am PDT #5911 of 28359
this mess was yours / now your mess is mine
You'll need French if you read Busman's Honeymoon, which comes after Gaudy Night. Sayers assumed her readers were as smart as her.
Well, dang. But I enjoy being ignant.
Latin and Oxford traditions, plus French.
Oh, for fuck's sake.
I'm so confused. I didn't realize To Say Nothing of the Dog required so much prior reading!
I'm thinking I need to go back to school before I attempt to read Sayers.
I'm right there with you both. Man!
See, I'm now envisioning this broad-based liberal arts curriculum whose capstone experience is getting to read To Say Nothing of the Dog.
Right??? I'm glad Bellwether didn't presuppose a whole semester's worth of reading. I mean, hell, I read a LOT; just not the proper background material, apparently.
Dana - May 26, 2008 8:11:14 am PDT #5912 of 28359
I'm terrifically busy with my ennui.
Well, it's not like you *need* French or Latin to read Sayers, because I managed just fine, despite only having a slight knowledge of both.
And it's easy enough to start with the Harriet books and go back later to read the earlier books, because they're generally...not as good (but still fun). There's a pretty clear development of Sayers as a writer.
Steph L. - May 26, 2008 8:12:45 am PDT #5913 of 28359
this mess was yours / now your mess is mine
But Gaudy Night isn't even the first Harriet book, right? I do prefer to read a series in order, Anita Blake notwithstanding.
Dana - May 26, 2008 8:13:23 am PDT #5914 of 28359
I'm terrifically busy with my ennui.
No, Strong Poison is the first one.
Amy - May 26, 2008 8:15:45 am PDT #5915 of 28359
Because books.
I always have to read a series in order. It bugs me on so many deep, completely neurotic levels if I don't.
Ginger - May 26, 2008 8:15:48 am PDT #5916 of 28359
"It didn't taste good. It tasted soooo horrible. It tasted like....a vodka martini." - Matilda
None of it is necessary, per se. It's just more fun because Willis is making jokes and allusions to other literature.
Susan W. - May 26, 2008 8:16:55 am PDT #5917 of 28359
Good Trouble and Righteous Fights
The Harriet books, in order, are Strong Poison, Have His Carcase, Gaudy Night, and Busman's Honeymoon, and IMHO should be read in order. I'd also read Murder Must Advertise after Have His Carcase, even though Harriet isn't in it, because IIRC that's where it falls in the chronology, and it's a fun read.
brenda m - May 26, 2008 8:18:19 am PDT #5918 of 28359
If you're going through hell/keep on going/don't slow down/keep your fear from showing/you might be gone/'fore the devil even knows you're there
I'm not a Sayers fan and won't be reading more of those, so I guess I'll just have to live with missing something of "To Say Nothing...".
Susan W. - May 26, 2008 8:21:06 am PDT #5919 of 28359
Good Trouble and Righteous Fights
Well, I couldn't get into Three Men in a Boat and still managed to love To Say Nothing of the Dog.