I thought that the male butler was the one who got his nose scratched. As I think back on it, it was probably the Dowager Duchess dabbing the iodine on his nose. Or on Franklin's nose. Or maybe it was the butler who needed to go to the dentist and he had no cat trauma whatsoever.

I think I need to reread Busman's Honeymoon. Eh, the weekend looked all rainy and non-outdoorsy anyway, so why not?

All your Harriet Vane are belong to me.

You can have her, DX. My main response to her is "Get over it already, woman".

Well, yes, there are times I want to shake some sense into her, but long term she seems worth it.

If Harriet Vane had been me, Busman's Honeymoon would have taken place before Have His Carcase. And the latter would have been rather different. (Although I do love significant chunks of HHC, so it's probably just as well that Vane != me.)

Here I am with big stacks of books from both the libraries I patronize, and what am I doing? Re-reading the abovementioned books from my very own bookshelf. This morning I moved on to Gaudy Night, after lamenting that Have His Carcase has gone AWOL.

And I love the Dowager Duchess. And Bunter. And Chief Inspector Parker and Lady Mary. And Harriet, for that matter--in an "I know she's a Mary Sue, but dammit, I can identify with her, too" sort of way.

I just started "I Love Everybody and Other Atrocious Lies: The True Stories of a Loud-mouthed Girl" on recommendation from my cousin. Looks like prime beach material.

I loved the most recent BBC series doing Sayers' stuff.

But I remain resolute in my Ngaio Marsh love. And Troy Alleyn was never a Mary Sue in her life.

Have you guys read "Lord Peter", the short story collection? It has the two stories Sayers wrote of Peter and Harriet married, one where their first kid is born and one several years later.

our bookclub just selected The Night Inspector by Frederick Busch. Anyone read it and have thoughts?