by Susan Albert (read August 2006)This is the first in a cozy mystery series featuring China Bayles, an ex-lawyer turned small town herbalist. I enjoyed this book and will, no doubt, read more in the series. I don't usually figure out who the killer is, but this one I had it pegged with a third of the book left. There were still interesting twists and turns that made it pleasurable reading.
About rating systems: They need to be qualified. I giving this book a 4 out of 5 rating, but that's a 4 in cozy mystery terms which is not necessarily the same thing as a 4 in good literature terms. That's to say that this book is better than a lot of mysteries and it's provided a 4's worth of reading enjoyment, but I would not put it on the same level as Animal Farm which I would also rate as a 4.
Does that make any sense? I guess I'm trying to say when it comes to books comparisons seem to be between apples and oranges, not apples and apples.
12 comments:
Hi Booklogged,
Yes, it all makes sense.
Just that I was thinking if you reviewed my first novel (adults) once I succeed in getting it published, I'm going to be shivering, just thinking of the rating.
lol.
Have a great weekend, by the way.
My goodness, you read quickly! I wish I could keep up. :-)
Your rating system makes perfect sense, but I'm glad you clarified, all the same.
I love the quirkiness of the main character of this book leaving the profession of law to become a small-town herbalist. It sounds like a great story. Do all the books in the series have an herb in the title (ie: thyme)?
Thank you for adding me to your blogroll. I've added you to mine as well.
Susan, I expect to love your book as much as I do your other writings. Save the shivers for winter!
L.M., I looked at the other books in the China Bayle series - some have herbs in the title and others don't. This is a fun site that lists the books in order, provides recipes, talks about herbs, etc.
http://www.mysterypartners.com/China/
I accidently left my heartfelt comment on your August 2 blog. Hello, what kind of blogger am I? I'd been flipping through your posts, and I love every one. I can tell we feel the same way about books.
I understood you rating system analogy. It's kind of like when the doctor asks how bad you pain is on a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the worst pain you've ever felt). When I try to figure out where my current pain is on that scale, I leave out the pain I felt when I had my lung surgery because I think that's on a scale of it's own. I imagine that childbirth will be on that scale also, and not on the doctor's measly 1 to 10 scale.
Yes, that makes perfect sense. I was just thinking similar, when I finished Promise Me by Harlan Coben earlier this week. I gave it a 5/5 because I could hardly bear to put it down, but it's not the same as the 5/5 I gave to The Book Thief, which was simply an incredible read and very plausible. Sometimes it doesn't matter that you can't set your skepticism aside or that a book isn't brilliantly written, provided it's entertaining enough.
I love your blog, btw. I'm not sure how I found it so I'd better bookmark it or I'll forget how to find you!
bellezza, found your comment, thank-you.
aly, that's a great analogy. You are so right on with it.
bookfool, I need more hours in a day and less distractions, too. The two books you mention are two that I need to read.
I always rate books on a 1 to 5 based solely on my enjoyment of the book. It doesn't matter how well-written, great analogies, thought-provoking, etc, etc if I don't enjoy the read. So I love the China Bayles series but didn't care for Poisonwood Bible . . . although I am willing to try it again . . . someday . . . in the distant future. BTW, I have six of the China Bayles books so you can borrow them. At least the three I've already read. Most of mine have herbs or seasonings in the title, but I'm pretty sure all the books are named after a plant.
framed, would love to borrow those. Have your already read Witches' Bane and Hangman's Root?
I was lucky enough to attend a lecture that SWA gave at the Charlotte Herb Guild back in the spring, where she talked about herbal lore and the different things that inspire her books. I'll be curious to read her 'book of days' once it's published.
Lesley, what a fortunate event. I'm jealous!
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