tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1591679994751212734.post7233401794993097909..comments2024-03-24T06:32:13.194+13:00Comments on Crime Watch: 'Twas the night before Bouchercon...Kiwicraighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11687089028299093360noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1591679994751212734.post-79053398294293395712009-10-18T16:30:17.748+13:002009-10-18T16:30:17.748+13:00you should just get yourself invited to the Melbou...you should just get yourself invited to the Melbourne festival Vanda!<br /><br />You're right Steve - a San Fran Bouchercon is certainly more accessible for us Kiwis - pretty simple (and often cheap) flight direct from Auckland...Kiwicraighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11687089028299093360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1591679994751212734.post-73281413644184089702009-10-17T17:33:03.107+13:002009-10-17T17:33:03.107+13:00I'm thinking about going to next year's B-...I'm thinking about going to next year's B-con. It's in San Francisco.Stephen Rosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05594368159220033291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1591679994751212734.post-63937223568652986322009-10-17T14:57:40.908+13:002009-10-17T14:57:40.908+13:00It's when we hear about great festivals like t...It's when we hear about great festivals like this that I lament being soooooo far away. Sigh.<br /><br />My only consolation is I hear the Melbourne Festival often has a great Crime Writing presence, so maybe I'll have to treat myself a little hop across the ditch to that one year.Vanda Symonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09956034768397598056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1591679994751212734.post-40432699502822037452009-10-16T09:18:39.488+13:002009-10-16T09:18:39.488+13:00I just finished NINE DRAGONS as well Maxine, and I...I just finished NINE DRAGONS as well Maxine, and I love Connelly - he's up there with Billingham and James Lee Burke as my fave crime writers/writers I think are at the top of the tree, but I have to say I was a little (just a little) disappointed with Nine Dragons. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed the read, but (particularly in the early stages) I found myself going 'hmmmm...' about some of the dialogue and description - it just seemed less smooth and fresh than normal for Connelly... there seemed to be a lot more 'tell' than show, about what characters were thinking/feeling - and spelling out things that could have been evoked through a telling detail here or there... it seemed uncharacteristically a bit 'huh?' for Connelly. <br /><br />Overall, still a very, very good book - but I guess for me he's set such high standards, that I thought some of the actual writing in the early parts didn't shine as much as it usually does with him. Storylines were great though, and a much more personal story for Bosch. I liked the detour to HK (which some fans might not like), and the shift in direction of the series with the more personal story - but I was thinking before I read it that it could be the arguably the best book i read this year - and i finished thinking it was very, very good, but not one of his very best... <br /><br />Having said that, I'd go to Bouchercon just to see him... still an all-time fave...Kiwicraighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11687089028299093360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1591679994751212734.post-86166207798886671752009-10-16T07:47:46.491+13:002009-10-16T07:47:46.491+13:00I'm headed to Bouchercon in a matter of hours....I'm headed to Bouchercon in a matter of hours. This will be my first and I'm very, very excited. I'm looking forward to meeting many of my favorite crime fiction writers and fellow readers. I can't wait to meet Libby Hellmann, Tom Schreck, Kelli Stanley, Jane Cleland, Andy Gross and so many more. Michael Koryta I have seen at events a number of times. I live in the Cleveland area, which is where Michael sets his books. And I won a HOT TICKET to be in a small session with Michael Connelly. Who could possibly ask for a better weekend?Jen Forbushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13325129568512353951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1591679994751212734.post-44766963003756760732009-10-16T07:41:21.287+13:002009-10-16T07:41:21.287+13:00Brass Verdict for Best Novel and Girl w Dragon Tat...Brass Verdict for Best Novel and Girl w Dragon Tattoo for best first novel. Win-win! I heard Michael Connelly at Crime Fest in Bristol this year, and he was just fantastic! Hard to describe it without going into hyperbole alert. Have just finished Nine Dragons - well up to usual standards.Maxine Clarkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06628509319992204770noreply@blogger.com