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3.4 AVERAGE
3.4 AVERAGE
The Kinsey Millhone stories, which comprise the first three quarters of the book are fine. Well, except maybe for the one written for a Lands End catalog, which is okay. I especially enjoyed the Kit Blue stories at the end, written after the death of Sue Grafton's alcoholic mother. She apologizes in the prologue for her self-centeredness at the time, but I find them very appropriate. Having lived with someone who is chemically dependent, I imagine that writing these stories was very cathartic, and I found them very moving.
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was OK. Grafton's short stories are a lot like Lawrence Block's with just a hint of Patricia Highsmith. Enjoyable but none of the texture or the character development that draw me to fill-length Kinsey Millhone novels.
Having read all the way through ”V” in the Kinsey Millhone alphabet series, I discovered that this collection of short stories existed and since all of the stories take place prior to “W” (and since I tend to be a completest) I decided to go ahead and read this volume as well.
The book is divided into two parts. The first part contains nine stories of Kinsey’s investigative adventures and I found them to be quite focused and pretty enjoyable reads. They aren’t as fun as the novels because there is nothing of the larger group of co-characters that make the novels so entertaining; nothing from octogenarian Henry, or Rosie or Kinsey’s estranged family. They are short straightforward whodunits almost in the style of a Hercule Poirot short story. None of them are necessary to read for the enjoyment of the larger series of novels, as they stand alone completely. They do vary in tone, however, from serious to near-whimsical crimes/criminals but I thought all of them were pretty fun reads.
Not so with the second half of the book. Here we find 11 “stories” from a character named Kit Blue who is reportedly a younger version of Sue Grafton herself. I use the term “stories” loosely because they are more like autobiographical observations on life with alcoholic parents and dealing with her mother’s death. There are no plots per se, more like essays on the over-arching darkness. Taken as a group, they do provide insights on Sue Grafton, as well as why the character of Kinsey Millhone is the way she is. And they are certainly well-written pieces. But enjoyable reading…not so much.
So I am granting four stars for part 1 and two stars for part 2 (being generous) rounding out to three stars for the book.
The book is divided into two parts. The first part contains nine stories of Kinsey’s investigative adventures and I found them to be quite focused and pretty enjoyable reads. They aren’t as fun as the novels because there is nothing of the larger group of co-characters that make the novels so entertaining; nothing from octogenarian Henry, or Rosie or Kinsey’s estranged family. They are short straightforward whodunits almost in the style of a Hercule Poirot short story. None of them are necessary to read for the enjoyment of the larger series of novels, as they stand alone completely. They do vary in tone, however, from serious to near-whimsical crimes/criminals but I thought all of them were pretty fun reads.
Not so with the second half of the book. Here we find 11 “stories” from a character named Kit Blue who is reportedly a younger version of Sue Grafton herself. I use the term “stories” loosely because they are more like autobiographical observations on life with alcoholic parents and dealing with her mother’s death. There are no plots per se, more like essays on the over-arching darkness. Taken as a group, they do provide insights on Sue Grafton, as well as why the character of Kinsey Millhone is the way she is. And they are certainly well-written pieces. But enjoyable reading…not so much.
So I am granting four stars for part 1 and two stars for part 2 (being generous) rounding out to three stars for the book.
I enjoyed the Kinsey stories a lot. The "Me" portion were wonderfully written but dark - they were a fictional biography of sorts I believe.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Of some interest if you really love Kinsey Millhone and, therefore, her creator and alter ego, Sue Grafton. The nine short stories that comprise the first half of the book star an early formulation of Kinsey. This Kinsey lacks the rebellious spirit, contrarian voice, and reprehensible diet of the novels. She's not very funny and not very entertaining. The plots are so insubstantial you forget the story after you turn the page.
The last half are the stories of ACA Sue -- they are, as Grafton herself explains, the stories she wrote to help herself understand her alcoholic parents. Her memories are sharply detailed and well told. But I skimmed through these sad, rambling pages and turned the last one with a sense of relief.
The last half are the stories of ACA Sue -- they are, as Grafton herself explains, the stories she wrote to help herself understand her alcoholic parents. Her memories are sharply detailed and well told. But I skimmed through these sad, rambling pages and turned the last one with a sense of relief.
This one was hard for me. I am about as big of a Grafton fan as anyone else I've found and I generally devour any of her ABC books. I didn't at all love this one - in fact, it took me over a year to read it becaue I found it so easy NOT to come back to.
here's what I liked:
it was obviously intensely personal. Grafton uses it as a way to try to fill her readers in on her background and life story, but uses the character of Kit to do so. I admire her courage in doing this.
What I didn't like -
I did not like any of the short stories (the Kinsey section). I think what I learned, through reading this one, is that what I really like about her novels is the very rich plot and character development. This is absent in a short story. I'd feel like it was just develping and, viola, Kinsey woule solve the case, and I'd be left wondering how. Not fulfilling at all.
I also found the "me" section very difficult to read. Not difficult because of tough subject matter (though it is) but difficult because it was BORING. There is a chapter where she basically lists inventory of everything in her mother's closet. I couldn't come up with a reason for that. I'm guessing she was explaining her grief process - but still, it was in painful detail.
So, I'm not sure how I would advise anyone on this one. Liek any of her works, it is, of course, very well written. But, if you are a Grafton purist, you may want to borrow this before you buy it to see if it is for you.
here's what I liked:
it was obviously intensely personal. Grafton uses it as a way to try to fill her readers in on her background and life story, but uses the character of Kit to do so. I admire her courage in doing this.
What I didn't like -
I did not like any of the short stories (the Kinsey section). I think what I learned, through reading this one, is that what I really like about her novels is the very rich plot and character development. This is absent in a short story. I'd feel like it was just develping and, viola, Kinsey woule solve the case, and I'd be left wondering how. Not fulfilling at all.
I also found the "me" section very difficult to read. Not difficult because of tough subject matter (though it is) but difficult because it was BORING. There is a chapter where she basically lists inventory of everything in her mother's closet. I couldn't come up with a reason for that. I'm guessing she was explaining her grief process - but still, it was in painful detail.
So, I'm not sure how I would advise anyone on this one. Liek any of her works, it is, of course, very well written. But, if you are a Grafton purist, you may want to borrow this before you buy it to see if it is for you.