On a scale of 1-5 stars, with 5 being the best, ho do you rate The Interpretation of Murder?
*
0%
[ 0 ]
**
14%
[ 2 ]
***
21%
[ 3 ]
****
35%
[ 5 ]
*****
0%
[ 0 ]
Didn't finish it - gave up
21%
[ 3 ]
Didn't read this one
7%
[ 1 ]
Total Votes : 14
Author
Message
Tigerlily Administrator
Joined: 22 Jul 2006 Posts: 7637 Birthday: 7th July
Location: Shropshire
Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2007 10:58 am Post subject: November Book Choice - The Interpretation of Murder
Discuss your thoughts on the book here as soon as you have finished reading it. Did you (not) enjoy it? Anything that struck you or maybe someone else can answer if you have a question? We're not really looking for in depth discussions...just tell us what you think of it!
For those who have finished it, please choose a star rating for the book based on how much you liked it. What did you think of it? Do you have any questions based on the book?
If you do have something to post that reveals plot details which could ruin others' enjoyment of the book, please use the spoiler function (details: http://onlinebookclub.myfreeforum.org/about12.html)
D
_________________ Reading: Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow by Peter Hoeg
Reading Challenge 2009: 8
2008: 4
2007: 10
Last edited by Tigerlily on Thu Nov 01, 2007 11:59 am; edited 1 time in total
I read this a couple of months ago. Gave it 3 stars because it was a good read but very "intellectual". The lengthy philosophical and psychological descriptions were quite boring.
Probably expected more and was disappointed. _________________ sarita
Going to try and read this one this month although it's not my usual type of read. I hope I can finish it!!!! _________________ Swap List: http://tinyurl.com/33pg6r
Currently Reading "Switchcraft" by Lowri Turner
Have thought about reading this one for a while so looks like I'll be reading it this month. _________________ Currently reading: Adept
Please have a look at my swap list here or here.
I'm afraid I gave up on this one quite some time ago. Will be interested to read all your thoughts on it. _________________ Currently reading: The Tent The Bucket and Me by Emma Kennedy and Granny The Pag by Nina Bawden
1001 Challenge Books read in 2009 - 3
1001 Challenge Books read in 2008 - 8
1001 Challenge Books read in 2007 - 13
Joined: 22 Aug 2006 Posts: 381 Birthday: 16th February
Location: Upper Largo, Fife
Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2007 3:55 pm Post subject:
I found an almost new copy of this in a charity shop for 85p Don't feel so bad about buying them that cheap _________________ Currently reading: Man in the Dark by Paul Auster
Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Posts: 459 Birthday: 22nd April
Location: Devon
Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2007 8:32 am Post subject:
This really has to be of the most over-rated books I have recently read. Whilst the overall plot is relatively interesting, the outcome is extremely predictable.-and for this reason I certainly wouldn’t class it as a riveting crime thriller.
I was also disappointed that Freud/Jung seemed almost superfluous to the plot. Although I know very little of their work, I had hope to have some explanations and examples of their theories. However, whenever the duo appeared ,the author assumed reader knowledge of their work, and I found myself skimming through the very sections which I had previously imagined I’d find most interesting! The continual references to Hamlet, also grated after a while.
Whether “real” or fictitious, the characters were dull, almost two dimensional, and I had very little interest in their fate. The only character who came over a sympathetic, was Younger, and I wonder if the novel would have succeeded more had it been based around his life! The female characters were dreadful-either mad or prostitutes, and portrayed very negatively, with the possible exception of Nora.
The descriptions of New York were perhaps the most interesting aspect of the book, and the ongoing construction of the city gave the book it’s one true spark of energy and interest. I had high hope for this novel, as it sounded intriguing, but I just couldn’t get engrossed in the plot or the characters.One strategy or another would have made for better reading-psychological novel incorporating Freud(and Jung if absolutely necessary!), or murder mystery in it's own right. The combined text/fiction structure effectively weakened what could have been a very clever and interesting novel. By trying to appeal to a diverse audience, Rubenfield took a huge gamble, and one for me which didn’t work.
However, I’ll be interested to see what his next novel entails, as I do think he shows promise, as seen in the socio-historical detail, in which the book excelled.
(I gave it two stars) _________________ Currently reading,
"The Mathematics of Love", Emma Darwin
Joined: 10 Oct 2007 Posts: 538 Birthday: 12th November
Location: In the Land of Pies and Piers
Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2007 9:26 am Post subject:
Once I have finished plodding through White Teeth....does this book EVER get interesting ??
I'll then start TIOM.....can't say that will be much more riveting either.....
I'll save the latest Diana Gabaldon as a treat for when both are finished ....
Have this one TBR so will be reading it - soon.... _________________ Currently reading - The Italian Boy - Murder and Grave Robbery in 1830s London - Sarah Wise
I'm with Elaine on this one - I read it a while ago, but I was incredibly disappointed. It held me for the first third - sort of an interesting idea, a bit different, interesting New York and psychology detail. But the further I went, the sillier it got: the tying up of ends at breakneck speed towards the end was downright ridiculous. Very, very disappointing. _________________ Currently reading: American Wife - Curtis Sittenfeld
Joined: 22 Aug 2006 Posts: 381 Birthday: 16th February
Location: Upper Largo, Fife
Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2007 11:33 am Post subject:
So, this turned out to be not as bad as I expected. Its not really the sort of ting I normally go in for. I gave it 3 stars. Here's why:
Spoiler:
There were a lot of characters but I thought they were very believable, and the imagery of New York was good. Most of the characters seemed to have what we'd probably call 'issues'
I thought the psychoanalysts and Triumvirate storylines were a bit of an aside. They really only served as a way of bringing Stratham Younger into Nora Acton's life. They didn't really seem relevant. I found a lot of the psychology stuff a bit silly to be honest and often wished we could just get on with the whodunnit
I'm sure the real Triumvirate were nowhere near as villainous as the ones in this book but the opinions they express in the story are genuine an as a neuroscientist myself I understand why they held them. There would have been a danger at the time, when both neuroscience and psychology were relatively young disciplines, of one trampling over the other. Nowadays thankfully we're alot more circumspect. Some disorders that have behavioural symptoms have physical causes unrelated to any childhood traumas or suchlike. I've got no psychology training but I pray that it has advanced from Freud's sex-based theories And I'd be really interested to know if Carl Jung was really so out of his tree (to use the scientific term ) in real life???
I loved the hidden passageway bits - it made it seem like a good old-fashioned murder mystery to me. I confess I didn't expect the first murder to be a hoax or that Clara Banwell was the real instigator of it all. Although George Banwell's going along with it just marks him as another baddie. Harry Thaw was a red herring in the end. I'm surprised that Nora got off since she was party to the whole thing. I had very little sympathy for her - her parents were admittedly vile so she earns points there.
If this book hadn't had the irritating Oedipus thing and continual Hamlet references running all the way through I might have liked it more. Overall its not bad and I would read another of this author's books. _________________ Currently reading: Man in the Dark by Paul Auster
I have decided not to read this one. It doesn't really sound like my sort of book so I am going to give it a miss (even though it is actually on my TBR )
Joined: 10 Oct 2007 Posts: 538 Birthday: 12th November
Location: In the Land of Pies and Piers
Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 10:52 pm Post subject:
I've really tried to like this book but I feel it has no real substance and doesn't hold my attention from one page to the next. This is my second attempt at reading it and I think I'm going to 'give up'....
Joined: 21 Jul 2007 Posts: 676 Birthday: 2nd November
Location: Watford, Herts
Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2007 9:36 pm Post subject:
I have started this one and so far am enjoying it. I'm only 70 pages in though! I like the descriptions of New York, the detailed descriptions of what people are wearing and the general decadence of the era we're in. Unfortunately I just don't seem to have any time for reading at the moment, Mel I'm trying to get through this to give it back to you so you can read it before the end of the month! I might have to give it back part read and borrow it back again when you're finished. I just don't know where my time goes these days..... _________________ Currently Reading:
Don't worry hun, you finish it first. I've got a lot of reading to catch up with at the mo anyway, because of Rach being poorly. If I read it next month, it won't be the end of the world! _________________ Swap List: http://tinyurl.com/33pg6r
Currently Reading "Switchcraft" by Lowri Turner
Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Posts: 459 Birthday: 22nd April
Location: Devon
Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2007 9:54 pm Post subject:
I'll post mine on if you want Mel? That way Heather can read it in her own time. _________________ Currently reading,
"The Mathematics of Love", Emma Darwin
I'll post mine on if you want Mel? That way Heather can read it in her own time.
Bless you Elaine but really don't worry. I really do have a lot to be going on with, so I'll just wait for Heather to finish with my copy. Thank you so much though
_________________ Swap List: http://tinyurl.com/33pg6r
Currently Reading "Switchcraft" by Lowri Turner
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Don't feel so bad about buying them that cheap 
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