I love P. D. James. What I really enjoy about her writing is the time she takes in developing the character of the murder victim(s). By the time the title character, Rhoda Gradwyn, is killed, the reader sees her as enough of character for there to be a loss. This doesn't really mean that the reader likes the victims, but that sense of something being lost because of the death is there, making the death more real. James takes time to develop this, something not many authors do. All the characters are well done, and the class background that exists in other James' novels is here as well. While I'm not entirely sure that the subplot involving Clara and Annie was needed, it doesn't take away from the book itself and is minor enough that it doesn't intrude. We see more of Emma, and the report of the wedding seems more apt than being presented the wedding itself. The report fits Adam and Emma more. I loved the concluding paragraph of the novel. I also loved the Terry Pratchett mention.
Chris' Fish Place
Thoughts on things, mostly books.
I love P. D. James. What I really enjoy about her writing is the time she takes in developing the character of the murder victim(s). By the time the title character, Rhoda Gradwyn, is killed, the reader sees her as enough of character for there to be a loss. This doesn't really mean that the reader likes the victims, but that sense of something being lost because of the death is there, making the death more real. James takes time to develop this, something not many authors do. All the characters are well done, and the class background that exists in other James' novels is here as well. While I'm not entirely sure that the subplot involving Clara and Annie was needed, it doesn't take away from the book itself and is minor enough that it doesn't intrude. We see more of Emma, and the report of the wedding seems more apt than being presented the wedding itself. The report fits Adam and Emma more. I loved the concluding paragraph of the novel. I also loved the Terry Pratchett mention.
