New Books

I am excited because I have just ordered some new mystery books from my wish list. I am looking forward to their arrival.

I am interested in reading more of the early detective fiction so I have been trying to find recommendations for books to read. These are but a few from that list.

I wanted to read The Rector of Veilbye (first published 1829) by Steen Steensen Blicher but I could not find it easily available in an English translation. Instead I have got:

• The Diary of a Parish Clerk and other short stories, (DPC first published 1824), S Steensen Blicher

- One of  the short stories included is the Rector of Veilbye, and I will get to sample some of the author's other works too.

I have also acquired:

• L'Affaire Lerouge (first published 1866),  Émile Gaboriau (published in English as The Widow Lerouge)

• The Leavenworth Case (first published 1878), Anna Katherine Green

-  I noticed the author mentioned in Dickson Carr's 'The Locked-Room Lecture' in The Hollow Man. He referenced Initials Only but I decided to get The Leavenworth Case as this is an earlier work of Green.

Finally, I got:

• The Moonstone (first published 1868), Wilkie Collins

- It is taking me so long to read The Woman in White, that I think it will be a little while before I get around to reading this.

Libraries and Wilkie

Third Floor JB Morrell

Working at the York University Library (JB Morrell library) again today. There are a range of different work zones here:

• Silent zone
• Amongst the book cases where no noise is allowed
• Quiet zone
• Nearby some of the book cases but not deep amongst them (as the silent zones), where noise must be kept to a minimum. I am in a quiet work area for I fear the tap-tap-tap of me writing on my laptop would perhaps be a distraction.
• Studious Buzz Zone
• Meeting rooms that are apparently for groups of students work together. The rooms have flat screen TVs and points for you to connect your laptop to them so you can share it. They remind me of the types of meeting rooms that I have seen in modern business offices.

I noticed that you are able to bring hot and cold drinks in lidded containers and cold food into the library quiet zones. This was not a luxury that we were allowed when I was at University. I find it a great improvement.

Quiet Zone

I am really impressed with how modern the library is. It appears to incorporate the advances in technology with computer rooms available and power points at desks to allow for laptops to be used. It seems an easy step into the world of office working. In fact, some may be disappointed if they end up working in a more 'basic' office as it would be a step down from what they are used to here!

I have started Wilkie Collins', The Woman in White. It is a long book with notes to keep referring to so I imagine it will be a little while before I can post my review here. It has been quite engaging so far though so I am sure it will be worth the wait.