Rita Mae Brown's "Sister Jane" mysteries

[Lady_Eboshi]

Are you a fan?

I ADORE these. Love that the protagonist is a vibrant, fully in command older lady and that SOMEONE still understands the Old Ways of the countryside and respect for the animals we share our sports and lives with. But then I’m a Gordon Grand nut, too.

Here or there the author forgets to hide her perspective within the characters when she wants to make a point, and she was called out on some shameless product placement a few years ago, but the horse/hound/fox/hunting meat of the story all rings true and is a delight. LOVE the commentary from the critters, and there are enough plot twists that I usually don’t see the denouement coming.

Just about to open her latest, no spoilers please!

[SmartAlex]

I adore Gordon Grand and have all his books. I could discuss his writing at length.

I enjoy Sister Jane. I really liked the first one and the second was fun. Third I enjoyed… then she began to lose me. I’m now behind by a few installments. (Jeeze I was just looking down the list and I don’t remember if I read #7 )

Have you read Jan Neuharth?

[Lady_Eboshi]

Yes! She’s very good, too!

[lizathenag]

I have read them all and will continue to in spite of the preachyness.

love hearing the hounds talk…and speak.

[Coreene]

COTH’s own Kryswyn is featured in a few of the Sister Jane novels

[Griffyn]

I often think “what would Sister do”-- I agree with all the above posters. For someone who wrote Rubyfruit Jungle–establishing RMB as a singular voice of her time/generation… its fallen pretty far. But they are so readable. and I have a certain fondness for them, and am pretty attached to Sister and her doberman. She did really give that character a voice and I hope Sister lives to be 100. Here’s to the new book!

[fjordmom]

Am really enjoying the reads (and so is non-horsey DH.) Recently had the opportunity to hear Rita Mae speak as a guest at the Michigan Writers series. What Fun!

She’s even more to the point than Sister Jane, opinionated as all get up, smarter than the devil, and soooo funny. We had a blast! It sounds like she doesn’t leave her farm often, but if you ever get the chance to go to an event such as this, don’t miss her. Even if you don’t enjoy all her politics or opinions she is fabulous to listen to!

[CarrieK]

[QUOTE=Lady Eboshi;7856062]
Are you a fan?[/QUOTE]

Have them all. Every fall I listen to them on audio books. (I’ve even bought a couple audio books off ebay).

[CarrieK]

@SmartAlex;7856103

I adore Gordon Grand

Off to google. brb

Have you read Jan Neuharth?

I’ve read all of hers. More suspensey/mystery-y than horsey. Not saying that’s a bad thing, just different from RMB’s.

[CarrieK]

[QUOTE=Griffyn;7856580]
I often think “what would Sister do”-- I agree with all the above posters. For someone who wrote Rubyfruit Jungle–establishing RMB as a singular voice of her time/generation… its fallen pretty far. But they are so readable. and I have a certain fondness for them, and am pretty attached to Sister and her doberman. She did really give that character a voice and I hope Sister lives to be 100. Here’s to the new book![/QUOTE]

I think that’s the difference between novel and genre writing. Genre writing is lighter, non-demanding, or not too demanding, entertaining, and maybe a bit educational.

I think that’s why her genre mysteries get bad marks, so to speak, for being political or preachy; that’s not what genre readers generally want.

[Lady_Eboshi]

[QUOTE=CarrieK;7862029]
I think that’s the difference between novel and genre writing. Genre writing is lighter, non-demanding, or not too demanding, entertaining, and maybe a bit educational.

I think that’s why her genre mysteries get bad marks, so to speak, for being political or preachy; that’s not what genre readers generally want.[/QUOTE]

That’s the truth. When writing genre fiction, especially series books like these, it’s a lot more important to give the reader what they expect (which is also what they want) than to try and force-fit “big ideas.” Though I’m not quite as bothered by her occasional “preachiness” IF it stays in character; one might certainly expect a strong personality like Sister Jane to have any number of strong opinions.

Where that falls apart, however, is if it is OUT of character and the author’s voice is no longer subsumed (therefore invisible) within her creation. THAT is a faux-pas most people work out of in writing group let alone commercial editor, so when it happens with a writer of RMB’s caliber I chalk it up to sloppiness on someone’s part.

None of which will cause me to stop reading these, of course.

[BAC]

I love the Sister Jane series, but didn’t realize there is a new one out until I saw this thread. One of my favorite Rita Mae Brown books is Riding Shotgun and I also adore her Sneaky Pie Brown series too.

[CarrieK]

:: casts an evil eye at “some people” in this discussion ::

There are no Gordon Grand books in the library system.

Therefore, I have purchased.

I hope you’re happy, you evil enablers.

[pAin_t_Misbehavin]

So y’all help me out here. I just read the last one, and somewhere in there it says Sister Jane’s maiden name was Overton. I could’ve sworn an earlier book said she was an Overdorff before she married Big Ray. Anybody else remember? Or care?

Off to google Gordon Grand now.

[SmartAlex]

[QUOTE=CarrieK;7863671]
:: casts an evil eye at “some people” in this discussion ::

There are no Gordon Grand books in the library system.

Therefore, I have purchased.

I hope you’re happy, you evil enablers.[/QUOTE]

You’ll like them. Which one did you get? He put out 7 books I think. They are collections of short stories, all related. They all have duplications, but certain books have a larger collection. You can also find selections of his in the Derrydale Press hunting collections.

ETA: If you enjoy the Edwardian Era hunting stories, you can get David Gray’s three books on Google Play.

[CarrieK]

I got “Colonel Weatherford and his Friends,” a used first edition, 1933. Sight unseen, but as long as it’s not too scraggly I’ll be happy.

[QUOTE=SmartAlex;7863854]
:
ETA: If you enjoy the Edwardian Era hunting stories, you can get David Gray’s three books on Google Play.[/QUOTE]

Dammit!

:: glares ::

off to JFGI; brb

[CarrieK]

:: pondering ::

[CarrieK]

@pAin't_Misbehavin';7863695

So y’all help me out here. I just read the last one, and somewhere in there it says Sister Jane’s maiden name was Overton. I could’ve sworn an earlier book said she was an Overdorff before she married Big Ray. Anybody else remember? Or care?

:: pondering ::

[pdq]

LE - Thanks for the reminder of Brown’s latest book. I could use some light reading fare. Just downloaded an electronic copy to my tablet to enjoy tonight while curled in my favorite wingback chair next to the wood stove with the dogs snoozing at my feet and a cup of hot chocolate with a big dab of whipped cream at my elbow as the 20 degree winds howled outside not at all bothering the heavily blanketed horses, plump with delicious grass from their the day in the winter grazing pastures, now snoozing in their nightime fields safely tucked in their warm run-in sheds.

Life is good.

[Lady_Eboshi]

:yes: