Wednesday, January 26, 2022

Calendar of Crime - January / The Nine Tailors

For my January book. I chose 4. - the New Year's category. The Nine Tailors by Dorothy L. Sayers begins with Lord Peter Wimsey and his manservant Bunter going off the wintry road into a ditch.They walk until they come to Fenchurch St. Paul.

It was past four o'clock and New Year's Eve; the snow that had fallen all day gave back a glimmering greyness to a sky like lead.

I bought a lovely used copy years ago. I have been meaning to read it in January, prompted to do so by Gladys Taber whose housemate Jill read it every year in that month. From Stillmeadow Sampler:

Jill, of course, reads Dorothy L. Sayers' The Nine Tailors again, although she almost knows it by heart now.

And from Stillmeadow and Sugarbridge, concerning which one book to take to a tropical island:

Jill would take Dorothy L. Sayers' The Nine Tailors and just reread it every few days.

I enjoyed the small parts of the book which focused on a dotty vicar and his long-suffering and much-loved wife. However, I simply cannot say that I liked the book. The main subject is campanology, which is bell-ringing. Sayers is clearly very knowledgeable on the subject, but this reader could not understand it at all! I felt like I was reading an unknown language. And the locale was so dismal and depressing that I couldn't stand being there, even if in the pages of a book! The villagers for the most part seemed as miserable as the locale.

I watched The Nine Tailors many years ago, and my memory of it is that I just didn't get what was going on. I felt sure that if I read the book, all would become clear. But, no. The book is well-thought of, and highly praised, but I  cannot add my voice to the throng.

7 comments:

  1. Well, this is not one I've read, but I say - on to the next book! Right? I see you're reading the lovely 4:50 From Paddington on your Kindle. I love that one!

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    1. After reading Cath's post, I just HAD to read it again!!

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  2. I'm shocked--first of all that now I again once again comment here! Second that you didn't enjoy the 9 tailors. I loved it, but then Sayers is my favorite mystery author and Lord Peter by favorite detective, and I've always been fascinated with change bell ringing even though I miserably even failed at auditioning for the simpler bell choir at church. I found out I don't follow reverse image very well at all. I remember Gladys writing that! And that she read the Forsyte Saga every few years, which I adored the first few times I read it but haven't been motivated to get it off the shelf the last decade.

    I see that you're reading The Tender Bar. Are you enjoying it? We watched the movie the other night and were so glad we watched it. Is the book even better?

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    1. Hooray, that you can comment!
      You are definitely in the majority about TNT! It seems to be much loved.
      I read TFS last year and really loved it.
      I just finished TTB, and I told Tom it is one of the best books I have ever read! I bought it because I wanted to read it before I saw the movie, but I don't think I will watch it because the book is so perfect to me!

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    2. Nan,you probably would be disappointed with the movie after loving the book. I on the other hand know I have a treat ahead of me with the book to read. I must be sure to find it now after reading your comment about it.

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  3. Although I have not read this book, I know what you mean about the dismal locale and miserable villagers. When the setting and cast of a story is so that I can not connect to it, the book does nothing for me.

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    1. That is sure what happened to me! Even Lord Peter couldn't save it for me.

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