Carpe Libris - The Where I've Been Edition

I know it's been a while since I've posted here but until I signed on Blogger today, I didn't realize that I hadn't blogged since I've been back from Wales.  But I have a good excuse.  A few good excuses, in fact. 

The first week I got back I was doing this . . .


Frederick Leighton - Flaming June
 

 

 Then I was busy doing this . . .

George Seurat - Farm Women Working
(I was working, but not on a farm.)

 



 And for the past four weeks I've been feeling like this . . .

 

John Everett Millais - The Death of Ophelia

OK, so maybe not as close to death as Ophelia but a lingering sinus infection combined with poison ivy and an upper respiratory virus had me sicker than I've been in four years. 

 

And although I didn't have enough mental or creative energy to blog, I did have the wherewithal to enjoy the Miss Fisher Murder Mysteries, courtesy of a recommendation from my dear friend Elizabeth.  A recommendation in which she said, and I quote, "Trust me as you have never trusted me before . . . "

Oh Elizabeth, I did trust you and I wasn't disappointed.  The clothes!  The music!  The murders!  What's not to love about Phryne (pronounced Fry-Knee for those who don't know their ancient Greek courtesans) Fisher? 

Well, the fact that there's only been one season of the series produced so far, as I learned after I'd finished watching all three discs in a matter of days-- days because I had to go the old fashioned route and get the DVDs from Netflix via the old fashioned USPS.

Even the covers of the Phryne Fisher
books are reminiscent of the
Nancy Drew covers of my childhood.

As I was looking up the series on IMDB to see when season two would be released I happened to notice that the Miss Fisher TV series is based on the series of Phryne Fisher mysteries by Australian writer Kerry Greenwood. And thus we get to the summer version of Carpe Libris. 

You may recall from last summer's Carpe Libris post, that I like to re-read the Mary Poppins series each summer. There's something about long hot days that make me yearn for the company of  literary heroines from my childhood.  After I'd finished reading the third book in Greenwood's series, I was struck at how much the Phryne Fisher books brought back memories of Nancy Drew. 

The first few books in the series are written on about the same level as the better Nancy Drew books (don't even get me started on the newer Nancy Drews where they say George's name is really Georgia-- I refused to read any more after that fiasco).  Fortunately, Greenwood"s writing and plots get more complex as the series progresses.  While many of the books I've read so far are those on which the TV series was based, there are enough changes in the subplots and characters that even when I recall who the murderer was in a specific story, the details have changed enough to keep me interested in reading to the end. 

One thing I especially love about both the TV and the books is the attention to detail.  Greenwood has a knack for  recreating the Melbourne of the 1920's and has evidently done copious research into the era that comes through in her writing, especially when it comes to describing Phryne's wardrobe and baths.  Yes, I said baths.  Miss Fisher is fond of her bubble baths and Greenwood's descriptions of scented soaks had me perusing the internet one night for hours on end trying to find chestnut blossom bubble bath. 

I didn't have any luck so I went and go my hair bobbed instead.  I'm about half way through the series.  Who knows what other actions Phryne will inspire in the future?  I'll keep you posted . . .