World Mysteries and Thrillers discussion

We are thinking of changing how we show are books. It will be by the Country
by author. Ann will be putting the first countries down. We have 3 Ann's or Anna's probably more, but this one is just a member of our group, and an author. Thank you Ann for the start.

Am I the only GRs member getting confused that there are so many very similar groups and in fact discussing the same books! Is there any merit in discussing joining or merging some? Just curious.......

Sharon wrote: "Am I the only GRs member getting confused that there are so many very similar groups and in fact discussing the same books! Is there any merit in discussing joining or merging some? Just curious....."

I often wonder the same thing. I'm thinking that if groups used lists more for book challenges that there would more built-in cross references to groups and readers, rather than scattering them across various unrelated group postings. I'm not sure though; there might need to be some experimentation...

P.J. wrote: "Sharon wrote: "Am I the only GRs member getting confused that there are so many very similar groups and in fact discussing the same books! Is there any merit in discussing joining or merging some? ..."

I have gotten the impression that random groups are created without looking to see if there is a like category as so many are very similar! Even in name... That and the serious edition variation really needs some administration monitoring and editing IMHO.

When I created this group, I searched and searched and there wasn't one like this before. There was the Scandinavian Crime and Nordic Noir groups, and those are still awesome.
But I wanted one for the whole world...

Which when it has grown has created new challenges.
Yes, stuff by countries will be awesome.
And stuff by genre would be good too, no? Like if in mood for some noir, one doesn't want to end up reading a cozy and vice versa.
And is there so much author stuff now that the READERS spontaneous "hey I want to come here to talk about a great book or to find what I might like next" gets repressed?
The readers are who the group was created for in the first place.

Thank you Ann for the by country idea and starting it.

And everyone, please share your thoughts. I started a new thread in General, about New horizons. Please share your insights :)

I like the country/genre ideas

Sharon wrote: "Am I the only GRs member getting confused that there are so many very similar groups and in fact discussing the same books! Is there any merit in discussing joining or merging some? Just curious....."

Agreed. But focusing on international mysteries makes this group at least somewhat singular.

Sorting by region makes sense to me. As in:
(1) the 'setting' of the book, first
(2) the country where the book was written, second (gambling that the book is *about* the country where the author lives)
(3) finally, the author's own ethnicity

I don't know that any GR groups are all that keen on merging themselves into other groups...but I have made a 'sister group' thread to keep track of these. All it takes is for members of group to reach out to each other and talk logistics.

I've kicked the butt of this bookshelf. That's all I have to say. Whipped it into submission! :D

You've done what others only hinted about. You have our thank you praises.

Cool. I like that!

p.s. I had no idea Scandinavia is leading the world in murder-mystery writing these days.

It was done with Stieg Larsson and Jo Nesbø.

but, over 250 books! how can these dull, barren, frigid countries have so much murder? where is all this hot-blooded passion coming from? I thought all that elk-herding men in Lapland and Finland ever did, was booze themselves into early graves?

Speaking of murder in Lapland, there'sForty Days Without Shadow. The author is French,but the setting is Lapland. Fascinating novel!

Feliks wrote: "but, over 250 books! how can these dull, barren, frigid countries have so much murder? where is all this hot-blooded passion coming from? I thought all that elk-herding men in Lapland and Finland e..."

They have 20 times that number because they haven't had them translated yet. We have several translators as members and they also translate other books such as German, Italian, etc.. Nele Neuhaus as an example, love her books.

My goodness. Those Nordic peoples love their murder stories lately, huh.

Iceland Noir......Shetland Noir....
http://www.thebigthrill.org/2015/05/q...

Quentin Bates on the Shetland Islands’ first crime fiction festival

Feliks wrote: "My goodness. Those Nordic peoples love their murder stories lately, huh."

You put 40 duplicates on the bookshelf. You can see them under duplicates under More Books. Not complaining just a note.

Hmmm, how'd that come about. Maybe a translation issue? Something to do with editions? I remember adding 'complete' series for someone like Jo Nesbo, who was mentioned in the group description. Wanted her to be complete. So every title that wasn't already 'grayed out' (included on a shelf) I added. So..hmm..

Thanks!

Ah I see what happened. Why does Goodreads list a book once as NOT part of a series and once AS PART of a series?

I had the people at the Moderator Support Group add this to the bookshelf because sometimes the book is under two names. i.e. Jussi Adler-Olsen for example.

Yeah...once under the translator's name and once under the author's name? I was about to report it to Goodreads as a glitch. You want it left this way?

Feliks wrote: "Yeah...once under the translator's name and once under the author's name? I was about to report it to Goodreads as a glitch. You want it left this way?"

You should try taking off the duplicates.

Yipeeeee...

Louise Penny
Are you ready? This is so exciting for me. The new Gamache book is called: A GREAT RECKONING.
It's a line from Shakespeare: It strikes a man more dead than a great reckoning in a little room (a veiled reference to the murder of Christopher Marlowe)
A GREAT RECKONING will be released on, or about, August 30th. You can pre-order now through your local library or bookstore. Here's a link to help.
http://www.criminalelement.com/…/the-...-…

LOOKING FORWARD to another good read from Peter May. Scotland. Hebrides. I'll Keep You Safe. Jan 11th, 2018...

Currently enjoying a return to Valencia and inspector Max Camara with the new Jason Webster in the series, FATAL SUNSET....

Ken wrote: "You should try taking off the duplicates...."

Hello all. Whew this is an old thread. Well I did as Ken suggested and the bookshelves are duplicate-free. I think the shelves we built to house all these diverse titles have stood up pretty well. You can easily find something in the realm you're looking for. If anyone spots a mis-categorized title, just let me know.

Haven't been doing much lately around here...busy IRL...also, I think that all of Goodreads' groups are 'hidden-under-a-bushel' since they changed the site design. No one's chatting much out there anymore. But I'm usually hovering around in case someone need something or has a question...

Feliks wrote: "Ken wrote: "You should try taking off the duplicates...."

Hello all. Whew this is an old thread. Well I did as Ken suggested and the bookshelves are duplicate-free. I think the shelves we built to..."

Good for you...thanks.

Sharon wrote: "Currently enjoying a return to Valencia and inspector Max Camara with the new Jason Webster in the series, FATAL SUNSET...."

Excellent series. I've just spent a month in Valencia, and now that I know this attractive city rather well, I feel like rereading the earlier books.

Feliks wrote: "p.s. I had no idea Scandinavia is leading the world in murder-mystery writing these days."

Feliks wrote: "Cool. I like that!"

Ummm, and I just found out Japan has a HUGE amount of mysteries but for some reason IF their publishers do any translations they go for Chinese first. I have an author friend over there very frustrated with this. Not sure they are doing much self-pub because that is where there tends to be authors who has said enough is enough and hire a translation on their own. Dare I say it...if it were but known, Japan might give Scandinavia a run for their money. And, by the way, remote, cold, not much to do...perfect settings from an author standpoint for setting mysteries.

Feliks wrote: "Ken wrote: "You should try taking off the duplicates...."

Hello all. Whew this is an old thread. Well I did as Ken suggested and the bookshelves are duplicate-free. I think the shelves we built to..."

Yes, not chatting out there much. Do you believe this to still be the case? Why do you think that is?

Moribund silence is endemic to all groups on Goodreads these days.

Been going on ever since they altered the site's page presentation style to de-emphasize group pages and instead, accentuate 'status feeds' which is an engine to drive Amazon sales.

I moderate 6-7 groups (action, thriller, etc) and even there, there's only a coo from a lark or an intermittent creak from a pair of grasshopper legs--once in a fortnight.

In response to this, I can only hope people are actually reading more; spending more time away from the site altogether. And I've accordingly scaled back all my former energetic moderator duties.

It makes no sense to beat-the-gong, to ring-the-dinner-bell for folks if no one's actually around to hear it...

Feliks wrote: "Moribund silence is endemic to all groups on Goodreads these days.

Been going on ever since they altered the site's page presentation style to de-emphasize group pages and instead, accentuate 'sta..."

While I don't comment very often, I do read the comments.

Wonderful to see the brand new Louise Penny downloaded in the night to my iPad and all other devices! Looking forward to some quality time in beautiful Quebec reading GLASS HOUSES.

Meanwhile reading the last Peter Robinson, DCI Banks book SLEEPING IN THE GROUND. Rather a confusing 24th book in the series to those of us that read the series and also watch the good tv films made of the books.....and as usual a tad overly descriptive but good reading.

Feliks wrote: "Moribund silence is endemic to all groups on Goodreads these days.

Been going on ever since they altered the site's page presentation style to de-emphasize group pages and instead, accentuate 'sta..."

IMHO be a little grateful for this as I get sometimes five emails in a morning about a discussion of this and or that that I truly don't understand the hype over it! So it can truly go both ways ...just saying!

Like Thomas, I appreciate the comments even though I contribute rarely. But I understand Feliks's frustration: unless people actually shows signs of life, it is hard for contributors to know whether their efforts are appreciated.

Thomas wrote: "Feliks wrote: "Moribund silence is endemic to all groups on Goodreads these days.

Been going on ever since they altered the site's page presentation style to de-emphasize group pages and instead, ..."

Aye. Thank you. I suppose the lesson reinforced here is: not to drive tent-pins in sand. The 'www' is the most fluctuating and insubstantial of mediums.

Communities flicker and fade with the tap of some lackey's keyboard.

You've seen it happen just recently with IMDB's forums. A massive user-base ...extinguished. Years of lore accrued, gone. By official pronouncement.

We are their dupes! We are their fools! For believing in their assurances!

Eventually all Goodreads user-groups will vanish entirely. It's just not profitable; and in the western world, we all know that profit rules with an icy hand.

We must bide our time --enjoy our time--in crumbs, grains, mites, iotas, and granules...

Felix, you are a poet! I am in Greenland on a land tour.