Thursday, May 08, 2008

FRIDAYS: Forgotten Books

FRIDAYS: Forgotten books:

Roseanna by Maj Sjowal and Per Wahloo

I picked this novel because it was the first in the Martin Beck series and the first of their books I read. But most of their novels would do equally well. The novels were intended to portray the decay of modern Scandinavian society from a left-wing vantage point and through the lens of the police procedural. Sjowall and Wahloo were husband and wife and the books step inside both Swedish society and the mind of police inspector, Martin Beck. As a twenty-something reader at the time, I had little knowledge of Sweden outside of Bergman movies—and this was something quite different.

In Roseanna, Martin Beck, a homicide detective with the Stockholm police force is stuck in a loveless marriage. Stockholm bureaucracy is similarly disappointing. This book introduces us to Beck, and follows his painstaking investigation into the rape, beating, and the subsequent drowning of an American tourist named Roseanna. Some critics think the team’s writing got better over time, but I think this is a damned fine first novel. The other nine will not disappoint either. Maybe not forgotten but…

Or try these some of these:

http://billcrider.blogspot.com/2008/05/forgotten-books-passing-strange-by.html

http://billcrider.blogspot.com/2008/05/book-you-have-to-read-assistant-bernard.html

http://therapsheet.blogspot.com/

http://deadman-r2.blogspot.com/

http://detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/

http://danielhatadi.blogspot.com/

http://eviljwinter.wordpress.com/

http://crimetimecafe.blogspot.com/

http://humanunderconstruction.blogspot.com/

http://keithraffel.typepad.com/dot_dead_diary/

http://www.womenofmystery.net/

http://asalted.blogspot.com/2008/05/dont-forget.html

http://crimealwayspays.blogspot.com/


http://socialistjazz.blogspot.com/2008/05/friday-forgotten-book-gary-jenningss.html

http://www.mysterybookspot.com/brianlindenmuth/fridays-forgotten-books-pt-3/

http://la-noir.blogspot.com/

http://noirwriter.blogspot.com/

http://eudaemoniaforall.blogspot.com/2008/05/forgotten-book-friday-fine-and-private.html

Please let me know if you’d like to recommend a book next Friday. I have only so many veins to tap. Most of these links won't be up until tomorrow and one or two might not turn up at all. Thanks and Happy Mother's Day.

15 comments:

Ello - Ellen Oh said...

Hi Patti! Congrats on the Derringer award! That is terrific news that I heard over at Josie's!

And I'm sorry I can't participate on forgotten books this week but hope I will be back next week!

pattinase (abbott) said...

Thanks so much, Ello. Anytime you have a book to talk about just let me know.

Todd Mason said...

Jumping in at the last minute, again, Patti...and Happy Mother's Day to you, as one and all, if we don't chat till after...

http://socialistjazz.blogspot.com/2008/05/friday-forgotten-book-gary-jenningss.html

Randy Johnson said...

I'll have to look this one up. I read The Laughing Policeman years ago, but I think that's the only one. At least the only one I remember anything about.

Peter Rozovsky said...

I've posted my choice here.
===================
Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/

Lisa said...

Sounds like another good recommendation. Bergman’s another one of my favorite film makers. I’m starting to think I must know you! I went for another Forgotten Favorite this week too.

pattinase (abbott) said...

Randy-How about doing a book next week?

Graham Powell said...

ROSEANNA was a great book, as are all of the Martin Beck books (I've read 7 of the 10). I liked the way Kohlberg, my favorite character, saved the day at the end.

Randy Johnson said...

I appreciate the asking. But I don't blog(I have just signed up, but am still fumbling, trying to figure it all out).

pattinase (abbott) said...

Graham-I also like the Nicholas Freeling series--especially the ones set in Amsterdam.

Steve Allan said...

Late to the party as usual. Here's mine.

Anonymous said...

Hello, I agree this is a wonderful book. I discovered it, and the series, via some posts at Crime Scraps last year -- it's a very good blog.http://camberwell-crime.blogspot.com/index.html

My reviews of the first two or three have appeared on Euro Crime (a great crime-fiction website of reviews, news and books by European writers).
http://eurocrime.co.uk/

very best wishes
Maxine.

pattinase (abbott) said...

Maxine-Thanks for the site. Can't wait to check it out. Would you like to do a forgotten book for me?

Kerrie said...

This is an intersting thread Patti and I look forward to catching up with the next recommendation.

I've only read 2 Maj Sjowall and Per Wahloo books: ROSEANNA and THE MAN ON THE BALCONY. I gave each a high rating and really must look for some more.
Colin Watson is someone I hadn't read until last year Now I've read and can recommend
HOPJOY WAS HERE
LONELYHEART 4122
CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME
THE FLAXBOROUGH CRAB

Kerrie said...

Thanks for the inspiration - I have since written a post called Forgotten Books (Crime fiction that is)