The Bishop and the Three Kings: A Blackie Ryan Mystery

Rating:
Summary: Oh why Cidasue ????
Review: I was very disappointed in this book. Not because of the content, it started out quit good and really caught my attention up to the moment when Cidasua started talking. As a foreigner and mysterylover I was unable to understand what she said. Since I donot know the dialect or language she was speaking I soon lost interest in the book. It took me too long to figure out what she was saying, and even now I donot know what she said. I read a lot of English books and pass them on to family and friends, so they can brush up on the English language, but this book I will not pass on. It would have been advisable to have her speak normal English , with a note that this was spoken in het dialect. The parts which I could understand I really liked and found it enjoyable to recognize places in Koelln, where I have lived myself for some years. Unfortunately I could not bring up the energy to finish the book, because of Cindasue's dialect. I guess I better buy this book in my own language,maybe I will understand it better and finish what I have started. I do wonder if there are Americans who also think like me on this subject?

Rating:
Summary: Loved it, mostly!
Review: This Blackie Ryan novel was truly entertaining, and is one of my favorites in the series. It's a good one to read around the Christmas holidays. I'll admit that Cinda-Sue's dialect can be a bit distracting, but I found her quite well-rounded as a character once he developed her a bit, and learned to live with her. Let's face it, we all have dialects, but few of us recognize it because most of those around us speak in the same way. I think Father Greeley uses dialects and slang as a means of helping his readers distinguish between characters. In his mysteries, there tends to be lots of characters with the same last names or similar chracteristics, so the dialects and slang are helpful identifiers for those of us who get a little befuddled about who is who after a few days away from the book. I just wish he would drop the "Like-Ohmigod!" valley girl talk he tends to give the virtuous Meaghans and any other teenage girl in his novels. I haven't spoken with a teenager who uses speech pattens like that since 1983. Keep cranking the Blackie Ryan novels out, Father Greeley!

Rating:
Summary: Loved it, mostly!
Review: This Blackie Ryan novel was truly entertaining, and is one of my favorites in the series. It's a good one to read around the Christmas holidays. I'll admit that Cinda-Sue's dialect can be a bit distracting, but I found her quite well-rounded as a character once he developed her a bit, and learned to live with her. Let's face it, we all have dialects, but few of us recognize it because most of those around us speak in the same way. I think Father Greeley uses dialects and slang as a means of helping his readers distinguish between characters. In his mysteries, there tends to be lots of characters with the same last names or similar chracteristics, so the dialects and slang are helpful identifiers for those of us who get a little befuddled about who is who after a few days away from the book. I just wish he would drop the "Like-Ohmigod!" valley girl talk he tends to give the virtuous Meaghans and any other teenage girl in his novels. I haven't spoken with a teenager who uses speech pattens like that since 1983. Keep cranking the Blackie Ryan novels out, Father Greeley!

Rating:
Summary: Blackie Visits Germany
Review: This was an intriguing plot, and the various church leaders were interesting. Frankly,I am tired of Cinda Sue! I hope she is not in future books. Her "mountain girl" talk is too much for me.I have lived in the South and known many Southerners but they do not sound like her. I especially was interested in the exsoldier priest,who mourned the death of his wife. Blackie is delightful, as usual.

Rating:
Summary: Blackie Visits Germany
Review: This was an intriguing plot, and the various church leaders were interesting. Frankly,I am tired of Cinda Sue! I hope she is not in future books. Her "mountain girl" talk is too much for me.I have lived in the South and known many Southerners but they do not sound like her. I especially was interested in the exsoldier priest,who mourned the death of his wife. Blackie is delightful, as usual.