Crime, Mysteries & Thrillers discussion

I read this book last year and really enjoyed it. I look forward to some interesting discussions about this book.

I won this book a few months ago. It's now at the top of my pile, and I'll start reading it as soon as I finish what I'm reading now.

I've read one other book by Ron Rash and love his writing. The book, , isn't a thriller or mystery, so it will be interesting to see this in

Jenni wrote: "I picked up this book from the library yesterday. However, I have started on my Ian Rankin book that I bought last month and it's such a cracking read i don't want to go to another one without fin..."

You have all month. If the Ian Rankin book is that good, you'll finish it in plenty of time. Plus, THE COVE is a short book, especially the paperback. It contains two fewer chapters than the hardcover, kind of like a Reader's Digest version.

Because I won't be able to begin this group read on the 1st because I'll be otherwise occupied that day, I introduce THE COVE today with my concern. That is, some readers might make the mistake of thinking THE COVE, although beautifully written, does not qualify as a mystery/thriller. It does, and it's my favorite kind of mystery/thriller: literary. Others have said this, too.

OPRAH magazine said, "Calling The Cove a thriller may be cheating. It's a book that could be a literary novel or a mystery or a thriller...or maybe it's all three." (My note: I don't know if "cheating" is the right word. I'd say "misleading.")

And ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY agrees: "The Cove isn't just an elegant work of literary fiction, written in a voice that's hauntingly simple and Southern; it's also a riveting mystery."

I call this book literary mystery/thriller. Ron Rash writes like a poet (because he IS a poet). And mystery begins in the prologue. Then, another mystery makes us forget about that one.

Although I have already experienced Ron Rash's writing in his book SERENA, I have not read THE COVE. I just began last night and have read only three chapters so far.

Please be careful about spoilers. It's disgusting enough that most book reviews, which I tried to read in preparation for this group read, include spoilers.

If any of you have already read or begun to read THE COVE, do you see this book as mystery as well as literary?

Jenni wrote: "I read literary fiction anyway; like short stories too. So I will like it either way if it is good."

I read literary fiction anyway, too. But I want to be sure that others agree that this literary fiction also qualifies as mystery/thriller.

I picked this up on audio from the library last night. I'll probably start it next week sometime. It should be a quick read - only 5 discs

I'm as angry as can be with the way so many book reviewers write reviews.

As I said in an earlier post, in preparation for this group read, I read some reviews of this book. I knew better than to do that because I don't like being told the story before I read it. But I thought if I just skimmed, I'd be safe. Wrong

This book contains two main mysteries. The majority of the reviews I read spoiled one of them. So now I'm enjoying THE COVE less than I would have if I had been allowed to discover the mystery myself.

Has anyone else had this problem with this book?

If you write book reviews (as I do), are you careful not to reveal the story (as I am)?

Most reviewers think it's important to summarize the story. But I want to discover the story AS I read it, not BEFORE I read it.

I think it's important for a review to give an opinion of the book, not to summarize it. Agree?

I agree with you, Beth. When I write reviews I never include spoilers. I give my opinion and use some information from the story.
However, in book discussions I've been involved in on Goodreads we do include spoilers so that we an discuss the details of the book. Perhaps one of the moderators should post a "how to hide spoilers" thread so no one sees those details until they've finished the book. You just click on the "some HTML is ok" at the upper right of the comment bubble.

Carol wrote: "Perhaps one of the moderators should post a "how to hide spoilers" thread so no one sees those details until they've finished the book. You just click on the "some HTML is ok" at the upper right of the comment bubble."

Coincidence: I just sent a message to Jenni to ask her how to do that. You have a great idea to post it so that everyone can hide spoilers. Thanks.

Jenni wrote: "I agree that a review should not have spoilers, but in book discussions like this the sole idea is to go into detail about the characters, the plot, and the literary quality.

I shall put a post ab..."

Of course. I didn't say that because I thought it went without saying.

Jenni wrote: "I shall put a post about how to use spoilers in our info thread ..."

I can't find the info thread, so I guess I'll just try it without directions. I can always delete if it doesn't work.

I have a question that sort of includes a spoiler, so I'm going to try to hide the spoiler even though I don't know how. Here goes.

At one point in the story, (view spoiler)[Jenni and Hank and Walter are sitting with neighbors on their front porch. They are sharing some homemade brew. But Hank does not share it with Jenni. Jenni knew that wasn't because she is female. The implication is that Hank does this for the sake of the superstitious belief the others have about sharing the drink with her. But if Hank does not share that belief, why in the heck would he do this? (hide spoiler)]

Beth wrote: "I can't find the info thread, so I guess I'll just try it without directions. I can always delete if it doesn't work."

Never mind, Jenni. I figured it out.

Jenni wrote: "I haven't posted how to do it on the info thread yet, Beth. A quick guide put the tag

without the spaces before you start the text you want to hide.
And then the tag:

without the spaces after th..."

Thanks, Jenni. As you can see above, I did finally find where it was explained. So now I know how.

I finished reading THE COVE last night. Wow, what an ending!

I plan to write a book review, which will include a rant about the majority of book reviews telling the story so that readers can't enjoy discovering the story as they read the book. This is partiularly bad when the book. as in THE COVE, has mysteries.

I read a paperback copy of THE COVE. The paperback contains two fewer chapters than the hardcover and a couple fewer paragraphs. These all pertain to Chauncy, according to Ron Rash, making Chauncy a minor character in the paperback.

When I read about this, before I read the entire book, I felt cheated, like I was reading a Reader's Digest version. Now that I read the book, though, I'm glad. Chauncy is not just unlikable; he's also boring.

So who's reading the hardcover, and who's reading the paperback?

Have you read enough yet to have an opinion about Chauncy and about Rash's decision to delete chapters and paragraphs for the paperback?

I've got the hardcover version from the library, but I'm not far enough in to have an opinion on Chauncy. It seems odd to me that the book would be edited after being published in hardcover. What does that say about the editor of the book?
Was it really Rash's decision? Most authors would be quite upset to have their work revised in this way, wouldn't they? Especially after he already has a bestseller Serena.
Does anyone know what Rash himself thought about this?

Carol wrote: "Does anyone know what Rash himself thought about this?.."

I know only what I read in Rash's note at the beginning of the book. He says two chapters were deleted to make Chauncy a minor character, and if you want to know what they said, it's only necessary to look around you--there are Chauncys all over the place.

It would be interesting to find anything else he had to say about it.

It does seem unusual. Steven King did the opposite when he wrote THE STAND. He originally wrote it long, the editor deleted a bunch of it, and that's how it was published. Later they republished it as the length he originally wrote.

My "review" of THE COVE:

In the book THE COVE, the cove is a place where nothing good has ever happened to anyone who lived there. At this point in history, the end of World War I, can that be changed?

THE COVE begins with a mystery in the prologue, then soon after another mystery makes you forget about the first one.

Allow yourself to discover this mysterous story as it was meant to be discovered: as you read it. Don't read reviews. Don't even read the book flap or the back of the book until after you've read it.

And now my rant: most book reviewers spoil books. Most book reviews tell the story before readers gets a chance to read the book and discover the story themselves. Most book reviewers thereby steal the pleasure of reading.

THE COVE is an exceptionallly good book because it is mysterious. But I made the mistake of reading reviews of this book before I read it, and most of them revealed the solution to one of the mysteries. So I was deprived of the pleasure of slowly discovering the story as it was revealed.

If you don't make that mistake, you'll love THE COVE.

Thanks to Vera at luxuryreading.com for this book.

I just couldn't get into this one at all.

I just got this on e-book from the library, so I'm glad it's not spoiled.

Becky wrote: "I just couldn't get into this one at all."

So sorry to hear that. But that happens to me a lot, too. I read all these raves about a book, then when I read it, it bores me. I could name numerous bestsellers that I didn't like at all.

I'm a bit more than halfway into the book, and I'm enjoying the setting and the characters. I can now see why Chauncey could be "downsized" as a character in the paperback printing. I still wonder why it wasn"t done by the editor before the hardcover printing.
The writing sometimes reminds me of a rustic version of Pat Conroy who is one of my favorite American writers. I feel like I have a lot of mini-mysteries to unravel. What are Hank's plans? Who is Walter and what did he do to be on the run? What will happen to Lauren? What is going on with the cove? What about that first mystery we read about?
I'm finding plenty of reasons to keep reading.

Carol wrote: "still wonder why it wasn"t done by the editor before the hardcover printing...."

I wondered that, too. I think after the hardcover printing a lot of readers told them how boring the Chauncey chapters were, so they cut them. I don't know; I didn't read those chapters because I read the paperback.

Beth wrote: "I read a paperback copy of THE COVE. The paperback contains two fewer chapters than the hardcover and a couple fewer paragraphs. These all pertain to Chauncy, according to Ron Rash, making Chauncy..."

I have the kindle version/ 25 chapters, which I assume is the same as the paperback?
This is strange. Of course, the kindle version gives no extra info like you have on your book.

Connie wrote: "I have the kindle version/ 25 chapters, which I assume is the same as the paperback?
This is strange. Of course, the kindle version gives no extra info like you have on your book..."

I'll bet the kindle version is the same as the hardcover and has all chapters and paragraphs.

Beth wrote: "Connie wrote: "I have the kindle version/ 25 chapters, which I assume is the same as the paperback?
This is strange. Of course, the kindle version gives no extra info like you have on your book......"

no, my e-version (from the library) has the 2 less chapters and a note from the author explaining why he changed it (back) to his original vision.

What does he say, Bonnie?

I wish the darn e-edition would let me copy and paste, but here goes- Readers (of the hardback) will notice than 2 chapters and a number of additional paragraphs are not present---Instead I have returned to an earlier edition which----focused more on grief not grievances. This version focused more on ---- and returns Chauncey to a minor character. Should readers wish more of him, look around-----

Well I've now finished the book and I'm wondering if the ending is different. Chauncey was vital in how the story ended. I will be interested to compare endings with you, Bonnie!

Bonnie wrote: "no, my e-version (from the library) has the 2 less chapters and a note from the author explaining why he changed it (back) to his original vision."

You mean, for the e-version, Ron Rash put back the two chapters that he deleted for the paperback? I sure would like to read that explanation.

Of do you mean, Rash has the e-book and the paperback the same, both with two fewer chapters than the hardcover?

Carol wrote: "Well I've now finished the book and I'm wondering if the ending is different. Chauncey was vital in how the story ended. I will be interested to compare endings with you, Bonnie!"

I'm sure the endings are the same. But whoever read the hardcover, tell us how it ended but hide what you tell. I'll do the same, and then we'll know for sure.

I'm actually finding this quite slow going (on about page 70). It's interesting and well written but it hasn't really grabbed me. But I'll keep going because the comments so far have intrigued me and there might be a redemption before the end :)

Jenni wrote: "Beverley wrote: "I'm actually finding this quite slow going (on about page 70). It's interesting and well written but it hasn't really grabbed me. But I'll keep going because the comments so far ha..."

I suspect that the problem is that it's slow for readers who have read reviews of this book before they read it. The book isn't slow if you find it mysterious. The mysteriousness is what keeps the story captivating. But so, so many reviews of this book spoil one of the mysteries. And without that mystery, the book can be dull.

i finished The Cove a couple of days ago. i personally enjoyed the book because it literally hit close to home-i live not too far from Mars Hill, i know people like these characters, i knew people when i was growing up who thought like these characters. i didn't expect the ending-thought along the lines of it, just not quite so "final." there's a lot more i'd like to say but don't want to spoil it for others. i'm sad that so many are having a difficult time reading the book because i enjoyed it.

Valerie wrote: "there's a lot more i'd like to say but don't want to spoil it for others..."

You can put your spoiler comments in a link so they're hidden unless someone clicks the link. Just go into "(some html ok)" at the top of the comment box and see how. It will look like this: (view spoiler)[just enclose your spoiler in the spoiler html (hide spoiler)]

Hmmm. Well, I finished it and, after saying earlier I felt it was slow, I did get more involved withe the characters as I stuck with it. It's well written and I wasn't expecting the ending, so that's a plus. But it just felt like something didn't quite work. I read the e-version and am intrigued to know if this is the same as the hardback with the 'extra Chauncey' as it did feel a bit as if his chapters could have been cut back and still made sense in the context of the story. In some ways the whole novel felt a bit like it was being stretched to 'novel length' when the main story was quite simple. Did anyone else feel this and find themselves skipping a few paragraphs here and there?

I didn't like this book. Just couldn't get into it.

This book started out good. I liked that there was a hint of witchery and superstitions. The ending felt like the author just wanted to be done and hurried to the end. So, it was okay but I really think it could have been better.

Finished and I did like it. I wouldn't call it a thriller though- or a mystery. A nice story about good people and bitter mean people and what war does to people.

Beverley wrote: "Hmmm. Well, I finished it and, after saying earlier I felt it was slow, I did get more involved withe the characters as I stuck with it. It's well written and I wasn't expecting the ending, so that..."

I HAVE read books that were good but, at the same time, too wordy, so I could skip paragraphs. As a matter of fact, I'm reading one right now by Lisa Unger, an author I hadn't read before. This book sort of reminds me of GONE GIRL; much of this book is better. But some paragraphs are just too wordy.

But I didn't feel that way about THE COVE. Maybe that's because I read the paperback, which cut a couple chapters and paragraphs about Chauncy. The e-book is probably the uncut version.

Bonnie wrote: "Finished and I did like it. I wouldn't call it a thriller though- or a mystery. A nice story about good people and bitter mean people and what war does to people."

It didn't seem mysterious to me, either. Reviews said it is, though, and that's why I nominated it. But I did like the book and blamed reviews I read before I read the book for spoiling the mystery.

Beth wrote: "Bonnie wrote: "Finished and I did like it. I wouldn't call it a thriller though- or a mystery. A nice story about good people and bitter mean people and what war does to people."

It didn't seem my..."

I'm glad I read it anyway Beth.

I did not particularly care for this book. I struggled to get through it. Laurel had such a miserable life until Walter came. This was just a dark book and I really hated the ending.

This was just not the book for me I found it extremely boring.

Joy wrote: "I did not particularly care for this book. I struggled to get through it. Laurel had such a miserable life until Walter came. This was just a dark book and I really hated the ending."

I hated the ending, too, but not because the author did anything wrong, as in GONE GIRL.

I hated GONE GIRL's end because it seemed like the author wrote herself into a dilemma. She seemed to not know how to end it so just stopped.

THE COVE'S end is a travesty but appropriate. (view spoiler)[The author wrote so much about Chauncey's bad character (even in the paperback), that had to go somewhere. So it did in the end. (hide spoiler)]

Beth wrote: "Joy wrote: "I did not particularly care for this book. I struggled to get through it. Laurel had such a miserable life until Walter came. This was just a dark book and I really hated the ending...."

You are not the first person to mention that the author of Gone Girl wrote herself into a dilemma. My sister is in the midst of reading my copy and has said the same thing.

I read numerous reviews about The Cove and many mentioned the ending which is why I didn't choose it as my February read.

Leigh wrote: "I read numerous reviews about The Cove and many mentioned the ending..."

Me too. That is, I read many reviews, and most of them at least gave such big hints, they were spoilers. They spoiled for me what should have been a mystery.

The trick to reading book reviews is, with most, read the first and last paragraphs.