MPM: An appreciation
My sis latterly emailed me a link, alongside the only commentary beingness "!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) "
She'd only learned that one to a greater extent than book from 1 of our favourite authors volition last available inwards bookstores inwards July. :)
Both of us discovered the mystery/thriller novels of Barbara Michaels when nosotros were teenagers inwards the 1970s (still inwards junior high school, I think) -- most of them gothic mysteries/thrillers, alongside a tinge of the occult or supernatural. I don't recollect the really kickoff 1 I read, but my favourite was released or hence the fourth dimension of the USA Bicentennial inwards 1976, too clearly written alongside that trial inwards withdraw heed -- "Patriot's Dream," which takes house inwards Williamsburg, Virginia, too features fourth dimension move dorsum to the days of the American Revolution.
Around the same time, nosotros also discovered the novels of some other mystery writer, Elizabeth Peters. Eventually, nosotros came to realize that Elizabeth Peters too Barbara Michaels were 1 too the same person. The author's existent cry was Barbara Mertz, a PhD graduate from the Oriental Institute inwards Chicago, who published 2 non-fiction books on ancient Arab Republic of Egypt inwards the 1960s. Fans oft refer to her every bit "MPM," too her official website is http://mpmbooks.com/.
The novels she published every bit Elizabeth Peters differ from the Michaels novels alongside their focus on art, archeology & history, every bit good every bit their irreverent feel of humor (which oft had me chuckling out loud). Some Peters novels were standalones -- such every bit my favourite, "Legend inwards Green Velvet," a caper ready inwards the Scottish highlands. But she also developed several serial that all featured memorable heroines. There was Jacqueline Kirby, librarian turned romance novelist (one Kirby novel has the memorable championship "Naked Once More," lol). There was Vicky Bliss, an American fine art history professor, working at a museum inwards Berlin.
And in that place was Amelia Peabody, Victorian Egyptologist, perchance the best-known Mertz/Peters/Michaels creation of all. I've e'er idea the Amelia books would brand a delightful moving-picture present or idiot box series, if properly scripted too cast :) too the Amelia department of the MPM site includes readers' votes for casting a hypothetical Peabody movie. (Although to a greater extent than than 1 MPM fan has noted the similarities betwixt the Amelia books too "The Mummy" movies alongside Brendan Fraser...!)
I don't recollect discovering Amelia until after I was married (late 1980s/early 1990s) -- but 1 time I read the kickoff novel inwards the series, "Crocodile on the Sandbank," I was hooked, too devoured the subsequent entries, 1 after another. I must acknowledge I've fallen behind -- I cause got non yet read the finally few books inwards the series, although I cause got an unofficial goal to complete them earlier the novel 1 comes out...!
Sadly, Barbara Mertz/Barbara Michaels/Elizbeth Peters passed away inwards August 2013 at her abode inwards Frederick, Maryland. But happily for her fans, she left behind an unfinished Amelia Peabody novel, "The Painted Queen." We started hearing rumours almost it soon after she died, but it wasn't until finally autumn that publication was confirmed. MPM's friend too boyfriend mystery writer, Joan Hess (another author we've both read, whose heroines include Arly Hanks & Claire Malloy), took on the daunting chore of finishing it, too the effect volition last released inwards July.
*** *** ***
One to a greater extent than argue why I intend of Michaels/Peters (and the Amelia books inwards particular) hence fondly.
When nosotros lost learned that Katie's amount had stopped beating within me on August 5, 1998, my woman raise flew at nowadays to last alongside me inwards the hospital. My manful someone raise followed several days later, bearing a gift from my sis -- a hardcover re-create of the newest Elizabeth Peters novel -- an "Amelia," called "The Ape Who Guards the Balance," There was a handwritten banking company complaint within which read (in part), "I idea Amelia chaining herself to #10 Downing Street would last to a greater extent than entertaining than flowers." (She was right. :) )
Fast-forward a few months afterward to afterward October/early November, alongside my Nov. 14th due appointment rapidly approaching. While browsing the books department inwards the Saturday Globe too Mail, I saw an advertising that made my jaw drop: an all-day trial on "Crime too Punishment inwards Ancient Egypt" on Saturday, Nov. seventh -- the 24th annual symposium on Egyptology grade on yesteryear the Society for the Study of Egyptian Antiquities (SSEA) at the Royal Ontario Museum -- featuring a keynote address yesteryear famous author Elizabeth Peters. The world was welcome to attend.
Faster than yous tin give the sack nation "Tutankhamun," I was on the telephone to the ROM too bought a ticket for $15.
Then I called my sister. :) I really seldom cope to acquire the improve of her inwards price of ruffling her feathers ;) -- hence it was beyond satisfying to last able to pose the question, "Guess what I'm going to last doing on Nov 7th?" -- too and hence enjoin her & hear her intermission -- too and hence shriek "Aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!" And too hence ask, inwards a really pocket-sized voice, "Can yous acquire me an autograph??"
I recollect the twenty-four sixty minutes menstruation was nighttime & rainy, but (for perchance the kickoff fourth dimension inwards months), my spirits were buoyant every bit I took a prepare into the metropolis too and hence rode the subway to the museum. I was uninterested inwards assist the total day's programme (I notice the history inwards the Amelia books interesting, but non THAT interesting...!), but I arrived inwards enough of fourth dimension for Peters' scheduled lecture on "Murder, Mystery too Mayhem inwards Ancient Egypt" at 4 p.m. -- the finally trial of the day.
The theater was packed. (I intend I was 1 of the youngest people there...!) The "lecture" turned out to last a wide-ranging informal interview/conversation alongside boyfriend mystery author Aaron Elkins, including questions from the audience. I don't recollect a lot of what was said, unfortunately, but I create recollect that MPM was only every bit funny too charming too delightful every bit I'd imagined her to be. The sixty minutes flew yesteryear far also quickly.
Afterward, MPM signed copies of her books inwards the entrance hall exterior the theatre, many of which were stacked on tables nearby, available for sale. I had brought the re-create my sis sent me of "The Ape Who Guards the Balance" every bit good every bit a 2d re-create for her to sign for my sister, too she graciously personalized too signed both books (with hieroglyphics, every bit good every bit her signature). I said something stupid almost how nosotros had both been reading her books for years, trying difficult non to gush also much. (I didn't intend to convey my photographic tv camera alongside me, & of course, in that place were no cellphones alongside handy cameras included dorsum then.) I left the museum alongside a broad smiling on my face. :)
I (very) reluctantly allow become of my consummate collection of hardcover & paperback Peters/Michaels books earlier our deed finally year, since I also cause got them all inwards e-reader format. But I did go on my paperbacks of "Patriot's Dream" too "Legend inwards Green Velvet, " too a hardcover companion/coffee tabular array book, "Amelia Peabody's Egypt."
And, of course, my prized signed re-create of "The Ape Who Guards the Balance." :) (The ticket receipt, day's agenda, too banking company complaint from my sis are all tucked within the forepart cover.)
Are yous a boyfriend Barbara Michaels/Elizabeth Peters fan? Do yous similar reading mysteries? Any favourite authors to recommend? Sumber http://theroadlesstravelledlb.blogspot.com
She'd only learned that one to a greater extent than book from 1 of our favourite authors volition last available inwards bookstores inwards July. :)
Both of us discovered the mystery/thriller novels of Barbara Michaels when nosotros were teenagers inwards the 1970s (still inwards junior high school, I think) -- most of them gothic mysteries/thrillers, alongside a tinge of the occult or supernatural. I don't recollect the really kickoff 1 I read, but my favourite was released or hence the fourth dimension of the USA Bicentennial inwards 1976, too clearly written alongside that trial inwards withdraw heed -- "Patriot's Dream," which takes house inwards Williamsburg, Virginia, too features fourth dimension move dorsum to the days of the American Revolution.
Around the same time, nosotros also discovered the novels of some other mystery writer, Elizabeth Peters. Eventually, nosotros came to realize that Elizabeth Peters too Barbara Michaels were 1 too the same person. The author's existent cry was Barbara Mertz, a PhD graduate from the Oriental Institute inwards Chicago, who published 2 non-fiction books on ancient Arab Republic of Egypt inwards the 1960s. Fans oft refer to her every bit "MPM," too her official website is http://mpmbooks.com/.
The novels she published every bit Elizabeth Peters differ from the Michaels novels alongside their focus on art, archeology & history, every bit good every bit their irreverent feel of humor (which oft had me chuckling out loud). Some Peters novels were standalones -- such every bit my favourite, "Legend inwards Green Velvet," a caper ready inwards the Scottish highlands. But she also developed several serial that all featured memorable heroines. There was Jacqueline Kirby, librarian turned romance novelist (one Kirby novel has the memorable championship "Naked Once More," lol). There was Vicky Bliss, an American fine art history professor, working at a museum inwards Berlin.
And in that place was Amelia Peabody, Victorian Egyptologist, perchance the best-known Mertz/Peters/Michaels creation of all. I've e'er idea the Amelia books would brand a delightful moving-picture present or idiot box series, if properly scripted too cast :) too the Amelia department of the MPM site includes readers' votes for casting a hypothetical Peabody movie. (Although to a greater extent than than 1 MPM fan has noted the similarities betwixt the Amelia books too "The Mummy" movies alongside Brendan Fraser...!)
I don't recollect discovering Amelia until after I was married (late 1980s/early 1990s) -- but 1 time I read the kickoff novel inwards the series, "Crocodile on the Sandbank," I was hooked, too devoured the subsequent entries, 1 after another. I must acknowledge I've fallen behind -- I cause got non yet read the finally few books inwards the series, although I cause got an unofficial goal to complete them earlier the novel 1 comes out...!
Sadly, Barbara Mertz/Barbara Michaels/Elizbeth Peters passed away inwards August 2013 at her abode inwards Frederick, Maryland. But happily for her fans, she left behind an unfinished Amelia Peabody novel, "The Painted Queen." We started hearing rumours almost it soon after she died, but it wasn't until finally autumn that publication was confirmed. MPM's friend too boyfriend mystery writer, Joan Hess (another author we've both read, whose heroines include Arly Hanks & Claire Malloy), took on the daunting chore of finishing it, too the effect volition last released inwards July.
*** *** ***
One to a greater extent than argue why I intend of Michaels/Peters (and the Amelia books inwards particular) hence fondly.
When nosotros lost learned that Katie's amount had stopped beating within me on August 5, 1998, my woman raise flew at nowadays to last alongside me inwards the hospital. My manful someone raise followed several days later, bearing a gift from my sis -- a hardcover re-create of the newest Elizabeth Peters novel -- an "Amelia," called "The Ape Who Guards the Balance," There was a handwritten banking company complaint within which read (in part), "I idea Amelia chaining herself to #10 Downing Street would last to a greater extent than entertaining than flowers." (She was right. :) )
Fast-forward a few months afterward to afterward October/early November, alongside my Nov. 14th due appointment rapidly approaching. While browsing the books department inwards the Saturday Globe too Mail, I saw an advertising that made my jaw drop: an all-day trial on "Crime too Punishment inwards Ancient Egypt" on Saturday, Nov. seventh -- the 24th annual symposium on Egyptology grade on yesteryear the Society for the Study of Egyptian Antiquities (SSEA) at the Royal Ontario Museum -- featuring a keynote address yesteryear famous author Elizabeth Peters. The world was welcome to attend.
Faster than yous tin give the sack nation "Tutankhamun," I was on the telephone to the ROM too bought a ticket for $15.
Then I called my sister. :) I really seldom cope to acquire the improve of her inwards price of ruffling her feathers ;) -- hence it was beyond satisfying to last able to pose the question, "Guess what I'm going to last doing on Nov 7th?" -- too and hence enjoin her & hear her intermission -- too and hence shriek "Aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!" And too hence ask, inwards a really pocket-sized voice, "Can yous acquire me an autograph??"
I recollect the twenty-four sixty minutes menstruation was nighttime & rainy, but (for perchance the kickoff fourth dimension inwards months), my spirits were buoyant every bit I took a prepare into the metropolis too and hence rode the subway to the museum. I was uninterested inwards assist the total day's programme (I notice the history inwards the Amelia books interesting, but non THAT interesting...!), but I arrived inwards enough of fourth dimension for Peters' scheduled lecture on "Murder, Mystery too Mayhem inwards Ancient Egypt" at 4 p.m. -- the finally trial of the day.
The theater was packed. (I intend I was 1 of the youngest people there...!) The "lecture" turned out to last a wide-ranging informal interview/conversation alongside boyfriend mystery author Aaron Elkins, including questions from the audience. I don't recollect a lot of what was said, unfortunately, but I create recollect that MPM was only every bit funny too charming too delightful every bit I'd imagined her to be. The sixty minutes flew yesteryear far also quickly.
Afterward, MPM signed copies of her books inwards the entrance hall exterior the theatre, many of which were stacked on tables nearby, available for sale. I had brought the re-create my sis sent me of "The Ape Who Guards the Balance" every bit good every bit a 2d re-create for her to sign for my sister, too she graciously personalized too signed both books (with hieroglyphics, every bit good every bit her signature). I said something stupid almost how nosotros had both been reading her books for years, trying difficult non to gush also much. (I didn't intend to convey my photographic tv camera alongside me, & of course, in that place were no cellphones alongside handy cameras included dorsum then.) I left the museum alongside a broad smiling on my face. :)
I (very) reluctantly allow become of my consummate collection of hardcover & paperback Peters/Michaels books earlier our deed finally year, since I also cause got them all inwards e-reader format. But I did go on my paperbacks of "Patriot's Dream" too "Legend inwards Green Velvet, " too a hardcover companion/coffee tabular array book, "Amelia Peabody's Egypt."
And, of course, my prized signed re-create of "The Ape Who Guards the Balance." :) (The ticket receipt, day's agenda, too banking company complaint from my sis are all tucked within the forepart cover.)
Are yous a boyfriend Barbara Michaels/Elizabeth Peters fan? Do yous similar reading mysteries? Any favourite authors to recommend? Sumber http://theroadlesstravelledlb.blogspot.com
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