I never met Sue nor did I ever correspond with her. As with many authors I was not aware of the particulars of her personal life.
I am familiar with her sleuth, Kinsey Milhone.
I was introduced to the series in the early 1980's when I heard a radio interview on the CBC morning radio show, Morningside. The host, Peter Gzowski, spoke with Sue about her series. It was clear that Peter, a devoted reader and skilled writer, was taken with the series.
I went out and found "A" is for Alibi and was hooked on the series. I read my way through the series from "A" is for Alibi to "V" is for Vengeance.
I have not read W or X or Y. I was finding the reading of the later books in the series slower going. Compared to the early books they were far longer and I was not enjoying them as much as the earlier books.
I continued to enjoy Kinsey's interactions with her landlord, the ever young octogenarian Henry, and her outspoken local restaurantuer, Rosie.
Unfortunately I was not finding the plots as compelling and said in my review of "U" is for Undertow that I was reading the books to continue my reading of the series.
I did find "V" is for Vengeance a better book. I intend to find a copy of "W" is for Wasted.
No matter that a fraction of the books in a series over 20 books were not the best Sue provided me with a lot of reading enjoyment over three decades. Few writers are able to match her sustained excellence.
I admired Sue's decision not to have any of the books made into a T.V. series or movies. Having worked in the industry she was scornful of their ability to do justice to her characters. That decision left it possible for me to maintain an image of Kinsey that is that of the younger Sue shown in the photo above. I know they were not identical but I firmly see the essence of Kinsey in Sue.
I am grateful her family has decided not to have another author write "Z" is for Zero. It is fitting to me that Sue's alphabet will end with 25 letters.
All the best to her family.
This is an excellent post, Bill. I, too, applaud the decision not to make Kinsey Millhone the 'star' of a TV series or film series. Somehow, I think the industry would have changed so much that it wouldn't have been the same series. Like you, I'd rather have my own image of Kinsey. I think Grafton was one of the few who could keep a series interesting over a long stretch of time, even if not every book was her best. I will miss her, and I wish she'd lived to see Z is for Zero published. That said, though, I respect her decision, and her family's, not to do a follow-on to complete that book.
ReplyDeleteMargot: Thanks for the comment. Sue earned our respect for a career dedicated to writing good crime fiction. There are but a handful of writers who keep a series going over 35 years.
DeleteLike you I was not as enamoured with the later books in the series as I was with the earlier ones Bill but as a reader I am still very grateful to all the enjoyment Sue Grafton provided me over the years. I loved discovering Kinsey in the early days...so very different to most of the women who appeared in crime fiction at that time (i.e. as dead bodies or as the subordinate to one or more blokes). As a young woman it was wonderful to read about a woman who had taken control of her own life...plus be involved in some great adventures...so I will always have a soft spot for Kinsey and her creator.
ReplyDeleteBernadette: Thanks for the comment. I am glad we can remember the joy of the series better than the disappointments. Kinsey certainly was an independent woman.
DeleteVery nice post, Bill. I too was surprised at Grafton's death. The tributes I have read have been very moving. I have only read through G is for Gumshoe but had planned to continue reading more of them now and then because the city she lives in is a version of Santa Barbara.
ReplyDeleteTracyK: Thanks for the kind words. I hope Sue knew in her lifetime how much her writing was appreciated. You have good reading ahead of you as go through the alphabet with Kinsey.
DeleteNice tribute to Sue Grafton and her work, Bill. I have never read her alphabet murders but I now plan to read "A" is for Alibi and take it from there. Happy New Year to you and all at home!
ReplyDeletePrashant: Thanks for the comment. It was good to hear from you. I believe you will enjoy "A" is for Alibi. Happy New Year to you and your family.
DeleteLovely tribute Bill - I feel very much as you do: sad for her death, disappointed she didn't get to Z. And enjoying the series very much as a whole, even if it was uneven. She will be sadly missed.
ReplyDeleteMoira: Thanks for the comment. She was a gifted writer. I thought she was going to get to Z and I wondered whether she would continue with the alphabet theme as Harry Kemmelman did with Rabbi Small when he reached the end of the week.
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