tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1924828587735404167.post290004531577031946..comments2024-03-18T09:29:33.325-04:00Comments on Wordmanship: Unpardonable punsTerry Mapeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312110431176688533noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1924828587735404167.post-62955220480354521422013-03-29T12:52:28.763-04:002013-03-29T12:52:28.763-04:00Hate to break it to you, Terry, but Joan Hess'...Hate to break it to you, Terry, but Joan Hess' book titles are FULL of puns: Strangled Prose, A Holly Jolly Murder, A Conventional Corpse, Dear Miss Demeanor, etc. OK, some aren't exactly puns, but they are PLAYS on WORDS or POPULAR PHRASES. <br />The majority of mysteries with puns or plays on words/phrases in their titles are known as 'cozies' or ‘cozy’ mysteries. In these mysteries, the major focus of the book is not on the murder or grisly details of the mangled body, but is more on the people involved, especially the protagonist and/or the people surrounding the person who ends up dead. There is very little violence (beyond the original murder), or gritty depictions of "real" life, i.e., beatings, drug dens, gangs, drug lords, et cetera. Most of these mysteries are written by and for women. Look at how most of these have occupations or hobbies geared toward women in them: knitting, crocheting, quilting, sewing, librarians, running bed and breakfasts or inns or coffee or tea shops or mystery book stores. The readers – and they are legion – have enough “real” life in which they are already immersed; they want a world into which they can escape for a short while, somewhat exciting, but populated with people they can care about and empathize with. <br />Yes, all the authors you mention write good, solid books. Outside of Arnaldur Indridason, and unlike you, I’ve read all the other the authors you mention. Um, perhaps before you condemn an entire genre of books, you should sample some first?<br />ponyswimgalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16954750336015646359noreply@blogger.com