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Post by ofelia1 on Feb 21, 2010 20:52:16 GMT
First of all: Hello ladies... I'm so happy to be around here again!!!! Too many weeks without reading the boards.. I was starting to feel a bit depressed (first I had problems with the computer, then I just didn't have time... now my life is normal again.... so happy!!!  ) I must also say that I haven't been able to watch any of my DVDs recently so that makes too many days without watching our beloved Rufus (I am thinking about a marathon for next weekend) And secondly: what a wonderful news! I am not sure we are going to be able to see this in Spain but I'll find how to solve that! I don't know the books and in fact I am not sure if they are known here, but I am going to look for them. I was wondering... well, Rome is not too far and is a wonderful city to spend a few days in spring, I can easyly find a low-cost ticket, only an hour and 15 min by plane.... glo, do have room for me? |
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Post by nell on Feb 21, 2010 22:43:56 GMT
Ofelia1 Amazon.co.uk has a few copies of the trilogy with Vendetta, Ratking and Cabal. You should be able to get one posted to Spain. I had thought of dragging my long suffering hubby to Rome. I did once take him on a surprise trip there - do you think it would work again ?  |
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Post by dreamer on Feb 23, 2010 11:00:30 GMT
I was wondering... well, Rome is not too far and is a wonderful city to spend a few days in spring, I can easyly find a low-cost ticket, only an hour and 15 min by plane.... glo, do have room for me? Ofelia, as I said on FB, booking are opened and one bed or two should be available, if my B&B room is free. A friend of mine too has a nice small B&B flat. So, come on girls and plan the trip. |
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Post by rueful on Feb 23, 2010 18:30:39 GMT
I'm so very happy to have this news I haven't even known what to say. Even that emoticon doesn't seem like enough. Now that's it's been announced as part of a deal with Upstairs/Downstairs and Sherlock Holmes, it sounds like it will be on Masterpiece (Theater) in the States in 2011. www.c21media.net/news/detail.asp?area=1&article=54336Like all of you, I now plan to read the novels. Being a Rufus fan is so educational. PS Renata, thanks for your fabulous new site!  |
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Post by kygal on Feb 23, 2010 22:29:20 GMT
I was hoping we would not have to wait until 2011 in the US. I did order a few Zen books though!
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Post by catdishy on Feb 24, 2010 0:08:23 GMT
As if I wasn't mad enough about Aurelio Zen already. Now to have Rufus play the dark and quirky Venetian.Too much. Thanks, Rai.
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Post by quoll on Mar 3, 2010 9:49:10 GMT
 , that does look good! Hope it makes it to Aus sooner rather than later (thank goodness for UK nova huh!) |
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Post by rueful on Mar 10, 2010 16:10:08 GMT
Have just finished Ratking, the first in the Zen series. It was very good, very dark, but I probably missed some of the layers in the story because of the 1970s/80s Italian history and politics, with which I was not familiar (but now am, thanks to wikipedia). It is by no means a fluff mystery. It is challenging but well worth the effort, and more so since I was able to picture Rufus at every turn. Zen is such a complex character, and if this series reflects the book's strengths, it's going to give Rufus's talent a chance to shine.
I can't wait until 2011!!!
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Post by tipou on Mar 11, 2010 3:07:39 GMT
reading Ratking right now, and i love it too. didbin is a discovery for me, but i said it already, i learn through rufus' roles, so who is to say that fandom is shallow and useless?
and i will likely learn about italian recent history too.
what is a little bit strange is that one character's depiction of the italian society at the beginning of the book sounded like a picture of contemporary quebec... we also had our share of kidnappings in 1970...
anyway, anyone who like intelligence in their police thrillers, should try a zen book... dont you adore the writer's wit, rueful???
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Post by nell on Mar 11, 2010 7:43:03 GMT
just read Ratking and half way through Vendetta. So far I like Vendetta more than Ratking. Can't wait to see it on screen.
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Post by rueful on Mar 11, 2010 15:05:22 GMT
He is very funny in a dry way. Lots of sardonic observactions about the way people behave. I loved the opening pages of the book where it shows how Zen got the "honor" of heading the case.
You're the second person who has said that, so now I'm very eager to have it arrive. (I had to order used copies of various Zen books from all around the country!) Why do you like it better Nell?
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Post by francesca on Mar 15, 2010 19:11:44 GMT
{You're the second person who has said that, so now I'm very eager to have it arrive. (I had to order used copies of various Zen books from all around the country!) Why do you like it better Nell? }
I read "ratking" a lttle while ago before I knew about Rufus getting the part. Have just re-read it and and am now reading "Vendetta" and like Nell I am enjoying" Vendetta "more .
To try and answer your question , I think Zen is warmer and maybe more cynical , a bit awkward and so more lovable than in " Ratking" , certainly the character is more rounded. The book itself is funnier ,I find ,not LOL but dry subtle and sometimes punning ( beloved of Brits)humour, with Zen laughing at himself. I love Dibdin's command of language.
Whether it is auto suggestion but I see Rufus when I read Zen in " Vendetta ", which I couldn't at all in"Ratking "
I would be interested to read what anybody else thinks.
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Post by GreenEyesToo on Mar 15, 2010 20:44:41 GMT
Now that this is beyond "news" and into discussing the character/books, please reply to Frannie in the thread I've just started HERE.Thank you! 
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Post by nell on Mar 15, 2010 21:02:09 GMT
Hi rueful and frannie
I agree with frannie that Zen seemed a warmer character in Vendetta. I certainly warmed to him much quicker than in Ratking. He came across as a bit bumbling in Ratking I thought like a combination of Columbo and Dr Tony Hill (Wire in the Blood). I feel I need to read Ratking again though. Although I knew the character on the train was Zen it seemed to go a long way round getting to the point. I felt the whole book was a little like that. I did enjoy it though. Zen seemed somehow funnier though more intelligent in Vendetta, and able to laugh at himself.
Vendetta seemed more humourous and I was routing for Zen from the opening lines "Aurelio Zen lounged on the sofa like a listless god, bringing the dead back to life" I guess I was more intrigued too.
Also Zen's hilarious attempt at passing himself off as a Swiss. Driving a mercedes that he felt made him look Swiss I loved this bit "...They both turned to stare at the Mercedes. Zen gave them a bland, blank look that he imagined to be typically Swiss. They continued to stare. Zen took the opportunity of consulting the map. That too was surely a typically a Swiss thing to do.
....... the locomotive belched a cloud of fumes and a moment later the road was clear again. Zen put the car in gear, stalled, let off the handbrake, started to roll backwards, engaged the clutch, restarted the motor, stalled, engaged the handbrake, released the clutch, restarted the the motor, released the handbrake, engaged the clutch and drove away. None of this, he felt, was typically Swiss. The look the crossing-keeper gave him suggested that she felt the same." Just brilliant !
I'm about to start Cabal now. The jacket description sounds a bit Dan Brownish. Will report back when I've finished reading it.
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Post by GreenEyesToo on Mar 15, 2010 21:06:10 GMT
Okay, ignore me then!!! LOL!!!
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) I must also say that I haven't been able to watch any of my DVDs recently so that makes too many days without watching our beloved Rufus (I am thinking about a marathon for next weekend)
