The Zen books...

[kissmekate]

To make up for the first Zen-less Sunday night I've started reading "Ratking" yesterday and must say that this seems to be a very fine series. Loved the start with the phone call chain, and the description of Zen fits Rufus quite well except for the eyes and age.

[rueful]

Jan 20, 2011 23:02:42 GMT quoll said:

I checked out Audible to see what they had - no Rufus but they do have Michael Kitchen (I do like him as Foyle but the samples dont inspire me with confidence that he can do Zen as well) and Michael Tudor Barnes (he gets varying reviews from listeners)

So, I think the market is ripe for Rufus to read them!!!!

It's funny you said this Quoll. I had some Audible credits a while back and I was very excited to see Michael Kitchen had narrated some Zen books. I love him as an actor, and I have his narration of The End of the Affair and like it very much. But I played the samples like you did, and was not moved to download them after all. There was something very strange in his reading rhythm (even for MK, who has a hesitating way of speaking). It was like the people at the recording studio were handing him the book a half line or a phrase at a time.

When Rufus starts a sentence he always sounds like he knows where the whole paragraph is going.

Jan 23, 2011 17:00:25 GMT kissmekate said:

To make up for the first Zen-less Sunday night I've started reading "Ratking" yesterday and must say that this seems to be a very fine series. Loved the start with the phone call chain, and the description of Zen fits Rufus quite well except for the eyes and age.

I hope you will enjoy them Kate. I hope you don't consider it a spoiler if I say that I found them darker than the television series. There is always some ironic comedy like the phone call chain you mentioned and of course Zen himself has a wry sense of humor. A couple of the later ones are almost comic--the tone really varies book to book. But some of the nastier aspects of the plots were left out of the adaptations. Also, in the books, both the mechanisms and effects of the corruption are more brutal. However, they are really, really well written and interesting. With only one or two exceptions, I had a very hard time putting them down.

[francesca]

Rueful wrote {There was something very strange in his reading rhythm (even for MK, who has a hesitating way of speaking). It was like the people at the recording studio were handing him the book a half line or a phrase at a time. ]

I too went to Audble for readings of Zen and like you I did not like Michael Kitchen's reading. His voice and manner of reading was in my opinion, totally wrong for Zen.
I do love Michael Kitchen; he is a superb actor, but he is just miscast in this.
hope they decide to ask Rufus to read them.

[kissmekate]

Jan 24, 2011 16:39:13 GMT rueful said:

I hope you don't consider it a spoiler if I say that I found them darker than the television series. There is always some ironic comedy like the phone call chain you mentioned and of course Zen himself has a wry sense of humor.

I agree, Zen is a bit more jaded in the books, but nevertheless there's that underlying sense of humour which I like a lot. Dibdin takes his time to introduce Zen as a character with his circumstances of living. When we first meet him, we see him through the eyes of a stranger, that was very well written.

And I could picture Rufus exactly when the sharp nose, chiseled face and extraordinary eyes were mentioned

Unfortunately I don't have as much time for reading during the work week as I'd like to have, but this is excellent reading (which I'd probably never have discovered without Rufusitis ... like many other interesting things!)

[kissmekate]

I still haven't had enough time to finish this great book, but there is one quote I'd like to share with those of us who maybe haven't yet read it:

As Zen walked back to his hotel he noticed several people staring at him curiously, but it was not until he caught sight of his reflection in a shop window that he realized that he was wearing one of those annoying little Mona Lisa smiles which makes everyone wonder why you're so pleased with yourself.

Easy to picture that kind of smile on Ruf's face, isn't it?

[roseofkilgannon]

KMK you are absolutely right !

[anyother]

I just finished reading Ratking and started reading Vendetta. It took me some time to get the feel for the Zen books, but now I can't stop reading. Zen just banged his head on his Olivetti typewriter - reminded me strongly of Zen banging his head on his car steering wheel in the series... And it's really funny reading about all the things that happen to Zen - for instance the disappearance of the video tape. You somehow felt it was going to happen, and that it only could happen to someone like Zen.

I think Rufus captured Zen perfectly, character and jokes alike.

The only disadvantage of reading the Zen books is the way the back of the book creases Rufus' face. Sorry, Roof (and sorry about the hot chocolate stains as well)!

[kissmekate]

Jan 31, 2011 18:19:06 GMT anyother said:

Zen just banged his head on his Olivetti typewriter - reminded me strongly of Zen banging his head on his car steering wheel in the series...

That's just so Rufus

I think Rufus captured Zen perfectly, character and jokes alike.

Andy Harries is absolutely right when he maintains that Rufus is the perfect Zen

The only disadvantage of reading the Zen books is the way the back of the book creases Rufus' face,

That's why they put another, bigger Rufus on the front cover I tried to be very careful and I think I managed not to crease him too much, but my copy arrived slightly battered, so a small corner is missing at the top of the spine

[robela]

I am halfway through Ratking and have to agree with all you Rufgirls. The description does fit Rufus up to a point but the Zen in the book doesn't have the charm and energy and sexy good looks of the Rufus we know in the tv series. Nevertheless Zen in the books is likeable and enigmatic and you can follow the storyline believing in him. I am thoroughly enjoying the book and it is hard to put down. I had never heard of the Michael Dibdin novels before I got Rufusitus so thank you to Rufus and Andy Harries!!

[zenina]

Same here - I'm almost finished with Ratking and after a bit a slow start I'm really hooked now.

Rufus as Zen is already so much burned into my mind that I see him as well in the book despite the difference of age and also description of him.

[kissmekate]

I thought that the description didn't fit Rufus too badly except for the blue eyes and the age.

I'm planning to start with "Vendetta" soon and re-watch the film afterwards

[robela]

Finished Ratking last night. I really enjoyed it and like you Zenina I was imagining Rufus as Aurelio even though the plot was changed quite a bit by the screenwriters.
Rufus as Zen apart from being younger and more 'trendy' has captured the nonchalant air and plodding attitude of the Zen in the books even when up against severe criticism by his fellow police officers and officials.

[zenina]

I'm on Vendetta now and I really like it - I can hardly put it down. And there is a lot that has been kept almost exactly in the series - especially the start of the relationship with Tania.

I've started it yesterday and I'm already half way through. It is really a good read and like I said before I so can picture Rufus's Zen in the way the Zen from the book walks and talks.

Haven't been reading so much in ages - thanks to Rufus I'm on it again

[zenina]

I know it is not completely accurate but the description Michael Dibdin gives here in Vendetta of Zen is very close to Rufus (at least with longer hair)

"His face was lean and smooth, with an aquiline nose and slate-blue eyes, their gaze disconcertingly direct as a child's. His hair , its basic undistinguished brown now flecked with silvery grey highlights at the temples, was naturally curly and the wind tossed it back and forth like frantic wavelets in a storm scene on a Greek vase."

[kissmekate]

That fits our Rufus perfectly! Dibdin's got a beautiful way with words