Troubled Blood sells almost 65,000 copies in just five days

[zanahoria]

amp.theguardian.com/books/2020/sep/23/jk-rowling-thriller-no-1-transphobia-row-troubled-blood-robert-galbraith

A big thank you to everyone who helped promote the book!

I recently watched the TV series & really enjoyed it - I was aware that JKR had written under the RG pseudonym but didn't make the link between that & the Strike series on BBC. I read Troubled Blood in a couple of days & have now bought the rest of the series so I can find out what they missed out of the TV series. I'm currently 1/5 of the way through Cuckoo's Calling & am already noticing lots of details that just couldn't be/weren't included in the TV series.

Anyone know when Strike #6 is out?

I downloaded it on Audible today and I'm utterly gripped. I went to bed at 7.30pm!

I've already come across THE sentence about a suspect wearing a woman's coat. If that really is it then I honestly think most of the media have drunk the koolaid calling this a 'transphobic book'.

There's a separate thread about this article by Nick Cohen but on this very busy board I thought some may have missed it. I found it very powerful and moving.

thecritic.co.uk/braving-the-goblet-of-fire/

thanks good article

Thanks for that link, @persistentwoman. By Christ, that's a good article. Wow.

I've got a clever book cushion thingie that's like a tall little beanbag with a wedge out of it where the book sits and an adjustable, elasticated perspex strip to hold it open. Hard to describe but a joy to use.

Audio book version! To hear it is much better, the narrator is fantastic.

@AsTreesWalking

I've enjoyed all the Strike books, and listened to this one. It's a good twisty tale, and I do like Robin and Strike. The character who puts on a wig is definitely not a transwoman but a man trying to deceive. if TRAs think that's transohobic, then I'm Confused. There are a lot of interesting undercurrents in this book, subtle, but they are there - any reader of this board will spot them...

Much of the book reads like FWR on speed, I’d say!

Jolly good denouement though, and plenty of evil characters of both sexes.

I’ve read the previous books and they’re OK, generally superior detective fiction. I struggle with the writing which I find overdone and the books are too long. I also find the main characters and their relationship faintly annoying. I expect this one to be the same but have bought it anyway - if it wasn’t Rowling I would have waited for it to be available at the library - it will be bedtime reading for a month or so.

@MotherForkinShirtBalls yes it did change! I didn't know whether maybe she was called Ilsa in the show but Isla in the books. Must go back and check one of the other books.

FWRLurcker - I would start with the first book and read in order.

That depends I have no intention of reading my copy.

I've just started Cuckoos Calling this week, haven't had much time to read it but got stuck in last night and I'm very much enjoying it.

@sashh

FWRLurcker - I would start with the first book and read in order.

That depends I have no intention of reading my copy.

I've always wondered how many people simply bought The Satanic Verses with zero intention of reading it, just to make a point.

Foolish, foolish TRAs. It's as if they have no cultural context from pre-2010 when they launch their campaigns. We don't even have to look a bookshop assistant in the eye to buy forbidden literature now. Of course people would buy it in their droves.

@SunsetBeetch

Still number one on the Amazon chart and check out the average review score!

The review score on Goodreads is also improving by the day. It started out with 2 or three stars with practically ONLY bad reviews from those who hadn't read it. But now, as the genuine readers give their feedback, the rating is going through the stars -- even with all those one-stars weighing it down. So happy about this! I did read the first one years ago and will re-read it. But I think I'll read this one now and then go back to read the series.

I also bought the Ickabog. I think my 11 year old granddaughter will like it, and then she can pass it on to my 2-year-old other DGD!

[quote CodenameVillanelle]@mum2jakie Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone: MinaLima Edition ]][/quote]
This looks absolutely beautiful, I’ve just pre-ordered it. My kids are a bit old to appreciate it now, (although we read all the HP series when they were younger) but there’s always grandkids to look forward to reading it to!

I just bought my copy. Thanks for the heads up.

I think those sales speak a very loud message.
The TRAs aren't winning any fans. People might not be speaking out for one reason or the other, but they are showing their support for JKR through their spending. WIN, I'd say.

Here's the story in The Mail!
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8766559/JK-Rowling-shakes-transgender-row-controversial-new-book-shoots-straight-charts.html

The Daily Mail reports on the good sales, and gives an accurate account of the "transphobic" content:

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8766559/JK-Rowling-shakes-transgender-row-controversial-new-book-shoots-straight-charts.html

excellent comments as usual.

oops! cross-posted! sorry!

I don't know a thing about JKR as a person, but I do know charities benefit from her wealth. I would think these big sales will bring bonuses for some women's causes like DV

I need the t shirt JKR's wearing in that tweet from the mail article.

Reading Troubled Blood at the moment. It's excellent - am loving it.

I'm surprised to see it repeated so frequently that there's only one reference in the book to a serial killer wearing women's clothing. It's been alluded to about four times so far. It's a minor part of the plot, however, and I should make clear that the book isn't about trying to catch the serial killer (who has in fact been caught and is in Broadmoor), it's about trying to solve the disappearance of a particular woman in 1974 whose body has never been found. The serial killer in question is one of a number of possible suspects.

@SirSamuelVimes

I need the t shirt JKR's wearing in that tweet from the mail article.

The witch one?

wildwomynworkshop.com

While you're there, you'll be officially pissing off exactly the right people.

That article by Nick Cohen is great, but this is the best bit

"Rowling said the moral lesson of the Harry Potter books was “blindingly obvious”. She was dramatising the choice between what is right and what is easy, “because that, that is how tyranny is started, with people being apathetic and taking the easy route and suddenly finding themselves in deep trouble”."

And that sums up the whole trans debate really. Far too many people have taken the easy route without thinking about whether what they were agreeing with would REALLY help trans children or anyone else.

When Harry claims Voldemort has come back and Umbridge and the Ministry condemn him and force him to say he's lying, that's what this is, really. We're all being forced to say TWAW against our wills because we're scared. Doesn't mean we really think it's true.

OMG, does that make FWR Dumbledore's Army (gets carried away....).