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Show SignpostWednesday, February 24, 1988 7 r? 'Whodunits' are America's favorite KaryFrandsen Assr. Am & Entertainment Editor Sitting down with a good thriller or mystery novel is more than just a good escape. After a hard day at the office or intense studying of one of those textbooks, a mystery novel may just be the perfect escape without being too mentally demanding. Curling up by the fire with a good book can be quite refreshing. Contrary to popular belief, you don't have to be a bookworm to enjoy a passionate mystery An American mania for mystery is most obvious these days in thesolve-it-yourself whodunits. They are staged everywhere from hotels and cruise ships to corporate meetings. Books that dwell upon crime-detective, spy, and suspense stories have ranked at the top of the fiction market in the past two years. If you haven't noticed, bookshops devoted only to mysteries have sprung up in a dozen American cities over the past few years. A particular pleasure of the detective story is that it examines motives, solves a problem, and comes down satisfactorily on the side of order. A mystery has pace, it is a puzzle with a resolution, and it has a strong closure.They also reinforce our beliefs in the system, and they shout, "Crime doesn't pay." Also, detective novels focus on the powers and wit of the individual as opposed to those of a group.In essence, the detective working alone proves that the individual can still solve problems. Classic mysteries fall into two categories. The English "cozy" and the hard-boiled American detective story. The, English cozy in the tradition of Agatha Christie usually takes place in a decorative setting and leans heavily on plot. It usually opens up with a murder, points at an obvious but innocent suspect, and spins a web of clues. Ultimately, the crime is solved and the book has a definite ending. The hard-boiled American detective story was pioneered by authors such as Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler. They rely more on characterization, setting and realistic dialogue. Mystery fans of every persuasion can enjoy novels where the author puts ordinary people in extraordinary situations. Finding a quiet corner for a few hours of solitude with a good book can be a spine-tingling experience for anyone. Here is a list of the Best sellers for this week: 1. Communion. Whitley Strieber. Avon, $4.95. 2. Destiny. Sally Beauman. Bantam, $4.95. 3. Outbreak. Robin Cook. Berkley, $4.95 4. The Eyes of the Dragon. Stephen King.NalSignet, $4.50 5. Windmills of the Gods. Sidney Sheldon. Warner Books, $4.95. 6. Silversword. Phyllis Whitney. Fawcett, $4.50 7. Star Trek No. 38: The Idic Epidemic. Jean Lorrah. Pocket Books, $3.95. Classic fairy tale performed admirably by Ballet West Cheryl Estoque Staff Reporter Imagine this: A beautiful peasant girl falls in love with a handsome young man who, in reality, is a prince of royal birth. This prince is betrothed to wed another princess who, ironically enough, has become friends with the beautiful peasant girl. A forester, upon expressing his love for the peasant girl, reveals the true identity of the prince. She falls to her death, and the forester is finally haunted by her ghost, who dances him to his grave. Sounds like the plot from a classic fairy tale or maybe a daytime soap opera dilemma. Possibly. Only this time, the characters wore costumes and danced on their toes to the commands of a grand orchestra in the mythical legend of Giselle. "Giselle," the most celebrated of all romantic ballets, was performed admirably by the players of Ballet West last Friday and Saturday night in the Val A. Browning Center for the Performing Arts. Produced (see GISELLE on page 8) SKI CLEARANCE IWmm S TOTAL STOCK SSftff' T SAVE 20-60 lIXlllH) W Poles ttc rs. i!pi3V , Polo m Ralph Lauren Eyewear that doesn't need an explanation. Ifflfflffl OPTICAL 01 Ogden Ogcien City Mail Layton Antelope Square 2146 No. Main So. Ogden Brigham City No. Ogden 425 F 5350 S. 990 s. 5C0 W. 429 Washington Blvd. Enjoy an incredible evening witn zoJ strings attacnea Escape the uncivilized world and experience the civilized sounds of one of the world's great symphony orchestras as it presents a special concert for music lovers of all ages. Come and enjoy the Utah Symphony, performing live the greatest hits in history. THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 8:00 P.M. VAL A. BROWNING CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS Utah Symphony Concertmaster plays SAINT-SAENS Violin Concerto No. 3 Ralph Matson is featured in this stunning piece, conducted by Joseph Silverstein. The program includes TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 5 and SAINT-SAENS Overture to "La Princesse Jaune." Tickets: $5-12, available at 2580 Jefferson Ave. and one hour prior to concert at box office. Information: 399-9214. Presented by the Ogden Symphony-Ballet Association. . Utah Symphony, SO"0ii |
