Reading Wednesday: Agatha Christie

[rachelmanija]

I have been re-reading Agatha Christie mysteries. In some cases, the last time I read them was thirty years ago (I was very fond of them as a child) and so I might as well have been reading them for the first time. Or maybe I am reading some for the first time. Who knows

Comments

[tool_of_satan]

(You have a stray close-italics tag in paragraph 4 and a stray line break in the penultimate paragraph.)

You make me feel as if I should read some Christie. The Egyptian one sounds interesting. Which "regular" mysteries would you particularly recommend? (I already know the twists in Ackroyd and Orient Express, as they're hard to avoid.) I am not sure I am up for reading all of them, considering the number of books I already plan to get to Real Soon Now.

I haven't read too many other classic mystery authors. I read all of Sherlock Holmes a long time ago, and didn't like Doyle's prose enough to want to re-read it (I'd much rather watch Jeremy Brett). I've read most of Chesterton's mysteries and re-read the good ones (which is a decent percentage). I just recently read all of Sayers' Wimsey mysteries.

[rachelmanija]

Thanks, fixed.

I would read A Murder is Announced. It's extremely funny in a way that's both nostalgic and "the more things change, the more they stay the same," has a great sense of time and place, and has a very good version of a classic mystery plot that's also something of a parody of that plot. Let me know what you think!

[tool_of_satan]

Will do.

I need to sell you on more things I have already read. :)

[tool_of_satan]

I enjoyed it overall. While I could see the humor, I think I would have found it funnier if I had read more of the sorts of books she was riffing on.

[branna]

The Mirror Crack'd (it has a variety of different titles, but that is the one I know) is one I particularly like despite its being problematic in the expected ways vis a vis neurodiversity.

[sovay]

But she also writes about something I've seen less, which is what happened to the women who went abroad, and have similar reactions with the addition that no one thinks a woman should feel that way.

That's very cool. Examples?

(Most of my Christie-reading is also decades ago and less frequent than Sayers anyway.)

[rachelmanija]

It's in a number of them. The one I read recently was There is a Tide, which unfortunately is not very good.

[epistasthai]

I've always enjoyed Agatha Christie's books. When I was in school, my mother forbade "romance" books - so I read them at school, borrowing from my friends. (a fact which I remembered when I had my own kid - I never forbade any books. They'll always find a way 'round). When I was 13, I discovered Agatha Christie and my mother heartily approved. I read them for the romance, haha, but I never said anything to her about that. I think I've read and re-read practically all her works over the years. And when I'm stressed or need something comfortable to read, I usually reach for Agatha Christie

[sunlit_music]

I liked Why didn't they ask Evans? The characters who were sleuthing were rather sweet and have a great sense of humour. The nemesis is quite charming but scary. Speaking of nemesis...Nemesis is a very clever Miss Marple mystery with memorable characters which I quite liked.

The Seven Dials has a clever, energetic female lead, hilarious characters and a good plot twist, so I recommend that. :)