Agatha Christie Books

mrbond · August 2009

Not really my kind of thing but read one (sort of) cause my friend(no longer after this) got me one and said it was good. I quite enjoyed it but don't think I'll read another. So as the is the off-topic section I thought I would ask your opinion. Have you read any or got anything to complain about I would like to hear.:))
Sorry this is so random!

Dan Same · August 2009

So you're posting a topic about an author you're not really interested in? :v

) I love Christie; IMO she remains among the finest writers of all time (note I didn't include the word 'crime.') Her Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot books are magnificent. If you ever decide to read another Christie book, I would recommend The Thirteen Problems which features 13 Miss Marple mysteries. I must admitt that I don't always find Christie's solutions to be completely logical (I sometimes don't know exactly how they were arrived at), but generally speaking, I think she was a magnificently inventive, completely original and utterly thrilling crime writer who was absolutely robbed of the Nobel Prize!

Newsman · August 2009

Poirot Rules!

Loeffelholz · August 2009

Newsman wrote:

Poirot Rules!

Indeed...and I've always thought it was very cool that the Belgian's first adventure, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, and his last, Curtain, happen at the same location...

Agatha Christie was most accomplished at her craft...

mrbond · August 2009

The one that I read was murder at the vicarage.Is this a good book not sure until I have read more but don't think I will. Might try poirot(spelt right?) what one can you suggest. Also just realised I read and then there was none when I as younger but didn't know it was a Christie. Anyone got any suggestion what else in this genre I can read?

Loeffelholz · August 2009

Anything featuring Poirot...Murder on the Orient Express is widely respected. The two I mentioned above are my favourites.

Newsman · August 2009

May I recommend "The Life and Times of Hercule Poirot" by Anne Hart?

She basically gives us a biography of the eccentric Belgian with the little gray cells.

It is out of print but you can pick up a copy for a couple of bucks used online.

mrbond · August 2009

Cheers newsman!

Napoleon Plural · August 2009

At Hatchards in London Picadilly they have some excellent looking Cristie titles that just make you want to buy them. Which others do you recommend Same? Which are the From Russia With Love, Live and Let Die of the lot?

Dan Same · August 2009

Napoleon Plural wrote:

Which others do you recommend Same? Which are the From Russia With Love, Live and Let Die of the lot?

As I haven't read Fleming (yet), I can't really answer your second question. However, in regards to the first question, I would start with a short story collection and take it from there. Similarly to Sherlock Holmes, one doesn't have to read Poirot or Miss Marple from the very beginning. It's probably best to read them in relatively chronological order, as there is a loose continuity. However the continuity is extremely loose; it's like watching the Bond films. Tracey is referenced in TSWLM, FYEO and LTK, so if you don't watch OHMSS before these films, you might not be completely familiar with whom she is, and the same with the DN references in FRWL. However it's not necessary, and like many people, OHMSS was among the last Bond films I saw. It's not like watching Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers or Return of the King before The Fellowship of the Ring. It's the same with Christie. Therefore, I would probably start with a short story collection, unless one is is the kind of person who jumps off the highest diving board before trying out the lower diving board.

)

Nonetheless, I would make two specific recommendations: Firstly, I would imagine that most perspective readers would prefer Poirot. I love Miss Marple, I think she's a delightful character, however without being sexist or ageist, I am fully aware that most people would prefer the legendary Belgian detective.

Secondly, here are IMO the three Poirot books and the three Marple books one should read before any other:

Poirot-
1)Murder on the Orient Express; a brilliant (and extremely famous) novel, which if my memory serves me correctly, took place entirely on a train. I don't believe that any action took place off-site so to speak, and in a sense, it could be compared to From Russia With Love. It's actually been years since I read this novel. I should reread it.

2)Evil Under the Sun- one of the absolute best Poirot novels, and it was made into a film directed by our own Guy Hamilton.

3)The Mysterious Affair at Styles- the was the first Poirot novel. Although I don't consider it to be among his best, if one was to start at the beginning, one would obviously start with this. There are plenty of other great Poirot novels; the classic Death on the Nile and Five Little Pigs which utilised a Rashomon-type structure. Nonetheless, there is no reason not to start at the beginning and The Mysterious Affair at Styles is therefore a terrific place to start.

Marple-
1)The Murder at the Vicarage- a lesser novel, but the first Marple novel, and not a bad place to start at all.

2)A Murder is Announced- a masterpiece. It features a brilliant premise (literaly a murder is announced) and is executed (pun fully intended

)) in brilliant fashion. I won't say any more, for fear of spoiling it, however it is truly a magnificent work.

3)The Thirteen Problems- her first short story collection, rather than recommend another novel, I thought I would recommend a short story collection. It's an excellent place to start, and in fact it's probably not such a bad idea to read this collection before tackling her novels. Her novels are not difficult by by means, however reading this short story collection will give you an solid idea of what her novels are like. I must admitt, however, in recent years, I've been reading short story collections much more previously as I don't seem to have the discipline to read novels cover-to-cover at this stage (although I am currently reading several novels), so I'm probably projecting. Nonetheless, I do think that The Thirteen Problems is a fine way to be introduced to Agatha Christie in general and Miss Marple in particular.

Napoleon Plural · August 2009

Dan Same wrote:

As I haven't read Fleming (yet)

Dan Same · August 2009

Napoleon Plural wrote:

Dan Same wrote:

As I haven't Fleming (yet)

I spent some time, producing (if I may so myself) one of my best posts, and that is all you have to say? :v

) Anyway, I did say 'yet.'

Barbel · August 2009

Dan Same wrote:

I spent some time, producing (if I may so myself) one of my best posts, and that is all you have to say? :v ) Anyway, I did say 'yet.'

As you say, Dan, excellent post. I wholeheartedly second your choices- her latter books (from, say, the mid-sixties onwards) don't match up though they're not without their charm- and the ones you've picked are classics. I've got the David Suchet Poirot series on DVD, IMHO the best Christie adaptations ever, but was never able to get into the Marple series in the same way.

Napoleon Plural · August 2009

"Too much information..."

was gonna be my first post.

Alright, alright, I'll make a start on your recommendations...

Dan Same · August 2009

Barbel wrote:

Dan Same wrote:

I spent some time, producing (if I may so myself) one of my best posts, and that is all you have to say? :v ) Anyway, I did say 'yet.'

As you say, Dan, excellent post.

Thanks.

I don't usually fish for compliments, however I was very proud of my post.

Barbel wrote:

I wholeheartedly second your choices- her latter books (from, say, the mid-sixties onwards) don't match up though they're not without their charm- and the ones you've picked are classics.

Absolutely.

She was incredibly prolific, and all her books are fine, but as you say, her latter books are simply not as good as her earlier classics.

Barbel wrote:

I've got the David Suchet Poirot series on DVD, IMHO the best Christie adaptations ever, but was never able to get into the Marple series in the same way.

I completely agree. Suchet is incredible as Poirot; his performance is worth the price of admission (so to speak) alone. As for Marple, I haven't bothered. I've tried watching one or two Marple telemovies, however I was never impressed with the leading lady. I think it's because, while Suchet IMO matches the Poirot of the books perfectly, I'm yet to see a Marple telemovie in which the lead actress IMO matches the Marple of the books sufficiently, and the biggest problem is usually that the leading lady isn't close to the right age.

Dan Same · August 2009

Napoleon Plural wrote:

"Too much information..."

was gonna be my first post.

)

Napoleon Plural wrote:

Alright, alright, I'll make a start on your recommendations...

Good. :v

Monique · September 2009

I was raised on these books! My mom was such a fan of hers, my sister and I were almost namd after her! Luckily I would have gotten the Christie part.

)

Some of my favorites were: At Bertram's Hotel, Evil Under the Sun, Mrs. McGinty's Dead, and one that used to be called Thirteen at Dinner, but I noticed has a new title of Lord Edgware Dies, The Mirror Crack'd From Side to Side, The ABC Murders, and The Body in the Library. So many great titles!

Alex · September 2009

I love the 1945 film adaption of Ten Little Indians entitled And Then There Were None. Brings back some wonderful memories. Along with Death On The Nile which I watched with my dear mother many times.

Agathie Christie books and movies, with their warm cozy feelings of masterpiece theater British leanings, are medicine for my soul. I LOVE THEM!

Napoleon Plural · September 2009

Alex wrote:

I love the 1945 film adaption of Ten Little Indians entitled And Then There Were None. Brings back some wonderful memories.

"Don't discriminate against us bro!" :v

mrbond · September 2009

Thanks for your recomendations Dan Sam
What about Julia McKenzie as i made an effort to watch ' A Pocketful of Rye' and thought it was great!

Alex · September 2009

Yes, I do know the original title, Nap. Luckily, it didn't alter my feelings towards enjoying the movie.

Dan Same · September 2009

Alex wrote:

Yes, I do know the original title, Nap. Luckily, it didn't alter my feelings towards enjoying the movie.

It's interesting regarding classic novels that have titles featuring that word. Joseph Conrad wrote a significant novella called 'The ****** of the 'Narcissus.' It's generally considered to be among his best works, but I've never seen it in a local library or bookstore, almost certainly due, at least in part, to its title.

Agatha Christie Books

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