12-26-2009, 02:23 AM | #1 |
Wizard
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Do you like Agatha Christie?
I went through my reader today going through some of my free downloads and purging a little. I looked up a summary on Amazon, deleted at once if I felt like I would never read it, and for most of the others I was on the fence about, gave it a good ten pages or so.
And...I think I don't really like Agatha Christie. I have read extensively in the mystery genre, both classic and more contemporary stuff. I love Poe. I love Conan Doyle. I appreciate that Christie has an important place in things. But...I just wasn't feeling it. There were other things I'd rather read. Her sentences, especially in the Poirot stuff, felt long and clumsy. I just wasn't terribly interested in what was going on. I feel a little bit guilty about this. I feel like, reader that I am, mystery fan that I am, I *should* like Christie more than I seemed to. Maybe I just wasn't reading the right ones, I know only the first three are legit freebies. So am I missing something? Should I start with other ones, maybe? Or, given the vast quantity of unread books in my to read pile, should I just put Christie aside, guilt-free, and move on with my reading life? |
12-26-2009, 04:22 AM | #2 |
Wizard
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i think agatha christie is okay, but i prefer dorothy l sayers, robert b parker or even ngaio marsh, who is often compared to christie. i'd move on to something you enjoy. after all, isn't that why we read mysteries?
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12-26-2009, 05:06 AM | #3 |
neilmarr
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A pal of mine is President of the Agatha Christie Society in the UK and he keeps singing her praises and recommending books. Must admit, though, that I find her work contrived, twee and lacking in any literary value. Mind you, three generations of avid Christie readers can't all be wrong, so I excuse my lack of enthusiasm by reminding myself that appreciation of literature is entirely subjective and that if we all had similar tastes what's on offer would be tremendously restricted. Cheers. Neil
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12-26-2009, 05:40 AM | #4 |
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Sometimes I find I need a 'gateway' work to help me appreciate a writer.
It took me a long time to get into Agatha Christie - but when I read 'The Murder of Roger Ackroyd' it all clicked into place for me; and I've enjoyed most of the Christie's I've read since. |
12-26-2009, 07:06 AM | #5 |
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Yes, I agree with you. "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd" is an excellent way into Christie, as is "And Then There Were None" (aka "Ten Little Niggers" or "Ten Little Indians", depending upon the political correctness of the time of publication). This latter book is, it's interesting to note, the best selling mystery book of all time.
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12-26-2009, 08:45 AM | #6 |
Grand Sorcerer
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I do love her. I was listening to NPR the other day though and mystery author P.D. James was discussing Sayers and Christie. She prefered Sayers since she was more realistic, she mentioned that with Christie you had to suspend reality.
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12-26-2009, 08:49 AM | #7 | |
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I may have to give that one a go. I tried a couple Christie books in my youth, didn't like them and never went back... Bob T. |
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12-26-2009, 08:50 AM | #8 |
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12-26-2009, 08:52 AM | #9 |
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12-26-2009, 09:25 AM | #10 |
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I only liked Christie when I was a kid. But if you were to give another one a shot, Tne Little Niggers would be a good one to try I think. Certainly close to the best.
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12-26-2009, 09:27 AM | #11 |
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12-26-2009, 01:00 PM | #12 | |
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So go for it. https://www.fictionwise.com/ebooks/b...Christie/?si=0 |
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12-26-2009, 03:26 PM | #13 | |
Enjoying the show....
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It doesn't matter if you like her or not. You tried her..........now enjoy the author you do like reading. Not caring for a specific author's work in no way reflects on your judgment. |
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12-28-2009, 01:01 AM | #14 |
ZCD BombShel
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This is probably an unusual take - my mom loved Agatha Christie, we had all her books around the house when I was growing up. I tried all the different ones, but found I didn't like Hercule Poirot; Miss Marple was "ok", but Tommy and Tuppence caught my imagination. So I read most of those (years ago, really should go back and do them again...), and didn't bother with the rest.
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12-28-2009, 01:20 PM | #15 | |
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