Dear Agatha,
I am always entertained when reading your books. This one included, but I had a harder time getting through it. It's probably me, not you. Distractions abound.
Early on I suspected the killer, but not with any real rhyme or reason - just because he wasn't on the official suspect list. I was still surprised when it turned out to be him (or her!).
I think now it's time to spend a little time back in your autobiography before I go on.
Always with admiration,
Beth
Wednesday, September 14
Friday, September 2
8. The Big Four (1927)
Oh, dear Agatha,
After being completely entertained by The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, I really hesitated to start The Big Four. I wasn't sure anything would compare, and I really didn't want to end up disappointed, you know. But since we had this reading competition going and it's my quest to read all your works anyway, I picked it up while we were in California and got going on it.
And... I loved it! This was so much fun! I wonder of the theme of people trying to take over the world is really a thing in the past in literature and movies these days. I don't recall much current work like that. I'm trying to think, even among superhero movies and such that are set in present day... Well anyway, because of that (and some of your descriptions that today would be considered very politically incorrect and even racist), I felt like this was very old-fashioned - but still, totally fun.
You make me really love to read again, Dame Agatha. I don't know why I don't do it more. I'm lazy to the core. While we were in California, I made it a point to go down to bed early every night, specifically so I could read. Now that we're home and back into our routine, I find myself going to bed every night and playing on my stupid phone! What the heck, Agatha? Ridiculous. I'm going to start tonight getting back into the habit I had in California.
Can't wait,
Beth
After being completely entertained by The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, I really hesitated to start The Big Four. I wasn't sure anything would compare, and I really didn't want to end up disappointed, you know. But since we had this reading competition going and it's my quest to read all your works anyway, I picked it up while we were in California and got going on it.
And... I loved it! This was so much fun! I wonder of the theme of people trying to take over the world is really a thing in the past in literature and movies these days. I don't recall much current work like that. I'm trying to think, even among superhero movies and such that are set in present day... Well anyway, because of that (and some of your descriptions that today would be considered very politically incorrect and even racist), I felt like this was very old-fashioned - but still, totally fun.
You make me really love to read again, Dame Agatha. I don't know why I don't do it more. I'm lazy to the core. While we were in California, I made it a point to go down to bed early every night, specifically so I could read. Now that we're home and back into our routine, I find myself going to bed every night and playing on my stupid phone! What the heck, Agatha? Ridiculous. I'm going to start tonight getting back into the habit I had in California.
Can't wait,
Beth
7. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (1926)
Dear Agatha,
This summer, our little family had a little reading competition. We each put $10 into the pool, and read our little hearts out to see who could read the most pages by the time school started. Even Robert, who never really takes much time to read for pleasure any more, read a couple of novels. Christianne came in 4th place; she really wasn't very focused. :) I managed a solid third place, but I'm happy with that, reading over 2400 pages from June through most of August. Grace passed me at over 4000, and Joshua won the pot with over 5000 pages read.
We read everything from CS Lewis to Bradbury, Snicket to Shakespeare, you of course, and more. I was so tickled... Early in the summer while we were camping we took a (very challenging for me) hike up to Kruger Rock in Estes Park. The kids of course would be ahead of us, and stop every once in awhile to wait for us to catch up. Whereas most kids would wait and play on the rocks, poke bugs, or enjoy the scenery, Joshua would invariably have his paperback copy of The Merchant of Venice out of his pocket, reading away.
I had some other reading to catch up on so sadly you weren't all that I read, but I was happy to finish (although I enjoyed it) Veronica Roth's Divergent series while we were vacationing in California and get into The Murder of Roger Ackroyd - which is my favorite writing of yours so far!
You got me, Dame Agatha. I sensed something was off, but I didn't see that coming, and I was absolutely delighted in the end. This was definitely a fun, fun ride.
I love that just a few years ago, 87 years after its publication, the British Crime Writers' Association voted this the best crime novel ever. And I believe that I read somewhere that it was the nosy little sister in the story that became the basis for your future Miss Marple. ::sigh:: Love.
With admiration,
Beth
This summer, our little family had a little reading competition. We each put $10 into the pool, and read our little hearts out to see who could read the most pages by the time school started. Even Robert, who never really takes much time to read for pleasure any more, read a couple of novels. Christianne came in 4th place; she really wasn't very focused. :) I managed a solid third place, but I'm happy with that, reading over 2400 pages from June through most of August. Grace passed me at over 4000, and Joshua won the pot with over 5000 pages read.
We read everything from CS Lewis to Bradbury, Snicket to Shakespeare, you of course, and more. I was so tickled... Early in the summer while we were camping we took a (very challenging for me) hike up to Kruger Rock in Estes Park. The kids of course would be ahead of us, and stop every once in awhile to wait for us to catch up. Whereas most kids would wait and play on the rocks, poke bugs, or enjoy the scenery, Joshua would invariably have his paperback copy of The Merchant of Venice out of his pocket, reading away.
I had some other reading to catch up on so sadly you weren't all that I read, but I was happy to finish (although I enjoyed it) Veronica Roth's Divergent series while we were vacationing in California and get into The Murder of Roger Ackroyd - which is my favorite writing of yours so far!
You got me, Dame Agatha. I sensed something was off, but I didn't see that coming, and I was absolutely delighted in the end. This was definitely a fun, fun ride.
I love that just a few years ago, 87 years after its publication, the British Crime Writers' Association voted this the best crime novel ever. And I believe that I read somewhere that it was the nosy little sister in the story that became the basis for your future Miss Marple. ::sigh:: Love.
With admiration,
Beth
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