Dear Agatha!
Surfer girl. Roller skater. Pharmacy technician. World traveler. Amateur archaeologist. Photographer. Car owner. Home owner times ten?! Pianist.
Daughter. Sister. Wife. Mother. Wife. Friend.
Writer.
Detective stories, thrillers, romance novels, memoirs, plays, poems, songs - not war propaganda. And yet, even at the end of your life, you felt it hard to consider yourself an accomplished author.
I love your voice. I love your stories - not just facts about your life but memories that impacted who you are. At times I think I can relate to you, and other times I think you and I could not be more different.
I do not understand your relationship with your daughter. It seems like you are close, but you were hardly ever home! I tell myself it must be a cultural thing but honestly I just don't understand it.
You do love fiercely. Archie. Max. Rosalind. Mathew. Your mother.
You brought the Middle East in the 1930s alive for me. Apart from Biblical history and our current issues with that part of the world, I never have given it much thought. To see your love for this land and the way you shared Max's passion and supported his dreams was amazing to me.
Courageous. Adventurous.
Bed bugs. Unfortunately, I can relate.
I love how you handled your money at the end of your life. Better to share it with people you love and admire than give it all to that tax man.
I wish I'd taken more notes as I read this, dear Agatha. But these are the thoughts that come to mind when I read your story.
My only disappointment is that you didn't even allude to your scandalous disappearance. Not even a mention that it ever happened! Almost 650 pages and nay a word. Tut tut.
This may be the book, other than the Bible, that has taken me the longest to read. Still, I loved every minute of it.
Always with admiration,
Beth
Sunday, April 30
Wednesday, March 29
14. The Murder at Hazelmoor (1931)
{Also published under the title The Sittaford Mystery}
Dear Agatha,
I'm not sure when the "cozy mystery" phrase developed as a genre, but one internet reader pointed out that the first paragraphs of Hazelmoor did set the stage nicely for such:
Major Burnaby drew on his gum boots, buttoned his overcoat collar round his neck, took from a shelf near the door a hurricane lantern, and cautiously opened the front door of his little bungalow and peered out.
The scene that met his eyes was typical of the English countryside as depicted on Xmas cards and in old-fashioned melodramas. Everywhere was snow, deep drifts of it - no mere powdering an inch or two thick. Snow had fallen all over England for the last four days...
As usual, you had me fooled until the very end. I suspected the killer for a moment, but didn't take long to dismiss it.
As I read this, I visualized in my head not a movie, but playing through a video game. Going to this character to gather this information, moving to the next room or character for more clues, continuing on and so forth - very much like the computer game I have for And Then There Were None. It would make a great game!
A favorite line from Captain Wyatt:
"In a place like this you have to teach people to leave a man alone. Always knocking at the door and dropping in and chattering. I don't mind seeing people when I am in the mood - but it has got be my mood not theirs."
I can relate!
And worldly wisdom from Robert Gardner:
"Teach him life can't be all beer and skittles!"
Today, dear Agatha, Skittles brings to mind candy more readily than a game of bowling, so the phrase made me giggle. A little Google research shows that you're not the only one to use that phrase, but it was certainly new to me.
<< and more typos!!! >>
I'm going to spend some more time in your autobiography again before moving on to the next book. I am making good progress through your works, but it's a little slow given book club commitments and such. Grace keeps asking me when I'm going to read the book she gave me for Christmas (which is some obscure fantasy novel). Sigh... I'm so behind.
Dear Agatha,
I'm not sure when the "cozy mystery" phrase developed as a genre, but one internet reader pointed out that the first paragraphs of Hazelmoor did set the stage nicely for such:
Major Burnaby drew on his gum boots, buttoned his overcoat collar round his neck, took from a shelf near the door a hurricane lantern, and cautiously opened the front door of his little bungalow and peered out.
The scene that met his eyes was typical of the English countryside as depicted on Xmas cards and in old-fashioned melodramas. Everywhere was snow, deep drifts of it - no mere powdering an inch or two thick. Snow had fallen all over England for the last four days...
As usual, you had me fooled until the very end. I suspected the killer for a moment, but didn't take long to dismiss it.
As I read this, I visualized in my head not a movie, but playing through a video game. Going to this character to gather this information, moving to the next room or character for more clues, continuing on and so forth - very much like the computer game I have for And Then There Were None. It would make a great game!
A favorite line from Captain Wyatt:
"In a place like this you have to teach people to leave a man alone. Always knocking at the door and dropping in and chattering. I don't mind seeing people when I am in the mood - but it has got be my mood not theirs."
I can relate!
And worldly wisdom from Robert Gardner:
"Teach him life can't be all beer and skittles!"
Today, dear Agatha, Skittles brings to mind candy more readily than a game of bowling, so the phrase made me giggle. A little Google research shows that you're not the only one to use that phrase, but it was certainly new to me.
<< and more typos!!! >>
I'm going to spend some more time in your autobiography again before moving on to the next book. I am making good progress through your works, but it's a little slow given book club commitments and such. Grace keeps asking me when I'm going to read the book she gave me for Christmas (which is some obscure fantasy novel). Sigh... I'm so behind.
Wednesday, February 15
13. The Murder at the Vicarage (1930)
Agatha! This edition had several typos! What?!
That said, these are a few of my favorite things from this novel, aside from the plot itself!
At Dennis' age a detective story is one of the best things in life.
(And at my age, too.)
There was a reference to Dr. Crippen - which took me on a rabbit trail as I looked him up on the internet and read all about *his* fascinating crime. That one would make a great movie!
"Well I don't agree with you," said Griselda. "You know how little we can afford to pay a servant. If once we got her smartened up at all, she'd leave. Naturally. And get higher wages. But as long as Mary can't cook and has these awful manners - well, we're safe; nobody else would have her."
Agatha, you make me laugh! And again:
I cannot say that I have at any time a great admiration for Mr. Raymond West. He is, I know, supposed to be a brilliant novelist, and has made quite a name as a poet. His poems have no capital letters in them, which is, I believe, the essence of modernity. His books are about unpleasant people leading lives of surpassing dullness.
(In my limited knowledge of modern poetry, I suspect an allusion to ee cummings.)
Miss Marple's understanding of herself:
"You see," she began at last, "living alone as I do, in a rather out of the way part of the world, one has to have a hobby. There is , of course, woolwork, and Guides, and Welfare, and sketching, but my hobby is - and always has been - Human Nature. So varied - and so very fascinating. And, of course, in a small village, with nothing to distract one, one has such ample opportunity for becoming what I might call proficient in one's study. One begins to class people, quite definitely, just as though they were birds or flowers, group so and so, genus this, species that. Sometimes, of course, one makes mistakes, but less and less as time goes on. And then, too, one tests oneself... It is so fascinating, you know, to apply one's judgment and find that one is right."
And metafiction (just one example):
"I know that in books it is always the most unlikely person. But I never find that rule applies in real life."
Oh, Dame Agatha...it is so interesting that Miss Marple, who becomes one of your most popular detectives, is just a peripheral character through most of this novel - and yet it is she who puts all the facts together and solves the mystery. Brilliant. I love it.
That said, these are a few of my favorite things from this novel, aside from the plot itself!
At Dennis' age a detective story is one of the best things in life.
(And at my age, too.)
There was a reference to Dr. Crippen - which took me on a rabbit trail as I looked him up on the internet and read all about *his* fascinating crime. That one would make a great movie!
"Well I don't agree with you," said Griselda. "You know how little we can afford to pay a servant. If once we got her smartened up at all, she'd leave. Naturally. And get higher wages. But as long as Mary can't cook and has these awful manners - well, we're safe; nobody else would have her."
Agatha, you make me laugh! And again:
I cannot say that I have at any time a great admiration for Mr. Raymond West. He is, I know, supposed to be a brilliant novelist, and has made quite a name as a poet. His poems have no capital letters in them, which is, I believe, the essence of modernity. His books are about unpleasant people leading lives of surpassing dullness.
(In my limited knowledge of modern poetry, I suspect an allusion to ee cummings.)
Miss Marple's understanding of herself:
"You see," she began at last, "living alone as I do, in a rather out of the way part of the world, one has to have a hobby. There is , of course, woolwork, and Guides, and Welfare, and sketching, but my hobby is - and always has been - Human Nature. So varied - and so very fascinating. And, of course, in a small village, with nothing to distract one, one has such ample opportunity for becoming what I might call proficient in one's study. One begins to class people, quite definitely, just as though they were birds or flowers, group so and so, genus this, species that. Sometimes, of course, one makes mistakes, but less and less as time goes on. And then, too, one tests oneself... It is so fascinating, you know, to apply one's judgment and find that one is right."
And metafiction (just one example):
"I know that in books it is always the most unlikely person. But I never find that rule applies in real life."
Oh, Dame Agatha...it is so interesting that Miss Marple, who becomes one of your most popular detectives, is just a peripheral character through most of this novel - and yet it is she who puts all the facts together and solves the mystery. Brilliant. I love it.
Thursday, February 2
12. The Mysterious Mr. Quin (1930)
Oh, my dear Agatha,
You just never disappoint.
I am reading this book right now, The Storied Life of AJ Fikry (mixed feelings), and the protagonist is a bookseller who loves the short story. I think I used to really love the short story better than the novel, too, but my tastes have definitely changed. Sometimes I feel like when you read a collection of them, I'm just getting a taste of something. Because the paradigm doesn't allow it, there is no time to go deep with the characters or back story or what have you.
That said, this collection of short stories, though originally published separately, did fit together as a cohesive whole. I loved how each was a story in itself, but through the progression, the characters progressed. In fact, I'll admit, I felt more and more uncomfortable with Mr. Quin, especially in the final story - but I really grew to love the protagonist, Mr. Satterthwaite.
Agatha, I even loved the introduction you wrote to the 1953 edition. When you said your favorites were "World's End," "The Man from the Sea," and "Harlequin's Lane," I looked forward to each with more anticipation. Of those three, I'm sure "Harlequin's Lane" was among my favorites. I did love the others, though.
From the introduction:
After I turned from poetry and ghost stories to crime, Harlequin finally reappeared; a figure invisible except when he chose, not quite human, yet concerned with the affairs of human beings and particularly of lovers. He is also the advocate for the dead.
Though each story about him is quite separate, the collection, written over a considerable period of years, outlines in the end the story of Harlequin himself.
A webpage I came across: http://www.agathachristie.com/characters/harley-quin
There is a certain degree of intelligence that is required to really appreciate your works sometimes, a level I feel I lack, by the way. Maybe it's because I'm American; maybe it's because of the time in which I live - but I definitely feel a lack of knowledge of culture that you often refer to. Of course I've heard of Harlequin and the motifs of Punchinello and such, but I am certainly unfamiliar with the operas of Columbine, Pierrot, Pierrette, etc. I need to do some research and perhaps come back to this tome again. That said, even with my surface understanding, I loved this book; I just feel I may love it even more when I understand it more deeply.
Hungry for more, dear Agatha.
Beth
You just never disappoint.
I am reading this book right now, The Storied Life of AJ Fikry (mixed feelings), and the protagonist is a bookseller who loves the short story. I think I used to really love the short story better than the novel, too, but my tastes have definitely changed. Sometimes I feel like when you read a collection of them, I'm just getting a taste of something. Because the paradigm doesn't allow it, there is no time to go deep with the characters or back story or what have you.
That said, this collection of short stories, though originally published separately, did fit together as a cohesive whole. I loved how each was a story in itself, but through the progression, the characters progressed. In fact, I'll admit, I felt more and more uncomfortable with Mr. Quin, especially in the final story - but I really grew to love the protagonist, Mr. Satterthwaite.
Agatha, I even loved the introduction you wrote to the 1953 edition. When you said your favorites were "World's End," "The Man from the Sea," and "Harlequin's Lane," I looked forward to each with more anticipation. Of those three, I'm sure "Harlequin's Lane" was among my favorites. I did love the others, though.
From the introduction:
After I turned from poetry and ghost stories to crime, Harlequin finally reappeared; a figure invisible except when he chose, not quite human, yet concerned with the affairs of human beings and particularly of lovers. He is also the advocate for the dead.
Though each story about him is quite separate, the collection, written over a considerable period of years, outlines in the end the story of Harlequin himself.
A webpage I came across: http://www.agathachristie.com/characters/harley-quin
There is a certain degree of intelligence that is required to really appreciate your works sometimes, a level I feel I lack, by the way. Maybe it's because I'm American; maybe it's because of the time in which I live - but I definitely feel a lack of knowledge of culture that you often refer to. Of course I've heard of Harlequin and the motifs of Punchinello and such, but I am certainly unfamiliar with the operas of Columbine, Pierrot, Pierrette, etc. I need to do some research and perhaps come back to this tome again. That said, even with my surface understanding, I loved this book; I just feel I may love it even more when I understand it more deeply.
Hungry for more, dear Agatha.
Beth
Tuesday, January 10
11. Partners in Crime (1929)
Dear Agatha,
What a ride! THIS is the reason I love your works so much. THIS is the reason why I want to read them all in publication order and blog about how wonderful you are. THIS!
The first mystery surrounding this read occurred before I even opened the book. It took me nearly 30 minutes to figure out what the next book was for me to read! I was trying to access the info on my phone - wasn't working well - and I was further confused by the fact that I had Underdog sitting at the top of my book pile next to my bed. (I later remembered I had picked it up at a used bookstore over Christmas break.)
ANYWAY, once I figured out that the next read was Partners in Crime, it took me another ten minutes to be sure it was the right book, because I felt like I'd read it before. Eventually I checked Goodreads and learned that I'd read it back in 2013 for part of the ACRC... Ahhh, finally things began to click. These little gray cells certainly weren't functioning at a very high capacity.
What's funny to me is, based on the Goodreads review a few years back, I didn't seem to like this book all that much. This time, however, I absolutely LOVED it. It is so brilliant to have Tommy and Tuppence channel their inner fictional detectives to solve mysteries, culminating with Poirot himself! I love it SO much!
If and when I ever finish reading all your books, I want to go back to this one and read all the mysteries that inspired Tommy and Tuppence.
As much as I love Poirot, Tommy and Tuppence are vying to be my favorites.
THIS:
He picked up a violin which lay on the table, and drew the bow once or twice across the strings. Tuppence ground her teeth and even the explorer blenched. The performer laid the instrument down again.
"A few chords from Mosgovskensky," he murmured. "Leave me your address, Mr. Stavansson, and I will report progress to you."
As the visitor left the office, Tuppence grabbed the violin and putting it in the cupboard turned the key in the lock.
"If you must be Sherlock Holmes," she observed, "I'll get you a nice little syringe and a bottle labelled Cocaine, but for God's sake leave that violin alone..."
And this:
"It is a great advantage to be intelligent and not to look it."
Oh, Agatha - these mysteries... they make me think and puzzle; at times they are truly suspenseful; but what I love best is your subtle sense of humor that makes me both smile at times and laugh out loud at others. I just love you.
Beth
What a ride! THIS is the reason I love your works so much. THIS is the reason why I want to read them all in publication order and blog about how wonderful you are. THIS!
The first mystery surrounding this read occurred before I even opened the book. It took me nearly 30 minutes to figure out what the next book was for me to read! I was trying to access the info on my phone - wasn't working well - and I was further confused by the fact that I had Underdog sitting at the top of my book pile next to my bed. (I later remembered I had picked it up at a used bookstore over Christmas break.)
ANYWAY, once I figured out that the next read was Partners in Crime, it took me another ten minutes to be sure it was the right book, because I felt like I'd read it before. Eventually I checked Goodreads and learned that I'd read it back in 2013 for part of the ACRC... Ahhh, finally things began to click. These little gray cells certainly weren't functioning at a very high capacity.
What's funny to me is, based on the Goodreads review a few years back, I didn't seem to like this book all that much. This time, however, I absolutely LOVED it. It is so brilliant to have Tommy and Tuppence channel their inner fictional detectives to solve mysteries, culminating with Poirot himself! I love it SO much!
If and when I ever finish reading all your books, I want to go back to this one and read all the mysteries that inspired Tommy and Tuppence.
As much as I love Poirot, Tommy and Tuppence are vying to be my favorites.
THIS:
He picked up a violin which lay on the table, and drew the bow once or twice across the strings. Tuppence ground her teeth and even the explorer blenched. The performer laid the instrument down again.
"A few chords from Mosgovskensky," he murmured. "Leave me your address, Mr. Stavansson, and I will report progress to you."
As the visitor left the office, Tuppence grabbed the violin and putting it in the cupboard turned the key in the lock.
"If you must be Sherlock Holmes," she observed, "I'll get you a nice little syringe and a bottle labelled Cocaine, but for God's sake leave that violin alone..."
And this:
"It is a great advantage to be intelligent and not to look it."
Oh, Agatha - these mysteries... they make me think and puzzle; at times they are truly suspenseful; but what I love best is your subtle sense of humor that makes me both smile at times and laugh out loud at others. I just love you.
Beth
Sunday, January 1
10. The Seven Dials Mystery (1929)
Hi, Dame Agatha ~
I am behind on reading. I am behind on blogging. I am behind on life.
I read the Seven Dials Mystery several months ago. I remember only that it was fun. :( I was supposed to also be catching up some on your autobiography. I am behind on that, too.
Nothing like starting a New Year feeling completely behind and overwhelmed. I just noticed that Goodreads shows that I only read about 15 books in 2016. That is disappointing for sure. I think the last time I wrote you I said that I would start making sure I read before bed instead of playing on my phone. That works sometimes. At least I think of it most days. New Year's Resolution? Hmmm...
Missing you,
Beth
I am behind on reading. I am behind on blogging. I am behind on life.
I read the Seven Dials Mystery several months ago. I remember only that it was fun. :( I was supposed to also be catching up some on your autobiography. I am behind on that, too.
Nothing like starting a New Year feeling completely behind and overwhelmed. I just noticed that Goodreads shows that I only read about 15 books in 2016. That is disappointing for sure. I think the last time I wrote you I said that I would start making sure I read before bed instead of playing on my phone. That works sometimes. At least I think of it most days. New Year's Resolution? Hmmm...
Missing you,
Beth
Wednesday, September 14
9. The Mystery of the Blue Train (1928)
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
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
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