It’s been awhile since I’ve participated in a Classics Club spin. I think the last one I participated in was #14 and it was a dismal failure which made me realize that I simply don’t have time to read the way I used to. So I stopped. However, with my new Classics Club list up, I really need to start to focus on some of these books before it’s too late. So here I am again, hoping for success.
Fresh from my first three Christie reads of A Mysterious Affair at Styles, The Secret Adversary and Murder on the Links, I then delved into a compilation of Poirot short stories called, Poirot investigates. These stories comprise Christie’s fourth published book, published in March 1924.
I must say, after my disappointment with Murder on the Links, Christie has returned to her fine form. Most of the short mysteries have a tight plot (probably necessary for a short story) and a well-crafted riddle. While Poirot’s little grey cells are in fine form, Hastings is his annoying self but at a level that is acceptable and even amusing in certain circumstances. The stories run as follows:
April usually brings lots of showers in my part of the country but let’s hope this year the flowers appear early. It’s been a pretty exciting March and also heading into April. The keyword is “renovations” and there are many of them. As you know from my January, February and March update, my new kitchen is under construction and is progressing nicely thanks to the dedicated direction of my colleague. I’ve been Insulating and drywalling up a storm (well, actually only one wall) and I laid the floor myself. Otherwise, I’ve had an excellent cabinet installer help with the cabinets and today my new Wolf range went in. Still to go are countertops and tile, along with various other little tasks. I’ll be so glad to finally get my kitchen back. I’ve been living in a house that looks like it’s been hit by a hurricane and so many times I’ve wanted to leave for cleaner pastures, but soon I’ll be able to put everything back in order. I can’t wait!
My, my, I’ve been remiss in posting my monthly updates. My only excuse could be that I’ve been very busy (no surprise there) but also that I’ve really been trying to concentrate on using any spare time I have this year for reading, so these posts have gone by the wayside. Time to tidy up!
Murder on the Links: “It was 2 p.m. on the afternoon of May 7th, 1915.”
Detective: Hercule Poirot
Published: 1923 (Christie’s 3rd published book)
Length: 272 pages
Setting: Merlinville-sur-Mer, France (fictional)
This is Agatha Christie’s third published novel after The Mysterious Affair at Styles and The Secret Adversary, and her second one featuring the astute Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot. Quite honestly, this novel falls far short of her initial two attempts, her adept plotting of a mystery surprisingly lacking as the murder and motive is revealed in a rather bumbling fashion. But for now, let’s look at the plot.
Phantastes: A Faerie Romance: “I awoke one morning with the usual perplexity of mind which accompanies the return of consciousness.”
I read Phantastes for the first time in 2012, and while reading it, I was very confused with the progress of the story. So many questions swirled around in my head as to the plot, such as why Anodos, the main character, decided to go to a particular place and why he didn’t listen to advice and what was the point of his wanderings? I approached the book as I would a book like The Lord of the Rings where I was expecting an obvious quest in the culmination of something grand. What I received was a sort of lazy, fanciful wandering by Anodos as he continually encountered faerie princesses and maidens, along with a knight, giants and other evil malefactors. While there were instances of adventure and situations where he had to employ his strength and good sense, these instances seemed solitary experiences that did not connect to the whole. I just couldn’t figure out the point of the story. When I couldn’t find it, I was left somewhat disappointed and unimpressed. Flash-forward to my second reading this year and an epiphany! ….
The Secret Adversary: “It was 2 p.m. on the afternoon of May 7th, 1915.”
Detectives: Tommy Beresford & Prudence “Tuppence” Cowley
Published: 1922 (Christie’s 2nd published book)
Length: 308 pages
Setting: London; Bournemouth; Holyhead, Wales; Kent
Tommy Beresford and Tuppence Cowley are childhood chums who meet up after the war. Tuppence, the daughter of a clergyman, wishes to spread her independent wings and Tommy, demobilized after the war, is looking for a new direction in life. As neither is flush with money, they put their entrepreneurial brains together and decide to launch The Young Adventurers, Ltd. Overhearing them, a man named Whittington follows Tuppence and claims he’s interested in her services. Immediately wary, Tuppence gives her name as Jane Finn, the assumed name which she’d heard earlier from Tommy. The appellation causes Whittington to react nearly apoplectically and the following investigation sends them on a whirlwind of adventure from which they are unsure if they’ll return alive!
The Ritz London ~ source Wikimedia Commons
Last week’s Top Ten Tuesday were books that I meant to read in 2018 but didn’t which is a looking back on the year, so how could I resist this weeks topic of ten books I’m looking forward to reading this year, which, of course, is looking forward. It’s mostly better to look ahead than back. 😉 Actually, the topic is the ten newest reads I’ve added to my TBR list, but being somewhat of a non-conformist, I thought I’d change it up a bit.
While there will be one overlap from my last Top Ten Tuesday topic, I have mostly new choices in mind for this list. Luckily I plan to read more than ten books this year!
The Mysterious Affair at Styles: “The intense interest aroused in the public by what was known at the time as ‘The Styles Case’ has now somewhat subsided.”
Detective: Hercule Poirot
Published: 1920 (1st published book)
Length: 224 pages
Setting: Essex
Written at: Dartmoor
Published in 1920, The Mysterious Affair at Styles is not only Agatha Christie’s first published novel but the first to introduce the reader to Hercule Poirot, her fastidious yet likeable Belgian detective whose mind nimbly gathers clues, deftly processes information and cunningly solves murders with style and aplomb.
~ source Wikimedia Commons
So ….. books I meant to read in 2018 but whoops ….. Never mind Top Ten Tuesday for this topic; for me it should be Top Fifty. But I will try to be considerate and in the spirit of not boring you to death and making your eyes glaze over, I’ll keep it to ten …… I think ……. 😉
So here we go!
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor DostoyevskyMoby Dick by Herman Melville