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And Then There Were None, Agatha Christie, G P Putnam's Sons, 1939, 252 pp
The first Agatha Christie I have read was for a reading group. I know she is considered to be one of the best mystery writers ever but the book was just not my thing.
The story was entertaining, the plot fiendishly clever, and she did create tension almost as well as Patricia Highsmith. I hated the ending, though at least we found out who did all the murders.
The other night at reading group I learned that Christie was a somewhat wild and interesting woman. But I won't be reading her again largely because the thought of doing so makes me collapse with boredom. Give me Tana French, Sara Paretsky, Janet Evanovich, and the other female mystery writers I love. Give me Raymond Chandler; actually I have read all of his.
I know many of you will want to tell me about all I am missing. Sorry.
(And Then There Were None is available in paperback on the shelf at Once Upon A Time Bookstore.)
I love Agatha Christie and this is my favourite of her books, but she's obviously very different from the other mystery writers you mention loving, so I can understand why she might not be to your taste! At least you know now that she's not your thing and can move on. :)
ReplyDeleteExactly!
DeleteI grew up loving AG, but I think she was very much of her time. She was indeed a rebel in her day, but I can she how one might find her writing somewhat dated. This book, along with The Murder of Roger Ackroyd and Murder on the Orient Express are my favorites among her works and all feature unexpected plot twists at the end.
ReplyDeleteIt was odd. Even though neither the characters nor the crimes were at all sedate, the book still came across that way for me. Possibly that is because they were a product of her times.
DeleteDon't look at me, I'm not a Christie blowhard or too big on murder mysteries. She was a bit before my time but I think I saw the movie of Death on the Nile in 1978 with David Niven. I don't think I saw Murder on the Orient Express. Thx for the warning.
ReplyDeleteOK then. I'm with you!
DeleteLol, I love 'And Then There Were None' by Agatha Christie!! It's one of my favorites. I've read it twice, although it has been some years since I last reread 'And Then There Were None' by Agatha Christie.
ReplyDeleteIt's cool. Lots of my friends love Christie too.
DeleteIt's been a loooong while since I read Agatha Christie. Raymond Chandler too. They were some of my favorite authors growing up. I can't say whether they were dated or not but it's a different kind of literature to the fast-paced modern one. I'm trying to incorporate more classics in my reading, so I'll probably get re-acquainted with them and will be able to judge them from my current perspective.
ReplyDeleteAnyways, sorry your experience with this book has made you decide to avoid her altogether.
Thank for your condolences but I am not sorry I read it. It was a very quick read and now I know where I stand, at least for now:-)
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