Agatha Christie week (sept12-sept17)

[Nightshade]

The week of September 12th to 17th has been designated the official 'Agatha Christie Week'.

And while a host of activities have been scheduled throughout the UK to celebrate the achievements of the best selling author of all time, fans of murder, mystery and mayhem will find that The English Riviera has also lined-up a very special series of events to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the 'birth' of one of the country's most famous literary heroines — Miss Marple.

Fans of the famous author — as well as her two best-known sleuths, 'Miss Marple' and 'Hercule Poirot' — can detect the real life story of Agatha Christie these days by following a mile-long trail on foot along one of the most scenic stretches of the seafront, by a choice of three trails by car, and by visiting Torquay Museum where there is a display of Christie-related memorabilia.

Another highlight are the grounds of nearby Greenway House, where she lived, and where the gardens are today opened by the National Trust.

2005, meanwhile, marks the platinum jubilee of Agatha Christie's immortal spinster sleuth, Miss Marple. And the nation-wide celebrations being organised by Agatha Christie Limited.....

Did you know there was an agatha christie week???
Anyway so anyone else feel inspired to read some of her books? :D
Plus thsi si a perfect time to discuss anyone of her books that you have ever read plus Poirot vs Marple argument.
Peronally I cant stand Poirot:D

[Koa]

cool! didnt know that! it makes me feel like reading some actually...

[Nightshade]

Good good reacently I bought a book with three books in it (a collection ) that she wrote under a different name I havent read them yet but Ill do that for the week i think :D

Whats your favourite Agatha christie book?

[mono]

Once, I read Agatha Christie's The Secret Adversary, years ago, and enjoyed it thoroughly; but, unfortunately, I have not yet attended to any of her other many novels.
Thanks for the notification, Nightshade. It seems a shame that we do not have weeks (or even days) devoted to more incredible authors, but I feel relieved that Christie receives such an honorable position. :)

[Koa]

I dont know which book I liked most, I've read them ages ago... The 10 little indians thing was brilliant, but I'm not sure it was my favourite...
Btw, Agatha Christie was the first author I tried to read in original, and it was a good choice... her sentences are clear, she doesnt write anything that is not necessary and of course the story keeps you interested so that you don't focus too much on what you don't know - I always recommend it as a first read in English.

[Nightshade]

Thats the first AC book I read momo but then ny mum has 2 of those big hard backs with 5 novels inside of agatha christie and she let me have it when I was 10 so I got hooked.
Anyway I dug out that book I was talking about its called The Mary Westmacott Collection volume 1 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0006479871/qid=1125779087/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_26_1/026-6343726-2865266)

I dint notice till I had it out of the shop "love stories"
thats what you get shopping with other people I suppose still its Agatha christie:D

[Aeonna]

I've read a great deal of her books but my favourite is probably "The Crooked House" because it caught me by surprise and still had a solution that made sense.

What's this about a Poirot vs Marple argument?

[Nightshade]

who is better Marple or Poirot personally I love marple and hate Poirot.

My fav is "Death comes as the end" I love the bits about everyone is really the opoiste to what they apear and corruption and rot start from within

[Themis]

Personally, I don't like both of them too much. But better Miss Marple than Hercule Poirot. Still, I liked the films about Miss Marple.
But in the books I like Tommy and Tuppence Bereford better. Those two are great. :)
- And am I the only one who read "Ten little niggers"? I thought that was her most famous book. (It's a lot different from her other books, though a little illogical at times.)

[Koa]

yes i mentioned that one but i called it 10 little indians cos that was the translation here and i forgot the name was originally different... i remember i liked it, and it was strange, different...

[Pendragon]

Leave it to ol' Pendragon to be the Hercule Poirot fan!? :D My favorite was CURTAIN. The Ten Little Indians was also released as And Then There Were None... A terrific book as well! :nod:

[Nightshade]

You see ten little indians was also ten little Niggers and also Then there were none, Thee. It appears that I am the only one who did find that book fantastic in fact I only half and half liked it.

[Themis]

Ah, thanks. How strange that there are different titles. I thought "Ten little niggers" was because of the poem that appears in the book.
@Night: And what didn't you like?

[Nightshade]

Cant remeber but there was somthing ....

[Scheherazade]

Ten Little Indians was the very first Christie book I read... Loved it and became addicted! :D

My personal favorites:
Ten Little Indians
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
Crooked House
Murder on the Orient Express

I would love to see her play The Mousetrap due to the mystery surronding it; it cannot be published until it stops running at West End and it still is running after 53 years (since 1952)!!! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mousetrap

Thanks for starting this thread, Night! :thumbs_up I will make sure I read something by Christie next week (if I can find one of her books that I haven't read already).

[arabian night]

I like agatha's way of writing...the first novel i have read in my life was by her.and she deserves to have a week named for her :)
and since this topic is about her...let me ask for the title of one of her stories...i know it but translated...it is about a judge who wanted to take a revenge from people commited s.th wrong by taking them to an island then killing them .:)
i would appreciate it if you could help me

[hibiscus]

@ Arabian Night: <chuckle> There's plenty said about that one already! Don't give the plot away for those who haven't read it yet. ;)

I can't remember the first Christie I read, but I think I've read and re-read them all. Sometimes I like Miss Marple's gentle, seemingly woolly methods, and sometimes I go for Poirot and his use of the little grey cells. Christie was also interested in the supernatural, and this comes through in several of her mysteries. IMO one shouldn't look for anything realistic in her books; they are meant for escaping into, and that's what they do for me.

It's difficult to choose any one favourite, though. Many of them are good - Sleeping Murder, Nemesis, Towards Zero... lots, in fact.

[hellodolly]

I personally liked DEATH ON THE NILE however I too prefer Marple!!!!!!

[Scheherazade]

For Christie fans, a quiz on Agatha Christie has been added to the Forum: http://www.online-literature.com/forums/quiz.php?

*edit*

Decided to read Secret Adversary next week. It is also available on the site.

[hibiscus]

Coolio! 100%! :D <does dance of joy>

Btw Scheherazade, the third question says "Miss Maple". Tsk.

[Nightshade]

Oh wow 100% congrats :D

[Scheherazade]

Coolio! 100%! :D <does dance of joy>

Btw Scheherazade, the third question says "Miss Maple". Tsk.Congrats, Hibiscus!

And thanks for the heads up for the typo! :thumbs_up

[rodanho]

I like agatha christie very much, and my favourite is murder on the oriental express. the plot is so ingenious and flawless! and also, the denouement of the murder of roger achroyd is such a surprise to me. i feel like a fool when poirot announced the identity of the murderer. it is really a novelty, quite unprecedented in the history of the detective stories, maybe.as to the poirot or marple argument, i think a sheer comparison is quite unjust for both of them. they are of two totally different styles. poirot is more astute, and marple has more common sense. but talking about personal predilection, i prefer poirot. his pride and carefulness are such attractive characteristics, while miss marple seems to be nothing more than an experienced country lady

[novellover]

Like the rest of you, I too am an avid Christie fan. In fact, all my sisters and my mother share my love of her books. Till recently, those were all the books I ever read. The best part of her mysteries, besides the unpredictability, is the very humanistic portrayal of the characters. Instead of the wildly deranged murderers that are depicted in most paperback thrillers, her murderers are humans, mere mortals if you will who fall prey to petty human insecurities.

[novellover]

For an avid fan, I still haven't read all of her titles. But among the ones that I have read, few simply refuse to leave me, one of which is The Secret Adversary.This was the first Tommy and Tuppence book I read and boy, was it good!!! I also like The Mystery of The Blue Train and the character of the heroine, Catherine, very much. She has such a serene personality. And among all her detectives, Poirot remains a favourite. He comes across as a lovable character and his antics and ingenuity remind the reader each time, to not judge a book by its cover and Poirot by his quirky ways.

[hibiscus]

I know the Christie Week is over, but...

The award for the most vague "plot" surely should go to Postern of Fate (re-read it recently). Just what exactly is the big conspiracy here? Lord knows!

Now I'm reading a Miss Marple collection - probably four of her best. Nemesis, Sleeping Murder, At Bertram's Hotel and Murder At The Vicarage. Am in the middle of Bertram's now. I think if you put a gun to my head I'd say Sleeping Murder is at the top. (But only if there is a gun to my head, if it is loaded, if the safety is off, and if there's a maniac's finger on the trigger. :D ) I remember reading Sleeping Murder (aka Murder In Retrospect) at a young age and was really scared by the "monkey's paws".

[Pensive]

I have just completed my first Agatha's novel "Peril at End House"

It was just lovely. I completed it yesterday and I really loved it. I did not have the slightest idea that **** could be the murderer.
Has any of you read it?
I loved the character of Poirot and I am thinking to start another book of Agatha Christe. They are just lovely.