April '10 Reading: And Then There Were None [Archive]

LitNetIsGreat

04-05-2010, 02:40 PM

the facade

04-05-2010, 09:51 PM

I'm gonna sit this one out. Not a fan.

JuniperWoolf

04-06-2010, 02:10 AM

I'm picking up my copy tomorrow. This'll be my first Agatha experience.

Nikhar

04-06-2010, 06:14 AM

I've managed to find a little pocket of time between other things. I re-read And Then There Were None yesterday (well the day before yesterday actually) and even more excitedly discovered that there is a Poirot I haven't read: :yikes: Hickory Dickory Dock - duly ordered. I'm going to re-read Curtain - Poirot's Last Case again tomorrow, that's a good one - besides I'm on a train tomorrow and it's always good for some reason to read Christie on a train?!? :hat:

Curtain - Poirot's Last Case is the moooooooooooooooost awesome Christie I have ever read! Definitely the most fantastic. Awesummm! :)

Good to see people taking interest in the book. It's worth a read, believe me. :) Plus it's short! ;)

caspian

04-09-2010, 01:33 PM

I've already started reading . I saw the movie adaptation, soviet production from 80s, years ago, but don't remember details well. So my reading is going to be fun. The movie's excellent. I read somewhere that's best adaptation of the story. I don't read or watch mysteries in general, but I did a few in past and this movie was one of them. I can't recall if I've ever read Christie before. in any case if I have'nt, this is going to be my first try.
Surprisingly I found the movie on you tube with english subtitles http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4q1m7j_hfI&feature=related

LitNetIsGreat

04-09-2010, 02:06 PM

There is an English or American version of the film too which is really good.

kasie

04-09-2010, 03:15 PM

My copy arrived this morning: I spent the afternoon reading it. It's short, it's easy reading. OK, I had nothing else that needed to be done. And I've read it before, years ago when it had a different title. And to think I had a Penguin copy with the old green striped cover - it went AWOL many years ago, either never returned by a borrower or during one of the many house moves.

I'll be interested to read what first-time Christie readers make of it.

applepie

04-09-2010, 04:51 PM

I just picked up my copy today, and hope to read on it soon :)

JuniperWoolf

04-11-2010, 08:44 PM

*SPOILERS*

I thought that I would hate it. The whole "murder mystery" thing has never really appealed to me. I enjoyed it though because I like Lombard's character a lot. I don't really care that he was an unrepentant murderer, I thought that he was strong and funny, and I liked his disposition. I also thought that it was cool how he genuinely liked Vera (he asked her if she killed that kid because of a man, and when she said that he did he responded with "that's all I wanted to know"... he also liked it when she refused to drink the burbon that the detective poured for her). When they kept describing him as "wolf-like," it reminded me a lot of Hammet's description of Sam Spade in The Maltese Falcon (but of course, Lombard is a much better character than Sam who has the sense of humour of a fence post).

I thought that it might be the judge, but not because of the "clues" he mentioned in his letter at the end... just because his body was draped in red (the whole "red herring" thing), plus he really was always directing things. To be honest, I thought that it also might be Mrs. Rogers playing dead since she was the only one who's death or mangled corpse wasn't seen by everyone (just the doc, and maybe she might have taken something to slow down her vitals). Her character was the least developed, so readers would be going over what was mentioned about all of the rest of the people... they wouldn't think of what wasn't mentioned (but of course, I was wrong).

How would you guys have tried to survive?

Nikhar

04-12-2010, 08:43 AM

I thought that I would hate it. The whole "murder mystery" thing has never really appealed to me. I enjoyed it though because I like Lombard's character a lot. I don't really care that he was an unrepentant murderer, I thought that he was strong and funny, and I liked his disposition. I also thought that it was cool how he genuinely liked Vera (he asked her if she killed that kid because of a man, and when she said that he did he responded with "that's all I wanted to know"... he also liked it when she refused to drink the burbon that the detective poured for her). When they kept describing him as "wolf-like," it reminded me a lot of Hammet's description of Sam Spade in The Maltese Falcon (but of course, Lombard is a much better character than Sam who has the sense of humour of a fence post).

I thought that it might be the judge, but not because of the "clues" he mentioned in his letter at the end... just because his body was draped in red (the whole "red herring" thing), plus he really was always directing things. To be honest, I thought that it also might be Mrs. Rogers playing dead since she was the only one who's death or mangled corpse wasn't seen by everyone (just the doc, and maybe she might have taken something to slow down her vitals). Her character was the least developed, so readers would be going over what was mentioned about all of the rest of the people... they wouldn't think of what wasn't mentioned (but of course, I was wrong).

How would you guys have tried to survive?

Glad you liked it. Btw, kindly put a spoiler warning before your post so thta no one accidently ruins their fun of the novel.

Aravona

04-12-2010, 02:18 PM

Argh dont have a copy of this one, and I've done my book ordering for the month so I' going to have to go to the library! :)

LitNetIsGreat

04-13-2010, 07:13 PM

Come on, get reading and posting thoughts, chop, chop...

applepie

04-14-2010, 10:51 AM

JuniperWoolf

04-15-2010, 04:31 AM

Glad you liked it. Btw, kindly put a spoiler warning before your post so thta no one accidently ruins their fun of the novel.

Right, sorry.

Nikhar

04-15-2010, 06:22 AM

I'm only maybe 20 pages in at the moment, but so far I'm entertained :) This is my first time reading Christie, so I've been very pleasantly surprised. Is it bad that I was expecting it to be one of those books that sounded interesting and then turned out to be a bit dull once you dug through all of the prose?

You found it interesting already? :D Just wait and see what's coming. ;)

After reading this, I guess, you'll be reading even more Christie's. :D

applepie

04-15-2010, 08:28 AM

You found it interesting already? :D Just wait and see what's coming. ;)

After reading this, I guess, you'll be reading even more Christie's. :D

I'm just past the first murder. The method was fairly predictable just knowing the basis of the story and the genere, but that isn't always a bad thing to me. I like to be able to work my mind to the conclusion and not be simply blindsided with something that seems entirely improbable.

I do think I'll look into some nore :nod:

caspian

04-16-2010, 09:22 AM

"There is no such thing as a moral or an immoral book. Books are well written, or badly written. That is all."
I don't know if I should agree with O.Wilde on this. But for sure this book is well written.
I finished the book in 2 days. That's the problem I have with mystery reading, I won't put it down untill my eyes hurt.
Seeing movie took some exitement out of it. But I was glad that I didn't remember whole thing. So I almost suspect every charachter untill I recalled revealing detail and that killed my fun.

*SPOILERS*

How would you guys have tried to survive?

I think,like general MacArthur, I wouldn't fight if I had something terrible on my conscience. But I would love to see if someone did. i didn't like serial killing idea. I wanted somebody get alive out of that island so bad. Guilty, or no guilty, I don't approve killing for revenge. Leave it to God.

Nikhar

04-16-2010, 09:41 AM

Hey dfloyd, kindly tell us why you thought the book to be a waste of time?

I am actually a bit shocked that you voted the book to be so.

applepie

04-19-2010, 11:05 AM

I'm cruising through this book, and I suppose that I'm about halfway through. I wanted to finish over the weekend, but I was too busy with the kids to find time to read:(

Just a few thoughts:

I'm a little intrigued by MacArthur. I don't really think of his character as crazy, though the others seem to disagree. He just seems like a old man who isn't going to fight his fate. Maybe he feels that he deserves whatever it is that is coming his way because of past actions, but I'm actually shocked by the idea of an elderly general who is just giving in.

I'm two murders in at the moment, and I'll confess that I am eagerly awaiting the next. I like the idea of the nursery rhyme being the basis for how each is killed, and I'm curious to see the fourth murder. I'm kind of hoping that it is the one old lady :) I don't have my book with me so I don't remember the characters name, but it is the one who kicked the young girl who got pregnant out of her household and the girl died.

Is the killer justified in his/her murders? These are people who have skirted the law, but they've done horrible things. I would love to say I'm not a vengeful person, but the simple truth is that I would hunt someone to the ends of the Earth for a few select things. Given that I don't know yet if the murderer is personally affected by everyone's crimes, I can't say if they're justifed or not.

caspian

04-19-2010, 11:48 PM

Is the killer justified in his/her murders? These are people who have skirted the law, but they've done horrible things. I would love to say I'm not a vengeful person, but the simple truth is that I would hunt someone to the ends of the Earth for a few select things. Given that I don't know yet if the murderer is personally affected by everyone's crimes, I can't say if they're justifed or not.

You have to read the end to figure out. I personally didn't like the killer's motive. We can discuss it later when you finish the book :argue::biggrin5:

papayahed

04-24-2010, 10:12 AM

This is my first time reading Christie, so I've been very pleasantly surprised. Is it bad that I was expecting it to be one of those books that sounded interesting and then turned out to be a bit dull once you dug through all of the prose?

I know what you mean. I expected the book to be dull as well. This is my first Christie book and I'm glad I gave it a try. For some reason I always had the idea that Agatha Christie was staid and boring.

Spoiler Warning

Anyways I kept thinking it was Marsten, it seemed to me that once he's put in the room who's going to check on him and he would have free reign of the place?
:skep:

applepie

04-24-2010, 11:32 AM

I know what you mean. I expected the book to be dull as well. This is my first Christie book and I'm glad I gave it a try. For some reason I always had the idea that Agatha Christie was staid and boring.

Anyways I kept thinking it was Marsten, it seemed to me that once he's put in the room who's going to check on him and he would have free reign of the place?

:skep:

I'm hoping to finish today since I've not had time to read this week. The kids will be taking naps, and my husband is gone so no need to feel like I'm ignoring him for a book ;)

I've been very pleasantly surprised.

Nikhar

04-24-2010, 12:11 PM

It feels so nice when people like the book you recommend. :biggrin5:

Nikhar

04-24-2010, 12:13 PM

I know what you mean. I expected the book to be dull as well. This is my first Christie book and I'm glad I gave it a try. For some reason I always had the idea that Agatha Christie was staid and boring.

Anyways I kept thinking it was Marsten, it seemed to me that once he's put in the room who's going to check on him and he would have free reign of the place?

:skep:

You've completed it? What did you feel of it? I mean, particularly something good or bad?

And also, kindly put a spoiler warning. It's not much of a spoiler and yet it is.

applepie

04-24-2010, 04:51 PM

You've completed it? What did you feel of it? I mean, particularly something good or bad?

And also, kindly put a spoiler warning. It's not much of a spoiler and yet it is.

That's the bad bit about mysteries. Any bit of information is a bit of a spoiler. I accidentally read an earlier post so I know who did it, and it's been the devil of a time trying to forget it.

Thanks for the book nomination Nik :)

JuniperWoolf

04-24-2010, 05:07 PM

That's the bad bit about mysteries. Any bit of information is a bit of a spoiler. I accidentally read an earlier post so I know who did it, and it's been the devil of a time trying to forget it.

Yeah, sorry about that.

applepie

04-24-2010, 05:21 PM

Yeah, sorry about that.

No worries :D I know better than to read the discussion thread for a mystery book before I've read it cover to cover. I'm still enjoying it regardless, and I'm kind of searching for the clues that are inevitably there.

papayahed

04-24-2010, 05:27 PM

You've completed it? What did you feel of it? I mean, particularly something good or bad?

Yep, I've finished it. I really enjoyed it, it was fun and pretty fast paced and best of all it kept me guessing. I definately plan on picking up more Christie's.

JuniperWoolf

04-24-2010, 05:36 PM

Yep, I've finished it. I really enjoyed it, it was fun and pretty fast paced and best of all it kept me guessing. I definately plan on picking up more Christie's.

What did you think of Lombard?

Penny47

04-25-2010, 06:03 PM

I've just come upon this thread and am interested to see how many people are reading their first Agatha Christie! You lucky people! I read them all many years ago and I love detective stories - not the gory kind, just the 'cosies'. The only advantage I've found to having a terrible memory at my age is the fact that I can re-read detective stories and can't always remember who did it! (The '47' in my name is the year of my birth, not my age! But the grey hair probably gives that away!) I do remember enjoying this one, and you've all inspired me to read it again very soon!

kasie

04-26-2010, 08:10 AM

Hello, Penny - how nice to have another Baby Boomer on the Forums! I can beat you by a year, however. Like you I read a lot of Christies years ago - this was one I actually remembered 'whodunnit'.

applepie

04-26-2010, 09:55 AM

Juniper - Either I was really tired when I finished or I managed to forget who did it :) I was still surprised by the end of the book and was left thinking "wait, I thought it was this guy"

*Spoilers*

I really thought it was Lombard who was the killer. Somehow I really did forget who did it, and little things about Lombard tipped me off. One thing I recall him saying to multiple people was a line of questioning about the truth or acknowledgment that the truth had come out. Then came the last three murders???

It would have been impossible for Lombard to have killed Blore, but then I thought maybe the last bit was carefully engineered. Then I went back to all of the victims, and I think of any who stood out. Wargrave makes sense I suppose. I think his was the most sensational of the murders in the sense that he went the extra mile to dress himself as a judge. It had an odd irony to it, but I still really didn't see him as the one.

One thing I found especially interesting as I read the note from Wargrave following the epilogue were his reasons and how he picked the order. It was such an odd image that he wanted to commit a murder, but his sense of justice prevented it. He killed people not to uphold his beliefs but simply because he wanted to do it. The choice was only made because he couldn't compromise his beliefs and kill an innocent so he simply picked people who needed punishment anyway. The selection of order was also interesting. I'm not sure that I would have placed the severity of the offense in the same order that he did.