The Agatha Christie Reading Group discussion

I can see it's attractive to read things in published order

I'm up for Poirot Investigates in March.

I'm good with discussing Poirot Investigates in March.

Glad to see "Murder of Roger Ackroyd" is going to be read in May. It is the only Christie book I own so far (can't wait to get to read it!!!).

I've put in for Poirot Investigates through my library inter loan. I should *says hopefully* have it in plenty of time for March!

Is it February yet? Can I start reading Vicarage?

I hope the next book will be better than what people have said about it. I avoided any spoilers but I heard a few little complaints about Vicarage. Has anyone read this one before? I hope it's good.

I read it decades ago. Not one of her best, but nothing wrong with it.

I read it many years ago, but I do remember it wasn't one of my favorites. I will attempt to read it again next month, but personally, I can't wait for April! LOL

Since we are about to start reading it, I don't think I'm too much ahead just to mention a couple of aspects of Vicarage. I think that Rev Clement is one of Christie's successful characters. He emerges as a vulnerable character not only because he thinks he's not good enough for his wife, but he also doubts his ability to serve God to the full and cannot cope/manage/properly help his curate and maid. But he's not useless or weak because he also puts his parishioners first. That is a very well drawn character who stands several readings. (This works well because Christie cannot give of herself and naturally holds Clement back as narrator) Secondly, she captures the cosy village world well by emphasising "we'll work it out for ourselves" and laying suspicion whenever anybody goes elsewhere. (Hmm so now you know where some others of us may have got the idea from.) But I do agree that while it is my favourite Christie it is by no means her best. Anyhow, to get me in the mood, I watched the Geraldine McEwan adaptation (the best, I think)yesterday will listen to the June Whitfield radio drama this weekend before starting the book next week. Very happy for people to argue with this lot

I will be late starting this one. I hate getting books from my library because there is always a hold list, 0 and up. I never know how long I will be waiting for a book, but it seems that books I have been requesting over at least a months period or more ALWAYS come in ALL at the same time. So I'm stuck trying to read through several English mysteries that I've been waiting for. Right now , I'm flying through The Gilded Shroud. Let's hope I can keep up the speed. I keep my eyes open at the used book stores as my first choice to obtain books so that I can read them at my leisure; however, if I can't find them and they are not authors I already love and keep, I go to my library. But I'm really looking forward to Vicarage. I read this one years ago also and don't remember anything about it either except I think she has a garden? Lol

Candace wrote: "I read this one years ago also and don't remember anything about it either except I think she has a garden? Lol"

Spoiler!
just kidding. lol :P

She might not have...I don't remember, but that's one image I seem to have, an old lady in a garden- I don't think it's bad that I don't remember, I think it's a memory issue only

Yeah I hate when I sometimes forget almost an entire novel. It's one reason I write reviews on this site. To try to get that story's events ingrained in my mind. I don't want to just read books... I want to absorb them.

I just found something that's new to me as a feature in this group. I looked up the one we did on January and found everyone's reviews on "Mysterious Affair at Styles." Exciting! I thought that was really cool (call me a dork I guess!). :D

It's funny that after only owning just one book of hers I recently received two books to call my own and a library book coming to me in a few days. I am going to have about 5 books in the house soon yet to read. I'm gonna be a Christie junkie! :D

Or too many books... keep that library growing! My 4 bookshelves (up to the ceiling)are double shelved , I've started piles on the floor and put the ones I can bear to be away from in boxes in the garage. We call the room with the book shelves the canbrary. Get it? Lol!!

I am careful about what I buy. I buy nice used copies when I can. I buy books that I have other books by that author (Christie) or that are books in my genre (pretty much anything European historical fiction).For many books, I use my library.

Are you going to start a reading list for 2016? If so please let me know!

We could read the tommy and tuppence books It would last for all of 2016 as there are 6 of them.

Not too fussed about the order of things, but I think we should finish the novels first .... or perhaps a few books about AC

Thanks Lauren. I appreciate it!!!!