A collection of 55 stories, not all of them feature Miss Marple, despite the title. There are only 20 Marple stories. But the collection is brilliant A collection of 55 stories, not all of them feature Miss Marple, despite the title. There are only 20 Marple stories. But the collection is brilliant with only about 4 to 5 stories that I did not enjoy. Most of the stories are mysteries, but there are a few sweet romances as well. I disliked most of the supernatural stuff, but luckily, there were just a few of them.
My favourite stories included:
Philomel Cottage: A chilling story of a couple who bought a cottage far away from the nearest neighbours. Eventually, there is a sinister plot afoot, but who wins this game? I think this has to be the scariest story of the lot.
The Rajah's Emerald: A poor man is mistreated by his date, who hangs out with the rich crowd while ignoring him, though expecting him to be at her beck and call. Quite by chance, the man's life changes when he enters the wrong cottage for changing at the beach. A fun story, rooted in a mystery.
The Tuesday Night Club: A bunch of people get together to throw real life problems at each other and see who wins each round. This is originally from the book The Thirteen Problems, and I enjoy this first story because of the way everyone underestimates Jane Marple but she goes on to solve every single problem.
The Bloodstained Pavement: This is again a part of The Thirteen Problems. Joyce Lemprière (who later becomes Joan West and marries Miss Marple's nephew, Raymond) provides this problem about a couple that Joyce meets at the seaside while on a painting mission. The female friend of the couple disappears, and Joyce discovers the solution. As does Miss Marple.
A Fruitful Sunday: A very sweet romance story. A couple wishes to be rich and while on a Sunday afternoon picnic, they buy a fruit basket and find a precious gemstone in it. Do they keep it or report it? Their problem is solved very soon but not before they find true love and good character in each other.
Accident: When Captain Haydock goes to meet his friend, a retired inspector, he discovers a woman who has been acquitted of her husband's murder and has now married again with a different name. Haydock makes it his business to meddle in her affairs. An astounding climax!
The Blue Geranium: Another Marple classic, this one is about a woman who is into fortune tellers and gets told that blue geraniums will cause her death. Her husband does not heed her terror and believes it's all bunkum. But when random flowers on the wallpaper begin to turn blue, the prediction comes true. Miss Marple finally solves the mystery with the aid of some long-forgotten high school chemistry classes.
The Companion: When the companion of a rich woman dies, nobody suspects anything. Not even when the rich woman herself commits suicide out of guilt. Except Miss Marple ...
The Affair at the Bungalow: Empty-headed actress Jane Helier stumps everyone by telling a story to which she herself does not know the solution. Except, of course, Miss Marple, who gives her some solid advice.
Tape Measure Murder: I remember reading this story as a small child and it stuck with me. A lady is discovered murdered in her living room and it is the local dressmaker who found her. A proper locked room mystery, and Miss Marple arrives at the most impossible solution quite easily!
The Case of the Perfect Maid: When a paragon of virtue is hired by the Skinner sisters after a local girl is fired whimsically, Miss Marple smells a rat. She pokes her nose in only to clear the name of the local girl, and succeeds, astounding everyone else in the process.
The Dressmaker's Doll: This is the only supernatural story that I enjoyed. A rag doll is suddenly noticed in a dressmaker's shop. Nobody knows how she got there but she kept being moved around. Eventually, everyone feels that the doll is rather malevolent and the owner throws it out of the window. Is the doll really out to do mischief or does it just want to be loved?
There is a section of six stories (42 to 47), which all have a supernatural theme, and I did not enjoy these. These stories include Hound of Death, Gypsy, Lamp, Sir Arthur Carmichael, Call of Wings, and In a Glass Darkly.
It's very clear that Christie often rehashed ideas and developed them into other stories, often full-length. I enjoyed coming across certain names in the short stories that the author has used to good effect in some of her other novels for some pretty interesting characters, such as Amos Perry, Miss Pebmarsh, Mr Eccles, etc. ...more
I loved this one! The Manor House School is not just a school story, but had some historical narrative and a mystery. That's a lot rolled into a mere I loved this one! The Manor House School is not just a school story, but had some historical narrative and a mystery. That's a lot rolled into a mere 160 pages, so it's a bit of a page turner as well.
When there is a leak in the pipes in the Winterburn Lodge, the school girls are relocated far into the countryside at The Manor House School for just one term, within a matter of days. Yes, let's just overlook that. Here, they find a delightful old manor house with beautiful gardens in the midst of an enthralling countryside. All the girls gush about how lovely the remote countryside looks, and I found myself gushing as well.
The story revolves around the Manor House, which belongs to Monica, another young girl who attends some classes at the school and has rented it out to the school for the summer. Despite inheriting the beautiful house, Monica and her sick mother are impoverished and could do with some hard cash as well. Cicely and Lindsay, the two main characters in the book, come across a puzzle while exploring the mansion and it leads to a treasure hunt. The two girls have plenty of adventures and finally end up helping out Monica.
There is plenty of the usual schoolgirl stuff packed in this as well, which was enjoyable. Brazil likes to infuse her heroines with saint-like behaviour but since Monica takes this character in this book, we are free to enjoy the exploits of the more normal girls, Cicely and Lindsay! Even Monica's saintliness is toned down in comparison to Brazil's other works. ...more
I've had this book for several years, and I expected it to be like a lovely Ruth Goodman book. The only reason I have not rated it 5 stars is because I've had this book for several years, and I expected it to be like a lovely Ruth Goodman book. The only reason I have not rated it 5 stars is because it is not as delightful and fun as a Goodman book. But on it's own merits, it's a wonderfully detailed and beautifully researched book about the history of Henry VIII's kitchens at Hampton Court. However, it is rather dry when compared to other books on a similar topic - namely Goodman!
All the King's Cooks covers a wide variety of topics, starting from the actual structure of the kitchens and why they were built in a certain way. The first half of the book mainly discusses the functions of the various rooms, the supply chain management, logistics, and the authorities in charge of various tasks. There is a very detailed plan of the kitchens in HC, which I continuously referred back to since the whole thing was a very complex operation.
I found the second part of the book more fun because now we get to the topic of what the people actually ate, how they ate, what formalities were observed, and the class distinctions in food habits and the food itself. Henry's table manners were discussed in detail and I could almost picture him eating food delicately with his hands, which kind of warms my heart.
The last section contained recipes that are modified for modern taste. Yet, I somehow don't think I'll try cooking a peacock, not the least because it's a protected species in India. The whole thing contained too much meat, too much sugar, and had no respect for modern dietary ideas of micronutrients and calorie intake. No wonder they had "fish" days! Often, two meals were served in the guise of a first and a second course. Just way too much food for the aristocracy.
If you like to know about food and historical European food habits, this is a wonderful book. ...more
Whoa! This was a rollercoaster; a completely unexpected story from the versatile Heyer. For one, it's set in the mid 1700s, unlike most of her RegencyWhoa! This was a rollercoaster; a completely unexpected story from the versatile Heyer. For one, it's set in the mid 1700s, unlike most of her Regency romance books, set in the Regency (early 1800s) period. It's interesting because it's a bit more violent and uncivilised (actual duel death), compared to any of other Heyer's books.
Mr and Miss Merriot show up in London one fine day and are quickly taken in hand by the polite society. Their first encounter is however rescuing a damsel in distress, Leticia Greyson, from the clutches of the wolf, Gregory Markham, and make an enemy before they even enter town! It is very soon revealed that the brother is the sister and the sister is the brother. They are adventurers and awaiting instructions from their father, a master adventurer. But does papa have a trump card up his sleeve?
The story required a large suspension of disbelief, since it is hard to imagine that it would be this easy to masquerade as the opposite gender at a time when the gender lines were very strictly drawn. More than the appearance, it would have been very difficult to copy the mannerisms of the opposite sex and sustain it for a long period of time. Just ignore this part if you want to have fun. I have always wondered how women would have felt when allowed to enter the male dominated spaces of the clubs and the streets, and it was interesting to see Prudence navigate these spaces quite well.
There were quite hilarious scenes, especially when the elder Merriot shows up in the guise of a Viscount and quickly has everyone denounce the actual Viscount as an imposter. Sir Anthony Fanshawe proves to be a surprisingly fun character, which I did not expect at the beginning. It's quite the romp and the Merriots carry along quite a few people with them into drama and adventure.
In the end, everything works out well and there are a couple of weddings for everyone to be thrilled about. But a part of me wonders how Prudence will handle being a woman again. I am already cringing at the thought of having to hang up the sword and the ability to walk about freely. I feel sad for Prudence. :( But everyone is happy, so I guess it's a happy ending! ...more
What a delightful story! I had almost given up trying to find a children's book that did not have romance or deal with heavy social issues. One sometiWhat a delightful story! I had almost given up trying to find a children's book that did not have romance or deal with heavy social issues. One sometimes just wants a romp through wonderland without having to worry about all the isms of society. This story provided just that!
Tilly is a young orphan who lives with her grandparents, who own a bookshop. I wish mine owned one, though my grandfather worked at a library after retirement and I would join him every evening at work during school holidays! Wonderful times! Tilly's one joy in life is to sit quietly and read books. She reminded me of myself so much! I preferred to be buried in a book than anything else. But for Tilly, there is a mystery surrounding the disappearance of her mother.
When the stories in the books she reads start coming to life, Tilly meets Anne (of Avonlea) and Alice (of Wonderland), and begins to wonder what is happening. Her grandparents finally tell her that this is possible and she is one of the few lucky ones who is able to do this. She gets registered at the (under)library and becomes an official Bookwanderer. But there is a mystery afoot! She and her new friend, Oscar, get drawn into an adventure, resulting in the exposure of a bookish villain and Tilly is finally reunited with her mother.
Tilly is fun enough as a character, the book is well written, there is absolutely nothing I found even remotely annoying. The grandparents are sweet and did not trigger me with adult bullshit. I found this book really relaxing. I love books and I love the worlds created in some of the books. I dream of existing in those worlds. Tilly and the Bookwanderers satisfied something really deep in me, because yes, I am 42 years old and still want to meet Alice!...more
Found this free on my kindle unlimited and it was a surprisingly relaxing cosy read! Set between the first and second world wars, the story focuses onFound this free on my kindle unlimited and it was a surprisingly relaxing cosy read! Set between the first and second world wars, the story focuses on Kitty Underhay, whose grandmother owns the Dolphin Hotel. Her mother and father both disappeared during the war, and there is a secret attached to her background, which ultimately puts her in danger.
When Kitty's grandmother gets called away to take care of her other daughter, she hires Captain Matthew Bryant to take care of Kitty. Soon enough, there are break-ins and murders, just when Kitty has arranged to put the hotel back on its feet by hiring an American jazz singer to perform for a few days. As the body count increases by the day, Kitty realises that she is in danger.
This is no Agatha Christie but it was a comfortable read when I wanted to unwind. I enjoyed the writing and the setting, as well as the characters. I am not a fan of this plot of parents disappearing in wartime with jewels, but given that this is Dixon's first book, I'm content to try again. The main character is a little insipid and her romance with the detective does not spark. Matt's whole "I have trauma" shit did not really need to be on the pages at all as it did not add to the actual story.
Overall, I would say this is an excellent cosy read, but not much more. I found it enjoyable and have already downloaded more books (also free on KU) to read when I need to wind down. ...more
My first Gervase Fen book. I intended to start with the first one but I found this book in a second-hand bookshop and just had to buy it! The story isMy first Gervase Fen book. I intended to start with the first one but I found this book in a second-hand bookshop and just had to buy it! The story is set in a theatre, where all kinds of rivalries, jealousies, and fights abound. Adam and Elizabeth are the protagonists and Adam is friends with Fen, so when an obnoxious lead singer is found hanging in his dressing room at the theatre, Fen gets roped into the investigation.
What I found most interesting was the cultural aspect of the story. The opera company is performing Die Meistersinger by Wagner, and the politics of it is strewn about casually throughout the narrative. This book was published in 1947, just two years after the end of the war, so everything German is still suspect. I did not even know that Wagner was banned during war years, because who would even think of such a thing?! He's still banned in Israel due to the belief that he was indirectly responsible for Hitler's racist ideologies.
As for the story, I found that the pace varied throughout the book. A few pages would be extremely interesting and then the next few pages would drag. Fen is a quirky character but I think he has not comfortably slid into his quirkiness. Maybe later books would see him more comfortable. I am not a fan of theatre murders as they have a tendency to "shock" with drugs and debauchery but this one narrowly escaped that stigma.
The plot was interesting but I did not quite grasp the contraption used for the first murder. I am just taking the author's word about it, but that's not helpful for getting a sense of closure for the book. There was nothing specially fun about the murderers but the final twist was interesting and one I could not predict - so, a win for the author. Would definitely read his other books....more
One forgets how good this book really is. All the numerous adaptations are wonderful to watch, but they are heavy on the romance itself, not as much oOne forgets how good this book really is. All the numerous adaptations are wonderful to watch, but they are heavy on the romance itself, not as much on the social commentary. From the stoicism of Charlotte to the obsession of Mrs Bennet to the aloofness of Darcy to the silliness of Mr., Austen has something to say about the society she lived in. People were put into boxes and thrust into impossible situations, so no wonder they often behaved the way they did.
The five Bennet sisters are all out but the story mostly focuses on the eldest two: Jane and Elizabeth. When new neighbours show up at the local manor house, everyone goes into a frenzy. Who will net the very eligible young men out there? Woven around this simple romantic tale is a deep satire of a Regency society that valued wealth and status over grace, valued men over women to the extent that women had not many choices, and punished people for stepping out of their inherited place in life.
The characters were all brilliant, though all deeply flawed. There are so many different types of marriages, and many which work out for different reasons, some which don't for various reasons. It's an interesting look at society, which may have changed, but the humanness within people and their actions and interactions with each other are similar at a very visceral level. Jane is the type of person I really dislike in real life, but Austen managed to even spice her up to some extent.
The romance is very romantic (I'm no word spinner unlike Austen, eh?) and it satisfies all of us that the rich and powerful man has to come down to earth. Unfortunately, while Elizabeth achieved love and a title, it would have been rather nice if she had become a wee bit independent so she did not have to run around like her own mother for the sake of any future daughters. Though hopefully, Darcy would be more interested in his children's futures than Mr Bennet was in his. Austen herself was a little dependent on handouts by her brother, so this appears to have hit deep.
I have always made Mr Bennet rather than Wickham to be the villain of this piece, so to learn that there may have been a real reason for his "reluctance" to break the entail was a little reassuring. For those who want the question of the entailed estate cleared up, this is a great explanation of why Mr Bennet cannot break it, rather than it simply being a case of he would not break it. So, not thoroughly a villain, I guess!
I do often wonder which of the three married sisters would continue to be happily married? I am highly doubtful about Jane and Bingley, since the latter is easily influenced by any random person. Lydia and Wickham might actually continue to be happy unless Wickham leaves her for a rich woman. Elizabeth and Darcy appear to be the most stable couple! I wish there would be a realistic sequel to this book. Anyone, please?...more
Going through a 'want to read only fun, relaxing books' phase, and what better than a Wodehouse for this? This is only the second Jeeves book, but BerGoing through a 'want to read only fun, relaxing books' phase, and what better than a Wodehouse for this? This is only the second Jeeves book, but Bertie Wooster has already started relying on him heavily. Jeeves, on his part, is suitably feudal but also knows what is best for his young master. I mean, it's important to know when your employer is a fool, so you can take that into consideration in your work, right?
The book focuses heavily on Bertie's old school friend, Bingo Little's romantic escapades. Falling in love with the most unsuitable women, Bingo ropes in Bertie into one muddle after another from which only Jeeves can rescue them. Every time Bingo falls in love and Bertie tries to assist him, Bertie gets into trouble. It's hilarious.
Aunt Agatha also plays a prominent role in the book, as she keeps Bertie in check. Aunt Dahlia isn't present yet but Agatha appears almost human in this book unlike generally described in other books as 'chewing broken glass and killing rats with her teeth'. Bertie's even dumber cousins, Claude and Eustace, manage to get themselves get expelled from Oxford and shipped off to South Africa. Well, not quite ...! And then, there is the inevitable gambling bit on vicar speeches without which no Wooster book is ever quite complete. A full hand, so to speak!
There is actually not enough of Jeeves for my taste. That comes with the later books once Wooster begins to pay calls to the landed gentry and gets into more trouble! But still, no less than 5 stars is possible....more
A mix of pure nostalgia, an absent husband, crazy rainy weather, and an intense longing to experience my dad's love again, I had to read a Noddy bA mix of pure nostalgia, an absent husband, crazy rainy weather, and an intense longing to experience my dad's love again, I had to read a Noddy book! It brings me back to my childhood and hence, closer to dad!
Noddy Goes to Toyland is the first Noddy book. Noddy runs away and meets Big Ears, who takes him to Toyland. Being a brownie himself, he cannot take him to Brownieland. But the court must first determine whether Noddy is a toy before he can take up permanent residency in Toyland. Does he pass the citizenship test?
Apart from the nostalgia factor, I quite enjoyed this minor foray into childhood. Noddy is named so because his head keeps bobbing up and down. Noddy stories are today considered outdated and racist but I am surprised that nobody over the decades bothered at all about Noddy running around stark naked throughout Toyland! And then the fashion faux pas of red shoes, bright blue trousers, red shirt, and yellow tie. It's psychedelic Noddy! ...more
Through the Looking-Glass is the second part of the Alice in Wonderland story and is almost as delightful as the first. But my favourite characters (QThrough the Looking-Glass is the second part of the Alice in Wonderland story and is almost as delightful as the first. But my favourite characters (Queen of Hearts!) are from Book no. 1, so this will never rate as high as the first one. Nevertheless, Tweedledum and Tweedledee, Humpty Dumpty, and the Red and White Queens are memorable.
This time, Alice falls asleep on a rocking chair and walks through the looking glass to another crazy world. The book takes the story through a game of chess in which Alice meets a variety of characters. Again, the queens shine through as characters and it was hilarious to see them interact with Alice. I loved how Humpty Dumpty was an actual character, and the King did keep his promise to him! :D Alice finally becomes a Queen herself and wakes up after a chaotic party.
The weirdness is cranked up a notch in this second instalment, Alice is more argumentative and ready to stand her ground, and there are some excellent characters. Almost as good as Alice in Wonderland, but not quite!...more
Angela Brazil is eminently readable as a writer of schoolgirl stories, but I would say nowhere near the league of Enid Blyton or Frank Richards. Her hAngela Brazil is eminently readable as a writer of schoolgirl stories, but I would say nowhere near the league of Enid Blyton or Frank Richards. Her heroines are far too cheerful and "nice" for my taste, and have little to no character arcs. There is a lot of cheesiness in these books, of the type that I feel can be rather cringeworthy. However, Brazil was prolific and her books are free on Gutenberg, so when I want some respite, I go pick up another one!
The protagonist of The Nicest Girl in the School is Patty Hirst, who lives up to the title. Born in a family with too little money and sense, but too many children, Patty was parentified and spent her time playing mother to the younger ones. Her rather smarter uncle with only two kids (and hence richer) comes to the rescue and offers to send her to school along with his own daughter, Muriel.
Muriel hates Patty for no ostensible reason, so I am assuming it's because Patty is nauseatingly nice. Muriel goes out of her way to avoid Patty, but she nevertheless makes friends. Soon enough, she is moralising by giving shocked looks to other girls, which immediately makes them ashamed and behave better. It was annoying but I began to dislike Patty when she played a not-so-nice and manipulative trick on her roommates to get them to agree to her dictates. But the nicest girl in the school she must remain, so she saves Muriel's life (you knew this was coming!) while the others left her to die (WTF).
Overall, Brazil has written much better books, but this one was just way too stereotypical and boring. I finished this just a couple of days ago, and I have already forgotten the other characters, so can't have been very compelling....more
This time Tintin makes a trip to England to bust a counterfeiting gang. The story begins with a plane crash and Tintin being shot at. Once he discoverThis time Tintin makes a trip to England to bust a counterfeiting gang. The story begins with a plane crash and Tintin being shot at. Once he discovers a mystery is afoot, he leaves the hospital and goes to England. So do Thompson and Thomson, lol! With a lot of drama, Tintin finally manages to capture all the villains. The book also introduces Dr Müller, a villain that Tintin encounters more than once in the series.
There is a lot of action in this one, and Snowy shines for a change. I enjoyed the presence of the chimp, and how Tintin finally befriends him. A massive, massive change from the earlier books where Tintin couldn't be bothered with any animal other than his dog. Another favourite of mine was the Thompson & Thomson duo winning the aerobatics competition! This book was funnier than usual.
The action doesn't always make logical sense, but I don't really care. The humour was fantastic, and the characters were well-built. The fake mental asylum, the 'ferocious' beast, etc. all added to the charm. Not the best in the series, but well worth a read!...more
Yet another Mrs Oliver mystery. This is her second last book, written just before she wrote the absolutely meandering and uncoherent Postern of Fate. Yet another Mrs Oliver mystery. This is her second last book, written just before she wrote the absolutely meandering and uncoherent Postern of Fate. That one just did not make any sense. But you can see Christie heading towards that in Elephants Can Remember. It has a coherent and good plot and decent characters, but the writing has begun to deteriorate. I genuinely enjoyed this despite everything, but would never recommend it to a beginner.
Once again Mrs. Oliver brings a mystery for Poirot to solve. Except it's not really a mystery. She is accosted by a stranger at a party and asked information about a double suicide tragedy, simply because the daughter of the victims was Mrs Oliver's goddaughter. Mrs Olive is indignant and refuses to pry, yet sets out to contact the young woman and find out things. I am a little confused in this part because she keeps insisting she doesn't even want to know anything about it, yet she kept pursuing this issue. Half of the book is just everyone insisting not to rake shit up, but doing it anyway. Things only get interesting in the second half once Poirot gathers the facts and begins his deductions.
In a way, it was a rather tedious book to read. Apart from all the faffing around, Christie appears to be vehemently against adoption for some odd reason. She has based entire books on the theory that adopted children can never be your own, but in this book, it just comes out of nowhere and serves no real purpose other than as an author statement of her personal beliefs. It was weird, and absolutely pointless.
But it's an interesting plot. Easily deductible, yet enjoyable. And worth a read, simply because it's the last Poirot mystery she wrote. And also, I think, the last coherent book. She died a couple of years later....more
I skipped Third Girl because once is enough for that clusterfuck. But Christie gets better with Hallowe'en Party. Very creepy! This is yet another booI skipped Third Girl because once is enough for that clusterfuck. But Christie gets better with Hallowe'en Party. Very creepy! This is yet another book with Mrs Oliver, a character that Christie appears to have taken to later in her career. I enjoyed this book and the plot was well-developed, but the kids were all annoying in different ways.
Mrs Oliver attends a Halloween party for children whilst staying with a friend. An attention-seeking girl boasts of having seen a murder and is dismissed lightly. Within hours, she is dead. An unseen hand had held her head in water while she bobbed for apples. Who could possibly have done it? Mrs Oliver goes off eating apples and begins to chew gum instead. She also reaches out to Poirot to help solve the mystery.
The solution completely depends on the character of the victim, and Poirot explores it thoroughly. The story had a slew of fun characters, a beautiful but eerie garden, and an interesting community. As always, Poirot goes around talking to people and eventually gathers sufficient information to solve the puzzle.
I did not really enjoy the character of Miranda. Poirot calls her wise and good, but I didn't think she had these qualities. I think Christie was trying to imprint some classical character on Miranda, but she was just too dumb enough to willingly accept to die for no reason. The murderer was chilling, it was one of the creepiest. It was interesting to see premarital sex, children born out of wedlock, etc. becoming so common that nobody is poking their noses into this business. The tone of the Poirot books change gradually over the years, and this is just one glaring example.
Overall, a pretty decent book, and I am almost at the end of my Poirot journey!...more
This was a brilliant book and one I have always enjoyed. Despite the dated politics and the red herrings scattered throughout, I think this one has chThis was a brilliant book and one I have always enjoyed. Despite the dated politics and the red herrings scattered throughout, I think this one has character and beautifully encapsulates the times. I really disliked how the David Suchet version butchered the story taking out all the fun elements. No Cold War references (?!), no Colin Lamb (who t f wants Colonel Race?), and the quirky fun characters on Wilbraham Crescent all changed. Also disliked the casting.
So, the fun part? The characters. There were so many neighbours and they all were interesting. I love the drama going on in the neighbourhood. It was interesting to see the Cold War references butting in randomly. But why not? It must have been pretty intense in the mid 60s. I liked the child characters, who were fun and actually helped the mystery along. Colin Lamb was a fantastic character, and maybe should have been in other books. I enjoyed the depiction of a very 60s style typing agency filled with young girls.
The mystery itself is rather hard to crack. I knew who the killer was but each time I read this, it takes effort to connect the dots. Cheating by Christie? Perhaps, but maybe I just need to think outside the box! She does provide all the information, it just doesn't jump to the eye. I found it brilliant. And ruthless!
Poirot is not the star of this show. In fact, he barely makes an appearance. But the other characters are interesting enough not to miss him. He shows up like the cherry on the cake, and you are satisfied. He does pull his 'sitting in a chair and dreaming up the solution' bit through 'conversations', which seems to have become a habit with him in his later books. Christie bored with him?
A fun and quirky book that I will read again and again. ...more
Aldred Laurence is a 'misunderstood' teenager who is finally sent off to school at the recommendation of her governess. Once at school, she befriends Aldred Laurence is a 'misunderstood' teenager who is finally sent off to school at the recommendation of her governess. Once at school, she befriends the resident aristocrat, Mabel Farrington, who mistakenly believes that Aldred is a heroine who saved a young girl from a burning house while on holiday. At first, Aldred has no idea why Mabel is so nice to her but when she learns the reason, she chooses to remain silent. Eventually, their friendship deepens and the truth comes out.
I have usually enjoyed Brazil's books and I enjoyed this one as well. But both the main characters, Aldred and Mabel, were extremely annoying. Aldred was a diva who lied her way through everything and never faced up to the consequences of her actions. Mabel was a goody-two-shoes, who is too irritating and falsely thrusts saintliness on Aldred. I felt that the plot was unnecessarily extended and the friendship developed for far too long on a false basis. They both were not the people the other thought. The end was cheesy, predictable, and boring.
That said, I enjoyed the descriptions of school life. Some of the teachers were interesting characters, the girls had great fun enacting pageants, skating, taking field trips, etc. So many schoolgirl adventures, which is why I love reading school stories. Admittedly, there was a lot thrust into a mere 250 pages but it kept focus away from the Aldred and Mabel, meandering towards other stuff, which saved the book for me.
A solid 3 stars, and I may even read this again! :) ...more
Nothing is more relaxing or fun than a P.G. Wodehouse book! This one features Lord Ickenham (or Uncle Fred), a happy-go-lucky earl and general blot onNothing is more relaxing or fun than a P.G. Wodehouse book! This one features Lord Ickenham (or Uncle Fred), a happy-go-lucky earl and general blot on the landscape. In his process of spreading sweetness and light, he spreads havoc all around. But in typical Wodehouseque fashion, everything comes right at the end with wedding bells ringing in the distance.
This book has one of my favourite secondary characters in the Wodehouse universe, though he doesn't appear often: Major Brabazon-Plank, an explorer from South America. This has been so wonderfully satirised that I always find it humorous. Other fun characters that I enjoyed were Sir Aylmer (Mugsy) Bostock, the chief villain of the piece; Elsie Bean, a housemaid with ambition; and her beau, Harold Potter, the local policeman.
As always, it's hard to describe the plot. But it starts with a couple of busts, and Uncle Fred's nephew, Pongo, finds himself unwillingly in the thick of trouble. He finds love, as do a few others. Poor Bostock is left dazed at the end, but it's really all for the best. And we are happy to know that Major Brabazon-Plank's backside is still plump and pear-shaped! ...more
Though set in a girls' school, Cat Among the Pigeons is a whirlwind of adventure with a revolution, an assassination, 3 murders, a kidnapping, and a rThough set in a girls' school, Cat Among the Pigeons is a whirlwind of adventure with a revolution, an assassination, 3 murders, a kidnapping, and a robbery. If that's not enough, Christie also gives us 2 murderers, a blackmailer, and a couple of impersonators. My school certainly wasn't this exciting! I also loved that it was a mainly women's world. Female victims, female suspects, and female characters. Except for the investigators.
Prince Ali of Ramat is probably assassinated and it is believed that his pilot and best friend, a British chap, has secreted something of value among his sister's possessions. Said sister's child (Jennifer) goes to Meadowbanks, where everyone of interest congregates. Within a month of the term starting, the games mistress is murdered. And then another murder, and then a third. In the meantime, Princess Shaista, ex-fiancée of Prince Ali and a student at the school, disappears. Jennifer's friend, Julia, begins to suspect something is amiss and involves Poirot.
This one was really enjoyable. I loved the characters and the setting. I sort of figured out who the murderer could be merely by a process of elimination, but that did not take away from the story. Poirot makes an appearance quite late in the book, so much so that I forgot this was a Poirot mystery. He was only around for the last 20 percent of the book and honestly didn't contribute much. But it wasn't necessarily a bad thing. I did miss the usual Poirot-isms but the other characters were interesting enough to keep me engaged.
The book is a product of its time and is in some ways hopelessly outdated. International intricacies post WW2, especially in the Middle East, appears to have taken Christie's fancy for this theme. Overall, a pretty enjoyable story with plenty of action and fun characters. And I love school stories. And murder mysteries. Can't go wrong with this one. ...more
The second of the series, I liked this one much better than the first one. The Children of Cherry Tree Farm focused on teaching about wild animals in The second of the series, I liked this one much better than the first one. The Children of Cherry Tree Farm focused on teaching about wild animals in the English countryside. It had it's moments but felt a bit too 'educational' and stilted. The Children of Willow Farm flows more easily and is coherently held together by little happenings on the farm.
So now the children and their parents are running a farm called ... yes, indeed ... Willow Farm! The children are given duties, which they perform admirably. The farm prospers and everyone is happy. There is little friction in this, but it is very restful to read. I especially liked how the father admits that the money belongs to the children as well since they worked hard to make it a success as well.
It was interesting to see how farms were run in the 1940s. It was especially funny when everyone was enamoured by the 'latest technology' of cooling box with water pipes. :D All said and done, worth a read! Aside from being a really restful children's book, it works well as a snapshot in time with respect to farming....more
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