Book Club

Non-fiction

Christie published two non-fiction titles; her Autobiography and Come, Tell Me How You Live. Both give us an insight into her life and are written with honesty and humour.

Warning: These discussions may contain spoilers!

Agatha Christie: An Autobiography

Jemma 28 Aug 09 at 10:34 a.m. GMT

Christie began work on her autobiography in 1950, whilst on an archaelogical expedition in Nimrud. It took her fifteen years to complete but was well worth the wait.

Christie was an extremely private woman. She rarely gave interviews which is why this title is so important to fans. Although their are references to her work, her enthusiasm is reserved for family life and the archaelogical excavations she worked on.

Does this indicate that the passion fans have for her novels was not shared by the author herself?

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23 replies

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Number3 06 Jan 11 at 3:25 p.m. GMT

I finished the book a few days ago and enjoyed it.  Reading some parts of the bio were like reading the Westmacotts for a second time.  And I rather enjoyed them. 

My favourite parts had to be about the digs.  I had already read "Come Tell Me How You Live" and the bio gave more of a backstory to it. 

Like others on this forum have said, if you don't want storied spoiled wait to read the bio last.

Puffinjill 15 Aug 10 at 8:22 a.m. GMT

It does give away some endings so I'm not sure if reading this first will be the best thing. However, it's unilkely that you are completely unaware of some of the endings to AC's book - especially some of the best known - as they are referred to in plenty of other places. Do, do read some of AC's works for yourself and see what you think!!

mertle 15 Aug 10 at 5:04 a.m. GMT

I grew up with my Mum who was always reading Agatha's novels but am yet to read one myself, I am 41 now!

I am going to start reading them soon but I think I would like to read her Autobiography first as it sounds really interesting!!!

Is it a good idea? or does it ruin some of the stories, I'm not really fussed about spoilers if they are not major ones?

MissQuin 14 Aug 10 at 4:53 p.m. GMT

that's true and her at times was a difficult one. But she overlooked those parts and kept it as a joyful, celebration of life rather than a repulsive tell all autobiography. I even think non Chrisitie fans would love this book. It's a evocative portiat of an age and time peroid gone by. Reading it is like having AC speaking to you, like an old frend (or maybe just me?) and I'll never see it other than a very readable, charming and livley book and not dull.

Puffinjill 14 Aug 10 at 7:40 a.m. GMT

Hear, hear!! My copy of her Autobiography, now sadly much dog-eared and with a few pages becoming detached (I must treat myself to a new hardback version) has a comment on the back describing this book as 'the greatest thing she has ever written'. Her brilliance as a storyteller comes to the fore as ahe tries, with as much honesty as she is able, to lay her life bare for all to read. I think this must have been one of the most difficult things for her to do as she was such an intensely private woman.

MissQuin 11 Aug 10 at 2:33 p.m. GMT

I didn't find any parts particually repetive or rambling. I found so much pleasure reading how much  Agatha clearly had in describing her enchanting childhood. I may not agree on all points she made, but it's worth reading  viewpoints from a bygone era.

xrysoula 09 Aug 10 at 9:53 p.m. GMT

Nevertheless, I was a bit disappointed in the autobiography.Too much rambling about her childhood and repeating the same stuff over and over-many parts were VERY boring and unnessecary.

What I found most intriguing were the descriptions of the victorian lifestyle and the dramatic changes that war brought upon it.Especially the place of women in society, their views and practices in their children 's upbringing and education -soooo compeletely different than the current ones! And all those marriage proposals- superb!

xrysoula 09 Aug 10 at 8:01 p.m. GMT

Personally I 've never had a doubt that all of the published work bearing her name was indeed hers and hers only. She has a unique style that is quite distinctive in all of her novels.Her theatrical plays, like "The unexpected guest", which her associate Charles Osborne later published as a novel, are very much different.I believe that a connoisseur would know the difference.

MissQuin 10 Jul 10 at 11:49 a.m. GMT

goacher

  Some are clearly the work of other writers. 

Are you suggesting that Christie didn't write her books?! hearsay!!

No I think Chrisite has a certain style and that she did write her stories. The suggestion you made needs some kind of proof or reasoning. I would be interested to know what made you come up with that conclusion..

goacher 04 Jul 10 at 6:30 p.m. GMT

to the query about the number and variety of the plots .. My impression is that there were a number of authors writing as a group to maximise on Christie's already well-earned reputation as a writer of crime fiction.  Some are clearly the work of other writers.  All comments appreciated.  Goacher

goacher 04 Jul 10 at 6:26 p.m. GMT

TheButlerDidIT

One thing I always wanted to know how she did her research (not including the fact she was a nurse during the war).

And how did she make up so many fantastic plots that have kept people guessing for many many years.

MissQuin 12 Apr 10 at 5:11 p.m. GMT

I don't think it matters if which way you read Come tell me how you live, or her autobiography. I read her auto first. She was an extraordinary woman. I think her books are astounding and she didn't know how good a writer she was.

Jaquelina 11 Apr 10 at 6:42 a.m. GMT

I've read the book and I think it's really good. Three things made an impression on me. 1) The way she thought about women's position in society; 2) The way she related to her family; and 3) The way she wasn't impressed by her novels. I had idealized her, but now I realized she was only a woman, well, an extraordinary woman.

rogerrunmill 03 Apr 10 at 3:24 p.m. GMT

I would like to suggest you read 'Come Tell Me How You Live' which she wrote as Mary Westmacott BEFORE you read her Autobiography I think it will give you a different insight into part of her her life and it will make her autobiography that much clearer and even more enjoyable.

Number3 29 Mar 10 at 10:45 p.m. GMT

I'm wating to read the Autobiography after I finish all the stories.  I read the "Notebooks"  by Curran, but I want to save the best for last.

AndreaWilkins 09 Mar 10 at 3:07 p.m. GMT

great! i can't wait

MissQuin 09 Mar 10 at 12:43 p.m. GMT

Have fun on your holiday Andrea. Although theres really only brief mentions of her books, I love her autobiography. Her childhood is so interesting. You can see what imagination she had from an early age. Theres some funny parts too.

AndreaWilkins 09 Mar 10 at 10:49 a.m. GMT

I was given her autobiography for Christmas, and as yet haven't read it, i'm trying (desperately) to save it till i go on holiday in the easter holidays and it's killing me having to wait only 3and a half weeks to go !!

TheButlerDidIT 04 Mar 10 at 6:21 p.m. GMT

One thing I always wanted to know how she did her research (not including the fact she was a nurse during the war).

And how did she make up so many fantastic plots that have kept people guessing for many many years.

MissQuin 04 Mar 10 at 4:14 p.m. GMT

Her childhood is really fascinating. No internet, no TV, no radio even. None of the amazingly advanced tosy of this modern generation. Yet it seems that her vivid imagination was the greatest gift. She could amuse herself with her fantasy friends and make up stories and games by herself. It might be considered an unusal childhood, but she said it was a happy one.

I can completley see why she became an author. She really had the gift for stories, that she was already using as a child.