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U least Favourite Marple..?

akkshay1 30 Jun 09 at 3:50 p.m. GMT

hwy all, out of all the marple books u've read, which was the least favourite of them,... i think mine was "At Bertram's Hotel.." It didnt have the usual "Christie" touch at all and the most important it wasn't a "Murder Mystery" in real sense.. I was highly disappointed after reading it..

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22 replies

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ArlenaSMarshall 28 Jul 09 at 2:13 p.m. GMT

I didn't enjoy reading Murder At The Vicarage to be honest. I thought the plot was very dull.

TheMole 28 Jul 09 at 9:24 p.m. GMT

I haven't read all of the Miss Marple books yet, but from the ones I have read I would have to say that At Bertrams Hotel is my least favorite, for the same reasons that akkshay1 stated. Also I found it quite boring.

Dolly_B 29 Jul 09 at 6:04 p.m. GMT

My least favourite Marple books were: Sleeping Murder, A Caribbean Mystery, Nemesis and At Bertram's Hotel - in no particular order.  They just didn't have the mystery or surprise factor of her other Marple books.  Miss Marple is a favourite character of mine in the mystery book genre but these stories were disappointing.

jane_delawney 07 Dec 09 at 1:47 a.m. GMT

I love all Miss Marple mysteries, except At Bertram's Hotel. It started off very nicely, but the last two thirds were pretty dull.

MissQuin 21 Dec 09 at 8:16 p.m. GMT

I also love all Miss Marple stories apart from Pocket full of Rye. I found the Fortescue family unbearably obnoxious! I did think the solution was a good one, but the end was quite sad. I think I would have prefered  the book without the nursery rhyme connection.

Puffinjill 28 Dec 09 at 2:58 p.m. GMT

I find At Bertrams Hotel the least readable of all the Marples. It always feels a bit muddled and unsure of where it's focus is. It seems to be concerned with a spate of robberies with a confusing line in mistaken idenities, but throws in the disappearence of Canon Pennyfather and then a murder for good measure too! It all seems a bit much to me. Plus, none of the characters seem very appealing to me and I find it hard to enjoy a book without at least one character towards I can feel some sympathy or liking. Except possibly the Canon himself and his housekeeper - they are nicely drawn but seem to be in the wrong book as they jar with the rest of it.

A simpler book would have been a better book. Some of AC's best works are very pared down to the esentials and are better for it. A smaller cast of characters also means we can get to know them better and become sympathetic towards them. I feel rather mean saying I don't particularly like one of the Miss Marples as there are so few of them, but this one lacks the quality of the others and, therefore, I reluctantly place it last in my list of Marples.

Tommy_A_Jones 28 Dec 09 at 3:41 p.m. GMT

Oh Dear Puffin, I started this book this morning, I will watch my Video of the JH version after it.

Puffinjill 29 Dec 09 at 6:41 a.m. GMT

Sorry Tommy, I don't want to put you off it or ruin it for you! You never know, you may find it really enjoyable as we all seem to like and dislike different things. As I said before, it's a Marple and therefore I will still read it/watch it/listen to it but it doesn't engage me as much as the other Marple books do so I would probably turn to this one last. Doesn't mean it's a bad book, it just appeals less than the others.

You should ignore my comments and see how you like it for yourself. I shall be interested in hearing your opinion when you have finished. Will you have read all the Marples then Tommy?

Tommy_A_Jones 29 Dec 09 at 2:27 p.m. GMT

You won't ruin or spoil it for me as I think I have mentioned before I have the series of JHs and have watched them all and you aren't the only person to say t5his is the least good Marples, like you I will read/watch/listen to all that is Miss Marple although I might not re-watch the GM version, I have the Adio Cassette version with June Whitfield.

After reading this one I will have read all the Miss Marple's although the only Collection of short stories nI have read is The Thirteen Problems and at the moment my least favourite is Murder With Mirrors (Is that the name? I can never remember, it's the one with Carrie Louise and yes I will be sure to tell you my feelings about the book. Funnily enough My Mum asked if I wanted a poached Egg this morning and I was reading during Breakfast and Miss Marple was having a Poached egg for Breakfast, What a Coincidence.  

Puffinjill 29 Dec 09 at 2:43 p.m. GMT

Perhaps the poached eggs will be a good omen!! I do remember that you have the JH adaptations (as I do) but the book is a bit more muddled. I haven't seen the GM version and will probably steer clear if it as I love Joan Hicksons portrayal of Miss M (as, I beleive, you do) and nothing can compare.

They Do It With Mirrors comes next to bottom in my Miss M preferences. I find the whole idea of Hollywood stars in St Mary Mead strange and it lacks the charm of previous books set there. Perhaps I'm just stuck in my ways and don't like change - unlike Miss Marple, who is very philosophical about the changes in her beloved village.

Anyway, keep reading (and eating the poached eggs) an I await your verdict!

Tommy_A_Jones 30 Dec 09 at 3:43 p.m. GMT

I hope the Pached eggs are an omen, Porridge today, another Breakfast mentioned in ACs Books, I have seen the GM version of At Bertram's Hotel but saw it while on my Computer the Following day so only was half taking notice but didn't think much of what I saw. Yes I have the JH series and will watch the JH video when I have finished the book. I have remembered what you said when I was reading They Came To Baghdad and am going to mark bits I don't understand in Bertram's and look back at it later although only one bit so far, On wiki there is ba Chambermaid in the Cast list, I am on Chapter 10 is she to come, I have met Bridget but she isn't mentioned on wiki.

I felt the same as you at first about The Mirror Crack'd (That is the one you mean isn't it?) and Americans in St Mary Mead but there was a Character in the book who isn't in any Adaptation so far so thjat made me think differently about it as having him changed it a bit for me where as the Book They Do it With Mirrors is vertually no different which most would say that was a good thing but that book just seemed a bit flat to me but I have come to the conclusion that some books have Advantages and disadvantages.  

Puffinjill 31 Dec 09 at 6:31 a.m. GMT

Oh God, my stupid brain has done it again!! OF COURSE I mean The Mirror Crack'd and not They Do It With Mirrors! Honestly, you must all think I have no brain whatsoever and haven't read a single book. Thank you again Tommy for pointing me in the right direction and not laughing at my complete and utter idiocy. I shall hit myself over head with something heavy in the attempt to knock a small amount of sense into me. The only excuse I can offer for lack of ability to think, is taht I am already in greiving mode as I am counting down the hours until we lose David Tennant as Doctor Who tomorrow and my life will never be the same again. (AND my David Tennant calender runs out today and what do I do then? Not a bit Doctor Who fan but I am rather fond of Mr Tennant.)

Anyway, keep going with At Bertrams Hotel (have I got that right?!) and the Chambermaid will appear. Perhaps the Wikipedia character lists aren't complete lists as they only feature the central characters? I'm not sure, I'm afraid, as I don't usually look at them. Try not to let it put you off your reading.

By the way, which character are you referring to from The Mirror Crack'd (got it right!) that hasn't appeared in any adaptation? I'm off for my Cornflakes but I'd sooner be having Porridge if there's any to spare....

Tommy_A_Jones 31 Dec 09 at 3:43 p.m. GMT

Don't worry Puffin, I get Books mixed up all the time, I get Murder With Mirrors confused with A Pocketful of Rye or that one confused with The Moving Finger or The Moving Finger confused with A Murder Is Announced or The Hollow and After The Funeral confused and The Clocks confused with The Seven Dials Mystery, when I say confused I mean I usually say one when meaningf the other but sometimes think something happens in one book when it happened in another.

I am not a Doctor who fan but hope to watch the bit where he regenerates, I think it is sil;ly having someone so young.

I will keep going with At Bertram's Hotel, At The Moment I am loving it, I am finding there is so much more to it than in the JH Adaptation. I find looking at the Cast List helps me get into a Book but once it told me who the Murderer is so I am careful now. The Character that hasn't appeared in the JH or AL Adaptations of The Mirror Crack'd is the Male Assistant but I think he is portrayed in the JM Adaptation

Bundle_ 31 Dec 09 at 4:13 p.m. GMT

Puffinjill

I am counting down the hours until we lose David Tennant as Doctor Who tomorrow and my life will never be the same again. (AND my David Tennant calender runs out today and what do I do then? Not a bit Doctor Who fan but I am rather fond of Mr Tennant.)

Sorry that you feel this way, Jill.

I'm not a Doctor Who fan but I will watch the new episodes w/ Matt Smith as I am a fan of his!

And we all get confused w/ the plot of books sometimes; it certainly has happened to me.

Puffinjill 01 Jan 10 at 9:02 a.m. GMT

Confused is a permanent state of mind for me, my friend. But your brain is young Bundle, whereas I feel mine is crumbling away as we speak. I have decided they ARE NOT 'senior moments' as I am still way off my dotage (creeping into middle age, I fear, but avoiding it as much as possible) and still act like an adolescent most of the time.

Anyway, enough of that. I sit here at my computer in black as today marks the passing of Mr Tennant (AARRGGHHHHHHHH!!) but I'm trying to be mature about it. I'm unsure about Matt Smith as I feel he is too young of the part but I will give him a try and see how it pans out. But I shall miss Mr T sooooo much and weep into my pillow at night. Spare a thought for me this evening when it all over.....

Right, back to the plot and lets talk Marple. Tommy, it's quite some time since I read The Mirror Crack'd (and as I'm not too fond of it I've not read it masses of times) but are you referring to Hayley Preston? I don't think he was in the JH adaptation. Perhaps he will be in the new one? And perhaps I can sit on my sofa, shut my mouth and watch it without shouting at the screen everytime I disagree with they way it's been done. Or perhaps not!

Anyway, Happy New Year to you all and goodbye my lovely, lovely David.

Tommy_A_Jones 01 Jan 10 at 1:12 p.m. GMT

Yes That's him Puffin, In the TVTimes it said that it would be more faithful than the JH version and someone on here said he was being portrayed, btw, Just met the Chambermaid.

Puffinjill 02 Jan 10 at 6:43 a.m. GMT

We shall wait and see if his inclusion adds anything to drama. Mind you, being ITV's Marple, his character is probably completely different to the one he had in the book!!

Tommy_A_Jones 02 Jan 10 at 1:04 p.m. GMT

Perhap having him will confirm something suggested in the book.

Nofret 02 Jan 10 at 6:48 p.m. GMT

Have only just finished sniffling into the tissues! Will he find Rose again? Yes!!!! Oh, no! He's misjudged the time and arrived too soon!

Anyway, back to Christie!

They do it with Mirrors was one of the very few books where I immediately guessed how the murder was done. However, in last night's adaptation I thought this was counteracted well by making Lewis such a harmless-looking buffoon!

I was relieved that they stuck more or less to the plot, after that awful travesty that was Murder is Easy, one of my favourite, and most puzzling Christie books.

By the way, I love the Christie games on this site, such as guess the plot, or the quotation. Why don't more of you join in?

Puffinjill 03 Jan 10 at 7:07 a.m. GMT

I didn't just sniff, I sobbed (much to the great amusement of my other half!!) and sobbed. Bravely took down my DT (out of date) calender yesterday and am soldiering on as best as I can. Nice to meet someone who feels the same way, Nofret!

I love the puzzles too and really enjoy taxing my brain. Not too good as setting them, though, and always end up looking at everyone elses and thinking "why didn't I think of that?"