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Christie on Holiday

betty_barnard 28 Jul 09 at 5:57 a.m. GMT

As we're in the holiday season now I thought I'd share my holiday reading and where I read it with you and hope that others might join in our Chrisite Holiday!  I took The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side (one of my all time favourites) and Ordeal by Innocence (haven't read it for ages) and The Labours of Hercules (must have a short story collection).

My holiday desination this year was a very quiet hamlet in Normandy and I have to say that it really adds to the enjoyment of a mystery when all you can hear is the birds twittering and bees buzzing.  No nasty traffic (well except for the odd tractor) to spoil the mood.  A Christie, a dry Normandy cider and a deckchair - just bliss.

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Tommy_A_Jones 28 Jul 09 at 11:43 a.m. GMT

This is a Brilliant topic Betty, I have thought of starting a topic along the same lines but never have so well done. I always thought it would be great to read a book in the sort of place where you are going so if you are going to a Village take a Miss Marple book or 'The Hollow or Postern of Fate nd if you are going to a Hotel take Evil Under The Sun or And Then There Were None or if you are going to a Grand house take The Hollow or Towards Zero or a Bundle Book, I agree you must take a Book of short stories but I personally would take Partners In Crime or one of the Collection with Miss Marple although all of them except Parker Pyne Investigates or Hound of Death would be brilliant, the other 2 collections would be better when waiting for the Plumber or Electrition Gas Man or a Delivery, I haven't read Labours of Hercules yet but as it includes Mythology I am nervouse it is too heavy for Holidays like Hound of Death and Parker Pyne is but that is just my view., I would maybe take ABC Murders as it is a favourite of mine or Death In The Clouds for the same reason.

marymck 28 Jul 09 at 2:23 p.m. GMT

I agree with Winnebago, this thread is a great idea Betty.

I hope you don't mind if I go slightly off topic and ask if anyone can recommend a book to read during a holiday in Venice.

Did AC ever write anything set in Venice?  I've been racking my brains, but I can't think of anything.

Alternatively, can anyone suggest a fictional story set in Venice?  Not Don't Look Now or Death in Venice ... but preferably a detective or historical fiction.  Nothing too heavy ... it is meant to be a holiday!

I'm not going till the Autumn, so plenty of time for me to find a copy if it's something obscure.

Frndorfoe 30 Jul 09 at 11:02 a.m. GMT

I'm on my holiday. And today's my birthday. Today my dad gave me two books for my birthday. Ken Follett's The Pillars of the Earth and Joseph Heller's Catch-22. Can anyone tell me which one should I read first? I'm confused.  

Tommy_A_Jones 30 Jul 09 at 1:16 p.m. GMT

Marymck why not read 'The Man In The Brown Suit' It's a Great Caper story, not too heavy, Great Characters, and Humourous in parts, I know it isn't set in Venice but I don't think there nis a book by AC set in Venice only Frankfurt, Baghdad, Cyprus, Egypt and The Carribean I trhink although Poirot did go from Country to Country in The Big Four, The Is a Book made into 2 films one version had Stewart Granger and one had Peter Sellers, the book is mentioned in 'Passenger ti Frankfurt' that might have venice in it I can't remember and Postern of Fate mentions afew books, perhaps one is set in Venice, I think they are written by Robert Louis Stephenson.

Tommy_A_Jones 01 Aug 09 at 10:46 a.m. GMT

I have just put Stewart Granger's name in Google and the Book I was thinking of is Prosoner of Zenda which has actually been made into a film more than twice.

go_leafs_nation 01 Aug 09 at 11:42 a.m. GMT

I haven't read Christie while on vacation for over a year now. I went on to other authors. Most recently, I finished John Dickson Carr's The Arabian Nights Murder. The book was EXTREMELY hard to find (and I had to buy it in the end), but quite worth it.

I recall, when flying back home from Poland two years ago, reading two or three Christies on the flight. I can't remember much about that, other than one was Hallowe'en Party. For some reason, reading it on the flight made me love it a lot. I can't explain why...

3rdGirl 01 Aug 09 at 8:55 p.m. GMT

I hope you don't mind if I go slightly off topic and ask if anyone can recommend a book to read during a holiday in Venice.

Did AC ever write anything set in Venice?  I've been racking my brains, but I can't think of anything.

Alternatively, can anyone suggest a fictional story set in Venice?  Not Don't Look Now or Death in Venice ... but preferably a detective or historical fiction.  Nothing too heavy ... it is meant to be a holiday!

Reply :

A modern crime writer called Donna Leon has a fantastic series featuring Commisario Guido Brunett based in Venice and they are very evocative of the city.

Or 'City of Falling Angels' by John Berendt.

I wish Ms Christie had let Poirot travel a bit more too! The ones where he travels through the Orient are my favourites.

marymck 02 Aug 09 at 9:01 a.m. GMT

Great suggestions 3rd Girl - I shall definitely be checking those books out. 

I have read The Man in the Brown Suit, but it was years ago and I have a memory that I was really annoyed with it for some reason, though I can't remember why!  I shall definitely re-read it now.

I'll check out Passenger to Frankfurt and Postern of Fate also - thanks Winne.

I also have something lurking at the back of my mind that I've read something Eric Ambler or Edmund Crispin wrote that was set in Venice.  I love both those authors - can anyone think of anything they wrote that fits the bill?

Tommy_A_Jones 02 Aug 09 at 10:46 a.m. GMT

The Man In The Brown Suit annoyed me too at first marymck because and I( do know why but I wont tell you as it might spoil it for you but then I realised something and now I think it is one of my favourites, I am sorry if you are dissapointed about Passenger to Frankfurt, it is one of my least favourites but like Postern of Fate though.

marymck 02 Aug 09 at 11:18 a.m. GMT

You've really intrigued me about The Man in the Brown Suit now Winne - it goes to the top of my re-read list!

Tommy_A_Jones 02 Aug 09 at 2:01 p.m. GMT

Enjoy marymck, Enjoy.

3rdGirl 10 Aug 09 at 12:13 a.m. GMT

I can't wait until Christmas time so I can read all of the Christmas short stories in my new AC short stories book.

Frndorfoe 15 Aug 09 at 9:46 a.m. GMT

Since no one had any suggestions on which one I should read first I have read Catch-22 first. Will begin The Pillars of the Earth shortly.

Tommy_A_Jones 15 Aug 09 at 12:37 p.m. GMT

Perhaps Frndorfoe those books are too deep for people who read Agatha Christie Books perhaps when people read her work they are doing so because they have stressfdul lives and feel in need of something light although that brings back the what books are light question, When I weant something frivolous and unimportant I watch Reality Tv. 

Frndorfoe 16 Aug 09 at 9:18 a.m. GMT

I just read because I love to read. I don't know what is light and what is not. When I have nothing to read I get restless. I have a lot of stress in my life too, believe me. In these chaotic times who doesn’t have a stressful life? But for me reading is not just a way to escape from that stress. Reading is as essential as living and breathing.

3rdGirl 17 Aug 09 at 9:26 a.m. GMT

I totally agree with you Frndorfoe, too many books too little time! I read all sorts of things, not just mysteries and and in two book clubs as well. I like to read a couple of AC's per month in between the other books. Television is so bad that I prefer to read. If I like a TV series I'll get it on DVD so I can watch it at my convenience.

I've not read Catch 22 or Pillars of the Earth, but they are on 'the list'.

Winne is right though, I do prefer to read AC when I need something to romp through, and back to the topic, I love reading her books on holidays and at the beach or in the park.

Tommy_A_Jones 17 Aug 09 at 12:55 p.m. GMT

I didn't mean to be insulting to AC, I just meant that other books are sdo heavy and Deep, and with the exception of some alot of ACs books aren't too deep although I suppose some of the subjects are deep like Child Murder and Drug taking but subjects like these are mentioned in cozy environments so they don't seem so shocking

3rdGirl 19 Aug 09 at 7:45 a.m. GMT

I don't think anyone thought you were insulting AC books, Winne. :-) We know what a fan you are!

Tommy_A_Jones 19 Aug 09 at 1:56 p.m. GMT

You are right there third Girl, If I had the money I would get someone to track dowwn the Adaptations which are rarely if ever seen like;

Gracie Fields as Miss marple,

Margaret Rutherford as Miss Marple

Angela Landes bury as Miss Marple

Austin Trevor as Poirot

Tony Randall as Poirot

Maurtice Denham as Parker Pyne

Spider's Web

and the Radio Adaptations with Richard Attenborough and Sheila Sim as Tommy and Tuppence as well as all versions of ATTWN (Except the Russian ones) and I think I read on the net that either 'They came To Baghdad or Destination Unknown had been done and the Audio Cassettes I haven't got.

I would not bother to collect the 'Marple Series with GM (Except possibly A Murder Is Announced and 4.50 From Paddington) or the remakee of 'Murder On the Orient Express  or the Suchet version of Cards On The Table and wait to see if I would buy The JM series of Miss Marple but can't see me buying the ones where Miss Marple shouldn't appear (Although I did like 'By The Pricking of My Thumbs so I might buy that)

I would also love to be able to dress like Bobby Jones, Tommy Beresford or Hastings occaionally.

3rdGirl 20 Aug 09 at 8:52 p.m. GMT

We have the Margaret Rutherford adaptations on VHS video in our library. They aren't very faithful, but very entertaining and quite amusing. They are very much of their era.

I love listening to digital radio BBC7 online to their radio plays and they usually have Agatha Christie adaptations on. However at the moment they are doing Dorothy Sayer's Lord Peter Wimsey's The Nine Taylors in their 'Crime and Thrillers' hour. Just fantastic.

I'll let everyone know when they do some AC again. They usually have really noted British actors doing the readings and are really great.

I've never even heard of some of the adaptations you speak of Winne!