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3.53 AVERAGE
3.53 AVERAGE
This was very easy reading and enjoyable. Lovable characters and made really interesting observations about people.
Only tragedy was that the definitely gay male character ended up having a girlfriend, but it may be subtly hinting to a lavender marriage.
Another issue is that some of the language and descriptions is very of its time, however this is just how things were written then. Hopefully the other books will improve on this front.
Only tragedy was that the definitely gay male character ended up having a girlfriend, but it may be subtly hinting to a lavender marriage.
Another issue is that some of the language and descriptions is very of its time, however this is just how things were written then. Hopefully the other books will improve on this front.
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
This was interesting being the first Agatha Raisin novel. I have read many but did not know how Agatha's story started.
Creo que leere el resto de los que están en español
No creí que me gustara
El inicio es muy lento y me costó entrar, pero una vez lo hice fue viento en popa
No creí que me gustara
El inicio es muy lento y me costó entrar, pero una vez lo hice fue viento en popa
I listened to this on audiobook and found it to be a dated, somewhat frustrating experience. Published in 1992, it very much feels like a product of its time. Iit's a dated tone and narrative style that doesn't really appeal to me, and I don't personally feel has aged all that well. I’m starting to realize that the "cozy mystery" genre might not be my cup of tea (somewhat ironic, as I am on a cup of tea reading challenge).
The premise, most of which is included in the title or paragraph blurb on the back, very Hallmark movie channel cliche. Agatha's a ruthless big-city PR business owner, who sells her firm to head to charming small village (Carsely, a fictional village in the Cotswolds, a region in South West England full of charming towns that she'd visited in her childhood) for retirement. She's bored, she's lonely (though work was her life and she never had true friends anyway), and she's used to getting her way (we're told there's no such thing as a free lunch if Agatha's buying).
So, the reader isn't really supposed to like Agatha. She's prickly and written to be unlikeable, and it's hard to find anything even really interesting about her throughout. She wants instant popularity without effort, friendship without warmth, and success without integrity. She's not meant to be lovable, which is fine in theory, but the book never quite gives her enough wit, charm, or cleverness to offset how irritating she is. Her actions are often petty, and her personality reads like someone who skipped emotional growth and compensated with a ego/superiority and superiority/false confidence. She's more petulant than complex, and she's just abrasive and exasperating.
Anyway, she decides the way to win the village's favor is to win the local quiche contest, which ends up with a murder mystery involving the judge dying due to her poisoned quiche. (The judge, it turns out, is a married man who judges many local baking/cooking/agricultural contests in several towns and villages, where the winner is the same woman year over year, and with whom the judge is having affairs with.)
The mystery itself felt thin, with a lackluster investigation that only picked up (slightly) toward the end. Listening to this was more testing my patience and will to avoid DNF-ing than fun. I stuck with it out of curiosity and a mild desire to “get” the appeal of this long-running series, but I doubt I’ll return for more.
The premise, most of which is included in the title or paragraph blurb on the back, very Hallmark movie channel cliche. Agatha's a ruthless big-city PR business owner, who sells her firm to head to charming small village (Carsely, a fictional village in the Cotswolds, a region in South West England full of charming towns that she'd visited in her childhood) for retirement. She's bored, she's lonely (though work was her life and she never had true friends anyway), and she's used to getting her way (we're told there's no such thing as a free lunch if Agatha's buying).
So, the reader isn't really supposed to like Agatha. She's prickly and written to be unlikeable, and it's hard to find anything even really interesting about her throughout. She wants instant popularity without effort, friendship without warmth, and success without integrity. She's not meant to be lovable, which is fine in theory, but the book never quite gives her enough wit, charm, or cleverness to offset how irritating she is. Her actions are often petty, and her personality reads like someone who skipped emotional growth and compensated with a ego/superiority and superiority/false confidence. She's more petulant than complex, and she's just abrasive and exasperating.
Anyway, she decides the way to win the village's favor is to win the local quiche contest, which ends up with a murder mystery involving the judge dying due to her poisoned quiche. (The judge, it turns out, is a married man who judges many local baking/cooking/agricultural contests in several towns and villages, where the winner is the same woman year over year, and with whom the judge is having affairs with.)
The mystery itself felt thin, with a lackluster investigation that only picked up (slightly) toward the end. Listening to this was more testing my patience and will to avoid DNF-ing than fun. I stuck with it out of curiosity and a mild desire to “get” the appeal of this long-running series, but I doubt I’ll return for more.
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Tres cute mais on voit tout à fait venir le truc et c’est un peu lent pour moi.
Au demeurant, assez drôle et très sympa à lire. Agatha est détestable donc elle m’est très sympathique
Au demeurant, assez drôle et très sympa à lire. Agatha est détestable donc elle m’est très sympathique
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No