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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
⭐2.5
"As I reread it for a final time, it occurred to me that we are all unreliable narrators of our own lives, crafting stories about ourselves that omit unsavory truths and highlight our invented identities."
This is the tale of what exactly transpired the 11 days where Agatha Christie went missing and the events the lead up to that mysterious first day of disappearance. Even though Agatha Christie has an autobiography and was very well known, no one is exactly sure what happened and why she disappeared.
I am someone who isn't super familiar about Agatha Christie, only truly aware of her novels. So many times I had to look up names on google to figure out how they were connected to the famous mystery author. Benedict does a great job explaining the connection with the people who were very close to her but there is somethings I was not aware of before looking it up. I was so clueless, I wasn't aware that Christie wasn't her maiden name and that she was married twice!
The story is separated 50/50 with the present day of Agatha missing and everyone looking for her (following her husband), and the past (Told by herself).
And sadly, I found one half rather lacking and had to really force myself through it. I didn't particularly like how one of the characters were written which made it hard to get through those parts. This is purely my own opinion since it made sense of the time and I do like the development the story took by the ending.
However, I do not find myself being able to reread this due to this fact. Enjoyable first read to see where the story lead and see how Benedict perceived the events but would probably be a slug to get through a second time.
"As I reread it for a final time, it occurred to me that we are all unreliable narrators of our own lives, crafting stories about ourselves that omit unsavory truths and highlight our invented identities."
This is the tale of what exactly transpired the 11 days where Agatha Christie went missing and the events the lead up to that mysterious first day of disappearance. Even though Agatha Christie has an autobiography and was very well known, no one is exactly sure what happened and why she disappeared.
I am someone who isn't super familiar about Agatha Christie, only truly aware of her novels. So many times I had to look up names on google to figure out how they were connected to the famous mystery author. Benedict does a great job explaining the connection with the people who were very close to her but there is somethings I was not aware of before looking it up. I was so clueless, I wasn't aware that Christie wasn't her maiden name and that she was married twice!
The story is separated 50/50 with the present day of Agatha missing and everyone looking for her (following her husband), and the past (Told by herself).
And sadly, I found one half rather lacking and had to really force myself through it. I didn't particularly like how one of the characters were written which made it hard to get through those parts. This is purely my own opinion since it made sense of the time and I do like the development the story took by the ending.
However, I do not find myself being able to reread this due to this fact. Enjoyable first read to see where the story lead and see how Benedict perceived the events but would probably be a slug to get through a second time.
Das Buch ist nicht perfekt, aber ich liebe die Idee und die Umsetzung gelingt auch recht gut. Ich stelle mir Agatha Christie selbst etwas anders vor, jedoch sind die 11 Tage ihres Verschwindens als Leerstelle eine Steilvorlage und da die Queen of Crime ihr Geheimnis bewahrt hat, weiß es eben auch niemand besser. Absolut lesenswert für alle Christie-Fans und solche, die es noch werden wollen
I love stuff like this --fictional interpretations of actual events-- and really enjoyed the atmospheric story Benedict wove. But the characters all spoke like Americans, which I found really distracting. Better as a movie, maybe?
The idea is interesting. I'm not a big fan of the author's style.
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Boring. Felt like a bunch of it was written to reach a word count requirement.
I admire the effort and skill put into this construction but it did not work for me. It was very slow, repetitive and boring. There was a lot more telling than showing, especially in the manuscript part of the book, and a few times it felt like it was telling stuff to dumb readers. I did not appreciate Archie's character, naturally, but neither did I like Agatha: neither of her versions (the innocent nor the cunning one). Furthermore, it didn't even seem to me that the couple truly liked each other from the beginning. But then after 3/4 of the book where practically nothing happened, we get a conclusion that is an endless Agatha rant, an Agatha that never appeared in the rest of the book but that I didn't like any better. But bonus: she got thinner while she disappeared. I really rolled my eyes at that.
I will give it two stars for the ambition and the plot construction.
I will give it two stars for the ambition and the plot construction.
Another enjoyable read from Marie Benedict. I obtained this book (and a "matching" face mask) from a zoom author talk I "attended" in December. Though Agatha Christie may be one of Benedict's better known subjects, I knew little about her or her disappearance in December 1926. The well-researched story is the story of a marriage and a woman's role at this time. Benedict imagines the reasons behind Christie's well-publicized, and well-orchestrated?, 11 day disappearance.
The Mystery of Mrs. Christie is not a difficult book to read; the chapters are short. However, there is a lot to ponder.
Concurrent with reading the novel, I watched a PBS documentary, Inside the Mind of Agatha Christie, which added to my interest. Now, I just need to read more of her mysteries. I also have a couple of more Marie Benedict books on my tbr.
"...it occurred to me that we are all unreliable narrators of our own lives, crafting stories about ourselves that omit unsavory truths and highlight our invented identities."
Twice in one week, I came across the "unreliable narrator" concept, both times in regards to historical fiction.
The Mystery of Mrs. Christie is not a difficult book to read; the chapters are short. However, there is a lot to ponder.
Concurrent with reading the novel, I watched a PBS documentary, Inside the Mind of Agatha Christie, which added to my interest. Now, I just need to read more of her mysteries. I also have a couple of more Marie Benedict books on my tbr.
"...it occurred to me that we are all unreliable narrators of our own lives, crafting stories about ourselves that omit unsavory truths and highlight our invented identities."
Twice in one week, I came across the "unreliable narrator" concept, both times in regards to historical fiction.
Well done. The alternating chapter multi perspective is occasionally a little disorienting, but on the whole evocative and believable.