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3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is a fairly clever mix of short stories that includes three major Christie characters: Parker Pine, Hercule Poirot & Ms. Mary Marple. I have only consistently read Poirot stories, so those were my main points of interest. Miss Marple consisted of one short story; Pine was two. Poirot took the lions share of the mix, but there was one stand out that included none of these.
"In a Glass Darkly" stood out in two ways. First, there is no detective, because there is no mystery - at least not of the detective class. It has supernatural elements when a house guest seeks an impossible reflection in a mirror that predicts the future. I really like where Christie went with this and how she twisted what the reader might expect.
As with all of these stories, it did suffer from being a little too short. As I did these through an audiobook, I can say none of these stories last longer than an hour. They are all entertaining, but some, due to their brevity, don't have time to develop the mystery and plot and tend to rush to the conclusion.
"In a Glass Darkly" stood out in two ways. First, there is no detective, because there is no mystery - at least not of the detective class. It has supernatural elements when a house guest seeks an impossible reflection in a mirror that predicts the future. I really like where Christie went with this and how she twisted what the reader might expect.
As with all of these stories, it did suffer from being a little too short. As I did these through an audiobook, I can say none of these stories last longer than an hour. They are all entertaining, but some, due to their brevity, don't have time to develop the mystery and plot and tend to rush to the conclusion.
Agatha Christie is my go to author for a good comfort read. Normally I'm not a big fan of the short stories, but this time around it worked for me reading a story each night gave me something to look forward to. It was a nice collection of Poirot, Miss Marple, and Parker Pyne stories.
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
This is another Christie book that I have listened to in my desire to read all her works. I started this quest four years ago and I do enjoy listening to the various readers who tell Christie's tales.
I believe that this is the first time I have encountered Parker Pyne. I enjoyed the stories that featured him. I gather from Wikipedia there are more stories about him - I will have to find them. The other stories with Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple were also enjoyable.
It is hard to believe that there is anyone who has not encountered Christie's various detectives. If you have not read any Christie, I would not necessarily start with this collection. One of the novel length stories might be a better choice.
If you have read much of Christie and not read this book, I would recommend it. It is light, enjoyable and all the stories are well told.
I believe that this is the first time I have encountered Parker Pyne. I enjoyed the stories that featured him. I gather from Wikipedia there are more stories about him - I will have to find them. The other stories with Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple were also enjoyable.
It is hard to believe that there is anyone who has not encountered Christie's various detectives. If you have not read any Christie, I would not necessarily start with this collection. One of the novel length stories might be a better choice.
If you have read much of Christie and not read this book, I would recommend it. It is light, enjoyable and all the stories are well told.
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Characters: 7/10
Relationships: 5/10
Atmosphere/Setting: 6/10
Writing Style: 7/10
Plot/Intrigue: 8/10
Internal Logic: 10/10
Entertainment: 7/10
Overall: 50/70, 0*
I've really been enjoying getting into Agatha Christie! lots of twists and turns. these short stories move fast, and I always find the explanations at the end satisfying.
Relationships: 5/10
Atmosphere/Setting: 6/10
Writing Style: 7/10
Plot/Intrigue: 8/10
Internal Logic: 10/10
Entertainment: 7/10
Overall: 50/70, 0*
I've really been enjoying getting into Agatha Christie! lots of twists and turns. these short stories move fast, and I always find the explanations at the end satisfying.
"No man or woman is actually himself (or herself) till after forty-five. That’s when individuality has a chance.”
(Something to look forward to.)
"Pauline and I, you see, have had what the vulgar call words. That is to say, she’s had ninety-five words to five of mine out of every hundred. My five are: ‘But, darling—I can explain.’—Then she starts in on her ninety-five again and we get no further. I think,” added Tony sadly, “that I shall poison myself.”
“'Did anyone take a hatchet to her?' inquired Poirot. The old gentleman shook his head sadly."
The very best of British understatement.
I sometimes find mystery short stories to be too short to become invested in, but most of these are entertaining. The class commentary from Christie is always a plus, but unfortunately the period-typical racism is present as well. In one story a black singer is described by her race about four times in one paragraph. I encountered one of Christie's other detectives Parker Pyne for the first time here. In the ultimate case of "that didn't age well," he is interested with eugenics-based criminology, dividing people by racial characteristics and so on. Agatha Agatha Agatha.
"In A Glass Darkly" is a perfectly creepy little story with vibes of Rebecca, enhanced by being read by the measured tones of Simon Vance.
(Something to look forward to.)
"Pauline and I, you see, have had what the vulgar call words. That is to say, she’s had ninety-five words to five of mine out of every hundred. My five are: ‘But, darling—I can explain.’—Then she starts in on her ninety-five again and we get no further. I think,” added Tony sadly, “that I shall poison myself.”
“'Did anyone take a hatchet to her?' inquired Poirot. The old gentleman shook his head sadly."
The very best of British understatement.
I sometimes find mystery short stories to be too short to become invested in, but most of these are entertaining. The class commentary from Christie is always a plus, but unfortunately the period-typical racism is present as well. In one story a black singer is described by her race about four times in one paragraph. I encountered one of Christie's other detectives Parker Pyne for the first time here. In the ultimate case of "that didn't age well," he is interested with eugenics-based criminology, dividing people by racial characteristics and so on. Agatha Agatha Agatha.
"In A Glass Darkly" is a perfectly creepy little story with vibes of Rebecca, enhanced by being read by the measured tones of Simon Vance.
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated