Friday, February 22, 2013

Reading Agatha Christie


Right now I am reading The Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie.  Generally speaking, I have found that when I can't figure out what to read or when I need a guaranteed dose of comfort -- nothing works quite so well as a mystery. Do you enjoy reading mysteries?  For me, they are the equivalent of a cup of tea and a fire in the fireplace.

I haven't read anything by Agatha Christie for years, but recently I was intrigued by a fabulous review of The Mousetrap by Agatha Christie, the longest running play in history.  It has been playing in London for more than sixty years.  Amazing!  In his review, the writer wrote that for him Agatha Christie's books represented a tranquil respite from every day anxiety.  My interest was piqued and, when combined with my recent indecision about what to read next, I decided to go in the direction of Agatha Christie.

And so I settled into "The Murder at the Vicarage" and breathed a sigh of relief as I had found the perfect book for right now.  I thought to myself:  yes, Agatha, please take me to the small village in the English countryside where the characters reside.  Let me get to know all the inhabitants of the village,  learn about their customs and ways, and which ones had a motive for killing the murder victim.  As it turns out, many of them did.  Please lead me through the streets of the village and the rooms of the houses by giving me maps and floor plans.  Introduce me to the central characters: the vicar and his glamorous wife, the nervous curate, the Colonel whom everyone hates and wishes dead, the Colonel's young wife who is having an affair with a handsome artist, the chief of police and the Inspector.  And please bring in Miss Marple, the village busy body and amateur sleuth who seems to know every one's business. Before the book ends, there will be murder, clues, red herrings, discredited witnesses, confessions, confusion, suspicious servants and plot twists.  As Miss Marple says, "One does see so much evil in a village."  

In other words, bring on the formula that is as comforting as a cup of tea.  I love going to that cozy  place where all I am required to do is solve a puzzle.  I will happily spend time there.  It is the formula for the well-ordered world of the mystery novel. A happy antidote to the chaos of the real world we deal with every day and which is often represented in contemporary novels.  Just for now, give me the comfort of visiting this orderly microcosm.  Soon I will be seeking more challenging reads, but right now I am happily ensconced in the village of St. Mary's Mead with Miss Marple and the cast of characters.  I think a pot of tea and some scones may be in order.  What could be better?




First image via Pinterest

9 comments:

  1. Funnily enough a friend and I discussed Agatha Christie today (over tea) and we came to the conclusion that she is at her best when she writes about murders in small towns or familyhouses. She goes a bit wrong when she tries to describe international complots etc, but no-one can beat her plots when it comes to murders in English villages and homes.

    I love Agatha Christie!
    have a good weekend and kind regards,

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  2. I so agree with you about the comforting formula of the mystery. I'm especially fond of the Donna Leon series and the wonderful leading character of Commissario Guido Brunetti. The story is always entertaining but the setting of Venice makes it all the better. A good reminder to just relax and enjoy a good mystery. Have a great weekend Sunday.

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  3. I'm also reading Murder at the Vicarage, although I probably should have picked a different one by Christie as the episode of Miss Marple featuring this story was just played here in the Netherlands, and I hate reading a book so soon after seeing it played out.

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  4. There is a lot going on at the moment, and I'm having a very hard time settling in with a book. Maybe this is the perfect antidote? I saw The Mousetrap in London 40 years ago. Amazing.

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  5. Also find AC's book soothing when feeling low they are so easy to read the only challenge the murderer!One of my favourites is Nemesis,have all her books.

    First saw the Mousetrap with my G/parents in all have seen it 3 times the actors may change,so do the generations that enjoy it. Ida

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  6. Very much enjoyed your review. I'm thinking of reading some Agatha Christie myself and I also want to read more by Dorothy L Sayers. I'm quite interested in classic detective novels written by women.

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  7. Sounds simply marvelous! The "One does see so much evil in a village." comment reminded me - have you ever seen the movie Keeping Mum? I reviewed it a couple of years ago - I think it would be right up your alley!!

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  8. I totally agree! I never tire of good mysteries, and British ones are usually my favorites.

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  9. I think I fell in love with Agatha Christie when I was in junior high. I blame my mother; she was always preaching the virtues of a good cozy Agatha Christie mystery. I have yet to see the Mousetrap, however. Until I have that opportunity, I will have to content myself with the old fashioned cup-of-tea page-turners. Murder on the Orient Express and Evil Under the Sun are some of my favorites. (But then again, I have a bit of a crush on that fastidious little Belgian detective, Poirot.)

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