Tuesday, January 24, 2012

ACRC Carnival 2012 #1 - January 24, 2012

Welcome to the first edition of the Agatha Christie Reading Challenge Blog Carnival for 2012.

Many thanks to the 8 contributors who have provided 10 blog posts and discoveries for you to visit.
    Do visit the participating blogs and leave comments if you have read the books. Spread the word too about the existence of this blog and the monthly opportunity it offers to showcase reviews about Agatha Christie books. 
Today's 8 Contributors - please see the items in the main part of the newsletter for exact URLS of their posts.

General


Cheryl Lyda presents Agatha Christie's Wit & Wisdom: Past, Present, Future posted at Agatha Christie's Wit & Wisdom, saying, "As we make our New Year's resolutions, let's remember what Hercule Poirot had to say about putting things off until tomorrow:
“Tomorrow! Sometimes, M. Poirot, tomorrow is a long way off.”
“On the contrary,” said Poirot, “I always find that it succeeds today with monotonous regularity.”
This and over 300 other quotes from Christie's books may be found at Agatha Christie's Wit & Wisdom."

Clarissa Draper presents Why Didn't They Ask Evans? (Boomerang Clue) posted at Clarissa's Agatha Christie Page, saying, "what made me love this book was not the mystery as much as the chemistry between the two MCs"

Hercule Poirot


BooksPlease presents Death in the Clouds by Agatha Christie posted at BooksPlease, saying, "This is a kind of locked room mystery, only the ‘locked room’ is a plane on a flight from Paris to Croydon, in which Hercule Poirot is one of the passengers. A most enjoyable mystery."

ng kai-lee presents Poirot series, Part four posted at -Zhen's Summer Cafe-, saying, "A review of the movie adaptation of Five Little Pigs. Greatly recommended!"

Sarah Ahmad presents Cat Among the Pigeons posted at The Book Nook. "One of my favorite Agatha Christie novels, Cat Among the Pigeons has a lot of great characters. "

Marie presents The Murder of Roger Ackroyd: A Hercule Poirot Mystery posted at I ♥ reading. "I really enjoyed this novel but couldn't help shaking my head at a couple oddities. "

BooksPlease presents The Clocks by Agatha Christie: My Thoughts posted at BooksPlease, saying, "Hercule Poirot plays a minor role in this mystery. an intriguing puzzle."

Miss Marple


Rishi Arora presents The Moving Finger by Agatha Christie posted at Classic Mystery Hunt, saying, "The mystery when you read the book looks prosaic but trust me you are not smarter then Christie, she knows how we think and puts us in that direction and then comes up with a complete diametrically opposite solution. This book is a case study of how to write a perfect cozy murder mystery. In one year Miss Marple books have gone from my least favorite to my most awaited books that I want to read."

Superintendent Battle


KerrieS presents Review: TOWARDS ZERO, Agatha Christie posted at MYSTERIES in PARADISE, saying, "This is Battle's last appearance in a novel. Why did Agatha Christie discard him?"

Updates


KerrieS presents MYSTERIES in PARADISE: Agatha Christie Novels read posted at MYSTERIES in PARADISE, saying, "progressing well. Now at 34 novels and 13 short story collections."

That concludes this edition.

Submit your blog article to the next edition (February 24, 2012) of the agatha christie monthly carnival using our carnival submission form.

Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.
Technorati tags: , .
Posted by at 10:25 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: , , ,
Reactions: 

Friday, January 20, 2012

How to Join the Agatha Christie Reading Challenge


The Agatha Christie Reading Challenge is really a challenge in two parts.

Part One

My original idea with the challenge was that I would read the books of Agatha Christie in order of publication to see what I could learn about her development as a writer, her exploration of the genre, development of her main characters and so on.

I've continued to tackle that on two fronts: her novels and her short stories.
I invited other people to join me and some are attempting to read the novels in order as I am, while others are simply reading them as they come across them.
I invite you to join us on this reading journey, reading at your own pace, either in publication order, or not, as you please.

You can join by adding your name to the Mr Linky at the foot of this post.

I find that I am reading about a title a month, aiming for 12 a year.
As I read a new book, I write a review and post it on my blog.
I also write an update post, recording my progress so far.
If you click here, you will see examples of these posts. 

Part Two

The second part of the challenge is to be a participant in the monthly Agatha Christie Challenge Blog Carnival which is published around the 24th of each month.
It is an opportunity to submit your Agatha Christie reviews and updates to each carnival.
So when you write a review or an update about your progress in the challenge, then the next step each time is to submit your post to the Carnival here.

The carnival has various categories:
  • General
  • Miss Marple
  • Tommy & Tuppence
  • Hercule Poirot
  • Superintendent Battle
  • Short Stories
  • Updates
  • Discoveries (here you can submit interesting Agatha Christie related websites that you've discovered)
You submit your posts here

Posted by at 7:04 AM 28 comments Links to this post
Labels: ,
Reactions: 

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

ACRC Carnival 2011 #10 - December 20, 2011

This is the 2011 Christmas edition of the Agatha Christie Reading Challenge Blog Carnival.
Many thanks to today's contributors and seasons greetings to all participants and readers.

Many thanks to the 10 contributors who have provided 23 blog posts and discoveries for you to visit.
    Do visit the participating blogs and leave comments if you have read the books. Spread the word too about the existence of this blog and the monthly opportunity it offers to showcase reviews about Agatha Christie books. 
Today's 10 Contributors - please see the items in the main part of the newsletter for exact URLS of their posts.

General


Marie presents The Man in the Brown Suit posted at I ♥ reading. "I really enjoyed this Agatha Christie murder mystery; it isn't as formula driven as the other Christie books I've read to date. I'm actually starting to wonder if there's an Agatha Christie novel out there that I won't enjoy."

ng kai-lee presents A Little Romance from Christie posted at -Zhen's Summer Cafe-, saying, "A collection of the memorable couples in Christie's whodunits. Yes, we all know she likes to play matchmaker!"


Cheryl Lyda presents Agatha Christie's Wit & Wisdom posted at Agatha Christie's Wit & Wisdom, saying, "Here's what Christie (through Hercule Poirot) had to say about holiday stress:
“Families who have been separated throughout the year assemble once more together…. There will occur a great amount of strain. People who do not feel amiable are putting great pressure on themselves to appear amiable! There is at Christmas time a great deal of hypocrisy...Under these conditions...it is highly probably that dislikes that were before merely mild, and disagreements that were trivial, might suddenly assume a more serious character. The result of pretending to be a more amiable, a more forgiving, a more high-minded person than one really is, has sooner or later the effect of causing one to behave as a more disagreeable, a more ruthless and an altogether more unpleasant person than is actually the case! If you dam the stream of natural behaviour, mon ami, sooner or later the dam bursts and a cataclysm occurs!”
[Find the source for this and more quotes on this website.]"

Rishi Arora presents Endless Night by Agatha Christie posted at Classic Mystery Hunt, saying, "The Mystery does not start till the final part of the book which is last 70 odd pages. But I think the author was not trying to write a simple detective book. She wanted to do something different she wanted to create an atmosphere so strong that when you read the final pages of the book it hits you so hard that it gives you Goosebumps."

KerrieS presents Christie at Christmas posted at MYSTERIES in PARADISE, saying, "I focus on just four Christmas related Christie stories. Do you have a favourite?"

Sarah Ahmad presents Crooked House posted at The Book Nook. "In Crooked House, Agatha Christie confronts the issue of heredity and the resulting "kinks" in people. "

Hercule Poirot


Rishi Arora presents Hercule Poirot's Christmas by Agatha Christie posted at Classic Mystery Hunt, saying, "Although Christmas is a time for merriment and benevolence. but for mystery lovers the combination of Agatha Christie, Poirot, a bloody murder and a crackling mystery is truly Christmas."

KerrieS presents Poirot will be back on TV! posted at Agatha Christie site, saying, "5 new Poirot films to be created for ITV. This will complete 70 films for David Suchet over 22 years."

Marie presents The Mysterious Affair at Styles posted at I ♥ reading. "I enjoyed reading this novel, despite my lukewarm feeling towards the narrator, Mr.Hastings. "

KerrieS presents Review: THE UNDER DOG, Agatha Christie posted at MYSTERIES in PARADISE, saying, "I have a soft spot for Agatha Christie's short stories. These, in particular, flesh out the character of Hercule Poirot, highlighting characteristics that will be later focussed on in longer novels: his care of his appearance, his interest in the "psychological", his weakness for beautiful young women (although most of them don't respond in any emotional sense), his liking for the final denouement in which he assembles the characters and gives his verdict, Christie's little word pictures of a social structure that was really dealt a death blow by the the Great War, and much more,"

Marie presents The Murder on the Links posted at I ♥ reading. "Captain Hastings is the perfect side kick to Poirot's brilliant mind."

Sarah Ahmad presents The Clocks posted at The Book Nook. "The Clocks by Agatha Christie has a huge cast that is just 'mentioned'. What I mean is that a lot of known characters from various novels are mentioned in this novel. "

Becky Laney presents Hercule Poirot's Christmas posted at Becky's Book Reviews, saying, "My review of Hercule Poirot's Christmas."

Ryan Groff presents Three Act Tragedy by Agatha Christie posted at Wordsmithonia. "Agatha Christie ... can spin a story on the end of a needle, throwing red herrings and clues with equal aplomb. She is the perfect author and I adore her for it."

Miss Marple


KerrieS presents Miss Marple back on TV! posted at Agatha Christie site, saying, "3 new Miss Marple films to be shot in 2012."

Superintendent Battle


courtney presents too many books, too little time: shorties. posted at larking., saying, "A brief review of The Secret of Chimneys, one of the few Christie titles I can't seem to love."

Marie presents The Secret of Chimneys posted at I ♥ reading. "All of Agatha Christie's trademark plot twists and devices are present in this novel: the setting is a large country estate; there's a clever, witty and beautiful woman at the centre of the mystery; a protagonist with a mysterious past; and lastly, a large serving of political intrigue."

Tommy & Tuppence


Yvette presents Agatha Christie's Tommy and Tuppence: PARTNERS IN CRIME posted at in so many words..., saying, "Tommy and Tuppence Beresford star in the 1983 TV series featuring James Warwick as Tommy Beresford and the glorious Francesca Annis as his wife Tuppence".

Marie presents The Secret Adversary posted at I ♥ reading. "Young Adventurers Tommy and Tuppence are super cute and lots of fun. I really hope Dame Christie has a few more novels about this young couple."

Discoveries


Flash Quiz - Agatha Christie by the Numbers posted at Fun Trivia, saying, "A tricky quiz that stump even the best among us"

KerrieS presents AGATHA CHRISTIE'S SECRET NOTEBOOKS Edited by John Curran posted at George Kelley, saying, "Should you buy this book? George Kelley thinks so. See why."

Updates


KerrieS presents ACRC Update - final for 2011 posted at MYSTERIES in PARADISE, saying, "My journey is going well. Just over half way now. I've changed the way my records work on my blog."

Sarah Ahmad presents Agatha Christie Reading Challenge Carnival posted at The Book Nook. "19 books read this year".

Discoveries


How well do you know Agatha Christie? posted at Books news, reviews and author interviews | guardian.co.uk, saying, "Another quiz to try."

Agatha Christie Quiz posted at All the Tests Quiz, saying, "even more quizzes!"

A tricky Agatha Christie numbers quiz http://www.funtrivia.com/flashquiz/index.cfm?qid=343684

That concludes this edition.

Submit your blog article to the next edition (January 24, 2012) of the agatha christie monthly carnival using our carnival submission form.

Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.
Technorati tags: , .
Posted by at 9:24 PM 1 comments Links to this post
Labels: , ,
Reactions: 

Thursday, November 24, 2011

ACRC Carnival 2011 #9 - November 24, 2011

Welcome to the November 24, 2011 edition of Agatha Christie monthly BlogCarnival.
Many thanks to the 16 contributors who have provided 27 blog posts for you to visit.
    Do visit the participating blogs and leave comments if you have read the books. Spread the word too about the existence of this blog and the monthly opportunity it offers to showcase reviews about Agatha Christie books. 
Today's 16 Contributors - please see the items in the main part of the newsletter for exact URLS of their posts.

General


Yvette presents MORE Vintage Agatha Christie Covers posted at in so many words....

Margot at Joyfully Retired presents An Award Winning Nonfiction Book posted at Quirky Girls Read, saying, "I write about award winning books for Quirky Girls Read. I reviewed Agatha Christie's Secret Notebook which won the Macavity Award."

Janet Rudolph presents John Curran on Agatha Christie: Murder in the Making posted at Mystery Fanfare, saying, "An interview with John Curran, author of Agatha Christie's Secret Notebooks, about his second book."

Cheryl Lyda presents Agatha Christie's Wit & Wisdom posted at Agatha Christie's Wit & Wisdom, saying, "This site contains over 300 quotes covering 100 subjects that Agatha Christie commented on in her books. Click on any one of the subjects in the List of Subjects (below left) to read what Christie wrote about that topic. Full bibliographic information is included: book title, chapter or story, publication date, and the source character (or Christie as the omniscient narrator)."

Margaret presents The Bookhound: Come, Tell Me How You Live posted at The Bookhound, saying, "Agatha Christie's autobiographical work "Come tell me how you live" about her time spent on archaeological digs in the Near East is a real joy to read. And for Christie fans gives added insight to works such as Murder in Mesopotamia and Death comes as the end."

Sarah Ahmad presents Agatha Christie's Sleuth Directory posted at The Book Nook, saying, "A list of Christie's most famous characters and detectives."

Rishi Arora presents And then there were none by Agatha Christie posted at Classic Mystery Hunt, saying, "and then there were none written by the Queen of Crime Agatha Christie is perhaps the most famous murder mystery of all time and has been adapted several times on the big screen, does Gumnam(1965) ring a bell? It’s sold over 100 million copies making it the world’s best selling mystery ever and one of the bestselling books of all time. The first of several Christie stories based on nursery rhymes, this deals out ten mysterious murders, and none was more satisfactory at the conclusion of this cryptic puzzle. This book stars no Hercule Poirot and no Jane Marple, it belongs to no series."

BooksPlease presents They Came to Baghdad by Agatha Christie: a Book Review posted at BooksPlease, saying, "Victoria Jones saves the day in this story of international espionage and conspiracy."

Patrick presents A Rant Against the Word "Cozy" posted at At the Scene of the Crime, saying, "A rant focusing on Agatha Christie but pointing out the limitations of the word "cozy" and the misconceptions it perpetuates about the mystery genre in general."

Hercule Poirot


ng kai-lee presents The Clocks posted at -Zhen's Summer Cafe-.

Nan presents Three-Act Tragedy by Agatha Christie posted at Letters from a Hill Farm.

Rishi Arora presents The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie posted at Classic Mystery Hunt, saying, "Poirot has retired for the 100th time and is settled down in an obscure little town where he dreams of growing marrows and smoking his peculiar small cigarettes, but crime follows the Belgian Detective even if he does not go looking for it."

courtney presents reminiscing on my first time. (aka Thirteen at Dinner by Agatha Christie) posted at larking., saying, "A review of Thirteen at Dinner/Lord Edgware Dies, plus a reflection back on my first encounter with Agatha Christie through this novel 17 years ago."

Bella presents Review: Death in the Clouds by Agatha Christie posted at Cozy Mystery Book Reviews.

Margot Kinberg presents In The Spotlight: Agatha Christie's Hallowe'en Party posted at Confessions of a Mystery Novelist....

Margot at Joyfully Retired presents Book Review: Dumb Witness posted at Joyfully Retired.

Rishi Arora presents Peril at end house by Agatha Christie posted at Classic Mystery Hunt, saying, "Poirot and Hastings are enjoying there vacation on the Cornish Rivera. Very soon they meet the beautiful and lively Nick. Nick is leading a charmed life she has had several very close encounters with death. A large painting fell over her bed while she was sleeping, a large boulder came tumbling down where she was bathing, the brakes of her car failed when she was going out and now Poirot discovers a hole in her hat and a bullet shell. The infallible Poirot and his faithful Watson Hastings offer to protect mademoiselle Nick."

Becky (Page Turners) presents Page Turners: Review: The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie (Christie's first novel) posted at Page Turners.

Miss Marple


Sarah Ahmad presents The Moving Finger posted at The Book Nook, saying, "The inhabitants of Lymstock, the setting for this novel, are gentle, simple people, and the humor with which Jerry and Joanna receive their comments made me laugh!"

Rishi Arora presents The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie posted at Classic Mystery Hunt, saying, "The Bantry's wake up to an unexpected visitor in their house. The servants have found the dead body of a platinum blonde in the Library, The Bantry's say they do not know who the girl is or how she got inside the house, but that denial by the Bantry's is no consolation to the wagging tongues of the villagers who accuse and start incriminating Colonel Bantry. Mrs Bantry realizes this fact and calls in the cavalry AKA the old St Mary Mead sleuth herself Miss Marple."

KerrieS presents Review: THE MOVING FINGER posted at MYSTERIES in PARADISE, saying, "Miss Marple makes such a late appearance in this one, you almost wonder why she does. Except of course she comes up with the right answer whereas others don't."

Sarah Ahmad presents Some Miss Marple posted at The Book Nook, saying, "Two of Miss Marple's best mysteries."

Short Stories


Sarah Ahmad presents The Mysterious Mr. Quin posted at The Book Nook, saying, "The most eerie collection of short stories with the intriguing character, Mr. Quin."

Nan presents Short Stories on Wednesdays - The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding posted at Letters from a Hill Farm.

Discoveries


ITV to broadcast new episodes featuring Christie’s Poirot and Marple - National Mystery Series | Examiner.com posted at Examiner, saying, "8 new stories on television in the UK in 2012."

Updates


BooksPlease presents Agatha Christie Reading Challenge – Update posted at BooksPlease, saying, "Making slow but steady progress."

KerrieS presents ACRC Update - 21 November 2011 posted at MYSTERIES in PARADISE, saying, "My calculation is that I'm about half-way on my journey."

That concludes this edition.

Submit your blog article to the next edition (December 20, 2011 ) of the agatha christie monthly carnival using our carnival submission form.

Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.
Technorati tags: , .
Posted by at 4:15 PM 1 comments Links to this post
Labels: , ,
Reactions: 
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)