I'm a novice here. I don't know much about setting up a reading challenge, so I'll probably make all sorts of mistakes. Any advice is welcome.Anyway, I've decided that, even if no-one else joins me, I am going to read my way through Agatha Christie's novels, in the order in which they were written. I'm not sure how long this project is going to take, but quite a long time at about 100 books at maybe 1 or 2 a month.
I am going to use the list at Wikipedia of novels and collections of shortstories
So that means I'm looking to read them in this order
| 1. 1920 | The Mysterious Affair at Styles | |
| 2. 1922 | The Secret Adversary | |
| 3. 1923 | The Murder on the Links | |
| 4. 1924 | The Man in the Brown Suit |
So if you are into crime fiction, or cozies, or murder mysteries, I invite you to accompany me on this "journey."
I have set up a block over in the right hand column called Agatha Christie Reading Challenge where I am listing the books I'm currently reading and those I've finished.
The challenge will be called ACRC so each review will be preceded by by those letters.
If you want to follow my progress through your RSS reader, then the RSS URL is
http://www2.blogger.com/feeds/8273911883856580200/posts/default/-/Agatha%20Christie%20Challenge
So if you think you'll join me, by all means leave a comment, and then watch for my progress.
I warn, I may not get to read them all, but let's see if we can read 5 or 6 by Christmas!
23 comments:
Sorry Kerrie but Christie is just not my thing. Good luck with your challenge though.
I'll join you, as long as there's not a time limit! I've read 6, but I've been planning on making my way through them all eventually anyhow.
Your excused Bernadette.
jaime, feel free to use the image on your blog. Have you read Styles? Come back and comment on ACRC #1 anytime you like once you have.
I've taken upon a similar marathon, but I'm doing a self-imposed Ngaio Marsh reading challenge, to work my way through all her books in the order of publication. That's 33 novels. We're going to be reading a looooong time!
I hadn't thought of setting it up as an official kind of thing on my blog though, may be I should.
Good to hear Vanda. I thought blogging about it might get me a reading partner or two, as well as keep me honest.
Who sells your books in Australia - my library doesn't stock them.
I'd like to join also. I have read a few of them. I will check my reading journal and let you know which ones. I think I've read Styles I'm just not sure.
You are very welcome Jennifer. Just come back and comment on ACRC#1. Perhaps even re-read Styles if you have the time/inclination
I don't know specifically who has my books in Australia, just that they're distributed through Penguin.
One of the cool side-effects of doing my Ngaio Marsh reading challenge is scouring the second-hand book shops and finding old editions with cool covers. I think I'll show some of them on my blog too. In saying that, some of them have been butt-ugly.
I have discovered your books are stocked by Angus and Robertson Vanda
I would join you if I had more time. I love Agatha Christie. Is it bad that I became hooked on her at the age of 6?
Oooh, good luck. I read about 30 of them in my teens and twenties. I'm not sure I've time to start all over again now, though! My 14-year-old daughter is gradually working her way through the Miss Marples, but rather to the detriment of school set texts, so I'm not going to encourage her to join this challenge either!!
btw there is a different kind of bookish challenge over on Musings at the moment to which you and/or your readers might feel inspired to rise: http://julietdoyle.blogspot.com/2008/10/musings-sorted-book-challenge.html
There's a group of us (20 or so) that have been doing an Anything Agatha Challenge since the beginning of the year. If you want to check it out, you can find us HERE. We'd love to have you join us! :)
Kerrie, you'd invited me to comment after I finished Styles - and so here I am. I was like you - it had been so long that I had forgotten many of the details. I picked out a lot of what I thought were obvious hints to Hastings and enjoyed Hastings' reactions. The time period is of interest to me - after World War I. I have enjoyed the Jacqueline Winspear novels set then, more serious books, less stereotypes.
I will now look for the 2nd book on your list and see how that appeals - again, I have read it but very long ago.
I'm glad that you remembered to come back Nan. I had the same thought about the comparison with Winspear. I think it will also be interesting to see what themes emerge in the books as the war becomes more distant. And then there will be the second world war, a must less "romantic" event.
I actually read nearly every Agatha Christie novel between the ages of 8 and 18, but I want to re-read them in order now that I understand more about how the stories fit into history. I embarked on this project several years ago and am looking forward to getting back into it!
That is more or less what I am trying to do Stina. Great minds think alike
I found Agatha Christie when I was 9 and have loved her work ever since. I love finding old penguin copies of her books when I am rummaging in second hand book shops. I just found your blog today so will have a read through your ACRC posts. I love the idea of reading things in order, I am doing this with Virginia Woolf and loving it
Flo
You are very welcome to join in Flo. Reading them in order seems to have real benefits to me. When you write a review don't forget to sunmit it to the Blog Carnival
http://acrccarnival.blogspot.com/
I belong to the Yahoo! book group Agatha Agape. We do not read the books in order. Will you accept me?
Judy/Inergalatic Bookworm
Certainly I will Judy. And anybodyelse from your Yahoo group who publishes reviews about Agatha Christie novels.
I'm laid up with a broken Leg so this will really relieve the boredom, I will do it in order so I can see the Characters develop.
Cheers from Jacki also in Adelaide :)
I don't like the idea of a broken leg Jacki. Hope you are not laid up too long! BTW are you looking for a face to face crime fiction book group to join in Adelaide? email me if you are kasmith9@esc.net.au
Oh, oh, pick me, pick me!
I think I've already been doing some of this. I'm so glad to have a reason for my rather extreme consumption of Christie mysteries this year :D
And I see that your icon is a cockatoo! Much love for that--good choice!
I snitched your button. I hope you don't mind. I'll put it on my sidebar with a link here.
\o/ Happy Birdie is happyy
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