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    « Nero Award Nominees | Main | How Christie Did It »

    June 13, 2011

    Comments

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    Bev

    I read this one (again) this year as well....only I used it for the other Challenge I'm sponsoring--the Color-Coded Challenge. I think this is one of Christie's better stand-alone books--even though I wasn't as enthusiastic about it this time as I remember being when I first read it. Still, it's a very good story! Thanks for sharing your review for the Vintage Challenge!

    Les Blatt

    Bev, I like this one because it moves so quickly - and is written with a fair amount of wit and good humor. Glad you also do enjoy it!

    Yvette

    I could swear I posted a comment on this yesterday. I must be losing the few marbles I have left. :)

    As you may know, Les, this is one of my very favorite Agatha Christie books. I must have read it about a million times over the years. (Slight exageration, but only slight.) I just never get tired of it. I love everything about it. If I'm not feeling well, this is usually the book I reach for. Well, either this or THEY CAME TO BAGHDAD.

    Most especially in THE MAN IN THE BROWN SUIT, I love Sir Eustace Pedlar and Colonel Race.

    It's funny to think that Christie basically does the same sort of thing she later did in THE MURDER OF ROGER ACKROYD and nobody seemed to notice. :)

    Les Blatt

    Yvette, I did know that "The Man in the Brown Suit" is a favorite of yours - I read your (very fine) review of it on your site several weeks back. I hadn't thought of it in "Ackroyd" terms, but you're right, although I think there are significant differences here. Interesting point!

    MarkB

    Old thread, but.... I just listened to an audio book version of this story. I listened through to the end, so I can't be too critical, but I found it a far lesser work than Christie's series stories. I actually swung back and forth, enjoying some passages, and wincing at others. Christie shares a failing with many writers of the time - especially Hollywood writers - a man and woman meet, and the next time they see each other, one or both are madly in love. Where did that come from?

    This happens with Hastings in one of the Poirot stories - Hastings doesn't know the woman's name, but he's ready to punch Poirot over her. It's a cartoon version of romance, and it's jarring when the rest of the story is being played straight.

    Les Blatt

    It's a lesser Christie, to be sure - but, to be fair, it was one of her first, dating back to 1924 - before Miss Marple. It's only the fifth in Mark Campbell's chronological listing (there were three Poirots and a Tommy-and-Tuppence before this).

    I think you'll find that instant falling-in-love situation in a lot of books by many different authors of the period. Realistic? Well, I wasn't around so I can't really say. As for poor old Hastings...well, he wasn't the brightest of Christie's creations!

    The comments to this entry are closed.

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