James J. Cudney IV

365 Challenge: Day 306 – Crime (Author Alert: Agatha Christie)

Crime: (a) an action or omission that constitutes an offense that may be prosecuted by the state and is punishable by law, or (b) 365 Daily Challenge word for today’s author alert — Agatha Christie

christie.jpg

If you are new to the ThisIsMyTruthNow blog, the 365 Daily Challenge, or the Author Alert segment, check out the About Site section from the main menu. I usually feature a new author who is currently writing: I share an interview with him or her, as well as fresh content about their upcoming work and fun facts. This week, as I wasn’t able to secure a new author in time, I’ve gone retro to cover an ole favorite! Below are some key things to know about this author, but at the end of this post, you’ll see the permanent page I’ve added to my blog. You can return to check out more on who (s)he is, what she’s writing and how to buy her future work. I am pleased to present a few tidbits about the very talented Agatha Christie. 

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First, I apologize for not bringing you a new author this week. I had a few possibilities falling into place, but given their schedule and my reading schedule, we opted for posting about them later this month or in early February. So… rather than rush to read someone else’s book at the last minute (to prepare me for a new author alert), I went with one of my go-to authors for when I want to have an amazing read!

I can’t imagine there is anyone out there who doesn’t know who Agatha Christie is… perhaps they’ve not read one of her books, or seen a TV/Film adaption, but the name must ring a bell. Just in case… huge fiction writer in the early/mid 20th century known as England’s Grand Dame of mysteries. She’s produced ~70 books in her lifetime, many focused on popular characters such as Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, and Tommy & Tuppence; however, there are also non-series books that are as equally compelling.

Miss Christie herself also had a bit of a mystery when she disappeared for months. To this day, many people still wonder whether it was staged or real. It’s an interesting story because she was considered quite famous at the time — no one would believe she’d stage such a thing, but then again… think about all her characters! I’ll leave it at that… let you have a bit of a puzzle to go in search of what really happened.

Mystery fiction is my favorite genre, and it’s because of Agatha Christie. The ingenuity built into the plots is often so clever, you will never be able to guess it; yet when you finally get to the reveal, it makes 100% perfect sense. In “And Then There Were None,” my all-time favorite of her books, ten people are invited to an island where one-by-one, they are murdered according to a poem they found in the remote house. It’s a bit of a controversial book in that the title was changed a few times; it had previously been called ‘Ten Little Indians,’ but far worse, it once held a name using the nasty ‘n’ word. Although it was ~100 years ago, and didn’t necessarily have as bad/awful/shameful a connotation as it’s grown to have, it was still a shock when I learned about it years ago. As it’s clearly WRONG, I won’t go into it anymore, but it did give me some concern when reading the books. Ignoring that for a moment (as the plot is purely about murder and revenge), the story is absolutely top notch.

When I need something brilliant and curious, I will always turn to a Christie. I love the inherent English tradition within them. When they visit the Middle East or India, it’s quite eye-opening to see how people (both the English and the native inhabitants) behaved in foreign lands at that time. Some of the dialogue and words are peculiar, which makes me want to look up more about the culture to get a better sense of reality. It’s engaging and analytical. I can usually push through one of her novels over 3 hours in one sitting, as you don’t want to put them down.

If you’ve never read a Christie, but want to… ask for a recommendation! If you want to buddy-read one with me this year, let me know. I’d love to share this author with others and have a great discussion about their beauty. And we can use our ‘little grey cells’ together.

 

Links To Learn More About Miss Christie

Goodreads

Amazon

Author Site

 

I’ve read about 20 of her books, but you’ll see below that I only have 7 listed with reviews, as I read them too long ago to be sure I could write a proper review. Instead, I challenge myself to read another 7 in 2018 as part of my Goodreads Challenge to read 104 books this year. I wonder which ones I will select…

Books I’ve Read

  1. And Then There Were None (1939) — My favorite Christie & in my top 5 of all books

Book Series – Hercule Poirot Mysteries

  1. The Mysterious Affair at Styles (1920)
  2. Murder on the Orient Express (1934)
  3. Death on the Nile (1937)
  4. Evil Under the Sun (1941)

Book Series – Miss Marple Mysteries

  1. The Body in the Library (1942)
  2. A Murder is Announced (1950)

Note: If there is an active link, I’ve completed a review.

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To see more about Agatha Christie on ThisIsMyTruthNow, check out her dedicated author page where future content and reviews will added as I read her books.

Thanks for stopping by this edition of the Author Alert.

 

About Me & the “365 Daily Challenge”

I’m Jay, an author who lives in NYC. My debut novel, Watching Glass Shatter, can be purchased on Amazon @ http://mybook.to/WGS. I’ve always been a reader. And now I’m a daily blogger. I decided to start my own version of the “365 Daily Challenge” where since March 13, 2017, I’ve posted a characteristic either I currently embody or one I’d like to embody in the future. 365 days of reflection to discover who I am and what I want out of life.

The goal: Knowledge. Acceptance. Understanding. Optimization. Happiness. Help. For myself. For others. And if all else fails, humor. When I’m finished in one year, I hope to have more answers about the future and what I will do with the remainder of my life. All aspects to be considered. It’s not just about a career, hobbies, residence, activities, efforts, et al. It’s meant to be a comprehensive study and reflection from an ordinary man. Not a doctor. Not a therapist. Not a friend. Not an encyclopedia full of prior research. Just pure thought, a blogged journal with true honesty.

Join the fun and read a new post each day, or check out my book reviews, TV/Film reviews or favorite vacation spots. And feel free to like, rate, comment or take the poll for each post. Note: All written content is my original creation and copyrighted to me, but the graphics and images were linked from other sites and belong to them. Many thanks to their original creators.

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64 comments

  1. Ahh, Dame Agatha Christie is one of my favorite authors of all time. I remember reading her when I was young. My mother had a full paperback collection of each of Christie’s mysteries and it stood on display in an oak bookshelf. She, actually, was a huge mystery reader and passed along her love of all things Dam Agatha to me.

    I’ve had the pleasure to read (and watch) every mystery. To pick a favorite is like trying to pick your favorite food: impossible! A few of my go-to stories include:

    – Murder on the Orient Express

    – Death on the Nile

    – A Hercule Poirot Christmas

    – 4:50 From Paddington

    Great post, Jay! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  3. She’s my favorite too and I just re-read the Murder on the Orient Express and The Murder of Roger Ackroyd for my PopSugar Challenge last year. I’m gonna try to include some Miss Marple in this year’s challenge. Loved watching the shows on PBS.

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  6. I need more Agatha Christie in my life! Great choice this week, Jay!! I think I’ve only read one or two of hers— but the first was DEFINITELY “And Then There Were None.” I read it in like eighth grade I think? Every time I think about picking up one of Christie’s, I’m tempted to start there again.

    (Also, I’m incredibly sorry for not emailing you this week. 😱😱 It’s been hectic. Am hoping the weekend will slow enough for me to drop you a keep line!) all the best, Kelsey! ☺️💜

    Liked by 1 person

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  7. You are so right Jay! She is the best at writing crime. I’ve read her when I was a teenager and I do recall whole afternoons cuddled on the sofa just reading her books 😉

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  15. Absolutely brilliant post! I only started reading Christie last year, but I really enjoyed it 😀 I definitely plan on giving and then there were none a go soon 🙂 I also had no idea she disappeared for a bit- that’s so interesting! (and now I’m intrigued about it!)

    Liked by 1 person

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  21. Murder on the Orient Express was my first Christie that I read late last year. Absolutely loved it and turned it into one of my favourites of all time. I plan on reading And Then There Were None this year and maybe a couple more, but I have no clue when. I’m sure Christie’s books will forever be on my TBR until I’ve read them all though! 😀

    Liked by 1 person

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  34. Wonderful post. I agree with you on Christie, she’s one of the greatest. And then there were none is also my favorite of hers – did you see the BBC adaptation? It’s incredible, seriously, and this is coming from someone who didn’t like the other adaptations.

    Glad to see another Christie fan who likes her work.

    Liked by 1 person

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