Tara ’s Comments (group member since Jul 12, 2017)

Tara ’s comments from the Reading the Detectives group.

Abbey wrote: "Tara wrote: "I just started Red: A History of the Redhead which is proving to be interesting so far."

oh, I'd *love* to hear about this!

My own hair being "almost tarnished coppe..."
I will definitely let you know Abbey if its a worthwhile read. I did get it on a kindle sale for $1.99 recently, so it might be cool for you to pick up when its cheap if you have a personal interest :)

Forget about being frail! I thought one of Marple's best moves was crawling under the window with her broken shoe, ready to play the old lady who had fallen if she was caught. I think it was yet another example of her using people's preconceived notions about her age and provincialism to outwit them. I don't think the murderers ever see her coming.
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I found the angle of poisoning his wife to make her think she was going crazy was particularly clever. There was even a point where Molly looked to be the guilty one. He certainly played the concerned and devoted husband very well. I also liked the fact that Miss Marple kept vacillating between the murderer being a man or a woman, which kept the suspect pool larger right up until the end.

I enjoyed this read much more than July's. Perhaps it was the beautiful sun and scenery. It was a super quick book to get through, and I couldn't put it down.
I was particularly struck by Miss Marple's comment that you only really know things about people you meet in foreign places from what they tell you. People tend to take it for granted that you are being truthful, but that is so often not the case. You also see how easy it is to spread rumors around, and its impossible to determine where they originated from.

I just started Red: A History of the Redhead which is proving to be interesting so far.

I still have my yellowed copy of Five Complete Hercule Poirot Novels: ABC Murders / Cards on the Table / Death on the Nile / Murder on the Orient Express / Thirteen at Dinner that I remember getting at Barnes & Noble when I was in middle school as well. The cover drew me in and I was hooked.
There is something magical about books when you're a kid, that even if you're a voracious reader as an adult, doesn't have quite the same effect.

I have read that Christie came to quite dislike the Poirot character; perhaps so many peccadilloes that he was reduced to a caricature. Most of my Christie exposure has been with Poirot (and I particularly enjoy the David Suchet portrayal. He seems to fit the character in every way that I imagined him). I read a bit of Tommy and Tuppence, but the characters didn't gel with me enough to keep me engaged in their arc.

Is anyone planning on seeing the "Murder on the Orient Express" movie that is coming out this fall? I love Kenneth Branagh, but I am not sure how I feel about him as Poirot. Not quite tubby enough I think.

Susan wrote: "We are getting to the end of the month now and our next read will be A Caribbean Mystery. I wonder whether anyone thinks the Miss Marple books are improving - whether they are of a sim..."

This is my first Marple read actually (I do intend to go back and read the previous ones though), so I can only comment on my perspective from this read. I look forward to seeing how her character changes across various stories.

I agree with earlier posters about the introduction of the ex-husband without any previous hints that that would be the case. I am glad at least that neither he nor the adopted daughter turned out to be the culprit.
I have a different spin on the purpose of that story point though, not having read the other books referenced with a similar device. To me, its reflective of how disposable people are to Marina; there are multiple references to how she is happy in a time or place for a short while, but then becomes bored, disillusioned, etc. and moves on to something else. Clearly this refers to not only homes or professional projects, but also to the people in her life. Its not that they look the same, its that they are no longer relevant to her, and therefore become in a way invisible. Recall the passage where she says she often goes into autopilot when dealing with fans and other sycophants. Although there are pitiable and tragic elements to the Marina character, I think this is one element of her personality that most people wouldn't find relatable.
I listened to the audiobook version (read by Emilia Fox) as my print copy didn't arrive in time, and I was quite moved by her reading of Margot's revelation/confession to Craddock. You could hear the pain and bitterness in her voice. It was quite moving, and has stuck with me weeks later.

Jan C wrote: "Tara wrote: "Doris wrote: "I'm reading Ron Chernow's Washington: A Life. I'm in the midst of the Revolutionary War and starting to wonder how we ever won!"

One of my f..."
I have both of those books on my shelf, but I haven't read them yet. I have heard they were good though.

Judy wrote: "Tara wrote: "Having just seen the film 'Dunkirk' in the theater today (which I would highly recommend), I picked up Walter Lord's account, "The Miracle of Dunkirk", for 99 cents on Kindle, and I wi..."

It might be a strange thing to say about a war film, but it really is quite beautiful and breathtaking in its own way. I would be surprised if the cinematographer didn't win an Oscar for it. I normally don't agree with the critics, but they got this one right at least.

I'm a bit of a WWII history buff, but I haven't read anything about Dunkirk, so it will interesting to get a deeper understanding of it. From the little bit I have read about it, Lord's work has a lot of first hand accounts, which are generally the best source material.

Doris wrote: "I'm reading Ron Chernow's Washington: A Life. I'm in the midst of the Revolutionary War and starting to wonder how we ever won!"

One of my friends recently read that book and really enjoyed it. I've picked up and put down Douglas Southall Freeman's 'Washington' for years and I cannot seem to get through it. I think it just might be too dry for me. But I also wonder how we ever won--in the early times when we had no food, clothing or a way to pay the men, and therefore keep them fighting. It is a fascinating story, and one more Americans should know. Let us know how you like it!

Having just seen the film 'Dunkirk' in the theater today (which I would highly recommend), I picked up Walter Lord's account, "The Miracle of Dunkirk", for 99 cents on Kindle, and I will be starting it tonight! Years ago I had enjoyed his book on the Titanic, so I am hoping this is just as good.

My take on this might be impacted by the fact that I'm reading out of order (as I started the challenge with this month's read and it is my first foray into Marple territory), but one of the elements that I find intriguing is the way that Marple is involved in the investigation. I am already into Chapter 14, and her role is much more subtle than you often see in amateur or armchair detectives who are examining crime scenes and questioning witnesses and suspects. In fact, she uses her ordinariness to her advantage, as people let down their guard around her. I have no clue if this is an overall arc of her character or unique to this story, but I find it quite refreshing.

Even today small towns are all about the gossip, so the advent of the supermarket didn't do away with that trend!

I also found it interesting that her doctor prescribed a murder mystery as a way to cure her lethargy. You could imagine today that they would write her a prescription she didn't really need.

I'm getting into Chapter 8, and I feel as though the book is just picking up some steam. Christie really took her time to develop the characters, which is a skill that is missing from a lot of modern books.

There has been quite a bit of discussion in this thread about all of the societal changes and their impact on the village. Its interesting to me that besides the development, the main attraction causing a stir was the new supermarket! We really take those for granted these days, with all kinds of exotic and out of season items available whenever we want them, but that was a real revolution at that time, and clearly it was met with a bit of skepticism.

Sandy wrote: "I wish my husband was a Tolkien fan too. I've heard that the stori..."
My hubby sounds similar to yours. I am currently listening to Tolkien on Audible and quite enjoying it. It is interesting to h..."
I listened to The Hobbit and LotR on audible last year--it was the quickest I ever made my way through those books! But you're right, its a completely different experience. Personally I get something new from it every time I go back to it, regardless of the medium.

Abigail wrote: "Tara, you remind me of my father and stepmother! They would reread all of Tolkien each year—aloud to each other."

I wish my husband was a Tolkien fan too. I've heard that the stories are great when read aloud, especially the poetry. Unfortunately his eyes glaze over when I bring them up. Oh well, no one is perfect ;)

I reread Tolkien all of the time. I think it's impossible to truly appreciate his work with just one read, particularly since you can be overwhelmed by all of the names (especially in The Silmarillion) and the obscure references. I am currently re-reading The Lord of the Rings probably for the 4th or 5th time, and every time it feels fresh to me.

I've loved mystery/detective stories since I was in grade school. I have reread Doyle several times, and Christie as well.

Judy wrote: "I agree there is nothing like the experience of reading a real book. Trouble is, I keep finding the print in my old paperbacks has strangely got smaller since the last time I read them! So the Kind..."

Those sneaky paperbacks! Shrinking on you like that :)

Like so many of the bibliophiles on this thread, I read whenever and wherever I can. I prefer physical books always, but I do have several kindles as well. When I first purchased a kindle years ago I read it a lot (I tried to alternate between that and a physical book), but I came to realize over time that it just wasn't the same experience. It is quite good for convenience though--I tend to take it with me for travel/flights. My husband and I often go auctioning, so it is quite good for that use as well. I prefer audiobooks for my commuting since it is mostly walking, and reading a book would be difficult, if not dangerous! The best audiobooks are rock/celebrity (auto)biographies--they are my guilty pleasure when I need a break from the history and non-fiction I often gravitate towards. I also listen to them while cooking, in the shower, or cleaning around the house.
For physical books, I prefer hardcover, especially beautifully bound/leather ones to add to my collection. Paperbacks are convenient for on the go or if its something you want cheap, but I like nicer pieces if I intend to keep it. I generally actively reading 3 or 4 books at a time, and I read from least two of them daily. Most of my reading is done at night, after dinner and before bed. I usually read on the couch or in bed, but I'm looking forward to renovating one of the rooms in my house to an office/study that I can stock with my books and do my reading comfortably without keeping my husband up late (I feel your pain Abigail, post #6)!