Sandy
asked:
What's the point of continuing this series? Agatha Raisin is a mean shrew who hates everyone, herself most of all. Even the author doesn't like Agatha. M.C.Beaton, has written a mess that doesn't string together, the sentences are uneven, the narrative is unstable, characters hop all over the place, out of sequence. The entire story line skips & dives without any hope of leading to a believable conclusion. FIN
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Karen
I'm hopeful with each new book that the old Agatha Raisin will re-
appear, but, as I am currently reading The Witches Tree, I'm thinking that it's not Beaton's work, that it's that of a ghost writer. I could be wrong, but, IMO, the Agatha Raisin books have changed drastically over the last two or three years. I am plodding through The Witches Tree and can relate to your question. It's very frustrating and disappointing.
appear, but, as I am currently reading The Witches Tree, I'm thinking that it's not Beaton's work, that it's that of a ghost writer. I could be wrong, but, IMO, the Agatha Raisin books have changed drastically over the last two or three years. I am plodding through The Witches Tree and can relate to your question. It's very frustrating and disappointing.
Kathleen
Well, let's just think about this a minute - everybody hated Louis DePalma on Taxi, George Costanza on Seinfeld, Captain Raydor on Major Crimes, Sheldon Cooper on Big Bang Theory, heck, even Frasier Crane from Cheers and Frasier. We love to love to hate characters, it's in our nature.
I find Agatha to be a real pain in the arse - crude, rude, belligerent, annoying, and good grief, give the obsessive romantic pursuits a rest. But geez, watching her get her nose out of joint, get deeper in to the fray, it's just ultimately a guilty pleasure. We love bad. We love her annoying ways because she takes us on a ride that no other will provide.
If you hate it that much, just stop reading, why bother asking - but I know why, because you do in fact want to read more - you wouldn't bother asking if you really didn't, you'd just stop.
But you're seeking an explanation because you don't get why - and that's why, you really do like her, in spite of herself.
I find Agatha to be a real pain in the arse - crude, rude, belligerent, annoying, and good grief, give the obsessive romantic pursuits a rest. But geez, watching her get her nose out of joint, get deeper in to the fray, it's just ultimately a guilty pleasure. We love bad. We love her annoying ways because she takes us on a ride that no other will provide.
If you hate it that much, just stop reading, why bother asking - but I know why, because you do in fact want to read more - you wouldn't bother asking if you really didn't, you'd just stop.
But you're seeking an explanation because you don't get why - and that's why, you really do like her, in spite of herself.
Amanda
I think it might be more of a lazy editing situation. Beaton being a very advanced age and still churning out these books (maybe to fulfill her contract?) and the choppy parts seem like abbreviated notes blended with complete paragraphs that make sense. It's very prominent in the last few books. All of it could (and should) have been fixed by the editor prior to publication. I've been seeing a lot of long running series from a few big mystery publishers with the same issues in the last 6-7 years and it really makes me think a lot of it is their editors and not the writers.
Carol
I concur. This is the worst of the lot. I struggled to finish it. It seemed childish and all over the place. The characters have become unlikeable especially Agatha.
Carolyn Jackson
I agree. I'm in the middle of this book, and I will finish it, but if she writes another one I won't bother. This book feels like it's been lazily thrown together using some stock phrases and situations. She's coasting on her name, knowing that it will sell any book.
MJ
Agree with everything you said, but will add that it was pretty easy to figure out who the killers were (and I really hate it when I can ID a killer early in a book).
Elizabeth Huber
I love all of these books. Some are not as strong as others but you have to admit that it's amazing Marion Chesney wrote over 160 books in her lifetime. I find every single book entertaining, highly enjoyable, and clever.
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