Feb/Mar 2014 Group Read - And Then There Were None / Christie

[Donna, Co-Moderator]

First published in 1939 And Then There Were None is classic Christie. It was made into several movie versions too.

[N]

and easily the greatest who dun it of all time. Her masterpiece in my humble opinion.

[Carol]

This is one of Christie's stories that I haven't read. I'm looking forward to reading this!

[Lisa]

I loved this book!

[Britney]

Haven't read this one. Its gotten great reviews. Hopefully its good.

[Robert]

I love this book and find some of the film adaptations very poor. For anyone interested the best in my opinion is the version from 1945. I watch it constantly and can pick out different things each time.

[Donna, Co-Moderator]

I recently saw the 1965 adaptation which set the story in and Alpine mountain retreat. It was entertaining.

[Barbara]

Laura wrote: "Christie at her best! The plot development was genius!"

I agree Laura. If a person is unfamilar with the story (hard to do when there are so many film versions) the climax blows you away.

[Franky]

The 1945 version is good with atmosphere equal to the novel, but it messes with the ending. It does boast some A-class actors and actresses.

As far as the novel itself, the plot is very nicely constructed, and I liked the little nursery rhyme as part of the piece and clues that lead us along. I thought it was a nice touch.

[BeckyMG]

Enjoying my re-read of this Christie book and glad it was picked as it gave a good reason to re-read it.

[Suzanne]

I enjoyed re-reading this also. Even though I remembered the ending, it is such a fun book. Deservedly a classic.

[Portia]

So glad I got the chance to re-read this book.

[Susan]

Definitely one of my favorites of all her works!

Sometimes I think I enjoy these books more once I know the ending. I like to read again, slowly (tricky to do, given the pace!) and savor the plot twists and turns.

[Diana S]

Me Too! This is definitely one of my favorite Agatha books. Definitely a classic. It's been a while since I saw the 1945 movie version. But its the version I like the best. :)

[Lynn]

I'm in. Looking forward to the discussion.

[Suzanne]

One of the things I liked (and had forgotten) about this book is how fast-paced it is. It seems like most of the book I read now are 400+ pages. If this book had been written currently, I bet there would have been 50 pages of backstory on each character. I certainly don't hate today's novels, but I admire how Christie got so much done/implied with so little writing.

[Tom]

I haven't read "And Then There Were None." A recent title was "Ten Little Indians." That was changed for cultural sensitivity.

Of course, the book's original title had to be changed also. The book was originally "Ten Little N*gg*rs."

Unfortunately, I'm reading her 1st Poirot for a book club, "The Mysterious Affair at Styles." One of the characters, a Dr. Bauerstein, is arrested for being a German spy. Written in 1920, it takes place during WWI.

She has Poirot describe the German spy as: "A very clever man--a Jew, of course."

We must all thank Dame Agatha for warning us about those clever Jews.

[Marianne]

Suzanne wrote: "One of the things I liked (and had forgotten) about this book is how fast-paced it is. It seems like most of the book I read now are 400+ pages. If this book had been written currently, I bet the..."

I agree, she did a lot done with 275 pages, The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith is 455 pages and not as much happens; and there is lots of backstory.

[Denise]

Read this book years ago so looked forward to reading it again. Love Agatha CHristie,great choice.

[Indiabookstore]

I think this was the first Agatha Christie novel I read. It got me hooked... I've now read all her books, I think. Leaves me wishing there were just ONE more Christie to savour!

[Mark Pghfan]

I just got on to this group and feel confident to discuss this book as I read it so many times. Someone mentioned that this was their first Christie, and it was mine as well. Got me hooked into being a Christie fanatic. There was also a comment about the movie versions all having a different ending from the book. This seems to have been approved by Christie herself, as she wrote a play based on the book and used the ending that is in the movie versions. (I'm trying not to make any spoilers.) There is a Russian movie version which uses the book's ending and I understand that there was a theater version which also used the book's ending.

[Franky]

Interesting. I didn't even know that Christie herself approved the film. I do remember it having all the atmosphere and guessing involved in the mystery, and it was also great on its own merits. This novel was also my first Christie read, and I was hooked.

[Tina]

Hey, pghfan. Good to see you. It's been awhile since I've read this one. Might be time to revisit it.

Pghfan wrote: "I just got on to this group and feel confident to discuss this book as I read it so many times. Someone mentioned that this was their first Christie, and it was mine as well. Got me hooked into b..."

[Franky]

By the way, here's the 1945 version, in case anyone is interested:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyuiDu...

[Theresa]

The youtube video was great for that 1945 version of the film. I love her novels. There is no other like her and I try to catch the movies when they are on public television, I rarely see them on cable. These are books I have turned my older daughters on to.

[Judith]

I read this so long ago it was called 'Ten Little Niggers. I loved it then and still do. It's such a classic - it has everything - locked-room setting; great pace; suspense and wonderful plotting.
Even without wonderful Poirot (can anyone read a Poirot novel without seeing and hearing David Suchet?) it's still a winner.

[M.L.]

I thought it was brilliantly plotted and the brief psychological profiles describing each person were great - all the content I needed to know about each person.

Interesting too, the idea that criminals have the need to brag about what they did, even if they get away with it (true in real life as well!).

I recently read The Mousetrap from The Mousetrap and Other Plays. And Then There Were None is included so will be interesting to see how she adapted the play.

My first Christie was Murder on the Orient Express.

[Sean]

If you liked this then you should also try the abc murders and the murder of roger ackroyd.For me personally I think they are her best works

[M.L.]

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is my favorite. The end was a jolt - almost dropped the book. Death on the Nile is my other favorite. I haven't read The ABC Murders but will - thanks for recommending it. One of the nice things about Christie is there are so many.

[Jan]

Started this classic mystery a little late for the Mystery, Crime and Thriller group read for Feb/March, but can't wait to re-read this old fave of mine. I always enjoy AC's Poirot and Marple mysteries. Her Tommy/Tuppence stories tend to leave me cold.

[Mark Pghfan]

ABC Murders is a very good choice. I think you will like it.

[Franky]

Flash Beagle wrote: "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is my favorite. The end was a jolt - almost dropped the book. Death on the Nile is my other favorite. I haven't read The ABC Murders but will - thanks for recommending..."

Read The ABC Murders awhile back. I think you'll like it.

[M.L.]

Franky wrote: "Flash Beagle wrote: "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is my favorite. The end was a jolt - almost dropped the book. Death on the Nile is my other favorite. I haven't read The ABC Murders but will - th..."

Thanks for the recommendations Franky and Pghfan - I ordered a copy and can't wait to read it!

[Dany]

I probably read this one in my childhood, but I have a lousy memory, so now it felt like the first time. I loved the book, I loved how fast-paced it was and how you needed an extra chapter to explain everything :)
I'm truly glad I read this book again!

[Hallow]

So happy to have found this group. I have read this several times.

[Hallow]

*sorry hit the wrong button*

Anyway...I have read this several times and it's on my list to re-read. I too found the movie renditions unsatisfactory although the multiple endings almost fit. There are many of the island guests who, even after several reads, I can put in the place of the last little Indian. It is definitely a favorite of mine in part because it was one in which Christie placed so much creativity into the scenario. I'm not sure there is such a thing as a perfect crime, but even today this would leave a bunch of investigators with a headache.

[M.L.]

Dany wrote: "I probably read this one in my childhood, but I have a lousy memory, so now it felt like the first time. I loved the book, I loved how fast-paced it was and how you needed an extra chapter to expla..."

I'm glad for that last chapter; never would have figured it out otherwise!

[Dany]

LOL Same here!

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Flash Beagle wrote: "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is my favorite. The end was a jolt - almost dropped the book. Death on the Nile is my other favorite. I haven't read The ABC Murders but will - thanks for recommending..."

I think that The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is one of her best, along with Murder on the Orient Express.

[Carol]

I am very partial to The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. LOVED the ending. Did not see it coming. And with this Christie, I was angry with myself for not figuring out the way the murders were committed (view spoiler)[ that is, someone was only pretending to be dead! (hide spoiler)] I had no idea WHO the murderer was and I agree that I needed that last chapter to have it explained.

[Theresa]

I would have to agree with everyone. This book was one tough cookie to figure out and it doesn't seem to matter how many times you have read it. Christie knows how to write and keep you guessing. I like Death on the Nile as well. There are a few others that I enjoyed from Christie, but this one by far must be my favorite. I have never read The Mysterious Affairs at Styles, but am thinking about it.

[M.L.]

The way she described the setting surprised me - very modern with no place to hide. At first it seemed helpful but maybe just complicated things. If it had been an old mansion it would have seemed a normal setting but modern made it more puzzling - where/how is whoever hiding and how are they managing to murder all these people!

[Hallow]

The modern setting is a really good point as well as the barren island; no hidden caves or passages or boarded up attic entrances. It was different as well that the people remaining had it figured out as far as they knew it was one of them, knew there was nowhere anyone could hide and of course the storm so no coming and going. It very much took away what I call the 'mystery crutch' where there could be some homicidal stranger lurking in some dark corner to tie up loose ends of whodunit.

It was a very ambitious work and really well done.

[Jan]

I'd forgotten how clever AC's plotting is in this story. A great mystery. Glad I had the chance to re-read it.

[M.L.]

One thing I really like about Agatha Christie, she is an equal opportunity 'bumper off-er'. In many crime novels the victims are girls/women, but with Christie, men, women, old, young, respectable, not respectable, rich, poor doesn't matter, no one is safe! Good for her.

[Kim]

I loved the book! I am a bit late to the discussion, but I just finished it a few days ago. It was only the second book of Christie's that I've read so far, but I now I want to read all of her books!

[Indiabookstore]

This book was my first book by Christie, and to this day I remember it as one of her best. It is a very neatly-plotted and constructed mystery that checks all the boxes. A very ambitious novel- one that works.

[Robert]

I just watched the film again and spotted something in it that I hadn't ever noticed.

[Yawatta]

Agatha Christie is one of my favorite authors, and I loved this book! I own the paperback and read it at least once a year. The fast pace was perfect and I respected that the author managed to have a bold ending. The red herrings were great because when I first read the book, I never figured out the killer until the very end. I'm all for books that keep me guessing, and scare me senseless. Let's just say, I don't plan on ever accepting an unexpected invitation from someone I don't know lol

[Indiabookstore]

This is the first book of hers I ever read. I think this book, as well as Roger Ackroyd, are the two best books she's ever written in my opinion.

It was perfectly plotted. I think what was really interesting is that all the evidence came from people's contradictions: they had two narratives, one spoken and one through a letter, and Poirot was able to spot the killer through just these texts. Everything was reliant on Poirot's belief that humans lie. In fact, he wanted them to lie.