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The Mysterious Affair at Styles
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June Group Read - The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie
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I love this introduction to Hercule.
Hello everyone!!I took a break from reading to focus on my exams, and almost 4 months later, I'm back! I am thrilled that our June read will be an Agatha Christie classic; I'll happily open my "Agatha All Along" bookshelf and get ready for re-reading this classic!
Hope everyone has a good day :)
Mod
I was surprised this one won, but it's such a favourite that perhaps lots of people want to reread it, as well as those who have been meaning to read it for years :) I hope we have a great discussion!
I am not even sure how often I’ve read this one. Ten? Maybe more. Hope people enjoy it, it was the beginning of Agatha Christie’s adventure in publishing.
Read this a few times years ago. Enjoyed it but unfortunately no time to re-read it yet again.
Mod
Haven't read it yet? You're in for a treat! It's Hercule Poirot's first appearance :)
I think this is the third or fourth time I've read it. I really like how AC introduces Poirot through Hastings. They are a great duo!
I've read this three times already. Happy reading everyone! It's a good one.
I've read this at least half a dozen times over the years but I couldn't resist & have read it yet again. It is clear & clever, & I love the language. Poirot is a sentimental old soul.
Mod
This was my first time re-reading it for many years. I was surprised by how well formed Hercule already was in this first book. His methods, his underlying kindness, his OCD are all here. The character of Hastings is well set out as well. However I am still unclear about how he and Hercule met, as Hastings was working for Lloyds prior to the war and I cannot envisage him as part of Military Intelligence, besides which Hercule had been evacuated to England after the invasion. At first the language was a little strange till I adapted to the writing of 1920 after which it felt normal. I have to admit that initially I had thought that AC hadn't played fair with the solution, till I re-read and recognised that although the emphasis had been put on one event, she had mentioned the important one, but only briefly in passing. It was this skill that ensured her success in the genre.
Mod
Great observations Pam!
She's very good at distracting your attention & directing your eyes away from crucial points.
This is my first time reading this title and I am thoroughly enjoying the story. Agatha really knows how to send the reader down lots of blind alleys.
You're lucky, Bill. It's one of her best and you get to experience a first-time reading!I think I've read it three times and enjoyed it each time.
Rosemarie wrote: "You're lucky, Bill. It's one of her best and you get to experience a first-time reading!I think I've read it three times and enjoyed it each time."
Wouldn't it be great to be able to read them for the first time again. I often think that when I'm re-reading a favourite.
It would be fun to have an eraser brain and not to remember mysteries. What I do enjoy about reading it again is seeing all that you missed the first time, watching the killer more closely.I do agree that Hercule’s quirks are all there. It’s fascinating when you know characters so well as Poirot and Hastings to go back to the beginning and see how AC stayed true to these characters not all authors are good at it… I think the only thing that jumped to me as a discrepancy throughout AC’s work is sometimes she renames people.
Mod
Here is Jean's review, for those who are interested :)
I read it two times and I liked it, though it's not a favourite of mine. But I appreciated the final revelation: very unespected!
Reading begins on 1st June. Hope to see you here for this landmark book!