Sunday 4 October 2020

Miss Marple & I!

 

Hello and welcome to The Sunday Selfies! 

 
 

Welcome one and all, to the extravaganza that is, the Sunday Selfies!!!!!

Now, some of you may know that we here at the palace are avid cosy mystery readers, and on top of that, at least up until the third shelf on the leftover the spare teapot and Mrs H's not so secret emergency bottle of sherry, we are avid middle-grade fiction readers too. OK, to be fair, Mrs H does most of the reading, but it takes another set of ears to listen to, and that can be mighty tiring!

Anyways, this month we decided to venture into the world of adult mysteries and have been on a bit of a binge. Not sherry or cream sort of a binge, rather an Agatha Christie sort of a binge. Yup, what a lot of folk will not have realised is that 2020 marks the 100 year anniversary of her first-ever book, The Mysterious Affair at Styles.  This book introduces Hercule Poirot to the world, and what a roller-coaster series of adventures he has.

As Mrs H and I are going to be working our way through the books, we thought we could share some thoughts on the adventures as we read them. 

Alas, Mrs H being who she is – a spinster of the parish of Upper Much-Mousing and a keen gardener and observer of people and life, thought we'd start with Miss Marple, instead of Mr Poirot. Let's face, women power rocks the mystery world!

This last week we have just finished reading the volume entitled Miss Marple, The Complete Short Stories. 

 

 

Now some might think that Miss Marple would be all centre stage in these tales, but she does rather manage to be the star by being secondary to the action. Of course, that is very much 'in character' and I think a side of detective novels that has been underplayed in recent years. Part of the charm of Miss Marple is that she draws comparisons with things she has seen in her own life and village world, to help explain her reasoning and thus solve mysteries. Which I think is very much how astute readers and budding village detectives would themselves.

Anyways, the short stories are, for the most part, tales told by guests at a dinner party. Each guest recounting a true tale to see if the others can solve the mystery within. Miss Marple is of course one of the guests. Whilst Mrs H nodded sagely at the conclusion of each tale, even she had to admit that she didn't figure out who did it!  For a great intro into Miss Marple and her world, without ruining the individual novels, this is a definite winner. 

I should add that the books are very much of the period, both in the language used and style. So be prepared to make a few adjustments from the current day to those of the bygone 1920s and after.

Without further ado, here is this week's selfie of yours truly. If I look all smug and content, it's because I have already solved the mystery of who stole the cheese. Don't tell Mrs H that though as she'll get all huffy and not read to the end of the book! MOL



You'll be pleased to know this book is available through Amazon in paperback or e-book format.

A LINK to Amazon USA page can be found HERE.

A LINK to Amazon UK page can be found HERE.

Now if you would like to visit the official  AGATHA CHRISTIE website, and get a head start on starting to read your own way through Agatha's works, follow this LINK.

What story would you all tell around the diner party table?

I should add that I am not being paid to mention the book, but Mrs H and I both think we should share good books, of whatever grade reading, as they are brilliant and well worth the money.

Well, that's it for this week. Whatever your method of detection, remember to stay safe out there, enjoy yourself, and take care to give yourself a good groom before and after each meal and nap.


Laters......



ERin

42 comments:

  1. I am a big Agatha Christie fan and love Miss Marple ! I wished she would be my grandmother and we could solve cases together ! I had all bood from Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot, but now as we moved from a house into an apartment I had to get rid of nearly all the books ! But that doesn't matter if I want to read one, I can always use my Kindle ! The picture is real nice you are laying in the sun ! I wished I could do that too !

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    1. Kindle is a great way to downsize a book collection and still have fun. I wish Mrs H was more like Agatha or Miss Marple, alas, she is not, MOL
      Alas the sun stayed only a short while, and soon we were plunged into gloom and rain, much I guess like Belgium?
      Purrs
      ERin

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  2. You look very content in yourselfie and great you figured it all out, sweet Purrincess🐭💗Pawkisses for a Happy Sunday and week ahead🐾😽💞

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    1. Thank you. I do feel smug some times. Of course I'll let Mrs H know eventually ;)
      Purrs
      ERin

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  3. We are sure you, yourself, would make a great petective, ERin. You could start a purrivate investigations agency and then write about all the mouseteries you solve.

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    1. Don't tell anyone, but Mrs H and I are doing that. It's a very hush-hush agency at the moment MOL
      Purrs
      ERin

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  4. We haven't read any of those for a long, long time...wonder why? Your selfie is fabulous though sweet Princess!

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    1. Nows the time to dip your toes into the adventure and mystery!
      Purrs
      ERin

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  5. If you figured it out on your own you deserve to feel smug!

    The Florida Furkids

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    1. Yes, though I had inside info, though don't tell Mrs H that, MOL ;)
      Purrs
      ERin

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  6. We're huge fans of Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot ! Great selfie, Erin ! Purrs

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    1. She is super, though we haven't read much of Poirot, Mrs H loves the films.
      Purrs
      ERin

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  7. We like your selfie a lot, Erin. Good job solving the mystery of who stole the cheese! We'll go and check out the Agatha Christie website now. XO

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    1. Thank you. She wrote loads so I bet there will be somehting to fancy.
      Purrs
      ERin

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  8. Beautiful picture of you looking comfy, Erin! I've always loved Agatha Christie too!

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    1. One of the best detectives out there, and always fun to watch on TV.
      Purrs
      ERin

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  9. Agatha Christie is one of our favorites and we will look into this one. Thanks for a great synopsis and selfie too

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    1. Thank you! I do like compilations as you get yur money's worth out of them.
      Purrs
      ERin

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  10. Nice sunny selfie, Erin! The mom has read a lot of Agatha Christie books...but she doesn't remember reading Miss Marple stories. She'll have to check it out.

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    1. Thank you! Miss Marple tends to be shorter stories than Hercule. That could be why a lot of folks haven't read her.
      Purrs
      ERin

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  11. Erin, there are quite a few of the original Sherlock Holmes stories that are NOT politically-correct for modern times too. Which is why I enjoy Laurie R. King and Anthony Horowitz's 'new' versions, with Holmes hot on the trail of the baddies. Hollywood made some 'interesting' versions of Agatha Christie stories, and Albert Finney is my favourite Poirot, with Peter Ustinov in second place.

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    1. Fortunately Miss Marple just tends to be dated, rather than rude or incorrect. Of course some may say that the idea of a country spinster being a sleuth is incorrect and stereotyping, MOL
      Frankly I rather enjoy how she gets the better of all the blustering men – quite ahead of her time :)
      Purrs
      ERin

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  12. Your selfie looks great. We have not read much Agatha Christie at all but know Miss Marple. It's a tribute to the writer's skill that she focuses on others not the sleuth!

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    1. I think it takes a woman to be truly original in writing. Agatha C was quite prolific and very skilled. the fact she has stood the test of time is I think a tribute as you say.
      Purrs
      ERin

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  13. Oh Princess, your keen skills at observation and detecting would've put the great Mr. Hercule and Miss Marple out of business.

    Mom has read some of Miss Agatha's books. Her fav is Murder on the Orient Express. I hear that Mr. Hercule's has a mustache that is floofy like mine. Tee hee hee. Kisses to you, Tuxie Dove of mine. - Your Prince

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    1. My sweet prince, nobody could have a moustache any where near as nice as yours. Mr Hercule des come close, but he lacks a certain feline poise to carry it off well ;)
      Smooches and purrs
      ERin

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  14. Oh Princess, your keen skills at observation and detecting would've put the great Mr. Hercule and Miss Marple out of business.

    Mom has read some of Miss Agatha's books. Her fav is Murder on the Orient Express. I hear that Mr. Hercule's has a mustache that is floofy like mine. Tee hee hee. Kisses to you, Tuxie Dove of mine. - Your Prince

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    1. My sweet prince, nobody could have a moustache any where near as nice as yours. Mr Hercule does come close, but he lacks a certain feline poise to carry it off well ;)
      Smooches and purrs
      ERin

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  15. Replies
    1. Thank you. And You clearly have great taste in literature too!
      Purrs
      ERin

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    1. Thank you! The are never as nice as yours, but I tend to sleep a lot these days or am out and about too much for Mrs H to photograph me in any other pose, MOL
      Purrs
      ERin

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  17. Can't wait to read ALL in order as mama just finished Barbara Pym's books, yes, another time, but oh so interesting and now she is deep into Louise Penny's last book, All The Devils Are Here. Mama LOVES Ms Penny. Do you read her books? DO!!!!

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    1. Alas we have not read one. Mrs H has said she will put one on order for when I have finished the stack of middle grade fiction I have currently on her desk :) Thanks for the tip. I recommend checking out the book list on the Agatha Christie web site, as apparently the books cn be read in mor than one order.
      Purrs
      ERin

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  18. ERin ewe bee gorgeouz az all wayz !!! N how kewl iz that; miss marple terned 100; for sure we R gonna hafta chex out sum oh agatha christie's bookz....de food servizz gurls gram waz a HUGE miss tree fan; both book and moovee ...happee healthee week a head two all ♥♥♥

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    1. The mystery's are the best. A brain teaser, as Mrs H would say, which is nothing to do with how to get elusive mice out of holes or from behind cupboards, is never a bad thing to watch and way better than boring stuff.
      Purrs
      ERin

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  19. Before I got married I was a huge Agatha Christie fan and had most of the Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot books, although I never really had a liking for Tommy and Tuppence. I left the books at home when I got married intending to get them later but never did. They probably ended up in the second hand book stall in the market.

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    1. She sure knew how to right a good story. May be worth getting them on Kindle?
      Purrs
      ERin

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  20. ERin, we envy you that wonderful warmth on your furs!

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  21. We love Miss Marple at my house. I bet she would be fun to live with.

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