Agatha Christie
I am going to start with Agatha Christie. I've been thinking about her since Megan mentioned reading all of the Hercule Poirot novels in November. I was a devoted Miss Marple fan when I was a kid, but I know that I missed many of Poirot's stories.
(This has nothing to do with Poirot, but I love the quote.)
When I went to Megan's blog to link to that post, I saw that she is talking about Poirot again today, which probably means me writing this post is kismet. (Except I'm not entirely sure what kismet means, only that I love the way it sounds and greatly desire to say it all the time.)
Edgar Rice Burroughs
My new favorite movie is John Carter. I'm not sure how I missed seeing it until now, except that I do recall the previews were not great, and I'm pretty sure the marketing campaign killed it before it had a chance. But now that I've seen it, I'm slightly obsessed. This brings me to Edgar Rice Burroughs' Barsoom novels. Watching the movie before reading the books violated my book-first rule, but seeing as how I was already into the movie before I realized there were books it couldn't be helped.
I remember my uncle had all the Tarzan books stacked in drawers. Slim, black hardcovers. Some held together with tape. I never really got into them, although I did read a few. I'm hoping that my journey with Barsoom will be a better fit.
Georgette Heyer
I have been intrigued by her since Jennie mentioned them to me in a comment recently.
Gone Girl
Shell was talking it up on her list of keepers from 2012. Everyone has read this book but me. And the 437 people who are currently on the waiting list for it at the library.
Carol Shields
I read Unless last year and loved it so very much. I want to read the rest of her work this year. I might even try the poetry books.
???
What do you suggest I read this year? What will you be reading?
Ooooh - I'm so excited! You have to share what you think of the Poirots and I hope you love them or I'll feel bad I got you to read them all! And Georgette Heyer books are SO weird. In that they're possibly really amazing and I've only read a couple but they're just completely differently structured than I expected. Though after reading a few I talked to my mom about it and was like, the ending?!?! and she was like, oh, you haven't read historical romance before? So maybe it's not strange and I'm strange for finding it strange. Either way, I hope you really enjoy them and if you think they're awesome I'll try reading a few more - I'm pretty sure they're sitting on a bookshelf somewhere! And I still haven't read Gone Girl either! But, then, I'm always behind the literary times! And you've now discovered that talking about specific books is the key to getting me to write creepy long comments!
ReplyDeleteI read the first Poirot last night (The Mysterious Affair At Styles) and enjoyed it. Although I could tell it was her first novel...in that I mean I know the next one will be better.
DeleteI haven't read any Heyer yet, but I will be sure to tell you what I think when I do. Especially as you now have me even more intrigued by them because I can't wait to see if they are strange or not.
It is good to know I'm not the only one behind on the literary times. Whew. Creepy long comments make me happy.
Awesome! I hate frightening people on the Internet. And I don't know what version of Affair at Styles you were reading but mine had the ending she originally wrote at the end, as the publisher had made her change it and I was like, well, great job publisher, 'cause that was not a good ending! And it was just so interesting 'cause you so seldom get such things in books - it's like DVD extra features! And I want you to read them too so I know if they're strange or I am! And there's just too much literature - it's impossible to not be behind!
DeleteHmmm. My book only had one ending. And now I feel sad and cheated. And I wonder if my ending was the Christie ending or the publisher's ending. Probably the publisher's ending.
DeleteHarper Perennial has this series of books called the PS series, and they have interviews and little extras at the end. I always think of them as being like DVD extra features and love them for that reason.
Oh, I'm the craziest Agatha fan (and all other noir/mystery/etc/etc) there ever was. (And this is TOTALLY not the point...but did you ever see the Poirot episodes on PBS? Wonderful. Also the newer series of Nero Wolfe...but I totally digress.) Books are great. ;)
ReplyDeleteI have seen one or two of them. What I would really like to do is sit down and watch them all in order.
DeleteHave not seen the Nero Wolfe ones...but I have read a couple of the books and really enjoyed them.
Book and Tv ideas. Brilliant!
I LOVE the PBS Nero Wolfes! My mom got me the DVD set for Christmas a couple of years ago and I'll often make a friend sit down and watch a couple with me. They're really quite good.
DeleteI have to find these. Also I should live near you...because I am the friend who would WANT you to make me sit down and watch them.
DeleteI read all of Agatha Christie's books when I was a kid and burnt myself out for life on mysteries. Although I do want to read Gone Girl and I think it's a mystery too, of sorts?
ReplyDeleteI am waiting on The Adventures of Kavalier & Clay from the library so I can finally finish and also The night Circus. Then on to the millions of others on my Goodreads list.
So grateful to have vanquished science so that I can read again!
I'm not even really sure what Gone Girl is entirely, but I think it is a mystery. Or at least mysterious.
DeleteI just google searched The Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, and now I want to read it too. It looks awesome!
I think the only one I've read IS Gone Girl. Which was good. Dark, but good. I'm in the middle of an obsession with Rhys Bowen. She writes two sets of mysteries, one set in 1903 New York and one set in 1930's London. In keeping with the "creepy long comments" theme, I have to recommend Jasper Fforde (just ask Teala) whose books are just made for book dorks who like mysteries (um, not that you're a dork, but I know you love books). And for something funny, try Jen Lancaster. She has a new fiction book out soon and a bunch of hysterical non-fiction. I could recommend all day!
ReplyDeleteThis is my first time looking at Rhys Bowen. But I love mysteries, I love things set in the early 1900s, and I love London....so clearly I need to read her.
DeleteJasper Fforde! Yes. I'm so glad you typed his name, because Teala is always talking about him, and I always mean to find him, and then I always forget. So now that it is here, I will remember. Plus I just looked him up on the library website and see that they have him, so I'm in for reading some Fforde for sure!
Jen Lancaster looks fluffy and fun.
I'm totally a dork. I'll admit it.
Have you read The Circle Trilogy by Ted Dekker? Black, Red & White plus Green ... which since it is a Circle goes both before and after. Confusing but wonderful books! I also really like his older fiction: Blessed Child and A Man Called Blessed (with Bill Bright) and Heaven's Wager, When Heaven Weeps & Thunder of Heaven. His newer works I don't like as much.
ReplyDeleteJoel C. Rosenberg writes about the Middle East (pre-rapture) and manages to teach me culture and political truth while entertaining me with fiction.
Finally ... not fiction ... but MUST read ... What Women Fear by Angie Smith. I wrote about it here: http://www.masterpiece-beth.com/2013/01/01/what-women-fear/
I have not read the Circle Trilogy, although I have heard they are good. I think I read one of his older books a long time ago and liked it.
DeleteJoel Rosenberg is great!
I saw that review on your blog...it looks great! I'll add it to my list. Thanks!
I keep hearing everyone talk about Gone Girl but I haven't read it yet either. I want to read more this year so I think I should add it to my list.
ReplyDeleteYes! If we both add it to our lists and then actually read it we could have some sort of "Late Slacker Reading Club" discussion about it.
DeleteI'm reading Mrs. Dalloway again. So I think A Room of One's Own is on the list also(go, V. Woolf!). I recommend those, for sure. I have so many things to read this year. So many. My goodreads to be read shelf is ridiculous. I read all the Christie's as a kid, too...but I didn't like them. Maybe I should try again? I read Gone, Girl and really liked it. It's twisted, for sure.
ReplyDeleteI need to add some Virginia Woolf to my list...because I don't think I have read any. (Please don't revoke my book lovers card for that)
DeleteI like twisted in a book.
I think you and I read totally different things. I mostly read fantasy. :P
ReplyDeleteBUT with that said I highly recommend The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy. SUCH a great book. (Uh, not Fantasy. It won the Booker Prize.)
Are you on Goodreads?
I like fantasy too!! (Have you read the Sword of Truth series? It is one of my favorites.) I tend to go through phases where I will read a lot of books in one genre and then switch to another one. The Barsoom novels are sci-fi/fantasy.
DeleteAdding The God Of Small Things to my list. It looks very interesting.
I am on Goodreads, but I don't really know how to use it. I haven't spent the time to really figure it out.
I am currently reading through Christie, not very far in the Marple books yet. I love those tv series as well. I am also part way through the Campion book series by Margery Allingham. Have you heard of them? I think you might like them since they are older and British mystery as well.
ReplyDeleteKate
I've seen some of the Marple series on PBS. I would love to watch all of them in order as well as the Poirot ones mentioned above.
DeleteI have not heard of Margery Allingham, but she looks awesome! I will add her to my list! yay.
I think I gave you my Good Reads list. Gone Girl is definitely on it. I'm currently reading The Time Keeper by Mitch Albom. Quiet start but I know it's going to be good. So many books, so little time!
ReplyDeleteI love all of this. Yes, read Jasper Fforde; he will change your life.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous reading list! I read Agatha Christie a lot when I was younger, but haven't picked up a book by her in a long time. ENjoy all the reading :) Stopping by from SITS, happy weekend :)
ReplyDeleteGone Girl is an excellent recommendation. The best book I read in 2012 was The Middlesteins.
ReplyDeleteI am currently reading a book called Little 15, but I am not far enough into it yet to know whether I would recommend it.
Stopping by from SITS Sharefest.
I'll have to check some of these out! Gone Girl was so good! I started the year off with Jenny McCarthy's recent bio, Bad habits. It was funny!! I love funny stuff. now, I'm reading Ellen's Seriously, I'm Kidding. Also funny! I downloaded both for like $2 on my kindle one day when there was a sale on bios.
ReplyDeleteGood Lord, I just typed a novel and now it's gone. Should i tell you again? Ok.
ReplyDeleteI just got done with Jenny McCarthy's recent bio, Bad Habits. It was hilarious! Now I'm reading Ellen's Seriously, I'm kidding. Pointless and funny so far. I will have to switch it up on the next book though. I'll check out your list. :)
Oh, and Gone Girl was SOOO good!
Oh, I just love Agatha Christie! You can't go wrong with her! I'm one of the bazillions that has read Gone Girl, but just last week. It was really good!
ReplyDeleteI'm reading A Discovery of Witches for my book club right now. It's good, but it's so, soooooo long. And apparently it's the first book in a trilogy.
I'm so happy you're going to try Georgette Heyer! You have to let me know if you love it as much as I do. If you have a complete choice, start with Arabella or The Unknown Ajax - 2 of my faves.
ReplyDelete