Agatha Christie Lovers discussion

Simon Mayo of BBC Radio 2 asked Ian Rankin what were his Desert Island books

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b080jpr6

What are yours? (You already get a Bible and a copy of Shakespeare.)

Outlander because not only is it good, it's really long.

The Lord of the Rings

Hilary wrote: "The Lord of the Rings"

I was thinking about that one too Hilary. :)

6 in 1 winner!

Hmm wonder if our "music" could be audio books? I know Dame Judi Dench was allowed an audio book for her book choice

I think I'd still stick with a physical book just in case I don't have access to batteries/electricity.

Carolyn F. wrote: "I think I'd still stick with a physical book just in case I don't have access to batteries/electricity."

Same here. All I would need is for the battery to run out and not have any backup!

shudder - that's a good point!

Erin wrote: "Carolyn F. wrote: "I think I'd still stick with a physical book just in case I don't have access to batteries/electricity."

Same here. All I would need is for the battery to run out and not have a..."

If it was Gilligan's Island, the Professor would be able to solve that problem with some coconuts and palm leaves!

hmm set up a solar recharge station :D

Kirsten *Don't Blame Me I Voted for Hillary" wrote: "Erin wrote: "Carolyn F. wrote: "I think I'd still stick with a physical book just in case I don't have access to batteries/electricity."

Same here. All I would need is for the battery to run out a..."

Very true!

Kirsten, thanks for passing along this link. I enjoyed listening to the interview with Ian Rankin, and laughed when he said, "I'm a Scot. I don't do heat." I don't do heat either. Rankin's six books were interesting, and I liked that he included entertaining books (Rivals and Where Eagles Dare) as well as some more "serious" fiction (Bleak Houseand A Clockwork Orange). So often these lists are filled with the likes of Proust, etc.

Am trying to think of which six books I would want. They would have to be ones I could read again and again (assuming I'd be there a while). And, like Ian Rankin, I'd be reading them in the shade!

I agree about the island part. My "island" would be a really posh hotel suite in New York or London. I would also include Bleak House and perhaps Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy. My favorite Marple and Poirot: A Murder Is Announced and After the Funeral. One of my favorite childhood books, Edward Eager's Half Magic. And maybe The Collected Sherlock Holmes.

This all works IF I can invite guests and read THEIR books, too.

Brad wrote: "I agree about the island part. My "island" would be a really posh hotel suite in New York or London. I would also include Bleak House and perhaps Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy. My fav..."

I'm firmly in agreement with your hotel suite and a group of friends/guests idea! Meanwhile I'd probably bring:

Complete Poirot Short Stories so I get to read many different stories in short bursts, and Cards on the Table because I never get bored by it. Other options would be A Clockwork Orange, a collected fairy tales anthology (Andersen or Arabian Nights), the wuxia novel Xiao Ao Jiang Hu (The Smiling, Proud Wanderer), Don Quixote and The Hunger Games trilogy.

sanny wrote: "Brad wrote: "I agree about the island part. My "island" would be a really posh hotel suite in New York or London. I would also include Bleak House and perhaps Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials tr..."

My "Island" would be a writer's getaway. NO INTERNET. Book stores and coffee bars abound. In a year, a writer has to have finished writing one book, editing and re-writes included.

For my Island book haul.... the entire Poirot series in book, dvd and audio drama. Unfortunately, John Moffatt (radio drama's equal to David Suchet in the truest sense) died fairly recently, so the radio dramas for the Poirot series was never finished.

My six books would be:
An Autobiography by Agatha Christie
Three Men In A Boat by Jerome K. Jerome
The General Danced at Dawn by George Macdonald Fraser
Recollections of Three Reigns by Frederick Ponsonby
Excellent Women by Barbara Pym
1066 And All That by W.R. Sellar and R.J. Yeatman

Louise I just ordered Excellent Women from the library :)

Carolyn F. wrote: "Louise I just ordered Excellent Women from the library :)"

I hope you enjoy it, I am very fond of barbara Pym, and excellent women is my favourite.

I really did like it Louise. I'm going to have to read more of her books. I'm always surprised to find someone whose books are considered classics and I've never heard of them because I've reading for so long :)

Carolyn F. wrote: "I really did like it Louise. I'm going to have to read more of her books. I'm always surprised to find someone whose books are considered classics and I've never heard of them because I've reading ..."

I am glad you liked it, I am extremely fond of her books.

The Wheel of Time series because then I'd maybe finish it.

1. Harry Potter series
2. Cards on the table by AC
3. Around the world in eighty days by Julio Verne
4. Persuasion by Jane Austen
5. Winnie the witch by Valerie Thomas