Agatha Christie Challenge discussion

I read just about all of Agatha Christie's books long ago, but I would love to read them again. What order would you suggest? I got this idea from:
http://www.agathachristie.com/cms-med...

There is also a separate list for Poirot and Marple.
Thanks!
Cheryl

The only Christie books I ever read in order were the Tommy and Tuppence, since the books followed there courtship and then marriage. Other than that, I picked the ones that looks interesting and read those. I also love the fact that most of the Christie books have a character guide in the beginning of the book and I sometimes went off of that to pick a book to read.

But, now after seeing this list, I might go back and re-read the top five suggestions and read them the way it is suggested. I'm not sure why the order is the way it is, unless there are characters introduced in a book and then re-introduced. But, I'm always up for a Christie reading!

I found that list recently as well. I was planning to use it to start reading them all again and was happy to see you started this group.

I've only read a few of her books over the years and would like to begin to read them all. I look forward to reading upcoming discussions.

Thanks for the list .........

Kelley wrote: "The only Christie books I ever read in order were the Tommy and Tuppence, since the books followed there courtship and then marriage. Other than that, I picked the ones that looks interesting and r..."

The reason for the list order is publication order. I decided to read the books in publication order because not only do the Tommy & Tuppence books occur "in real time," but all of her novels were contemporary, so they really give a feel for the time at which she wrote. Also, many of the Poirot novels refer to previous cases, for example, in "Appointment with Death," a suspect asks Poirot about his mercy in "Murder on the Orient Express."

Now, there is an argument for reading them in WRITTEN order, since she actually wrote her final novels published decades beforehand, because you may find what biographers and literature analysts have been investigating, which is that Ms. Christie may have had Alzheimer's or some other memory-affective issue.

But as for what Kelley says, they're simply wonderful stories independent of whichever order you read them in.

I have read the Nero Wolfe books by Rex Stout in date order when I first read them. But, since I have read them a lot and the AC books so many times, I read them based on which were my favorites.

Thanks for posting the link to that PDF list, Cheryl! That is exactly what I've been needing to help me get started. Then I went to http://www.agathachristie.com and found the other two lists - for Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot. I just read the first Miss Marple novel, so I may do that list first. She's my favorite anyhow. :)

Luann wrote: "Thanks for posting the link to that PDF list, Cheryl! That is exactly what I've been needing to help me get started. Then I went to http://www.agathachristie.com and found the other two lists - for..."

I have been using the wikipedia listing:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_...

Ruth wrote: "Luann wrote: "Thanks for posting the link to that PDF list, Cheryl! That is exactly what I've been needing to help me get started. Then I went to http://www.agathachristie.com and found the other t..."

I have been organizing the books to read from the wikipedia listing (at the suggestion from this site...
http://acrccarnival.blogspot.com/ -- which is where I first heard of the idea :-)

Thank you for posting the link, Angela. I'll check it out. I just happened across the Wikipedia site and it seems pretty accurate.

I'm not to strict about reading the books in any kind of order although I've always read the ones on my shelf in order of date published (based on the list at www.fantasticfiction.com). For this reason I think I've had Curtain on my shelf since 2006 since I am always getting books written before it. I am reading the Tommy and Tuppance books in order (this started out accidently and is now on purpose).

Linda wrote: "I'm not to strict about reading the books in any kind of order although I've always read the ones on my shelf in order of date published (based on the list at www.fantasticfiction.com). For this r..."

I'm reading "N or M?" right now! I've read the Tommy & Tuppence novels before, but I love them so much, and now that I'm in a different time of life, I feel more connected to them than ever.

I have read all of AC's books in order of publication before but I'd like to do it again.

Clarissa

Hi everyone!

I decided towards the end of 2008 to read them in order of publication (according to the order of wikipedia articles). I've previously read a number of them out of order beginning when I was a teenager (in fact I think we had to read a couple as required reading in junior high, but I wanted to follow the progress of Christie's (and her detectives') career.

I had read a few Christie novels out of order. But recently I found the reading order list from Wiki and started reading according to that. Had to skip 8 books 'coz couldnt find it at my library or any of the book shops. Waiting for them to turn up at my lib so that I can complete the list.

Happy Reading!

Lrmenon wrote: "I had read a few Christie novels out of order. But recently I found the reading order list from Wiki and started reading according to that. Had to skip 8 books 'coz couldnt find it at my library or..."

I have run into that problem from time to time, as well. Most libraries seem to list books under the different names, but be sure you search for all of the different titles. You could be surprised and find a book listed under an unlikely choice. My mom loaned me "An Overdose of Death," but it took her time to find it in her own shelf because I had asked her for "One, Two, Buckle My Shoe."

I'm also using the reading list from agathachristie.com (I wish I could have been there for the anniversary celebration last year), but I've divided the list in three: Poirot, Miss Marple, and all the rest. I follow them in order sometimes skipping the ones I've already read a few times. I have to admit that sometimes I listen to audio books and read the books. There is so much detail in her stories that's easy to miss in only one reading.

There's definitely no shame in reading audio-style. I have read many of the novels this way.

Hi everyone,

I have read most Agatha Christies and own a good percentage. I have been reading from about age 10 and collected them with my grandmother. Some of them are now falling apart and need replacing but most can still be read.

This year I am hoping to start reading the books in chronological order. I have combined a couple of lists so I have all the titles in English with their US alternatives.
I will read 1 or 2 month so it will take at least a couple of years but by the end I hope to have a full set of books in at least decent condition.

Good luck, Esther! I read at about that rate. I enjoyed the challenge.