Miss Marple Complete Short Stories by Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie wrote a number of short stories featuring Miss Jane Marple, and, the clue is in the title, they are all in this book. A very diverting read. Very enjoyable. Managed to work out a few of them in advance, others fell into place only when I knew whodunnit. Love a bit of Agatha Christie!

All The Way Home by Bookey Peek

I've been reading this book on and off for ages, and have finally finished it! The story of a family living in Zimbabwe on a safari lodge. They take in a wide variety of animals - owls, zebra, eland and so on - and a warthog, Poombi. Although the story covers a wide range of stories, they mainly centre on the pig and her escapades. Very enjoyable tales.

Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

I have wanted to read this book for AGES. Also wanted to see the film, but preferred to read the book. So I have finally read it! Perhaps it counts as two, because both her first book, where she leaves Iran, and the second, where she returns, were in it. Very well told and interesting; I knew very little of the Cultural Revolution in Iran. Would recommend.

The Fourth Bear by Jasper Fforde

The Nursery Crime Division investigates the crime of the missing Goldilocks. But what has it got to do with the Gingerbreadman and cucumbers? Another fine tale from the author of the Thursday Next stories. Very moreish!

The Labours of Hercules by Agatha Christie

Polished off another set of Poirot mysteries last night. This time, Hercule Poirot apparently wants to retire, and takes on a final twelve mysteries that fit into the twelve Labours of Hercules - handy, that the twelve mysteries all fit in in some clear way. I say apparently, because the list of books on the back of this paperback lists this as 26 out of 39 books, and the 39th book is Curtain: Poirot's Last Case (which I read some time ago but would love to read again).

An enjoyable little read, with an unexpected entrance from one of the characters from The Big Four, which was number five on the list.

In fact, here is the list given on the back of the book, with the ones I am sure I have read in red:

1. The Mysterious Affair at Styles
2. The Murder on the Links
3. Poirot Investigates
4. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
5. The Big Four
6. The Mystery of the Blue Train
7. Black Coffee
8. Peril at End House
9. Lord Edgware Dies
10. Murder on the Orient Express (I read this in French, for fun!)
    
11. Three-Act Tragedy
12. Death in the Clouds
13. The ABC Murders
14. Murder in Mesopotamia
15. Cards on the Table
16. Murder in the Mews
17. Dumb Witness
18. Death on the Nile
19. Appointment with Death
20. Hercule Poirot's Christmas
21. Sad Cypress
22. One, Two, Buckle My Shoe
23. Evil Under the Sun
24. Five Little Pigs
25. The Hollow
26. The Labours of Hercules
27. Taken at the Flood
28. Mrs McGinty's Dead
29. After the Funeral
30. Hickory Dickory Dock
31. Dead Man's Folly
32. Cat Among the Pigeons
33. The Adventures of the Christmas Pudding
34. The Clocks
35. Third Girl
36. Hallowe'en Party
37. Elephants can Remember
38. Poirot's Early Cases
39. Curtain: Poirot's Last Case

I think I have probably read some of the others too, and although I can remember many of the titles, I cannot remember 'whodunnit' in most, if not all, the above red books! And there must be more, for example Ten Little Indians (or alternative title) and At Bertram's Hotel are not mentioned here. Could they be all the Poirot books? In which case, his Labours were by no means the last mysteries he investigated! I used to love reading Agatha Christie books when I was a teenager. Still do - although I am probably more aware of the stylistic features being employed now!

The Big Four by Agatha Christie

I finally got round to joining my local library today. Should have done it ages ago, but the school library has been sufficient until now! I've taken out a few books, including a couple of Agatha Christie's that I don't think I've read before.

Well, I know I haven't read The Big Four before. I started it as I waited for H to use the internet in the library, continued on the DLR, and have finished it while watching Michael Jackson's Moonwalk and Newsnight.

This time Poirot and Hastings are trying to find out the identity of the Big Four, criminal masterminds from around the world who want to spread anarchy and fear in the world, and who may already have been responsible for some of the recent atrocities in the world. Needless to say, his little grey cells are put to work and he organises his evidence in order to try and find the answers before any more people are murdered. Lots of intrigue, as befits Agatha Christie.

Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

This adventure story has been of a completely different nature to the other books I have read recently. A good story, with a nice premise - what if what you read out loud came to life? - although I felt there was a lot of telling rather than showing type writing. There are another two books in this trilogy, which would be interesting to read, but I don't feel the need to read more, which I do sometimes. I did like the characters, though, particularly Meggie, the little girl who lives with her father.

Coram Boy by Jamila Gavin

Captain Thomas Coram founded the Coram Hospital for the Maintenance and Education of Exposed and Deserted Children in 1741. But what if there had been a "Coram Man", who claimed to take unwanted children to this hospital, but didn't? This book takes that idea, and sets the scene where two boys at the hospital become friends, find out about their origins, and try to save other children from being sold into slavery. An enjoyable children's novel.

The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende

I then read another one of Allende's novels, set in the same place and time, this time beginning with a relative of the main heroine of Portrait in Sepia. Another beautifully written, poetic and magical story. Again, the story covers about three generations of the family, from about the turn of the century to the end of the last century. Highly recommended. What great books I've been reading recently.

Portrait in Sepia by Isabel Allende

Having enjoyed the romance in Captain Corelli's Mandolin, I decided to take another historical fiction romance at the same time as I took The Troublesome Offspring of Cardinal Guzman. Portrait in Sepia was, like TTOOCG, also set in a South American country (I think perhaps Chile this time.)

A moving story that takes place over generations. Would definitely recommmend.

The Troublesome Offspring of Cardinal Guzman by Louis de Bernieres

I didn't really want to take out another book as I handed in Captain Corelli's Mandolin, but the librarian suggested it would be a good idea to keep going. She suggested another book by Louis de Bernieres, and the only one she had left was The Troublesome Offspring. Hmm, I though, could be good.

A few pages into the book and I was getting seriously worried. This was nothing like Captain Corelli's Mandolin! Where was the romance, the longing, the adventure? Instead, there was evidence of some magic realism going on, which I love, usually, but I was in the mood for love and romance! However, at some point I realised that I had stopped comparing it to CCM and had started enjoying this book for itself. It is a very quirky story, with magical characters both historical and possibly immortal, as well as plenty of drama, humour, shock, mystery, panthers. It is set in a South American country at a time when Coke is advertising on the moon, but it sounds more as if it was set during the Inquisition and time of the early missionaries.

I really recommend this book as well, although it is completely different from Captain Corelli's Mandolin!

Captain Corelli's Mandolin by Louis de Bernieres

I was loathe to read this book. The school librarian eventually had to tell me that was the one to take, so I decided I better read it to see if my fears could be proved wrong. Why did I feel so strongly against this book? I haven't even seen the film, but the reviews of the time (which were probably in the "the book is so much better" category) had put me off. Perhaps the thought that it was about a Greek island with Nicolas Cage and a pretty brunette during the war put me off.

However, making me read this book was one of the best things that my librarian has done (and, believe me, she's a pretty amazing librarian who does brilliant things and comes up with wonderful ideas all the time!). By the time I had finished, I did not want to give the book back. Nor did I want to read another book straightaway, and that's pretty much a first for me. A book I just wanted to hold on to and savour.

I don't think I'll write any more ... other than, if you haven't read this book yet, then: do, do, do! Don't be put off by the film, whether or not you've seen it. I'm sure they couldn't have managed to squeeze the whole book into the film anyway. Right. Now - go away and read!