yah well it is

the fact about who zarida was is a bit unbelievable though

AC really wrote this story well. It's among my favourite short stories and one of the best in this book. I disagree with asmikhushi; the solution was entirely believable, and the rational explanation proved to be more disturbing than the supernatural one. A very well written story indeed!

We can finally agree, go leafs! :o) I respect asmikhushi's opinion, too, but I loved this short story and also consider it one of the best in the book. It's a story that really stood out for me and one I never forgot. It is, indeed, a very well written story!

Well as you may know The Thirteen Problems IS my favorite AC book. And I totally agree with go leafs and Bundle. The Blue Geranium is one of the best stories of The Thirteen Problems. My other favorites include The Tuesday Night Club, The Idol House of Astarte, The Bloodstained Pavement, The Companion, The Four Suspects, A Christmas Tragedy and The Herb of Death.

As for "Christie's fascination with things other worldly", I love those AC stories that have this element in them. The other story which has this other worldly element is The Idol House of Astarte. That story still gives me the creeps when I think about it! It is one of the most chilling short stories I've ever read! It's a good thing I read it while going to a school field trip and the bus was full of my chattering classmates!

My favorite first favorite in The Tuesday Club Murders is Death by Drowning, though, and then The Bloodstained Pavement followed The Blue Geranium and The Idol House of Astarte.

Now, I usually don't care for short stories by any author,because I feel as a reader you can't really "seek your teeth into it", as the saying goes, with a story that's only say 50 pages. But for some reason I've just never felt that way about the Miss. Marple short stories.

Death by Drowning was just about alright for me.

As for short stories I just love them! It is amazing that the writers are able to fit in an entire story in just a few pages. For me the content of the story matters more than the length of the story.

Yes, I think you are right, content is the most important thing and not the length of the story. I've always been a bit of a fan of short stories as I think its a difficult thing to write. When an author writes a novel they normally have around 300 pages to flesh out a plot and the characters taking part but when writing a short story, a novelist must condense everything down AND still leave the reader with a convincing storyline filled with characters that are believable. I don't think they should be thought of as the poor relations nof the novels but recognised as well written and enjoyable works in their own right. Look at the amount of short stories Sherlock Holmes features in conpared to only four novels. Its a great format.

I reread The thirteen Problems yesterday on a long train journey and SO enjoyed it again. I love The Tuesday Night Club and, well, all of them actually!!! As for the supernatural element, it provides a contrast to the comfortable everyday lives of the characters which takes them out of their confort zones in the same way it does for us. 

I have the complete Sherlock Holmes collection and have re-read it several times and obviously love the short stories better than the novels.

I too applaud an author that can condense what could be a novel and make it into a short story. I don't consider them "poor relations" just a different theme of writing. On the old site we used to write short stories all the time (but only because it was quicker than writing a whole novel and more practical) but it was fun! And I usually enjoy the content of short stories like Three Blind Mice, The Tape Measure Murders, The Third Floor Flat to name a few. However, personally, I enjoy much longer stories for the reason I stated before, and because it's nice to just put the story away and think about who the culprit is and then come back to it. Whereas in a lot of the short stories they are so short that you (or at least I do) find yourself pretty much near the end of the story when you've really only just begun to read it!

Oh, yes, so do I. But short stories can fit in well at other times.

I'm never sure of how AC felt about her short story writing. A few times she wrote a short story (such as The Plymouth Express or Yellow Iris) and then seemed to wish she hadn't 'wasted' the plot on this genre as she later developed them into full novels.

Not that I mind!! I love it all!!

And I'm glad that we have AC new short stories to read like The Capture of Cerberus. That in itself is exciting and I can't wait to read it! It is truly a wonderful and remarkable find! But just to compare short stories to novels: how much more exciting would it be if the story found had been a full length novel?

How exciting??? I may have burst from sheer joy!!! I have still to read the newly found stories as I was unwilling to buy The Daily Mail when they published one. I'm not fond of that newspaper (can you spot the understatement?) so had to forgo the pleasure of reading The Capture of Cerberus. I'm trying to hold out until christmas as I'm sure someone will buy me The Secret Notebook, but it will be agony!!

Do you think that they will make The Capture of Cerberus into an adaptation, Puffinjill? It would be a shame if they didn't because then the Poirot's wouldn't feel complete.

And we all need additional nicknames on the fourm! On the old AC fourm we had nick names within a name. I think yours, Puffinjill, should be Jill... if you don't mind that is :0)

That was difficult to guess, wasn't it!!!! I must put more thought into my name..... But I guess you aren't normally known as Bun!?!

I would love an adaptation, but I'm still waiting for The Labours of Hercules to get a look in with the TV people.

Puffinjill

That was difficult to guess, wasn't it!!!! I must put more thought into my name..... But I guess you aren't normally known as Bun!?!

LOL! And no, on both accounts. And I guess my nickname can be Bundles (w/ an s) :0)

OK then, I won't call you Bun. Or Bunny. Etc.

Are you a fan of The Labours of Hercules?

I haven't read The Labours of Hercule yet. I've kind of avoided the short story collections. Thus far the short story books that I've read are: Three Blind Mice, Murder in the Mews, Partners in Crime and The Tuesday Club Murders....If you could call Partners in Crime and The Tuesday Club Murders short story collections, that is.

Is Three Blind Mice published in Britain? I don't have a copy of this! WHY!!!!

I would urge you to read The Labours of Hercules - I was put off by the premise as I though it sounded a little dull, but it's a really good read. Give it a go....they are interesting stories in their own right.

I shall keep nagging until you do, so come on now, you know you want to....

I forgot to mention about Three Blind Mice - it is an alternate story to The MouseTrap play. Three Blind Mice and other stories was only published in the US. The stories in it are The Tape Measure Murder, The Third Floor Flat, Four and Twenty Blackbirds and The Adventure of Johnnie Waverly, Strange Jest, The Love Detectives,  The Case of the Caretaker, The Case of the Perfect Maid. All of which were published in different short story collections all together! Like Four and Twenty Blackbirds was published in The Adventure of The Christmas Pudding, and Strange Jest was published in: Miss Marple's Final Cases.

And I would read The Labours of Hercule but I've already got a ton of chapters to read in my text books for school. Not to mention every once in a while I'll read a Lord Peter Wimsey book called Strong Poision which is probably the most boring Dortothy L Sayers book, at least in my opinion. And once I get through all that I'm going to read Poirot's Black Coffee that I bought yesterday.

Oh and then I want to read The ABC Muders and Murder on the Links next because I own both of the dvds but I've never seen them because (obviously) I haven't read the books yet.

I see! Yes, I've read them all, then, apart from Three Blind Mice. I haven't been lucky enough to see The Mousetrap, but it's high on my 'things I need to do to make me happy' list!

Sorry! Didn't realise you were so busy! At school, too.... Aahh..I remember those days..

Seeing as we were talking about short stories (somewhere back at the beginning of this tread), have you read Dorothy L Sayers short story collections? And Strong Poison boring? MMmmmm, can't say I agree on that one.

Keep reading when you have time. I adore The ABC Murders and think you will too.

Puffinjill

Seeing as we were talking about short stories (somewhere back at the beginning of this tread), have you read Dorothy L Sayers short story collections? And Strong Poison boring? MMmmmm, can't say I agree on that one.

Nope. I've avoided reading those too :0). And I like all of her other LPW books and I was really looking forward to reading Strong Poision but so far it's been a big let down.

Have you read any of her other Lord Peter Wimsey books? Again, I have them all and reread them frequently. I think she was a very clever writer but her strenght did seem to be her novels as her plots are intricate and need plenty of time and pages to play out. Her short stories are less good and her Montague Egg stories are a little odd but still all worth reading. I really would urge you not to give up on Dorothy L Sayers after one book as she has so very much to offer. Possibly one of THE most literate detective writers of all time.

Puffinjill

Have you read any of her other Lord Peter Wimsey books?

Yes, I've read all of the Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries. I've avoided reading Sayers short stories, though.

I think she was a very clever writer but her strenght did seem to be her novels as her plots are intricate and need plenty of time and pages to play out. 

That's a perfect way to describe her writing style, Jill!

Possibly one of THE most literate detective writers of all time.

She's a good read every now and then, but she is not better than AC. My Mom think's she's just as good, though. But Sayers plots are just not as exciting and debatable and as interesting as AC's books are.

Bundle_

Yes, I've read all of the Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries. I've avoided reading Sayers short stories, though.

She's a good read every now and then, but she is not better than AC. My Mom think's she's just as good, though. But Sayers plots are just not as exciting and debatable and as interesting as AC's books are.

Hi Bundles and Jill, I'm jumping into this thread as I've only discovered Dorothy Sayer's work this year and read the first four Wimseys and one of the short story collections. I love her and I think she's quite a different writer in that she has a more forensic leaning to her work and captures the post war feeling in London exceptionally well.

I really loved the short stories (Lord Peter View the Body) I read of hers, particularly the crossword puzzle one in "the Fascinating Problem of Uncle Meagre's Will" which is quite ingenious.

I also love AC's short stories too. I do find them easier to guess the culprit though as there are fewer characters!  I've read all of the Marple ones and the Labours of Hercule are great.

I like to read my series of books in order and am onto Strong Poison next for Wimsey and Hercule Poirot's Christmas, which I will read around Christmas time. :-)

I received Poirot's 50 short stories for my birthday this year and I'm finding that with the list online here, I can manage to put them in order to read them as well. I think there is also a Young Detectives and Marple 50 short stories version published recently as well.

I know this site is an Agathe Christie site but I just wanted to add a few more comments about Dorothy L Sayers in comparion with AC's work. Yes, I do think DLS is very literate (due to her academic upbringing and universtiy education), she writes with a deep understanding of her subject and her times - you can feel how much her research adds to the atmosphere of her books. The period she writes of resonates through every page, the futility and waste of war is always present, so is the struggle of everyone (from all walks of life) to be whole again.

Where I think she does differ from AC is accessability. DLS (so I feel) did not seem to write with a mind to entertain everyone. Her scolarly background adds a touch of aloufness to her work. She refers to the classics, uses other languges (and doesn't provide translations) and generally litters her works with learned things that the majority of the reading public would struggle with. Hence, I feel, her works don't appeal on a mass scale the way AC's do. AC writes more staightforwardly - give the public good beleivable characters, a plot that keeps them guessing, an unexpected twist, and don't patronise your audience. Look how it works! DLS might win plaundits from those who study literature (her texts are included in some sylabuses in this country) but AC wins hands down with the public at large for playing fair and delivering them what they crave. But meantion AC to anyone who teaches literature and they go white....

Jill, having only read a few of DL sayers and many, many AC books, I would agree with you wholeheartedly in your assesments. I thinks the AC books really touch the heart of the reading public at large because of her ability to create great characters.

I enjoy both authors thoroughly, but they are most definitely completely different reading experiences.

But can compliment each other. Thats the wonderful thing about fiction - being able to enjoy and appreiciate so many different styles and authors. And each one you read deepens your understanding of that genre and heightens your love of the others.

Aren't we lucky that crime fiction is such a wide and rich field.

3rdGirl! Here's the previous discussion we were having.

I totally agree, I've read most styles of crime even romantic-crime (Deanna Raybourne) and really enjoyed most styles. I do come back to AC because I'm detirmined to read them all!

I recently borrowed one of her books from my local library - the second Lady Julia Grey, it think, called Silent in the Sanctuary - and had a great time reading it! A little bit more adult than some I've read (!) and  she writes a great smouldering character in Nicholas Brisbane! I fancy Deanna Raybourne doesn't take herself too seriously, but can really entertain with her Victorian/gothic plots and atmosphere. I've bought the first one and will get round to reading it soon.

Puffinjill

I recently borrowed one of her books from my local library - the second Lady Julia Grey, it think, called Silent in the Sanctuary - and had a great time reading it! A little bit more adult than some I've read (!) and  she writes a great smouldering character in Nicholas Brisbane! I fancy Deanna Raybourne doesn't take herself too seriously, but can really entertain with her Victorian/gothic plots and atmosphere. I've bought the first one and will get round to reading it soon.

Oh great! I don't know anyone except myself and my mum who's read one and they are freally fun. There are three books. Silent in the Grave, Silent in the Sanctuary and Silent on the Moor. I think she's a very good writer for the genre. I read one on a flight and it whizzed by! The new covers on them are awful though and make them look like mills and boon books, which is a shame.

Yes, Ive seen those on the internet and it actually put me off buying one as I didn't want people to think I was reading a trashy Boddice-ripper!! I've managed to get one in the other cover and I've seen the latest one in my local W.H.Smiths in the same style so I keep hinting to certain people that Christmas would be very nice if I had this book to read. but I'm not sure anyone EVER listens to me!!

My fault again! Off topic! Shouldn't we be discussing short stories?

OOh... maybe we can start a Top 10 AC short stories thread?? That would be fun!

Brilliant idea. I will start thinking. Have you got one already, 3rdGirl?

Not yet, I'll have to have a review and try and remember some! I'll get back to you on that one.

Perhaps this is even more difficult than trying to produce a top 10 full-length novel list as there are many more short stories than novels! Having a look back over some of the older threads, I see there was one for naming your top 3 short stories. Maybe this is more achievable? It would be for me, anyway! If anyone can produce a top 10, then hats off to you and do post it up as it will be great to see how others rate AC's short stories.

AC wrote so many short stories; writing a list is hard enough for her novels. I would be helpless when it comes to this. But I know that my favourite AC short story of all-time is The Chocolate Box. It's followed closely by (in no particular order) Philomel Cottage, The Dream, and The Blue Geranium, among several others.

I'm with you on Philomel Cottage and I like The Blue Geranium  But this is my problem, I'm really fond of an awful lot of short stories that this list is even harder for me to write. I think The Mystery of the Spanish Chest would feature, along with The Gate of Baghdad and quite a few in The labours of Hercules. Aaaarrrghhhh......too difficult, too difficult. I need help.

I've not read all of them but currently I love The Mystery of the Spanish Chest, The Yellow Iris and The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding. I think I love the last one because of the TV adaptation though.

I can't recall the Marple shorties, so will have to remember those. I also really loved the one about the clever lady and the dogs in The Labours of Hercule as well. I can't remember the title at the moment.

As everyone knows I don't generally care for short stories by any author. But I always seem to enjoy the Marple short stories for some reason. One of my favorites of hers is The Tape Measure Murder.

One of the reasons I like short stories so much is that you can fit them into your life where there isn't time for a full novel. For example, and I know everyone will probably think I'm a bit sad, I also by them in audio CD format and then put them on my MP3 so when I go running I can listen to AC and the time flashes by. Brings a smile to my little puffed- out face!

That's not sad Jill, I listen to the radio plays and adaptations when I'm ironing. Now THAT is sad! :-)

Ironing is sad (but we all have to do it) but radio plays or adaptations will never be that too me! I would dispense with my TV altogether if I could (in fact, when I lived alone I only listened to the radio or my audio books) as I rarely use it.

But, living with someone who has never read a Christie book, I think I would be in trouble. Life is so unfair..