On Agatha Christie
Oct 22, 2013 
This past week I read my very first Agatha Christie novel.
I know, I know . . . no judging.
Last night, I finished And Then There Were None. Just saying, I might have had trouble going to sleep. Agatha Christie is amazing!
But what I loved best was the Author’s Note at the beginning. It was an excerpt from An Autobiography (obviously hers):
“I had written this book because it was so difficult to do that the idea had fascinated me. . . . It was well-received and reviewed, but the person who was really pleased with it was myself, for I knew better than any critic how difficult it had been.”
I love that! I love that she openly admits how hard it was to write this. Agatha Christie, pretty much the best-selling author ever, had to WORK for it. And she didn’t let the hardness of it stop her. She pushed through until she succeeded. Until she’d written a perfectly chilling book that confused and baffled, yet had a logical explanation.
The woman was brilliant!
And I say that not because everything came to her easily. I say it because she didn’t quit. She pushed herself to continue. To solve the puzzle. To do the nearly un-doable.
And when she’d finished, it didn’t matter what others thought. She knew what she had accomplished.
What are you pushing yourself to achieve?
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Such an amazing woman, writer, and example! I went through an Agatha Christie phase on college and read them ALL, but it's been a long time and you've reminded me I should go back and reread some 🙂 As for what I'm pushing myself to achieve? Just trying to get some words on paper every day! 🙂
I tend to go on Agatha Christie reading binges, but I haven't read one in a couple years. She WAS brilliant and inspiring–and a great example of a successful writer-mother. She said she got her best ideas while washing dishes. 🙂
I don't think I've read an Agatha Christie book either, maybe as a kid. I love her quote (no one knows how hard it was but me) awesome.
I ADORE Agatha Christie (and just saw today at PW someone has sold a mid-grade novel that is supposed to be like her books!) and read her autobiography a few years ago. She considered And Then There Were None her best. It's my favorite, too.
Here are my other favorites:
Curtain
Crooked House
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
Fun! My hubby is currently starring in an Agatha Christie play (The Unexpected Guest) and I was seriously blown away by the storytelling in that play. She is an amazing storyteller. My husband did great too!
I always re-read my Agatha Christie's when I'm ill! LOL!! Such classics – but you're one up on me – I've not read her autobiography!
Take care
x
And Then There Were None is such a classic!
What a great reminder that this writing thing is hard, even for the great ones.
I'd forgotten that quote!
Just hearing her name makes me feel like rereading her books. I loved The Hallowe'en Party, and hey, it's the perfect time of year to reread that!
A post full of inspiration–thanks for sharing. I don't think I've ever read an Agatha Christie book and looks like I've really missed out. I'm going to correct that here real soon…
I've never read any Agatha Christie books either (hangs head in shame) It's true that the things you work hardest for reap the best rewards.
Oh, I adored that book. I actually read it in a 9th grade (I think) English class. We were given copies with the ending cut out (when I think of a school doing that to books now, it amazes me) and we had to discuss the book before being given the ending pages. I mostly figured out whodunit and who would die last, and that made me love the book even more. 🙂
I have never read her–you have inspired me to try now. I love that she pushed herself. I feel that way about what I'm trying to write now–my first suspense. I want it to be my best work, We will see!