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halberdbooks's reviews
93 reviews
Hallowe'en Party by Agatha Christie
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Listening to this audiobook, it truly is striking just how different the story of the movie is while keeping so much of the original in its new structure. Reflective and atmospheric, though with some troubling moral stances, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I must admit, however, I enjoyed the movie even more. That said, Agatha Christie's talent for twisty and expert plotting is brilliantly on display alongside both beautifully hightened and groundedly natural dialogue. It is spooky and unsettling in ways that I hadn't seen from this series before.
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
One reason for me rereading the entire Sherlock Holmes series before the end of the year is do that I would have an excuse to read this beautiful Penguin Clothbound. I am counting it as a new book on my list, because it has additional essays and thorough annotations. These notes would get in the way of a first readthrough, but they add tremendous depth to a second. About two third of the notes provide valuable background and context that I lacked the first time, and one third of the notes are pointing out all of the times Doyle just pulled stuff out of his ass. These stories are full of inaccuracies and contradictions, and yet they still stand up as some of the best short-form mysteries of all time. What a true delight.