Brad Nelson
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Post by Brad Nelson on Sept 24, 2024 6:40:42 GMT -8
I finished the Ian Rutledge novel, A Lonely Death, last night. I suspect that when I've become bored with a subject and no longer have an original thought in my head, my books would appear like this one too.
It's not without some merit, here and there. But it's a hodgepodge of plot elements. I think ChatGPT could have written something less fabricated-sounding.
And none of the reviewers at Amazon even remotely caught what I thought was the central aspect of the failure. It's not the shtick of Ian and Hamish (the voice inside his head) getting old, although that certainly is an element that has gone nowhere since the very first book.
The problem was that I found Rutledge coming to conclusions that did not seem warranted in the book. It's as if the authors thought, "Oh, we've only got 100 pages left. We'd better wrap it up." Some reviewers referred to "plot holes." And that does intersect on the problem. But the real problem was hardly a bit of the plot seeming realistic or making sense.
To show you how weak the bones of this book are, I'll describe the central plot: A man who had been picked on the by older boys (cruel, but nothing too unusual) comes back to town after the war and starts garroting his victims, one after the other. There's zero back-story in the book from the victim's perspective. There's nothing to show why, particularly after having come successfully through The Great War, he would need such vengeance.
And just about every step along the way, Ian Rutledge's guesses about what is going on ("conjecture" would be too strong a word) come true. Yes, the repeated killings are because the man got a taste for killing in the war. Another "pat" plot point that will have most astute readers rolling their eyes.
Okay, given the mass of humanity out there, that idea in itself isn't too outlandish. But it's just never realized in a book that glosses over plausibility in seemingly a bid just to churn out another in the series. This phenomenon is certainly nothing new.
Quite a few reviewers thought "the character were compelling." But I didn't think a single one of them made any sense. They were all boilerplate, artificial. At the end of the day, this is artless writing and I keep telling myself I will never read another one of these. I think this time that will be true.
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Brad Nelson
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Post by Brad Nelson on Sept 28, 2024 17:30:46 GMT -8
My current book is Agatha Christie's The Mystery of the Blue Train. This one was covered in the Hercule Poirot series with David Suchet, although (luckily) I don't remember a thing about it, at least so far from reading the book. At this point early in the book, no one has been murdered. But it seems even-money that it will either be the father or the daughter. Both seem to be begging to be killed. But it would make more sense if the daughter is because she has the expensive jewelry. Plus, she has let it be known that she wants to divorce her husband who would be extremely hard-up for money if they split. She has the money (or inheritance) in the family. So far this is well written with realistic characters. Poirot hasn't entered the scene yet. |
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Brad Nelson
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Post by Brad Nelson on Oct 4, 2024 7:40:04 GMT -8
Mr. Flu, I hope you are feeling better. Perhaps a couple excerpts from "The Mystery of the Blue Train" will help. And let's all remember that Agatha Christie is a woman. You can't call everyone a misogynist for merely pointing out aspects of female human nature...at least in some:
Ouch, Mrs. Christie. And later in the book, Poirot is talking to one of the prime suspects in the murder of his wife. He is, at the very least, a scoundrel. His wife's body is not yet cold and he is looking to another woman. Christie writes:
Ouch again.
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Post by kungfuzu on Oct 4, 2024 8:31:09 GMT -8
A very keen insight to feminine nature.
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Post by kungfuzu on Oct 4, 2024 8:34:12 GMT -8
Thanks I am getting there. It is a little difficult with a catheter coming out one's back which connected to a bag to collect urine, but I'm doing my best. 
Don't yet know when I will have next procedure, but hope it is soon so this episode will be over.
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Brad Nelson
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Post by Brad Nelson on Oct 5, 2024 7:22:04 GMT -8
I finished Agatha Christie's "The Mystery of the Blue Train" featuring Hercule Poirot (but without Hastings, Miss Lemon, or Inspector Japp). It's the first Christie novel that I've read. I'm second to none in my admiration for David Suchet's portrayal of the Belgian detective. Having finally read one of the books that the series is based on, my admiration increases, for the Hercule Poirot as played by Suchet is more or less only hinted at in these books. Suchet brings the character to life as, oddly, the book (this one, at least) does not. As for the bones of the book, I found the story moderately compelling for about 2/3 of it. Then it sort of descends into the shtick and cheats that Agatha Christie is long known for. For better or for worse, fairly or unfairly, I ultimately found the book unsatisfying. There was just too much gimmick tacked-on at the end. Interestingly, I have little to no objective to this in the Suchet series. Poirot's arrogance, bubbly enthusiasm, and giddy charm at being right enlivens the Christie shtick as he tells us what really happened and why, especially with Japp at his side to sort of eye-roll his way through it while appreciating this one-off little miracle of a detective who is certainly useful to Scotland Yard. But I don't think I'll read another one. I'm currently reading The Final Cut by Catherine Coulter. No, I'd never heard of her either. This features Inspector Drummond of Scotland Yard who was born in America and holds a duel citizenship. Scotland Yard's Elaine York is murdered while providing protection for some crown jewels that are on display in New York. Drummond goes to New York to work with the FBI. The writing seems competent so far, although I'm not sure how much girl-power I can take. It's evident from the get-go that this novel will be full of it. The international and renowned jewel thief known as "The Fox" is tied up in the case and we meet her early-on. And she's 100% de-masculinizing girl-power. But we'll see. This was published in 2013. That's quite after the (about) 2008 cut-off date where you had at least a 50-50 chance of reading non-woke stuff. I don't expect to make it halfway through this. But we'll see. |
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Post by kungfuzu on Oct 5, 2024 9:58:00 GMT -8
Many books lose during their transition from the page to the screen. Agatha Christie's generally gain in this transition. Suchet's Poirot is superior to anything I recall reading in any Christie book.
The same is generally true for the Miss Marple films. Although they can vary significantly in quality depending on who is playing Miss Marple, I think they are all better than most of what I have read of the dear lady. That said, I was pleasantly surprised by "A Caribbean Mystery."
On the other hand, I find most of the film treatments of Sherlock Holmes to be vastly inferior to Conan Doyle's writing. The only one which reaches the level of Doyle's work is the Jeremy Brett series. I am presently working my way through The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes and find each episode as entertaining as the last time I saw them some years (10-15?) back. |
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Brad Nelson
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Post by Brad Nelson on Oct 5, 2024 10:15:15 GMT -8
You know, maybe I'll give that one a try...as soon as I burn out on the girl-power of "The Final Cut."  I don't know that Joan Hickson is the definitive Miss Marple because I haven't read any of the books. But in the case of Sherlock Holmes (having read them all), I put my stamp of approval on Jeremy Brett as the definitive and, by far, the best portrayal of Holmes (and Edward Hardwicke I think is superior to any other Watson). However, I suspect that Joan Hickson is the best. From what I've seen of others (and only very briefly because I tend to cringe at other portrayals), they play badly the doddering-old-woman who really is a detective wolf in a sheep's knitted shawl. Many series hinge on a good love/hate relationship between protagonists. Mason/Burger. Holmes/Lestrade. Poirot/Japp. And in the Hickson series, the chemistry between Marple/Slack is superb. Slack resents any interference by amateurs, something reflected in the attitude of Lestrade as well. But they will grudgingly give way, here and there, because they prove useful. And in the case of both Holmes and Marple, they are content to stay in the background and let the police get the headlines for solving the case. That is certainly perhaps the major reason that Holmes is generally tolerated in the police force. They have said themselves numerous times that they know he will play fair. |
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Brad Nelson
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Post by Brad Nelson on Oct 7, 2024 18:50:40 GMT -8
I'm a third of the way through "A Caribbean Mystery." It's a short book. There's a distinct benefit to reading at least one Miss Marple novel. In this one at least, you really get inside her head...much more so than you ever get in the Joan Hickson series. I remember the plot of this somewhat, for surely I've seen it at least four times. Even so, I can't remember if it was the doctor who was the bad guy or someone else. Don't tell me. So, indeed, I can read this still with some original interest. I don't think you get any impression from the Hickson series that she didn't really want to be there in the Caribbean. But I think one of her nephews insisted and may have even paid for it. Marple found plenty of adventure and interest in the goings on in St. Mary Mead. By her own account, it took her a while to make sense of her new surroundings. But she did, particularly by finding equivalents to characters back in her English village. It's interesting to see her thought process. She admits she is a very good liar when the need arises, for instance, but is otherwise a very honest person. |
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Post by kungfuzu on Oct 8, 2024 6:23:25 GMT -8
Film has always had a problem with internal conversations. It is hard to keep a movie going forward without some type of action. Philosophical muses and such don't generally work. Off hand, I can't recall any film which did this well, but I am sure there must be some.
Glad to hear that you find the book readable. I found it much better than most other works I have read by the lady.
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Brad Nelson
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Post by Brad Nelson on Oct 8, 2024 7:19:29 GMT -8
Maybe that's the point of point-of-view narration such as in Casablanca or (before it was removed in other cuts) Blade Runner. But you make a very good point for why there isn't more of this. An interruption of the action.
I've heard that side-characters are often invented in movies just for the very purpose of being able to present some of the ideas that otherwise were just in the head of someone in the novel.
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And speaking of getting inside someone's head, I'm pretty sure the doctor is the murderer in this. But early-on Agatha Christie is stuffing completely contrary thoughts in his head. So maybe I'm wrong. If I'm not wrong then this is definitive proof of the false games she would sometimes play. I'll keep an open mind.
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Post by Brad Nelson on Oct 9, 2024 18:54:38 GMT -8
I'm about ¾ way through "A Caribbean Mystery." What strikes me is how well cast Donald Pleasence was as Jason Rafiel in the Joan Hickson series. Pleasence does a marvelous job exactly capturing the character. Just spot on.
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Post by kungfuzu on Oct 10, 2024 11:59:06 GMT -8
He was a vary talented actor. From his forger in The Great Escape to Himmler in The Eagle Has Landed. He could play a gentle soul or malign presence equally well.
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Brad Nelson
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Post by Brad Nelson on Oct 11, 2024 7:06:10 GMT -8
A classic role for him, as well as the part he played in a Columbo episode.
Anyway, "A Caribbean Mystery" was a good recommendation, Mr. Kung. I finished it last night. I thought it was Dr. Graham who was the murderer. I honestly couldn't remember from the Hickson series. But did they change it in the series? I know they added the part about Miss Marple going to see Victoria in her village, thus (in hindsight) adding a real multi-culti moment. That part wasn't in the book.
But in the book it was Tim Kendal who was the murderer. He's kind of out of left field. But that's the way these things typically are in any mystery. He's not implausible. But there was (that I could see) no hint to it other than that he obviously was in a position to be drugging his wife.
The high points (as in the Hickson episode) are the conversations between Miss Marple and Rafiel. And I will say that although books are almost always superior to the movie versions regarding anything, the Marple/Rafiel interaction was even better in the series.
As already noted, this story is good for getting much more inside Miss Marple's head then you ever get in the Hickson series, which is really no one's fault. But I do think Hickson plays well the persona of the seemingly harmless, doddering old lady who can, in a flash, change into the steely-eyed Nemesis. And whether in the book or in the series, you get the clear impression that Miss Marple is not easily unnerved or surprised by any evil or debauchery she comes upon.
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Post by kungfuzu on Oct 11, 2024 7:25:16 GMT -8
It sounds like Miss Marple has taken to heart Jesus' exhortation as quoted in Matthew 10:16
“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.
Glad you enjoyed it. I think it might be the best Christie book I have read.
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Brad Nelson
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Post by Brad Nelson on Oct 11, 2024 9:39:13 GMT -8
I'm now going to have a go at "4:50 from Paddington." I really like the Joan Hickson version of this. But it always had one anomaly that bothered me, and it's not regarding any red herrings: It's when Lucy Eyelesbarrow (Marple's sort of undercover agent who goes to work at the estate near where the body was found) falls for Cedric Crackenthrope. It's not a main part of the story. But Cedric is such an obvious dirtbag, and Lucy is so obviously proper and above-board, it doesn't make any sense. (John Hallam plays this rogue very well). One gets the impression that Christie didn't have a particularly complimentary view of her own sex. Jill Meager (as Lucy) is the typical "English Beauty" of the period. It's a beauty, such as it is, that is decidedly English. And I think Meager does a great job in the role.  The rest of the cast is outstanding as well, featuring some regular British period-piece actors such as Joanna David, who I like. This is one of her younger photos, but she is/was quite charming:  She's apparently still going strong and has been married to Edward Fox since 2004. I didn't know that. |
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Post by kungfuzu on Oct 11, 2024 18:06:46 GMT -8
Neither did I. I saw her last night in the Sherlock Holmes mystery, The Cardboard Box. I didn't even realize it was her.
I seem to recall reading some of her observations about women and they were not very complimentary. I think her first marriage might have been an eye opener for her. Being in love does not mean one has to disconnect one's brain.
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Brad Nelson
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Post by Brad Nelson on Oct 11, 2024 18:24:29 GMT -8
I don't immediately remember The Cardboard Box, although I've surely seen it. I just realized (upon searching my collection) that I don't have The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes. Perhaps the episode you mention I've seen only once. It certainly doesn't ring a strong bell. I give Christie credit for not being woke. There are plenty of men villains in her novels. And idiot women. She spares no one.
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That reminds me what one of my favorite women characters in the Jeremy Brett productions is Lady Hilda Trelawney Hope as played by the pasty-faced Patricia Hodge in "The Second Stain." She also has a good role in the Rumpole series as "Portia."  What a penetrating gaze. She plays the woman who is being blackmailed for some letters. She absolutely plays the strong, independent, can-do-anything woman. I have no problem with that, per se. Where this episode did not fail on this point was completely wiping out her gender and making all the men around her subservient (standard "woke" baloney). She tries to bamboozle Holmes but Holmes is not so easy to bamboozle. He basically gets the upper hand and finally breaks her (necessary in order to help her). I thought it was a superb episode. |
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Post by Brad Nelson on Oct 12, 2024 16:53:04 GMT -8
I'm about 25% into "4:50 from Paddington." I'm just slightly after the point where Lucy finds the body and the police are called in. The local police call in Scotland Yard because of the possibility that the murdered woman is a foreigner. But it's Detective-Inpsector Craddock who steps in from the Yard. In the TV series, they bring in Detective Inspector Slack and Detective Sergeant Lake (the usuals, and they both know Marple well). I'm more than okay with the TV series substituting these better-known figures. Other than that, I can't see a trifle of difference between the book and the Hickson series so far. I suppose that's how good the TV episode was. The casting exactly matches what is written in the book. The only thing I don't remember in the series that is mentioned often in the book is Miss Marple needing to bring in help (Lucy) because she's getting too old and frail to do the legwork herself. Of course, in this case that makes sense. Lucy has to search far and wide over a large, highly wooded estate, up and down embankments, looking for a body or evidence of one. But the frailness of Marple is definitely played up in the book. The funny thing is that I don't quite remember who-done-it. I'll have to read on.  An interesting thing is written in the book about Marple. This isn't exactly news to Christie fans. But it described well the outer and inner difference. This is precisely why I best like the Hickson portrayal. She doesn't over-act the "fluffy and dithery" part. And when she's dithering and mumbling about (as she often does when thinking about a case), Hickson captures that aspect in realistic fashion. And when she comes out of her musings, she can evince sharpness and decisiveness effectively. And it never seems artificial.  |
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Post by kungfuzu on Oct 13, 2024 10:31:22 GMT -8
I am still trying to find any of the Miss Marple series on free streaming TV. As much as I like such period pieces, I will not pay to view anything on TV. There is simply too much free streaming for me to pull out the credit card and type in my details. |
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