kaggsy59

lorywidmerhess , 6 months ago to bookstodon

Favorite accounts on Mastodon, number 3:

Shoutout to some longtime book blogging friends who have migrated here:

@kaggsy59
@Calmgrove
@curlygeek04
@buriedinprint

Am I missing anyone? Book bloggers, unite!

@bookstodon #books #blogging #review

sarahmatthews , 8 months ago to bookstodon

#BookReview #1962Club The Mirror Crack’d From Side to Side by Agatha Christie
Read in Braille
Pub. 1962, 280pp

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A Hollywood actress, Marina Gregg, buys a country house near Miss Marple’s village and hosts a garden party where a guest is poisoned. The police believe the lethal cocktail was meant for Marina and she takes to her bed, scared that someone’s out to get her. A whole host of her movie world rivals and others from her past are suspected. She’s not exactly made too many friends over her career!
Meanwhile life in St. Mary Mead isn’t quite what it once was, with progress being viewed with suspicion by many. The Development (as it’s referred to by locals) brings new people and attracts a supermarket which is a step too far!
Miss Marple embarks on her sleuthing in her typical quirky way; asking her hairdresser for old movie mags:
“I think the truth lies somewhere here.” She rustled her magazines and picked up another one.
“You mean you’re looking for some special story about someone?”
“No,” said Miss Marple. “I’m just looking for mentions of people and a way of life and something–some little something that might help.”
I was struck by how well Christie writes about aging as Miss Marple comes to terms with the loss of independence in her 80s. She has a housekeeper, Miss Knight, who fusses around her, speaking to her in a condescending way. At one point Miss Marple sends herh to town with a long shopping list, so she can escape to explore The Development alone which was a nice detail.
The mystery takes many enjoyable turns, including a fashion photoshoot at Keats’ Hampstead house and the ending is satisfying. I tend to let Christie’s books wash over me but with this one I surprised myself by guessing the killer and motive!
I’ve read that it was based on the life of a real Hollywood actress and that the 1980 movie had the inspired casting of Elizabeth Taylor as Marina Gregg and Angela Lansbury as Miss Marple, wonderful!
#Bookstodon @bookstodon

sarahmatthews , 8 months ago to bookstodon

Got a new #audiobook on the go today that I’m reading for the #1962Club which is coming up soon. The book’s Hand in Glove by Ngaio Marsh which I found on the RNIB Talking Book library and, judging from the first chapter, both the story and audio narration are going to be very good!
If you fancy joining in then pick a book published in 1962 and post a few thoughts about it on your social media/blog from 16 to 22 Oct, all good fun! It’s hosted by bloggers Karen @kaggsy59 and simon (Stuck in a Book .com)
#bookstodon #reading @bookstodon