I’m nearing the end of The Fall by Simon Mawer, so it’s time to think about what to read next. I have one non-fiction book on the go – Agatha Christie’s An Autobiography, which will take some time to read, and after that I have a memoir – Seeing Things by Oliver Postgate and a biography – The Pantomime Life of Joseph Grimaldi by Andrew McConnell Stott, lined up to read.
But I need to decide which novel to read next. I’m thinking of one of these:
- The A.B.C. Murders by Agatha Christie. This is a Poirot murder mystery, considered by Charles Osborne in The Life and Crimes of Agatha Christie to be ‘positively brilliant in its imagination and originality.’ It’s about time I read another Agatha Christie book.
- Heartstone by C J Sansom – the fifth in the Matthew Shardlake series, set in England in 1545 when England was at war with France. I’ve been waiting to get this for ages, it seems. I bought it on Thursday when I saw it half-price in Tesco’s. I’ve loved the other Shardlake books.
- The Lost Art of Gratitude by Alexander McCall Smith, the sixth Isabel Dalhousie novel, a philosophical detective story. I’ve enjoyed all the other Isabel Dalhousie books I’ve read so I have to read this too.
- Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffennegger – a ghost story about love, loss and identity. I’m not sure I’ll like this as I found The Time Traveler’s Wife irritating, but when I found it on the library shelves, I decided it was worth looking at it at least. I see I’m in the minority with my opinion about The Time Traveler’s Wife – there are an astounding 1,111 reviews on Amazon, 757 5 stars and 79 1 stars – but at least I’m not alone in my dislike!
I’ve been itching to read Heartstone but The Lost Art of Gratitude and Her Fearful Symmetry are both library books and are due back soon, so maybe I’ll start one of those. Maybe not, because Heartstone is so inviting!
BooksPlease 
Margaret, I can tell you that THE A.B.C. Murders is very good. Just sayin’. LOL
I have been meaning to read C. J. Sansom’s books for some time. Soon perhaps. I have not read THE TIME TRAVELER’S WIFE yet and I paused at the llibrary yesterday trying to decide whether to pick it up. Not yet though.
I’m having a bit of a scattered morning as I try to decide what to read next. I am at the end of my “obligation” reading and am so excited about that fact, I can’t pick the next book. Also, the one I just finished, STILTSVILLE, was very powerful at the ending. Sometimes it’s hard to move on after a finishing a book. Good luck and maybe I should pick up an Agatha Christie book to reread as a bridge book. Hmmm…..
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Margaret – Oh, I must agree with Kay here. I would vote for The ABC Murders. That said, though, I like historical fiction very much, so I could also go for Heartstone.
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Isn’t this a lovely dilemma? Having so many choices that appeal and thinking about what next is a booklover’s dream come true.
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I don´t know about the book, but the name “Audrey Niffennegger” is just marvellous, isn´t it? Niffennegger would certainly suit a cosy mystery.
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Thanks for your comments. In the end it wasn’t too difficult to choose, because Heartstone weighs too much to read in bed, so this morning I started The ABC Murders.
Rural View, choosing what to read is almost as good as reading!
Dorte, Niffennegger does sound like a made-up name to me, but apparently it’s not.
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I’m looking forward to getting hold of Heartstone (once my TBR book pile subsides a little), I’ve enjoyed all the Shardlakes so far. Also really enjoyed his earlier Winter in Madrid.
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I really liked The Time Traveler’s Wife but didn’t think Her Fearful Symmetry was quite as good, so maybe you’ll think the opposite? There were things to enjoy in HFS anyway, so if you do read it, I hope you enjoy it.
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You’re certainly not alone with The Time Traveler’s Wife, Margaret! I too thought it irritating and couldn’t have cared less about the characters. But I was in the minority as both my husband and daughter loved it. Oh well.
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I’ll join that minority as well, Margaret. I disliked THE TIME TRAVELER’S WIFE. Not only did I find it irritating but I thought, almost right off, that is was just plain gimmicky. I never finished it.
The most annoying thing about it was it had the makings of a great book, handled differently.
THE ABC MURDERS is one of my very favorite Agatha Christie books. You can’t go wrong with that one. ; )
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