Reading the Detectives discussion

I think it shows why exactly we have the news stories that we have today. A lot of GA writing from the time is unpalatable to modern ears - from racist comments to sexist ones. I love the books, but I am always aware that we can't impose modern judgements on writers from that period and there is plenty not to agree with in many authors - not just Christie, but Sayers and many others.

Susan wrote: "I think it shows why exactly we have the news stories that we have today. A lot of GA writing from the time is unpalatable to modern ears - from racist comments to sexist ones. I love the books, bu..."

I agree- that's how I approach them as well but people seem to judge them by today's standards and then condemn them without thinking when they were written.

We do need to put books in the context of when they were written, I agree, but individuals' attitudes have always varied and that applies to authors too.

I remember Martin Edwards' book The Golden Age of Murder has some interesting sections about authors whose political views etc were different from what we tend to assume of GA writers.

Not too political for me, and I'm sure a moderator will let me know if there is a problem. I see the political or social commentary as an important part of my reading so can't help myself.

It would be interesting to know if these issues were raised in any of the original reviews of Nemesis on publication. I can't find any of these online though - does anyone know if there is a site with old reviews of Christie and indeed other GA writers?

Some of the remarks in authors like Sayers, Christie and Christianna Brand are shocking. I can't imagine that reviewers passed them by, but perhaps, at the time, they were acceptable to say. In the same way that 1970's TV programmes - even at the time, to me anyway, seemed outrageously sexist. Yet, if you said anything you never had a sense of humour... In the Brand novel we read, "Heads You Lose," there is a lot barbed comments aimed at the Jewish husband of one of the characters, but it is covered up by stating that she loves him really, so it's OK. Perhaps it just gave these authors a platform, or perhaps these were widely held views at the time?

Somewhere I mentioned that some material written in 2011 suggested that similar views prevail. It is awful, but true.

I've just read some of the positive comments about Nemesis and am pleased to have to rethink my dismissive attitude towards it and Christie's later novels. I am finding this one of the joys of being part of these discussions , that is, reconsidering my views and deciding I'll just have another read to look for the substance others have found. So, thank you all.

That's a nice comment, Robin. I think you are generally correct (and certainly not alone) in saying that Christie's later novels are not usually as good as the earlier ones. I do like Nemesis a lot, but I know I have also read some later Christie's (Halloween Murder springs to mind!) and thought, oh dear...

I actually enjoyed this one. I liked the fact that Miss Marple was a presence throughout, which was not the case for so many of the 'Marple' books. I didn't pick up on the greenhouse, but I listened to this on audiobook, so perhaps my attention was distracted during that point. I did figure out that the body that was identified as Verity was not really her---it seemed obvious that using clothing and other personal items as a means for identification is not reliable. I believe we saw this before in an earlier Marple book, I won't mention which one to not spoil for others who have not read!
As far as the grumpiness factor is concerned, I think it would be rather difficult to not develop a level of cynicism when you have seen as much death and violence as Miss Marple has over the years. Her overall demeanor is still rather cheerful though, if perhaps less optimistic about the younger generation.
I also agree that while this one is not at all PC, it was refreshing to see the 2 female detectives springing to her rescue! Can't say I have seen too much of that.

Some good points, Tara. I would agree with much of what you say and I also really enjoyed it.

I really enjoyed this one. I liked how Miss Marple was front and center for the whole book and how discovering what crime she needed to solve was part of the mystery.

Glad you enjoyed it, Sandy.