A Literary Christmas 2020 Wrap Up

Though my Christmas reading this year wasn't a blast, I still very much enjoyed it.

Books I've read for A Literary Christmas 2020:

1. Mr. Dickens and His Carol by Samantha Silva - interesting!
⭐⭐⭐⭐

2. The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum - heartwarming!
⭐⭐⭐⭐

3. Midwinter Murder by Agatha Christie - exciting!
⭐⭐⭐⭐

I've also watched some movies, though not as much as I wanted to, but my Christmas holiday begins today, so I'll still have enough time to catch up! 😉

Movies I've watched:

- Christmas Chronicles 1
- The Heart of Christmas part 1 & 2: When Calls the Heart TV series Season 4 - one of the sweetest and most heartwarming Christmas films I've ever seen! It's a shame though, that it won't be available on Netflix after January 25, 2021 - all the more reason to watch it today!!

Thanks again to Tarissa for hosting this festive reading event. I now have one whole year to collect more great stuffs for next Christmas. Meanwhile....

HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU & YOUR FAMILY, MY FRIENDS! 🎄⛄🎅

Midwinter Murder by Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie had written tons of short stories during her career, and within the last century, many compilations have been published. Midwinter Murder: Fireside Tales from the Queen of Mystery is the newest, published in 2020. "There's a chill in the air and the days are growing shorter… It's the perfect time to curl up in front of a crackling fireplace with this winter-themed collection from legendary mystery writer Agatha Christie." ~ agathacristie.com.

All the 12 short stories compiled here have been published before. So, if you're an Agatha Christie's hardcore fan, you've probably read all of them before, but with so many of her novels and short stories, it's most likely you've forgotten most of them. So, it's kinda refreshing, really, to read them for Christmas!

Despite of the title, at least four of the stories are non murder cases. But there are two points that make this compilation more interesting than its predecessors. First, it consists of random detectives; Poirot and Hastings appear most often (five stories), then there are two by Miss Marple, two of Mr. Quin's, one of Parker Pyne, and one of Tommy and Tuppence (which is pity, I expected more of them, as theirs are usually the most humorous). But the best part is the excerpt of Christie's autobiography about how she used to celebrate Christmas as a kid. Now, that seems like the best Christmas one could have!

Since I'm bad in memorizing plots, I jotted down short summary of each story here:

1. The Chocolate Box
Published earlier in: Poirot's Early Cases.
Poirot recounted his one failure to Hastings. He was a member of the Police force in Brussels.
Background: feud between church and state in France
Victim: Paul Deroulard, a French deputy, a Minister to be, who is against the church
Location: his own house
Suspect: two guests
Weapon: poison inserted in a piece of chocolate (victim's favorite)
Poirot's clue: chocolate box with unmatched box and lid colour.
Characteristic: simple familial murder.
Similarity: The Mysterious Affair at Styles
Interesting point: Poirot's failure

2. A Christmas Tragedy
Published earlier in: The Thirteen Problems
Miss Marple told a tragedy of a husband whom she knew instantly wanted to kill his wife. She couldn't prevent it. The wife (Gladys Sanders) was killed, but Mr. Sanders got himself a perfect alibi.
Location: a Hydro (health resort)
Suspect: the husband
Weapon: sandbag
Miss Marple's clue: the hat (found later beside the body, not ON its head as had found earlier when they found the body) and the locked hat cupboard.
Characterisic: simple but genius plot, understanding of human psychology.

3. The Coming of Mr. Quin
Published earlier in: The Mysterious Mr. Quin
It's New Year's Eve. Three gentlemen, a woman, and Mr. Satthertwaite - the human lives observer - are reminiscing about the mysterious suicide of a Derek Capel, when a dark mysterious stranger comes. He subtly guided them to solve the problem, along with another murder case.
Characteristic: the enigmatic, mysterious, evasive Harley Quin, modern gothic story.

4. The Mystery of the Baghdad Chest
Published earlier in: The Regatta Mystery and Other Stories
A heavy oriental chest called Baghdad Chest is installed in Major Rich's house. The night after he gave a dinner party, a body of a Mr. Clayton - who suspected that his wife is having an affair with the Major - was found inside the chest. The wife asked Poirot's help to solve the case; and this story was told by Hastings.
Suspect: The Major
Weapon: stiletto knife
Poirot's clue: holes freshly bored in the chest
Characteristic: "A perfect murder. Épatant!" ~ Hercule Poirot

5. The Clergyman's Daughter
Published earlier in: Partners in Crime
Tommy and Tuppence investigate a very interesting non-murder case; actually it's the sweetest Christmas story from Midwinter Murder. A poor girl who lives with her mother inherited a house from her aunt. After she rejected offers from two buyers, strange and horrible incidents started to happen in the house, even poltergeist situations. The girl was also sure that the two buyers are actually one. So, what's in the house that someone insisted on buying at any value?
Location: Red House
Characteristic: poltergeist, treasure hunting, sweet

6. The Plymooth Express
Published earlier in: Poirot's Early Cases
The similarity in plot with The Mystery of the Blue Train is so striking. A rich daughter, who married a scoundrel and has an affair with a womanizer Count, is having a journey on the train. She was murdered, the jewels were stolen. The father employed Poirot to find the murderer, though at this story, Hastings was accompanying him, while in The Mystery of the Blue Train, a girl was Poirot's sidekick.
Location: Plymouth Express
Weapon: a knife
Suspect: the husband or the lover
Poirot's clue: the striking blue dress
Characteristic: red herring-motive-wise.

7. Problem at Pollensa Bay
Published earlier in: Problem at Pollensa Bay and other stories
Non murder case - it's hardly a case anyway - for Parker Pyne, the problem solver. A strictly conventional mother is worried over his son's choice of a modern girl as his future wife. Pyne solves the problem quite unexpectedly, though I could guess it easily.

8. Sanctuary
Published earlier in: Miss Marple's Final Cases
After finding a dying man inside the church, whose final words are "Sanctuary", something like "Julian" (the vicar's name), and "please..." the intelligent vicarage's wife asked her Aunt: Jane Marple, for advice.
Interesting point: "never underestimate woman's intuition!"

9. The Mystery of Hunter's Lodge
Published earlier in: Poirot's Investigate
Poirot is taken I'll by influenza, so Hastings performs the investigation of the murder of Mr. Havering's uncle.
Location: a hunting lodge
Suspect: a stranger, the black-bearded man, seen by the housekeeper.
Weapon: a pistol
Poirot's clue: Mrs. Havering's past occupation
Interesting point: justice prevails!

10. The World's End
Published earlier in: The Mysterious Mr. Quin
Another non murder story, but the most interesting so far. Mr. Satterthwaite is on holiday with a Duchess, where he meets a distracted girl. Together with an Indian judge they journey by car to a hilltop island called The World's End, where they meet Mr. Quin. A snowstorm forced them to take shelter in a house, where a forgetful actress tells a story about her treasured opal which was stolen by a young writer.
Clue: the actress' ingenious Indian box with hidden compartment.
Characteristic: two stories which seems unrelated, and vague uneasiness about a tragedy to come.

11. The Manhood of Edward Robinson
Published earlier in: The Listerdale Mystery
The young but immature Edward Robinson is seeking romance and adventure before tying the knot with his sensible and prudish fiancee. He bought his dream car with out of luck money, and involved immediately in a real adventure, with gorgeous lady, party, and jewels. Then something goes wrong, that will change the young man's life.

Characteristic: adventures 

12. Christmas Adventure
Published earlier in: The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding
Poirot is invited to spend Christmas in a manor house with some young people. An anonymous note warned him not to eat the plum pudding. The host, however, finds a ruby inside his pudding. The young people then staged a "murder" to prank Poirot. The "victim" is found dead the next day, clutching the ruby in her hand.
Characteristic: plot twists between real and fake - murder and jewel theft.

My favorite : The Clergyman's Daughter
My rating : 4,5 / 5

Mr. Dickens and His Carol: A Fictional Story on the Making of A Christmas Carol

In 1843 Charles Dickens has been a household name in England (and some parts of the world). He was on top if his career, rich, and successful, led a huge but happy family. However, his sixth novel, Martin Chuzzlewit, was a flop, while still in installments. Public mocked him, sales was decreasing. While he and Catherine was expecting their sixth child, his household debts were mounting, while friends and relatives kept expecting and squeezing him for charity and help. On top of everything, he was experiencing a writing block! The only thing he could do to avoid debtor prison is writing a fabulous Christmas book, and to do it fast. No pressure, indeed!

In the desperate moment, Dickens took a stroll at midnight, and met a theater woman in purple cloak: Eleanor. She was kind, gentle, and understanding, and her charm inspired Dickens to write. His best friend, John Forster, however, suspected Eleanor to be a book thief. So, it's either huge success or painful failure to Dickens, and he must choose to follow his mind or heart.

This book captured one of the most crucial points in Dickens' life, out of which, we know that he would write one of the most influential books ever written; book that will change how we celebrate Christmas: A Christmas Carol. Modern writers have tried to imagine what has inspired Dickens, and Samantha made Dickens' personal conflict to be the center of it. His bitter childhood made Dickens longed for affection and acceptance, while his family seemed to just use his influence and money for their own good.

"It was peculiar what she understood, with keen precision, without knowing him at all. That he wanted to be seen, cherished, and cared for, without demands, without the necessity of fixing everything—understood for who he was when he meant well and did what he could."

"But he knew, too, for the first time, what had always been true—that he wanted them to love him. In some shadow-corner of his being, he was the eleven-year-old at Warren’s Blacking even now, a boy all alone in the world, who wanted only to be seen and cared for. If they might only treasure the part of him that Eleanor had reawakened."

In short, he felt he was unfairly used by the world. And that has turned him to... Scrooge! It's Eleanor's and her son Timothy's trust that eventually warmed his heart and enouraged him to make peace with the past. But what about the ghosts? Well, Samantha keeps a little twist near the ending, just to make this book to have a little Victorian and a lot of Christmas feelings.

If you loved Dickens or A Christmas Carol, or at least, if you love Christmas reading, this book is just for you. It's fast paced and entertaining.

Rating: 4/5


And since today is the anniversary of A Christmas Carol (published in December 19, 1843), I'd like to say: Happy anniversary, A Christmas Carol!

"Christmas begins in the heart after all."

The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum

 

A baby boy was found in the Forest of Burzee by one of the leaders in the immortals world: Ak, the Master Woodmans of the World. The baby was eventually adopted by a Wood Nymph called Necille, who named the mortal baby: Claus. When he's grown up to a young man, Ak took him on a journey to see the dwellings of his fellow human beings, where he first realized that there are many unfortunate children live in poverty and sorrow.

He then decided to leave the Forest of Burzee, and lived among his fellow mortals in the Laughing Valley. The immortals provided for all his needs, including a pet cat called Blinky. With nothing to do, young Claus amused himself by carving a piece of wood to the image of Blinky.

One day Claus found a stranded boy during a snow storm, and took him to stay in his house. He gifted the carved Blinky to the boy as a "toy", and made him very happy. Thereupon the story about a young man in Laughing Village who carved beautiful images of animals spread across villages, and children travelled from everywhere to Claus' dwellings to get the toys. His immortal friends helped him with supplies. Claus decided to dedicate his life to create as many toys and dolls as he can to make children happy. That's how people started calling him a Saint, for he is a kindhearted man; hence the Santa Claus!

Then the story unrolls to how Claus made it a tradition to take a journey on his sledge, pulled by the deer, only one day at a year: Christmas Eve. Also, he is the first to bring the Christmas tree tradition, and... how hanging stockings near the fireplace is just a coincidence!

It's really a heartwarming Christmas-themed book for children, and a kind of reminder for adults, that a small kindness can bring so much changes, if only we do it by heart and out of selflessness.

Rating: 4/5

 

Whose Body? by Dorothy L. Slayer

Dorothy L. Sayers was one member of the Detection Club - an elite group of crime writers in the 20th century - alongside Agatha Christie and several other prominent writers: G.K. Chesterton, Ngaio Marsh, P.D. James, as well as Baroness Orczy. Published in 1923, Whose Body? is where Sayers first introduced Lord Peter Wimsey - an aristocrat who embraces criminal investigations as his passionate hobby.

The body in question belongs to a stranger - possibly comes from working class - who was found mysteriously in the bathtub of a bachelor architect who lives with his mother in a flat. Nobody knows whose body it is, as no identification can be found on the body, except for a golden pince nez, which clearly does not belong to the deceased.

So, whose body is it? The local investigator suspects that it belongs to a gentleman who has disappeared from his house the night before: Sir Reuben Levy. Peter Whimsey, on the other hand thinks that the fact that the architect's flat is located near a teaching hospital, might contribute to the case. Disliking the local Inspector Sugg, Whimsey chooses to work alongside his friend, Inspector Parker, who is investigating Sir Reuben Levy's disappearance.

Actually, I've had high expectations on Sayers, and had planned to read more of her if this book satisfy me. Knowing that she was Christie's fellow Detection Club member, and came from the same era, I expected she'd be quite as good as Christie. But I guess, I'm disappointed. Not that her writing is bad, but... let's say... less interesting than Christie's.

In the first place, Lord Peter Wimsey doesn't impress me much. He's a typical careless, laid back rich gentleman who gets bored, but with plenty of time and energy (and money and connection!) He performs his investigations just out of amusement. To him, crime is just another challenge or game.

As he's also terribly clever and funny, Whose Body? is full of dark humor and technical descriptions on detective jobs. I was soon bored with fingerprints, footprints, and evidences. Moreover, we get to know the murderer much too soon - where are the red herrings and suspenseful plot twists? - the last chapter is dedicated only to explain how the murderer perform the tricks, and the actual motive. But the suspense is over, I've even suspected the murderer before Wimsey proved his theory!

But the biggest point missing, is the deep understanding of human psychology. I felt that Whose Body? is merely about crimes, while Agatha Christie's are more about the complexity of human beings; morality, family, love, good and evil sides of men. So, Christie's are classics for me, while Sayers' (from this one novel I've read, at least) are crime novels. I should probably read more from Sayers to do her justice, but I decided not to waste my time.

Rating: 3 / 5

New Year, New Challenge: Reading Schedule for 2021

 

New year, new hope, new vigour. After some reading (and blogging) slump this year, I intend to make a come back next year. Covid-19 will likely still be part of our lives (looking at how our govt has been acting so far, I’ve prepared for the worse), however, we must make the best of this unfortunate situation, yes? So, I will spare most of my leisure time for reading and blogging.

Personally, 2021 will also mark a new era for me, which I will explain further in another post. Meanwhile here is what my reading schedule looks like throughout 2021:

January

#CCSpin25 #BackToTheClassics2021 #CC3 – Eugene Onegin - DONE
#RougonMacquartProject – The Conquest of Plassans - DONE

February

#BackToTheClassics2021 #CC – Nicholas Nickleby (with Ruth) - DONE

March

#BackToTheClassics2021 #CC – 
#BackToTheClassics2021 #CC – Things Fall Apart - DONE

April

#Zoladdiction2021 #RougonMacquartProject – The Sin of Abbe Mouret - CURRENTLY READING
#Zoladdiction2021 – Zola’s biography or short stories collections

May

#BackToTheClassics2021 #CC – My Antonia (with Laurie)
#BackToTheClassics2021 #CC – Return of the Native

June

#JazzAgeJune #CC – The Beautiful and Damned
#hunchbackreadalong #CC – The Hunchback of Notre-Dame (7 chapters) – it’s one of Nick's Chapter-a-Day-Read-Along

July

#RougonMacquartProject – His Excellency Eugene Rougon
--The Hunchback of Notre-Dame (31 chapters)

August

#BackToTheClassics2021 #CC – The Pilgrim’s Progress
--The Hunchback of Notre-Dame (21 chapters)

September

#RougonMacquartProject – L’Assommoir
#BackToTheClassics2021 #CC – Watership Down

October

#BackToTheClassics2021 #CC #RIP – Lady Audley’s Secret
#BackToTheClassics2021 #CC #RIP – Othello

November

#BackToTheClassics2021 #CC – Cat’s Craddle
#CC – The Custom of the Country or Barchester Tower

December

#ALiteraryChristmas #BackToTheClassics2021 #CC – The Nutcracker
#ALiteraryChristmas – A Merry Christmas (Alcott) or other Christmas stories

 

~~Statistics~~

15 books for #CC or The Classics Club #3 (complete list coming soon!)
12 books for Back to the Classics 2021

4 reading events participation:
- Nick’s Chapter-A-Day-Readalong (The Hunchback of Notre Dame only)
- #CCSpin (January is definite; other months tentative)
- RIP
- A Literary Christmas

2 events hosting:
- #Zoladdiction2021
- #JazzAgeJune (co-hosting with Laurie)

1 personal project:
#RougonMacquartProject

 

~~Beyond the schedule~~

- #AgathaChristiePerpetualReading – will read as many Agatha Christie I can in between books/events
- one or two classics or non-classics when possible
- #MobyDick2ndRead – will continue on this as many as possible


If you feel like reading a book or two along with me, just let me know, the more the merrier! 

Back to the Classics Challenge 2021

I'm glad that Karen @ Books and Chocolate has decided to host another of my most favorite reading challenge next year: Back to the Classics Challenge! And this time I will do all the 12 categories: 

1. A 19th century classic: any book first published from 1800 to 1899 – The Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy

2. A 20th century classic: any book first published from 1900 to 1971. All books must have been published at least 50 years ago; the only exceptions are books which were written by 1971 and posthumously published. – My Antonia by Willa Cather

3. A classic by a woman author. – Lady Audley’s Secret by Mary Elisabeth Braddon

4. A classic in translation, meaning any book first published in a language that is not your primary language. You may read it in translation or in its original language, if you prefer.  – The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo

5. A classic by BIPOC author; that is, a non-white author. – Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

6. A classic by a new-to-you author, i.e., an author whose work you have never read. – Eugene Onegin by Alexander Pushkin

7. New-to-you classic by a favorite author -- a new book by an author whose works you have already read.  – Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens

8. A classic about an animal, or with an animal in the title. The animal can be real or metaphorical. (i.e., To Kill a Mockingbird). – Watership Down by Richard Adams

9. A children's classic. – The Nutcracker by E.T.A. Hoffmann

10. A humorous or satirical classic. – The Inimitable Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse 

11. A travel or adventure classic (fiction or non-fiction). It can be a travelogue or a classic in which the main character travels or has an adventure. – Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris by Paul Gallico

12. A classic play. Plays will only count in this category. – Mrs. Windermere's Fan by Oscar Wilde


I can't wait to start it already, it will be super fun!