tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post952103468671063276..comments2024-03-17T06:01:06.495-07:00Comments on The Passing Tramp: Catch As Catchpool Can't: The Monogram Murders (2014), by Sophie HannahThe Passing Tramphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09830680639601570152noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-8691561800152736302021-03-28T13:35:06.056-07:002021-03-28T13:35:06.056-07:00Hi, Akagi, no, I haven't read it, I was so put...Hi, Akagi, no, I haven't read it, I was so put off by the first one. There are just many other books to read.The Passing Tramphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09830680639601570152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-62777232556310607852017-12-29T10:25:40.083-08:002017-12-29T10:25:40.083-08:00I read this novel today, and I completely agree wi...I read this novel today, and I completely agree with you. It's hard to say this but....I really want to kill Edward Catchpool haft way through the book. He's a terrible mixture of incompetence, idiocy and annoyance. I think he killed off my interest in the book.<br />By the way, the same author published another Poirot books this year. It would become a series, unfortunately. But I heard that Edward becomes a little better this time. Have you read it? What do you think?Akagi Anhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01424811452566523261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-11827575035904715782014-09-30T01:01:48.322-07:002014-09-30T01:01:48.322-07:00Excellent! I always love to get a good splutter o...Excellent! I always love to get a good splutter out of people.The Passing Tramphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09830680639601570152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-25304091944763786672014-09-30T01:00:36.470-07:002014-09-30T01:00:36.470-07:00Indeed *he* has, Noah!Indeed *he* has, Noah!The Passing Tramphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09830680639601570152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-26663525436008218322014-09-29T19:49:20.232-07:002014-09-29T19:49:20.232-07:00I'm not sure if you're joking -- I'm n...I'm not sure if you're joking -- I'm not aware of such a story. I gather from Wikipedia that another author invented a book for Ariadne Oliver called "With Vinegar and Brown Paper" but it was a kind of joke ... Has someone actually done this? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-69394017389003980362014-09-29T19:42:48.761-07:002014-09-29T19:42:48.761-07:00I think the Sven Hjerson novel is a brilliant idea...I think the Sven Hjerson novel is a brilliant idea!! For years I've contemplated the idea of writing "Death Twixt Wind and Water" after the Harriet Vane novel mentioned by DLS -- six characters, a water mill, and Wilfrid being a goop about a handkerchief. Or "Death in the Pot" and "The Fountain Pen Murders", both of which are mentioned as Vane novels. Luckily for everyone, a book-length study of Sheridan LeFanu is considerably beyond my knowledge.<br />But I love the idea of tie-in Christie novels being the imaginary ones she created as a kind of joke! At least they would have something to do with her imagination ... Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-26399789625124545362014-09-29T19:34:16.160-07:002014-09-29T19:34:16.160-07:00By the way, when I read "not the brightest bu...By the way, when I read "not the brightest bulb in the Art Deco chandelier," I sputtered iced tea across my desk. A lovely phrase!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-45344657868361444902014-09-21T16:30:28.184-07:002014-09-21T16:30:28.184-07:00"They aimed too high." Yes, I agree! a..."They aimed too high." Yes, I agree! and missed the mark quite a way.The Passing Tramphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09830680639601570152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-14620937614044253042014-09-21T16:29:20.044-07:002014-09-21T16:29:20.044-07:00There is one Sven Hjerson short story at least!There is one Sven Hjerson short story at least!The Passing Tramphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09830680639601570152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-36751492542377625152014-09-21T05:15:37.740-07:002014-09-21T05:15:37.740-07:00As I posted on Steve/PuzzleDoc's review, I bel...As I posted on Steve/PuzzleDoc's review, I believe it would've been a smarter move if the estate had commissioned a book (or series) loosely tied to Christie's original work. For example, a series of detective novels featuring a Finnish private-investigator, named Sven Hjerson, written as if by “Ariadne Oliver.” That could've stood by itself and can still be considered a part of Christie's world. <br /><br />It was just stupid of the estate to go with Hercule Poirot (or any of the other main characters) when they haven't allowed any pastiches for decades, which means the only standard for an Agatha Christie novel is Agatha Christie herself. They aimed to high. <br /><br /><br /><br />TomCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03415176301265218101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-37967509421314459162014-09-21T04:19:28.294-07:002014-09-21T04:19:28.294-07:00I think they'd rather roll in dough, TomCat, a...I think they'd rather roll in dough, TomCat, and I suppose one can't blame them!<br /><br />Although, really, I don't doubt Sophie Hannah's sincerity and that she is a genuine Christie fan. It's good to have her praising Christie, I just wish her book were closer to the real thing.The Passing Tramphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09830680639601570152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-53437101303595440172014-09-21T04:16:08.098-07:002014-09-21T04:16:08.098-07:00Yes, I think Sophie Hannah will be fine, Tracy. ;)...Yes, I think Sophie Hannah will be fine, Tracy. ;) She lost me and some other bloggers, but she has the Times of London and New York, not to mention the WaPo, USA Today, etc., etc.The Passing Tramphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09830680639601570152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-84280563964844194242014-09-21T02:53:31.868-07:002014-09-21T02:53:31.868-07:00Thanks for the warning, Curt! You're probably ...Thanks for the warning, Curt! You're probably aware of my opinion on (most) pastiches. So I'll refine from rambling and quoting Stout on how they should roll their own. TomCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03415176301265218101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-71532008222694478482014-09-19T10:15:32.716-07:002014-09-19T10:15:32.716-07:00I would not have read it anyway, but you have made...I would not have read it anyway, but you have made a good case for my skipping it. I would feel sorry for Sophie Hannah except that it will sell very well so no need.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-60497287694155290962014-09-18T01:13:53.509-07:002014-09-18T01:13:53.509-07:00I'm going to start a petition drive for that t...I'm going to start a petition drive for that title.The Passing Tramphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09830680639601570152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-3329375605082074692014-09-18T01:12:18.963-07:002014-09-18T01:12:18.963-07:00Maybe the second time will be the charm for Hannah...Maybe the second time will be the charm for Hannah (I assume there will be a second time). Unless she makes some serious changes in her approach, however, I'm not reading the next one.The Passing Tramphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09830680639601570152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-76589568800049842472014-09-18T01:10:40.372-07:002014-09-18T01:10:40.372-07:00A Christie for Christmas! Except it's not a C...A Christie for Christmas! Except it's not a Christie, of course. I really wouldn't have been cast down had it just been merely a matter of not getting Poirot quite right; but it doesn't just miss the essence of Poirot, it really misses the essence of Christie, which is unacceptable to me.The Passing Tramphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09830680639601570152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-33769817635504818102014-09-18T01:08:03.587-07:002014-09-18T01:08:03.587-07:00Bev, in this case there will *always* be some bett...Bev, in this case there will *always* be some better book out there, in my opinion. And thanks.The Passing Tramphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09830680639601570152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-74942293160521264342014-09-18T01:06:34.634-07:002014-09-18T01:06:34.634-07:00And it's true!!And it's true!!The Passing Tramphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09830680639601570152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-732624033639761552014-09-18T01:05:09.166-07:002014-09-18T01:05:09.166-07:00I spent 12 bucks to get this on Kindle! But we bl...I spent 12 bucks to get this on Kindle! But we bloggers must sacrifice ourselves for our readers. ;)The Passing Tramphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09830680639601570152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-37206421540685483352014-09-18T01:04:17.030-07:002014-09-18T01:04:17.030-07:00Noah, in regard to your last suggestion, I think t...Noah, in regard to your last suggestion, I think the plot would be like Murder on the Orient Express times, like, 10,000, if you get my drift.<br /><br />And thanks, enjoyed your review too!The Passing Tramphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09830680639601570152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-79926177948517493962014-09-17T20:23:58.160-07:002014-09-17T20:23:58.160-07:00A fine piece of reviewing. I must admit, I just ab...A fine piece of reviewing. I must admit, I just about fell off my seat when I saw your fourth picture and its caption!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-90046047774940828202014-09-17T17:01:47.162-07:002014-09-17T17:01:47.162-07:00Thank you, Curt. You've saved me some money!Thank you, Curt. You've saved me some money!Steve Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01062947552534707797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-71787938650642434132014-09-17T10:22:57.498-07:002014-09-17T10:22:57.498-07:00What a zinger in the last line, Curt. Poirot writ...What a zinger in the last line, Curt. Poirot writes in the mud with his finger?! Oh, Sophie, how could you?J F Norrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06473487417479127354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-71676737158806892372014-09-17T05:52:30.615-07:002014-09-17T05:52:30.615-07:00You managed to get across twice as much informatio...You managed to get across twice as much information in half as many words (sigh) -- someday I'll learn how to do that! I agree with all this, Curt; great review, thanks! Really insightful stuff. <br />I think we should start the "Let's kill Catchpool!" club LOL. <br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com