A (rare) Agatha Christie moment

"Research shows that Christie's novels are often the first adult book that young readers attempt when making the move away from children's literature."

So says a brief article in Mslexia, apropos of Agatha Christie week (10-16 September).  That research certainly holds true for me and I did read quite a lot of her fiction as an 11 or 12 year old (though perhaps not as many as litlove!)  I'm not sure I'd want to re-read her again now, though Danielle's experience is that her work stands up to modern-day scrutiny though I once toyed with the idea of reading her in French to stop my language skills growing rusty.  Really, though just another strange example of how an author I hadn't thought about in ages suddenly crops up in three places all at once.  I wish a social scientist could explain to me whether it's some sort of mass social phenomenon or simply that the stuff was there all the time and the first reference to it made me more likely to notice the subsequent examples.  Personally I like to believe in literary fate!

Comments

[Danielle]

That's interesting. I am not sure I even knew of Agatha Christie as a young adult--never directed that way I guess. I didn't read her until I was an adult, but I can see how she would be a good "crossover" author.

[Sylvia]

Yup, I had my Agatha Christie phase too, and we read her in grade 9 English.

[adrienne]

I read her in 8th grade with a friend. Sort of a precursor to a book club.

[Emily]

So,once again, I find I'm incredibly normal and un-unique, since Agatha Christie was definitely my first foray into "adult books."

[Maureen]

I went through an Agatha Christie phase too and it was when I was about 12 years old. It's interesting that the research is proving correct. And I read about it in Myslexia but didn't think of posting about it like you did. It's an interesting post.

And I thought you might like to know that this post is linked to in The Londonist Literary List today:
http://www.londonist.com/archives/2006/08/the_londonist_l_43.php

[Sandra]

I don't regret my Agatha Christie phase at all and I'm already making a mental note to steer the my kids her way when time comes to leave the land of Enid Blyton forever!

Thanks for the tip on the Londonist Maureen, I'd missed that! Good to hear you're a fellow reader of Mslexia: I think it's unfairly overlooked/under rated; I always find something thought provoking in it.