The Mystery of the Blue Train - 1928 ** 1/2

A very slow Agatha Christie. I was tempted to give up on it a number of times because the plot was going all over the place and it was a very weak effort.

Poirot is set to investigate the mysterious death of a beautiful wealthy woman named Ruth, who is found dead in her compartment on the Blue Train, minus her expensive jewels. Is it her soon to be ex husband who is responsible, or an assortment of other shady characters, all out for what they can get? I personally like Agatha Christie's novels the best when they are centred around a good old-fashioned murder at a country house/luxurious mansion. 

Not one of her best.

Started 6th July

Finished 14th July 

Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte 1847 ***

I'm mortified to see that I haven't read a full book since May. How bad is that?My brain must have been slowly rotting for all that time. But I've finally dragged myself out of my book slump which happens periodically and finished Jane Eyre, so I can't be doing too badly.

'Jane Eyre' for me, has the same effect on me that 'Wuthering Heights' did. I loved the first part, especially descriptions of her early life and time at the orphanage, as well as her first meetings with Mr Rochester at her new home. But then for me the book went downhill. Now whether it was my mind that was actually wandering and meant I wasn't paying attention anymore or whether it was the pace of the book that drastically changed I'm not sure, but the last part of what should have been a heart-rendering and emotional story just sort of left me flat. It's awful to say that I didn't enjoy a particular book which has so much acclaim as much as many others will have, and I fully accept that it may have been down to me not reading it 'closely' enough, but for me I was glad when it ended, happy to say I had read it, but relieved not to have to read it again.

Started 9th November

Finished 16th November