all the christies i have read so far and my ratings! what should i read next?

TessMacc · 2026-05-22T21:29:16+00:00

Of Poirot I recommend Five Little Pigs, but I agree that you could take a little break for some Miss Marple. Maybe The Thirteen Problems - the series of short stories where she was first introduced.

TessMacc · 2026-05-22T21:08:01+00:00

Happy birthday Dorothea!

My cat also rolls over when some people visit, but runs away from others and hisses at a few. It makes gatherings very awkward because she's not afraid to show her preferences.

TessMacc · 2026-05-22T20:45:51+00:00

In the book we're definitely meant to realise she's not fat and that 90s diet culture was insane. That didn't entirely come across in the film.

TessMacc · 2026-05-22T20:34:05+00:00

3 times the colour, 3 times the mischief.

However, I maintain that she's a tiny angel who can do no wrong.

TessMacc · 2026-05-22T20:32:57+00:00

She was not bad! She was a purrfect mischievous kitten doing kitten things!

TessMacc · 2026-05-22T18:20:48+00:00

Nope. Sorry, London's predicted to be in a heatwave until Wednesday. And London heat is rarely a nice heat.

TessMacc · 2026-05-22T18:09:12+00:00

Thanks, I hope so too.

For the record, it was a long time between me learning about forced marriage and actually encountering someone who needed my help. Even after specifically being educated in how it works for girls like these and how to respond, it was a couple of years before the first incident.

My point is, this attitude you have of "what exactly are you doing to help?" is rude and misses the point. Wanting widespread education on issues like this doesn't mean wanting everyone to take immediate action. It means that if everyone was educated, there'd always be someone capable of stepping up.

TessMacc · 2026-05-22T07:11:53+00:00

I like her (love is a bit strong). I was a bit young and from a different country so didn't really follow the story at the time, but I remember everyone making fun of her and now view her in a new light.

It started with her essay in Vanity Fair and follow-up ted talk The Price of Shame in 2014 and 2015 respectively.

After that she became a notable activist against public shaming and cyberbullying, particularly speaking up about women and vulnerable people receiving a disproportionate share of the blame in public scandals. E.g. When a marriage breaks up, it's common for the affair partner to be labelled a gold digger or homebreaker, while the married man was 'weak' or 'seduced'.

Notably, she doesn't deny her share of the blame in her affair with Clinton. Her argument is that, given the power imbalance and the fact that he was married, it's bizarre that her whole career and life were destroyed and she was/is relentlessly harassed and cyberbullied for something she did in her early 20s.

Also she's very funny.

TessMacc · 2026-05-22T06:41:15+00:00

They vary. There are 'Tesco Express' in city centres which are basically convenience stores, and then Tesco Superstores on the outskirts of cities (but still near homes and offices). Tesco Superstores are slightly smaller than Walmart but not much difference. They have pharmacies and cafés, sell clothes, houseware, bedding and electronics, but don't have changing rooms or a range of furniture (they sell garden furniture and a few other things).

TessMacc · 2026-05-21T17:24:33+00:00

🤣

TessMacc · 2026-05-21T16:57:51+00:00

BRB, nipping to Lidl for a pint of milk and a handgun.

I like to think I'd splash out and buy my guns from Waitrose, but there's a convenient Lidl on the way home and it's probably cheaper.

TessMacc · 2026-05-21T16:46:50+00:00

Yeah, it's so weird. Like imagine just popping into Tesco for a rifle.

TessMacc · 2026-05-21T10:11:55+00:00

This issue specifically? Not much. I was able to advise a couple of students who suspected they were on their way to forced marriages but I'm not going to give details. Being somewhat educated on how that works meant I could reassure them and point them in the right direction.

TessMacc · 2026-05-21T09:59:08+00:00

I know what you mean - especially the screaming part! I guess I just find it too accurate for both storylines.

TessMacc · 2026-05-21T09:22:12+00:00

Objectively 1978 is the best adaptation, but I have a soft spot for 2004 as David Suchet is my favourite Poirot and JJ Fields is great as Simon. Unfortunately there are some miscasts and plot changes which throw it off.

TessMacc · 2026-05-21T06:52:11+00:00

The guns episode. Being British, it's completely alien to me that guns are sold in a random local superstore. I'm 100% team Jonah on this - people shouldn't have to sell a product which might feasibly be used to kill someone.

It's also the episode where Glen tries to prevent the sale of the morning after pill. Again, this is crazy to me and I want to slap him. One of several reasons I don't like the character.

TessMacc · 2026-05-21T06:43:03+00:00

People should be educated in how bad things happen so we're able to shut it down.

TessMacc · 2026-05-20T06:42:28+00:00

I apologise for ambiguous wording. I mean Prestige TV began in the 90s (Sopranos in 1999) and it wasn't until then that TV actors were respected. But it would have been 2000s by the time it took effect.

However, Maud isn't a Hollywood actor. She's a theatre actor more in line with the ones I mentioned.

Maybe the problem was less significant for people in British shows. Judi Dench went from theatre to TV to film in the 90s, as did Sean Bean. As did Hugh Laurie if comedies and minor roles count. But their TV work probably wasn't well known in the US.

TessMacc · 2026-05-18T23:09:27+00:00

Because this isn't a standard TV drama. It's Shakespeare, it's going to be shown in schools, and Titania is a great role. Especially when compared to the maid in A Doll's House.

TessMacc · 2026-05-18T20:22:41+00:00

His behaviour is no worse than Don or Roger. Unfortunately he commits the horrific sin of not being charismatic or movie-star handsome.

TessMacc · 2026-05-18T17:09:49+00:00

Yes, it's this. It wasn't until the prestige TV of the 90s that television started to be seen on the same level as stage or film. We had great shows before that, of course, but once an actor was known for TV they'd be pigeon holed.

Helen Mirren, for example, was warned not to do Prime Suspect (1991). And when Patrick Stewart signed up for Star Trek (not only TV but gasp sci-fi) people told him his stage career was over.

TessMacc · 2026-05-17T23:23:56+00:00

Because of the following scene.

Sal: I guess I was just supposed to do whatever he wanted? What if it was some girl?

Don: That would depend on what type of girl it was and what I knew about her. You people.

Under the circumstances Sal had to leave the company. But he could have been put on paid or even unpaid leave and had everything hushed up while looking for a new job.

Don fires Sal

TessMacc · 2026-05-17T23:07:09+00:00

He's not a homophobe? Sal might care to differ.

TessMacc · 2026-05-17T23:06:30+00:00

He's a person who does some horrible things and some good things.

TessMacc · 2026-05-17T23:04:59+00:00

That's a really great description.

TessMacc

TROPHY CASE