This is such a great collection of Agatha Christie's plays! Some I liked more than others, but they were all interesting and mysterious.

There were a couple of the plays where I found it easy to guess who the murderer was. I wonder if I saw the play actually being acted on stage, it might not be so easy to tell. So much depends on the tone of voice and the atmosphere of a scene. Reading a play just isn't the same.

I love the complex characters, and all the red herrings and wild clues! Each play has a certain charm and fascination that kept my attention.

I had especially high hopes of "The Mousetrap", since that is her most famous play and the longest running play in history. But I was a little disappointed. It seemed very obvious to me who the murderer was, and the red herrings were either too bland or too melodramatic to be plausible. Maybe I've just read too much Agatha Christie, so I can guess what she is going to do.

But I did enjoy the characters and the clever dialogue! I especially liked Mr. and Mrs. Ralston and their sweet relationship as newlyweds. And I thought the setting of a snowed-in country hotel was wonderful!

Bambi is born in a peaceful thicket, and he explores the meadow with his mother. He makes friends with the woodland creatures, and meets two other fawns, Feline and Gobo.

As Bambi grows up, he learns that there is danger in the forest, and the human hunters are a constant terror. Bambi witnesses a young buck killed by a mysterious thunder, and hears the buck's screams as the humans deliver the final death blow with a knife.

Bambi's own family is threatened, and Bambi sees other creatures meet death when a duck is eaten by a fox, and later that same fox is killed by hunting dogs.

Bambi meets his own father, the Prince of the forest, and learns wisdom from him. Bambi learns how to elude the human hunters. Bambi grows up and falls in love and has children of his own. There is always the danger of the hunt like a shadow over Bambi's life, but somehow life goes on.

The writing style is excellent. You can really feel the terror, the grief, the joy, and delight in each scene. Bambi has moments of pure happiness when he feels the warmth of the sunlight, and he feels the strength running through his young limbs; and there are moments of shock and grief when death comes to one of his friends. The writing is just so extremely powerful!

There is a lot of death in this book. It is not a book for children, unless you wanted to use this to talk with your children about death and life and having courage in the face of danger and grief. At times the violence is graphic, and there are descriptions of wounds and entrails and blood. There is a crushing atmosphere of terror when the deer scent a human and run away.

At one point Bambi is so overwhelmed with grief that he wants to hide himself in the thickest part of the forest and never come out, but he is infused with courage from his father, the old stag. "Bambi felt himself thrill with pride, felt inspired with a deep earnestness. Yes, life was difficult and full of danger. But come what might he would learn to bear it all."
There are several tender scenes with the old Prince, and the beautiful lessons that he teaches Bambi. There is a real love and trust between father and son that was wonderful to read about.

There is a scene where Bambi's mother teaches him to play, and they chase each other playfully around the meadow. What a delight! You can really feel the deep felicity and safety in their relationship.

We meet a Mr. Hare, but there is no young Thumper like in the Disney movie. There is no skunk friend named Flower, and there is no forest fire in the book.

There is one chapter that is a dialogue between two leaves. It is autumn in the forest and all the other leaves on their branch have fallen to the ground, and these last two leaves talk about grief and dying and their fears about the afterlife. It actually made me cry because it was so touching! It is a beautiful counterpoint to Bambi's own experiences with death.

There is also a vague mention of Christ and the verse in the Bible that talks about there being no death in heaven. (Isaiah 65:25 "The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox... They will neither harm nor destroy...") One of the deer says, "They say that sometime He'll [human] come to live with us and be as gentle as we are. He'll play with us then and the whole forest will be happy and we'll be friends with Him."... "Love is no nonsense," she said. "It has to come." I found it very interesting that even in this animal culture, they are aware of the prophecies of the Bible and have hope for a time filled with Love and safety. In another place, Bambi says, "There is Another [God] who is over us all, over us and over Him [humans]."

The part of the story where Bambi falls in love with Faline is adorable. They are completely wrapped up in each other, and they don't even notice anyone else. I wish that Faline's character was more fleshed out. There is so much potential there, especially in her relationships with Bambi and with her brother, Gobo, but we don't get to hear much dialogue from her.

Gobo's storyline is especially tragic and interesting. His life is entirely different from any other deer, and some of the deer admire him, but Bambi pities him. I thought it was such a fascinating addition to the story, and it makes Bambi more prudent to see how poor Gobo's fate unravels.

At one point, Bambi is injured and I thought the way he rests and heals was so beautifully described with a lot of wisdom that we could apply to our own self-care. "He was cured, but he didn't leave the hollow yet. He... lay quietly on his bed... Sometimes he was full of despair, at others of joy. The old stag was always with him."
It shows that Bambi takes the time to rest until he has his strength back, and he goes through the ups and downs of emotional growth, until... "Bambi crept out of the hollow. Life was beautiful."

There are so many beautiful nuggets of wisdom in this book! So many deep themes about love and loss, and finding your purpose in life, and having courage to face grief.

I have such mixed feelings about this book. It's a collection of short stories, and every single one is depressing! These are the saddest, most awful stories I have ever read. The real problem is that the writing is so brilliant that it really makes you care about the characters! So when everything goes wrong, it is absolutely heartbreaking.
Also most of the stories finish with a lot of unresolved questions. They end abruptly with someone's death, and we aren't told if the surviving characters go on to get married or live happy lives or buy back the farm or anything. Loose ends dangling everywhere! Agh! Very frustrating.
I couldn't finish reading them, because I was getting too depressed.

Update 2021: I finished reading the last two stories in this collection "Curious if True" and "Cousin Phillis". These stories were a bit happier and more structured, and I enjoyed them!

"Curious if True" is about a benighted traveler who stumbles into a French chalet and is greeted as if he were an expected guest. He gradually begins to realize that the hosts are somehow familiar to him.

"Cousin Phillis" is about a young man who works for a railroad, and he meets his distant cousins and their daughter Phillis, who is a couple of years younger than himself. He becomes close with the whole family, visiting them at their farm, and even bringing his railroad boss to meet them.

This story is more of a novella, and has a well-constructed story line with deep characters. I really loved the family dynamic between all the cousins, and how their peaceful farm life is described with so much charm. I was completely fascinated with the characters and their strong personalities. I was also pleased that this story has a somewhat happy ending, despite there being some tragedy in the middle.

As always, Elizabeth Gaskell's writing style is a complete delight!

Elinor has been accused of murder. Young Mary Gerrard was poisoned with morphine, and Elinor was the only one who had access to the sandwiches that Mary ate. Only Hercule Poirot can sift through the evidence and find the truth. There are various suspects: Elinor's ex-fiancée who was fascinated with the dead girl, the doctor who attended Mary's last moments, and two nurses who love to gossip. Who had the motive to kill an innocent young woman just turned twenty-one?

I loved this mystery! The clues really had me guessing, and I had no idea who the murderer could be until close to the end. I guessed that something was amiss with the nurses, but I also suspected the ex-fiancée, and I couldn't figure out what the doctor was up to. They are all so slippery and everybody lies to Poirot.

The setting in the old country manor house was wonderful, and a little different from her usual setting because the house wasn't full of guests. There were just a few servants, an old invalid, two nurses, and of course Mary Gerrard. An old house with no hustle or bustle. The perfect setting for a quiet poisoning to go unnoticed.

I just adore Poirot! He is so meticulous and intelligent. He sees right through people's foolishness and into their heart. At one point, he says to the doctor, "I do not approve of murder." just as prim and proper as an old lady saying "I do not approve of drunkenness." Haha! He is wonderful!

All the characters were really interesting, but I especially loved Elinor. She is high-strung and nervous. She is passionate and sensitive, so she gets all upset over something, but tries to hide her feelings, but then people misinterpret her manner as if she is acting guilty about something. She has a complex personality, and I loved the way her character is gradually revealed through the story.

The writing is fantastic! I stayed up way past my bedtime until I finished the book, because I could NOT put it down! I was completely fascinated with every chapter. I really liked the way that the story unfolded, first with Elinor's memory of the events that led up to the murder, then Poirot's involvement and the investigation he does, then the courtroom witnesses that are called in, and the final explanation of how the murder took place and the revelation of the murderer. Brilliant writing!

Cornelli is only ten years old, and her whole world is about to change. Her father decides that Cornelli needs a mother-figure in her life, and invites a sharp adult cousin to visit and give Cornelli an "education" in manners. Cornelli is forced to "speak when spoken to" and sit up straight and always be perfectly tidy. She is not allowed to run or shout. She is not allowed to visit the newborn goat kid in the barn. Her cousin tells her that if she is disagreeable then no one will ever like her, and if she is disobedient then devil's horns will grow out of her forehead. Cornelli is terrified, and her father is confused about why his sweet daughter is suddenly sullen and obstinate. It will take the love of a special family and the advice of a kind neighbor lady to soothe Cornelli's fears and bring her sweet personality back.

I loved this book so much! I liked the simple writing style that takes deep themes and explains them with common sense. The story line is full of deep character analysis, and I loved seeing how the relationships between the characters unfolded. And yet, it is simple and plain enough for a child to read and understand.

I adored Cornelli's character! She has such a complex and sensitive personality. Her character arc is very similar to Mary Lennox in The Secret Garden. She has a sweet nature and merry disposition, but she is plagued by fears that everyone will hate her. She is downtrodden and depressed by her older cousin who bullies her. But gradually we see her natural personality blossom again when she is surrounded by love and kindness once more.

I love the supporting characters who help Cornelli and show her affection! Mrs. Halm is so patient with Cornelli and provides a safe haven for her. The entire Halm family is so sweet, but not too saccharine. They have their own sorrows and difficulties that make them fractious and even unfriendly at times. It just makes their characters more interesting!

The truest friend who sticks with Cornelli through it all is the old neighbor lady, Martha. She is wise and kind and always points Cornelli to God as the best help in times of trouble. The two pray together and Martha reminds Cornelli to trust in God's providence. It's very touching and emotional! I love the spiritual messages in this book!

Cornelli's father is not really a bad guy; he's just so busy with his work, and he does not really know what children need. He is smart enough to rely on the wisdom of others to help him rear his child, but doesn't always select the best counselors (like that horrible cousin).

Heidi is pregnant with her first child. Heidi and Peter have the village schoolteacher boarding with them, and the teacher asks if her little sister can come and stay with them and attend the school. The child, Marta, is so unhappy at her own home, and she blossoms under the love and affection that Heidi gives her. But will Marta get along with Heidi's grandfather? The old Alm-Uncle is still hiding secrets about his past that might change the family forever.

This book was okay. If you really love Heidi, then I think you would enjoy it. I like the original Heidi story much better. This book just didn't have the same charm as the original story by Johana Spyri. The writing is good, and the characters are interesting. All the elements of a good story are there, but I never really got swept away into the story the way I do with Spyri's other books.

Maybe the horrendously ugly illustrations had something to do with it. I have never in my life seen such ugly illustrations! The people's faces look as distorted and strange. People's eyes are too big for their head, or their arms are too long for their body! It just looks awful!

This collection of short stories includes stories with Miss Marple, Poirot, and Parker Pyne. I enjoyed these so much! It's amazing to me how Agatha Christie can create this little puzzle in just a few pages, and lay out all the clues and a few red herrings, then cleverly reveal the solution in an entertaining way.

Not all of the stories were murder mysteries though. Some of them were just interesting things that happened and the explanation of how they came about, one of them was a supernatural phenomena and it's affect on the people involved, and one was how Parker Pyne fooled an old lady into changing her mind.

I enjoyed all of these stories so much! Each one is so refreshing and fun!

In the Regatta Mystery, a diamond goes missing with a half dozen witnesses staring right at it. One young man falls under suspicion, and he goes to Parker Pyne to clear his name. Just from hearing a description of how the diamond disappeared, Pyne solves the mystery and find the diamond! This one was a clever mystery with a simple solution, so simple that I never guessed it!

The Mystery of the Baghdad Chest was full of psychological analysis of the characters involved in a cold-blooded murder. It was all laid out- opportunity, motive, temperament, relationship with the deceased. But how exactly did the murdered man die? Poirot is called in to investigate and scrutinize the statements of the witnesses.

In How Does Your Garden Grow?, Poirot receives a letter from an elderly lady asking for his help, but when he arrives at her home, she has already been murdered. I really liked the clever way that Poirot notices every little detail of everything, and sifts through every tiny clue to solve this mystery!

In Problem at Pollensa Bay , Parker Pyne is trying to enjoy a relaxing holiday, but an old lady asks for his help in persuading her son against a questionable engagement with an undesirable young lady. Pyne puts his mind to the problem, and comes up with the perfect solution. I loved this funny story! It was so dramatic, and there is no murder or theft. It's just fantastic fun!

In Yellow Iris Hercule Poirot gets an anonymous phone call to hurry down to a fabulous restaurant and join the table set with yellow irises. Poirot arrives and finds that he is surrounded by several strangers, one of whom must have called him to come, but which was it? It soon becomes evident that one person at the table is in danger of being poisoned before the dinner is over, but which one? Brilliant writing, and I loved how the history of the group and their past relationships with each other all play a big part in the mystery!

Miss Marple Tells a Story and details how she heard about a murder and solved it just from listening to the descriptions of the crime scene. She uses her expert knowledge of human nature to cut through the lies and solve the case.

In The Dream a millionaire consults with Poirot, saying that he has a recurring dream where he dies. A few days later, the dream comes true, and Poirot is called in to investigate. This mystery was certainly interesting, and I loved how Poirot relies on his instincts to tell him when someone is lying to him.

In a Glass Darkly is about a young man who has a prophetic vision of the future, and because of this he makes different decisions in life. Years later, the vision appears to be coming true, and he wonders if he and his family would have been better off if he had never had the vision. This was a strange story about a supernatural phenomena. I didn't really like the characters, and the story didn't have much actually happening in the plot, but it was certainly interesting to read.

In Problem at Sea Poirot is sailing on his way to Alexandria, Egypt, when one of the passengers is murdered. Everyone appears to have an alibi, until Poirot begins to unravel the clues. I liked the elements of the mystery, but I didn't like the way that Poirot solved the case in the end. There is a shock factor and I didn't like the results of that among the characters. I feel like Poirot should have adopted a more civilized way of dealing with the criminal and just handed him over to the authorities, instead of being all dramatic and trying to shock people into confessing. It's fine, but I didn't like it that much.

This collection of short stories and novellas has several imaginative and strange tales written in Mark Twain’s humorous style.

I didn’t really enjoy these stories. Most of them don’t have a decent plot line. It’s all atmosphere and setting, with little substance. The characters aren’t that great. The plots meander around and don’t end satisfactorily.

“The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County” is only a few pages about a man who makes a bet about a frog being able to jump high. The story rambles all around and when the narrator finally gets to the point, it’s not that funny.

“The Million Pound Bank Note” was my favorite in this collection. It’s about a man who is given £1,000,000 bank note, but he can’t make change for it. I thought it was clever and funny, and I liked the characters.

“The Man that Corrupted Hadleyburg” is about a man who mysteriously leaves a sack of gold, trusting to the honesty of strangers to get the gold into the right hands. He tries to prove that everyone in this town is dishonest. There were a few plot holes in the story, and things that were left unexplained. I didn’t like any of the characters.

“The Mysterious Stranger” is about three young men who meet Satan and are fascinated by his powers. At first their friendship with him seems innocent, but gradually their family and neighbors begin to suffer because of the supernatural involvement in their lives. There were a lot of strange spiritual ideas regarding God and heaven, ending with the horrifying concept that there is no reality, and all of life is just a dream. This whole story was just awful! The three young men witness people being tortured and going insane, and the violence is graphic and upsetting. What a horrible story!

Out of all these stories, the only one I liked was the “Million Pound Bank Note.” I would much rather read Tom Sawyer.

Young Leonard has been arrested for murder. He befriended an old lady, who changed her will and then was murdered under mysterious circumstances. The housekeeper says that she heard Leonard talking with the old lady near the time of death. Leonard's only alibi is his wife, who states that he was home at the time of the murder. But what jury would believe a wife in the witness box trying to protect her husband?

I loved this mystery! I liked that it is mostly told from the perspective of the lawyers for the defense as they try to find out what really happened and find evidence to prove Leonard's innocence. The plot kept surprising me around every turn, and there are not one but three plot twists at the end! It was completely fascinating.

However, it is not really a mystery plot in that we have to puzzle out the clues. The murder is not solved by a detective figuring it out based on the evidence. It is more of a confession that reveals the truth. I guess that is more dramatic on stage, but personally I prefer the puzzle aspect.

All the characters are interesting, but the two most mysterious are Leonard and his wife. During the whole play, I was trying to figure out what their relationship is really like. Do they really love each other or not? The whole plot hinges on that one point, and it was fascinating to see it all play out.

Professor Hendryk's wife is an invalid. Mrs. Hendryk's cousin, Lisa, lives with the family as a companion and nurse for her. When Mrs. Hendryk is found dead, poisoned by an overdose of her heart medicine, Lisa comes under suspicion. Professor Hendryk's own ideals of morality and mercy will get him into trouble, since he refuses to report something he knows about the murder.

I don't think this can really be called a mystery, since the audience knows from the beginning who the murderer is because the murder happens onstage in full view, and then the murderer confesses to another character, so most of the characters also know who the murderer is. The only people who don't know are the police.

This is more of a drama and a weird love story rather than an actual mystery with clues. I suppose that does make more sense on the stage, and maybe doesn't translate as well when you are just reading it.

I think a lot of the dramatic appeal of this play would hinge on the character of Professor Hendryk. The actor playing his part would have to look the part and have the right kind of charisma and a powerful presence. His personality is larger than life, and all the other characters revolve around him.

I certainly found this story interesting and enjoyable to read!