Absent in the Spring
by Mary Westmacott (Agatha Christie) | Mystery & Thrillers |
ISBN: 9780006499473 Global Overview for this book
ISBN: 9780006499473 Global Overview for this book
16 journalers for this copy...
Paperback edition with 260 pages.
Agatha Christie wrote 6 novels under the name of Mary Westmacott. Writing as Mary Westmacott, she also wrote about crimes of the heart, a series of six bittersweet novels with a jagged edge, as compelling and memorable as the best of her work.
From the book's cover: Returning from a visit to her daughter in Iraq, Joan Scudamore finds herself unexpectedly alone and stranded in an isolated rest house by flooding of the railway tracks. This sudden solitude compels Joan to assess her life for the first time ever and face up to many of the truths about herself. Looking back over the years, Joan painfully re-examines her attitudes, relationships and actions and becomes increasingly uneasy about the person who is revealed to her...
Update: 2010.01.24.
This story was recommended by a friend of mine as a kind of self-knowledge story. I bought it a while ago, and was relaxed on my bookshelf. Lately I read more books about being a woman, realtionships with men, the lies with which we delude ourselves, and how to face up with ourselves. THIS STORY fits the line. It is a great novel about how a lady reveals her own life to ownself. In the desert, being alone, distant from civilisation, having nothing to do .. she starts to think, and the words come, there is no opportunity to hide .. and slowly we get to know her life, her husband, her children... and her own lies. A wonderful story about the development of the spirit... with a twist :) ... I am amazed how beautful it is written, Agatha Christie, well done!! :D
*****
~~ I offered it for a BookRing ~~
The ring was started on 11th of February, 2010
It finished on: 15th of December, 2011
22 months and 14 readers
Read and passed on: 1. earthcaroleanne (UK), 2. mafarrimond (UK), 3. Heaven-Ali (UK), 4. Hayes13 (ITA), 5. Icila (FRA), 6. tohweiee (China), 7. alienagr (NED), 8. Cassandra2020 (UK), 9. elstaplador (UK), 10. kirstykat (UK), 11. Bloedengel (BEL), 12. Doris50 (AUS), 13. 727 (LAT), 14. rwidiani (NED)
Skipped: elviraro (ROM), PMs were unanswered, she seemed to be a "staller"
Agatha Christie wrote 6 novels under the name of Mary Westmacott. Writing as Mary Westmacott, she also wrote about crimes of the heart, a series of six bittersweet novels with a jagged edge, as compelling and memorable as the best of her work.
From the book's cover: Returning from a visit to her daughter in Iraq, Joan Scudamore finds herself unexpectedly alone and stranded in an isolated rest house by flooding of the railway tracks. This sudden solitude compels Joan to assess her life for the first time ever and face up to many of the truths about herself. Looking back over the years, Joan painfully re-examines her attitudes, relationships and actions and becomes increasingly uneasy about the person who is revealed to her...
Update: 2010.01.24.
This story was recommended by a friend of mine as a kind of self-knowledge story. I bought it a while ago, and was relaxed on my bookshelf. Lately I read more books about being a woman, realtionships with men, the lies with which we delude ourselves, and how to face up with ourselves. THIS STORY fits the line. It is a great novel about how a lady reveals her own life to ownself. In the desert, being alone, distant from civilisation, having nothing to do .. she starts to think, and the words come, there is no opportunity to hide .. and slowly we get to know her life, her husband, her children... and her own lies. A wonderful story about the development of the spirit... with a twist :) ... I am amazed how beautful it is written, Agatha Christie, well done!! :D
The ring was started on 11th of February, 2010
It finished on: 15th of December, 2011
22 months and 14 readers
Read and passed on: 1. earthcaroleanne (UK), 2. mafarrimond (UK), 3. Heaven-Ali (UK), 4. Hayes13 (ITA), 5. Icila (FRA), 6. tohweiee (China), 7. alienagr (NED), 8. Cassandra2020 (UK), 9. elstaplador (UK), 10. kirstykat (UK), 11. Bloedengel (BEL), 12. Doris50 (AUS), 13. 727 (LAT), 14. rwidiani (NED)
Skipped: elviraro (ROM), PMs were unanswered, she seemed to be a "staller"
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES: It is travelling to the first reader of the ring! :)
Journal Entry 3 by 
earthcaroleanne
from Falkirk, Scotland United Kingdom on Saturday, February 20, 2010
earthcaroleanne from Falkirk, Scotland United Kingdom on Saturday, February 20, 2010
This has just arrived. Thanks also for the postcard and stickers.
Journal Entry 4 by earthcaroleanne from Falkirk, Scotland United Kingdom on Thursday, March 11, 2010
earthcaroleanne from Falkirk, Scotland United Kingdom on Thursday, March 11, 2010
I think this was really quite different to Agatha Christie's known style of writing and I really enjoyed reading it. It is true when you are not busy your mind can imagine many things and what might be a simple passing comment from someone can grow into all sorts of uncomfortable thoughts. I suppose the question here is whether you act on them or not? I'm definitely going to look for more books in the name of Mary Westmacott.
Journal Entry 5 by earthcaroleanne at Exchange/Trade, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases on Friday, March 12, 2010
earthcaroleanne at Exchange/Trade, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases on Friday, March 12, 2010
Released 14 yrs ago (3/12/2010 UTC) at Exchange/Trade, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Continuing on it's way in the bookring.
Continuing on it's way in the bookring.
I am looking forward to reading this. Thanks for sharing.
Quite unlike anything I have read by Agatha Christie previously. I really did enjoy the book - a gentle read but very thought-provoking.
Thank you for sharing it with me. I will post it on after the bank holidays.
Thank you for sharing it with me. I will post it on after the bank holidays.
Released 14 yrs ago (4/6/2010 UTC) at Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Posting on to Heaven-Ali. Hope you enjoy the book as much as I did.
Posting on to Heaven-Ali. Hope you enjoy the book as much as I did.
Journal Entry 9 by Heaven-Ali from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Arrived today - mny thanks, will get to it soon.
Journal Entry 10 by Heaven-Ali from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Sunday, April 11, 2010
Having read so many Agatha Christie novels - I have not (untill now) read any of the Mary Westmacott books. I know from a biography I read recently that they are quite different, not featuring detectives and murders. Her Mary Westmacott novels (of which I believe there are 6) are about crimes of the heart. This one Absent in the spring, I found really good indeed. Middle aged Joan Scudamore is totally isolated, while stranded in a rest house in Iraq, her lonlieness playing on her mind, allows her to look back over key points in her life with a clear eye. Through this process Joan faces some difficult truths. The ending has a slight twist - which is not totally unexpected. The writing is really good, and the way in which the author has slowly revealed - by going back and forth over certain events in Joan's her husband's and children's lives - the hold Joan has had over the lives of her family, the decisions she has had them make beacuse of how she treats them. I can't wait to read more Mary Westmacott novels now.
Will be sending on soon.
Will be sending on soon.
Journal Entry 11 by Heaven-Ali at By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Monday, April 12, 2010
Released 14 yrs ago (4/12/2010 UTC) at By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
If you have found this book, thank you for taking the time to look it up on the internet. Now please tell us what you thought of the book and what your plans for it are.
If you have found this book, thank you for taking the time to look it up on the internet. Now please tell us what you thought of the book and what your plans for it are.
Arrived this morning. I have (as usual) 3 rays in front of this one, but will hurry along as fast as I can.
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Really, really liked this. Will post review in a few days.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
ETA: Realized that I never did post the review... so here it is:
Very unexpectedly good. Agatha Christie writing as Mary Westmacott.
Nothing actually happens in this book; it's all about self-discovery:
A woman races off from England to the Middle East to help her ailing daughter, and along the way there and back learns about herself. She learns that she is controlling. That she controls others. That she controls herself. That others in her life are not happy. That she is not happy. Sounds dreadful, but somehow it all ties together and I liked Miss Christie's voice and descriptions.
Very dated and very English, but I enjoyed the insights to the mentality of that time and place. Interesting to see this side of Miss Christie, having previously known her only as the shrewd and brilliant Poirot and Marple.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Off to France and its new reader.
Really, really liked this. Will post review in a few days.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
ETA: Realized that I never did post the review... so here it is:
Very unexpectedly good. Agatha Christie writing as Mary Westmacott.
Nothing actually happens in this book; it's all about self-discovery:
A woman races off from England to the Middle East to help her ailing daughter, and along the way there and back learns about herself. She learns that she is controlling. That she controls others. That she controls herself. That others in her life are not happy. That she is not happy. Sounds dreadful, but somehow it all ties together and I liked Miss Christie's voice and descriptions.
Very dated and very English, but I enjoyed the insights to the mentality of that time and place. Interesting to see this side of Miss Christie, having previously known her only as the shrewd and brilliant Poirot and Marple.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Off to France and its new reader.
Arrived this morning. Thanks.
I wasn't aware that it was not a detective story but I totally enjoyed the book.
I'm always afraid of being stuck in the desert when traveling there !
PMing the next.
I'm always afraid of being stuck in the desert when traveling there !
PMing the next.
On its way to China.
Received it 2 days ago. Thank you, Icila!
One of the most unforgettable Agatha Christies by far. The best thing I liked about the book was how everyone knew what was going on (even the readers) but Joan Scudamore herself. As I was reading the book, I felt that everyone would have at one point or another reacted like Joan to things that happen. Everyone, I'm sure, has a defense mechanism we call denial, to protect ourselves from ugly truths we are as yet unwilling to face or accept, lizards crawling out of holes, as she put it, but one can't help but wonder if we usually let it get as bad as this. Do we lie to ourselves and remain in denial our entire lives? More importantly, can we?
I would recommend this to anyone, even those who are not fans of Dame Christie might find it worth spending time one. I am certainly a fan though :) Have been since I was a kid. Now I will try to get my hands on the other 5.
Will PM elviraro for her address.
I would recommend this to anyone, even those who are not fans of Dame Christie might find it worth spending time one. I am certainly a fan though :) Have been since I was a kid. Now I will try to get my hands on the other 5.
Will PM elviraro for her address.
Couldn't reach elviraro so it's now making its way to Alienagr in the Netherlands. Enjoy!
received it!!! thanks hakkalina for the ring and tohweiee for sending it! Also thanks for the nice card and the bookmark!!!
A wonderful book!!! I just could not stop reading it. I was amazed how well described was the self-knowledge journey of the central character. Certainly, a very thought provoking book. On its way to Cassandra2020!!!
Arrived in the post this morning! Perfect timing as I've just finished my last book :-)
Thanks to Hakkalina to starting this & Alienagr for posting on to me.
Thanks to Hakkalina to starting this & Alienagr for posting on to me.
Read this straight away & really enjoyed it. Will write a more considered journal entry before I post it on, but will PM elstaplador now for a forwarding address
Joan Scudamore is returning home from Baghdad where she had rushed to help her daughter. She finds herself stranded at a rest house in the desert as her train is delayed a number of days. With time on her hands, she finds herself thinking of various occasions in her life which cause her to re-assess her relationships with her husband, children and friends.
So, all the Agatha Christie plot devices are here - except, of course, a murder:
The train journey from Baghdad to England including the Orient Express, the chance meeting of an old acquaintance, the captive characters, the carefully thought through characterisation, the beautifully observed manners and mannerisms of the time and the final twist "will she or won't she" act on her realisations and what will be the repercussions.
Really glad I read this, a beautiful, thoughtful book that shows there's more to Agatha Christie than Poirot & Marple and showcases her talents as an author and storyteller.
So, all the Agatha Christie plot devices are here - except, of course, a murder:
The train journey from Baghdad to England including the Orient Express, the chance meeting of an old acquaintance, the captive characters, the carefully thought through characterisation, the beautifully observed manners and mannerisms of the time and the final twist "will she or won't she" act on her realisations and what will be the repercussions.
Really glad I read this, a beautiful, thoughtful book that shows there's more to Agatha Christie than Poirot & Marple and showcases her talents as an author and storyteller.
posted out to Elstaplador - enjoy!
Safely arrived - many thanks!
I am almost always impressed by how plausible Agatha Christie's characters are, and was pleased to find that this novel stood by itself, not needing the prop of a mystery plot. It plays with an age-old idea - going into the desert to 'find oneself' - the twist being that in this story Joan Scudamore, the protagonist, has no desire to find herself at all. She is stranded on her way home from visiting her daughter in Baghdad and, while her material needs are provided for, she is deprived of the distractions of everyday life and is forced to draw on her own resources. What those resources turn out to be... Well, she struck me as a very sad character. I'll look out for more Mary Westmacotts.
Journal Entry 28 by elstaplador at Mail, Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Friday, November 19, 2010
Released 13 yrs ago (11/19/2010 UTC) at Mail, Bookring -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Posted to kirstykat. Enjoy!
Journal Entry 29 by kirstykat at Barnet, Greater London United Kingdom on Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Received with thanks today as part of a ring/ray from Elstaplador. Looking forward to starting it after my current read and sending it on again.
Part of a Bookring/Ray. Was really looking forward to reading this, but ended up disappointed :( Although the prose was brilliant, I found that certain parts of the story were rather laboured and this became rather irritating, even though it was in character with the protagonist. It is a shame as it is my first Mary Westamacott novel... :(
Waiting for next in Ring/Rays address so I can post it on in time for Christmas.
Thank you Hakkalina for setting this up :)
Waiting for next in Ring/Rays address so I can post it on in time for Christmas.
Thank you Hakkalina for setting this up :)
Journal Entry 31 by kirstykat at Barnet, Greater London United Kingdom on Saturday, February 19, 2011
Released 13 yrs ago (2/19/2011 UTC) at Barnet, Greater London United Kingdom
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Posted on to Bloedengel, the next in the ring. A wonderful book and I hope that it is enjoyed!
Journal Entry 32 by bloedengel at Turnhout, Antwerpen / Anvers Belgium on Thursday, February 24, 2011
This ring did exactly what rings always do : pop up on my doorstep all at once :-) But I'm a quick reader and Christies are always very fastpaced, so I'll honour the expected delay !
Thank you guys for including me !
Thank you guys for including me !
Reading this book was a complete revelation to me !
Having read most of Christies 80 mysteries and being utterly fond of them, this almost seemed as having been written by another writer.
In this novel there's much more dept, psychological insight and well ... less mystery :)
I loved it, but she did amaze me with her Westmacott-alibi and these novels seem far more 'literary' than the mysteries are.
I'm off to looking for more of this ! What a discovery ! Thanks Hakkalina for sharing.
I am now sending it to Doris in the US :)
Enjoy !
Having read most of Christies 80 mysteries and being utterly fond of them, this almost seemed as having been written by another writer.
In this novel there's much more dept, psychological insight and well ... less mystery :)
I loved it, but she did amaze me with her Westmacott-alibi and these novels seem far more 'literary' than the mysteries are.
I'm off to looking for more of this ! What a discovery ! Thanks Hakkalina for sharing.
I am now sending it to Doris in the US :)
Enjoy !
I received this book on April 1st. Thanks, Bloedengel for the picture and nice note. I've already started reading it.
I think this book is the best of the Mary Westmacott books. Rereading it after many years, I found that it held up. It's a unique book, I can't think of another book like it.
I'll be mailing this book to the next bookcrosser today.
I'll be mailing this book to the next bookcrosser today.
I mailed the book to '727' on May 3rd. Egle-I hope you enjoy the book as much as I did.
Doris
Doris
received it as a bookring. will try to read it as soon as possible, thanks for the opportunity :) *can't wait for Agatha goodies*
-
I got this book through a book ring. I am now in Indonesia, my homeland and bring this book with me. So far this book is very interesting and easy to read.
Thank you for participating in this ring!
---<<--{@
It is time to go on in order to discover more in this beautiful World... The book is travelling to its next reader!
What a well-read (and travelled) book!
And one of my WishList books as well; I had read about it and felt intrigued; and now, skimming over its journals (I prefer to read them afterwards, so as not to spoil its "mystery!), I think this might be just the book for me.
We tend to forget that, most and above all, Ms Christie was a superb writer...
Thanks a lot, Hakkalina, for sending this book and its "mate" for the April Showers Sweepstakes. I am really feeling on top of the world, during a stage in my life which requires some cheering up!
It's great to have BCer friends like you! :)
All my best from Madrid,
Eva
And one of my WishList books as well; I had read about it and felt intrigued; and now, skimming over its journals (I prefer to read them afterwards, so as not to spoil its "mystery!), I think this might be just the book for me.
We tend to forget that, most and above all, Ms Christie was a superb writer...
Thanks a lot, Hakkalina, for sending this book and its "mate" for the April Showers Sweepstakes. I am really feeling on top of the world, during a stage in my life which requires some cheering up!
It's great to have BCer friends like you! :)
All my best from Madrid,
Eva
Reserved for Maid-of-Kent, who wants to read it and asked nicely.
I will read it as soon as I find it (still some book boxes unopened since I moved, I'm afraid!)
I will read it as soon as I find it (still some book boxes unopened since I moved, I'm afraid!)
