Showing posts with label strangulation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label strangulation. Show all posts

Sunday, July 1, 2012

4:50 From Paddington (What Mrs. McGillicuddy Saw)


First Published: 1957
Setting: Brackhampton 
Starring: Miss Marple, Lucy Eyelesbarrow, Dermot Craddock
Important Other People: Luther, Cedric, Harold, Alfred, and Emma Crackenthorpe, Bryan and Alexander Eastley, Dr. Quimper

Let's just forget the fact that the way Miss Marple figured out what train the murder occurred on is highly improbable, and that she discovered where the body would have fallen is definitively impossible, and just go with the fact that she is amazing to have deduced all that. I like that her efforts are carefully documented so that we see that it is minutely possible for her to have figured everything out because it makes it more realistic. It is so useful to have such illustrious neighbors and relatives! 


Obviously, the Crackenthorpe's are very similar to the Lee's (Hercule Poirot's Christmas). I like some of them anyways. Luther and Simeon are both sneaky and creepy, but it makes them endearing. I like the setup of the family (also similar to A Pocketful of Rye) because there are lots more characters to be killed off so that the ones we like don't end up dying. Also, that much more intrigue is added to the plot. Lucy is amazing. I have no idea why she didn't appear in any other books. She is resourceful, excellent at her job, and loyal to all of her employers. I appreciate how she goes along with Miss Marple's plan simply because she is interested- as she should be! I would be too, with that crazy story about a dead body from a train.

One thing that is alluded to in the book is that the war and its effects are still very much present in 1957. Bryan suffers heavily in that he is unable to find a job that suits him; the courageous lifestyle he had during the war was more his style. Also, how the house has gone to ruin since the war negatively affects Emma and Luther. There is also the idea that people no longer knew who others were- people could claim their own histories, and no one was able to disprove them because everything had been disrupted since the war. 

One last thing: usually, Hercule deals with romance, and we know exactly what will happen. But here, who does she end up with??? Miss Marple says its obvious, but I'm not sure! What do you think??


Interesting facts: Raymond West and Sir Henry Clithering are mentioned. The train in the book leaves at 4:54, even though the title is 4:50- one of the publishers changed the title from 4:54. I always wondered about that.

Favorite? Yes. Lucy is awesome, Alexander is awesome, Miss Marple is awesome. The way she figured things out is amazing, to say the least.

Death by: strangulation, arsenic, acontine 

Body Count: 3; Cumulative: 134

The Count: Poirot-26, Miss Marple-7, Tommy and Tuppence-2, Hastings-7, Japp-7, Colonel Race-4, Superintendent Battle-5, George-6, Goby-2, No Recurring Character- 6, Mrs. Oliver-3, Albert- 2, Superintendent Spence-1, Miss Lemon-2

Agatha's Life Lessons: A true lady can neither be shocked nor surprised. To gain money one must exploit shortage. One gets used to everything. Young men are fools. You despise money when you haven't got any. If you look prosperous, people think you are prosperous. 


Up Next: Ordeal by Innocence

Dead Man's Folly

First Published: 1956
Setting: Devon
Starring: Hercule Poirot, Mrs. Oliver, Amy Folliat, Sir George Stubbs, Hattie
Important Other People: Amanda Brewis, Michael Weyman, Alec and Peggy Legge, Marlene Tucker, Merdell

The setup for the plot is awesome. First of all, by fete, I assume they mean carnival, which is fun. I also like the idea of the Murder Hunt, even though the results are tragic. I don't quite get how someone could have influenced Mrs. Oliver without her realizing it. I feel like she would have been able to figure out who was trying to manipulate her. It's like in that episode of The Office where Michael spreads a bunch of rumors, and everyone gets together and figures out that he was the source of them all. It just seems a bit unrealistic that she was unable to at least have an idea of who was manipulating her. Also, if someone really wanted to kill Marlene, there probably could have been an easier way for that to happen than by a small chance that she might be the victim in the Murder Hunt.


Anyway, another aspect that bothers me is that, a lot of the time, some characters know some information, but (aside from the murderer) one person never really knows everything (except The Hollow, where everyone knows everything, and Elephants Can Remember, but that will come later). Here, though, Amy Folliat knows everything and is just so unhelpful to Poirot. You'd think she would want to help a little bit because she loves some of the people that were killed, but she just wants to shut everything out and pretend things are not happening. She makes me mad. 


There are also a ton of red herrings and just overall confusing things happening that obscure the real problems. I guess this happens often with Agatha, just some of the ones in this book bother me. The boy in the turtle shirt, for example. 


Interesting facts: Hastings is mentioned. It's been awhile since he's been in a book. The house in the book, Nasse House, is modeled after Agatha's house in Devon, the Greenway Estate. It was her favorite residence.

Favorite? Not too bad. I like the idea of it, but not a lot of the characters.

Death by: strangulation, drowning, unknown

Body Count: 3; Cumulative: 131

The Count: Poirot-26, Miss Marple-6, Tommy and Tuppence-2, Hastings-7, Japp-7, Colonel Race-4, Superintendent Battle-5, George-6, Goby-2, No Recurring Character- 6, Mrs. Oliver-3, Albert- 2, Superintendent Spence-1, Miss Lemon-2

Agatha's Life Lessons: However large and beautiful the flowers, if the earthly roots are destroyed, there will be no more flowers. So much depends on how you look at a thing. Girls don't mind what their mothers say to them. Most men can look after themselves, or ought to be able to. Women tell a lot of lies. Without quarrels and reconciliations, life would be drab. 


Up Next: 4:50 from Paddington

Sunday, June 24, 2012

A Pocketful of Rye


First Published: 1953
Setting: Baydon Heath, Surrey
Starring: Miss Marple, Rex, Adele, Elaine, Jennifer, Percival, Pat, and Lance Fortescue, Inspector Neele
Important Other People: Mary Dove, Vivian Dubois, the Crumps, Gladys Martin

The main concern I have is that this family allows a strange old woman into their home to investigate the crimes that have occurred. Now really, do we think that's a good idea? We've already had plenty of examples of crazy old ladies from other stories by Agatha, so we know that they did indeed exist during the 1950s. Good thing it was Miss Marple and not that crazy old lady Tommy and Tuppence know. It's very odd that Inspector Neele would allow Miss Marple to take such a large hand in the investigation. 

I didn't know General Paralysis of the Insane was a real thing, but when I looked it up, Wikipedia informed me that it is caused by syphilis. Nowhere in the book did I find mention that Rex had syphilis, but this was a classy family. 

Similar to Hercule Poirot's Christmas: The mills of God grind slowly, but they grind exceedingly small. Poor Rex. Poor Simeon. Maybe that's why you shouldn't let wealth go to your head. People get jealous, and then they kill you.


Interesting facts: Sir Henry is mentioned (my favorite). One of several books modeled after a nursery rhyme. 

Favorite? I do like this one quite a lot. Good characters, good twists. I feel bad for some of them, though. 

Death by: taxine, cyanide, strangulation

Body Count: 3; Cumulative: 124

The Count: Poirot-24, Miss. Marple-6, Tommy and Tuppence-2, Hastings-7, Japp-7, Colonel Race-4, Superintendent Battle-5, George-4, Goby-2, No Recurring Character- 6, Mrs. Oliver-2, Albert- 2, Superintendent Spence-1

Agatha's Life Lessons: Things you remember come in useful sometimes. "Life is cruel, I'm afraid."~Miss Marple. The mills of God grind slowly. You can't just stick labels on people. They're all very unpleasant people. If you've had a happy childhood, nobody can take that away from you. You can't change people. Human nature is much the same everywhere. People aren't always what they think themselves to be. Always think the worst. Children have got a lot of sense. You can't always help loving a sinner. One needs a great deal of courage to get through life. The wicked should not go unpunished. 

Up Next: Destination Unknown

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Mrs. McGinty's Dead


First Published: 1952
Setting: Broadhinny
Starring: Hercule Poirot, Mrs. Oliver, Superintendent Spence, Mrs. McGinty (only important because the whole book is about her).
Important Other People: Maureen and Johnnie Summerhayes, James Bentley, Eve and Guy Carpenter, Laura and Robin Upwards, the Wetherby's, the Rendell's, Deidre Henderson, Mrs. Sweetimen

This novel is unique because, as Poirot says, usually the personality of the murdered is the most important aspect of the case. Seeing as Mrs. McGinty was just an ordinary charwoman (and thus not good enough to be important, apparently), the personality of the murderer is what is important in this book. There are a lot of different personalities Poirot has to sort through until he finds one that fits with the crime. 

There are a lot of red herrings in this book, as well as people that you think must be important, but actually aren't. It reminds me of The Murder at the Vicarage, where there were a lot of different characters who eventually were revealed to all have some part in the events surrounding the murder, so I guess that's what I expected here. There are so many characters, and they seem so mysterious that I assume they must be important. It turns out that almost none of them are, they just have silly little things they don't want Poirot to find out about (other than murder). Anyways, ordinary charwoman, extraordinary murderer... less than extraordinary book.


Interesting facts: This is one of the few books where someone actually tries to murder Monsieur Hercule Poirot! This is the only the second appearance of Poirot working with Mrs. Oliver, the first being Cards on the Table. Hastings, Shaitana from Cards on the Table, and Battle are all mentioned, although none make appearances (especially since Shaitana is dead). Apparently, this novel was written after Agatha had recently collaborated with producer Peter Saunders on The Mousetrap, and she had a few frustrations with the process. Mrs. Oliver was used to vent those frustrations, as she says, "You've no idea of the agony of having your characters taken and made to say things they never would have said, and do things that they never would have done. And if you protest, all they say is that it's 'good theatre.'" 

Favorite? No, although Hercule is, of course, ingenious in his deductions. I just always want the plot to be better somehow. 

Death by: cosh on the head, strangulation

Body Count: 2; Cumulative: 115

The Count: Poirot-23, Miss. Marple-4, Tommy and Tuppence-2, Hastings-7, Japp-7, Colonel Race-4, Superintendent Battle-5, George-3, Goby-1, No Recurring Character- 6, Mrs. Oliver-2, Albert- 2, Superintendent Spence-1

Agatha's Life Lessons: You can't get away from heredity- it's in people as well as in dogs. Power must only be used for the right ends. Life is very unfair- some people never seem to get any happiness. If everyone thinks you know a thing, no one will tell you about it. Acute fear always produces the truth. Everyone has something to hide. Success is on the side of the big mustaches. 

Up Next: Murder with Mirrors

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

A Murder is Announced


First Published: 1950
Setting: Chipping Cleghorn 
Starring: Miss Marple, Letitia Blacklock, Dora Bunner, Inspector Craddock
Important Other People: Patrick and Julia, Pip and Emma, Hincliffe and Murgatroyd, Mitzi, Philipa Haymes, Colonel and Mrs. Easterbrook, Edmund and Mrs. Swettenham, Bunch Harmon, Belle Goedler

Sticking with the theme of the post-war world, we are reminded at the beginning that all you know about people is what they say of themselves. Just like in Roger Ackroyd, we need to remember that that statement applies to everyone. No one is exactly who they seem. Due to all of the disruption that occurred after World War II, it was much more difficult to establish connections with people or to find a common friend or relative. There was also the secret black market world that was going on, even with seemingly-respectable spinsters and other pillars of the community. England after the war was much different than it had been before the war, and even people living in small villages had to adjust their worldviews accordingly. 


In keeping with the idea of a disrupted world, this is the first book where we get explicit talk of premarital relations, but still couched in Agatha's Victorian terminology. Referring to war widows, Edmund says he'll "take her to bed." This to me is a clear indication of goings-on that should not be going on, and it once again shows how much England changed in the years right after the war. 


I don't really have anything else to say without giving a ton of plot points away, but I do have to say that if you haven't read this book, you need to. It's one of the best, for sure, and it's one of my favorites. Mitzi is ridiculous, and Miss Marple is ingenious. It's just so good.



Interesting facts: Sir Henry Clithering and Inspector Craddock are in this book. I love both of them. 

Favorite? Yes. I love how intricate the plot and details are, all of the mystery characters that keep popping up, and how everything really comes together at the end. It is just brilliant. 

Death by: shooting, poisoning, strangulation 

Body Count: 3; Cumulative: 111

The Count: Poirot-22, Miss. Marple-4, Tommy and Tuppence-2, Hastings-7, Japp-7, Colonel Race-4, Superintendent Battle-5, George-2, Goby-1, No Recurring Character- 5, Mrs. Oliver-1, Albert- 2

Agatha's Life Lessons: All you know of people is what they say of themselves. Youth is the time to have your fling. People like living. You can get away with a great deal if you have enough audacity. One is alone when the last one who remembers one when they were young is gone. It's never a mistake to marry a man you want to marry- even if you regret it. Weak and kindly people are often very treacherous. People with a grudge against the world are always dangerous. It's what's in yourself that makes you happy or unhappy.

Up Next: They Came to Baghdad 

Thursday, March 29, 2012

The Body in the Library

First Published: 1942
Setting: St. Mary Mead, Danemouth
Starring: Miss Marple, the Bantry's, Conway Jefferson
Important Other People: Sir Henry Clithering, Inspector Slack, Melchett, Harper, Josie, Raymond, Adelaide Jefferson, Mark Gaskell, Peter Carmody

The Body in the Library is one of Agatha's books that I could take or leave. I like a lot of the characters in it, but I don't really like the plot. There are plenty of surprises and twists, and the detecting by Miss Marple is, of course, ingenious, but I think my problem with the book stems from the perceived personality of the corpse. As we learn more and more about who she was, where she came from, and why she died, I like Ruby Keene less and less. I understand that life is difficult for young women of lower-class backgrounds, and I know that Ruby had to do whatever she could to get ahead in life. I do not like how she took advantage of Conway Jefferson and his family in her attempts to move up in the world. Not that I am a big fan of the odd family dynamics the Jefferson's have, but I still think she was a gold digger for sure.


Interesting facts: Agatha Christie mentions herself when Peter Carmody is talking about how he has signatures of some famous detective authors. Only the second book with Ms. Marple- she had been absent from the Agatha universe for 12 years! Also, this was written at the same time as N or M?, which was in the beginning of World War II. In the foreword, Agatha talks about how finding a body in the library is a cliche of detective fiction, and so seeks to parody this cliche by having an extremely traditional library with an extremely nontraditional victim, or body.

Favorite? Not particularly. I love Mrs. Bantry, and I love Sir Henry, but I don't really like the plot.

Death by: Strangulation/burning

Body Count: 2; Cumulative: 84

The Count: Poirot-20, Miss. Marple-2, Tommy and Tuppence-2, Hastings-7, Japp-7, Colonel Race-3, Superintendent Battle-4, George-1, Goby-1, No Recurring Character- 3, Mrs. Oliver-1, Albert- 2

Agatha's Life Lessons: You've got to keep an eye on a man all the time. The quiet ones are always the worst. There's a lot of wickedness in the world. Men so easily feel neglected. Human nature is very much the same anywhere. Humans are much more vulnerable and sensitive than they think. Everyone's got the right to have a piece of luck sometimes. Don't believe everything you're told. You can only really get under anybody's skin if you are married to them. Married people enjoy their battles and the appropriate reconciliation. Women are eternally interested in marriages.

Up Next: Five Little Pigs

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Evil Under the Sun

First Published: 1941
Setting: Smuggler's Island, Leathercombe Bay, off the coast of Devon
Starring: Hercule Poirot, Arlena Stuart, Kenneth Marshall, Linda Marshall, Rosamund Darnley
Important Other People: Christine and Patrick Redfern, Inspector Colgate, Emily Brewster, The Gardeners, Horace Blatt, Stephen Lane

I have really no insight on this book, other than the fact that it is a well-written mystery with lots of twists and surprises, relies heavily on the element of time (which Agatha writes impeccably), and presents many likable characters. The only thing I would really add is that, although this book was published in 1941, there is virtually no mention of the war that was going on at the time. I find it odd that very few of her books published during the war years mention the war, although many books that were published after this time period deal heavily in issues related to the war. Thankfully, we have Tommy and Tuppence to look forward to next...


Interesting facts: Apparently, many other Christie fans say this is one of their favorite books.

Favorite? It's ok. There's a lot of subterfuge and deception, which I like, but I never like when characters I like turn out to be evil...under the sun (haha).

Death by: strangulation

Body Count: 1; Cumulative: 80

The Count: Poirot-20, Miss. Marple-1, Tommy and Tuppence-1, Hastings-7, Japp-7, Colonel Race-3, Superintendent Battle-4, George-1, Goby-1, No Recurring Character- 3, Mrs. Oliver-1

Agatha's Life Lessons: There is evil everywhere under the sun. A woman is as old as she looks. It's not beauty that counts in the end- to really count, a woman must have goodness and brains. Men are such fools. Wives have to put up with a lot. Woman can be man's help and inspiration in life- she can also be his downfall. One can't put sorrow behind one.

Up Next: N or M?

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

The ABC Murders

First Published: 1936
Setting: Andover, Bexhill-on-sea, Churston, Doncaster, London
Starring: Hercule Poirot, Hastings, Japp, Inspector Crome
Important Other People: Alexander Bonaparte Cust, Megan Barnard, Donald Fraser, Franklin Clark, Mary Drower, Thora Grey

I feel like Agatha wanted to take on a story about a serial killer, then realized that it would have to be about the human element (that she understands so well), and so made a serial killer with a twist story that we love so much. There is discussion in the book about the motivation for serial killers, which I don't know how much of I agree with. Poirot basically says that it is a very specific niche that serial killers fall into, so it's quite difficult to be a true one. It is far easier to find a murderer who commits a murder for their own personal motive- going back to the discussion on motives and why these crimes are committed.

Another aspect of this book that I really like is that it is very much in the public eye (in the world of the novel). I often wonder how much people know about these cases that Poirot deals with. Mention is often made about it being in the papers and people remembering various cases, but this is one that was made extremely public and, what's more, it was thought to be a homicidal maniac on the loose, killing people based on an alphabetical complex, and so there was a chance that people in other places could be affected by it (and not just relatives of the victim, as is usually the case with Poirot).

I enjoy the dual narrative of the story because we get to hear about the case from different points of view, which lets us have additional insight. I always enjoy when Hastings narrates because we get to see his thoughts on the case (which are remarkably similar to my own: as in, 'what's going on??'), but I like that we also get to hear about it from the point of view of the...murderer (kind of). A plot device from The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, but different this time because we feel like we're getting two sides of the story, yet there still is something missing...


Interesting facts: Talks about Poirot's idea of a perfect murder- his "crime to order," with 4 people playing bridge ad someone gets murdered. Cards on the Table coming soon! Presented in a dual-narrative form. A VIDEO GAME was made based on the book- what??? Why have I never played it??

Favorite? Yes. (one of them)

Death by: Cosh, strangulation, stabbing

Body Count: 4; Cumulative: 41

The Count: Poirot-11, Miss. Marple-1, Tommy and Tuppence-1, Hastings-6, Japp-6, Colonel Race-1, Superintendent Battle-2, George-1, Goby-1, No Recurring Character- 2

Agatha's Life Lessons: Time is remorseless. Even the most sober person is liable to have his head turned by success. You can't catch a train earlier than when it leaves. Words are the outer clothing of ideas. A hobby is a great consolation to a man. There is nothing so dangerous for anyone who has something to hide as conversation. Speech is an invention of man's to keep him from thinking. Intuition is really an impression based on logical deduction or experience.

Up Next: Murder in Mesopotamia

Sunday, November 13, 2011

The Mystery of the Blue Train- Day 9

First Published: 1928
Setting: Riviera, St. Mary Mead
Starring: Hercule Poirot, Katherine Grey
Important Other People: the Marquis, Van Aldin, Knighton, Comte de la Roche

Agatha had just gotten divorced from her husband. This book sucks as a result. In it, we can see a lot of lessons she seemed to learn from her experience, as well as little jibes she might be giving to her ex-husband. She touts divorce as giving up, which is apparent in all the dealings between Ruth and Derek as they try to work out their situation. There is a lot of talk of rats deserting a sinking ship- which is an obvious allusion to her marriage and how she did not wish to desert it. (Definite flashes of her first husband in Derek, although I don't think Agatha ever saw herself in her portrayal of Ruth).

I don't like this book because it is ridiculously complicated and everyone has crazy names (The Marquis? Comte de la Roche? I don't even know what those names mean). There's the whole subplot about the jewel and the Greeks, and it getting stolen but it was only paste and blah blah blah. I feel bad for Agatha during this time in her life, but I like to think the humor she got out of how much she hated this book helped her through.

One question, though: Can you still send telegrams?


Interesting facts: The first appearance of George! Japp is mentioned, and it's the first appearance of the enigmatic Goby!

Favorite? NO. Least favorite, actually, and Agatha quite agrees with me. She says, "I have always hated The Mystery of the Blue Train, but I got it written...it sold just as well as my last book had done. So I had to content myself with that- though I cannot say I have ever been proud of it." She also says it is the only book she thought was really bad and maybe should not have published it. She adds, "Each time I read it again, I think it commonplace, full of cliches, with an uninteresting plot." Cliches it may have, but they are still rather informative as to her state of mind at the time.

Death by: Strangulation (Ruth)

Body Count: 1; Cumulative: 21

The Count: Poirot-5, Miss. Marple-0, Tommy and Tuppence-1, Hastings-3, Japp-2, Colonel Race-1, Superintendent Battle-1, George-1, Goby-1

Agatha's Life Lessons: You can't bear to let go- there are times when it's the only way. The world is extraordinarily alike everywhere. Hearts are pretty tough. All one wants, one gets. Things get found out by coincidence. Rats desert a sinking ship. It is well to be off with the old love before being on with the new love. Moral worth is not romantic but is appreciated by widows. A good man may be ruined by his love for a bad woman (and vice versa). To make a success of humanity, we must profit by the lessons of those below us in the animal kingdom. 3 things can't be hurried: le bon Dieu, nature, and old people. When a man is really in love he can't help looking like a sheep. Women should be calm, sympathetic, and a good cook. And my two favorites: Life is like a train- it goes on. A mirror shows the truth, but everyone stands in a different place and looks in.

Up Next: The Seven Dials Mystery

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

The Man in the Brown Suit- Day 5

First Published: 1924
Setting: Kilmorden Castle, South Africa, Rhodesia
Starring: Anne Beddingfield, Colonel Race, Harry Rayburn
Important Other People: Sir Eustace, Suzanne, Guy Pagett, the "Colonel"

The first thing I want to point out about Agatha and her career is that she was not just the elderly lady we see on the back of book covers or on her website. Agatha wrote books for over 50 years, and in that time period, she started out young and got older. I always picture her as an elderly woman writing her books, when in reality, she was young when she got started, and so was young when she wrote The Man in the Brown Suit. This explains the spirit of adventure apparent throughout the novel, as well as her identification with Anne and her passion regarding Harry. She was young, and she knew what it was to love passionately and to yearn for adventure.

One of the major themes of this book is the changing idea of womanhood and the new role that women played in the 1920s. Similar to The Secret Adversary, Agatha explores the new idea of women, modeling her heroine after this new ideal. Colonel Race talks about women as "weak things," which Anne explains is due to society's renderings, because in the beginning, they were equal. She explains how the archaeological record shows that women and men used to work together as equals before modernized society designated separate rolls for them. We see how Anne constantly goes against the idea society has for women as she strikes out on her own and continues to follow her heart and her dreams. We also see Suzanne as a direct opposite from her, cemented by her upper-class life and her trip to Africa as a whim. We also get the idea that marriage is a foolish notion that is used to tie women down and keep them in these preconceived roles. Anne fights that by marrying on her own terms and disregarding what is "best" for her.

Anne Beddingfield is Agatha's emulation of herself. She is young, free, and adventurous, and she loves madly. Agatha saw herself in Anne, but Anne has a greater degree of freedom and thus has more adventures than Agatha. Still, out of all of her characters, I really think she felt she was most like Anne. She even observes that "one always gets what one wants." Agatha wanted adventures, and she was able to get them in her life, but also, and most importantly, she was able to get them through her characterization of Anne. She also readily acknowledges that she is oftentimes foolish and childish in her actions and choices. Agatha is very self-reflective in her depiction of Anne, and we are able to see more of her personality in this book, than, I would venture to say, in any other.


Interesting facts: Agatha wrote this story after going on a world tour with her husband and their friend- who happened to be the inspiration for Sir Eustace (see the dedication!)

Favorite? One of them because I do love Anne, even though her relationship with Harry is a little too intense for my liking...

Death by: Strangulation (Nadina). I will not count the man falling under the train, since it was technically an accident.

Body Count: 1; Cumulative: 4

The Count: Poirot-2, Miss. Marple-0, Tommy and Tuppence-1, Hastings-2, Japp-1, Colonel Race-1

Agatha's Life Lessons: (So many in this book!) "Men will not be nice to you if you are not good-looking, and women will not be nice to you if you are." "It is good for one now and again to realize what an idiot one can be." The world is full of starving cats. A true lady is neither shocked nor surprised at anything that might happen. "Nothing a woman enjoys so much as doing all the things she doesn't like for the sake of someone she does like." Don't let your sense of humor carry you away. Rats always leave a sinking ship. And most importantly... Don't settle when you marry.

Up Next: The Secret of Chimneys