Absent in the Spring

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Her daughter married young, presumably to escape her control, and her son is a bit of a layabout with a questionable reputation. She uncovers unfortunate truths about her perfect life and her own belief of her all-knowing perfection. These novels (I think MW did 6) are not murder mysteries, not anything like what is so popular from AC. You can’t wait for the ending because you hope for a positive beginning but know deep down that it may not happen. The title of the story comes from a quote from Sonnet 98 by William Shakespeare, “From you I have been absent in the spring” and is about being unable to enjoy the spring due to the absence of their loved one.

Because human relationship fascinate me and because Christie understands people and how they interact. She runs out of reading materials, and has no diversions whatsoever, and thus is forced to spend some quality time in reflection. Because of train delays Joan unexpectedly finds herself held up at an isolated rest station in an area of the Middle Eastern desert. Can Joan come face to face with herself and realize how little she is truly loved or cared for since she herself has chosen to restrict her interpersonal relations in such a circumscribed and impersonal degree? As the past unravels, Joan feels the cracks in her life reveal themselves till she realises that from her family, from her friends, and indeed from the rest of the world, she has indeed been absent in the spring.We take pride in offering a wide selection of used books, from classics to hidden gems, ensuring theres something for every literary palate. Some dust jacket wear on yellow, blue book and on orange book a slight tear on the top of dust jacket. And now, stranded at a train station and all alone with her thoughts for the first time possibly ever, she must reflect on who she really is. It’s an introspective read that leads the protagonist to new realizations about her own life and about who she has become.

The final chapter contained unexpected elements, but left me dissatisfied having glossed over motivations that were central before. Anyway, Christie fabulously uses Joan's isolation to let her reflect on her life and ponder over her relationship with her husband and with her daughter.

I couldn't bookmark where I stopped listening and when I went to listen again the book started at the beginning and I had to scroll down through the chapters to figure out where I left off. In this telling scene, it is Joan, not the author, who believes the question is ‘quite natural’, that the reaction to it is ‘ludicrous’ and William’s voice ‘odd’ when replying. The more her unease grows, the more she realizes that her idea of perfect might have done more harm than good. Though I have not read much traditional Agatha Christie this crossed my path as something unique and out of her lane, and possibly self-revelatory?