Marple: Series 1

I’ve been watching the recent Marple series (based on the Agatha Christie novels, which I haven’t read yet) over the last few weeks. Aside from my irrational irritation that it’s changed from Miss Marple to Marple (most likely to give the series a different title from the Joan Hickson version) it was difficult to adjust to the idea of anyone other than Hickson playing Marple. (Yes, I know she isn’t the only one to ever play Miss Marple before.) Once I got used to the idea, however, I decided that I quite liked Geraldine McEwan as Miss Marple. And really, the acting overall is excellent, which is what I expected.

But there are…odd changes. I mean, I haven’t read the books, so I don’t know which adaptation is closer to the original, but this series seems to be trying for being “edgier,” but not with great results. One story, for example, changes the killer to…well…evil lesbians. Changing the killer, however, makes the motivation more difficult to understand. Another creates a new character so that it can turn a fairly straightforward romance into a love triangle that…doesn’t really add anything except for John Hannah. And it’s John Hannah, so that’s a good thing, but…

It’s hard to tell, though, how much is weak writing, and how much is trying to set it apart from past versions with ideas that don’t quite work as well as they should. And, of course, for me, there’s the constant comparing to a comfort viewing that I can’t really turn off. Regardless, though, the acting and production (not to mention the setting) still make for good viewing.

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Just called in my prescriptions and was greeted with much stuttering when I asked when it would be sent to the pharmacy and related what happened last time.

I am filled with confidence.

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Heavy thunderstorm watch.  Flood warning. Hail warning.  Tornado watch.

Went from sprinkling to pouring to teeny hail in the 10 minutes it took to dtrive home from work, but it seems to have died down some.  Possibly spending the evening camped out in the hallway with Rue, but no idea if there will be internet there.

This rather thwarted plans to get groceries after work, too.

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The worst of the weather seems to have passed without doing any major damage, at least close tome.

Meanwhile, I'm afraid I must give upon the recent, superpopular zombie apocalypse YA book.  Though well written, it's first person present tense.  That can work in shorter works, but in longer works,my generous opinion is that it tends to make voice and characterization rather flat, and result in a "narration by numbers" feeling.  When I'm reading it, though, my feelings tend to be closer to "IT'S LIKE NAILS ON CHALKBOARD I FEEL LIKE THE AUTHOR THINKS I'M FIVE I CAN'T RETAIN ANYTHING PLEASE MAKE IT STOP!!!"

Then there's the religious zealots and the evil nun interfering with True Love and the Other Girl demanding that Our Heroine be totally miserable with her so that a guy won't have his feelings hurt.  And really,  I could get past that in a book that wasn't written in a tense that drives me batty, but...

That said, Carrie Ryan does seem to be a pretty good writer, and the storyis interesting.  And while Mary, the main character, is pretty decent, Imight be totally mad for the book ifit weren't in present tense, and especially if it were about the Other Other Girl.