As part of the I'm re-reading several books that I read while I was in school.  Typically I didn't enjoy the books chosen for Summer Reading for my English classes.  I can think of many I read because I had to and never want to go near again (The Scarlet Letter or The Pigman for instance).  The handful that I enjoyed I enjoyed a lot.

Of that handful And Then There Were None was probably the very favorite.  I grew up with Agatha Christie--my paternal Grandmother adored her mysteries, my father loved a bunch of the films and my Uncle loved Hercule Poirot.  Despite this I had never read a Christie before 11th grade.  The task seemed slightly daunting in fact.

Then my 11th Grade English teacher (Mr. Bunce), who I adored as a teacher, assigned that book and I was left kind wondering if I dared to go near it.  Mr. Bunce did things differently, he told us flat out that we could watch the movie version (or versions) instead of reading the book, but on the first day of English class we would get a pop quiz.  If those of us who watched the movie instead of reading the book got a perfect 100--everybody got A's.  If not, we had to read the book.

I read the book, because I couldn't not after being told I didn't have to, but my dad said we should see the movies too.  We saw 3 different versions: the 1945 version, the 1965 version and the 1989 version.  You know what all three had in common--aside from the story and various character traits?  The ending.  Ever since the 1943 stage production of the novel (published in 1939 originally) every single movie has followed the same ending.  Except its completely opposite of the book ending!

My father, who had never read the book only seen the movies, didn't even know this. So when the movie ending played I turned to him and asked "But that's not how the book goes!" and my dad said "Artistic license is sometimes used..." to which I added, "But the ending is completely, 100% DIFFERENT."  We didn't know back then that Christie had changed the ending int he stage production, or that all the movies followed that ending, not the book ending, because it made for better relating with the audience.

So here comes the first day of English class and Mr. Bunce hands us the Quiz.  The only question on it is: Who lived at the end of the story?  As you can guess those who watched the movies said one thing, those who read the book said another.  The numbers were evenly split also, but Mr. Bunce told those who watched the movie to read the book and find out the truth. 

So here are my questions to you:

1. Have you read the book?
2. Seen any version of the novel (movie, tv theatre)?
3. Which ending do you prefer?
4. What do you think of the various titles? ( And Then There Were None, Ten Little Indians and the original title: Ten Little Niggers)
   
5. If you are a Christie fan--does it stand up next to Hercule Poirot and Marple?  

Please be aware that spoilers may be in comments!