TV Books, a good place to start a hobby?

[tyfoon]

Hi, I want to make reading a bit more of a hobby so that I 'officially' devote time to it.

I have looked at The Guardian 1000 and the BBC 100 Good Reads and am a bit overwhelmed.

I have always wondered what the actual books would be like for Miss Marple, Sherlock Holmes and Poirot would be like - even James Bond.

Has anyone read these and are they a good place to start if I love the tv programmes anyway?

If you're not much of a reader already I wonder if you will find those rather dated and a bit slow? I think the reason that Agatha Christie books and James Bond are such successful TV and films is that they have a great story and memorable characters, not because they are 'good' books, IYSWIM. If you love the TV programmes you might find that because you know the story already the books seem a bit dull; there's not much else in them to enjoy.

Sherlock Holmes is a different kettle of fish and more enjoyable to read as the characterisation is so much more sophisticated. Again though, knowing the outcome might spoil it for you.

So what you're looking really is something like them - and that's where I can't help you because it's not the kind of fiction I tend to read. I'm sure there'll be tons of people along to advise you though! I am always mystified by the stuff that gets put those '100 books to read before you die' type lists so I should just ignore those completely if I were you

Thanks otherside that makes a lot of sense! I have the free kindle version of the Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes so will have a look at those. I have a few audio books of Agatha Christie which were ok but as you say, a bit dated.

I'm not sure what genre I would like, my favourite book of a crime genre was Harlan Coben's Tell No-one. My current genre is chick-lit which leaves me cold and underwhelmed.

I'm reading The Book Thief at the moment and love the phrasing.

Hopefully that might help someone steer me :)

James Bond books are nothing like the films.
If you liked the Jeremy Brett Sherlock Holmes version, you might enjoy the books.
The only way to do it is to try out a few, and don't feel that you have to finish the book if it doesn't appeal. Linking it with something you already like is a good plan I think, although often the books and the TV series are miles apart.
I'm an obsessive reader, three or four a week, but there are hundreds of books I've read the first few chapters of and thought...no. Including worthy classics and popular fiction and trash.
It's a great hobby.

You could try Iain Banks. Some of his books have been televised, but not many and they are far more contemporary than Agatha Christie, but still the same genre: crime/whodunit.

Maybe go to your local library and borrow a few books picked off the shelf, or better ones on a display stand/stood up/on the returns trolly.

You've no financial outlay then so its easier to experiment.

Do use your local library. Not only free to borrow the books but the staff do enjoy chatting to users about authors and books that are popular with other users and the books they enjoy reading. You will also be able to reserve books if there is a title you particularly want to read and it is not on the shelf at your local branch.