Reading blog - spoiler!

    When one reads a thrilling murder mystery novel where characters are methodically killed off by mirroring lines of a nursery rhyme one by one, one shouldn't expect to connect with any of the characters. However, my atypical heroine was the anxious and haunted Vera Claythorne, a woman constantly trying to make up for a dark past. In the beginning, I thought she was just trying to stay alive, but the plot thickened when it's revealed that she carries a burden heavier than fear: guilt.

    What fascinated me was how carefully Christie opened us to Vera's mind. Her thoughts were all over the place, some logical and brave, while others were panicked and complicated. Honestly, that's what made her such a relatable character. She wasn't just another person surviving on a dangerous island; she was running from herself. This book obligated me to conduct a deep self-analysis: if I did something terrible in my past, how would I live with it? Would I succeed in concealment and be able to live with it? Or would it haunt and eat me alive like it did to Vera?

    A moment from the book that dwelled with me was when she entered a room to find a noose hanging from the ceiling. It's honestly such a terrifying moment, but the scariest part is her reaction in the next part. Out of the many typical actions she could've done, she is instead drawn to it, her guilt drowning her to the point where she would rather sink. That moment made me realize how difficult it can be to fight powerful emotions like regret and shame. They're not just pangs in my head, but feelings that can shape my actions, my fears, and my future. Vera's story shouldn't be simply categorized as a murder mystery, but a mind game with the weight of our past, and sometimes, how that weight becomes too much.

    Her character reminded me that people represent more than what they've done. Vera's not innocent, but she's not cruel either. Like most of us, she's just complicated. And maybe what makes her notable is that she shows that through the pitch darkness, there's still a sliver of hope that tries to shine through.