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3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder
Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, Suicide
There's nothing like an Agatha Christie to keep you busy on a rainy evening. That, and a hot mug of coffee of course. This is the ultimate reader cliche but I am guilty of succumbing to it today to finish this book. All the allegations against Christie's narrative style are true - most prominently her deceptive story-telling technique. But reading this one a second time was fun.
I read this book when I was a rather immature and un-worldly 15-year old. Back then, I did not get any of the caricature-like character nuances of the "foreign" students in this book. Today, these are stereotypical and mildly racist. But Christie is playing upon popular notions of nationalities and races, and that causes some humour in the proceedings. And then there is the incorrigible M. Poirot - with his little grey cells and peculiar habits - who brings in some entertainment. Though strangely, he is absent from a large part of the book and investigations.
One feels satisfied once secrets are revealed at the end - and also when at least someone gets a happy ending, after all the walloping on the head and the poisoning. In short, this book is a breezy read, not to be taken too seriously, but to be enjoyed thoroughly.
I read this book when I was a rather immature and un-worldly 15-year old. Back then, I did not get any of the caricature-like character nuances of the "foreign" students in this book. Today, these are stereotypical and mildly racist. But Christie is playing upon popular notions of nationalities and races, and that causes some humour in the proceedings. And then there is the incorrigible M. Poirot - with his little grey cells and peculiar habits - who brings in some entertainment. Though strangely, he is absent from a large part of the book and investigations.
One feels satisfied once secrets are revealed at the end - and also when at least someone gets a happy ending, after all the walloping on the head and the poisoning. In short, this book is a breezy read, not to be taken too seriously, but to be enjoyed thoroughly.
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Listened to the audiobook. Had read it a long time ago, remembered basics .... but didn't remember the why of it all. Found it enjoyable. Found myself re-orienting the characters' voices and intonations the way I hear them in my head - I thought the reader made some odd choices. But there it is.
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
mysterious
tense
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Suicide, Murder
Quite funny, very 1950s! A favorite line: “I’m sure he’s an atheist and a most disbelieving, mocking, unpleasant young man. He’s rude to everybody. It’s my opinion that he’s a communist!”
A Poirot where he is minimally there (but is still actually needed unlike CERTAIN SAD CYPRESSES), but it makes the large, disjointed cast of characters particularly fun (acab). Also, this is the first novel where Christie really starts challenging xenophobia in England. Obviously it’s still not good, but I was surprised and thought it should be noted.
A Poirot where he is minimally there (but is still actually needed unlike CERTAIN SAD CYPRESSES), but it makes the large, disjointed cast of characters particularly fun (acab). Also, this is the first novel where Christie really starts challenging xenophobia in England. Obviously it’s still not good, but I was surprised and thought it should be noted.
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No