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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
funny
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
In four words - a well crafted mystery. The writing style is engaging. By putting you in the place of Arthur Hastings, you one the one hand, get to speculate about the case but are not given all the answers until the end. And in the end it all fits nicely together in an ending that I didn't see coming.
I can quite see why it went on to influence a whole genre, and I cannot deny the personal appeal of a cozy country house murder mystery; but unfortunately it also has a habit of dragging, especially in the chapters nearing the end where I wished we'd just be done with all the (probable) red herrings and got down to the business of the final showdown.
It's good luck (and good writing) that the showdown in they penultimate chapter is then indeed so absorbing and intellectually invigorating that it's easy to forgive any dalliances; and while Christie does ‘cheat’ a bit, revealing only then some information we had no way of knowing beforehand, I still had a moment where I paused the recording to try to figure something out, and had a moment of pleasure when I was proven right upon resuming; and the final solution is as nifty and delightful as you can expect from the criminally mischievous mind of the Agatha Christie we know and love. Although re-explaining the whole thing in the ultimate chapter does drag a bit, and undermines all that “feeling a satisfaction with one's intelligence” part; but the tying up of personal relationships, if expectedly heteronormative, was rather delightful (as was the pervy fool Hastings getting his due), and sometime all’s well that ends well, especially a quaint little old country house murder mystery.
My anti-rich heart does roil a bit at the extravagance & presumed loftiness of the setting, but unfortunately it does tend to be too easy to forgive any indications of classism in these novels, where being poor means you can’t afford as many servants as you were used to and you spend most of your days scratching the leg of your richest aunt. If you, the reader, are not willing to accept some cosying up to the rich & powerful & often dumb, better look elsewhere than the popular writings of the time, especially the country house murder genre. As for me, seeing my favourite side-characters end up together offered me more joy than was appropriate. Oh well, such are the times, such is the life.
Oh, and Poirot is such a joy, already right out the door, even with his weirdest outbursts. And it's pretty much uphill from here, right up to the door of David Suchet.
It's good luck (and good writing) that the showdown in they penultimate chapter is then indeed so absorbing and intellectually invigorating that it's easy to forgive any dalliances; and while Christie does ‘cheat’ a bit, revealing only then some information we had no way of knowing beforehand, I still had a moment where I paused the recording to try to figure something out, and had a moment of pleasure when I was proven right upon resuming; and the final solution is as nifty and delightful as you can expect from the criminally mischievous mind of the Agatha Christie we know and love. Although re-explaining the whole thing in the ultimate chapter does drag a bit, and undermines all that “feeling a satisfaction with one's intelligence” part; but the tying up of personal relationships, if expectedly heteronormative, was rather delightful (as was the pervy fool Hastings getting his due), and sometime all’s well that ends well, especially a quaint little old country house murder mystery.
My anti-rich heart does roil a bit at the extravagance & presumed loftiness of the setting, but unfortunately it does tend to be too easy to forgive any indications of classism in these novels, where being poor means you can’t afford as many servants as you were used to and you spend most of your days scratching the leg of your richest aunt. If you, the reader, are not willing to accept some cosying up to the rich & powerful & often dumb, better look elsewhere than the popular writings of the time, especially the country house murder genre. As for me, seeing my favourite side-characters end up together offered me more joy than was appropriate. Oh well, such are the times, such is the life.
Oh, and Poirot is such a joy, already right out the door, even with his weirdest outbursts. And it's pretty much uphill from here, right up to the door of David Suchet.
funny
mysterious
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-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
why havent i read christie earlier?? ive watched a few poirot movies, played some video games, watched documentaries about her personal life – but this is my first time picking up one of her books and man... i wish i hadn't waited so long!!
poirot is a funny little guy. we all know this. watching him work from arthur's pov is just absolutely delightful. our narrator is constantly BAFFLED and swings between fond confusion and annoyance over how frantic poirot can be at times. the same way watson represents the everyman in contrast to holmes' brilliance, arthur does for poirot. we only see what arthur does, which means we're equally taken aback by the twists and turns of the mysterious affair.
prose-wise, this made for a very easy read. i was prepared to be kind of along for the ride for a book that's over a hundred years old, but i really had nothing to worry about. i can see grade school children enjoying this the same way that i did.
i did deduct some points for the slur and blatant racism. product of her time blah blah blah BUT sir arthur conan doyle would never do this to me.
that being said, im still immediately jumping into murder on the links. o7
poirot is a funny little guy. we all know this. watching him work from arthur's pov is just absolutely delightful. our narrator is constantly BAFFLED and swings between fond confusion and annoyance over how frantic poirot can be at times. the same way watson represents the everyman in contrast to holmes' brilliance, arthur does for poirot. we only see what arthur does, which means we're equally taken aback by the twists and turns of the mysterious affair.
prose-wise, this made for a very easy read. i was prepared to be kind of along for the ride for a book that's over a hundred years old, but i really had nothing to worry about. i can see grade school children enjoying this the same way that i did.
i did deduct some points for the slur and blatant racism. product of her time blah blah blah BUT sir arthur conan doyle would never do this to me.
that being said, im still immediately jumping into murder on the links. o7
Even tho this book was a classic it was very easy to understand. I really liked guessing the plot and waiting stuff down. Even when I didn’t guess the ending it was still fun to guess allong.
I thought that Hasting was a fun narrator. And I could see him being fun in the future. Poison is not one of my favorite plot lines but it was still enjoyable. I did think that the original ending was more realistic and would’ve liked that one a bit more.
I thought that Hasting was a fun narrator. And I could see him being fun in the future. Poison is not one of my favorite plot lines but it was still enjoyable. I did think that the original ending was more realistic and would’ve liked that one a bit more.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No