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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I've seen the film before and solving this again and relearning all the intricacies was sm fun. It's so complex but actually logical and actually solvable very interesting read would recommend.
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book was so silly, but I had fun.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
tense
fast-paced
Un mystère de meurtre brillamment écrit. Ce n’est pas pour rien qu’il est classique. J’ai adoré chaque rebondissement alors que vous découvrez qui a commis le crime. Poirot est merveilleux en tant que personnage et amusant à suivre tout au long
I would have given the book 2.5 stars, but since that's not possible I'm giving it the 'disadvantage' of the doubt, so to say.
All in all, the book was fine. It was interesting to try out a detective-style novel for once and I am glad that the one I got to try out was this one. I especially like the world-building, Christie's ability to paint a picture of what it's like to travel in an early 20th century train is amazing. The mood is set very nicely, and this mostly lasts throughout the book to set a consistent tone that ensures immersion in the story.
However, I could do without the racism and wonky and outdated psychology present in the book, also the ethnic essentialism was very uncomfortable to read through. I'll chalk this up to the times though, a quirk of a mostly bygone era.
Regarding the actual course of the story, I liked it most in the beginning, I guess right up to and including the murder of Ratchett. The entire mid-section of the book, the interviews and the like, was fine. It was interesting seeing such a wide range of personalities, and it was interesting from a historical point of view to hear about what life was like for these people in that time and place. However, the third part of the book was pretty meh in my opinion, the way in which all the stories tied together really wasn't satisfactory to me, and the actual final conclusion to me felt like a major cop out. I also don't really know what to think of the last page of the book, I understand the common hate of child murderers, but I guess now we have to be fine with vigilantism, and we have to assume that a highly accredited detective would gladly participate in the cover up of a murder? I guess it's my fault for creating a mental image of Poirot as someone who wouldn't do that throughout the book.
But so yeah, this genre isn't really for me, but I'm glad to be able to say that now that I've actually tried out one of these books. It was nice to read something different for a change, I'm glad it was this book since I did really like the first part of the book, but I probably won't dip my toes in this and similar genres anytime soon.
All in all, the book was fine. It was interesting to try out a detective-style novel for once and I am glad that the one I got to try out was this one. I especially like the world-building, Christie's ability to paint a picture of what it's like to travel in an early 20th century train is amazing. The mood is set very nicely, and this mostly lasts throughout the book to set a consistent tone that ensures immersion in the story.
However, I could do without the racism and wonky and outdated psychology present in the book, also the ethnic essentialism was very uncomfortable to read through. I'll chalk this up to the times though, a quirk of a mostly bygone era.
Regarding the actual course of the story, I liked it most in the beginning, I guess right up to and including the murder of Ratchett. The entire mid-section of the book, the interviews and the like, was fine. It was interesting seeing such a wide range of personalities, and it was interesting from a historical point of view to hear about what life was like for these people in that time and place. However, the third part of the book was pretty meh in my opinion, the way in which all the stories tied together really wasn't satisfactory to me, and the actual final conclusion to me felt like a major cop out. I also don't really know what to think of the last page of the book, I understand the common hate of child murderers, but I guess now we have to be fine with vigilantism, and we have to assume that a highly accredited detective would gladly participate in the cover up of a murder? I guess it's my fault for creating a mental image of Poirot as someone who wouldn't do that throughout the book.
But so yeah, this genre isn't really for me, but I'm glad to be able to say that now that I've actually tried out one of these books. It was nice to read something different for a change, I'm glad it was this book since I did really like the first part of the book, but I probably won't dip my toes in this and similar genres anytime soon.
4.25 stars (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/4)
Crime novels are insanely addicting. I picked up this novel after years of first picking up a copy in 5th grade at my school library. Not remembering anything about it this time, I dove in and was immediately hooked.
Agatha Christie's prose was a pleasure to read, with her literary style and vocabulary on par with those of other classic novels I have read.
This complimented and backed up the simple yet effective story of the murder of Ratchett (AKA Casetti).
**SPOILER ALERT**
I scanned this because crime novels seem to keep me guessing about who the murderer is. Throughout these 300 or so pages, I switched between 4-5 people, and just when I thought I was right, I was completely wrong.
As the novel progressed, we learned that more and more of the passengers were connected to the Armstrong Case, where a 3-year-old of a powerful family was kidnapped and murdered, with her parents dying out of grief and or suicide.
Poirot's correct and alternative theory was that every single passenger on the express was connected to killing Ratchett, which Ms. Hubbard, who we figure out is the head of the Armstrong family, Linda Arden, was the mastermind in getting everyone on the train and take turns stabbing Ratchett, killing him all together.
It's an excellent twist for an overall entertaining read.
Crime novels are insanely addicting. I picked up this novel after years of first picking up a copy in 5th grade at my school library. Not remembering anything about it this time, I dove in and was immediately hooked.
Agatha Christie's prose was a pleasure to read, with her literary style and vocabulary on par with those of other classic novels I have read.
This complimented and backed up the simple yet effective story of the murder of Ratchett (AKA Casetti).
**SPOILER ALERT**
I scanned this because crime novels seem to keep me guessing about who the murderer is. Throughout these 300 or so pages, I switched between 4-5 people, and just when I thought I was right, I was completely wrong.
As the novel progressed, we learned that more and more of the passengers were connected to the Armstrong Case, where a 3-year-old of a powerful family was kidnapped and murdered, with her parents dying out of grief and or suicide.
Poirot's correct and alternative theory was that every single passenger on the express was connected to killing Ratchett, which Ms. Hubbard, who we figure out is the head of the Armstrong family, Linda Arden, was the mastermind in getting everyone on the train and take turns stabbing Ratchett, killing him all together.
It's an excellent twist for an overall entertaining read.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes