Mark Pghfan’s Comments (group member since Mar 06, 2014)

Mark Pghfan’s comments from the The Parlor PI's group.

Nicole, my reading was the audio by Hugh Fraser as well!! He is the best narrator of Christie, in my opinion. The voices are distinct from one another but unlike Suchet's narrations, Fraser does not overact so much you are distracted from the story.

This is the final installment of our first Christmas read. Days December 26th and 27th. Poirot seems to have figured things out, but purchases a false moustache to be sure, along with a portrait of Simeon to be put into his bedroom.

What do you think of the ending? Fair or not. To me, a little questionable. As Poirot explains it is sort of clear, but hardly likely. Earlier in the book, we note that there is a heavy mahogany desk and chair that have been turned over in the faux struggle. Could a cord wrapped around them possible cause them to tip over, along with all the other stuff?

And I am still confused over Pilar/Conchita's reaction to the whole thing. If she couldn't take the money, why did she come in the first place? She meant to get rich through the family, didn't she? It seems weak to think she came to England to get rich and then blanch at it when it happens. Did she know she would eventually be found out?

Discuss!!

So many Christmas mysteries, so little time!

Given that this was the only murder in the book, it is just that he was so bad!

I suppose the earlier Poirot comes in, the better, so I think I like the TV version. The initial back story is fairly brief and does give a little better hint as to the final solution than the book does. And of course, Poirot comes in earlier.

Nicole, I hoped you wouldn't notice the chapter break down. It is very uneven, done by date. And to complicate things, I am doing my "re-reading" with a CD narration, so I'm not sure where to break things up. My version is on 5 CDs and I'm in the midst of #4.

Perhaps the best thing is to use this second part to discuss the investigation portion and use the third part to discuss the ending. Does that work? We probably want to wrap things up a little sooner, since we have a holiday side read to do as well. (I've started that as well!)

Truthfully, I liked the adaptation a lot. As I noted, this was before they made great changes to the original books. Things were streamlined, but still managed to maintain the spirit of the book and the characters. Even with the introduction of Japp and the amusing scene with his in-laws!

We move on to December 24th and 25th. Here we have the murder of Simeon! While people are scattered about the house, some together (perhaps) and some alone, we hear a blood curdling scream and the crashing of furniture in Simeon's room. The door is locked when people rush to the scene (at varying times) so it is rammed open, to find the body of Simeon, with his throat slit and lots and lots of blood about.

Fortunately, Superintendent Sugden, who was by earlier, is on the scene quickly. And so the investigation begins!

DIscuss!

This adaptation is now more than 20 years old, and I'm sure I watched it every year at Christmas!

Some notable changes from the book (which is why I thought to discuss separately from that) include the elimination of Stephen Farr, David and Hilda Lee as characters.

Also, Poirot is brought in right away, called in by Simeon, unlike the book.

I realize that there would be quite a challenge in an adaptation, having to find actors that looked sufficiently alike to all be family. I can't say they did a particularly good job with that here, especially with the Superintendent. What do you all think of that, and of the adaptation as a whole?

At least it didn't go so terribly far from the original book as later adaptations did.

Ready for part 2 yet? This first part was rather short.

Thanks, Nicole. I've never done Audible, but may try it out.

No, Nicole. I didn't know Christie narrated her autobiography. I've only heard her voice a few times and very briefly. It is a bit high pitched, as I recall. Where did you find this?

I think we should have a separate thread for the movie. If you all agree, I will start one. Join in whenever!

I was unsure how to divide up the discussion, since I'm listening to it on CD. And the divisions are by date, five sections. How about Dec 22 and Dec 23 for the first section?

Good morning!

Let's start December with our group read of the month. HP's Christmas is familiar to most of us--I can't tell you how many times I've read it!

I think we also talked about discussion of the TV version. Do you want to do that separately? There are quite a few notable differences.

As we start the book, we meet some of Simeon Lee's family. Mostly sons and their wives, along with a granddaughter, Pilar Estravados (not to be confused with the one who somehow ended up on the Orient Express, in that most recent adaptation!)

Both Pilar and Stephen Farr, the son of Simeon's old partner from the South Africa days, indicate at the very beginning, that they are heading for something they need to do. Hmmm...

Simeon himself is an old, creaking cad, alternatively mean and generous. He wants his family around him for what might be his last Christmas. This includes two estranged sons, David and Harry.

I understand that this book has two connections with Agatha's older sister, Madge. One, is that it is set in a house inspired by the big old house of Madge and her husband. Second, that that brother-in-law is the one who "complained" that Agatha's murders were too genteel, and that he wanted one with lots of blood, and no confusion that it was indeed murder. This is Agatha's response.

Discuss!

I suggest we start on the first with Poirot's Christmas and maybe the 10th or 15th start the side read.

I can start HP, if that is OK with y'all. (Or "yinz", as we say here in Pittsburgh!)

I'm not sure what to make of the side read votes.

I see:

2 for Toy Soldier
2 for No Clue at the Inn
1 for Mistletoe Manor

I vote for No Clue at the Inn, making it the winner.

Any objections?

Let's start with HP's Christmas first, though.

OK Lets add Mistletoe to the list, which is now:

No Clue at the Inn
Murder on the Candlelight Tour
Death of a Toy Soldier
Menace at the Christmas Market (novella)
Murder at Mistletoe Manor

Let's vote on the side read!

And we are all set for Hercule Poirot's Christmas for the main read, including the TV version.

Whoa! I thought we were settled in on HP's Christmas, but now there is a plethora of other options. It does seem we could settle on that for the main read, agree?

For a side read, well, that is where the problem occurs. Since I've read HP many times, a re-read won't be a big deal. I'd be on for the side read as well. As I look through the posts, I see these for the side read:

No Clue at the Inn
Murder on the Candlelight Tour
Death of a Toy Soldier
Menace at the Christmas Market (novella)

Do you want to vote among these four? (I didn't want to add more, less it becomes a 7 way time!)

Nope, Tina. Time for that later. Right now, I have pretty much every dish in the house to clean!

Well, I've cleaned the house as well as it's going to be, and all the cooking and prep I can do in advance is done. Table is set.

So I set down to finish the book, as so I did!

MAJOR SPOILER:

It was interesting that I ID'd Clyde or Vicki as the possible culprits, but not together and certainly not the with motive they had (though, I don't think that was figure-out-able.)

And all of the loose ends were closed as well: the stalker, the mischief at the stuffing contest, and even why Otis had Sophie's info in him when he died.

A really pleasant read--the Diva series always is. (I think there are some I haven't yet read.)