Week One - Part 1 Ch 1-7

[Rachel]

This is to discuss anything that occurs in Part 1 Chapters 1-7.

[Aly]

Anyone else listening to the audiobook? It was going to be impossible for me to get it via book/ebook from the library before like February, so I got the audiobook from Hoopla and it's pretty great so far!

[Kathleen]

I remember when I was at my parents house and my dad saw the trailer for the new movie. He wanted to know why anyone would go and see it because everyone knows how it ends. My mom and I were both like Um... Neither of us knew.

I've never read any Agatha Christie. It's just not something I'd pick up on my own. Which is why I'm happy this group is pushing my to finally give here a try.

Right of the bat I'm not loving how it's written. Which I thought would be an issue. The style is just not for me. By the end of this first part I'd gotten used to it but early one I'd have to back up and reread a sentence every once and a while. Also, I really hope there is less French from here on out. I have this irrational hatred of the french language and while I get a tiny portion of it I have to keep looking up translations which is irritating. A lot of the times I'm just like screw it because how important can it be but then you've got the bit after the scream which is definitely important.

[Allison]

Same for me, Kathleen- I swear I saw an older version on TV once, but I can't remember how it ends (fortunately)!

I also had some difficulty getting into the first couple of chapters. This isn't the type of book that I would usually pick up, and it felt a bit bland. I took two years of French in high school and I can't remember much, so I sort of just skim over most of it- easy enough to figure out with context clues. I love the dictionary option on my Kindle, and I often wish that there was something similar for translation. Wouldn't that be convenient?

The first part that really grabbed me was the passage where Poirot and another man (don't have it in front of me, still trying to remember everyone's names...) are sitting in the dining car, and the man is describing the scene and how everyone is together just for a short time, all different people from different places and of different ages, and soon they'll all go their separate ways...

[Colin]

I had never read Agatha Christie before, so I'm glad this was the choice for this month's readalong. Like Kathleen and Allison, the style so far isn't necessarily my favorite, so I had a bit of trouble getting into it at first. It's starting to pick up for me, especially now that we are to the murder itself, so I'm hopeful the second part will be more interesting for me, particularly when as we see the detective in action. Hercule Poirot seems like an interesting character, and I'm curious to see how his obvious attention to the details of the passengers and events around him come back to help him in his investigation. (Like Kathleen, I have no idea how this book ends either. LOL)

[Allison]

The part that's been bugging me from the first section, of course, is the idea that the murderer must be an "impassioned woman" or a "Latin type." Sigh. What year was this written again? Come on, Agatha Christie!

[Chrissy]

Allison wrote: "The part that's been bugging me from the first section, of course, is the idea that the murderer must be an "impassioned woman" or a "Latin type." Sigh. What year was this written again? Come on, A..."

I think she’s playing on the stereotypes that the people would have had when she wrote it. That’s my thought.

Also, the guy from the train was M. Bouc, the director of the train I think 🙂

[Allison]

Chrissy wrote: "I think she’s playing on the stereotypes..."

Yes, very true Chrissy- I think you're absolutely right. My knee-jerk reaction was just so negative!

And right again- definitely M. Bouc. Thanks!

What do all of you think of the clever left hand/right hand stabbing analysis, and the open window? And if you had to guess right now... who did it??

[Daniel Ramsden]

I grew up watching Crime dramas, meaning a lot of Christie, but this is the first one I have actually read. Her writing style is very fluid and friendly making this a lovely little Christmas read for me.

While the supporting cast are blending a bit together for me the characterisation comes across strongly, with Poirot himself seeming like a doddering yet wise man.

I already know the end but interested to see how the tension and characters come across in the story. So far Poirot is the only one I trust.

[Kathleen]

Daniel Ramsden wrote: "While the supporting cast are blending a bit together for me"

I was so confused for while because I thought that MacQueen was the valet but then they'd both be mentioned doing different things. It really wasn't until MacQueen mentions the valet and gave him a name that I was 100% clear that they were two different people.