Unofficial Poirot Buddy Read: Poirot 1: The Mysterious Affair at Styles

[Susan]

It's always fun to read a series in order, Tara.

[Lady Clementina]

I do want to join in but too much going on with work and things so haven't been able to make the time to read. But I will as soon as I can- are we doing one each month?

[Susan]

Jessica is organising this, Lady C. We did think about getting involved, but I think that it's great for members to suggest buddy reads and challenges and we probably have enough, with all of the books we try to offer - whether our main vote read, the Ngaio Marsh challenge or other buddy reads. Should Jessica continue, I believe the next Poirot is The Murder on the Links, but I don't want to say too much as I'm not sure if she is including short stories, etc.

[Mark Pghfan]

It is fortunate that this group is large enough to support so many discussions in a month. My reading schedule is unusually highly booked this month, so I can't do all that I'd like to. (Fortunately, I am VERY familiar with this book!)

[Susan]

It's great if members want to initiate discussions and buddy reads, Mark. As you say, there are lots of choices, and discussions, and members can pick and choose which to join in with.

[Judy]

I haven't seen any of the TV Poirots as yet, but was just wondering what Hastings looks like - I just had a look at the imdb and Hugh Fraser certainly looks right to me! I look forward to watching the TV version of Styles, but I see it was put in season 3 instead of being the first episode.

[Susan]

Hugh Fraser reads the Poirot books on Audible - or the ones I have looked at. I might listen to the second book, as I have come round to audible books now...

[Tara]

I have watched many of the Poirot TV series over the years with David Suchet and Hugh Fraser, and I think they were brilliantly cast as Poirot and Hastings. Suchet IS Poirot as far as I am concerned. Somehow he is able to convey the twinkle in the eyes and the busy bee activity of the little grey cells with just a look. I love Kenneth Branagh, but I just don't see him in the role personally. However, I am willing to give MOTOE a view and prove myself wrong.

[Frances]

I just saw MOTOE last week, LOVED the scenery/Orient Express component, but they had made Poirot more manly (he chases people! He gets in fights!) and there was a moderate amount of melodrama added in, which seemed out of keeping with Christie's usual flavour.

Star-studded casting as well, and while Branagh does a great job (despite the reservations mentioned above) no one will ever hold a candle to David Suchet, in my estimation.

[Susan]

Frances, are you serious? Poirot gets in fights?! Wow, that's just SO wrong. Along with the moustache that has finished off any chance of Branagh as Poirot for me - although I was warned I would not like it, so I have studiously avoided watching it! I suspect it will be on TV next Christmas, so I can get grumpy about it then... :)

[Jill]

Susan wrote: "Frances, are you serious? Poirot gets in fights?! Wow, that's just SO wrong. Along with the moustache that has finished off any chance of Branagh as Poirot for me - although I was warned I would no..."

I so agree. Beside the fact that I don't like Branagh anyway, it sounds so far away from the Poirot we know. I will be finding something else to do when it does turn up on TV.

[Mark Pghfan]

The new movie was beautifully shot and there are a lot of good performances, though Branagh was not one of them, in my opinion. And they made some awful changes to the "action", not the least of which is the ridiculous chase Poirot makes.

[Robin]

Why make it an Agatha Christie if the characters are not hers? I feel like shouting write your own story and develop your own characters. Don't spoil the ones we know and love /hate!!

[Susan]

Poirot would never chase anyone. He might scuff his patent leather shoes ;)

[Tara]

What would be the point of chasing someone on a trapped train anyway, unless they have changed that plot detail too. But the essence of Poirot is that he would always prefer to exercise his little grey cells over exercising his legs. Chasing someone down would just be too undignified for words.

[Lady Clementina]

Tara wrote: "What would be the point of chasing someone on a trapped train anyway, unless they have changed that plot detail too. But the essence of Poirot is that he would always prefer to exercise his little ..."
Exactly- perhaps a bit like Mycroft there...

[Judy]

I usually love Branagh, but have to say I didn't think he was as good as usual in this - the French accent was as over the top as the moustache! The scenery and costumes all looked gorgeous but I was underwhelmed, and I haven't even read the book yet.

[Susan]

Do read the book, Judy. I promise you it is much better. I am very excited you may be reading And Then There Were None pretty soon (depending upon the vote) as I think it is one of her best - if not her very best.

[Robin]

I am going back to reread this one as I read it as soon as the challenge started and have been reading other books as well. I feel as though Agatha Christie deserves a bit better and would like to talk about the novel in more detail if we have time before proceeding to Murder on the Links (I think?)

[Robin]

I've just finished and am interested in the way we have discussed Poirot's physical activity. In the novel he does 'caper', rush about almost ? skip down the path. However, the important factor in all of these scenes in which he is very active (instead of ruminating, exercising the little grey cells) is the emotional impetus. Poirot doesn't leap, bound or even walk at a fast pace to find a clue or investigate a problem His physical activity is reserved for when he is highly emotional about something. I think this is important to consider as it empathizes the emotional part of Poirot's character. We see this in his attention to facilitating love affairs, or gently moving a character away from potential disaster . This gives him another dimension - again, Christie developing the important features of her character in her first novel. I also liked the way in which he thought about Mrs Ingelthorpe, an unsympathetic character in many ways. As a Belgian who had been helped by her , along with some of his fellow refugees, he felt an obligation to do well by her. The obligation was not seen as onerous, but as an important feature in his investigation. This is another characteristic that is important in Christie's characterization of Poirot. It is also salutatory to readers, possibly. Christie is saying that people who do good, while they might be annoying , are worthy of respect and concern. This morality is an important facet of Christie's books, unfortunately often side by side with ideas about class, gender and race that sit badly with modern ideas. I have just read some short stories featuring Poirot and find them interesting in that they have to sketch him and Hastings in a few scenes. I don't know if we are going to read them as part of this challenge?

[Susan]

Robin, you have made a lot of interesting points. I do agree that, unlike some GA novels, Christie is always sympathetic to the victim, no matter how unlikable they may be. Or, if not sympathetic, she does have a sense of justice.

I am not sure how Jessica is organising her reading, so I don't want to intervene. You are correct that, after, "Murder on the Links," there are 2 volumes of short stories, if I recall rightly. She will need to say whether she intends to do those or jump to the next novel.

[Robin]

Thank you, Susan. I think that the short stories are not particularly satisfying, but they do enhance the understanding of the characters. Jessica, I wonder if you have decided to read only the novels, if some of us are interested, we could contribute information from the short stories as we proceed?

[Frances]

Robin-I really enjoyed your take on Poirot-despite having read multiple stories featuring him over the years I hadn’t appreciated the emotional aspect of his character until you pointed it out. I agree that his response to Mrs Inglethorpe was quite illuminating-he appreciates her for her work with refugees (including himself ).

[Robin]

Thank you, Frances. I hadn't realised the significance of Poirot's s activity in comparison with his thinking about the problem rather than searching for tiny clues etc. It took reading the posts where his sometime physical activity contrasted with his 'using the little grey cells'. The swift reread of this first novel made me think about this emotional characteristic. I think that is the real value of being in a group discussing a novel. I'm finding this a terrific thread as I came to the Miss Marple rather late in the challenge.

[Susan]

Perhaps when Jessica next visits the thread, she can name the next few books she is going to read. Otherwise, should any members wish to continue the Poirot books, you are welcome to open threads for any books you wish to read - including the next Poirot novels and the short story volumes, should you want to include them.

In our experience, if anyone wishes to organise Buddy Reads, it is helpful for readers to know what they are going to read, ahead of time. The next novel is, The Murder on the Links and, after that, there are short stories before the next novel:

The Mysterious Affair at Styles 1920
 Murder on the Links 1923
 Christmas Adventure (short story) 1923
 Poirot Investigates (short stories) 1924
 Poirot's Early Cases (short stories) 1974
 The Murder of Roger Ackroyd 1926

If you wish to include those, you can always work out a way which works for you and initiate a Buddy Read for the volumes of short stories. Of course, Jessica may wish to include them and, hopefully, will make this clear in due time.

[Jessica-sim]

Hi all, well you know I am not an experienced discussion and I am happy that you all went merrily along (a very good instinct). I have some demanding work projects behind me now and hopefully more time and energy for keeping up with my GoodRead-intentions.

Okay, so order wise. I am happy that we can all agree on murder on the links next! And then I was just going for the writing order, I think I posted my planned schedule somewhere, but it is not set in stone if you would like something else.

I was going for the reading order as suggested by Agathachristie.com, http://s3.amazonaws.com/agatha-christ...

First couple of books:

The Mysterious Affair at Styles 1920
 Murder on the Links 1923
 Christmas Adventure (short story) 1923
 Poirot Investigates (short stories) 1924
 Poirot's Early Cases (short stories) 1974
 The Murder of Roger Ackroyd 1926
 The Big Four 1927
 The Mystery of the Blue Train 1928
 Black Coffee (play novelisation by Charles Osborne) 1997

[Jessica-sim]

Actually I announced the plan of following the abovementioned list in my first post for this thread but could have included the books written out to give a better overview. So will do that, when opening the threads for the next month!

[Susan]

I think people were unsure whether you were going to include the volumes of short stories or not, Jessica.

[Susan]

Anyway, it is good that you have clarified your reading order. Just to copy from Jessica's other thread, her suggested reading order is as follows:

The Mysterious Affair at Styles 1920 --> Done!
Feb - Murder on the Links 1923
March - Christmas Adventure (short story) 1923 (well it's been placed here chronologically, you can ship it and save it for December...)
March - Poirot Investigates (short stories) 1924 (because we can certainly handle more than 1 short story this month!)
April - Poirot's Early Cases (short stories) 1974
May - The Murder of Roger Ackroyd 1926 (my favourite)
June - The Big Four 1927
July - The Mystery of the Blue Train 1928
August - Black Coffee (play novelisation by Charles Osborne) 1997
September - Peril at End House 1932
October - The Mystery of the Baghdad Chest (short story) 1932
November - Second Gong (short story) 1932
December - Lord Edgware Dies 1933

[Mark Pghfan]

I've read all of the stories/books multiple times, so I am perfectly set to join in the discussions. I have a question on "Christmas Adventure". Is this "The Theft of the Royal Ruby"/"Adventure of the Christmas Pudding"? I think this was written much later than 1923, though. There is a Miss Marple story called The Christmas Adventure, which is something different, and also written later.

[Adrian]

@Jessica - Somehow I seem to be way behind the curve on this. I think it was you that contacted me back in late December about reading the Poirot books in 2018. And I've only just noticed you have set it all up, and now I have to play catch up with this as well as Marsh. Serious respect.

[Jessica-sim]

Adrian wrote: "@Jessica - Somehow I seem to be way behind the curve on this. I think it was you that contacted me back in late December about reading the Poirot books in 2018. And I've only just noticed you have ..."

Oh please, don't worry Adrian! I am glad I followed through and it is so much fun to have this group as company on this quest. Though I never read the books, I was negatively biased towards Poirot but am I am coming round now. I enjoyed the first book and the second one is even better! I think I might miss Hastings though once he leaves us...

(ps I also need to catch up with Marsh, but will do so soon).

[Adrian]

@Jessica
I look forward to playing catch up Jessica (on both this challenge and the Marsh challenge).
I do blame you now for giving me far too many books to read this year, but I will let you off. 😀

Ok, must dig out my Poirots

[Judy]

I've now watched the TV version of this starring David Suchet, which felt very true to the book. This was the first episode of this series that I've seen, but I'm looking forward to watching more. Suchet is great, though his accent took a bit of getting used to.

[Tara]

Judy wrote: "I've now watched the TV version of this starring David Suchet, which felt very true to the book. This was the first episode of this series that I've seen, but I'm looking forward to watching more. ..."

I like this version too Judy. I thought it was close to the original story in many important respects. I've read interviews with Suchet and he strived to stay true to Christie's vision rather than trying to parrot what other actors did with the character, which is very important.

[Judy]

Tara, I noticed this episode was shown in the third season on TV, so I wondered if they might make all kinds of changes and move it out of the war period - but not so, they kept to the timing of the book, with Poirot having recently arrived as a refugee.

[Judy]

Mark Pghfan wrote: "I've read all of the stories/books multiple times, so I am perfectly set to join in the discussions. I have a question on "Christmas Adventure". Is this "The Theft of the Royal Ruby"/"Adventure of the Christmas Pudding"? I think this was written much later than 1923, though...."

Mark, I've just found a thead about this on AgathaChristie.com and this is an earlier/shorter version of the Royal Ruby/Christmas Pudding story:

http://community.agathachristie.com/d...

It looks from this thread as if it has not been published in the US in this version -there is a Christmas Adventure: Hercule Poirot mini-book of it available on Kindle from UK Amazon, maybe also on the US site? Anyway I think I will hold fire on reading either version of it until Christmas!

[Jan C]

Don't think so. Looks like it is just available in an anthology - The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding which is listed as Book 33.

[Adrian]

Ok, so I'm beginning to catch up on all the challenges I have pledged myself to, and finally read The Mysterious Affair at Styles only a month late 😀

Like others I have this vague memory of the Suchet TV version (I do have the complete Suchet boxed set so could read and watch, hmm that's an idea).

Anyway I really enjoyed this, so thanks Jessica for the idea of a Poirot challenge.

[Jessica-sim]

You know that's a good idea! I'll join you and watch some Poirot tonight. I've never seen the episode before, but I watched Murder on the Links last week and enjoyed that very much.

[Adrian]

Jessica wrote: "You know that's a good idea! I'll join you and watch some Poirot tonight. I've never seen the episode before, but I watched Murder on the Links last week and enjoyed that very much."

Enjoy Jessica😀

[Jessica-sim]

Adrian wrote: "Jessica wrote: "You know that's a good idea! I'll join you and watch some Poirot tonight. I've never seen the episode before, but I watched Murder on the Links last week and enjoyed that very much...."

Thanks! I enjoyed it. How strange that they didn't start with this one as their first episode.

[Adrian]

Jessica wrote: "Thanks! I enjoyed it. How strange that they didn't start with this one as their first episode. ..."

I know, but it was good though wasn't it 👍

[Brina]

Starting this now on page 40.

[Adrian]

Brina wrote: "Starting this now on page 40."

Sure you'll enjoy it 👍

[Judy]

I just posted this in the Agatha Christie favourite authors thread, but thought I would post it in the book discussion too!

The CrimeReads site has a great article today, 100 Years of the Mysterious Affair at Styles, with loads of book covers if you scroll down - some are great, some hilariously bad, particularly the one with a young couple!

Although the article doesn't include any real spoilers, if you haven't read the book I think looking at all the covers and the blurb at the start of the article might be a bit spoilerish.

https://crimereads.com/the-agatha-chr...

[Susan in NC]

Thanks, Judy, this is a favorite, so I look forward to checking out the various covers, imagining Hercules reaction to them...😂

[Judy]

Thanks Susan, I think he might have been quite surprised by some of them, to say the least!

[Victoria]

That's a great article, thanks Susan