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Revenge is a powerful emotion that directs action and intent. As Hercule Poirot (HP) perfectly puts it – “It takes the fracture of a soul to murder a human being.”
I will not do a formal review here where I rant about the book, the author, list the positives, negatives, and finally, rate the book and end with an audience recommendation.
The Queen of Mystery (Agatha Christie) merits better treatment, and I also wanted this post to be more fun. Of course, everyone should read this book, which goes without saying. Agatha Christie's cozy mysteries are always my go-to genre when I'm not in the mood to read. This small-faced, 350-page book is packed with a brilliance and sprinkled with humor.
What I am going to do here is create a summary or give a blow by blow of the story with pictures. Don’t worry, I am not going to give away the murderer in the story. I leave that to you to guess. But I will reconstruct the plot in comparison with the 2017 movie based on the book by the same name.
Warning : I will be talking about the plot in detail here, so those who want to read the book without any background please skip this page. But rest assured I have not given away the Murderer at any stage.
Book vs Movie
Similarities and Differences in the Plot
Similarities:
- A kimono seen by HP on the fatal night is found in his luggage.
- The 10 questions that need answers to solve the mystery.
- HP is lost in thought, arrives at 2 solutions to discover the murderer.
- Solution 1 – Improbable as it does not cover many facts that surfaced during investigation
- Solution 2 – Impossible due to its sheer scale and absurdity, but the facts line up and is the real truth of the mystery.
Conclusion – Solution 1 accepted because Solution 2 will create more fractured souls and more pain.
Pluses of the book.
There is a map of the coach, with the seating arrangement of the passengers, there is the 10 question list, there is a detailed timeline and of course its more in-depth, and original.
The book follows a very methodical approach for readers with three parts to the story and chapters within the story with insightful titles to track the progress of the case.
The twists are shocking and page-turning.
Negatives of the book
A detailed reference to HP’s earlier success of his work would’ve added to the mystery content of the story of how he does the impossible.
Pluses of the movie
The unimaginably beautiful landscape that the Orient Express runs through is absolutely majestic. It has to be seen. Also the glamour of the coach and the characters needs to be watched by the eyes, unfolded effortlessly. I even liked the romance shade accorded to HP, a soft side to him is portrayed.
And Poirot was so perfect, I almost wanted to kiss him 🙂
Negatives of the movie
An unnecessary chase and altercation between HP and MacQueen could've been avoided.
HP is shot in the hand by Arbuthnot, why of why? The story had enough drama already. And of top of that he walks as if nothing hurt him.
Final Verdict
I am not someone who recommends a movie over the book, but I have to make an exception this time and say, this movie must not be missed.
I would recommend you first read the book and then watch the movie if you haven’t already. Both are worth it.
Agatha Christie
Agatha Christie is known throughout the world as the Queen of Crime. Her Books have sold over a billion copies in English with another billion in 100 foreign languages. She is the most widely published author of all time and in any language, outsold only by the Bible and Shakespeare. She is the author of 80 crime novels and short story collections., 19 plays, and six novels written under the name of Mary Westmacott.
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