On a whim of procrastination, I just typed this up in my 'writings' folder. I came to the conclusion that I do in fact prefer Poirot over Holmes. Also what are your views on Christie's formulaic writing? Here I tell you why I enjoy Poirot:
Those of you who know me closely will already know about my obsession with Agatha Christie, particularly her character Hercule Poirot. I even have WWPD (What Would Poirot Do?) written on the back of my lab coat Why? Because it's just that little bit more fun when an extravagant pest, living well above the means of an average person, gets bumped off only to be followed by tea and scones just around the corner.
People tell me her mysteries are always formulaic and if you've read one then you've read them all. Well yes, there is a basic formula: 1. Some rich person dies (Usually, not always.) 2. Hercule Poirot comes to the scene 3. He investigates until he hits a Eureka moment 4. He gathers up all the suspects and theatrically interrogates each of them in front of the others. 5. Lo and behold, it's the person you least expected. Like you didn't expect that already.
Formulaic story lines often deter people from coming back, but for the Poirot series, it's the exact reason that keeps me coming back for more. I sit on the edge of my seat until the final interrogation scene that I anticipate as soon as I open the novel for the first time. He unapologetically drags skeletons out of the closet by the neck. It's quite fun.
The characters in the Poirot series also entertain me to no end mainly because I can't relate to them. When something goes wrong, all I can do is say to myself ' they had that coming' and keep chasing the unraveling plot. The victims are usually so thickly embedded in ignorance, aloofness and sparkling champagne it makes for good satire. Everybody loves satire. =D
Finally, who can forget Poirot himself. An adorable little Belgian (NOT FRENCH, MIND YOU) man who shuffles along in patent leather shoes and a noggin full of little grey cells. His character is so unique and refreshing and thus my favourite fictional character of all time. I also fell in love with the series starring David Suchet. He was so exactly what I imagined Poirot to be like in every manner that I was not so much pleasantly surprised as I was pleasantly shocked.
And thus, this is why I love Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot. The story lines and the people make for a delicious murder mystery, a helping of glamour outside our own boring realities and a silent laugh at those who hold the futile gems of money, arrogance and pride at the centers of their universe.
Those of you who know me closely will already know about my obsession with Agatha Christie, particularly her character Hercule Poirot. I even have WWPD (What Would Poirot Do?) written on the back of my lab coat Why? Because it's just that little bit more fun when an extravagant pest, living well above the means of an average person, gets bumped off only to be followed by tea and scones just around the corner.
People tell me her mysteries are always formulaic and if you've read one then you've read them all. Well yes, there is a basic formula:
1. Some rich person dies (Usually, not always.)
2. Hercule Poirot comes to the scene
3. He investigates until he hits a Eureka moment
4. He gathers up all the suspects and theatrically interrogates each of them in front of the others.
5. Lo and behold, it's the person you least expected. Like you didn't expect that already.
Formulaic story lines often deter people from coming back, but for the Poirot series, it's the exact reason that keeps me coming back for more. I sit on the edge of my seat until the final interrogation scene that I anticipate as soon as I open the novel for the first time. He unapologetically drags skeletons out of the closet by the neck. It's quite fun.
The characters in the Poirot series also entertain me to no end mainly because I can't relate to them. When something goes wrong, all I can do is say to myself ' they had that coming' and keep chasing the unraveling plot. The victims are usually so thickly embedded in ignorance, aloofness and sparkling champagne it makes for good satire. Everybody loves satire. =D
Finally, who can forget Poirot himself. An adorable little Belgian (NOT FRENCH, MIND YOU) man who shuffles along in patent leather shoes and a noggin full of little grey cells. His character is so unique and refreshing and thus my favourite fictional character of all time. I also fell in love with the series starring David Suchet. He was so exactly what I imagined Poirot to be like in every manner that I was not so much pleasantly surprised as I was pleasantly shocked.
And thus, this is why I love Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot. The story lines and the people make for a delicious murder mystery, a helping of glamour outside our own boring realities and a silent laugh at those who hold the futile gems of money, arrogance and pride at the centers of their universe.