Early cases of Poirot

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Upon examining my good old bookshelves at home in search for a suitable book to read, an interesting title caught my eye. The author was marked “Agatha Christie” and the title of the book was as stated at the start of this page.
The reason I chose this book was, in fact, that I’ve heard a great deal about this author, but never giving myself the time to read any of her work.

Very well, to begin with I must say that this book gave me quite a fright when it came to language. It is no simple English terms the reader must make acquaintance with(get the point?). And not only that, but the poor reader is also supposed to understand some basic French too, since the main character in the book, Hercule Poirot, is from Belgium and quite frequently turns to this language when he wants to point out the importance of a specific thought or statement. He also turns to this language to express common sayings or personal thoughts, like “mon ami” (my friend), “au contraire” (not at all/the other way around) or page 190: “le crime, il est partout” (crime, it is everywhere). I need hardly nemption the satisfaction felt when understanding these random French lines.

Another topic concerning the language, or more accurately the basic writing-type of the book is that it is viewed from different persons.
Mainly it is the good Hastings that retells stories for us, the readers, about events that have already taken place. But this varies, as sometimes it is from Poirot’s point of view we are supplied with storyline. We also in the beginning of some chapters follow the people that will be involved in the plot going about their business, adding a sort of insider-view of the psyche of the people involved.

The main character of the book is of course monsieur Poirot. Poirot is a short man with an egg-shaped head. He worships order and method and his life’s joy is his precious moustaches, which he treats with the uttermost care.
Poirot has a way of understanding the psychology behind people, and this gives him a huge advantage in solving crime-puzzles. He is also retired from the Belgian police force and has some money tucked away, which enables him the freedom of choice between investigations he finds interesting.
His closest friend is an old captain named Hastings (I don’t think his first name is ever mentioned throughout the entire book). Hastings try and try again to understand the ways of poirots mind when he follows him around different crime-scenes, but is not often very successful. Poirot himself at some page (I forget which) exclaims that Hastings is so perfectly normal-minded that he provide Poirot with a handy testing ground of what the murderer want people to believe.
Also there is the inspector from Scotland Yard, Yap, which according to Poirot is a promising talent. However, this talent need often seek counsel in Poirot, and have a way of pretending that he is in fact not at all asking Poirot for help.

The meaning of this book, I think, is to “exercise the little grey”, as Poirot himself so painfully often reminds his poor friend Hastings of. There’s a certain thrill of figuring out in advance the meaning of different clues given to you as the reader, and you feel like your part of the plot. Then, of course, it is always equally intoxicating when the curtains fall and Poirot skilfully hands out the evidence/conclusions and the murderer is determined. Aha! I knew that old lady with the cats wasn’t to be trusted!
This book consists of multiple short murder-stories, and thus it is hard to choose quotes. I have therefore mainly picked out places in the book that made me laugh, chew up my fingernails, cry out in joy over a solved puzzle or just feel self-pleased in that way only Poirot and a box of after eight can make you feel.

Quote one: page 99
I chose this one cause it is near the dissolve of the, according to myself, greatest nail-chewer in the book. Notice how Agatha here uses the language to create a scary image in the mind of the reader. It is not a person who is entering the room, with the victim (in this case a little boy) unaware of the danger sleeping in the dark. It is a shadow, a mystical something that is closing in on the poor boy. A scene well-fit in any film-drama.
“But in this Poirot was wrong. Hardly ten minutes had elapsed before the door opened softly, and someone entered the room. I heard a sound of quick, hurried breathing. Footsteps moved to the bed, and then there was a sudden click. The light of a little electric lantern fell on the sleeping child – the holder of it was still invisible in the shadow. The figure laid down the lantern. With the right hand it brought forth a syringe; with the left it touched the boy’s neck –
Poirot and I sprang at the same minute. The lantern rolled to the floor, and we struggled with the intruder in the dark. His strength was extraordinary. At last we overcame him. ‘The light, Hastings, I must see his face – though I fear I know only too well whose face it will be”

Quote two: page 183
This is a typical example of the humour these stories are filled with, in between the murders of course. I couldn’t help smiling when I read is, so in it goes among the other quotes.
“ ‘The miniatures?’ he asked, though we both knew the answer well enough.
‘Gone. They’ve been stolen. Oh, what should I do?
‘Don’t worry’ I said. ‘My friend is Hercule Poirot. You must have heard of him. He’ll get them back for you if anyone can.’
‘Monsieur Poirot. The great monsieur Poirot.’
Poirot was vain enough to be pleased at the obvious reverence in her voice. ‘Yes my child,’ he said. ‘It is I, myself. And you can leave your little affair in my hands. I will do all that can be done.’”

Quote three: page 208
I got truly touched by this episode in the book. Poirot stops an old friend of committing a horrible crime, and the sympathy is really with the murderer in this one, if you can call him murderer since he never really kills anyone.
“’Why did you come? Why did you come?’
‘I have told you, but ther...