A B C Murders - Agatha Christie - Review

Vidit Bhargava

Author: Agatha Christie

Publisher: Harper Collins (Gr8 new covers again!)

Detective: Hercule Poirot

Monsieur Poirot is not the detective to look for bent blades of grass, the footprints and the cigarette ends. Its Physcology that interests him. So whatever Christie has written with Poirot concentrates on the minds of the suspects not the place of crime (of course it is there but secondary). This book is no different.

Plot: A serial killer is on the loose, one who is determined to play games with the great Hercule Poirot. But can the Belgian detective come to grips with the mind of a psychopath? With the help of Hastings and Japp, Poirot must travel the length and breadth of England. Is he always destined to be too late?

The first thing I noticed after opening this book 'in all the excitement after reading that brief synopsis' is ... "The book is not in 3 person!" A big disappointment for me. I honestly prefer 3rd Persons to 1st Persons or 2nd Persons.

Going no more further in the narration of the book. Let's get to the review, The book has a surprisingly steady speed. However, Chapters end on an exciting note and make sure you are excited what will happen next.

The 3rd Person Narratives thrown in our exceptinally well written, they just make the book a new feel. They're really very good and one of the best part of the book A B C Murders.

The Climax is the best. The book is in a very steady speed and in the Climax comes an unexpected acceleration which just works so well.

However the book is strictly for patient ones, or detective novel fans. In the middle of the there are suprising things told only to the reader (not Poirot!) which may sometimes make the casual reader feel .."Ooh, now I got it, I don't think there is much left in the book!". I suggest wait till the end!

Also Inspector Crome with his "Oh Yes!" is a little annoying. He takes the fun out of Poirot's investigation of the case and is one of those dominating characters one never likes, but it is intented to be so.

This time again Poirot does it well, his manner actually works very well and the climax, it leaves your mind spinning. And when Poirot Explains, why wouldn't it!

Aussi, Christie uses those common French words in the Poirot book! Mon Cher... Eh Bien? and others which are hard to remember. Also, I've learnt a little french also! :) .

And one more thing, whenever I read A B C , it reminds me of the book! Such is the slow but heavy impact it makes on readers.

Eh Bien! The book is extremely good. Again a Bestseller and again a Must Read. On of the books which just outwits you, and leaves you Bamboozled. However its not a book to start with for the casual reader! I'll give it 4 stars and leave you with a remark from the book "The Case isn't finished till the Motif is known!..."

Rating : ****

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P.S. My Brother says I'm on a review roll, I agree. I'll soon be writing in other forms also! Just keep reading and Please Provide feedback, it is highy needed.

Raavan - Music Review

Vidit Bhargava

A.R. Rahman comes back after the music of Blue - hmm.. many don't know that however its true! Raavan, the name itself gives a mythological feel to the whole atmosphere before the release, I mean you expected Blue's songs to have that rock feeling and we expected Raavan to have that mythological feel, we heard in Jodha Akbar. However, it turns out to be different!

The first track is "Beera" you all might have heard it surely in the trailers. This one has a fresh feel of the African beets and lyrics. Surely this is one of the best tracks I've ever heard and one of A.R. Rahman's awesome composition. It is one gem of a track which will top the charts almost instantly. The only problem is that the track is just 3 minutes long. I wish it would be more! To sum it up it's a perfect album opener!

A.R. Rahman slips into a soothing grey song - Behene De. No doubt the song is even better. Strong musical beats with one of the best lyrics by Gulzar, the track is as good as its predecessor. You can listen this song in infinite loops, and you won't get tired listening it. It is just too soothing!

Returning with a hard beat track - Thok De Killi, this one is a really good track and has a really power full feel. Sung by Sukhwinder Singh, the song is as great as it gets. Brilliant Music, and the lyrics might feel a little badly written in the beginning however they are good in the middle and towards the end. Another track which is just awesome, though not as good as the 1st and the second.

Next comes another slow track - Khili Re, This song for certain is an evergreen track, you can listen it endlessly. It flows through. A peace full track that is certainly needed in an album. Of course it won't be liked by all , However its certainly of my taste! Reene Bharadwaj sings it quite brilliantly. And of course the lyrics are awesome again.

The other two tracks include Ranjha Ranjha, which has good music and good lyrics but it's certainly not a track you'll hum among your friends. Good Track but its just good there are 4 other awesome tracks in the album. and of course there is the last track Kata Kata, it is average, I mean, we've heard quite many similar tracks in the past (those marriage tracks that come every now and then). The music is of course good but overall the track is average.

So All in All, Mani Ratnam has given A.R. Rahman the opportunity to experiment and he doesn't fail. He's in Perfect form after Blue which from his standards was just good and after some time, he's been provided with some really great lyrics by Gulzar and the selection of singers is just perfect.

My Pic: Beera, Behene De, Khili Re [I've uploaded videos at the end]

Rating : ****

Beera

Behene De

Murder on the Orient Express - Review

Vidit Bhargava

Author: Agatha Christie

Publisher: Harper Collins

This was the first detective novel I had read, a complete shift from the steady Alchemist. As expected the book ideally should have been swift in its plot and of course the mystery should have been a well kept secret! but does it live up to the expectations?Does it do justice to the Best Seller tag against it? Or Is it just an over rated book? Lets begin with the plot summary

Mr. Samuel E. Ratchett a rich businessman is travelling by the luxurious Orient Express from Stamboul to Calais. The weather is cold and the train runs into a snow storm. In the train a murder occurs, that of Mr. Ratchett. Hercule Poirot is also on the train. He now has a case on his hands. Can he possibly find the murderer? After all the Murderer is on the train with him!

The plot is a fairly poised one but its the grippingness of the story which keeps you hooked to the end. Christie designed the characters very well. You've got these 15 passengers, all designed so well to look like the most innocent people on the train. It just makes it difficult to imagine, the murderer is amongst them.

The book at times might just be two Frenchish! The reason I say that is the extensive use of french in this English book and it looks like its in every book involving Poirot. I suggest, you can ignore them as the don't much affect the story.

Hercule Poirot is shown as intellectual as ever. His conclusions are admirable and the way this character is built up is for sure a treat to read. The book is in 3rd Person which is quite contrary to other books of Christie (Poirot ones).

You are always one step back of Poirot in solving the mystery. The mystery is neither something out of the world nor something which is too easy to solve. Never the less it keeps the grey cells working!

The slick and gripping story continues till the end. You are actually very excited about the climax, to read how it all happened. Poirot asks before that "I've known the murderer for quite some time, have you?" The honest answer is NO. I was close but never came to a conclusion.

The book was also made into a movie, which I didn't really like! It had that bad accent in which Poirot spoke! Its really hard to make out what he is speaking.

This classic best selling novel by Agatha Christie is not just a best seller of name it live up to the expectations. It is exciting and gripping also its just what you want from a detective novel (Never lets your clever thinking catch rust!)

Rating: ****

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P.S. I'm finally having readers! Their just coming in big numbers (atleast for me!). So a special thanks to all!