Valerie S. (VolunteerVal) -
From time to time, I enjoy a graphic novel to change up my reading life. If my comic-book-loving husband hadn't introduced me to them years ago, I'm not sure when/if I would've discovered them on my own.
This graphic novel version of the classic mystery includes the key plot points depicted in stylish illustrations. I enjoyed this method of storytelling over the text-heavy original. The puzzle aspect lends itself so well to a graphic novel treatment.
This graphic novel version of the classic mystery includes the key plot points depicted in stylish illustrations. I enjoyed this method of storytelling over the text-heavy original. The puzzle aspect lends itself so well to a graphic novel treatment.
Ron K. (WhidbeyIslander) -
Beautifully illustrated, it's a nice companion to the various publications available and follows the plot fairly well, including using actual lines from Christie's wonderful novel. I think I would have rated it 5 stars except for a few things.
Having seen three film adaptations, I had ideas of what the characters looked like. Although David Suchet will always be a perfect Poirot, I visualized many of the actors from the 1974 film in the roles of the passengers. (I ignore the execrable 2017 version butchered by Kenneth Branagh.)
First surprise was the illustrator deciding that the fellow Belgian Monsieur Bouc was black. (As well as the character of MacQueen being African-American.) Understandable in 2023, and Christie doesn't indicate race, but still...
Using some actual dialogue from the book, the adapter made a crucial change that jarred. In Chapter One of the Third Part he has Poirot say in response to Bouc: "Yes, it is a very unique situation." With trepidation I consulted my paperback copy of the book and happily did not find that sentence written by Christie.
A professional writer should know that the word "unique" means "one of a kind." So something cannot be very one of a kind. (Modern users use the word to describe something very unusual, but then "very unique" would mean very very unusual. A little picky I suppose, but I think people who write for a living should try and not degrade the language any more than it has been.)
Having seen three film adaptations, I had ideas of what the characters looked like. Although David Suchet will always be a perfect Poirot, I visualized many of the actors from the 1974 film in the roles of the passengers. (I ignore the execrable 2017 version butchered by Kenneth Branagh.)
First surprise was the illustrator deciding that the fellow Belgian Monsieur Bouc was black. (As well as the character of MacQueen being African-American.) Understandable in 2023, and Christie doesn't indicate race, but still...
Using some actual dialogue from the book, the adapter made a crucial change that jarred. In Chapter One of the Third Part he has Poirot say in response to Bouc: "Yes, it is a very unique situation." With trepidation I consulted my paperback copy of the book and happily did not find that sentence written by Christie.
A professional writer should know that the word "unique" means "one of a kind." So something cannot be very one of a kind. (Modern users use the word to describe something very unusual, but then "very unique" would mean very very unusual. A little picky I suppose, but I think people who write for a living should try and not degrade the language any more than it has been.)
