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Curtain

ariadnepoirotmarple 01 Jan 09 at 3:10 p.m. GMT

I'd like to know what you think about Poirot's last case, Curtain. I have just read it and loved it! The characters were amazing, the plot very intersting and mysterious...  we are again in Styles with Hastings, it just feels that everything will start all over again! I think it was a great ending. What do you think?

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Holly 12 Jan 09 at 12:34 p.m. GMT

I think it is a very good book, full of emotion... most of it far from happy. There's a definite feeling of sadness throughout, I think, but I like it all the same. I always love having Hastings around, anyway :)

Poirot's habit of using Hastings and keeping him in the dark annoys me a bit, but then that is Poirot. I still wonder, though, who really triumphed in the end. Did Poirot triumph over the murderer, or did the murderer triumph over him...?

go_leafs_nation 18 Jan 09 at 12:55 p.m. GMT

I also liked CURTAIN, but the chronology of the story can be confusing. Agatha wrote it when she thought she might die in WWII, so as to give Poirot a proper ending (she did the same with Miss Marple). When published, she didn't bother to edit it into the 70s, so a thing or two might seem a little out of place.

ariadnepoirotmarple 19 Jan 09 at 10:35 p.m. GMT

Yes, goleafs, the chronology of the story is very confusing, indeed but I think the book was so emotional, sad and charismatic. It was such a fabulous ending, in my opinion, again in Styles... Poirot... Hastings... it has spirit! I don't think Poirot triumphed over the murderer neither the murderer triumphed over him. I think a murderer never gets triumphed over Poirot, however, in this last case I think Poirot understood that he was not perfect and he couldn't always triumph over the murderer because he was human. I think the book, although had some sad moments, is happy, lovely and touching. As I love Poirot, it was amazing for me to read this book and reflect about the person this detective was.

cinnamonhead 22 Jan 09 at 6:15 a.m. GMT

I have put off reading this one because I know the ending and I feel as though I am losing a friend. I guess the time has come to get on with it and just do it!

VRossa 22 Jan 09 at 9:10 a.m. GMT

Like you APM I loved Curtain - I thought it was one of Agatha Christie's best psychological detective novels - in my view it was classic - so reminiscent of Shakespeare in fact I think she does allude to that in the novel - I thought the times issues were fairly irrelevant - it was Agatha in her prime. Great book!!

Holly 23 Jan 09 at 11:07 a.m. GMT

The time issues can be a bit confusing, indeed, but they certainly don't spoil the story. I can't say I think it is in any way a happy book. For me, it is extremely sad, and melancholy all the way through.

ariadnepoirotmarple 15 Feb 09 at 5:50 p.m. GMT

Cinnamonhead You should read it if you've read some Poirot books. Let it for the end, if you want. But try to read it. It's amazingly well written and has so much spirit and charisma. Read it if you love Poirot. It's a wonderful novel about Poirot himself and his experiences. It seems, indeed, like you're losing a friend but he remains alive for me, even after reading Curtain. Poirot is immortal. I know this seems quite ridiculous but I cried so much in the end. I just couldn't control myself. It's such an emotional book.

susandiane 18 Feb 09 at 9:27 p.m. GMT

Curtain has THE hands down most fascinating way to commit murder. Only AC would have the guts to pull THAT off. I thought it was all bunk until a case popped up in Mississippi, two sisters and a boyfriend killed the girls' mother, the youngest daughter was the emotional twin of the killer in Curtain! Curtain was the novel that made me understand that AC understood human nature. That evil (or at least, false heroics or stupidity) is inherent in ALL of us! It's a deep psychological novel like Nemesis (which I thought SHOULD have been Miss Marple's last case)

Mr_Satterthwaite 22 Feb 09 at 4:28 p.m. GMT

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I found it to have a very sad atmosphere. A 'finishing' feel. But of course that is only to be expected. I would like to think that Hastings found some happiness at the end though.

ariadnepoirotmarple 26 Feb 09 at 4:20 p.m. GMT

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Mr_Satterthwaite

I found it to have a very sad atmosphere. A 'finishing' feel. But of course that is only to be expected. I would like to think that Hastings found some happiness at the end though.

Maybe Hastings really found some happiness! His best friend died but life goes on and he'd never forget him because Poirot, as I have mentioned, is immortal. He remains alive forever in our hearts.

ace_of_spades 27 Feb 09 at 1:45 a.m. GMT

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I thought Curtain was such an ingenius, yet somewhat depressing, book. Like susandiane said, only Christie would have the courage to pull the surprise ending off (AKA the letter to Hastings from Poirot.)

The part when Poirot said 'Goodbye mon ami', the last time Hastings saw his friend, was heart breaking! So sad.

Kutika 27 Feb 09 at 9:18 a.m. GMT

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I think the Curtain is the best AC novel, it is amazing how the murder can manipulate his "victims". When I first read it, I didn't know anything about it's finishing, sot I was so shocked. Although it is one of my favourites, I rarely read it because of the sad conclusion.

susandiane 01 Mar 09 at 12:39 p.m. GMT

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In the letter, when HP admits to being a cop, you sort of have to agree with him.

sapphire_arisa 09 Apr 09 at 3:22 p.m. GMT

I'm reading it right now

I'm up to the 2nd chapter, and i just cannot stop reading!!!!!!

jolley74 09 Apr 09 at 6:07 p.m. GMT

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i listened to this on audiobook and i loved it!!i would love it to be dramatized but would probably end up crying like i did at the end of the book.can you imagine david suchet playing poirot dying!!its too much to bear.

sapphire_arisa 04 May 09 at 4:14 a.m. GMT

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I finished the book more than a month ago now...

I thought it was very sad when poirot died....

but i really liked the book, and i've never guessed the murderer at Styles.

Bowie 08 May 09 at 8:13 p.m. GMT

Man this site is so stupid. I mean, spoilers showing up under "most recent post"? Come on.

Tommy_A_Jones 09 May 09 at 11:53 a.m. GMT

Surely Bowie now it is possible for all usersa to uncover them it is better for caution but I do think if a Topic has a Book as the title it suggests that that is the subject matter so if you have not read the book you should not read the posts and if there is something about a book you want to discuss there should be a place for that as there was in the old site and people should be able to ask a question say what book the question is about and then the rest should be hidden for p[eople who hasven't read it.

7bubbles7 23 Oct 09 at 5:40 a.m. GMT

Can someone explain the significance of the title or where in the book the title comes from? I guess I just read it so fast that I didn't catch it...

GKCfan 23 Oct 09 at 7:35 a.m. GMT

"Curtain" is a reference to the stage term for "the end."