John Gushue . . . Dot Dot Dot

Plotting in the kitchen

"The best time for planning a book is while you're doing the dishes." 
- Agatha Christie  

What I'm taping Sunday (other than True Blood)

It's been more than two decades since David Suchet started playing Hercule Poirot for British television. In hindsight, the first series seem hokey and contrived; I have been liking the more recent ones, which have a darker tone. As well, Suchet has grown into the role of the retired Belgian detective. I recall reading an article in which he acknowledged that Poirot would be a career-spanning role, since Agatha Christie had written so many short stories.

The new series has started on PBS's Mystery!, which is just what I'm looking forward to for late summer evenings. The newest episode, Hallowe'en Party, is up this Sunday night. Here's a peek.

Those bloody happy people

"The happy people are failures because they are on such good terms with themselves that they don't give a damn."
- Agatha Christie

Daily Dot: Agatha Christie's mystery

On Dec. 4, 1926, Agatha Christie vanished. She was found within 11 days, and said at the time she had no idea what had happened. The mystery was tossed off as a publicity stunt, and explained later by fans as a reaction to an unhappy marriage. As recently as this October, it is still generating explanations (out-of-body amnesia, in this case).

A thought on habits

"Curious things, habits. People themselves never knew they had them."
- Agatha Christie

Daily Dot: David Suchet

On May 2, 1946 - 60 years ago today - David Suchet was born. Suchet is a remarkable and gifted actor, although he is known largely for one role. Suchet signed on to play Hercule Poirot for British television in the late 1980s, and knew that the commitment would be one that would span much of his career: the plan, after all, had been to film all of Agatha Christie's Poirot stories. After 17 years, the series is still going strong.