poirot or holmes

[mr_michel]

last night i read two books
the mysterious affair at styles, and the hound of the baskervilles

both were pretty good, i think the hound of the baskervilles its one of the best in the holmes series.
and couldnt stop reading the misterious affair at styles (my night ended around 8 am).

so i thought asking: which detective do you like most??

personally ill go for poirot
while them both are equally great detectives, i found poirot to be more human an social
holmes lives only for the next mystery, doesnt seem to have a social life, and seems to be very square minded (not in his metod of investigation) but in the way he lives and acts, (im pretty sure he would been in the orient express he would have everyone arrested at the end).

 

[ctadams]

I like both.

I like both, but for different reasons. And as far as being social, neither of them really "fits" in regular society, partly because they look at things so very differently than everyone else. They both have quite the ego. As I recall (it's been a while, but you've inspired me to pull out my complete collection on Holmes) the only person Holmes considered his intellectual better was his brother Mycroft. Still, they're memorable characters, and I enjoy both series.

 

[Ashlea]

I'll vote for Holmes. Poirot always gets on my nerves. It's the mustache, I think.

 

[Bird54]

I have read all the Sherlock Holmes series and most of the Poirot books. I think I prefer Holmes.

 

[RaVeN]

I haven't experienced much of Poirot. Only a few books and movies.
Holmes, on the other hand, I've drenched myself with.

I've read all of Sir Arthur's tales and probably own another 50 books written about the detective after ACD's passing. One of the major reasons is not just the characters but the atmosphere of a Holmes book.

There's something about the mental images of the time period. London streets pillowed in fog. The sound of a horse-drawn carriage on wet cobblestones. The bobby's whistle in a shadow- crept alley. Those are images they stay with me after the last page is read.

As for Holmes himself, it's his weaknesses(or faults) that are as attractive as his strengths. His shunning of the opposite sex, the constant need for mental stimulation ( the needle & spoon), the dog/master relationship between he and Watson.

There is also the cast of usual characters to consider; Lestrade, Mrs. Hudson, Moriarty, Watson (of course), and as Ash mentioned, Mycroft.

And before I must leave, I'm afraid I have to disagree with your view.

(im pretty sure he would been in the orient express he would have everyone arrested at the end).

Holmes was not always a friend of the law. My belief is that he was more concerned with justice.


RaVeN

 

[VTChEwbecca]

I'll definitely vote for Holmes. Poirot irritates me to no end.

 

[dele]

Poirot every time. I just love him! Holmes strikes me as just too cocky, which is odd considering Poirot's personality.

 

[VTChEwbecca]

Poirot every time. I just love him! Holmes strikes me as just too cocky, which is odd considering Poirot's personality.

I feel exactly opposite. I wonder if one's opinion depends on which they read first...I read all of the Holmes' mysteries years and years and years ago, but I only got to Poirot about a year or so ago. Holmes, to me, seems logical, whereas Poirot just seems arrogant.

It could be that I just don't like Christie's characters...I absolutely can't stand Miss Marple, either.

 

[direstraits]

I haven't experienced much of Poirot. Only a few books and movies.
Holmes, on the other hand, I've drenched myself with.

I've read all of Sir Arthur's tales and probably own another 50 books written about the detective after ACD's passing. One of the major reasons is not just the characters but the atmosphere of a Holmes book.

There's something about the mental images of the time period. London streets pillowed in fog. The sound of a horse-drawn carriage on wet cobblestones. The bobby's whistle in a shadow- crept alley. Those are images they stay with me after the last page is read.

Raven...

Maybe it's because we were born on the same day (not year). I couldn't have put my fascination with Holmes any better myself. It was accurate up to the point of not having read much of Poirot!

You've hit the spot about the atmosphere - I believe that's what made me love Sherlock so much.

My prized possession in my library has got to be that hardbound, original Strand magazine reproduction of all Holmes stories, including the 4 novels.

While I don't have 50 books about the detective, I do have one non-canon of note - a collection of stories co-written by his son based upon ACD's unfinished notes.

Cie, I'm not sure if you're right about Sherlock considering Mycroft his intellectual better though. I believe Sherlock said Mycroft has much better observation powers than himself, but Mycroft would never be a good detective because he wouldn't go out of his way to prove he is right. I believe the person he regards highly is the only person to have 'beaten' him - Irene Adler.

IMHO, of course.

ds

p.s. there's a series out there that has paired Sherlock with a woman, Mary Russell. Married her, in fact. The author is Laurie R King.

 

[mr_michel]

I feel exactly opposite. I wonder if one's opinion depends on which they read first...I read all of the Holmes' mysteries years and years and years ago, but I only got to Poirot about a year or so ago.

It could be that I just don't like Christie's characters...I absolutely can't stand Miss Marple, either.

i can say exactly the same thing with the exception that i like poirot more

 

[Cathy C]

I like them both equally. But to be fair, if you're going to compare those two, then you should also add Nero Wolfe by Rex Stout into the mix. Same concept with "smarter than all other men" and "able to see beyond the normal eye". Wolfe is definitely my favorite for odd characterizations, but Poirot gets the nod for ego. Holmes and Wolfe both *occasionally* admitted that someone had an idea first. Not often, but occasionally.

 

[Wabbit]

It was a happy circumstance some weeks ago that led me to the most singular stories of one Mr Sherlock Homes of a Baker Street - London. Those aforementioned stories related to me the life and adventures of London's premier detective and indeed also his friend Dr Watson. Never having chanced upon the doings of Mr Homes I was at once astounded by the great and gripping adventures! I was also most impressed by the use of language in these books! Ah, if only I could emulate such prose I would indeed be a master word smith. After reading the astounding adventures of that remarkable Mr Homes I would have to say that he is without doubt the greatest detective not only in London but the rest of the world!

 

[mr_michel]

But to be fair, if you're going to compare those two, then you should also add Nero Wolfe by Rex Stout into the mix.

well thats easy to explain
i have never meet such gentleman so i enquired about those who i know, but i shall seek an appointment to meet mr wolfe (meaning its now on my tbr list thx).

 

[Cathy C]

I should mention that like the other two detectives, the creator has passed on. But there are a number of Rex Stout books. Here's an Amazon.UK link to some of the offerings (I think you're in the UK, right, mr_michel?)

Rex Stout search

Then you can just click on his name for other books.

 

[mr_michel]

thx very much
im in spain, i never been in the island, but planning to go stalk some people in the near future

 

[Freya]

hmmm watercrystal moment!

 

[Crystal]

hmmm watercrystal moment!

Finally, huh? I have been waiting for the introduction for days! *spatted Freya on her butt before she left.*

Holmes! He was the best detectives I have known. (I did not know others though.) The Hound of the Baskervilles and another, I think its name might be A Letter in Scarlett? Those two left the long-lasting impression on me, though i have read the whole collection of Sherlock Holmes, which might be my first detective novel.

oh, I loved almost everything about Mr. Holmes. His rigid manners, very intellectually analyzing techniques, and IMO, his seeking of perfection in dealing with any case, and lastly, his humane, which i think readers might overlook.

see ya, Freya. you are hottie, crazy girl. ('crazy' is positive in my dictionary. )

As for Holmes himself, it's his weaknesses(or faults) that are as attractive as his strengths. His shunning of the opposite sex, the constant need for mental stimulation ( the needle & spoon),

*nods head*

p.s. there's a series out there that has paired Sherlock with a woman, Mary Russell. Married her, in fact.

 

[funes]

I like them both equally. But to be fair, if you're going to compare those two, then you should also add Nero Wolfe by Rex Stout into the mix.

I'm very glad that you did. I read, somewhere, a theory that Wolfe was the illegitimate child of Sherlock Holmes and Irene Adler. Frankly, I thought that Wolfe had a lot more in common with Mycroft. In any event, he'd get my vote hands down.
And, I've read most of the Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes books and they aren't at all bad. In fact, they are rather good. Watercrystal could certainly read the first two or three without losing her temper. Besides, Mary Russell sounds like she would almost be my kind of woman.

 

[direstraits]

funes, I've been itching to try the Mary Russell stuff since I learned about them, but don't know the properly chronology. In what order do they appear?

There's one Jerusalem something that I thought was quite interesting from the back blurb.

ds

 

[funes]

ds,
The order of the Mary Russell books is:
The Beekeeper's Apprentice
A Monstrous Regiment of Women
A Letter of Mary
O Jerusalem
The Moor
I liked the first of these the best.