#Intricate plotting

[taletuner]

The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie's debut novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, published in 1920, is a masterpiece that introduced readers to the world of Hercule Poirot, one of the most iconic detectives in literature. Set in an English country house during World War I, the novel offers all the elements that would later become hallmarks of Christie's style: a closed circle of suspects, a baffling murder, and an ingenious resolution.

The story revolves around the murder of Emily Inglethorp, the wealthy matriarch of Styles Court. She is found poisoned in her bedroom, and the circumstances are as puzzling as they are sinister. With a house full of potential suspects—each with their own motives and secrets—Poirot, a retired Belgian detective and refugee, is called upon to solve the case. The story is narrated by Arthur Hastings, a character who often accompanies Poirot in later adventures, and his perspective adds a layer of accessibility to Poirot’s more esoteric methods.

One of the novel’s strengths lies in its intricate plotting. Christie meticulously lays out clues and red herrings, inviting readers to piece together the mystery alongside Poirot. The use of the classic "locked-room" trope is handled with precision, creating a sense of claustrophobia and tension that propels the narrative forward. Every detail, from the timing of events to the seemingly inconsequential actions of the characters, plays a crucial role in the unraveling of the mystery.

Poirot himself is a compelling figure, with his meticulous attention to detail, logical reasoning, and somewhat eccentric personality. His methodical approach contrasts sharply with the chaos of the crime, and his ultimate revelation of the murderer is as satisfying as it is surprising. Christie expertly uses Poirot's foreignness—both as a Belgian and as an outsider to the English upper class—to highlight different cultural perspectives, which adds depth to his character and the story.

The novel also offers a fascinating glimpse into post-war England, capturing the social dynamics and tensions of the time. The characters are well-drawn, each with their own distinct personalities and hidden depths, which makes the unraveling of their secrets all the more engaging. The setting of Styles Court, with its grandeur and decay, serves as the perfect backdrop for a murder mystery.

If there is a critique to be made, it might be that the novel's pacing can feel slow at times, particularly in the detailed exposition of the suspects' alibis and motives. However, this deliberate pacing also allows Christie to build suspense and carefully layer the complexity of the plot.

In conclusion, The Mysterious Affair at Styles is a brilliant debut that not only introduces one of literature's greatest detectives but also establishes Agatha Christie as a master of the mystery genre. The novel's clever plotting, memorable characters, and satisfying conclusion make it a must-read for any fan of detective fiction.

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[tmarshconnors]

"If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don't have to worry about answers."

Thomas Ruggles Pynchon Jr. is an American novelist noted for his dense and complex novels. His fiction and non-fiction writings encompass a vast array of subject matter, genres and themes, including history, music, science, and mathematics.

Reclusive Nature: Pynchon is famously reclusive, rarely appearing publicly and avoiding interviews and media attention. This aura of mystery has only added to his mystique as a writer.

Academic Background: Pynchon studied engineering physics at Cornell University, where he developed an interest in literature and writing. He later pursued graduate studies in English at the University of Washington.

Military Service: Pynchon served in the United States Navy from 1955 to 1957, an experience that influenced some of his writing, particularly in his novel "Gravity's Rainbow," which includes themes related to World War II and military technology.

Literary Career: Pynchon gained widespread acclaim with his debut novel, "V.," published in 1963. He followed this with several other highly regarded works, including "The Crying of Lot 49," "Gravity's Rainbow," and "Mason & Dixon." His novels are known for their dense prose, intricate plots, and exploration of complex themes.

Awards and Recognition: Pynchon has received numerous awards and honours throughout his career, including the National Book Award for Fiction for "Gravity's Rainbow" in 1974. He has also received the MacArthur Fellowship, commonly known as the "Genius Grant," in recognition of his contributions to literature. Despite his accolades, Pynchon remains relatively elusive, preferring to let his writing speak for itself.

[bellesdiaries]

The Double (墨雨云间) WANG XINGYUE as XIAO HENG

[ettaevie]

Just found out about the Marauders fandom from Harry Potter and honestly? Now I kinda want something similar for the Flags

[sidsinning]

Mylene in “Derision”: “Having bad mom doesn’t excuse your behaviour”

Felix in “Emotion”: “uwu I committed a world genocide because I had a bad dad”

Me: ???

I will say Felix is a lot more complex and sympathetic in his circumstances, bc the harm he causes LB and Paris is in service to those he cares about- his fellow sentibeings. He believes he is doing something GOOD (ofc still enjoying sweet revenge against Bad Adults™ - which they are so, fair LOL), while everything Chloe sets out to do is to make herself feel good with absolutely no benefit to anybody- and she fully understands that.

I will give Felix props for apologizing to Kagami and Adrien after Mari seemingly disappears forever because of him at least

I guess the only "solace" the show wants us to be satisfied with is their own actions biting them in the ass in the end but

eh

(Mari deserves like 100000x apologizes from you Felix like holy shit you made her have a panic attack and worse)

(Also sidenote rewatching Emotion Felix's entire plot was heavy as hell, I feel like they fumbled the bag with him going from breaking down in tears from having to kill one of his own kind that he made himself, to making him Kagami's boyfriend the very next ep he appears??? idk focus became wack besides his weird theater kid backstory scene after🥴🥴🥴)

[crueliste]

bro greatest tragedy in my life is being autism stim level excited over something only to sense that the other person isn't as excited an instantly pulling back like a turtle inside a shell like haha yeah i wasn't that into it either

[normalbroadcast]

pst. pst. tell me about ur audio drama plans. <_< (I will be your first fan before it even exists.)

ACK!! HI its very sweet of you to ask :⟩ it's still in such early stages though and i feel like if i talk about it too much i will never get around to actually making it. so i will mostly keep it close to my chest for. but i will tell you... two things:

1. sentient radio

2. deep sea

that is all . for now :⟩ you'll be among the first to know when there's something more substantial to share though for sure <3

[ragnarokhound]

Hi wife! Thinking about you. Should we buy a hot tub? Or a sauna? Or both?

Also thinking about the werewolf fic. I would be delighted if there was full werewolf smut in the werewolf fic👀👀 When will my wife (you) return from the war (writing the werewolf fic)?

Also thinking about the hilarity of tim hearing jason talk about his “time of the month” and ofc assuming it’s about Jason being trans when jason is talking about wolfing out. Picture:

Tim: “-and I brought chocolate-“

Jason: “Are you trying to kill me? canines can’t have chocolate!”

after some confusion they clarify things (jason is trans, not a big deal, he’s a werewolf, also not a big deal). Then (important for plot and character development) they have dirty dirty werewolf sex :)

Hehehe hello darling, you are always near my thoughts <3 And ohhh I could use a dip in a hot tub, especially now that winter has come to my climes >.< Though I fear a sauna would never see its use with me, haha

I am ALSO thinking about werewolf fic. Nigh constantly these days. I am deep in the trenches. I am furiously pondering how to reconcile the idea I had sketched most of the bones of almost an entire year ago with what I think and like now. It's been a bit of a battle. One I am fighting... tooth and claw you might say ∠( ᐛ 」∠)＿ (badum tsh)

Alas, while I don't want to give too much away, I feel I must warn you that the kind of werewolf Jason is in werewolf fic is more in line with 'that's just a wild animal' and less 'monsterfucker furry.' So while we'll see some very animalistic behaviors from Jason (what with the scenting and the licking and the biting and the growling etc) and some occasional signs that he's on the verge of wolfing out, there is no actual wolfed out smut lmao OTL. Please enjoy a small sneak peek of what I kind of sort of mean at the bottom of this post <3

For actual werewolf smut you'll want to look forward to the timestamp/smutty sequel I fully intend to write for my vamp!Tim and werewolf!Jay fic, in which he is absolutely the monsterfucker furry kind of werewolf and Tim takes gleeful advantage of that fact lololol (but werewolf fic comes first...! It Is Time. I Will Not Be Distracted.)

And omg yes. I do very much love the trans 🤝 werewolf overlap and metaphors, it's one of my favorite things fr fr (you got me thinking about trans lesbians jaytim now--)

I LOVE assuming there's a mundane explanation for a supernatural secret, that's my JAM (Do know that our early correspondences live rent free in my WIP document and that I would eventually also like to write the goofy sitcom-esque romcom in which Jason isn't quite hiding his lycanthropy from Tim - but Tim's not really clocking it either lmfao)

--and it must be said that dirty dirty werewolf sex will always be VITAL to both plot and character development <33 (it certainly is to werewolf fic, even if the werewolf part of that sex is mostly in the vibes lolol)

Anyway, here's wonderwall a sneak peek leading up to some of the smut in werewolf fic:

Jason snaps his teeth sharply, inches from Tim’s throat. It's not an empty gesture, and Tim wildly thinks through his options, squeezing tight with his knees around Jason’s thick waist so he can’t buck Tim off immediately. Jason is too strong and Tim is too light; he can’t stay here forever. Jason writhes underneath him, looking for leverage. With his shoulders trapped under Tim’s staff, Jason plants his feet and surges his hips in a powerful, cresting motion. Tim sinks back on his haunches to keep him down, then forward again when he threatens to break free. In Jason’s struggle, he rocks up just as Tim rocks down— and they inadvertently grind together. Tim's stomach curls and tangles in an electric jolt of heat at the glancing friction. He realizes with a spike of hot, mortified shame that he's— Tim is hard under his uniform. He sucks in a short gasp, trying to hide it, and Jason— —whines.

[looses-gooses]

I just think they’re neat ❤️

[tragedry]

i wish y'all could read the fic i'm thinking of writing right now. like. it's so good. so good. it's niche. it's authentic. it's completely catered to me. and it's jam-packed with intricate relationships and introspection. but most importantly, this fic is a character study poorly disguised as a coming of age.

[crypticmillipede]

show so heartbreaking and sad you gotta “it’s okay it’s just fiction” “wow these actors are so talented” “this is some incredible cgi work”

[psalacanthea]

here we are again, my old friend. Time for a re-read. In case you were curious, this is The Mysteries of Udolpho, by Ann Radcliffe. The heroine, Emily St. Aubert (the name! the naaaame!) is the most incredible Mary Sue to ever Mary Sue and I love her for it. She is beautiful, gentle, good at everything, but most importantly the most Pure and Good Girl Ever. Descriptions go on and on for pages. In fact, everything is described to DEATH in lush and exhausting detail. But! You get to read things like this-

"The deepest shade of twilight did not send him from his favourite plane-tree. He loved the soothing hour, when the last tints of light die away; when the stars, one by one, tremble through æther, and are reflected on the dark mirror of the waters; that hour, which, of all others, inspires the mind with pensive tenderness, and often elevates it to sublime contemplation. When the moon shed her soft rays among the foliage, he still lingered, and his pastoral supper of cream and fruits was often spread beneath it. Then, on the stillness of night, came the song of the nightingale, breathing sweetness, and awakening melancholy."

purple prose and mary sues are an important part of the literary ecosystem and should be treasured.

[peri-hellion]

So I've been watching Poirot reruns (returning to the primordial comfort media in the wake of the implosion of the US) and S1 Poirot and Hastings always struck me as vaguely Jooster-y, in a post WWII we swap narrative positions way (obviously this is because they're both variations of ACD's Holmes and Watson, but go with me here). I'd love to write a post-WWII Jeeves and Wooster in which Jeeves sets up shop as a private detective (on the back of his network/reputation as a war intelligence officer and probably because he had some sort of blowout with his governmental superiors) and Bertie is just kind of his aristocratic hanger-on who is steamrolling over the "can we be friends even though you're no longer my employee" question by just showing up everywhere. There's something about the way Suchet portrays Poirot's fussiness and kindness that melds with how I always imagined a postwar Jeeves who still has rigorous standards while also struggling with the inequity of his history of service (foreign and domestic).

[definitelynotshouting]

post-project illness has hands but at least im finally properly getting into Outer Wilds about it

[sealbee101]

Guhhgghhh puhhh……something something team urameshi polycule something something botan revelation

[puhpandas]

hi mutuals im just curious.