(no subject)

[nny]

I love detective stories and I don't know why. It's kind of bizarre - it's not that they keep me guessing, because I don't guess. I wait. I find out what happened at the same time - or a little after - the main character, because it's not the mystery that draws me in, which does make me wonder what I love so much about them. Possibly flawed people trying to put something right? Who knows. You tell me. :D I could do with being psychoanalysed.

Oh, and you may take this to mean 'read The Long Goodbye, it's fantastic' if you'd like.

Comments

[soupytwist.livejournal.com]

I think a lot of it is about seeing the clues laid out and then seeing how they come together, even if you're not actually trying to work out the mystery. I know that's one big reason I can re-read murder mysteries. :)

[winkingstar.livejournal.com]

I am the same way with mysteries! I am a terrible guesser, but I like the ride (if the characters are good). My parents are mystery-readers, too, so I guess it's in my blood. :)

It's also weird because I generally read books to escape reality (as in "bad things happening") so I usually read children's or YA lit. But for some reason mysteries don't bother me. Well, the "parlor" mystery variety anyway. I don't usually go for the grittier mysteries. Then again, I did love The Long Goodbye. I am just full of contradictions, I guess.

And if you'd like a rec, read They Came To Baghdad by Agatha Christie. I'm usually kind of meh about Christie's books because I feel she's much more about plot than character, but this book is one of her stand-alones and it has a much better balance of plot and characters. And is also really good.

Oh, and (because now I'm thinking about mysteries, which reminds me of the really awesome class I took in undergrad on Spanish mystery stories) El misterio de la cripta embrujada by Eduardo Mendoza is a fantastically funny detective romp. Assuming you don't speak Spanish, there is an English version (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mystery-Enchanted-Crypt-Eduardo-Mendoza/dp/1846590515/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1211635866&sr=1-3) coming out this fall.

*stops rambling now* :x