 Mystery: August 15, 2007 Issue [#1893] |
  Mystery
This week: Edited by: Tehanu  
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"An animal's eyes have the power to speak a great language." ~ Martin Buber
"Did you ever walk into a room and forget why you walked in?
I think that is how dogs spend their lives." ~ Sue Murphy
"When I play with my cat, who knows whether she is not amusing herself with me more than I with her." ~ Montaigne
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The fluffy hairball grips the cages wires with his teeth and relentlessly pulls back and forth, creating a sound that is loud and urgent. My attention is required but at first I can only guess as to why the creature summons me. There is no one reason why my guinea pig makes this awful racket, with his teeth gnashing against wire. Often I have to guess - is cool, fresh water required? Does the pig desire a crisp slice of green pepper with his parsley leaf? Or is the new baby guinea pig following him like a shadow again, and the old guy simply wants some respite?
I'm a new pet owner and I feel that animals are mysterious. They have languages of their own that humans attempt to decipher. They have wants and needs that somehow are communicated to understanding humans. They move about, typically, via their own willpower and can be quite curious or mischievious.
Because people often end up having an attachment to their pets, even while not being able to completely understand them at all times, these animals can add intense feelings to a story. You'd feel quite keenly for a dog that leads police to his owner, then refuses to leave the dead body's side. When a horse rolls her eyes and kicks down walls to escape a burning stable, you can visualize the fear in that scene. Cats are considered intelligent and you may believe that a feline could lead a criminal investigation.
Taking a leap into the supernatural, I recently read, The Inhabited World. This piece of fiction briefly shows an encounter between a human ghost and a feline ghost. The cat seems to be an unexpected guide, a way "into the light" so to speak.
I don't think my guinea pig will ever be a spiritual guide. And he probably will not alert me if someone breaks into my home. But that doesn't make his warbles and purrs any less mysterious.
But I believe he rattles his cage when I come home because he wants some attention! A scratch behind the ears, or a quick trip into my arms. Give a fictional animal or two some attention in your next mystery story. They can be quite helpful in unearthing clues or simply bringing a smile to the main character's face. |
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Thanks For Your Feedback!
diana :
I loved your newsletter this week on the HP series. I hear so many people disregard the books as evil or satanic. What they don't see is that JK's not only a brilliant writer, but her magical world is one only seen through the eyes of children.
I've been on many 'dinosuar hunts' and 'Pirate battles' with my 4 year old nephew; to say the least the many 'ghosts' that haunted his make-believe ship; something adults have forgotten in an era of throw-away children.
I think it's wonderful that you help cultivate your nephew's (and your own!) imagination. And I'm thrilled that you enjoyed my NL! 
Suze the Rock Chic :
Thanks for highlighting the great Harry Potter in this issue. I love the books, am eagerly awaiting the new and final release on Saturday, and dreading it at the same time. Partly because I don't want the books to end, but also because I have social committments on Saturday that I can't back out of, and my boyfriend has banned me from reading the book until the evening, if not the following day! Hard to explain to someone who isn't a reader of books, let alone HP, the importance of finding out what happens to Harry and everyone else and that I've been waiting six years for this! Like you, I didn't think I would like the books until a friend introduced them to me. Now I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to anyone. The cream of British, not because they're a craze, or a brand, but because they're loved and enjoyed by everyone from children to adults alike all over the world. Roll on Saturday, I hope we have all the answers we're waiting for.
I hope you enjoyed the final installment! I know I did; especially the second sort of epilogue that Rowling released via interviews after the book was released. (I'm a fan that loves loads of detail.)
LuVen  :
I have a question. In the series Deathnote, the story's hero and villain are both known to the reader. In fact, the villain is actually the protagonist. My question is, if the reader already knows who the villain is, then is a story still considered mystery? Deathnote's main appeal is finding out which of the two geniuses will win. Would this be more of a mentally based thriller.
Difficult question; I must admit to having never read this series. It could very well be a combination. My question would be, is there still a mystery to the story? Does the villain have a secret evil plan brewing? Do the readers wish to find out his origins? Is there something vital that keeps you guessing until the end? Then, I would lean toward mystery as the main genre, even though you know "whodunit" ~
Until next time,
Tehanu |
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