tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post5383376977548284218..comments2023-10-31T10:59:03.023-04:00Comments on INKSPOT Crime Fiction Blog | A Place for Mystery, Mayhem, Writing and Life: 1930s whodunitsLinda O. Johnstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01512430135042480450noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-70848550939806371722007-11-24T13:13:00.000-05:002007-11-24T13:13:00.000-05:00reply to keith raffel as to why some great whoduni...reply to keith raffel as to why some great whodunits are no longer read very much. First of all, there was a recent novel by Peter Lovesey, he of the Chief Inspector Diamond series set in Bath, Eng. (I don't recall the title, but it is his latest one) in which John Dickson Carr novels are a major theme. So some people do remember them, apparently. Probable some of it is that they seem dated. Nobody ever swore, for instance. People were prepared to do the most brutal murder, but not to say a naughty word? Look at the old greats. You might find a "damn" uttered by Lord Peter Wimsey, in a snotty upper class way, of course, but that would be about it. Dr. Fell, Carr's sleuth, will sometimes come out with a shocking "Oh My Hat!!" or something equally mild. In my writing, I don't have my characters cuss too much. Personally, I can do it with the best of them, especially when I watch the Vikings coached by an idiot, but i don't often have my characters cuss. Perhaps I am prudish lest I one day have grandchildren who will wonder why grandpa's characters can swear so vigorously. Or not, I donno.<BR/>JerryAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-36218278361262719342007-11-18T22:17:00.000-05:002007-11-18T22:17:00.000-05:00Jerry, welcome to our motley crew! I think it's s...Jerry, welcome to our motley crew! I think it's safe to say that most of us backed into writing mysteries. And we're glad we did.<BR/><BR/>What fun to share "How I Got Here" stories. Best of luck with your books and the blog.<BR/><BR/>NinaNina Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01951320004034298217noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-1662685239087687752007-11-18T19:24:00.000-05:002007-11-18T19:24:00.000-05:00Great to see you here, Jerry!My truth is that I re...Great to see you here, Jerry!<BR/><BR/>My truth is that I read very little mystery beyond my childhood love of Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys and so forth; but have long been a fan of romantic suspense and romantic comedy. Mixing romance, action and humor are second nature to me, and having those elements enhance a mystery plot is . . . frosting. Now that I'm gobbling up the wonderful mysteries by our fellow "Inkers," I'm hooked!<BR/><BR/>Again, welcome.<BR/><BR/>CandyCandy Calverthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07991835886974318472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-79548755653733054202007-11-18T16:22:00.000-05:002007-11-18T16:22:00.000-05:00Welcome to InkSpot, Jerry. When I was young, my ta...Welcome to InkSpot, Jerry. When I was young, my tastes in books were more like your dad's than you. I was reading Edgar Rice Burroughs, Jules Verne, and Ian Flemming. Throw in a little Edgar Allen Poe and you have my complete fiction collection nailed down.Joe Moorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00028401465567502250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-14594416727268969842007-11-18T11:34:00.000-05:002007-11-18T11:34:00.000-05:00It is curious how tastes will change -- and not ch...It is curious how tastes will change -- and not change. So many of the writers of the Golden Age are now footnotes, but Sherlock Holmes stories are still popular. I think those are an exceptional case though. I'm not sure anyone but a scholar would read the Dupin stories.<BR/><BR/>I think most people want to read mysteries that they can relate to in some way, which generally means they want stories set in the present day (or that are so timelessly written that they transcend their era). What strikes me as odd is how a mystery almost always has to have a murder in it, yet most people don't experience this in their day-to-day lives. Life is full of mystery as it is without murder and mayhem. But maybe my tastes are an exceptional case too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-84140231302463026672007-11-18T08:21:00.000-05:002007-11-18T08:21:00.000-05:00Welcome, Jerry, to InkSpot!I read many mysteries g...Welcome, Jerry, to InkSpot!<BR/><BR/>I read many mysteries growing up but these days, tend to read outside the genre when I have time with more mainstream, contemporary novels along with a mix of pure literary. I think of it as stretching my muscles in a new way. Oh, to have the time to read all day!Felicia Donovanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03556232226152556397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-21750465291738842642007-11-18T03:12:00.000-05:002007-11-18T03:12:00.000-05:00Welcome, Jerry! Nice post.Like you, my reading ta...Welcome, Jerry! Nice post.<BR/><BR/>Like you, my reading tastes were definitely of a more literary bend until someone suggested I write a mystery. Once I started researching them, all bets were off and I became an instant fan of the genre.Sue Ann Jaffarianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09984054116933714621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-3813866963728644142007-11-17T23:25:00.000-05:002007-11-17T23:25:00.000-05:00Hey Jerry! Welcome aboard!Why do you think John D...Hey Jerry! Welcome aboard!<BR/><BR/>Why do you think John Dickson Carr and Erle Stanley Gardner, who were so popular, are hardly read anymore?Keith Raffelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02926077627965529183noreply@blogger.com