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What are the popular works of Agatha Christie?

Born in September 15, 1890 in the town of Devon, Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie was a gifted child. She overcame dysgraphia, an inability to write text, to author 66 detective novels, 14 short stories, and the world’s longest-running play, ‘The Mousetrap”. Here are some of her popular works:

“The Mysterious Affair at Styles”

“The Mysterious Affair at Styles” was Christie’s first published novel. It introduced Hercule Poirot, Inspector Japp, and Arthur Hastings, who became some of the recurring characters in her novels. Poirot uses his detective skills to solve the mystery of a murder in his new neighbourhood.

“Murder On the Orient Express”

Published on January 1, 1934, “Murder on the Orient Express” is an intriguing read. Heavy snowfall stops the Orient Express in its tracks. By morning one of its passengers is dead in his compartment with the door locked from the inside. In this classic whodunnit, all the passengers are suspects in the eyes of detective Poirot. The book was adapted to the silver screen in 1974 and 2017.

“Death on the Nile”

In this fast paced novel, action takes place in Egypt. While on vacation, Poirot investigates the murder of a young heiress. A Netflix adaptation of the classic is set to release this year.

“The Mousetrap”

Running continuously for over 60 years, “The Mousetrap” established Agatha Christie as a playwright in the public eye. His story was adapted from a radio play, “Three Blind Mice”, written for the Royal family in 1947.

 

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What is Enjambment poem?

From the tricky periods to the troublesome comma taught grammar – the we are hallowed rules that govern any language – right from our primary school years. Following them stringently, not a comma out of place, makes for good prose writing. On the other hand, the beauty of poetry lies in the fact that the poet can take grammatical liberties. The enjambment is a case in point.

A literary device used in poetry, enjambment (French for stepping over) helps in carrying over a sentence or phrase from one line to the next without any punctuation. No full stops, no m-dashes, or no semicolons. Sounds incredible, right?

Examples

Here’s how it works. Many poems have lines with a natural pause or punctuation to convey ideas. These are known as end stopped lines. Whereas enjambment ends a line in the middle of a phrase, allowing it to continue onto the next. Using enjambment poets, can create a free-flowing poem.

William Carlos Williams’ “Between Walls” (1938) is a classic example

“the back wings

of the

hospital where

nothing will grow lie

cinders

in which shine the broken

pieces of a green bottle

Breaking one sentence into 10 enjambed lines gives the poem a certain pace and adds to the dramatic effect.

Without enjambment, the poem would have simply read the back wings of the hospital, where nothing will grow, lie cinders in which shine the broken pieces of a green bottle.”

See how enjambment can change the tone of the poem?

Setting the pace

Thanks to enjambment, the lines can move quickly as the eye hops to the next line to follow the thought or meaning of the poem.

This technique helps the poet to communicate the mood of the poem, give it momentum and even create some tension.

For instance, TS Eliot’s, The Waste Land (1922) cleverly uses enjambment to evoke changing seasons:

“April is the cruelest month, breeding

Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing

Memory and desire, stirring

Dull roots with spring rain.

Winter kept us warm,

covering

Earth in forgetful snow, feeding

A little life with dried tubers.”

So the next time you sit down to write a poem, try your hand at this unique literary device!

 

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What is the story of the Project Northmoor?

Nestled between a canopy of trees, the house on 20 Northmoor Road looks like any other in the U.K. countryside. However, it is a round blue plaque on the front of the house that sets it apart. Bold writing on the blue circle proudly declares, “J.R.R. Tolkien, author of “The Lord of the Rings” lived here.”

And, the 97-year-old house, which has been put up for sale in December 2020, has spurred a controversial crowdfunding campaign, supported by popular British actors, to convert it into a centre dedicated to the author and his works.

Tolkien lived at the house between 1930 and 1947 with his wife Edith.

According to the press release, Project Northmoor is now working to raise $6 million by March 15, 2021. Many public figures including Ian McKellen and Martin Freeman, who played Gandalf and Bilbo Baggins in the film adaptations of Tolkien’s fantasy novels, have come out in its support.

The website, projectnorthmoor.org, says, “We hope one day to invite Tolkien fans the world over to take part in our programme of events,” says the website.

The controversy

Project Northmoor however is not backed by the Tolkien estate. Members of the public have also raised over some of the conditions put forth by the organisers for donating the money. As the debate about the future of the iconic writer’s house continues, fans are keeping their fingers crossed.

Who was J.R.R. Tolkien?

Tolkien was born on January 3, 1892 in Bloemfontein, South Africa. He went to King Edward’s School in England, where he did remarkably well. From an early age, he showed exceptional linguistic skills. He mastered the staple languages of that time such as Latin and Greek along with ancient and classical languages such as Gothic and Finnish. But he was more than just a language enthusiast, he often made up languages in his leisure time. A few of his friends from King Edward’s School also formed a secret society T.C.B.S (Tea Club and Barrovian Society) and regularly came together to drink tea, write poetry and review each other’s work.

Popular works

Tolkien worked as an Assistant Lexicographer on the Oxford English Dictionary and later as a professor at the University of Leeds and Oxford. He often regaled his children with mythological stories and legends. One such story became the basis for the famous trilogy “The Hobbit”. The series soon developed into something much more than a children’s story. It turned into a highly complex 16-year history of what became “The Lord of the Rings”. It went on to become a cult classic.

Final years

In 1959, Edith and Tolkien retired and moved to Bournemouth. After retirement, Tolkien received literary fame. Frustrated by the constant public attention, he was forced to remove his phone number from the public directory. In 1961, he was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature, but he did not win. He spent his final years in a seaside resort along with his wife. He lost Edith in the year 1971 after which he moved back to Oxford and after two short years there.

Inside Northmoor

  • Tolkien’s house on 20 Northmoor Road, Oxford in the U.K. was listed on the market on December, 2020 for nearly $6 million. Because of its connection to Tolkien, it is listed as a Grade 2 building, meaning it is of special interest.
  • Built in 1924, it was initially the residence of a popular Oxford bookseller Basil Blackwell, before it was bought by Tolkien, when was teaching at Oxford University.
  • The two-story structure is spread over 3,500 sq. ft with as many as six bedrooms, and four bathrooms. What makes it special is a drawing room, where Tolkien loved to write and meet with his students. A garden at the back of the house still some of the trees planted by Tolkien.
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Which are the books that will help you rediscover the Yuletide magic?

The true spirit of Christmas

Dr. Seuss’s children’s picture book, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” is a holiday classic. The mean-spirited Grinch lives on the top of Mount Crumpit in Whoville. A six-year old Cindy Lou learns of the Grinch’s tragic past and nominates him to be the town’s “Holiday Cheermeister”. However, the celebrations turn sour as the Whos remind Grinch of his past humiliations. The Grinch concocts a plan to crush the Whos Christmas spirit by stealing all of their presents, decorations and food while they’re sleeping. He disguises himself as Santa Claus and dresses his dog Max as a reindeer, then descends into Whoville.

Ghosts of Christmas

Nothing quite says ‘Christmas’ like Charles Dickens mean old miser who hates everything associated with the cursed day. “A Christmas Carol” tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge and his ghostly visitations – the spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come. After their visits, Scrooge is transformed into a kinder, gentler man.

The joy of letters

Every December, J.R.R. Tolkien’s children would receive a letter from Father Christmas. These letters shared Father Christmas’s experiences that year-from an accident-prone polar bear to goblin wars in caves beneath the house – and are riddled with life lessons. , Tolkien has compiled all these short stories into one book for you to enjoy with your children.

Being selfless

“A Gift of the Magi” is a short story by O. Henry about the personal sacrifices we are willing to make for the ones we love. The magi were wise men who brought gifts to baby Jesus.

Living in the moment

Published on December 21, 1844, “The Fir Tree” is a fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen about a young fir tree so anxious to grow up that it forgets to truly appreciate the present.

 

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Which are the gripping stories set in the backdrop of surging waves, deadly storms and catastrophic eruptions?

A chilling account

Laura Ingalls Wilder’s classic “The long Winter,” gives a vivid account of one of the worst winters in the U.S. history. Told through the eyes of 13-year-old Laura, the story takes place in 1880-1881.

One of the major plot elements is the snow blockade that stops all train traffic to the town for months, cutting it off from supplies and bringing its people to near starvation. Meteorologists have verified the accuracy of Wilder’s account of the weather.

Story of the storm

The bestselling book that inspired the unforgettable film, Sebastian Junger’s “The Perfect Storm” tells the true story of the Andrea Gail – a fishing vessel manned by a crew of six, which disappeared in the middle of a raging storm off the coast of Nova Scotia on October 28, 1991. After one radio call to shore, notifying listeners of the impending storm, the ship was never heard from again: disappearing into the depths of the ocean and taking the crew members with it.

Waves of destruction

Lauren Tarshi’s “I Survived A Tsunami” tells a story about Ben, whose family is pulled apart and swept away in the tsunami that hit Japan in 2011. Ben has to find a way to survive one of the most epic disasters.

The devil and the deep sea

Yann Martel’s 16-year-old protagonist finds himself in this quandary when he is forced to share a lifeboat with a fierce Bengal tiger. Piscine Molitor “Pi” Patel and his parents are on a sea voyage to Canada after selling their zoo in India when they run into a terrible storm that sinks their ship. Pi is the lone human survivor along with the tiger.

A deadly eruption

Mike Mullin’s “Ashfall” series follows 15-year-old Alex, who is home alone when the supervolcano under The Yellowstone-finally erupts. The Yellowstone that some scientists believe has been long overdue for an eruption.

With his house and neighbourhood destroyed, Alex embarks on a journey to search for his family and finds help in Darla, who he meets along the way. Together they find the strength and skills to survive and outlast the disaster.

Perils of global warming

“The Drowned World” is a 1962 science fiction novel by British writer J.G. Ballard. The novel depicts a post-apocalyptic future in which global warming has caused the majority of the Earth to become uninhabitable. The story follows a team of scientists researching ongoing environmental developments in a flooded, abandoned London. “The Drowned World” is also believed to be the founding text in the literary genre known as climate fiction.

The distinctiveness of Ballard’s fiction has given rise to the adjective “Ballardian”, defined by the Collins English Dictionary as resembling or suggestive of the conditions described in J.G. Ballard’s novels and stories.” His books usually examine the psychological effects of technological, social or environmental developments.

 

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What is the life story of Mark Twain?

Samuel Clemens regaled generations with some of the world’s greatest tales under the pseudonym Mark Twain. But did you know Twain ran for the office of the Governor of New York once? Well, at least in a fictional piece published shortly after the 1870 U.S. election.

Twain’s satire on U.S. politics, “Running for Governor which he wrote while travelling throughout the American West appeared as his monthly column for “Galaxy” magazine and in the local “Buffalo Express” newspaper. Over a century later, the story has become a talking point in the light of the U.S. elections, which concluded on November 3.

Getting Political

“Running for Governor” gives an imaginative account of Twain’s nun for governor against actual incumbents Stewart L Woodford and John T. Hoffman in 1870. Twain, who innocently believes that “good character would suffice to win against his opponents learns about the rampant corruption, lies and character assassination in politics.

Life on the Mississippi

Growing up in the southern town of Missouri on the banks of the Mississippi, Twain loved role playing as a steamboat crew. He dreamed of becoming a professional steamboat pilot and acquired his pilot licence in 1859. He piloted his own boat for two years before the Civil War stopped steamboat traffic. He gave up the job after a while to pursue other occupations that eventually led him to writing.

Never say never

Though Twain died on April 21. 1910, his adventures continue to delight us. Around 107 years after his death. The Purloining of Prince Oleomargarine was published in 2017. Twain had jotted down bits and pieces of this story nearly 30 years before his demise. The handwritten notes were discovered at the Bancroft Library in Berkeley, by Dr John Bird, a Mark Twain scholar and professor at Winthrop University.

Did you know?

  • The term “Mark Twain” was a boatman’s call noting that the river was only two fathoms deep, the minimum depth for safe navigation.
  • His shirts were an invention of his own. They opened in the back, and were buttoned there.
  • Twain’s stories about Tom Sawyer have brought fame to the Hannibal region. In September 2019, Twain’s signature was found on the walls of the cave named after him, which figured prominently in his book, “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.”

 

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What is important in book “The Boy in The Dark Hole”?

From academics and parental expectations to extra-curricular activities and peer pressure, children today are under a lot of stress and anxiety. Released on the occasion of World Mental Health Day in October, Mumbai-based Vaishali Shroff’s new book, “The Boy In The Dark Hole” addresses this important theme.

The book tells the sweet story of a 10-year-old boy who struggles with the burden of parental expectations. The protagonist, mysteriously named SP (you will discover the reason behind it as the story unfurls), gets a discarded cardboard tube from his mother. Sitting in a dark room, SP peers into the darkness of the tube and is reminded of all the times when he experienced negative emotions such as sadness, anger, frustration or irritation. The dark hole is a metaphor of his mental state. Imagining himself to be falling through it, he keeps wondering if there is any end at all to the dark hole.

Shroff believes that in today’s scenario, there is a need to raise awareness about the mental health of children. “This book intends to make children get in touch with their emotions.” Shroff tells “The Hindu in School”. “It teaches children how to go from your dark place to your happy place.”

Caught in the deep throes of depression, SP’s friends Lobo and Kuhu help him see the light at the end of the tunnel. Usually in books, the protagonists are the heroes – but what I wanted to tell through this book is that there are many children who are not equipped to be those heroes. Not everybody is like a knight in shining armour. Sometimes, they themselves need help. So this book is about not being afraid to seek help from others when you actually need it,” she says.

Understanding children’s mental health has become pertinent during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, adds Shroff. “In this lockdown, it’s been ten months since most children have met their school friends. So this book also tells children that you need to check on your friends and ensure that they are doing good mentally.” she says.

Did you know?

  • Shroff runs a children’s storytelling club. Started in 2009 in Pune, the club functions in Mumbai as well and during the coronavirus pandemic it has been meeting regularly online.
  • Shroff made a foray into writing through poetry. Her first poem was published during the 1993 Mumbai riots. The fan mails and appreciation she received encouraged her to write more.
  • Her stories are inspired by real-life experiences and tackle complex topics. Her second book “The Missing Bat” by Pratham Books is based on her travels in Kashmir. “Ari” is about an introverted, shy boy. “The Strange Case of Nayantara” is about consent.
  • Her latest, ‘The Boy in the Dark Hole”, has been illustrated by Samidha Gunjal. Her beautiful illustrations bring the story to life and help us empathise with SP’s struggle.

Author bio

Vaishali Shroff is an award-winning children’s author and columnist based in Mumbai. A prolific author, she has written more than 200 stories, both fiction and non-fiction. She likes to write stories about subjects that are challenging and pertinent, and that serve as icebreakers during difficult conversations. Some of her popular books are “The Adventures of Padma and the Blue Dinosaur”, “The Missing Bat”, “The Strange Case of Nayantara”, “Raindrops” and “Ari”.

 

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Why is ‘Calvin and Hobbes’ so popular?

It’s been 35 years since Bill Watterson’s “Calvin and Hobbes” first debuted in the newspapers. Known as the last great newspaper comic strip”, it ran between November 18, 1985 and December 31, 1995.

What it’s about

“Calvin and Hobbes” follows the amusing adventures of Calvin, an adventurous six year-old: and Hobbes, his cynical stuffed tiger. Set in the suburban U.S., the strip depicts Calvin’s frequent flights of fancy and friendship with Hobbes. To Calvin, Hobbes is a living anthropomorphic tiger, while all the other characters see Hobbes as an inanimate stuffed toy. The series explores contemporary issues such as environmentalism, education, and philosophical quandaries.

Who was Bill Watterson?

William Boyd Watterson started drawing cartoons from the age of eight. An introvert, he preferred to spend time alone in his room drawing Charles Schults “Peanuts” comics inspired him to become a professional cartoonist. When he was in Class V, Watterson wrote a letter to Schulz. To Watterson’s surprise, Schulz responded! This greatly encouraged Watterson. In school, Watterson honed his skills by creating high school-themed superhero comics and contributing cartoons and art to the school newspaper and yearbook.

Who were Calvin and Hobbes?

Calvin was named after the Protestant reformer John Calvin and Hobbes after the social philosopher Thomas Hobbes. Watterson decided to name his characters after these social reformers as a tribute to the Kenyon College’s political science department, from where he graduated.

Drawing from life

Watterson incorporated elements of his life, interests, beliefs, and values into his work. Like Calvin. Watterson too likes cycling. The personality and appearance of Hobbes is based on Watterson’s cat Sprite.

 Fun facts

Against merchandising

Watterson was against merchandising his comics because he felt it would compromise his creativity and cheapen his characters. For years, he fought against pressure from publishers to displaying “Calvin and Hobbes” images on commercially sold mugs, stickers, and T-shirts.

Recognition

Watterson was awarded the National Cartoonists Society’s Reuben Award in both 1986 and 1988, Watterson’s second Reuben win made him the youngest cartoonist to be so honoured, and only the sixth person to win twice.

The End

Watterson stopped drawing “Calvin and Hobbes” at the end of 1995 with a short statement to newspaper editors and his readers that he felt he had achieved all he could in the medium. In the years since the comic strip discontinued, he led a secluded life and avoided contact with the media.

 

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Which is the acclaimed comic book series by Neil Gaiman will be adapted into a web series in 2021?

Bestselling author Neil Gaiman’s Sandman comic series is set to be adapted into a Netflix series in 2021. The upcoming adaptation will take on a more modem approach to Gaiman’s best-selling graphic novel series, which ran for 75 issues from 1989 to 1996.

The fantasy series followed the adventures of Morpheus, or Dream, the Lord of the Dream World. The 11 episode series will focus on Morpheus after being imprisoned for 105 years as he sets out to restore order to his fallen kingdom and return to his realm.

Gaiman, who is co-creating the series, has been dropping hints on social media about what fans can look forward to in the series Gaiman will take on the role of co-creator for the series

Author bio

Hailed as the modem master of fairytales, Gaiman’s work spans across genres and formats. He has written novels, short stories, non-fiction, graphic novels, comic books as well as audio theatre and films. His books appeal to adults and children alike.

“Sandman” begins

Gaiman started his career as a journalist reviewing books, before timing to writing full-time. One day while riding a train in London, he noticed a co passenger reading a comic by Alan Moore. The quirky style sparked his interest in comics and he started writing “Sandman” comics.

Popular works

 “Coraline”: Published in 2002, this dark fantasy children’s novella by Neil Gaiman is popular with children and adults alike. It traces the journey of the protagonist and the many adventures that are thrown up once she moves into a new flat.

“Good Omens”: Written with acclaimed author Terry Pratchett, Good Omens is a comedy about the birth of Satan and the nearing of the end times. The apocalypse is near and so is the day of judgement. It is a delight to read the way things unfold thereafter.

“The Graveyard Book”: The novel traces the story of a boy who was raised by ghosts and vampires. It is up to the protagonist to gather the meaning of life living among the dead.

 

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Who is Meenakshi Gautam Chaturvedi?

With lives getting busier and attention spans getting shorter long meandering fiction is a luxury few can afford. This has increased the popularity of microfiction. Stories written with extremely short word counts, often as little as 50 words, “Microfiction is here to stay.” Meenakshi Gautam Chaturvedi, an internationally acclaimed author tells The Hindu In School.

Based in Mumbai, Chaturvedi writes across genres. Her new book The Moon Cake” is a read aloud picture book, a vividly illustrated fairy tale which introduces children to nature besides kindling their curiosity to ask questions. Chaturvedi is also the author of “The Runaway Moon”, “The Corporate Jungle Book”, “Tales from Bushland”, and Tales of Phoolpur.”

A graduate in Zoology from the Institute of Science, Nagpur, she won a University Grants Commission Junior Research Fellowship and took up research for two years, but she wanted to do more than just dissect animals. While in college, she wrote her first piece of fiction, which was published in a local newspaper. She relocated to Mumbai and began her copywriting career with Lintas.

Having written across varied media from television commercials and radio to novels, Chaturvedi considers microfiction to be the future of children’s literature.

In a candid chat the author talks about her love for writing and the rise of microfiction.

How did you get your start in writing? Were you a bookworm in school?

I guess I was born to write, only I discovered it much later. I remember reading up anything and everything that I could find including the writing on paper bags. When I was a child, I saw the “Adventures of Peter Pan” (by J.M Bamie) displayed in a showcase at a bookstore in Kashmir. I was in Class III. When my parents refused to buy it. I remember throwing a tantrum something I rarely did as a child. in school, I was a total bookworm. I would walk across from one end of the school to the other to spend the mid morning breaks in the library. I would finish reading all my English course books as soon as I got my hands on them.

However, coming from a family of doctors. (my great grandfather was a Rai Bahadur, a civil surgeon) I was supposed to opt for science and I did. Even won a UGC fellowship and spent two years on research. Later following my heart. I took up writing women’s and children’s fiction and started my professional career as a copywriter with Lintas. But continued to write on my Commutes to work.

What is microfiction? Is microfiction the future of literature, especially with attention spans shrinking?

To cut a long story short microfiction comes straight to the point giving the essence of the story or a life-changing experience. Microfiction is here to stay. As lives get busier and people are pressed for time, long meandering fiction is a luxury few can afford. So yes, microfiction is the future.

You write across multiple genres. Why did you choose to write microfiction?

In my early years of writing. I was always in a hurry to reach the conclusion of a story. So microfiction suited me best. It was much later that I began writing novels. However, literary microfiction is only one aspect of my writing. I mostly switch genres to overcome writers block. I feel I haven’t lived the day if I don’t write.

The current COVID-19 pandemic is sure to have far reaching effects on the human mind and behaviour. Has it affected the way you write?

I think authors are one of the few people who have been least affected by the pandemic Since writers are anyway used to staying indoors and writing, the lockdown didn’t make much of a difference to us. I am addicted to writing and I can write anytime, anywhere. I once came up with an idea for a story when I was in the Intensive Care Unit for dengue. In semi-conscious state, I heard the doctor say that my dengue could lead to a haemorrhage, but I was busy thinking about how terrorism is like young blood going into wrong places. The moment I was shifted to the ward I asked for my laptop and started writing

What are you working on currently?

After “The Moon Cake: A Fairy Tale”. I am currently working on another picture book titled “Corona and the Little Girl and I am planning to work on a graphic novel next.

 

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