#the lightning conductor

[appleinducedsleep]

(-so that when Brown suddenly said "There is the Château of Amboise," I was quite startled.)

I wonder if girls who have lived all their lives in old, old countries can have the same sort of awed, surprised, almost dream-like feeling that comes to me when I see these great feudal castles that are like history in stone? Yes, in stone, and yet the stone seems alive too as if it were the flesh of history; and as I think of all the things that have happened behind the splendid walls, I can hear history's heart beating as if it and the world were young with me.

🏰 C. N. and A. M. Williamson, The Lightning Conductor

#books #quotes #booklr #literary letters #the lightning conductor #bookblog #book community #bookwork #booklovers #my quotes #classics #classic lit #lit #literature

[pedanther]

It's "daughter of American millionaire marries British nobleman" o'clock in my Tumblr book clubs

#letters from watson #the noble bachelor #sherlock holmes #literary letters #the lightning conductor #not a reblog #don't worry i'm not going to do the meme again

[bookwyrminspiration]

I’ve only had my girl Molly for a few days but she’s already crashed her brand new car into a shop window. so suffice to say I’m in love

#literary letters #the lightning conductor #Molly girl you are such a treat #just write up a letter like hey dad :) #crashed my brand new car into a shop window :) #haha I’m so silly

[tachvintlogic]

I was proud of the car when I went out on it yesterday. Aunt Mary wouldn't go, because she doesn't wish to be the "victim of an experiment."

Aunt Mary has no confidence that her idiot niece won't immediately crash the car she just impulse bought. Love it.

#literary letters #the lightning conductor

[mxcottonsocks]

#this might be really unfair to chauncey randolph but i just imagine him reading the 1st letter like #'ohh no i have made a mistake...' #chauncey randolph #molly randolph #the lightning conductor #literary letters #12 november

[vickyvicarious]

But he can talk, no matter what happens, and he says things I remember. They seem to paint my brain with pictures which he gives me to keep. So his words are like his eyes, not to be forgotten. You know in our garden at the convent there were flowers which would not be banished, though the gardener pulled them up by the roots again and still again: poppies for instance. Some thoughts which come to one from other people's minds are like these. They persist, and they plant their seeds in a deep place where they cannot be pulled out.

Mr. Caspian is like the gardener at the convent. He tries to stamp out these thoughts, to plant others in me. But the roots have gone down where he cannot find them.

I really, really like this metaphor, actually. It's used here in the sense of romantic thoughts, but even without that particular spin, it could work just as well for a friendship... The idea of someone planting a seed of love in a deep place in your heart, from which thoughts of them will always regrow, no matter how others try to stamp them out - it hits pretty hard.

#literary letters #the lightning conductor #the lightning conductor discovers america #tbh i'm less invested in this romance than i was in the first book. in general storm isn't as interesting to me #but i love some of pat's turns of phrase #you could use this comparison for ideas too. hope. inspiration #but i especially like it in the context of a relationship. #others might say those thoughts are weeds or don't fit the garden plan. but they return and return and bring joy each and every time #(of course you could go a darker route with a similar comparison about negative thoughts. but that's not where i or pat are) #(also btw mr. caspian is not the he from the first paragraph just to clarify)

[serial-serializednovelreader]

Jimmy's Letter....

OMG what else can I say about this??? It's the funniest thing I've ever read.

Jimmy's in his "not like other guys phase" and I AM HERE FOR IT!!! Not because he's my favorite character, but because it's hilarious. When I say I laughed at him talking about how he's been compared to Sherlock Holmes, I mean I CACKLED!!! Jack really read his vibes for what they were (but of course in the most negative possible way because it is JIMMY we're talking about).

Even though he's insufferable I love that we get to see his POV and how he misconstrues everything and/or deliberately lies to get people to side with him. We already knew that from Jack and Molly's letters, but it's good to know Jack wasn't exaggerating when he roasted this man. Also this throws such a wrench for Jack!!! I can't wait to see what happens next. Will Molly's father forbid her from her chaffeur?? Will there be a big confrontation a la Prince Ali (Jafar's Reprise)?? Will Jack ever get his watch back?? If I needed anymore convincing about how great this book is, this letter does it.

In conclusion, Jimmy Payne thinks he's Sherlock Holmes and in his mind palace era, but in fact he is simply not a clown but the whole circus.

#I'm so tempted to read ahead buuuuuuut I won't #jimmy's just QUIRKY guys don't worry #now I'm going to make my friends read this so they can laugh too #the lightning conductor #jimmy payne #jack winston #molly randolph

[padfootstolemycrumpets]

It's lightning conductor finale day!

I know I've been silent on the tag but I have really enjoyed seeing people talk about this book - so here's some midnight dash rambles

I have to admit that I had a Paul rudd at the computer moment when jack was described with a moustache - but I've warmed to it. God I would pay good money to see audacious Jack blushing and awkward desperately trying to catch molly's eye in a film adaptation

I'm glad jack seems to realise that constantly deceiving the woman you love might upset her somewhat - at least more than the dad did 👍 my mind's adaptation has this suspense drawn out at least until nightfall for all that good angst

Mollys love sick brain being sidetracked by how handsome jack is will never not be funny to me - someone find me a good fancast!

THE AUDACITY OF THIS MAN!! I SWEAR TO GOD! The fact that I don't want molly to tell you to get fucked is a miracle! Kudos to you authors

Make him work for it molly! 💅👑

*screams into the void* IMAGINE THIS IN FILM FORM! This is a Gilbert Markham level love declaration that deserves life on the silver screen

Honestly molly I would've forgiven him too. Love yourself a man who takes you around picturesque monuments in the moonlight and blushes when you complement him. Also the lightning conductor is an adorable nickname 🥰

Overall I've really enjoyed this book and I'm so glad I joined this substack. I'm absolutely getting a copy of the sequel

#literary letters #the lightning conductor #molly randolph #jack winston #the lightning conductor discovers America

[hwestil]

NOT Mr. Cecil-Lanstown talking shit about our girl while palling around in Monte Carlo. I was gonna say "fuck him up, Molly," but Aunt Mary did it better.

Just as we were sweeping past Aunt Mary said in a loud aside to me, "Did you ever see such a creature? And I took him for a duke." I think he heard.

#the lightning conductor #december 25th entry #literary letters

[red-umbrella-811]

We can add “separating luggage compartment from engine compartment” to the automotive developments of the past hundred years, as well as pedals.

#the lightning conductor #literary letters

[appleinducedsleep]

"Why, Brown, is that you?" she quavered. "I- I didn't want anyone to see me, and I wasn't crying about the car, but just Because- because of everything. I found that hatchet, and- I couldn't help it. I'm sorry now, though. It was mean of me to hit a thing when it's down, even if it is a Beast. It does deserve to be killed, though. It's simply no use trying to go on with such a thing- is it?"

- C. N. and A. M. Williamson, The Lightning Conductor

#she’s trying to kill the car lol #booklr #bookblog #the lightning conductor #literary letters #books #quotes #book illustration #illustrations #lit #classic lit #classics #literature

[pedanther]

This just in: Jimmy doesn't Know. Rather, he's made the classic blunder of committing himself to a false premise and bending all subsequent evidence to fit it, instead of revising the premise in light of the new evidence.

(Sherlock Holmes, to whom he compares himself, has a famous saying about that.)

This calls for fresh popcorn.

#the lightning conductor #literary letters #not a reblog

[bookwyrminspiration]

“He is the gloomiest man I ever saw, gives you the feeling that he may burst into tears any minute”

me about my mutuals

#literary letters #the lightning conductor #rattray #idk if he has any other parts of his name that’s all I know #also omg my girl Molly sent me a letter!! #what a delight :)

[tachvintlogic]

Been reading The Lightning Conductor sequel from the Literary Letters substack and I finally caught up.

and— just—

Jimmy Payne was not a great suitor for Molly. He was a love rival that was destined to lose. Yes, he was reckless with a car he didn't own, but he wasn't that bad of a guy.

He was no Ed Caspian, is what I'm saying.

Ed Caspian just extorted a engagement out of Patsy so that her friend who fucking saved her father from becoming destitute wouldn't be utterly humiliated at a party, and it make it worse, he specifically manipulated the situation to ensue that Storm would be humiliated. The only reason Storm wasn't is because he had connections that Caspian didn't know about.

And even now that Patsy knows that he extorted her for no gain on her part, it's still going on because apparently otherwise her father Larry would engage himself with Mrs. Shuster for her money to prevent himself from being poor, and she literally says this:

Larry matters so much more than I do! I wish I were being engaged in France instead of here, because there I think les jeunes filles do not have to kiss. Here, one says they do. But I will not!

Fuck, even her maid in her letter agreed that Larry being free to marry for love was much more important than for Patsy to be able to! And just— what's wrong with Mrs. Shuster? She's not that bad! If she wants a hot trophy husband then good for her! Better that than Patsy being forced to marry Ed "Extortionist" Caspian.

...What does Mrs. Shuster think of the whole extortion thing? Cause Caspian told her all about it in his letter. What's her stance of his clear manipulation of Patsy and the fact that he's clearly treating her secretary Mr. Storm poorly.

We don't see much of Larry, and there's a lot of talk about how young he looks and how hot he is and how charismatic he is, but the thing about Larry that stuck with me was that he wasn't there when Patsy arrived and got off the ship because he was busy gambling trying to win back his fortunes. Not a good first impression.

Like, everyone can talk a big talks about how great he is, and I'm just not seeing it.

Peter Storm is the best new character so far.

Peter's first letter: I won't say I'm in love

Peter's second letter: Shit.

Also, memes!

#literary letters #the lightning conductor discovers america #the lightning conductor #romantic comedies are fun when the leads and most of the supporting characters are delightful #and the romance is expected so it's not grating #so far the sequel is pretty good

[mxcottonsocks]

Rattray really just said, "I don't get paid enough for this", huh?

#poor molly #at least she ran into james brown who seems nice and is conveniently free #rattray #molly randolph #the lightning conductor #literary letters #28 november #swearing

[vickyvicarious]

Every single one of Montie's letters back to Jack: "the trip sounds lovely, I want all the best for you, which is why once again I am advising you to FESS UP YOU IDIOT"

At least, based on how often Jack explains why he won't just yet. Poor Montie.

#literary letters #it's tough being the sensible friend when you're multiple countries away and can only advise through letters #the lightning conductor