The start of books is vastly improved if you add “and then the murders began”
If you’re looking for a new way to improve classic works of literature, then the internet is here to help – all you need to do is add “and then the murders began” as the second sentence.
The first line of almost any story can be improved by making sure the second line is, "And then the murders began."
— Marc Laidlaw (@marc_laidlaw) March 3, 2017
The idea, by sci-fi/horror writer Marc Laidlaw, caught on, with the hashtag #LaidlawsRule. Here are some classic book made murdery.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric Carle
One sunny Sunday, the caterpillar was hatched out of a tiny egg. He was very hungry. And then the murders began. #LaidlawsRule
— Elizabeth Meg (@Scranshums) March 3, 2017
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, by J.K. Rowling
Mr & Mrs Dursley, of number 4, Privet Drive, were proud to say they were perfectly normal, thank you very much. And then the murders began. https://t.co/WbbBuyehqU
— Kyle Treasure (@KyleTreasure) March 3, 2017
Winnie-the-Pooh, by A.A. Milne
“I wonder what Piglet is doing," thought Pooh. And then the murders began. https://t.co/ZWBA29tjW9
— Damon Young (@damonayoung) March 3, 2017
A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens
@marc_laidlaw pic.twitter.com/DrGHrW7T47
— Scott Fornek (@sfornek) March 8, 2017
Charlotte’s Web, by E. B. White
"Where's Papa going with that axe?" said Fern to her mother as they were setting the table. And then the murders began. #LaidlawsRule pic.twitter.com/9N0NyyqA9b
— Trevor Rines (@TrevorSRines) March 22, 2017
The Cat in the Hat, by Dr. Seuss
The sun did not shine. It was too wet to play. And then the murders began. #LaidlawsRule pic.twitter.com/NL89ViGvZ1
— Chandler Arnold (@Social_CHAN_ge) March 22, 2017
Mrs. Dalloway, by Virginia Woolf
"Mrs. Dalloway said she would buy the flowers herself. And then the murders began" #LaidlawsRule
— Vonny Moyes (@vonny_bravo) March 23, 2017
Aside from literature, it also works great with cookery books.
I have been thinking and reading a lot about meat recently. And then the murders began. #LaidlawsRule pic.twitter.com/TRMe7JOa6A
— Greg Harradine (@GregHarradine) March 22, 2017
(h/t boredpanda/twentytwowords)