So far a great story, Lee! Perhaps the ghost is the spirit of a frustrated writer who won't finally cross over until he gets that book he wanted to write finally written. LOL! I'll be back to see what happens. You're following a fine serialist tradition!
Well look at it this way: After seeing a ghost maybe a visit to someone more habituated with ghosts such as a psychoanalyst is appropriate. On the other hand it depends on which book was being vandalized. If it was Mein Kampf or The Art of the Deal, we'll OK then.
You bring up an interesting question. Is the destruction of any literature justified if we disagree with the content or find it contrary to our belief system? I’d have no trouble shredding either book you mention, but if I take the question to a higher level of discussion, I’d have to argue against doing that. What think you?
No, of course not. Mein Kampf has historical relevance and The Art of the Deal is inconsequential garbage. But I do have some concerns. As a ranger, combat infantryman, I learned a lot of lethal tricks to cause mayhem and I would have pause if these were catalogued in a police procedural or spy story unabridged. And while the suppression of ideas is anathema, there are some actionable techniques and knowledge that gives me pause (where would you position a small quarter-pound bolus of explosive to derail a train?). Bohr, Oppenheimer and many other scientists pointed out that the only important secret of the Atomic bomb was that it could be built. Once that secret was out, the game was over. It is a complicated issue requiring study and careful thought.
So true! Complicated issues with huge moral implications. As I see it, we have so many moral issues being decided by immoral men. I use "men" for obvious reasons, but women who support the current agenda are equally culpable.
Hannah Aren't was skeptical about moral philosophy and ethics and always emphasized personal responsibility--something not in evidence among our political class except for former representative Cheny and too few others.
Tearing pages out if the books ??? Why, why, why? If I could I'd chase it down and spray that ghost with WD-40!! It fixes everything according to my husband! Have a fun IWSG! You made me smile with this story.
Oh, bad ghost! Bad enough to reshelve the books (and get it wrong, which is why libraries HATE it when patrons try to be helpful that way), but tearing out pages? That ghost is going to spend a long time in the fires!
Oooo, Lee! What a great piece of the story. And NO writer wants someone or something to tear pages out of her book. Wow! You really know how to immerse the reader within the story. Bravo! Happy IWSG day!
Thanks for stopping by my blog.
What a fun story! I hope to read more.
Thanks, Toi. Always a pleasure to share writing with other writers.
I like your ghost concept, Lee. :)
You like ghosts as I recall.
I thought that was a very cultured ghost until we got to the tearing up pages. Very sinister activity for sure!
I laughed at first, reading about the ghost's choices. But now I'm like why? Does the ghost hate fiction?
and you leave us hanging till next week... Jeff (https://fromarockyhillside.com)
I need a week to finish, but I have an idea how to do it.
Nibble nibble... getting stories in little bits like this can be frustrating. I just wanna take a great big BITE!
The question is, "How fast can I write?"
Ah, yes, there is that. Tick … tick … tick …
A ghost would have a lot of writing and learning time, so why not learn how to write short stories?
Well, that's a good question, isn't it? Let me figure out why this one's having so much trouble?
So far a great story, Lee! Perhaps the ghost is the spirit of a frustrated writer who won't finally cross over until he gets that book he wanted to write finally written. LOL! I'll be back to see what happens. You're following a fine serialist tradition!
It's an interesting format and one I think does take some skill. I'm learning while doing.
Definitely it takes skill and courage!
Well look at it this way: After seeing a ghost maybe a visit to someone more habituated with ghosts such as a psychoanalyst is appropriate. On the other hand it depends on which book was being vandalized. If it was Mein Kampf or The Art of the Deal, we'll OK then.
You bring up an interesting question. Is the destruction of any literature justified if we disagree with the content or find it contrary to our belief system? I’d have no trouble shredding either book you mention, but if I take the question to a higher level of discussion, I’d have to argue against doing that. What think you?
No, of course not. Mein Kampf has historical relevance and The Art of the Deal is inconsequential garbage. But I do have some concerns. As a ranger, combat infantryman, I learned a lot of lethal tricks to cause mayhem and I would have pause if these were catalogued in a police procedural or spy story unabridged. And while the suppression of ideas is anathema, there are some actionable techniques and knowledge that gives me pause (where would you position a small quarter-pound bolus of explosive to derail a train?). Bohr, Oppenheimer and many other scientists pointed out that the only important secret of the Atomic bomb was that it could be built. Once that secret was out, the game was over. It is a complicated issue requiring study and careful thought.
So true! Complicated issues with huge moral implications. As I see it, we have so many moral issues being decided by immoral men. I use "men" for obvious reasons, but women who support the current agenda are equally culpable.
Hannah Aren't was skeptical about moral philosophy and ethics and always emphasized personal responsibility--something not in evidence among our political class except for former representative Cheny and too few others.
Arendt not Aren't @
That's a bad ghost. It's interesting how he's pulling out books about short stories. I wonder if you did that intentionally.
Well, maybe bad or perhaps misguided or perhaps desperate?
Bad, ghost. Bad. We don't tear up books.
As always, well done, Lee.
Sandra
I'll try to shape him up and set him straight.
Gotta save the books!
Off to do that right now.
Oh, that's some naughty ghost. Tearing pages from a book in a library - it is just not done!
I'm going to put a stop to it. I promise.
Tearing pages out if the books ??? Why, why, why? If I could I'd chase it down and spray that ghost with WD-40!! It fixes everything according to my husband! Have a fun IWSG! You made me smile with this story.
WD-40, heh? Something I'll store with other fixit items like duct tape. Thanks, JQ!
Oh, bad ghost! Bad enough to reshelve the books (and get it wrong, which is why libraries HATE it when patrons try to be helpful that way), but tearing out pages? That ghost is going to spend a long time in the fires!
Nothing hath fury like a librarian who finds a misused book. Let's get this ghost under control.
Oooo, Lee! What a great piece of the story. And NO writer wants someone or something to tear pages out of her book. Wow! You really know how to immerse the reader within the story. Bravo! Happy IWSG day!
That's a wonderful compliment--one writers adore. Thanks, Victoria. Now, let me see if I can help Hazel out and get this ghost under control.
I know you can do it, Lee!
Thanks for the vote of confidence! Always appreciated.