Category: 100 Word Wednesdays
100 Word Book Review – Reader’s Block by David Markson
Reader’s Block by David Markson
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100 Word Book Review – From the reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, people really love this book. It’s often called an ‘anti-novel’ in that it isn’t written with a traditional narrative. It’s more a list of weird facts and trivia with a little bit of story about ‘Reader’ and ‘Protagonist’ mixed in every now and then. That’s said, it just wasn’t for me. I’m all for putting a spin on traditional writing but this was not as compelling to me as some reviews make it out to be. The blurb promises us a ‘shattering’ conclusion. For me, it ended with the whimper it began with.
Quotes:
Every word she writes is a lie, including and and the.
Horseflies that keep the horse from plowing, Chekhov called critics.
When I could have used a wife, I could not support one, when I could support one, I no longer needed any.Said Kant
There is no death and art can prove it.
According to legend, Li Po drowned when he fell out of a boat, drunk, leaning to kiss a reflection of the moon.
Colorless green ideas sleep furiously.
All art constantly aspires towards the condition of music.
Even in the solemn moments of the mass, when prayer should be the purest…when I should groan for what I have done, I sigh for what I have lost.
Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.
Why do you always wear black?I am in mourning for my life.
100 Word Book Review – So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed by Jon Ronson
So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed by Jon Ronson
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100 word review – I’m often annoyed at documentaries where the director makes him or herself the star when the documentary is about another topic. Apparently, books that are written in that manner annoy me as well. I find the subject of internet shaming immensely fascinating and would have loved it if the book focused more on that and less on the author’s journey to discover more about the subject. The clincher for me was when the author went on about how a joke he made was funnier than one of his subjects. WHO CARES?! I don’t. Great topic, but an annoying writing style.
QUOTES:
“Part of the reason all these kids have become experts on the Internet it’s because they don’t have power anywhere else. Skilled trade is shrinking. That’s why they went there. And then, holy shit, it blew up.” – 4Chan member Troy.
100 Word Story – Police Blotter – Squirrelly
Welcome back to another 100 word story based on an item from the police blotter from my hometown of Burlingame, California. The actual item and link to the police blotter in which it appeared is below. Enjoy!
Squirrelly
By Grant Baciocco
“He’s right outside the door.” Dorothy said slowly. Her whisper barely audible to the 9-1-1 Operator on the other end of the line.
“What is he doing ma’am?” the Operator asked.
“I don’t know.” Dorothy gasped, breathlessly. “I think he’s listening for me.”
Dorothy heard the Operating typing on the other end of the phone line. “And you say he’s been stationed there all morning?”
“Yes.” Dorothy whispered. “He’s just been staring at the front door.”
“Ma’am, I have officers on the way.” The operator said fimly, “Please just stay exactly where you are.”
“Yes.” Dorothy replied, crying.
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©2015 Grant Baciocco/Saturday Morning Media
100 Word Story – Police Blotter – Trespassers
Now THIS is exactly the kind of police blotter reporting I absolutely love that gets reported in the Burlingame Police Blotter. Pure perfection. Enjoy!
Tresspassers
By Grant Baciocco
“How dare they!”
“The nerve. The absolute nerve!”
“Don’t they know this is our parking lot? Who do they think they are?!”
“Go say something!”
“I’m not going anywhere near them. Disgusting!”
“We need to get to our car.”
“We’ll wait them out.”
“But they’re eating, they aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.”
“I tell you Agnes, this neighborhood is going downhill fast. When there’s an absolute disregard for public property, that’s the first sign of the fall.”
“I’m calling the police!
“I thought you called them when you saw them walking by earlier.”
“I did. But I’m calling them again!”
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©2015 Grant Baciocco/Saturday Morning Media
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I’ve been thinking a lot about the police blotter stories I’ve written and posted here and I think the new goal with them is to get to where I’ve written 100 of them and then collect them all into a book tentatively titled: 100, 100 Word Crimes in Burlingame. Or something. I’ll try and find a publisher for it and, if not, just release it myself.
One of these days, I’ll have to go through and see how many I have. I don’t think I’m at 100 yet. May not even be over 50, but it’s a fun goal to work towards.