The Library and the ugly truth
How both can save you39 total reviews
Comment from nancy_e_davis
What a wonderful story, very compelling. You are indeed an exception to the rule. Life is what you make it, but a young person has to want to do better. You were lucky enough to see how other people lived and wanted to better yourself. That is
what paved your road to success and you are right about libraries. Nothing much happens there except knowledge. This story should win! Well done. Nancy
reply by the author on 01-Jan-2017
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What a wonderful story, very compelling. You are indeed an exception to the rule. Life is what you make it, but a young person has to want to do better. You were lucky enough to see how other people lived and wanted to better yourself. That is
what paved your road to success and you are right about libraries. Nothing much happens there except knowledge. This story should win! Well done. Nancy
Comment Written 29-Dec-2016
reply by the author on 01-Jan-2017
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Thank you very much.
Comment from Dawn Munro
I knew your story before you told it; oh, I was exposed to a small part of it once, though I don't remember what the piece was named, but I knew 'your story', or the basis of it by reading your work. Work I admire greatly, work that I read even when it's a genre that makes me squirm to review (exposing my review to the public- I'm more about behind closed doors for certain subjects).
I hope this wins, not only for its technical excellence, but for its outstanding message. Life is all about perception, isn't it? How we view things is a great predictor of what we'll do with our lives.
Wonderful, lancellot.
reply by the author on 01-Jan-2017
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I knew your story before you told it; oh, I was exposed to a small part of it once, though I don't remember what the piece was named, but I knew 'your story', or the basis of it by reading your work. Work I admire greatly, work that I read even when it's a genre that makes me squirm to review (exposing my review to the public- I'm more about behind closed doors for certain subjects).
I hope this wins, not only for its technical excellence, but for its outstanding message. Life is all about perception, isn't it? How we view things is a great predictor of what we'll do with our lives.
Wonderful, lancellot.
Comment Written 29-Dec-2016
reply by the author on 01-Jan-2017
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Thank you very much.
Comment from Halfree
Six for a story well told...what more can be said. Growing up, I spent a lot of time in the library.; not for reasons in the story, just liked the place. During the school year when book reports were assigned, my only problem was selecting...had read most of the stuff assigned as required reading; book reports were duck soup. Did make some money from classmates, sold book reports. I wrote they copied and paid me for my service.
OK I'm off key, I think this posting stands as one of your best. Keep at it, enjoyed the read and that's what it is all about.
reply by the author on 01-Jan-2017
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Six for a story well told...what more can be said. Growing up, I spent a lot of time in the library.; not for reasons in the story, just liked the place. During the school year when book reports were assigned, my only problem was selecting...had read most of the stuff assigned as required reading; book reports were duck soup. Did make some money from classmates, sold book reports. I wrote they copied and paid me for my service.
OK I'm off key, I think this posting stands as one of your best. Keep at it, enjoyed the read and that's what it is all about.
Comment Written 29-Dec-2016
reply by the author on 01-Jan-2017
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Thank you very much.
Comment from Irish Rain
Wow. This is SO great. I loved every word. I can so empathize with all of it. I myself, hid in books as a child. To escape the world around me when it got ugly. I admire that you took a situation, and used it as a learning tool, and created a wonderful life for yourself, because of this! Go You!!! Great story!
reply by the author on 01-Jan-2017
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Wow. This is SO great. I loved every word. I can so empathize with all of it. I myself, hid in books as a child. To escape the world around me when it got ugly. I admire that you took a situation, and used it as a learning tool, and created a wonderful life for yourself, because of this! Go You!!! Great story!
Comment Written 28-Dec-2016
reply by the author on 01-Jan-2017
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Thank you very much.
Comment from barkingdog
Wonderful, lancellot.
The words just flow like you're sitting across from me, talking.
Experienced do make us who we are. Exposure to all the books while your mother was cleaning and getting to know the white folks, not as enemies, shaped your entire future.
It was the same in my high school. Those few black kids that were in the chorus and didn't hang out with the others during lunch, but at with us 'the white geeks', survived those that would pull them down. They were teased a lot by the other black kids, but held their ground. They hung out with us at our houses and like you said, they picked up 'white' ways/speech especially.
I think it takes a special kind of inner strength to find one's own way. These, my friends, had that. I learned as much from them, maybe more, as they did from me.
I could go on and on, but you get the general gist of it.
****
It's sad that the boys in your juvenile prison are afraid to change, to read, to excel. I know you and the others there try and maybe are successful with some.
I wish the whole world could read your essay. Your heart is in it.
Best of luck in the contest. If you don't win, something is very, very wrong with the judging.
:) e
reply by the author on 01-Jan-2017
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Wonderful, lancellot.
The words just flow like you're sitting across from me, talking.
Experienced do make us who we are. Exposure to all the books while your mother was cleaning and getting to know the white folks, not as enemies, shaped your entire future.
It was the same in my high school. Those few black kids that were in the chorus and didn't hang out with the others during lunch, but at with us 'the white geeks', survived those that would pull them down. They were teased a lot by the other black kids, but held their ground. They hung out with us at our houses and like you said, they picked up 'white' ways/speech especially.
I think it takes a special kind of inner strength to find one's own way. These, my friends, had that. I learned as much from them, maybe more, as they did from me.
I could go on and on, but you get the general gist of it.
****
It's sad that the boys in your juvenile prison are afraid to change, to read, to excel. I know you and the others there try and maybe are successful with some.
I wish the whole world could read your essay. Your heart is in it.
Best of luck in the contest. If you don't win, something is very, very wrong with the judging.
:) e
Comment Written 28-Dec-2016
reply by the author on 01-Jan-2017
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Thank you very much.
Comment from Mastery
Bravo! Bravo! This deserves six or seven stars, Lance, but I am ashamed to say I have none to givre you. It is well-written, makes sense and has a sort of a moral to it. True enough libraries are a safe haven. I never thought about them that way. Being white, I never experienced gang members whipping on me or the like, but I know what it's like to be shunned. (Not that whites don't have gangs, mind you, but I think you know what I mean.)
I cannot tell yuou how much I enjoyed this story and if it were me, you would win the contest hands down. Bless you and Happy New Year.
reply by the author on 01-Jan-2017
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Bravo! Bravo! This deserves six or seven stars, Lance, but I am ashamed to say I have none to givre you. It is well-written, makes sense and has a sort of a moral to it. True enough libraries are a safe haven. I never thought about them that way. Being white, I never experienced gang members whipping on me or the like, but I know what it's like to be shunned. (Not that whites don't have gangs, mind you, but I think you know what I mean.)
I cannot tell yuou how much I enjoyed this story and if it were me, you would win the contest hands down. Bless you and Happy New Year.
Comment Written 28-Dec-2016
reply by the author on 01-Jan-2017
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Thank you very much.
Comment from Mystic Angel 7777
This is something every teen should read - color does not matter for all races suffer the same problem of NOT realizing life is what we choose to make of it. Well written and thoroughly heartfelt you tell a story inspiring and filled with simple truths of life. You have a small typo to look at:
" lucky for me, the caught me " - should be they.
Well done and all the best in the contest.
P.S. I read your post in the forum and this is truly a six as it is worthy. Feel free to give me what I earn in the future as I always do you.
reply by the author on 01-Jan-2017
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This is something every teen should read - color does not matter for all races suffer the same problem of NOT realizing life is what we choose to make of it. Well written and thoroughly heartfelt you tell a story inspiring and filled with simple truths of life. You have a small typo to look at:
" lucky for me, the caught me " - should be they.
Well done and all the best in the contest.
P.S. I read your post in the forum and this is truly a six as it is worthy. Feel free to give me what I earn in the future as I always do you.
Comment Written 28-Dec-2016
reply by the author on 01-Jan-2017
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Thank you very much.
Comment from zanya
An inspirational tale here in this Non Fiction Writing Contest -the old adage of the pen being 'mightier than the sword 'springs to mind on reading this -
reply by the author on 01-Jan-2017
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An inspirational tale here in this Non Fiction Writing Contest -the old adage of the pen being 'mightier than the sword 'springs to mind on reading this -
Comment Written 28-Dec-2016
reply by the author on 01-Jan-2017
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Thank you very much.
Comment from judiverse
This is wonderful, and I look for it do extremely well in the contest. Best of luck. This is a very compelling story. One can visualize you as a boy accompanying your mother to work and becoming interested in the books and how the homeowners made their money. Really interesting point about the gang intent on beating you did not follow you into the library. What a sad thing that influential blacks don't tell the truth to the young people, that there's no shame in "acting white." As you mention, it might even save their lives, as so many who choose the gangs end up dead or in prison. Excellent work, and it deserves to be widely read. judi
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reply by the author on 01-Jan-2017
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This is wonderful, and I look for it do extremely well in the contest. Best of luck. This is a very compelling story. One can visualize you as a boy accompanying your mother to work and becoming interested in the books and how the homeowners made their money. Really interesting point about the gang intent on beating you did not follow you into the library. What a sad thing that influential blacks don't tell the truth to the young people, that there's no shame in "acting white." As you mention, it might even save their lives, as so many who choose the gangs end up dead or in prison. Excellent work, and it deserves to be widely read. judi
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 28-Dec-2016
reply by the author on 01-Jan-2017
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Thank you very much.
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You're welcome. This is great. Maybe you could get it published in a magazine or as an opinion editorial. Try your luck! judi