By R.J. Byrd I was snuggled under a blanket decorated with pumpkins and bats. I loved using it when October rolled around. I had also put on my Halloween pajamas and fluffy socks. I leaned my head against my boyfriend’s shoulder as we watched the last of The Addams Family. We were going to watch... Continue Reading →
*Spoilers* I recently finished reading The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe written in 1846. The story itself is pretty straightforward: It's about revenge. The main character feels that his friend, Fortunato, has insulted him many times and now wants to get revenge. During a carnival, he tells Fortunato that he recently bought wine... Continue Reading →
*Spoilers* I recently finished reading The Yellow Wallpaper, a short story by Charlotte Perkins Stetson written in 1892. It starts off with a young couple and their baby going to a remote estate for the summer. The main character, an unnamed woman, is suspicious of the house since it was so cheap to rent. She... Continue Reading →
*Spoilers* I recently finished reading The Body Snatcher, a short story by Robert Louis Stevenson written in 1884. The story is based on the real-life story of the Burke and Hare murders. In 1828 in Scotland, William Burke and William Hare committed 16 murders in the span of about 10 months. They sold the corpses... Continue Reading →
*Spoilers* I recently read The Monkey's Paw, a short story written by W.W. Jacobs in 1902. The story is about a man who receives a monkey paw from a friend who claims it can grant wishes, but the wishes come at a terrible cost. I enjoyed the story even though I already knew the gist... Continue Reading →
By R.J. Byrd The burst of fresh air that wafted over me when I stepped outside was invigorating. I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face as I took in the autumn scene. Trees were now bright orange, yellow, and red, and the blue sky featured a gentle sun. I started my walk... Continue Reading →
By R.J. Byrd “So, maybe we could get out of here...” I bit my lip and smiled shyly at the man sitting next to me. He gave me a lusty grin, but before he could say anything, my best friend threw an arm around him and totally stole his attention away. We had both been... Continue Reading →
By R.J. Byrd *15 minute writing challenge* Imagine you're hiking on a mountain trail on a hot summer day. While it's cooler on the mountain than anywhere else, you're still dripping with sweat. The sun is particularly relentless. You're glad you wore your wide-brim hat and brought along your extra large water bottle. You take... Continue Reading →
*Spoilers* I recently finished reading Jane Eyre written by Charlotte Bronte in 1847. It was first published as Jane Eyre: An Autobiography edited by Currer Bell, a pen name Bronte often used because female writers were not very accepted back then. The story is told by Jane as an adult reflecting on her life. She... Continue Reading →
*Major Spoilers* I recently finished reading Mrs. Dalloway, written by Virginia Woolf in 1925. This is the first time I have read anything by Virginia Woolf, and her stream-of-consciousness style was a little challenging to get used to. There are no chapters, and it has a lot of semicolons, very few periods, and not a... Continue Reading →