The Vicious Circle
'Hell is personal, Dorothy'50 total reviews
Comment from Deejharrington
The very best of luck in the contest, but after reading this,you don't need luck,you got this one in the bag! It deserves a six, wish I had kept one back:( Very creative and if people don't know who you were referring to, well, they don't deserve to be on this site! Bravo!
deb
reply by the author on 03-Apr-2012
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The very best of luck in the contest, but after reading this,you don't need luck,you got this one in the bag! It deserves a six, wish I had kept one back:( Very creative and if people don't know who you were referring to, well, they don't deserve to be on this site! Bravo!
deb
Comment Written 02-Apr-2012
reply by the author on 03-Apr-2012
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Thank you so much, deb. I'd like to think that all would-be writers would know of the Algonquin Round Table, but I've been fooled before. I'm glad you enjoyed. Peace, Lee
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It is amazing how much we ignore when it is the basis for all our work:)
deb
Comment from Realist101
Hi Lee! I've heard of all except Lillian Hellman? Interesting references in this! I love this original idea for the bench prompt. I've scraped a few ideas already! This is good. Great narrative, perfect dialogue of course, and seveal phrases stand out--"old Connecticut mothball", "sycophantic eunuchs" and "draping white mustache"...to name a few. Wish I could send you a six Lee. I like your ghosts! :O) Susan
reply by the author on 03-Apr-2012
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Hi Lee! I've heard of all except Lillian Hellman? Interesting references in this! I love this original idea for the bench prompt. I've scraped a few ideas already! This is good. Great narrative, perfect dialogue of course, and seveal phrases stand out--"old Connecticut mothball", "sycophantic eunuchs" and "draping white mustache"...to name a few. Wish I could send you a six Lee. I like your ghosts! :O) Susan
Comment Written 02-Apr-2012
reply by the author on 03-Apr-2012
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Thank you, Susan. Hellman was a playwright (Little Foxes), screenwriter and left-wing political activist. She (along with Dorothy Parker) was blacklisted during the McCarthy era. She was the long-time lover of writer Dashielle Hammet (one of my favorites). Jane Fonda played Hellman in the film Julia.
All the players wrote in an era when writers were true celebrities. I'm so glad you enjoyed. Peace, Lee
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Celebrities. Now, it's just not the same. Like baseball. The romance is gone. I think that's so sad. I would like to see that movie too. And I'll read about her online too asap. Nice work again Lee! Hey! The Stump is up for story of the month! One of my favs! :) S.
Comment from elgone
I think this is a triumph of a story, well conceived and very well delivered. I am familiar with the authors mentioned in this and I have also considered the concept of a private purgatory. But I rather think that a worse hell might be: at the moment of death realizing that you have to live the same life over, able to observe but never able to affect any change.
E
reply by the author on 03-Apr-2012
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I think this is a triumph of a story, well conceived and very well delivered. I am familiar with the authors mentioned in this and I have also considered the concept of a private purgatory. But I rather think that a worse hell might be: at the moment of death realizing that you have to live the same life over, able to observe but never able to affect any change.
E
Comment Written 02-Apr-2012
reply by the author on 03-Apr-2012
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Thank you so much, E. I wish you hadn't mentioned your version of Hell---now I'm really worried! I'm delighted you enjoyed the story. Peace, Lee
Comment from adewpearl
I just love your choice of characters :-)
sit down, you old Connecticut - add comma for direct address
the tomb hasn't slowed the progress of your rampaging senility - love that one :-)
Oh, you have given Dorothy her acid tongue, even in death :-)
participant when it came good skewering - came to good
I love the premise that he gets to meet with all these writers but is not allowed to read their stuff, which he doesn't know of course, since they wrote after his time.
Great discussion of the nature of Hell
What a fantastic story, Lee - you just keep getting better and better : -) Brooke
reply by the author on 03-Apr-2012
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I just love your choice of characters :-)
sit down, you old Connecticut - add comma for direct address
the tomb hasn't slowed the progress of your rampaging senility - love that one :-)
Oh, you have given Dorothy her acid tongue, even in death :-)
participant when it came good skewering - came to good
I love the premise that he gets to meet with all these writers but is not allowed to read their stuff, which he doesn't know of course, since they wrote after his time.
Great discussion of the nature of Hell
What a fantastic story, Lee - you just keep getting better and better : -) Brooke
Comment Written 02-Apr-2012
reply by the author on 03-Apr-2012
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Thank you, Brooke. I knew I wanted Parker, and I needed someone capable of going tongue-to-tongue with her. Now I'm thinking of this as the first act of a three-act play. Ain't I ambitious?
Thank you for all the stars and the spag alerts. Peace, Lee
Comment from c_lucas
Sam and I go way back I have admired him since the second grade. Dorothy was forced on me by a sadistic seventh grade teach. I admit meeting George S. along the way. You I have found muddling around in my private messages.
I take my Stetson off and salute you for your creative writings.
reply by the author on 03-Apr-2012
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Sam and I go way back I have admired him since the second grade. Dorothy was forced on me by a sadistic seventh grade teach. I admit meeting George S. along the way. You I have found muddling around in my private messages.
I take my Stetson off and salute you for your creative writings.
Comment Written 02-Apr-2012
reply by the author on 03-Apr-2012
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This is indeed an honor, Charlie, and I thank you. Twain and I go back a long way as well. Parker has grown on me with age.
It's scary, trying to put words in the mouths of icons. I'm delighted you enjoyed. Peace, Lee
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You're wecome. Charlie
Comment from BethShelby
Well, this seems to be an original twist for you. It is good writing but so different without the usual unique slang you dream up for your characters. It does prove how versatile and talented you are. I enjoyed it.
reply by the author on 02-Apr-2012
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Well, this seems to be an original twist for you. It is good writing but so different without the usual unique slang you dream up for your characters. It does prove how versatile and talented you are. I enjoyed it.
Comment Written 02-Apr-2012
reply by the author on 02-Apr-2012
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Thank you, Beth. I do like to switch up styles and try new things. I'm really glad you enjoyed this. Peace, Lee
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I just wrote a horror poem for a comtest. It is a switch for me to. I didn't mean it to go that way at all.
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Beth, some are my favorite pieces are the ones that took on lives of their own. Lee
Comment from barbara.wilkey
I grew up with my father reading Samuel Clemens works. I am not familiar with Dorothy Parker. I am not sure how I missed her. Anyway, once again you have written a great post and good luck with the contest.
reply by the author on 02-Apr-2012
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I grew up with my father reading Samuel Clemens works. I am not familiar with Dorothy Parker. I am not sure how I missed her. Anyway, once again you have written a great post and good luck with the contest.
Comment Written 02-Apr-2012
reply by the author on 02-Apr-2012
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Thank you, Barbara. Parker wrote mostly poetry and critiques (back when magazines and newspapers actually employed writers).
She was most famous for her wit. Thank you again. Peace, Lee
Comment from Spitfire
You go from pulp fiction Peel to the snobbish literary society. Excellent dialogue. Twain was known to be quite clever with words. And what a hoot- Parker's poem about suicide. I caught on fast as to the characters. Love "Connecticut mothball." I felt as if I were attending a "roast" as the two sparred back and forth. Huckleberry inspiring Beverly Hillbillies. LOL. And "culturally enlightend" --don't see that happening soon. Love the bit about "tryst" and "organ" and "cobra". So much in this to delight the reader including the philosophy about hell.
reply by the author on 03-Apr-2012
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You go from pulp fiction Peel to the snobbish literary society. Excellent dialogue. Twain was known to be quite clever with words. And what a hoot- Parker's poem about suicide. I caught on fast as to the characters. Love "Connecticut mothball." I felt as if I were attending a "roast" as the two sparred back and forth. Huckleberry inspiring Beverly Hillbillies. LOL. And "culturally enlightend" --don't see that happening soon. Love the bit about "tryst" and "organ" and "cobra". So much in this to delight the reader including the philosophy about hell.
Comment Written 02-Apr-2012
reply by the author on 03-Apr-2012
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Ah, Shari, thank you so much. This was a lot of fun. I'm almost seeing a simple three-act play centered on the bench. I'm so glad you enjoyed. Peace, Lee
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Wow! That would be a good idea. Simple set, for sure.
Comment from ajdevore
This is wickedly clever, connecting the Algonquin Vicious Circle to Dante's Circles of Hell -- in more than one way. Oh this is going to be an impossible contest to judge!!
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reply by the author on 02-Apr-2012
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This is wickedly clever, connecting the Algonquin Vicious Circle to Dante's Circles of Hell -- in more than one way. Oh this is going to be an impossible contest to judge!!
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 02-Apr-2012
reply by the author on 02-Apr-2012
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Thank you, ajdevore. I hoping other readers are as well read, and astute as you are. Thank you again. Peace, Lee
Comment from Frank Atwood
Very good. I liked this a lot. Your imagination of hell at a writers aspect such as Sam Clemens is quite good. To many Hell is here in this world as is Heaven. The story conversation flowed real good as did the story itself. It kept my attention through the whole story.
The picture you chose and set the story around was nice this is definitely a 5 star story. God bless and keep up the good writing.
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
reply by the author on 02-Apr-2012
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Very good. I liked this a lot. Your imagination of hell at a writers aspect such as Sam Clemens is quite good. To many Hell is here in this world as is Heaven. The story conversation flowed real good as did the story itself. It kept my attention through the whole story.
The picture you chose and set the story around was nice this is definitely a 5 star story. God bless and keep up the good writing.
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 02-Apr-2012
reply by the author on 02-Apr-2012
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Thank you, Frank, I really appreciate your encouragement. Peace, Lee
