The Heir Apparent
Viewing comments for Chapter 26 "What Is The Next Step?"A family learns their father is a serial killer
40 total reviews
Comment from Showboat
I can't find chapter 25, and I can't remember the missing chapters.
This is excellent, not boring at all, and the idea that you're going into sociopathology is right up my alley, lol.
I'm off for more!
Hugs,
Gayle
reply by the author on 01-Feb-2012
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I can't find chapter 25, and I can't remember the missing chapters.
This is excellent, not boring at all, and the idea that you're going into sociopathology is right up my alley, lol.
I'm off for more!
Hugs,
Gayle
Comment Written 01-Feb-2012
reply by the author on 01-Feb-2012
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Sociopathology runs in my family...it's a genetic thing...lol
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lol, I know. That's at least what about half the psychological community thinks. The others wonder if a combination of having a parent 'like that' might not be something the child learns, just like how they learn to handle fear or anger ... or table manners. Monkey see, monkey do.
Great job!
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Personally, I believe it is mostly environmental and the behavior is learned by life's experiences...more or less.
Comment from vickib
Your descriptions are so great Valerie you really know how to relate a picture in the mind with the iron ping pong ball. That is how the weight of the world feels sometimes. And the paragraph on psychology was really amazing too. Good chapter!
reply by the author on 09-May-2011
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Your descriptions are so great Valerie you really know how to relate a picture in the mind with the iron ping pong ball. That is how the weight of the world feels sometimes. And the paragraph on psychology was really amazing too. Good chapter!
Comment Written 09-May-2011
reply by the author on 09-May-2011
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Thanks so much. I am pleased you liked this one.
Comment from jehanned
I have some thoughts on the paragraph that starts with "Psychology irritated me." Normally, people with IQ's this high isolate themselves from others, partially because they are so much more analytical. Also, intellectuals pride themselves on avoiding second person usage.
"The mind's activity is regarded as behavior and, even then, there are only two ways of doing that: either by observation, or asking people by a method called 'self-reporting.' Unfortunately, behavior changes, people forget, and often lie when asked about it. If self-reporting is bypassed to rely only on observation, how can any sense be made of that? Does that guy look angry? Is he nervous or frustrated? Until valid and reliable self-reporting measures are created, psychology will remain a mystery to me."
Just a note, asking about being angry and pissed is redundant. That is why I inserted "frustrated."
Quickly maneuvering through mom's psyche in a such a short time "shows," not tells. Good job!
reply by the author on 19-Apr-2011
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I have some thoughts on the paragraph that starts with "Psychology irritated me." Normally, people with IQ's this high isolate themselves from others, partially because they are so much more analytical. Also, intellectuals pride themselves on avoiding second person usage.
"The mind's activity is regarded as behavior and, even then, there are only two ways of doing that: either by observation, or asking people by a method called 'self-reporting.' Unfortunately, behavior changes, people forget, and often lie when asked about it. If self-reporting is bypassed to rely only on observation, how can any sense be made of that? Does that guy look angry? Is he nervous or frustrated? Until valid and reliable self-reporting measures are created, psychology will remain a mystery to me."
Just a note, asking about being angry and pissed is redundant. That is why I inserted "frustrated."
Quickly maneuvering through mom's psyche in a such a short time "shows," not tells. Good job!
Comment Written 19-Apr-2011
reply by the author on 19-Apr-2011
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Yes, they do tend to isolate themselves. However, James is going through some serious emotional issues, something is is not familiar with dealing with. He would much rather analyze then experience but his distrust of psychology as not, in his mind, being a real science poses a problem. I also know that intellectuals often pride themselves on avoiding second person but the few geniuses I have known, tend to go the other way. I will check out that paragraph and see what I can do to improve it.
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Sorry, I should have been more clear. The issues he is going through are definitely something that the reader can relate to, especially on the question of human reaction. And the back and forth analysis is also an occurrence that the audience can get in touch with immediately. The isolation comment was meant to reference the word "we." I used too many words trying to explain what I was thinking. I apologize. I DO like the story!
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Okay, that makes sense. I will go back over that section and see what I can to to fix it.
Comment from raw form
Again, nothing but good reading here and the twists and turns in the story give it such momentum that your readers are forced to come back to see what will happen next? loving this SG
reply by the author on 14-Apr-2011
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Again, nothing but good reading here and the twists and turns in the story give it such momentum that your readers are forced to come back to see what will happen next? loving this SG
Comment Written 14-Apr-2011
reply by the author on 14-Apr-2011
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I am very pleased you continue to enjoy this story.
Comment from Tellis
Yes he does have a lot to straighten out in his mind. Theidea his mother is also his sister is kind of freaky. I enjoyed this excellent chapter.
Tellis
reply by the author on 14-Apr-2011
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Yes he does have a lot to straighten out in his mind. Theidea his mother is also his sister is kind of freaky. I enjoyed this excellent chapter.
Tellis
Comment Written 14-Apr-2011
reply by the author on 14-Apr-2011
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Thank you. Yes, James has a lot to sort out.Th
Comment from barbara.wilkey
This chapter is far from boring and yes it is needed and very interesting into James's character. My post is short, but necessary also and a reviewer gave me a 4 because it was short. I questionered her and said I didn't realize length was a requirement for a 5.
reply by the author on 13-Apr-2011
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This chapter is far from boring and yes it is needed and very interesting into James's character. My post is short, but necessary also and a reviewer gave me a 4 because it was short. I questionered her and said I didn't realize length was a requirement for a 5.
Comment Written 13-Apr-2011
reply by the author on 13-Apr-2011
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I agree. Content NOT length is all that matters. There are times when short, sweet, and to the point is all that is needed. Glad you liked this one.
Comment from LadyNyx
Wow.....wow, all I can say is that. I'm in shock, what a twist! I LOVE it! You do a very good of pulling the reader into the situation and my curiosity is being pulled to find out what is going on as well. Great job!
reply by the author on 13-Apr-2011
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Wow.....wow, all I can say is that. I'm in shock, what a twist! I LOVE it! You do a very good of pulling the reader into the situation and my curiosity is being pulled to find out what is going on as well. Great job!
Comment Written 13-Apr-2011
reply by the author on 13-Apr-2011
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Thank you so much. I am thrilled you enjoyed this one. I'm working on Chapter 27 as we speak.
Comment from axelbeariter
Hundreds of jumbled, loosely connected thoughts, each a giant iron ping-pong ball, ricocheted violently inside my head./great original line----The cold night air sent a chill up my spine./cliche--redo with originality----Psychology irritated me. In my world, psychology is not based on logic, just a compilation of random, unscientific observations open to individual interpretation. True science is something that is transferable by theories and hypotheses into the language of mathematics or logic. Human behavior is insanely complex and human beings are nearly impossible to study in the same ways that rocks, heavenly bodies, blue birds, and nucleotide base pairs are. The mind, on the other hand, is not measureable. We look at the mind's activity as behavior and even then, there are only two ways of doing that: either by observing it, or asking people by a method called 'self-reporting'. Unfortunately, behavior changes, people forget, and often lie when you ask them about it. If you bypass self-reporting and rely on observation, how does anyone make sense of it? Does that guy look angry to you? Is he nervous or pissed? Until valid and reliable self-reporting measures are created, psychology will remain a mystery to me./That whole observation is so well constructed that you've even confirmed some of my beliefs about our minds----You've done another great job with this chapter
reply by the author on 13-Apr-2011
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Hundreds of jumbled, loosely connected thoughts, each a giant iron ping-pong ball, ricocheted violently inside my head./great original line----The cold night air sent a chill up my spine./cliche--redo with originality----Psychology irritated me. In my world, psychology is not based on logic, just a compilation of random, unscientific observations open to individual interpretation. True science is something that is transferable by theories and hypotheses into the language of mathematics or logic. Human behavior is insanely complex and human beings are nearly impossible to study in the same ways that rocks, heavenly bodies, blue birds, and nucleotide base pairs are. The mind, on the other hand, is not measureable. We look at the mind's activity as behavior and even then, there are only two ways of doing that: either by observing it, or asking people by a method called 'self-reporting'. Unfortunately, behavior changes, people forget, and often lie when you ask them about it. If you bypass self-reporting and rely on observation, how does anyone make sense of it? Does that guy look angry to you? Is he nervous or pissed? Until valid and reliable self-reporting measures are created, psychology will remain a mystery to me./That whole observation is so well constructed that you've even confirmed some of my beliefs about our minds----You've done another great job with this chapter
Comment Written 12-Apr-2011
reply by the author on 13-Apr-2011
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Thanks for pointing out the awkward sentence and for the great review. I am thrilled you didn't find this too technical or boring.
Comment from Readywriter52
James is unhappy with the conversation he had with his mother. It didn't answer all his questions. His mother has gone back to her June Cleaver persona. She doesn't want Charles to know about the conversation. I imagine she hopes the whole situation will go away.
reply by the author on 13-Apr-2011
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James is unhappy with the conversation he had with his mother. It didn't answer all his questions. His mother has gone back to her June Cleaver persona. She doesn't want Charles to know about the conversation. I imagine she hopes the whole situation will go away.
Comment Written 12-Apr-2011
reply by the author on 13-Apr-2011
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Yes, she believes if you ignore something long enough it will just go away. I am pleased you liked this one.
Comment from Southern Writer
Not boring at all.....you put a lot of yourself in this chapter. It isn't a fun read....but a very well written "technical" chapter. No one could have written this but you........... this is when writing can be the best, when we open ourselves up
reply by the author on 12-Apr-2011
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Not boring at all.....you put a lot of yourself in this chapter. It isn't a fun read....but a very well written "technical" chapter. No one could have written this but you........... this is when writing can be the best, when we open ourselves up
Comment Written 12-Apr-2011
reply by the author on 12-Apr-2011
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What a nice and unexpected compliment. Other than thank you, I really don't know how to respond. I sincerely appreciate your awesome 6 stars and generous comments. Thank you very much.