Imagine a vast realm, still and undisturbed, resting on the shelves as books. Each book has a story to tell— a life seen in vivid imagery or told in detailed intricacies. A world of history or fantasy, victory or defeat, research or discovery, questions or answers.
I delight in hopping from one realm to another. Some world I explore in a day while others took longer. But the world I’m in today is quite… puzzling. I set off a journey to the pages filled with outlines of shapes in various sizes.
Then I realize, some realms are not for me.
In response to this week’s Friday Fictioneers prompt. Friday Fictioneers is a weekly writing challenge hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields where a photo is used as a prompt for a hundred-word piece of fiction. Thank you!
The photo prompt, a courtesy of Kent Bonham, reminds me of logic shapes and puzzles. Once, I tried to read a book about it back in collage, I ended up staring blankly at the pages. Blame my left side of the brain, please. Nonetheless, I had to read it to pass an exam. LOL. Some memories… ^^
Enjoy more stories here:
April 14, 2016 at 12:23 am
Books are definitely individual realms, limitless and endless like little universes between each of the covers. Isn’t that just a magical thing ❤
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April 14, 2016 at 10:57 am
You’ve summed it up very well. So true. Limitless and magical… ❤
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April 14, 2016 at 12:50 am
You nailed that! Well said.
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April 14, 2016 at 11:04 am
Thank you! 😀
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April 14, 2016 at 1:08 am
Agreed books are realms and they are an individual thing sometimes. The best realms are the ones most people can find they relate to and feel a part of I think. Great job.
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April 14, 2016 at 11:12 am
“The best realms are the ones most people can find they relate to and feel a part of I think.” ~ I so agree with you, Mandi! Thank you. 😀
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April 14, 2016 at 2:08 am
Dear Maria,
Apt description of what books can be. It’s true that not every book is for every person. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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April 14, 2016 at 11:07 am
So true, Rochelle! As for me, those with too much numbers are my weakness. Haha! Thanks for to you and Kent for the prompt. 😀
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April 14, 2016 at 2:18 am
I loved the way you wrote this. Sometimes we wish we could be a part of some of our favourite books, believing we’d do better there. I think you’re missing an ‘s’ in realm at the end. Good job 🙂
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April 14, 2016 at 7:08 pm
YAY! Thank you so much for pointing that out (now corrected). 😀 And, yes, there are times I wish I’d be a part of that world I’m reading- wishing to meet those characters. How magical would that be! ^^
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April 14, 2016 at 8:36 pm
Welcome! it would be indeed
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April 15, 2016 at 12:49 pm
❤ ❤ ❤
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April 14, 2016 at 8:32 am
Super take on the prompt, Maria. I like books myself and the worlds they contain can be amazing. And textbooks? I never liked them. All right, maybe there were some from college, but stories are about us. 🙂
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April 14, 2016 at 11:19 am
Thank you Kent! LOL. I can relate. There were some textbooks that I enjoyed reading back them (as long as there’s not much numbers on them). Books with stories in them fascinates me the most.
Also, I’ve been meaning to ask what the book in the photo is about? One of your favorites?
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April 14, 2016 at 12:56 pm
Well, that “book” is actually a metal sculpture outside the City Hall of my hometown. I was out shooting some photos for Rochelle a couple of years ago and was looking around for something unique and unusual, so I decided to shoot that and send it to her. It made the the FF blog finally. Like you, I’m not a fan of math and numbers (my dad is, he’s a financial guy).
Speaking of pictures, I like this one on your gravatar. Where did you take it?
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April 14, 2016 at 7:19 pm
A sculpture?! Oh my… wow! Praises to the artist of that too-good-to-be-true piece. It had me completely deceived. Geez. I really thought that was a book! You definitely found yourself something unique and unusual. Glad it made the FF.
As for my gravatar photo, this was taken at Temple of Leah here in Cebu. It’s a beautiful, huge edifice inspired by Roman architecture resting on top of the mountain. A lovely place that was, with a lovely romantic story behind, too. 🙂
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April 14, 2016 at 7:21 pm
I’ll bet it’s a good story. Inspiration always pops up somewhere, doesn’t it?
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April 14, 2016 at 7:31 pm
Yes! It’s limitless (So long as writer’s block doesn’t strike). 🙂
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April 14, 2016 at 7:39 pm
BTW, I don’t see you have commented on my story yet. Come on over.
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April 14, 2016 at 9:37 pm
My apologies Kent. I’ve read your story this afternoon but didn’t want to comment until I get home and read the link you shared. Wikipedia’s restricted in the office, sad to say. I’ve already commented on your post. Thank you, it’s a well-penned piece.
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April 15, 2016 at 1:37 am
That’s OK. I know you’re in a different time zone and have to work like the rest of us. No problem. 😉
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April 15, 2016 at 12:59 pm
Thanks, Kent! 🙂
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April 14, 2016 at 2:47 pm
Wise reader, to recognise such a realm.
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April 14, 2016 at 7:44 pm
He seems to be one. Thank you, Sandra. 🙂
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April 14, 2016 at 5:10 pm
To express books in this form takes talent of a whole new level. And for someone like me who’s a complete bookworm… this is perfect. You, my dear, dear, Maria truly have a magical talent 🙂 ❤
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April 15, 2016 at 12:41 pm
Aww… I’m the happiest to have touched you bookish heart NJ. Thank you, thank you. You’re the sweetest! ❤ Books are indeed magical, no?
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April 15, 2016 at 5:03 pm
They are, they so are 🙂
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April 14, 2016 at 6:05 pm
This is so true, Maria. Book are a realm on its own. ❤
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April 15, 2016 at 12:45 pm
They really are! Thank you, Rosema ❤
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April 14, 2016 at 6:46 pm
A lovely description of books as realms. Not every realm is for me either!
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April 15, 2016 at 12:47 pm
I’m curious, what kind of realms would that be? ^^ Thank you, Ali!
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April 15, 2016 at 3:46 pm
Realms devoid of action, aliens and zombies 🙂
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April 14, 2016 at 8:03 pm
A beautiful expression of our relationship with books
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April 15, 2016 at 12:48 pm
Yes. Thanks for taking the time to read Siobhan. 😀
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April 15, 2016 at 9:28 pm
That last line really hooked me. Now I’m wondering what kind of strange and fantastic world the book contained. Nicely done, Maria.
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April 16, 2016 at 12:08 am
Love this tribute to books! 🙂
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April 18, 2016 at 7:13 pm
Thank you! 🙂 🙂
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April 16, 2016 at 6:52 am
This is beautiful and very wise. If you focus on the realms that are for you, you can dedicate a lot more time and effort to them instead of hopping around everywhere (which is one of my weaknesses I admit).
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April 18, 2016 at 7:19 pm
Ha! It is also a good thing to explore other realms. As long as we know when to stop wandering when we realize that realm does not fit us? 😀 Thank you, Gah!
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April 18, 2016 at 4:23 am
I could never live without the worlds and realms created by books (ok, by the authors of books… but you get what I mean!)
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April 18, 2016 at 7:24 pm
Agree…! Those authors are really amazing. 😀
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April 18, 2016 at 1:24 pm
Thank you for writing on books in general. Wanted to do it, but another aspect kicked in, which is what I wrote.
Love books and like you some books are not for me!
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April 19, 2016 at 12:37 am
Books or art some you love and some you don’t. But not all are easy to understand, but you hit it on the nail so to speak.
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April 19, 2016 at 12:35 pm
So true, Mike! Thanks a lot. 🙂
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April 19, 2016 at 5:22 am
This is a great way to describe the love of reading to kids. My kids hate reading because they haven’t found the right book. 🙂
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April 19, 2016 at 12:34 pm
Hope they’ll find the right books that would fit them soon. Thank you, Josslyn. 🙂
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April 19, 2016 at 12:40 pm
You’re welcome. 🙂
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