Read a Good Book Lately?

"A Short Stay in Hell" by Steven L. Peck is a short novel, 109 pages, so really a novella.

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"A Short Stay in Hell" by Steven L. Peck is a short novel, 109 pages, so really a novella.

However it aptly captures the horror and dread of near eternity. The book is hard to spoil since much of its world details are laid out on page 1, but then the main story chapters 2 through 5 really show how these play out and by the end of chapter 5 I needed to watch comedy skits because I was more depressed than after reading George Orwell's 1984.

The Hell described (in short) is one where you need to find the book of your life. The catch is, this is The Library of Babel, meaning every possible book that has been written and can be written is here... so that's A TON OF BOOKS. You are free to search all day, you have free food and places to rest. Can collaborate with others. You are in this Hell as a young, healthy version of yourself. And harm, even death, is reversed by the next morning when you wake up all good again. In fact, you are generally free in this Hell. It's no gulag or dark forest or Infernal circle form Dante's Inferno.

But the sheer scope of the task is near unfathomable. There are so many books and the search becomes pure dread as you cling to a sliver of hope that you will one day find your book so that you can go to the promised Heaven.

How long does the search take? Well... on page 1, the protagonist reveals say the beginning is "so long ago that its horizon is a vanishing point of two Euclidian lines that would be parallel by anyon human measure." And by the end of the prologue, due the Hell's "gift" of a near perfect memory he is able to recall how many days he's been there: 23^439

For those who don't know math too well (like me) the appendix provides some context and clarification. The mentioned number is longer than the existence of the known universe. Of just wandering (near) infinite identical library stacks on (near) infinite floors.

The story goes into detail about the soul crushing nature of this seeminly endless monotony which, I remind the reader, the protagonist remembers every detail of due to that "gift" of perfect memory.

A great little book, very thought provoking, but have some comedy queued up for when you finish.

I am just after everyone's opinion.

I much prefer to watch a movie or series before reading the book. I find that a lot of the time I am let down by the viewing as I think they miss many parts (obviously as it has to be shortened).

I found reading the Game of Thrones series was much more exciting afte...

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Alex Tur

3
3 people like this
1 month ago

Hey, Sydney S. Something tells me this will be a sequel to my existing series, which I'm currently working on—reading, rereading, revising, adding to, and adapting for TV. )

Unfortunately, I find it di...

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Rose Dupuis

3
3 people like this
2 weeks ago

The Next Conversation by Jefferson Fisher is top of the list. Then it is back to research for the story waiting to come to life in the pages of a book.

Michael Dzurak

3
3 people like this
2 days ago

I plan on reading The Metamorphasis of Prime Intellect by Roger Williams.

Elle Bolan

2
2 people like this
- Michael Dzurak
- Maurice Vaughan
2 days ago

I have a copy of Stephen King's Fairytale that I still haven't read yet that I really want to get to.

Doing research for my writing brings many books into my hands to read through. One just started is "Pray Bold" by Joel Osteen. Getting my magic of prayer on. and a 2nd is "The Missing Thread" by Daisy...

3
3 people like this
3 weeks ago

Since I was 8 years old I am never without at least one book at hand. There is such wisdom held within the thousands of books I've read over the years. Yes books refine who reads them. If you visit th...

2
2 people like this
- Charmane Wedderburn
- Maurice Vaughan
1 week ago

I found short, snappy descriptions in books effective to adapt into scripts. I've also adapted longer and elaborate descriptions by paring them down.

David Taylor

I got a library card at five years old. Weekly visits to the library were a must. Discover an author - read all their books - discover another - read all their books - rinse and repeat for decades. Al...

Maurice Vaughan

2
2 people like this
- Alex Tur
- Heather Gill
2 months ago

Hi, Heather Gill. I just looked up Unreasonable Hospitality. It sounds interesting. I added it to my read list. Thanks.

Sydney S

1
1 person likes this
- Maurice Vaughan
1 month ago

Will check out, thank you Heather!

1
1 person likes this
- Maurice Vaughan
2 weeks ago

I have this book on my list to read this year

Douglas Self

2
2 people like this
- Don Zorbas
- Maurice Vaughan
1 month ago

Definitely one I will check out. Thanks, Debra!

Don Zorbas

Thanks for sharing.

Michael Bret Hood

Love Jonathan Haidt's work. Great recommendation!

Michell Chalfont and The Adult Chair podcast would be good place to find healing methods for the child, adolescent and adult mental well being. I just finished her 30 day journaling course and will st...

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Mick Eggins

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2 people like this
- Debra Holland
- Maurice Vaughan
2 months ago

Obviously...

2
2 people like this
- Mick Eggins
- Maurice Vaughan
3 weeks ago

Mick Eggins, I enjoy reading books made into film before as it adds much more depth to the film. What I appreciate the most is the incredible talent the actors bring to the script. It amazes me that t...

1
1 person likes this
- Maurice Vaughan
3 weeks ago

Rose Dupuis great point of view. thank you for your thoughts. I still have to watch the second Avatar, I feel bad. I lived the first but find it hard to get 3 hours. terrible excuse, I know...

Mick Eggins the Avatar films become so much more with each one. Listening to the few interviews with James Cameron gives beautiful insights to his purpose for those films. And The Way of Water fantastic, I've yet to watch Fire and Ash. you enjoy your week.

Rose Dupuis oh great, thank you. I will take the time to check them out

Scott Evans

2
2 people like this
- Kevin Aguirre
- Maurice Vaughan
3 weeks ago

I'm reading a pretty good book right now called The Man Who Saw Seconds. It is about a guy who can see 5 seconds into the future, and he uses his power to fight hundreds of cops at a time.

Michael David

Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

I recently read a series of Scottish bookshop mysteries. by Paige Shelton. if you like international low-key mystery. Another series on Kindle unlimited was a 9 book series starting with Tuyo. No spoi...

Kevin Aguirre

oooo these all sound really cool thanks everyone! all of them very interesting

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