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The Language of Falling Rain. AI-Generated.
The Language of Falling Rain The rain whispered its melancholic song against the café windowpane, blurring the world outside. Inside, Clara sat nestled in a corner booth, the steam from her chamomile tea swirling upwards like wisps of lost memories.
By Phargham Ahmad2 years ago in BookClub
A Memorable Family Trip to Phuket,Thailand
The anticipation of a surprise trip often brings an extra sparkle to our lives, especially when it involves exploring a beloved destination. For our family, Phuket held a special place in our hearts, particularly for our two daughters who had developed a deep fondness for Thailand through our previous visits. Little did they know that this summer vacation held an extraordinary surprise in store for them, a journey that would etch lasting memories in our hearts.
By Md Shahood Mustansir2 years ago in BookClub
"Silent Stalker: The True Horror Next Door"
In the quiet suburb of Maplewood, life seemed idyllic. Neighbors greeted each other with warm smiles, children played on manicured lawns, and families enjoyed peaceful barbecues on weekends. Among these neighbors was the Johnson family. They were well-liked, blending seamlessly into the fabric of the community. The father, Tom, was a hardworking accountant; the mother, Sarah, volunteered at the local animal shelter; and their teenage daughter, Emily, was a bright student at Maplewood High.
By Lish Genz2 years ago in BookClub
Heaven's Sister
The school in town is completely different from the one in my hometown. Although it lacks the cool shade of trees, it is very spacious and clean. After the initial two days of confusion, the son of our neighbor in the countryside helped me find a room near the school. I share the room with a Tay guy who came to the town to study on a scholarship.Outside of school, I often take walks near the lake, go to the stadium to watch football matches, and sometimes, when I feel too sad, I climb up the water tower near the school to sit and gaze at the small houses, cars, and trees below. Being in a new school and class, most of my classmates come from well-off families in the town. With my poor and unsophisticated appearance, it's difficult for me to fit in with them. However, I don't really mind. I don't have a strong desire to socialize with anyone; I just want to go to school and come back home. If someone asks me something, I will answer, but otherwise, I'm fine spending whole days without saying a word. For some time, I was considered an eccentric in the class, but it didn't bother me much.Every month, at the beginning of the month, my stepmother sends me rice, money, salt, and other necessary items. Without fail, she ensures I never go hungry or lack anything. Sometimes, the children write letters to me. The letters usually have three parts: one from my grandmother, one from my stepmother, and a short line at the end from the children saying, "Mr. Bi, try to study well..." Even though the content is often the same, I still feel excited every time I receive a letter. My stepmother's handwriting is round and neat, and I can sense her emotions through the words.Despite the school not being too far from my house, around 50 kilometers, in the past, it was challenging to make the journey and we were concerned about the expenses. Therefore, I always stayed at school until Tet (Lunar New Year) and didn't go home.One day, when I returned home from school, I saw Luyen standing in front of the house, holding a piece of paper with an address in her hand. I was surprised and asked her, "Did you ride your bike all the way here? It's such a long distance, are you crazy?"She explained that she had two days off, so she came to visit me. She left at 5:00 a.m. and had just arrived. Moreover, she also wanted to see what the town was like.I helped her unload the items from her bicycle—a bag of rice, my grandmother's cakes, half of an aunt's duck, and a bag of crushed grilled rice paper due to the long journey.That night, she slept in my room because I didn't want her to ride back home at night, fearing for her safety. The Tay guy knew what to do, so he went to sleep over at a neighbor's house. Since my room was small, there wasn't enough space for three people. Luyen was tired from the long journey, so she took a shower and then fell asleep. I sat and studied until late at night.My room is only 12 square meters wide and cluttered with various things, so the sleeping area also serves as the dining and reception area. I lay down next to her, which was the first time in my life I slept so close to a girl. I turned to face the wall, but something compelled me to turn and look at her. Luyen is in 8th grade now, entering adolescence. In the dim light of the study lamp, I suddenly realized that she was no longer the dark-skinned girl from before. After two years at home, where she no longer had to tend to buffaloes or catch snails, and no longer had to endure hardships, she had become plump and her skin had become much fairer. I lay on my side, facing her, and suddenly I realized that compared to all the girls I had ever met or studied with, she was the most beautiful... She was incredibly beautiful, and I wondered why I had only just realized it now. Maybe it was because I had been away from home for half a year, and everything seemed unfamiliar...I gazed at her until midnight, then went out for a walk. I was afraid of myself, afraid of my trembling hands reaching out and pulling back, afraid of my own desires. I felt repulsive and ugly, like a devil...The next morning, I wrote a letter requesting permission to leave school and took her around town. With just a little over half a month left until Tet, the streets were unusually beautiful. Or perhaps it was something within me that made everything suddenly appear beautiful? I wasn't sure anymore; all I knew was that Luyen stared blankly at the rows of tall buildings and the bustling, crowded market, which were completely different from thesmall, deserted market back home.I drove her to my school to show her around, bought her a sandwich from outside the school gate, which wasn't available in the countryside, and even bought her a hairpin. It had been a while since I had seen her smile. Her smile was different from other girls; there was a hint of distant sadness in it, even though I knew she was genuinely happy.When it was time for her to leave, I blurted out, "Be careful when riding back. When you reach home, go to Ms. Tu's house and call me using the number I just wrote down." After saying that, I realized it was the first time I had called her "you." But it didn't matter; I could tell we were both old enough to address each other that way, and I knew it made her happy.
By Quang2 years ago in BookClub
Heaven's Sister
The new school is nearly 50km away from my house. Unfortunately, I can't cycle such a long distance with my broken bicycle. If I were to attend high school there, I would have to study away from home, possibly even abroad. The problem is not that I don't want to go to a school far away, but rather the various problems that would arise if I stayed in a boarding house – accommodation, food, school expenses, electricity, water, and so on. The most significant issue is money, which my family lacks the most at this time, especially since my father, the breadwinner, is no longer with us.While we were having a meal, I shared my thoughts with my stepmother: "It's okay for me to stay home and study. If I live in a boarding house, I won't have the money to continue my education. Besides, I prefer staying at home. I'll find someone to play with here." Upon hearing this, she stopped eating and spoke to me in a serious manner: "Listen to me, you must go to school. If I can take care of everything, you can focus on studying. In the future, I will grow old and weak, and won't have the strength anymore. Then, you will have to take care of Luyen's child on my behalf..." She spoke at length, emphasizing that I must fulfill my father's wishes, reminding me that the future is long, and that I should study well and be a role model for my younger siblings. She herself had limited education and struggled to express herself fully, but she understood the pain of not being able to go to school, not having the opportunity to receive an education. Luyen sat quietly and listened; she also wanted me to go to school, and she even expressed her own desire to attend school in the future. She mentioned that if she could attend a specialized school like me, she would study to become a teacher.One day, at the end of August, I woke up very early to prepare for my departure. I wrapped myself in a sweater and a hood to protect against the cold weather. My backpack was packed with Luyen's clothes which she had prepared for me the day before, along with a bag containing a jar of dried shrimp made by my stepmother, a bag of rice in a stork bran bag, and a few miscellaneous items. In our area, the local transportation facilities were scarce. Whenever we needed to travel, we had to rely on coal cars. Whenever my father went to town to buy medicine or attend agricultural skills classes, his clothes would be soaked in sweat, and coal dust and soot would stick to him, making him pitch black and his face dirty, like Bao Cong...That was also the first time in my life that I left the impoverished district town where I was born and raised. On that day, my stepmother had to continue selling goods because if she stopped for even a day, her capital would be depleted. The previous night, she had given me thorough instructions. As I sat and listened to her guidance, I began to sense her feelings towards me, her stepchild whom she had to deal with every day, a child who was often rebellious and caused trouble...I took Luyen to my grandmother's house, with her sitting behind me and holding my backpack and belongings. My grandmother knew I would visit her that morning, so she stood outside the door with her cane, waiting. After spending some time talking with my grandmother, I reminded her to return home in time for the car. She handed me a tightly rolled ball of money, secured with an elastic band, and told me to use it as needed. The money was old and worn. Perhaps my grandmother had been saving it for a long time... She told me to study hard and become a doctor so that I could treat her back pain and her eyes, and so she could proudly tell everyone in the neighborhood, "My son Bi has achieved great success. He passed the exam and got into the biggest school in town..." Now that I have become a doctor, my grandmother has already passed away...The bus station in my hometown is nothing more than an empty lot near the market. In the morning, it serves as a bus station; at noon, it becomes a place for fish traders to dry their fish; and in the afternoon, it turns into a soccer field for children. Luyen insisted on waiting for me to get on the bus before leaving. I was squeezed into the last row of seats. I pressed my face against the rear window, watching her small figure fade away in the mist of the mountain morning. Later, whenever I had the opportunity to travel by car or bus, I would often choose the last row of seats, the place most people avoided, just to occasionally look out the window, searching for something, something vague...
By Quang2 years ago in BookClub
Love does not have to have
In our culture that often celebrates narratives of love that are full of ownership and claims, the idea that love doesn't have to be owned is often seen as a foreign or even strange concept. However, if we dig deeper, we will find old wisdom that says that true love is actually about giving freedom, not enslaving.
By muhammaddwi anugrahrizky2 years ago in BookClub
Audiobook Review: Camille (The Lady of the Camellias) by Alexandre Dumas fils
First published in 1848, Camille captivated Paris and has inspired countless adaptations. This classic story of love and loss is based on the author’s real-life affair with courtesan Marie Duplessis. Also known as The Lady of the Camellias, the novel follows the courtesan Marguerite Gautier through her tumultuous love affair with handsome—but middle class—Armand Duval. Before their passionate affair is over, one lover must give up everything.
By Marie Sinadjan2 years ago in BookClub
Unrequited love, a feeling of inclusion, and capitalist society: Interpreting the conventionality in The Maxton Hall Series
We all love the romantic trope of enemies to lovers that serves a slow burn, leaving us gasping for air amidst the sizzling chemistry of the main characters, diving us deep into the escapism of their romance. Adolescent angst and feelings take centre stage in this show, which is perfect if you enjoy typical high school teen dramas. Your heartstrings will be pulled by the series' poignant depiction of love. The series is unique because of its sharp lines, which strike a deep chord with us. Amazon Prime’s most recent release Maxton Hall embodies the romantic dramatism of the pro-capitalist enemies of lovers James and Ruby, giving us a breathtaking onscreen presence yet the predictability of the plot and the fine crevices of incompleteness in the evolution of the subplots hampers it from being a massive feature of swoonworhty foes to romantic partners. Let's dive deeper into the nuances of the series
By Hridya Sharma2 years ago in BookClub
The Lost Colony. AI-Generated.
The Lost Colony Part 1 In the depths of space, one of the greatest discoveries in human history was about to take place. After a years-long journey, the massive spaceship called Ulysses had finally reached its destination, a new star system. This system was home to potentially habitable planets, and humanity hoped to establish a new colony there.
By Stories by AI2 years ago in BookClub
The Enchanted Forest. AI-Generated.
The Enchanted Forest Chapter 1 Nestled amidst rolling green hills and shimmering rivers, the Enchanted Forest was a realm of wonder and mystery. Its trees soared towards the heavens, casting long shadows upon the emerald-green undergrowth. Enchanted creatures of all shapes and sizes roamed freely within its verdant borders.
By Stories by AI2 years ago in BookClub
Jacob’s Adventure. AI-Generated.
Jacob’s Adventure Ep 1 Jacob was a young explorer with a bold and adventurous spirit. From an early age, he loved to explore and go on adventures. One day, he found an old map. The map pointed to a mysterious and dangerous forest known as the Dark Forest. As Jacob excitedly studied this map, he reached the boundaries of this forest just outside the village he was in.
By Stories by AI2 years ago in BookClub
Guardian of the Light: Emma’s Saga. AI-Generated.
Guardian of the Light: Emma’s Saga Chapter 1: Mysterious Beginnings The wind was just blowing like a cool breath, but he felt something change inside of him. Emma wandered the quiet streets of the small town, feeling her heart beating fast. When the thunder was heard, the sky suddenly darkened and a ray of light appeared.
By Stories by AI2 years ago in BookClub