One day you receive a brown paper wrapped package in the mail. There's no return address and inside the package is a thick leather-bound book with your name in large letters on the front cover. There is no author or other information of any kind on the book or inside the covers. Since you're curious, you open it to the beginning and start to read.
The book is a hand-written biography of yourself, starting with the day you were born. It is completely accurate and contains information you thought only you knew. It is neither critical nor flattering of you, simply offering the facts of your life as they happened. By the time you've read the book to a point a few years ago in your life, you are totally convinced that this book accurately portrays your life in detail.
Do you keep reading?
If you do, suppose that the book is blank after the point at which it catches up to the present but the pages are lined. If you believed that what you wrote on those pages would actually happen, what would you write?
Krys
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12 comments:
Krys,
Very interesting scenario. I'm not sure if I would keep reading. At that point I wouldn't know how far the book would continue. Maybe I would think it would be a full account of my life and I wouldn't want to know when or how I would die.
But, if I did continue on, I think I would be quite tempted to write on those blank lines. But I wouldn't want to plan out my entire life, just certain things. Like I would want to write about receiving a phone call from my brother telling me that he is 100% cancer free and totally cured. Better yet, I guess I'd write about the day that I read the news saying that scientists had found a cure for all cancers and other horrible diseases.
I wouldn't want to plan out my entire life because then it wouldn't be fun to live. It would be like going to see a suspense movie, but already knowing the twists and turns and the outcome. I think I would just rather live my life not knowing what's waiting around the corner, and hoping that whatever is there is wondrous and exciting.
SIS Bren
Wow. There's a loaded scenario and question. Great concept for a book or movie. It could be either horror or comedy, depending on your approach. What if you wrote some really wonderful things on those pages for yourself? What if by simply writing them on those pages you set your destiny. Except some or all of those wonderful things had a down side or ill effect that you hadn't counted on. Sort of like finding a magic latern and garnering three wishes. One must be very careful how they word those wishes.
Sorry I didn't answer your question (I can say DITTO to Brenda), but than you for kicki starting my creative brain this morning.
Great launch post, Kris!
SIS Beth
Great post Krys! Wow I don't even know how to answer this one. My brain is working out the different options. Let me get back to you.
And Beth is so right. What a great movie this would make!!!
Man, such typos this morning. I meant 'kick start' not kicki start. Not sure what that is.
And of course, I meant 'Krys' not 'Kris'. Hello, brain. Need more java? Yes!
SIS Beth
Great responses so far! And it's okay Beth, I've been there before :)
Like Brenda, I too don't know if I'd keep reading out of fear that I might read something that hadn't happened yet. Would reading it mean that it would be unalterable? And like Beth said, if you did write something out, who's to say that you wouldn't cause unintended effects?
There was something else I thought about when writing this one out. What if you decided not to write anything at all in the book, but that meant that that was the end, literally?
This question reminded me also of a tidbit of a story idea I had several years ago. I don't know if it's been done, but it's basically about a man/woman who bought a word processor (I told you this idea was old) and gradually discovers that whatever he/she writes with it really happens. I don't have all the details worked out but the ending happens when the person accidentally hits the 'delete' key and destroys themselves. Does that sound like anything that's been done already?
Hi Krys
This would make a great movire or even a book.
I would continue reading the book. I think the ony thing I would want to add on to the book is that I live a long and joyful life. I would want there to be suprises in my life or I might become very bored if I knew what was to happen.
Great topic!!!
BJ,
Exactly. Is having complete control over your life worth giving up the spontaneity and surprises? Not to me.
And be very careful, like Beth pointed out you might write in the book that you have a long life and end up living to be 200, continuing to age!
I have to hand it to you ladies, you really are a group of thinkers. Not that I ever thought anything different, mind you......I'm really glad to be here!
Great question and great answers. I don't know if I'd keep reading or not. I think on the one hand I'd want to, but if something bad was in my future, would I really want to know ahead of time? Scary!
Very though provoking blog today Krys. ;)
Honestly, I would be completely freaked out about a book that was all about me!
How old am I when the book stops? If I'm a teenager, then yeah I'd probably keep reading. The unrealized teenage dreams I had, makes it seem impossible that I would stop reading. If the book stops at my current age, it's doubtful I'd keep reading. I'm at a point now where I'd like to just take things one day at a time.
As for the blank pages, I don't know what I would write. Knowing that everything has a consequence, it would be hard to write to "just be happy". But, as Krys brought up, if I don't write anything then my story ends, literally. It's a Catch-22.
However, I didn't write anything in the book to start with. So, would I have to write on the blank pages to keep the book (or my life) going?
Hi Krys,
Sorry I'm a little late to the party. First of all, I don't even know if I'd make it to the middle of the book. I don't want to read about my life as much as I'd like to read about others.
But if I flipped to the back and saw the blank pages, I think I'd write something, just to see what happens. I wouldn't make it too serious. Maybe I'd say that when I wake up in the morning, someone will have left me a brand new car as a gift!!! No strings attached of course!
Life is a surprise. I think it should stay that way.
SIS Barb aka Elle J Rossi
Oh lord, I haven't a clue. Maybe about the day my books hit the bookshelves in Barnes and Noble, my son's college graduation...*shrugs
Good thinking topic though.
Hey Elle, you won a book on my blog. Gonna need your mailing address. Send me a note at siamckye@gmail.com
Hello Krys,
I would read a book about what happened to YOU after you wrote in your book.
Check out Ray Bradbury's short stories. I think there is something there about a typewriter.
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