tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-155197540326010032.post1236520378756036035..comments2024-03-28T16:06:50.879+00:00Comments on FICTION on the WEB short stories: Broken Shells by Bruce CostelloCharlie Fishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04834189452905372024noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-155197540326010032.post-50299405210565174102021-01-03T21:47:49.000+00:002021-01-03T21:47:49.000+00:00This is a poignant reflection on how childhood exp...This is a poignant reflection on how childhood experiences and trauma can shape or warp the lives of adults. I appreciate the courage on the part of the narrator, choosing to speak up at the very end, despite the blowback she may experience from Billy's mother when the narrator exposes that woman's savage barbarity to her own son. Tony Artusohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12799990395153531062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-155197540326010032.post-32451855598247848392020-11-29T08:22:07.806+00:002020-11-29T08:22:07.806+00:00Great read, Bruce. Congrats. Great read, Bruce. Congrats. Raymond Sloannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-155197540326010032.post-20243379925424032132020-11-26T04:26:36.151+00:002020-11-26T04:26:36.151+00:00Short and powerful. Love how the ending reinforces...Short and powerful. Love how the ending reinforces the story's theme.Ron Schultehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05058258071909410778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-155197540326010032.post-39565140354543398572020-11-20T21:39:05.188+00:002020-11-20T21:39:05.188+00:00This story takes my breath away. Some things can n...This story takes my breath away. Some things can never be resolved in this lifetime. So sad. Excellent writing.phyllis souzahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13704301975258476214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-155197540326010032.post-29294358623684443632020-11-19T15:13:21.825+00:002020-11-19T15:13:21.825+00:00Excellent tale. I can hear the MC telling the trut...Excellent tale. I can hear the MC telling the truth to the crowd and imagine Billy's mother's painful reaction. The story serves as an excellent reminder of how little we know about the people we are around each day and how important it is to communicate.James Rumpelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10983186433099791617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-155197540326010032.post-81154934538349336932020-11-19T00:45:28.279+00:002020-11-19T00:45:28.279+00:00This story packs and an emotional wallop that stay...This story packs and an emotional wallop that stayed with me long after I’d read it. With an economy of words, Costello convincingly portrays the lifelong, crippling effects of severe childhood trauma and shows us the cousin’s heart-rending attempt to cope with his broken shell of a self by nurturing others. The ending with the woman about to share what she and her cousin were never able to reveal was particularly moving. <br /><br />Sheila Sharpehttp://sheilasharpe.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-155197540326010032.post-51377799856049773742020-11-18T10:16:30.800+00:002020-11-18T10:16:30.800+00:00Ah, Bruce, you said it all as you you described it...Ah, Bruce, you said it all as you you described it,you didnt have to say any more. Well done,brilliant!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02298559160585242345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-155197540326010032.post-55538545170924563572020-11-18T02:45:00.661+00:002020-11-18T02:45:00.661+00:00Ah, Chris, I leave that to your imagination.Ah, Chris, I leave that to your imagination.Bruce Costellohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08192248044937185344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-155197540326010032.post-55640380679559598862020-11-17T18:16:24.167+00:002020-11-17T18:16:24.167+00:00A touching character study via eulogy, but I canno...A touching character study via eulogy, but I cannot forgive Costello for not letting us hear her words at the end. I'd like to know whether she continues in same vein as repeatedly expressed or opens up that long closed can of worms.Chris Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13435037314612068333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-155197540326010032.post-21876708006520974152020-11-16T15:35:52.183+00:002020-11-16T15:35:52.183+00:00Poignant and insightful about what we can and can’...Poignant and insightful about what we can and can’t know about other people. David Hensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13683380054995884030noreply@blogger.com