Novel
Play Nice Horror Novel Review: An original story for the haunted house subgenre
Throughout 2025, the horror literature has produced some great stories. In September, best-selling American author Rachel Harrison published a new horror novel that is captivating readers everywhere. Play Nice is a work that combines horror with a profound exploration of identity and family, offering a reading experience that is both entertaining and thought-provoking.
By Ninfa Galeanoabout a year ago in Critique
Mark Twain: The Father of American Literature
When people talk about the greatest writers in American history, the name Mark Twain always comes up. Mark Twain was the pen name of Samuel Langhorne Clemens, who was born in 1835 in Missouri, USA. He became famous as a writer, humorist, and lecturer. Many readers around the world love his books because they are both funny and meaningful. He is often called the “Father of American Literature” because his writing shaped the future of storytelling in America.
By aadam khanabout a year ago in Critique
If Great Dead Writers Were on Facebook - 4
I have sent out small tips to everyone who submitted a story to my unofficial challenge from the third installment of these series. If you didn't get your tip (I'd wait a little to see for it to show up, though) please let me know. The challenge was announced here:
By Lana V Lynxabout a year ago in Critique
Ghalib in the Digital Age: Imagining a Poet on Social Media
Title: Ghalib in the Digital Age: Imagining a Poet on Social Media Subtitle: When the Heart Meets the Screen: Bringing 19th-Century Urdu Poetry into the Modern World Moral: Even centuries-old words can speak to the present; true art transcends time, and wisdom, emotion, and reflection can thrive in any era—whether inked on paper or typed on a screen. --- Introduction: The Streets of Delhi and the Soul of Poetry Imagine walking through the narrow lanes of Old Delhi today, past the crumbling havelis and bustling markets. Somewhere in a quiet courtyard, a ghostly figure sits with pen in hand—not to write letters or manuscripts, but to draft a status update. This is Mirza Ghalib, transported centuries forward, exploring Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Ghalib’s poetry has endured through colonial upheavals, the fall of empires, and the transition from Persian to Urdu literary dominance. Yet, what would it look like if he encountered our modern social networks? How would a poet of 19th-century sensibility respond to emojis, likes, and retweets? --- 1. Ghalib: Life, Times, and Significance Mirza Asadullah Khan Ghalib (1797–1869) was born in Agra, India, and later moved to Delhi, where he witnessed the decline of the Mughal Empire firsthand. His life was punctuated by personal losses, financial struggles, and historical turbulence, including the cataclysmic 1857 revolt. Despite hardship, Ghalib wrote prolifically in both Urdu and Persian, producing ghazals that combined subtle wit, philosophical inquiry, and intense emotional depth. His poetry explored themes of love, mortality, human desire, and the paradoxes of existence. Ghalib’s significance lies not just in his mastery of language, but in his ability to probe the human soul. He captured universal emotions, making his work timeless—so much so that we can imagine him communicating through modern digital platforms as effortlessly as he did through manuscripts. --- 2. Imagining Ghalib on Social Media a. Facebook – Reflecting on the Heart 📌 Status Update by Mirza Ghalib "It is only a heart, not stone or brick— Why should it not be filled with pain? I shall weep a thousand times, Why should anyone torment me again?" 🖋️ Today’s reflection: The streets of Delhi are emptier than ever. Wealth has faded, companions have turned into strangers, yet poetry still stands by my side. Perhaps that is enough. #Delhi #PoetryLivesForever #MirzaGhalib In a modern context, Facebook allows Ghalib to reach a global audience. He could post reflections on daily life, historical tragedies, or philosophical observations. Just as he wrote in letters to friends, he now writes for everyone connected online. b. Instagram – Shadows and Light 📸 Image: A dimly lit courtyard in Old Delhi, with the silhouette of a man writing on parchment, juxtaposed with a laptop ✍️ Caption: “The greatest secret of the human heart is this: We long for freedom, yet fear its burden.” #ExistentialThoughts #Ghalib #TimelessPoetry Instagram enables Ghalib to combine visual art with poetic expression. The shadows of the Mughal city, the candlelight, the quiet reflection—these are translated into images and captions, bridging centuries in a single scroll. c. Twitter – The Concise Ghazal 🐦 @MirzaGhalib "I love you as certain dark things are to be loved, in secret, between the shadow and the soul." #Love #Poetry #Neruda Twitter gives Ghalib the challenge of brevity. Every ghazal line must be condensed into 280 characters, making his wit sharper, his metaphor denser, and his emotional resonance more immediate. --- 3. Historical Context Meets Modernity Ghalib lived in a period of immense cultural and political change. The Mughal Empire was collapsing, the British were consolidating power, and Delhi was forever altered by war and colonial rule. Yet, despite these upheavals, Ghalib’s poetry focused on timeless human concerns: love, longing, philosophy, and irony. In today’s world, social media offers a similar duality—constant distraction and chaos, yet also a place to reflect, create, and connect. By imagining Ghalib posting online, we explore how universal themes in literature—grief, joy, hope, existential questioning—can be translated into modern forms of communication. --- 4. Sample Interactions and Comments 💬 Comment by a modern reader: “Ghalib, your words make me feel the 19th century and today at the same time. It’s like time travel through poetry.” 💬 Ghalib replies: “Poetry, my friend, has no calendar. It arrives whenever the heart is ready to listen.” This kind of interaction bridges temporal and cultural gaps, allowing Ghalib’s voice to inspire readers centuries later. --- 5. Lessons for Today Timelessness of Art: True poetry transcends eras. Ghalib’s words are just as relevant in 2025 as they were in 1850. Adaptation: Even historical figures can “exist” in new mediums if the core message remains intact. Reflection and Mindfulness: Social media often encourages distraction; Ghalib reminds us to pause, reflect, and feel deeply. --- Conclusion: Why We Bring Ghalib to Modern Screens By imagining Ghalib on social media, we honor the power of art to outlast its creator, medium, and era. His poetry, whether inscribed on paper or typed in a status update, continues to speak to love, loss, friendship, and wisdom. This exercise is more than a game—it’s a way to connect cultures, generations, and technologies. Just as Rustaveli, Shevchenko, and Aitmatov can be imagined online, so too can Ghalib remind us that literature lives wherever there is an audience willing to listen.
By Noman Khanabout a year ago in Critique
The Boy and the Lion
In a small village on the edge of the vast savanna, a boy named Arin had just turned eighteen. In his tribe, this was the age when a boy left behind childhood and stepped into manhood. But tradition demanded more than age — it demanded proof.
By Hammad Aliabout a year ago in Critique
"What My Grandmother Taught Me Before Goodbye"
My grandmother had a way of turning silence into wisdom. She didn’t speak unless the words mattered. When she did speak, I listened. She lived in a small cottage at the edge of our village, surrounded by lemon trees and wildflowers. As a child, I spent nearly every summer with her, basking in the scent of old books, fresh herbs, and the faint aroma of rose water that always clung to her scarves. I loved her deeply, but I didn’t understand her completely — not until the summer before she passed away. It was a hot July afternoon when I arrived. Her body had grown thin, and her steps slower, but her eyes were still fierce, like the flames of a candle that refused to go out. “I’m glad you’re here,” she said, hugging me with surprising strength. “We have things to talk about.” We spent the next few days doing what we always did: gardening, cooking, and sitting on the porch watching the world drift by. But this time, there was a quiet urgency in her actions, like she was racing time. One evening, she called me into her room. The sun was setting, casting gold over everything. She handed me a small wooden box. “Open it,” she said. Inside was a faded photograph of her as a young woman, a delicate gold locket, and a bundle of letters tied with a blue ribbon. “These are pieces of who I was,” she said. “But I don’t want to talk about things I’ve done. I want to talk about what I’ve learned. These are the lessons I want to leave you with.” I sat on the floor beside her bed, holding her hand, as she began. Lesson One: Love Quietly, But Fully. “Love isn't always loud, child,” she said. “Your grandfather never wrote me poems or bought me flowers. But he built our first home with his own hands and warmed my feet every winter when the fire went out. That was love — quiet, steady, and unwavering. Love like that doesn’t shout. It stays.” I thought of the way my generation constantly searched for fireworks — grand gestures, cinematic declarations — and how maybe we’d lost sight of what love was meant to be. Lesson Two: Forgive Even If They Don’t Deserve It. She smiled sadly. “I forgave people who hurt me deeply. Not because they asked, but because I didn’t want their poison in my heart. Forgiveness isn’t for them. It’s for your peace.” I’d never thought of it that way. I’d always waited for apologies that never came. Maybe peace wasn’t something others gave you — maybe it was something you chose. Lesson Three: Learn to Sit With Yourself. “In silence, you’ll find who you really are. Learn to be alone without being lonely.” She told me about the years after my grandfather died — how she would sit by the window, just breathing, listening to the wind. “It’s in those moments,” she said, “that I found strength I didn’t know I had.” Lesson Four: Plant Something. Always. Her garden was proof of that. Tomatoes, mint, marigolds, and lemons — always lemons. “When you plant something,” she said, “you declare hope. You say, ‘I believe in tomorrow.’ Even in grief, even in despair, dig your hands into the earth and plant something.” Lesson Five: Don’t Be Afraid of Goodbye. This was the hardest lesson. She looked at me with tired eyes, eyes that had seen decades pass, wars come and go, loved ones born and buried. “Goodbye is not the end,” she whispered. “It’s just a moment — like sunset. The sun doesn’t die; it just moves where we can’t see it.” Tears filled my eyes. I wanted to scream that I wasn’t ready, that she couldn’t go, that I needed more time. But instead, I nodded. And I held her hand. That night, I read her old letters. Some were from my grandfather, others from friends long gone. They were full of simple things — recipes, jokes, small hopes, little aches. But together, they painted the portrait of a life lived fully, quietly, and with purpose. Two weeks later, she passed away in her sleep. Her face was peaceful, a slight smile on her lips. I buried her with the gold locket — she had told me to keep the letters and the photograph. Her house felt empty afterward, but her lessons stayed. I wrote them down. I memorized them. And slowly, I began to live them. I started planting herbs on my balcony in the city. I forgave my father for the years he was absent. I learned to enjoy my own company. I stopped chasing loud, fleeting love and started looking for something steady. And on the hardest days, when life feels unbearably heavy, I sit by my window and whisper, “Goodbye isn’t the end.” I picture her in the golden light, surrounded by lemon trees, smiling. Because what my grandmother taught me before goodbye wasn’t just how to live without her — it was how to live, fully and fearlessly, with love and grace.
By Israr khanabout a year ago in Critique
Tunisian Man Sentenced to Six Months in Jail for Refusing to Listen to President's Speech
In a development that has sparked serious concerns among human rights activists and international observers, a Tunisian citizen has been sentenced to six months in prison for refusing to listen to a televised speech by President Kais Saied. The unusual and controversial sentence, handed down by a local court, has once again brought Tunisia's declining state of freedom of expression under the spotlight. According to the citizen’s lawyer, Adel Saghir, the case began when the man, already incarcerated on a separate charge, declined to watch or listen to a presidential address broadcasted on national television. This occurred within a local prison facility, during a news bulletin that featured live coverage of President Saied's activities. The Case and the Charges The incident came to light when one of the man’s fellow inmates reported his refusal to prison authorities. An investigation followed, and the prisoner was later charged under Article 67 of the Tunisian Penal Code, which traditionally deals with offenses against the head of state. However, perhaps sensing the political sensitivity of invoking this article, the court eventually dropped the original charge and sentenced him under public decency laws instead. According to the court's reasoning, refusing to listen to the president’s speech amounted to “indecent behavior in public” and “setting a poor example for society.” The verdict, Saghir claims, was politically motivated, despite attempts to frame it as a non-political issue. The modification of charges was allegedly done to avoid labeling the case as one of political repression or a direct attack on freedom of thought. > “The authorities did not want this to be seen as a political punishment, so they shifted the charge to a vague violation of public decency,” said the lawyer. “But everyone knows the real issue was the refusal to comply with what they consider a show of loyalty to the president.” What Happened in Prison? The man was reportedly in a provincial detention facility, where he was serving time for a prior, unrelated case that had recently concluded. During the airing of the president’s speech, when asked to watch the broadcast, he refused, saying he had no interest in the president’s activities or speeches. It is also reported that he may have made disrespectful comments about the president during that time, which further fueled the legal response. Human rights NGO Tunisia League for Human Rights confirmed that the man had completed his sentence in the earlier case and was on the verge of release. His family had been preparing for his return home. However, this new charge blocked his release, resulting in yet another prison term. According to the NGO, “The man did not commit any criminal offense in a conventional sense. He merely expressed disinterest in a political figure’s speech. The decision to imprison him again is not only unjust—it is alarming.” Broader Context: Tunisia's Shrinking Civic Space Since his controversial power grab in 2021, President Kais Saied has been widely criticized for eroding democratic norms in Tunisia. He dissolved parliament, took control of the judiciary, sidelined political opponents, and passed a new constitution via referendum—moves seen by critics as steering Tunisia toward authoritarianism. Many Tunisian and international observers believe that this latest incident is emblematic of a broader pattern of silencing dissent. Journalists, civil society leaders, and now even ordinary citizens are increasingly finding themselves under threat for expressing views that do not align with the official narrative. > “This is not just about one man refusing to watch a TV broadcast,” said a regional expert on North African politics. “This is about a regime that sees any form of indifference or criticism as a threat to its legitimacy.” A Deal with Italy and Political Anger There is an additional layer to this story. The individual reportedly expressed anger toward President Saied over a recent agreement signed with Italy, which involves cooperation on the deportation of undocumented migrants. The man had previously been deported from Italy after residing there illegally. However, under the new agreement, returning to Tunisia may carry criminal consequences, further complicating the lives of many former Tunisian migrants. This agreement, hailed by some European governments as a breakthrough in controlling migration, has faced criticism inside Tunisia for being exploitative and dangerous for returning citizens. The convicted man’s comments against the president, as per his lawyer, were partly fueled by this personal frustration and political disagreement. International Reaction and Human Rights Concerns Human rights organizations in Tunisia and beyond are calling for the immediate release of the man and a re-evaluation of laws that criminalize nonconformity or dissent. They warn that such actions risk setting a dangerous precedent, where even silence or disinterest can become a punishable offense in an authoritarian system. > “Punishing someone for not watching the president’s speech is a gross violation of personal liberty,” said a representative from Amnesty International. “This is not just repression—it’s absurdity, weaponized.” So far, there has been no official response from the Tunisian presidency or the Ministry of Justice regarding the incident. --- Conclusion This case highlights the increasing crackdown on freedom of expression and political neutrality in Tunisia. What may seem like a minor act of protest—refusing to listen to a televised speech—has led to a six-month prison sentence, underlining the extent to which civic space in Tunisia has deteriorated. As international pressure builds, many are watching to see whether Tunisia will uphold basic human rights—or continue its descent into political repression cloaked under legal formalities.
By Ikram Ullahabout a year ago in Critique
🎼 Music: The Language That Speaks When Words Fail . AI-Generated.
Have you ever listened to a song and felt like it was telling your story—without a single word? Music is a universal language, but not in the way we usually think of language. It doesn’t rely on grammar or vocabulary. Instead, it uses rhythm, melody, harmony, and silence to speak directly to our emotions.
By The Yume Collectiveabout a year ago in Critique
