Reviews from

Farewell, TV Dog

Another good-bye

16 total reviews 
Comment from Liz O'Neill
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You have used several literary techniques that give quality to your writing. Your use of personification will draw the reader in. There is a speck of allusion to cause the reader to give pause. Well done.

 Comment Written 20-Dec-2021


reply by the author on 20-Dec-2021
    Thank you. I like to go a little snooty when my education pokes me.
reply by Liz O'Neill on 21-Dec-2021
    ***lol***
Comment from T B Botts
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Hello Frank- What an original story. TV dog huh? We never had anything like TV dog, but my little dog had a stuffed yellow doll of some sort that had legs splayed out. Rigby's snout fit right into the crotch and he would chew it until the stuffing came out. His "grandma" stitched it up a number of times until there was no fabric left to stitch. Even animals get attattched to inanimate objects. Well done on your story.

Have a blessed evening.
Tom

 Comment Written 18-Dec-2021


reply by the author on 18-Dec-2021
    Thank you. Yeah, our terrier mix has her favorites.
Comment from Susan Newell
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Frank,

Watch out! This sounds like an illegal burn and most surely TV Dog would release far too many toxins and too much carbon into the air!

Seriously, I loved this story, having said good-bye and burned a few things in my lifetime. But it is sometimes hard to let go of the things that carry so many memories, no matter how bad their current condition. Writing note follows.

Sue

Now he is reluctant to flame up, refusing to burn, one-eyed and pathetic, at the stake. -- would suggest changing word order: Now, one-eyed and pathetic, he is reluctant to flame up, refusing to burn at the stake.

 Comment Written 17-Dec-2021


reply by the author on 17-Dec-2021
    Thanks! I see the merit in your suggestion in terms of a logical order. I'm not sure that the disjunction in my version is a not functional in its suggestion of a hidden emotional chaos in the event.
reply by Susan Newell on 17-Dec-2021
    Or you were channeling Yoda. Backwards you did write.
reply by the author on 17-Dec-2021
    Always there is more.
Comment from damommy
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I'm guessing the children or child that use TV Dog have left home, and Janice is getting rid of him. I'd want to save him for the memories. some people aren't sentimental, though.

 Comment Written 17-Dec-2021


reply by the author on 17-Dec-2021
    You got it.But - TV Dog is ruined, I think I said he smells bad, and in most American households, he represents just one of dozens of things that once were cherished and now go unused. Plus, we've created a culture (via capitalist marketing and propaganda, butter with a fear of contagiousness) that has an aversion to used goods, which are often very functional
reply by damommy on 17-Dec-2021
    That's a shame. I have so many keepsakes.
Comment from Terry Broxson
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Poor TV dog after all those years of faithful service to the family this is the thanks that he gets. Hopefully Janice will scatter his ashes in place of honor or at least say a few words honoring the longtime family member. Or not, her call.

 Comment Written 17-Dec-2021


reply by the author on 17-Dec-2021
    To lose a material residue of memories can be hard. It feels as though the memories are being forsaken. Thank you.
Comment from royowen
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How can this be? I'm sure Janice is wondering what kind of invisible seed magic has been sown into the members of this comfort critter that survives the hear of a funeral pyre? Ahh I know, nothing a good dose of kero won't cure! Well done, blessings Roy

 Comment Written 16-Dec-2021


reply by the author on 16-Dec-2021
    Thank you, Royowen. Volatility/ Roaring incineration/now a new model
Comment from barbara.wilkey
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My youngest son, now 28, had a stuffed, gigantic Scooby Do. Scooby was in horrible shape. Steven slept with it and laid around the house with it. Once, on vacation, while in High School, he carried Scooby through a hotel lobby. I said, "Steven at your age, do you know how ridiculous it looks carrying Scooby?" His answer, "At my size who's going to question it?" Steven was 6'5" 315 pounds of pure muscle. He was an offensive lineman. Nobody questioned it. Anyway, I took Scooby last Christmas to a seamstress and has him repaired. He now resided in Steven's apartment, not in his old closet. Steven came home for Thanksgiving and Scooby does not travel with him any longer. LOL

 Comment Written 16-Dec-2021


reply by the author on 16-Dec-2021
    Alas, I failed to consider the salvation of TV Dog. Plus, you've got a story there.
reply by barbara.wilkey on 16-Dec-2021
    LOL
Comment from RShipp
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Wow! I have a hard time letting go of things that bring fond memories of the past, but picking them up and individually placing them in a fire... Don't think I could come near to doing that.

Interesting premise for a flash story.

Enjoyed.

 Comment Written 15-Dec-2021


reply by the author on 17-Dec-2021
    I may have thanked you already, but two thanks is better than none. I hope to use the flash story form - I just learned the term from you - more.
Comment from Alaskastory
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"Farewell, TV Dog" is a colorful presentation that makes me long for more of this story. Every reader is likely to wonder why the toy is burned, what is next, and want to be shown changes in a life.

 Comment Written 15-Dec-2021

Comment from Frances Jean
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What a great little story. Indeed some 'memories' are harder to forget than others! Hee hee. TV dog was hanging in there. Thanks for sharing and all the very best. Franky

 Comment Written 15-Dec-2021