In one of my earliest posts, I had written about many books and authors. It is quite possible many books or authors I have omitted to mention. When I say that, I mean the books that I have read and the authors whose works I have read. Many of them could be classical ones like G.K. Chesterton, Jonathan Swift, George Bernard Shaw, Somerset Maugham, and such others. As I write, the name of the inimitable Arthur Conan Doyle springs up. And some contemporary and a little older one too, like Daphne Du Maurier—how can one forget ‘Birds’ and how Hitchcock beautifully made it into a film—Len Deighton, John Le Carre, Harlan Coben, David Baldacci, John Grisham, and such others. Still, many books and authors would have been missed. Have you read the Father Brown Series? I did at my father’s insistence. Doyen of detective stories based on pure logic. I was also an avid fan of Alfred Hitchcock's story collections. I have read some amazing stories of suspense thrillers in his collection.

One such story that I can never afford to forget was titled ‘The Blue Paper’. All from memory again. How can a writer create so much suspense and intrigue in a one-and-a-half-page story?

It goes somewhat like this. Pardon inaccuracies. A person gets a slip of blue paper in which something is written in an unknown language. He takes it to many people who know the language, and each one gets angry after reading it and, without explanation, he is sent back. Reaching home, he realizes his maid may know the language, and she would definitely help. After a peaceful sleep, he gets up in the morning. He tells the maid whatever has happened and asks her to read the paper and tell him what it is without getting agitated. She agrees. He goes in search of the paper, and it is lost. He can’t find it. Amazing. I hope I have not violated any copyrights.

Another short story rated as one of the best in the world is called ‘The Monkey’s Paw.’ It would beat you to pulp when you read it. Such a disturbing story.

After watching the movie ‘Birds,’ for a few days my body would automatically jerk up when I heard birds’ sounds. That was the power of the story.

But what I wanted to write about is totally different.

Continued in 247. Words Without End - Part 2