Rosa & Bella's Journal of Decline

By Shah Wharton

"One sign of a good author is the ability to make you squirm and scream at one turn, and then make you do an introspective glance while keeping you completely engrossed at another. Author Shah Wharton has that ability and her book "Rosa and Bella's Journal Of Decline" proves that." -- Horror Cabin Reviews

Rosa was once a young, vibrant, intelligent woman in love. But that was before everything, even the world around her changed. Now, she's trapped in her parent's house with her daughter Bella, where she journals about her decline, her tragic realisations, and of the destruction of everything she once knew. But is there more (or less) going on than meets her eye?

A British story told in journal format, focusing on the decline of a reluctant mother's life, her mind, and the tragic consequences thereof.

'Peeping between drawn curtains at the new absence of life, I'm haunted by the neglect of possibility. Life now seems a perpetual sleep paralysis though I have accepted our new limited world. It's likely no one will live long enough to read anything, let alone this silly journal. Unless souls read, which could be possible. But as I stare through the vacant eye of my window, out at the ruddy hue of Hell on Earth surrounding my parent's two-up-two-down terrace on a typical Birmingham street, I am compelled to take up the pen and record the truth of our decline.'
 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Shah Wharton
• Release date: Mar 31, 2014
• ISBN: 9781502237101

Shah Wharton

Shah Wharton is a British freelancer and author/publisher of dark fiction. She's a psychology graduate and in 2016-2018 she enhanced her creative and professional skills by achieving a Masters in Creative Writing. Her work has been published by Siren's Call Publications and by numerous anonymous clients. Her husband and their two dogs are the loves of her life. Some say she is mildly obsessed with Bob Dylan, and although she hated school, she's fantasised about attending Hogwarts. She adores fine red wine and robust coffee and lives in the West Midlands region of the UK.

Book preview

Rosa & Bella's Journal of Decline

Shah Wharton

Published by Shah Wharton, 2014.

This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

ROSA & BELLA'S JOURNAL OF DECLINE

First edition. March 31, 2014.

Copyright © 2014 Shah Wharton.

ISBN: 978-1502237101

Written by Shah Wharton.

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright Page

Dedication

Rosa & Bella's Journal of Decline

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Further Reading: A Slow Burn: A Post-Apocalyptic Horror

Also By Shah Wharton

About the Author

A sick thought can devour the body's flesh more than fever or consumption. ―  

Guy de Maupassant, Le Horla et autres contes fantastiques

Rosa & Bella's Journal of Decline

PEEPING BETWEEN DRAWN curtains at the new absence of life, I'm haunted by the neglect of possibility. Life now seems a perpetual sleep paralysis though I have accepted our new limited world. It's likely no one will live long enough to read anything, let alone this silly journal. Unless souls read, which could be possible. But as I stare through the vacant eye of my window, out at the ruddy hue of Hell on Earth surrounding my parent's two-up-two-down terrace on a typical Birmingham street, I’m compelled to take up the pen and record the truth of our decline. If only to keep time.

21st June 2012

Life was never easy. They called me 'oversensitive' which is better than insensitive. They called me an 'over-thinker' but at least I'm not ignorant. Now who's laughing?

My lover used to complain that no one takes responsibility for the planet. No one wants to surrender their comforts or resist their greed. He was right. Those willing to try did so too little too late. No one listened to my warnings; why should they? I'm just an 'oversensitive over-thinker' with a nervous disposition. The Americans, the Iranians, we Brits, the whole world bought and bred too much. They swore to create alternatives, but if they did, it was to command the wealth of those alternatives. My lover told me we signed our

Reviews for Rosa & Bella's Journal of Decline

[David Royce · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One sign of a good author is the ability to make you squirm and scream at one turn, and then make you do an introspective glance while keeping you completely engrossed at another. Author Shah Wharton has that ability and her book “Rosa and Bella’s Journal Of Decline” proves that.

The first book I read by Shah was the very awesome, fast paced, and in-your-face zombie tale “A Slow Burn” which was a straight up shot of adrenaline to the zombie genre.



In “Rosa and Bella’s Journal Of Decline” she flips things around and gives us a story that is as much moving as it is creepy. This is not a hardcore horror read nor is there an excess of blood. But what there IS is a grand story told in a short length that will stay with you after you’ve finished.

“Rosa and Bella’s Journal Of Decline” is told through the diary of Rosa. Her and her baby girl, Bella, are living in a post apocalyptic world. Human greed and apathy towards the environment has decimated the world and radiation poisoning has left a wasteland of an existence.

Rosa writes about her life both before and after the world ended. At one time we learn she had dreams, hopes, and potential. But a baby put some of that on hold and as she contemplates her situation her thoughts become remorseful and somewhat bitter.

As we learn of Rosa’s deteriorating physical form, we also see her mind unraveling. Hallucinations, voices, and a sharp decline in reasoning become the norm. Can it get any worse? Well, when you buy the book you can find out for yourself!

The one thing I loved about this book was how well, thoughtful, and almost underplayed Rosa’s mental condition was portrayed. This easily had the chance to fall into over exaggerated histrionics. Instead, Shah handles it with compassion and understanding. While the descriptions and implications in “Rosa and Bella’s Journal Of Decline” are truly creepy (this IS a horror/thriller after all) it will also make you think and move you.

I think a lot of the subjects in “Rosa and Bella’s Journal Of Decline” are thoughts and feelings a LOT of people have had, even in fleeting seconds, yet never, EVER would say aloud or in certain company. At a scant 19 pages, you’ll find a full novels worth of entertainment here. Highly recommended!