I love how all the settings along with the emotions and interactions you've woven into them are so familiar while remaining fresh, surprising, and engrossing.
"I hated the amusement park." I can just see his face as he is thinking this.
"The chain pulled us up at a cadence I imagined a guillotine rises at." hah! Yes.
"...girls who were raised to believe that coercing a male into achieving something for you was a greater endeavor than simply achieving it for yourself." Still more common than one would assume.
So good! With each chapter, I continue to grow more curious and involved with growing connection of these two best friends. I had to laugh out loud at the anxiety rollercoaster scene (I tend to overthink a lot myself, though I adore rollercoasters). By the final three lines I was teary eyed. The names you’ve chosen are phenomenal: I enjoyed the call and response game between the rebel Tommy and the introverted Jude. There’s this sense of kindness, warmth, yet underlying complexity that comes through in the poetry and strength of your writing. The closing sentences remind me of a line from It’s All Right Ma, I’m only bleeding: “if you ain’t busy being born you’re busy dying.” (I think the Maggie name got me thinking of Bob Dylan). The level of melancholy and heartbreak poured into the final sentence had me awestruck, because in just a few words your writing says so much. The plot thickens. I’m having fun reading your wonderful novel, and every new chapter feels like an earnest adventure. I’m grateful to have a chance to learn more as I read. Publishing your novel is a tremendous act of bravery, generosity, and belief in our creative community. Thank you for sharing this beautiful story.
I love how all the settings along with the emotions and interactions you've woven into them are so familiar while remaining fresh, surprising, and engrossing.
"I hated the amusement park." I can just see his face as he is thinking this.
"The chain pulled us up at a cadence I imagined a guillotine rises at." hah! Yes.
"...girls who were raised to believe that coercing a male into achieving something for you was a greater endeavor than simply achieving it for yourself." Still more common than one would assume.
I loved this whole thing.
You always somehow know which lines were my favorite as well! thanks for reading sharron. glad you’re enjoying it so far
So good! With each chapter, I continue to grow more curious and involved with growing connection of these two best friends. I had to laugh out loud at the anxiety rollercoaster scene (I tend to overthink a lot myself, though I adore rollercoasters). By the final three lines I was teary eyed. The names you’ve chosen are phenomenal: I enjoyed the call and response game between the rebel Tommy and the introverted Jude. There’s this sense of kindness, warmth, yet underlying complexity that comes through in the poetry and strength of your writing. The closing sentences remind me of a line from It’s All Right Ma, I’m only bleeding: “if you ain’t busy being born you’re busy dying.” (I think the Maggie name got me thinking of Bob Dylan). The level of melancholy and heartbreak poured into the final sentence had me awestruck, because in just a few words your writing says so much. The plot thickens. I’m having fun reading your wonderful novel, and every new chapter feels like an earnest adventure. I’m grateful to have a chance to learn more as I read. Publishing your novel is a tremendous act of bravery, generosity, and belief in our creative community. Thank you for sharing this beautiful story.