I’m on or around episode 20 and had to pause to speak to husband who came in for a coffee (oh, if you insist) (he’s a farmer, working on a sunny day and all that) and this chapter is really powerful. I mean, REALLY stop and think type powerful 🙈
There’s something uniquely potent about the “no men” policy at some of the camps. I’m all for liberated men, but it’s too easy to fall into roles, adapt, compromise and compete when men are around, not to mention the sense of safety some may’ve never experienced before.
There’s so much I want to say on this subject, the specificity of the camp, and particularly its relevance to today’s conversations about gender. For instance, the idea of the question “what is a woman” never came up. All women were accepted.
"She sang till her heart was thumping with the passion of it, songs that warmed her and songs that made her cry, Annabel among thousands of women, a circle of words that had become a second language on her lips, songs of defiance and grief." A pulsatingly gorgeous sentence.
Love love this dive into Annabel’s heart and mind.
And your storytelling brilliance is clear, as I can’t wait to see what comes next—both in the hearts and minds of the characters and in the events of the story. Equally compelling! Beautiful, Eleanor.
I love seeing more of Annabel, and that she’s found her tribe here. So much truth in this: “all of them accepting the wandering hands as if to be touched uninvited was a compliment.” This setting is the picture of freedom. Women defining themselves, as individuals and in community. Beautiful. But where is our dear Bridget?!
Inside women's hearts and souls and dreams, hopes, the self discovered, reality of what men may do and men may be permitted to do, courage dashed and renewed in the face of impending disaster and the fear of the loss of one, now their own . So moving, Eleanor.
I can only imagine the potency of having the keening women there...
I have some video footage of them keening in Parliament Square. oh boy does it send a message.
I would love to see that one day. I was set to go on a keening course in Ireland, but Covid...
It’s chilling and from the deep. It spikes and tears and rips your heart out. It’s unearthly in its beauty.
Yikes, where is Bridget…
Lost souls and simultaneous discoveries; the beauty of being human set against the wire fencing and spiky politics of the time. Page-turning fiction
*contented sigh. That’s all a writer ever wants to hear.
I’m on or around episode 20 and had to pause to speak to husband who came in for a coffee (oh, if you insist) (he’s a farmer, working on a sunny day and all that) and this chapter is really powerful. I mean, REALLY stop and think type powerful 🙈
21 actually 👍🏼
There’s something uniquely potent about the “no men” policy at some of the camps. I’m all for liberated men, but it’s too easy to fall into roles, adapt, compromise and compete when men are around, not to mention the sense of safety some may’ve never experienced before.
There’s so much I want to say on this subject, the specificity of the camp, and particularly its relevance to today’s conversations about gender. For instance, the idea of the question “what is a woman” never came up. All women were accepted.
I love this peek into Annabel's inner life. Such beautiful character development.
"She sang till her heart was thumping with the passion of it, songs that warmed her and songs that made her cry, Annabel among thousands of women, a circle of words that had become a second language on her lips, songs of defiance and grief." A pulsatingly gorgeous sentence.
Love love this dive into Annabel’s heart and mind.
And your storytelling brilliance is clear, as I can’t wait to see what comes next—both in the hearts and minds of the characters and in the events of the story. Equally compelling! Beautiful, Eleanor.
I love seeing more of Annabel, and that she’s found her tribe here. So much truth in this: “all of them accepting the wandering hands as if to be touched uninvited was a compliment.” This setting is the picture of freedom. Women defining themselves, as individuals and in community. Beautiful. But where is our dear Bridget?!
Inside women's hearts and souls and dreams, hopes, the self discovered, reality of what men may do and men may be permitted to do, courage dashed and renewed in the face of impending disaster and the fear of the loss of one, now their own . So moving, Eleanor.
Just listened to all episodes back to back. What a brilliant story 💛✨
Thank you 😊
Fantastic! Love Annabel. She’s a fascinating character to explore. And where could Bridget have gone to?