18 Comments
Jan 14Liked by Eleanor Anstruther

"She wasn’t aware that a drip feed of neglect, a daily laceration of the missing can lead a faith to break, an omnipotence to be born, a mind to opt for fantasy, and a body to be so riddled with discomfort that to live amongst its screaming nerve-endings becomes a thing impossible."

Love this. One of the many sections shining a light on Ros, her internal workings, the moment-by-moment social adjustments.

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So glad to see that part quoted, Russell.

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Apr 14Liked by Eleanor Anstruther

The complexity of managing this truly unreliable narrator is something you handle so deftly. I’m in awe.

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author

Thanks, Ben. It felt like a tightrope walk.

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I just love your writing. It's so subtly gorgeous.

With the third person narration, you're doing something I'm also attempting. That is, it feels like the protagonist is trying to understand herself, like she's watching her actions as she completes them. I'm not sure if that's what you were going for but I really like the effect.

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There's so much I want to say about this, there isn't room, but I will say that I'm always striving to do what Henry James does with such clean sweep panache, that is to move from the interior voice to the god voice, and all those in between, back and forth through chapters and scenes. It's a constant learning curve.

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James!! Yes. Discussion tbc

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16 was my first read of your serialized novel, and I'm hooked.

Of course, I don't know everything that came before, but it's a great credit to your writing that I already have a sense of the main character in this section and also a sense of the various domestic situations.

And I read your about page and agree that we can start any sentence with any word that pleases us.

So, going back to 1. and will catch up soon.

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How wonderful to hear. Thanks, David. Welcome aboard.

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Jan 17Liked by Eleanor Anstruther

I’ve been struggling to read lately (migraine) so I asked David to read this aloud to me. That sentence about the drip feed of neglect and the screaming nerve endings landed so hard in both of us. He also did a brilliant Ros, Scott and Freddy, first time I’ve laughed in days. Thank you ❤️

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author

Also Migraine fuck right off. Sending dark spaces and silence.

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Jan 18Liked by Eleanor Anstruther

It truly can fuck all the way off, thank you. This latest one is easing up I think 🤞 daylight here I (tentatively) come...

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author

I’d love to have heard that. So glad x

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Jan 14Liked by Eleanor Anstruther

Someday I hope you can publish this novel in its entirety. My Kindle and my preference for fiction monogamy are itching for it.

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author

I intend to. My hope is that there's an editor out there reading it with their finger on the button, itching to call my agent, but failing that, I'll self-pub. Also 'fiction monogamy' ♥️

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Jan 14Liked by Eleanor Anstruther

Oooo Ros, danger danger. To herself and Scott and Fred and Tess. On the edge of my seat Madame Anstrooter

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Powerful - and it's fascinating to get to know Ros. I find there's something almost a little monstrous about her image of herself as an actress while still only a child.

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author

Thank you for restacking 🫡

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