“It’s the smoke, the lack of air, the smoke sucking away the oxygen and being fed itself by the oxygen that does this—the way I placed my fingers on the flame when I was a child and put the flame out without burning myself.”
Masterful writing here, Mary. I love how you tell us about Robert’s deep inner conflict, the way he causes pain to others, believing — or perhaps not — that he is indifferent to his own hurt. Stunning.
Love how palpably you humanize Robert--his suffering, anger, and hurt--all over what he is fearing is *about* to take place in his marriage. It makes him so multi-dimensional rather than a 2D villain-voyeur. Masterful.
" I like to imagine her in the house I pretend has rooms that are framed without walls, aware of me in the apartment nearby, a man she’d know could see her and who wanted her. She’d think, I’m beautiful."
Mary your writing... like a beautiful love song we heard once, still feel but don't quite remember the words.
I’m struck by Robert’s humility, always finding his own role in Lena’s infidelity, his “weak spine” and unwillingness to confront the truth. And to learn he saw signs so early in their marriage!
“It’s the smoke, the lack of air, the smoke sucking away the oxygen and being fed itself by the oxygen that does this—the way I placed my fingers on the flame when I was a child and put the flame out without burning myself.”
Masterful writing here, Mary. I love how you tell us about Robert’s deep inner conflict, the way he causes pain to others, believing — or perhaps not — that he is indifferent to his own hurt. Stunning.
Oh, Mary, that means so much. Thank you for reading and saying such sweet words on the story and the writing.
Love how palpably you humanize Robert--his suffering, anger, and hurt--all over what he is fearing is *about* to take place in his marriage. It makes him so multi-dimensional rather than a 2D villain-voyeur. Masterful.
Means so much that you are reading--what a reader you are.
After much suspense and intrigue, we now see Robert's pain. Love how you beautifully weave all these emotions together.
Lovely comment on the writing and the plot and the character-driven story.
I'm with Ms. Warner on this. You take great care to balance things, Mary. It is a skill and a gift.
My thanks for reading and commenting with such generosity!
" I like to imagine her in the house I pretend has rooms that are framed without walls, aware of me in the apartment nearby, a man she’d know could see her and who wanted her. She’d think, I’m beautiful."
Mary your writing... like a beautiful love song we heard once, still feel but don't quite remember the words.
What a lovely comment, Susie. My heart to yours!
And back Mary!
I’m struck by Robert’s humility, always finding his own role in Lena’s infidelity, his “weak spine” and unwillingness to confront the truth. And to learn he saw signs so early in their marriage!
So easy to not like Robert, but you see inside his soul, Kimberly.
Oh, I actually really care about him! He's so human. How many of us have weighed and fretted over our decisions, and more, our indecisions.
The "unspoken solace" of a. bowl of chicken soup...and Positano!
Mary, you transport us!
And you, Ellen, probably have a grand recipe for the chicken soup--I do too. Thank you for reading and restacking to help.