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Del's avatar

In an emotionally dramatic section full of tension, the detail you artfully weave in makes it so vivid...

Light and shadow in eyes.

"She stared at the crescent moon she’d created, a part of the circle of the plate cut off."

"His hands were still flat on the table in that odd gesture of both force and restraint."

"...like a wooden stud inside a wall, that beam that must be found or avoided..."

Such a pleasure to read.

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<Mary L. Tabor>'s avatar

Such a fine-tuned read. My heartfelt thanks!

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Jeffrey Streeter's avatar

A beautiful chapter, full of those little (or big) evasions that haunt any major relationship.

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<Mary L. Tabor>'s avatar

Grand and with my thanks! Sorry a little late in responding ... xo

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Imola's avatar

Oh Mary, what an absolute delight listening to you read this! I now want to catch up on all the good stuff I have missed. Just beautiful writing! So much soul and complexity. Inspiring!!

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<Mary L. Tabor>'s avatar

Oh, Imola, your words made my day! 💞

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Imola's avatar

So happy I could make your day!

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Susie Mawhinney's avatar

Oh my goodness, this chapter Mary! So many lines pick up and knit together but this, right at the beginning lead the way so powerfully, "her words in his mind, “like the clasp on a buckle,” and how she’d said, “Go now” and how he was bound to her and could never go, the way he was tied to her the way the tibia is bound to the fibula" and then again, in the same paragraph, "She was inside him like his bones. Go now—but how?"

This story, your perceptions of humanness... so achingly beautiful, achingly sad.

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<Mary L. Tabor>'s avatar

Eloquent in your perceptive read and the phrasing of your comment, Susie. Heart to heart...

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Veronika Bond's avatar

the people dancing around this troublesome issue, the dialogues wanting to reveal, while trying to avoid, and the culmination in this sentence, as poignant as it is wise, the perfect metaphorical sketch:

"The truth when finally spoken is solid like a wooden stud inside a wall, that beam that must be found or avoided, firm in its place."

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<Mary L. Tabor>'s avatar

Dear Veronika, An all time best comment that I restacked onto NOTES to thank you and to argue that when we support each other with deep reads and care, we build literature on Substack. Heart to heart ~ Mary

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Adrian P Conway's avatar

Her solid, warm hand lay on his and held him. - the perfect closer, Mary.

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<Mary L. Tabor>'s avatar

Oh, Adrian, this means so much -- and the closer came to me like a miracle. I never remember what I write--so I know that line came from the genie who, when I get lucky, sits on my shoulder.

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Adrian P Conway's avatar

😂 love that genie!

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Tim Burns's avatar

Such words, Mary. Thank you for your writing, it really does make my day and inspire me.

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<Mary L. Tabor>'s avatar

Tim, your read, your words, inspire me.

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Kimberly Warner's avatar

“I am helpless the way I am with you.” Wow. I’m relieved to hear Evan speak her truth. Such a powerful chapter, opening with a solid bone aptly named “fib”ula, and ending with a wooden stud, the truth that can’t be avoided.

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<Mary L. Tabor>'s avatar

Kimberly, that's a perfect read that even I didn't know I'd achieved. Blessings ~ Mary

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Kimberly Warner's avatar

Love it when the subconscious leads the way!

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<Mary L. Tabor>'s avatar

I'll restack your comment above tomorrow--with what I did with Veronika on notes. xx

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Susan Campbell's avatar

Oh. My. Goodness. How it's all coming together!! ❤️

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<Mary L. Tabor>'s avatar

Oh, Susan, I am so glad you see the novel and care about it. Love to you ~ Mary

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Ellen Kornmehl MD's avatar

You always deliver!

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<Mary L. Tabor>'s avatar

What a love you are, dear Ellen.

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