"She imagined the large windows in the other room being ripped open by the storm; the wind's arms reaching in to take him, shake him, wake him up.
But the storm had let him sleep last night. Both had woken up the same, in the same home with the same space between them."
and
"She wondered what was wrong with her.
Then she wondered why she had committed herself to him.
She felt stupid and alone."
expose so much about how ill-fitted a relationship is, but not only that, how detrimental it becomes to one's soul over time, little by little chipping happy parts away. Very revealing and aching.
Such a deep, deep chapter, Kate. So much detail here, so much intricacy not only about Ivy and her thoughts (and jeez, I continue to feel for her situation with Georg) but also about the culture, life and reality in HK and also Vienna. I loved reading these details about what happens in a typhoon and some of the quirks of Viennese lifestyle. Exquisitely done 🤗
I'm beginning to wonder about Ivy's family - parents, siblings? She seems so completely alone in her world, and picked a man who would only amplify it - we choose a partner who feels "familiar" as they say. I'm desperate for her to make a break for it - get out of there, Ivy! You're being starved of love! ;)
We catch glimpses of her family later and I was trying to make that international living feel so so alone...but I do wonder if I should have added more at the start. Food for thought.
I can always count on an immersive trip when I read another installment from this novel and this chapter does not disappoint. Your descriptions of Vienna, the house, the city, the family are so rich and evocative. Bravo! And on a side not, George: what a tool! ;-)
Great descriptive writing, Kate! Love how you take us on the protagonist's journey through these places, but why would "eating a semmel on the street" in Vienna (or anywhere) be bad? Not "lady-like?" I miss having a Semmel or Kaisersemmel, so good. Nothing would keep me from eating a Semmel on the street! I miss Vienna, too.
Ha I agree. Very uptight not to enjoy good food in the street! Semmel with butter mmm. Many Austrian ski hotels have huge baskets of them from the oven. I would have 3 or 4 before hitting the slopes. Funny how kinds of bread can change a whole memory / experience.
What a great section, especially felt the power of the lines, “Wrapped in a blanket on the window stool, she could no longer feel the space where the wood met her cheeks nor the end of her spine. Her form was rounded around an idea she protected in the hollow of her concave....escape.” Each paragraph just seemed to build upon the feeling expressed here. Thank you for posting this section!
The paragraphs
"She imagined the large windows in the other room being ripped open by the storm; the wind's arms reaching in to take him, shake him, wake him up.
But the storm had let him sleep last night. Both had woken up the same, in the same home with the same space between them."
and
"She wondered what was wrong with her.
Then she wondered why she had committed herself to him.
She felt stupid and alone."
expose so much about how ill-fitted a relationship is, but not only that, how detrimental it becomes to one's soul over time, little by little chipping happy parts away. Very revealing and aching.
Thank you, Nadia! She will take some action on her aching soon! But as we all know (probably) there may be some trial and error there :)
Oh yes, it takes time. I await with great anticipation!
Such a deep, deep chapter, Kate. So much detail here, so much intricacy not only about Ivy and her thoughts (and jeez, I continue to feel for her situation with Georg) but also about the culture, life and reality in HK and also Vienna. I loved reading these details about what happens in a typhoon and some of the quirks of Viennese lifestyle. Exquisitely done 🤗
Thank you, Nathan 🙃 It was an experiment to move between places here.
I think those details often interest me more than the story writing. Not sure where that leaves me! :)
Heh, I think it leaves you in a great place. It adds a richness to the stories :)
yeah, detail makes shinings
✨ 🙏
I'm beginning to wonder about Ivy's family - parents, siblings? She seems so completely alone in her world, and picked a man who would only amplify it - we choose a partner who feels "familiar" as they say. I'm desperate for her to make a break for it - get out of there, Ivy! You're being starved of love! ;)
Thanks Troy :) She's in a massive hole, eh?
We catch glimpses of her family later and I was trying to make that international living feel so so alone...but I do wonder if I should have added more at the start. Food for thought.
I can always count on an immersive trip when I read another installment from this novel and this chapter does not disappoint. Your descriptions of Vienna, the house, the city, the family are so rich and evocative. Bravo! And on a side not, George: what a tool! ;-)
Thank you, Ben! Such a lovely comment.
And yeah G is maybe becoming a buffoon 🙈:)
Great descriptive writing, Kate! Love how you take us on the protagonist's journey through these places, but why would "eating a semmel on the street" in Vienna (or anywhere) be bad? Not "lady-like?" I miss having a Semmel or Kaisersemmel, so good. Nothing would keep me from eating a Semmel on the street! I miss Vienna, too.
Ha I agree. Very uptight not to enjoy good food in the street! Semmel with butter mmm. Many Austrian ski hotels have huge baskets of them from the oven. I would have 3 or 4 before hitting the slopes. Funny how kinds of bread can change a whole memory / experience.
Now, I want a Semmel! No Semmels in France!! C'est pas possible!
Don’t you think French bread is superior though? 🫣
white bread sure, baguette and the like, not Bavarian Holzofenbrot! They have similar but it's not the same.
The bakeries smell different when I walk over the border...
Seems flavor is tied to location! Or so our brains tell us! 😅
Nor in Switzerland! Well, not the same...
See, not the same! Exactly. Ahhh, that fresh Semmel and a thick slice of Extrawurst... 🤤
What a great section, especially felt the power of the lines, “Wrapped in a blanket on the window stool, she could no longer feel the space where the wood met her cheeks nor the end of her spine. Her form was rounded around an idea she protected in the hollow of her concave....escape.” Each paragraph just seemed to build upon the feeling expressed here. Thank you for posting this section!
Thank you Brian! Appreciate the comment.