"Suddenly, a door near the altar opened and a priest in his full robe appeared. His eyes bore down on me like the devilish face of Krampus at the Christmas market, designed to cause children to feel shame for their sins."
This says more about Marie than it does about the priest. :)
Loved this chapter. I found it a little unsettling, though, that Marie would so openly tell the priest at the end that she was looking for a hidden painting, as well as mention Wolfgang's name. But I'm sure there's a reason for that, and it will reveal itself later in all its magnificence. Great story, Kate. It’s been keeping me on my toes for a while now, which is no small feat! Beautiful!
Thank you, Silvio! Happy to keep you on the edge like that. Lovely comment. And Marie - yes, I think she is likely to make a lot of fumbles along the way.
Anyone else bothered that Fred and Roger, two wholesome names that project images of the protective father figure and caretaker of the community (ie. Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood and the lead character Mr. Roger’s, played by Fred McFeeley Rogers), appear mostly indifferent to Marie’s wellness and arrive when it is opportune? Not to mention Marie seems to be the only reason they are able to move their mission forward. I can only say they had better save her down the road, perish trying, or meet a terrible fate….but I guess thats up to DKW!!! Keep it up.
You and Alexander, Brian, always doing the great analysis! F&R, yes, that's where the names came from in my mind. Do they only live in her mind? Are they her saviors?
Another cracking chapter. The pace and flow are just excellent throughout. The way that you use the atmosphere gives your writing an extra dimension too for me.
Love the atmosphere in this chapter. The fog, the dim, dusty, candlelit churches. Fred and Roger turning up - woah! Marie’s tenuous hold on reality matches the moment well - the effects of isolation and fear in that strange brew I remember so well. The priest seems like a lucky break for her. We shall see . . .
Writing inside and outside the story sounds like a good way of putting it! I confess I rather gave up on Kundera after "The Unbearable Lightness." Probably unjustly, I began to feel he was a bit too full of himself. I really admired "The Joke," however.
I think it’s a just criticism. For some reason I like a lot of the egotistical writers 😆 Not for that reason specifically, but they happen to be that as well. Hmm.
Another great chapter, Kate. Serendipity indeed. It's almost the opposite of Fred and Roger turning up. Somehow this feels a good bit of circumstance with the priest, whereas I am always somewhat wary of F&R's ability and motives to appear at just the right moment 😆.
"We weren’t allowed to take public transportation, though it continued to make ghost-like runs across the city, carrying the odd doctor or nurse who needed to get to work."
An apt term, ghost-like runs. I remember these and occasionally being the ghost haunting the empty train.
"I felt as if someone were writing the plot and I was a mere pawn in my lonely movements across the city, vulnerable due to the empty streets." Poor Marie, so alone. A nicely "meta" sentence that also summarises the mood of this excellent chapter so well.
Thanks a lot, Jeffrey. I'm so interested in the meta, but it can feel like writing inside and outside the story all at once. Not necessarily a bad thing! Kundera is probably my favorite meta writer.
Ah the plot thickens, Marie is getting closer.
"Suddenly, a door near the altar opened and a priest in his full robe appeared. His eyes bore down on me like the devilish face of Krampus at the Christmas market, designed to cause children to feel shame for their sins."
This says more about Marie than it does about the priest. :)
Yes!! You are welcome in my English class any day haha.
Thanks Alexander.
Say when and I'll pop by. 😅
Loved this chapter. I found it a little unsettling, though, that Marie would so openly tell the priest at the end that she was looking for a hidden painting, as well as mention Wolfgang's name. But I'm sure there's a reason for that, and it will reveal itself later in all its magnificence. Great story, Kate. It’s been keeping me on my toes for a while now, which is no small feat! Beautiful!
Thank you, Silvio! Happy to keep you on the edge like that. Lovely comment. And Marie - yes, I think she is likely to make a lot of fumbles along the way.
Anyone else bothered that Fred and Roger, two wholesome names that project images of the protective father figure and caretaker of the community (ie. Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood and the lead character Mr. Roger’s, played by Fred McFeeley Rogers), appear mostly indifferent to Marie’s wellness and arrive when it is opportune? Not to mention Marie seems to be the only reason they are able to move their mission forward. I can only say they had better save her down the road, perish trying, or meet a terrible fate….but I guess thats up to DKW!!! Keep it up.
You and Alexander, Brian, always doing the great analysis! F&R, yes, that's where the names came from in my mind. Do they only live in her mind? Are they her saviors?
Thanks a lot for the kind words!
Another cracking chapter. The pace and flow are just excellent throughout. The way that you use the atmosphere gives your writing an extra dimension too for me.
Thanks so much, Jon. Such a kind comment and interesting to hear what's working.
Love the atmosphere in this chapter. The fog, the dim, dusty, candlelit churches. Fred and Roger turning up - woah! Marie’s tenuous hold on reality matches the moment well - the effects of isolation and fear in that strange brew I remember so well. The priest seems like a lucky break for her. We shall see . . .
Thanks a lot, Julie! Interesting to hear how the characters all fall on my readers. Appreciate your comments. :)
I do love a good treasure hunt, maybe we'll get to see Marie knocking around this church later? :)
Perhaps!!
Writing inside and outside the story sounds like a good way of putting it! I confess I rather gave up on Kundera after "The Unbearable Lightness." Probably unjustly, I began to feel he was a bit too full of himself. I really admired "The Joke," however.
I think it’s a just criticism. For some reason I like a lot of the egotistical writers 😆 Not for that reason specifically, but they happen to be that as well. Hmm.
Another great chapter, Kate. Serendipity indeed. It's almost the opposite of Fred and Roger turning up. Somehow this feels a good bit of circumstance with the priest, whereas I am always somewhat wary of F&R's ability and motives to appear at just the right moment 😆.
"We weren’t allowed to take public transportation, though it continued to make ghost-like runs across the city, carrying the odd doctor or nurse who needed to get to work."
An apt term, ghost-like runs. I remember these and occasionally being the ghost haunting the empty train.
Being the ghost, now that's another level. Sounds like a story all it's own that could be on your Stack. I wonder if you'll be right about F&R... :)
Thanks a lot, Nathan!
I wonder ;)
"I felt as if someone were writing the plot and I was a mere pawn in my lonely movements across the city, vulnerable due to the empty streets." Poor Marie, so alone. A nicely "meta" sentence that also summarises the mood of this excellent chapter so well.
Thanks a lot, Jeffrey. I'm so interested in the meta, but it can feel like writing inside and outside the story all at once. Not necessarily a bad thing! Kundera is probably my favorite meta writer.