Such clear, crisp prose and a fascinating bunch of characters! And I love the layers that are developing: "However, I also started to think I was in a piece of music or a play, or maybe a film, and that I was interpreting somebody’s mad words into actions and behaviors. Who was writing the script?" It feels like there is so much going on off stage. Excellent.
This reminded me a bit of the feeling I got reading Super-Cannes by JG Ballard years ago - that impression of a sort of rarefied atmosphere that's a bit artificial. Gives a sense of menace and confusion. It really pulls you in. It's fun to be provided with an insight into a walk of life of which you have no knowledge or experience. Rubbing my hands in anticipation of the next instalment!
Such an intriguing melange of characters who speak different languages and come from different places. There's a clue in the title of Part 1: Xenophobia, but what the cause is has yet to be revealed. And I felt (false?) relief when the British couple showed up, expecting them to explain things. I haven't seen the Third Man yet, Seems like it would add to the atmosphere of the novel.
There's a lot of great stuff going on here, and I love those moments when we're reminded that this is being delivered to Grégoire. Are we trusting Marie's seemingly perfect memory of their own conversations, or does this somehow play into the plot...? Either way, it's great.
Some lines that I really enjoyed:
*They are middlemen caught between the beauty of the sea and the kitchen.
*...and also had that British sort of humility in the way they held themselves.
*Boat lights reflected off the dirty canal water as if seeking out the secrets of its past.
Hey, I dig that I am one of the others reading this in the future, that others here are doing so. I like that quality of collective.
No idea how many words here, but, like, so MANY layers and nuances and people. I’m delighted the Icelandic barista makes a brief appearance amidst all the murkiness of the others. I hope my faith in his is not unfounded and that he does remain cool. Your writing of Roger and Fred is pitch perfect, its gay voice (or rather its take on one of manY) just introducing a slightly different spin adds yet another dimension on the assembling of characters and confusion and a curious brain foginess: all these people, all these messages…all somehow out of focus. But all presaging anxiety.
The canteen meal is truly awful. Although, maybe Akihiro may prove one of the good guys. That’s the thing, isn’t it, as readers we make our own thoughts on the people you create, live with them for a bit, and then can be confounded by what you do with them as their author.
Oooo! The plot thickens. Enjoying the new settings and characters. I suddenly have a taste for an Aperol spritz. . . 🍷
Such clear, crisp prose and a fascinating bunch of characters! And I love the layers that are developing: "However, I also started to think I was in a piece of music or a play, or maybe a film, and that I was interpreting somebody’s mad words into actions and behaviors. Who was writing the script?" It feels like there is so much going on off stage. Excellent.
Cliffhanger! 😯
This reminded me a bit of the feeling I got reading Super-Cannes by JG Ballard years ago - that impression of a sort of rarefied atmosphere that's a bit artificial. Gives a sense of menace and confusion. It really pulls you in. It's fun to be provided with an insight into a walk of life of which you have no knowledge or experience. Rubbing my hands in anticipation of the next instalment!
Kathleen,
Such an intriguing melange of characters who speak different languages and come from different places. There's a clue in the title of Part 1: Xenophobia, but what the cause is has yet to be revealed. And I felt (false?) relief when the British couple showed up, expecting them to explain things. I haven't seen the Third Man yet, Seems like it would add to the atmosphere of the novel.
This is very gripping: good writing!!
What a cliffhanger!! Such great lines
evoking the atmosphere, like this one: “Staying in a safety zone of international camaraderie; existing to make it to the next drink out.”
Uh oh, did Marie get roofied? ALREADY??! :D This bodes very well for twists and turns to come.
Cracking cliff-hanger ending, Kate!
There's a lot of great stuff going on here, and I love those moments when we're reminded that this is being delivered to Grégoire. Are we trusting Marie's seemingly perfect memory of their own conversations, or does this somehow play into the plot...? Either way, it's great.
Some lines that I really enjoyed:
*They are middlemen caught between the beauty of the sea and the kitchen.
*...and also had that British sort of humility in the way they held themselves.
*Boat lights reflected off the dirty canal water as if seeking out the secrets of its past.
Beautiful summer scene in the Viennese capital, a classic spending time by the canals at the improvised strand with imported sand.
I missed your impressions of the UN building, to us it looks dystopian with its ugly 70s vibe, like one of the stone trolls from Lord of the rings.
I love how you use your own photography in these chapters, it makes the story seem like I’m reading someone’s journal. Very well done!
I’m looking forward to the next chapter!
Hey, I dig that I am one of the others reading this in the future, that others here are doing so. I like that quality of collective.
No idea how many words here, but, like, so MANY layers and nuances and people. I’m delighted the Icelandic barista makes a brief appearance amidst all the murkiness of the others. I hope my faith in his is not unfounded and that he does remain cool. Your writing of Roger and Fred is pitch perfect, its gay voice (or rather its take on one of manY) just introducing a slightly different spin adds yet another dimension on the assembling of characters and confusion and a curious brain foginess: all these people, all these messages…all somehow out of focus. But all presaging anxiety.
The canteen meal is truly awful. Although, maybe Akihiro may prove one of the good guys. That’s the thing, isn’t it, as readers we make our own thoughts on the people you create, live with them for a bit, and then can be confounded by what you do with them as their author.
Love it.
The plot starts to thicken, pulls you in this does. Great piece.
Ahh, Strandbar Hermann! It felt like I was right there with them, eavesdropping (I was there back in June 2005 the year it opened).
Ending it on a cliffhanger, as it should be! One too many Spritz? Drugged?
Enjoyed this, Kate!
The literal and metaphoric "on the edge" sets up the mystery of what's to come. Complex and layered --well-done.