So cool. Your prose in this one is stunning. I like where this is potentially going. The "join our cause" bit adds a whole new depth to the story. Great stuff, Kate!
Your latest instalment of "An Interpreter in Vienna." shows your writing masterfully blends suspense and psychological depth, leaving me eagerly anticipating each chapter. Marie’s inner turmoil and the vivid depiction of Vienna’s enigmatic atmosphere create a compelling narrative that resonates long after reading. Thank you for this brilliant and engaging piece!
I imagine Marie just wants to work and maybe have a good time off-hours. What she has gotten herself into without doing anything to provoke! Aye! Intriguing and intense. I love this paragraph: "Pieces of the afternoon and evening came back to me like mosaics. Hugs and dance. Bread to keep us from getting sick. Viennese in dirndls and lederhosen standing at the top of the hills, watching us partake in hedonistic pleasure as we imbibed their wine. Their arms all akimbo in satisfaction that the harvest had been fruitful, that the commoners would fund their aristocratic lifestyle." - A divine kaleidoscope of fragmented memories; it makes me want to partake, minus the dangerous games. Hah!
Minus the danger! Love it. I think if you try these experiences out in Vienna, you just might get to do it without the scary bits. Thanks for this wonderful comment.
I love it! The whole city filled with spies and idealists, no one can be trusted for their authenticity, motive, self and intrigue rule the day and the night!!! It’s getting good!!!….
Thanks Kate, that is my son Hunter, a recent grad from Westfield State University, adding Father’s Day photos for the week to all my social media and fun web community stuff!
This has such sinister ring about it - I'm reminded of the movie "Midsommer" with the gorgeous Elysian setting, or of the biergarten scene in "Cabaret" that starts out so summer-splendid, and ends with a Nazi salute. All this to say: I can see this story - it's running like a movie in my mind.
I thought this chapter’s scary edgy edge worked very well. A lot of stuff going off…the lights in the chateau: that’s a great optic, the group/not group thing, always Vienna, the landscape of the vineyards. The body image and the cult of Sissi. And the whole thing all in the wake of Brian’s death. And there they are: Fred and Roger doing what they do…
„Ausg’steckt“ is! Ahhh, that brings up so many memories, good, bad and ugly 😅
We had a private tour once from a Winzer... may he rest in peace. That man, old as he was, was a force to be reckoned with, first up and about and last to blow the candle and he drank... and he made us drink... oh my. Anyway, I digress. Awesome chapter, my nostalgia aside. What cause will Marie join? Are there any other but lost causes? The intrigue continues!
Fascinating that she seems to come off as wildly ambitious just at the end. Earlier, I thought her to be quiet, head down, observing more than participating. Hmmmm.
OK, new fave chapter for me. I was there in the hills, enjoying the wine, wanting to frolic too. As Silvio notes, the prose here is really fabulous, Kate, plus you manage to keep this sense of unease through all of the chapters.
Some fave lines:
For a while, it didn’t affect her much, as if she were born from these grapes. -- great notion. I think when I was younger, I was born from the grapes. Not so much any more.
It feels a little like a dream, remembering this scene, and I’m not sure why it feels necessary to document it for you. -- these little offhand reflections from Marie are what give this story so much life. When they appear, they add that layer between you and Marie and make it feel so real.
And then I remembered: Fred and Roger. They had come along late in the evening, drinking like all of us. -- oh but of course they make an appearance!!
Thanks so much, Nathan! I also think a frolic sounds good right now. After all, I’ve got no secret spy information to keep hidden should I imbibe too much. :)
So appreciate the way you pick out these lines. Really helps me see how the experience is for the reader. It’s great that the elements of the epistolary tale are coming through.
The stark contrast between the innocent photo of the Viennese vineyards with its 'Wein Wandern Wien' sign, and the not so innocent scenes unraveling amongst the characters of the story while getting drunk on too much Heurigen is most intriguing.
The statement "I had to choose my allegiances carefully, but I still had no idea what anybody was fighting for." strikes me as a reflection of the situation of Marie's microcosm in the macrocosm of life itself.
Thank you, Veronika! Yes I was intrigued at the way these images in my mind (and from photographs) can tell the story, especially of the paradoxes you mention.
So cool. Your prose in this one is stunning. I like where this is potentially going. The "join our cause" bit adds a whole new depth to the story. Great stuff, Kate!
Thanks so much for the lovely comment, Silvio!
Your latest instalment of "An Interpreter in Vienna." shows your writing masterfully blends suspense and psychological depth, leaving me eagerly anticipating each chapter. Marie’s inner turmoil and the vivid depiction of Vienna’s enigmatic atmosphere create a compelling narrative that resonates long after reading. Thank you for this brilliant and engaging piece!
Jon, that is so kind! Thank you so much for taking the time to write this wonderful comment.
I'm relishing every chapter, Kate! Saturday breakfast won't seem the same when it ends. Thank you.
Thanks that is so kind 💙
Don’t worry you still have a few months 😅
I imagine Marie just wants to work and maybe have a good time off-hours. What she has gotten herself into without doing anything to provoke! Aye! Intriguing and intense. I love this paragraph: "Pieces of the afternoon and evening came back to me like mosaics. Hugs and dance. Bread to keep us from getting sick. Viennese in dirndls and lederhosen standing at the top of the hills, watching us partake in hedonistic pleasure as we imbibed their wine. Their arms all akimbo in satisfaction that the harvest had been fruitful, that the commoners would fund their aristocratic lifestyle." - A divine kaleidoscope of fragmented memories; it makes me want to partake, minus the dangerous games. Hah!
Minus the danger! Love it. I think if you try these experiences out in Vienna, you just might get to do it without the scary bits. Thanks for this wonderful comment.
Well then that is on my list! Minus the danger ;-).
I love it! The whole city filled with spies and idealists, no one can be trusted for their authenticity, motive, self and intrigue rule the day and the night!!! It’s getting good!!!….
Thanks Brian! Appreciate it. What a mix of extreme characters, right?
PS nice photo with whom I assume is your son or nephew?
Thanks Kate, that is my son Hunter, a recent grad from Westfield State University, adding Father’s Day photos for the week to all my social media and fun web community stuff!
Nice, congrats!
I have many a fond cross country and track memories there. I’ll check out IG :)
This has such sinister ring about it - I'm reminded of the movie "Midsommer" with the gorgeous Elysian setting, or of the biergarten scene in "Cabaret" that starts out so summer-splendid, and ends with a Nazi salute. All this to say: I can see this story - it's running like a movie in my mind.
Thanks so much, Troy. I never set out to be sinister, but it's a great area to explore, isn't it? These are really nice intertextual connections. :)
I thought this chapter’s scary edgy edge worked very well. A lot of stuff going off…the lights in the chateau: that’s a great optic, the group/not group thing, always Vienna, the landscape of the vineyards. The body image and the cult of Sissi. And the whole thing all in the wake of Brian’s death. And there they are: Fred and Roger doing what they do…
Thanks Nicolas! Appreciate it and like to see which layers are sticking out for you. :)
„Ausg’steckt“ is! Ahhh, that brings up so many memories, good, bad and ugly 😅
We had a private tour once from a Winzer... may he rest in peace. That man, old as he was, was a force to be reckoned with, first up and about and last to blow the candle and he drank... and he made us drink... oh my. Anyway, I digress. Awesome chapter, my nostalgia aside. What cause will Marie join? Are there any other but lost causes? The intrigue continues!
So curious about your tour and your joyous memories. Sounds like a story to be written itself. Some amazing people in Vienna.
Thanks a lot, Alexander. Yes, let's see what causes Marie can find that are worthy...
haha, or not! 😅 Martin, the driver, might have to fill in the blanks for me...
Fascinating that she seems to come off as wildly ambitious just at the end. Earlier, I thought her to be quiet, head down, observing more than participating. Hmmmm.
Right, where does the dynamic character come from before she writes this letter at the end?
Thanks for reading. 🙂
OK, new fave chapter for me. I was there in the hills, enjoying the wine, wanting to frolic too. As Silvio notes, the prose here is really fabulous, Kate, plus you manage to keep this sense of unease through all of the chapters.
Some fave lines:
For a while, it didn’t affect her much, as if she were born from these grapes. -- great notion. I think when I was younger, I was born from the grapes. Not so much any more.
It feels a little like a dream, remembering this scene, and I’m not sure why it feels necessary to document it for you. -- these little offhand reflections from Marie are what give this story so much life. When they appear, they add that layer between you and Marie and make it feel so real.
And then I remembered: Fred and Roger. They had come along late in the evening, drinking like all of us. -- oh but of course they make an appearance!!
Thanks so much, Nathan! I also think a frolic sounds good right now. After all, I’ve got no secret spy information to keep hidden should I imbibe too much. :)
So appreciate the way you pick out these lines. Really helps me see how the experience is for the reader. It’s great that the elements of the epistolary tale are coming through.
Fred and Roger… 👀
Definitely coming through strong and clear :)
Teehee re: Fred and Roger.
The stark contrast between the innocent photo of the Viennese vineyards with its 'Wein Wandern Wien' sign, and the not so innocent scenes unraveling amongst the characters of the story while getting drunk on too much Heurigen is most intriguing.
The statement "I had to choose my allegiances carefully, but I still had no idea what anybody was fighting for." strikes me as a reflection of the situation of Marie's microcosm in the macrocosm of life itself.
Thank you, Veronika! Yes I was intrigued at the way these images in my mind (and from photographs) can tell the story, especially of the paradoxes you mention.