Great chapter, Kate. The narrative you explore through your character reminds me of what most people were thinking during that time. Not everyone, though. I, for one, had a perspective that was quite different from the apocalyptic and dreadful narrative you mostly heard. My negative memories of those days are exclusively tied to the loss of my dad, right on that April 4th you mention in the piece, though not due to the virus. Other than that (which is a biggie in and of itself), I must confess I have mostly positive memories of those days. Yes, there was a deadly virus around (although I never fully bought it was deadly on its own, without an underlying medical condition that made you vulnerable), but I appreciated the silence, the emptiness, the suspension of time, the "life in the bubble". There were rules to follow, of course, but I didn’t find them overly impairing. That’s just me, of course. And yet, I did understand and respect the common narrative and fears. Anyway, this chapter was beautifully crafted, and -- I know I’ve said this a lot already -- I’m really enjoying where this is going.
Thank you for sharing all of this, Silvio, and for your insight (as well as the kind words!). It's so interesting to share 'pandemic stories' and consider where we were at in that moment. Terribly sad about your dad, very sorry about that. I can see, though, how the solitude was welcome. I find that this aspect, though I always enjoyed time alone, helped me to live in a way that was more nourishing in this aspect.
Although I'm writing about the isolation in this way, it was also quite a mix for me. My son was just over one years old at the time and my husband and I were both teaching. While teaching online was a bit of a drag, we were able to spend months at home with our son and let him learn to walk by exploring the empty boulevards. I enjoyed standing in line for 40 minutes to get a coffee from the bakery in order to sit on a bench a while and write in my journal. My best friend in Vienna, though, was just around the corner and I couldn't see her. She was living alone and although she also enjoyed solitude and continued to work and do yoga, basically stay healthy, she had a very hard time feeling so isolated. It was so strange to know she was just around the corner experiencing this. Someone close to me in America also spent a long time in intensive care (though she made it, obviously many were not that lucky) and those closed borders were all the more relevant. Later, we were unable to move to a country where we had jobs starting that September and found ourselves without work for months --- again, this ended up being a wonderful time and we were lucky that a friend allowed us to stay in her empty dead-grandmother's house. It made me rethink a lot of the things I took for granted and how I approach work and family and - yes - time alone.
That was a long reflection! More to say and discuss, I'm sure. But thanks again for all your thoughts here.
Kathleen, your portrayal of Vienna's surreal, eerie atmosphere during lockdown is deeply moving. The psychological insights and philosophical themes you explore connected with me, and I was completely captivated by this chapter.
"But on the more open boulevards, I felt vulnerable. I would witness empty trams floating by on the same schedule they had before when they were filled with commuters and tourists. I would imagine violent crimes taking place through those windows, witnessing them without the ability to stop or even yell for help."
Chilling (and very understandable) -- I love how you wrote this scene.
You capture all these mixed feelings of lockdown and those early stages of 2020 so well. It really blends in to the established paranoia of Marie's world, here.
This is another chapter where the world of the story breathes (altough many were struggling to breathe...) and then we are propelled back into it with the closing part and the text message!
So good, Kate. So keen to know where things will lead next.
I appreciate this feedback so much, Nathan, thank you! ☺️
This idea about breathing, yes, it was interesting to construct my plot more systematically as a 'thriller' (of some variety) but then also find space for that. I'm much more comfortable writing the breathing space!
I do find it fascinating that during that time we were all alone but together. Experiencing a moment in history but in extremely different ways in our own types of isolations.
"They peeked out at me from every doorway. As I would move along the street, I thought of the many sets of silent eyes peering out silently, creating a series of film stills. I was the subject of the film: the foreigner walking the empty streets of the pandemic. I was awaiting my fate, and they wanted to witness it." This is powerful And the layers and echoes in this chapter are a kind of haunting. I half expected Camus to wander round the corner, cigarette in hand...
Thank you for the "like" or "restack" of the Auraist news--couldn't find it to tell you, but here I am on your new wonderful chapter: the lockdown, the longing, the discovery. Well-done!
Really enjoyed this comparison of cultures - Parisians arguing in cafes and Viennese staring straight ahead as if no one else existed. When we were there, I was amazed that people smoked on the train. Now it makes sense why they were the last holdouts. I appreciate the subtle way you show that fine line between socialism and authoritarianism. I can really feel her isolation here, and see how that could tip into madness.
All these tensions I think are felt strongly in Vienna, a city on the edge so to speak. It makes it such a fascinating place to live in. Thanks for the kind words, Julie!
This paragraph gave me pause and chills: "As I thought of Marija’s body in a frozen morgue, I could not sympathize with her. Instead, I recalled frightfully how similar we looked to each other. I imagined my face, my body lying there and became terrified." A reflective, unsettling chapter, Kathleen!
I got definite flavors of "Rear Window" from this episode (or any one of several Hitchcock films) - the paranoia and isolation. I'm still reeling from Marija's death, and to delay her funeral just invites decay into the scene.
Alienation and isolation are seeping through in this chapter. We all remember that period well, many have lost loved ones...
All the horror aside, this line made me smile " I did not cross the road if the green man did not come on."
So German! 😅 You could be standing at a red light at a straight stretch of road with no cars in sight as far as the eye can see, and still, they'd wait... not here in France... cars dont stop at red, pedestrians don't wait for green. madness.
Great chapter, Kate. The narrative you explore through your character reminds me of what most people were thinking during that time. Not everyone, though. I, for one, had a perspective that was quite different from the apocalyptic and dreadful narrative you mostly heard. My negative memories of those days are exclusively tied to the loss of my dad, right on that April 4th you mention in the piece, though not due to the virus. Other than that (which is a biggie in and of itself), I must confess I have mostly positive memories of those days. Yes, there was a deadly virus around (although I never fully bought it was deadly on its own, without an underlying medical condition that made you vulnerable), but I appreciated the silence, the emptiness, the suspension of time, the "life in the bubble". There were rules to follow, of course, but I didn’t find them overly impairing. That’s just me, of course. And yet, I did understand and respect the common narrative and fears. Anyway, this chapter was beautifully crafted, and -- I know I’ve said this a lot already -- I’m really enjoying where this is going.
Thank you for sharing all of this, Silvio, and for your insight (as well as the kind words!). It's so interesting to share 'pandemic stories' and consider where we were at in that moment. Terribly sad about your dad, very sorry about that. I can see, though, how the solitude was welcome. I find that this aspect, though I always enjoyed time alone, helped me to live in a way that was more nourishing in this aspect.
Although I'm writing about the isolation in this way, it was also quite a mix for me. My son was just over one years old at the time and my husband and I were both teaching. While teaching online was a bit of a drag, we were able to spend months at home with our son and let him learn to walk by exploring the empty boulevards. I enjoyed standing in line for 40 minutes to get a coffee from the bakery in order to sit on a bench a while and write in my journal. My best friend in Vienna, though, was just around the corner and I couldn't see her. She was living alone and although she also enjoyed solitude and continued to work and do yoga, basically stay healthy, she had a very hard time feeling so isolated. It was so strange to know she was just around the corner experiencing this. Someone close to me in America also spent a long time in intensive care (though she made it, obviously many were not that lucky) and those closed borders were all the more relevant. Later, we were unable to move to a country where we had jobs starting that September and found ourselves without work for months --- again, this ended up being a wonderful time and we were lucky that a friend allowed us to stay in her empty dead-grandmother's house. It made me rethink a lot of the things I took for granted and how I approach work and family and - yes - time alone.
That was a long reflection! More to say and discuss, I'm sure. But thanks again for all your thoughts here.
So many different paths and stories. Thank you for sharing yours so openly, Kate.
Kathleen, your portrayal of Vienna's surreal, eerie atmosphere during lockdown is deeply moving. The psychological insights and philosophical themes you explore connected with me, and I was completely captivated by this chapter.
Thanks so much, Jon! Appreciate the kind words.
"But on the more open boulevards, I felt vulnerable. I would witness empty trams floating by on the same schedule they had before when they were filled with commuters and tourists. I would imagine violent crimes taking place through those windows, witnessing them without the ability to stop or even yell for help."
Chilling (and very understandable) -- I love how you wrote this scene.
You capture all these mixed feelings of lockdown and those early stages of 2020 so well. It really blends in to the established paranoia of Marie's world, here.
This is another chapter where the world of the story breathes (altough many were struggling to breathe...) and then we are propelled back into it with the closing part and the text message!
So good, Kate. So keen to know where things will lead next.
I appreciate this feedback so much, Nathan, thank you! ☺️
This idea about breathing, yes, it was interesting to construct my plot more systematically as a 'thriller' (of some variety) but then also find space for that. I'm much more comfortable writing the breathing space!
I do find it fascinating that during that time we were all alone but together. Experiencing a moment in history but in extremely different ways in our own types of isolations.
"They peeked out at me from every doorway. As I would move along the street, I thought of the many sets of silent eyes peering out silently, creating a series of film stills. I was the subject of the film: the foreigner walking the empty streets of the pandemic. I was awaiting my fate, and they wanted to witness it." This is powerful And the layers and echoes in this chapter are a kind of haunting. I half expected Camus to wander round the corner, cigarette in hand...
Camus! This is a really wonderful idea. I would be touched to find him emerging from my prose. Thank you, Jeffrey.
I think his shade is already there! 😊
Thank you for the "like" or "restack" of the Auraist news--couldn't find it to tell you, but here I am on your new wonderful chapter: the lockdown, the longing, the discovery. Well-done!
Ah, no worries! And thanks for reading, Mary :)
Really enjoyed this comparison of cultures - Parisians arguing in cafes and Viennese staring straight ahead as if no one else existed. When we were there, I was amazed that people smoked on the train. Now it makes sense why they were the last holdouts. I appreciate the subtle way you show that fine line between socialism and authoritarianism. I can really feel her isolation here, and see how that could tip into madness.
All these tensions I think are felt strongly in Vienna, a city on the edge so to speak. It makes it such a fascinating place to live in. Thanks for the kind words, Julie!
I thought it was the fear of left leaning senators who have a portion I-40 named after them in Tennessee.
Ha. Good one.
This paragraph gave me pause and chills: "As I thought of Marija’s body in a frozen morgue, I could not sympathize with her. Instead, I recalled frightfully how similar we looked to each other. I imagined my face, my body lying there and became terrified." A reflective, unsettling chapter, Kathleen!
I got definite flavors of "Rear Window" from this episode (or any one of several Hitchcock films) - the paranoia and isolation. I'm still reeling from Marija's death, and to delay her funeral just invites decay into the scene.
Alienation and isolation are seeping through in this chapter. We all remember that period well, many have lost loved ones...
All the horror aside, this line made me smile " I did not cross the road if the green man did not come on."
So German! 😅 You could be standing at a red light at a straight stretch of road with no cars in sight as far as the eye can see, and still, they'd wait... not here in France... cars dont stop at red, pedestrians don't wait for green. madness.
Marvelous.