I'm enjoying this a lot, Kate. I'm curious about what direction it's going to take. You chose the perfect setting for the story, and the dialogues blend seamlessly with it. I'm sensing a coup de théâtre somewhere, at some point. 'Toward a strange tomorrow.'
I got a great sense of place at the museum, Kate. It's like visiting Vienna through your words.
And at the record store, my mind went straight to High Fidelity. Nick Hornby recently joined Substack, too!
I feel Marie exposed herself maybe unnecessarily by visiting Roger and Fred and question them about Brian, she just couldn't help herself. Curiosity...
I am curious how long she can remain in the shadows.
You would think! I used it as an example for breaking the 4th wall in my narrative design lecture and not one of them had seen it.
And Marie, while we know, since she recounts her past, we still wonder, how did she end up where she's now (present after the letter)? Much to discover, I honestly have no idea and I love it.
Your portrayal of the museum at night was so vivid. Love Marie’s interiority. And the surprise of the Tower of Babel was well played. The bodies are starting to stack up. Who’s next? 😶
I loved the scene in the museum. Thoughts on Breugel, Babel and Nimrod, followed by a sudden death. Powerful stuff! And the Babel and Nimrod references in particular seem to reverberate in the fascinating Vienna you are creating for us.
Never happy to hear when a “Brian” is killed off, lol, nut at least he died in the presence of a greatness. Another great read DKW, with ample tension leaving me wanting to read the next one!
The museum scene feels so real, like we're actually strolling through and looking at the art. But Brian! My goodness. Is this a frequent occurrence in Vienna, I'm wondering - these "suicides"...?
I dig the little image of Fred and Roger talking quietly together as Marie left the shop…I think it does a number of things: captures her sense of mistrust, and our sense as readers of her in the space, and our sense of possible unease about them. It’s very visual…cinemagraphic.
As is so much of this instalment…not just the High Fidelity shtick…Marie moving through the museum, the set piece of the party.
And, Akihito’s casual snide smirking was very vivid. As is the little community Fred and Roger believe, really need to believe, it seems, they have created together as a gay couple: I’ve lost count of the shops, delis, hotels, cafés…you name it…where that’s the vibe.
Hey…it’s always a thing: the scene between detail and plot. I dig the detail because it enlivens the writing…anyone’s writing.
I think the trick is, probably, to try and ensure that the story is always there in the detail, that the detail serves the story. I sometimes feel this is hard for me to get right in my work…which is one reason reading others do it well is helpful.
That’s wonderful. Yeah, it’s something I’ve been trying to do! I find the story comes from first observing and word-sketching details that become a part of a story. This is the first time I started with a clearer plot structure (though it also changed somewhat while I was drafting). Thanks again
I'm enjoying this a lot, Kate. I'm curious about what direction it's going to take. You chose the perfect setting for the story, and the dialogues blend seamlessly with it. I'm sensing a coup de théâtre somewhere, at some point. 'Toward a strange tomorrow.'
Thanks so much, Silvio. Coup de théâtre is a wonderful term. Let's hope I create that effect! :)
Great choice of a painting by my favorite artist
The image of Jack Black in Vienna yelling at a father for buying the wrong Album for his daughter made me laugh
Thanks David!
Yeah, that's a great scene. Can't imagine it happening in Vienna quite like that... :)
I got a great sense of place at the museum, Kate. It's like visiting Vienna through your words.
And at the record store, my mind went straight to High Fidelity. Nick Hornby recently joined Substack, too!
I feel Marie exposed herself maybe unnecessarily by visiting Roger and Fred and question them about Brian, she just couldn't help herself. Curiosity...
I am curious how long she can remain in the shadows.
Thanks Alexander!
Yeah, funny, I had this scene here before I saw Nick on Substack. I guess HF is the kind of film that is easily used in allusion. It's iconic.
Marie is really a bit naive, isn't she? Or does she have to take risk to avoid being used? Hmm.
You would think! I used it as an example for breaking the 4th wall in my narrative design lecture and not one of them had seen it.
And Marie, while we know, since she recounts her past, we still wonder, how did she end up where she's now (present after the letter)? Much to discover, I honestly have no idea and I love it.
Your portrayal of the museum at night was so vivid. Love Marie’s interiority. And the surprise of the Tower of Babel was well played. The bodies are starting to stack up. Who’s next? 😶
Thanks Julie!
Yes, so many bodies now in one of the safest cities in the world. What's going on?!
I loved the scene in the museum. Thoughts on Breugel, Babel and Nimrod, followed by a sudden death. Powerful stuff! And the Babel and Nimrod references in particular seem to reverberate in the fascinating Vienna you are creating for us.
Thanks so much, Jeffrey. It's fun using these layers and I'm happy they've added something for you.
Never happy to hear when a “Brian” is killed off, lol, nut at least he died in the presence of a greatness. Another great read DKW, with ample tension leaving me wanting to read the next one!
Haha, sorry about that, Brian! Nothing personal 😉 Rest assured, he was an important force in the world.
Thanks so much, hard to tell if tension is achieved as I reread my own work!
This is great, Kate. Love the blend of the art through this.
This was a fantastic line to just throw in at the start: I remind you that I’m standing here waiting to kill a man. 😮😮😮
Death was all around.
And it never had a witness.
What a great line!
Thanks Nathan! How does Marie get so far down the rabbit hole?! 😥 🤗
Snaps to the lines "Death was all around. / And it never had a witness." Feeling the chills.
Aw yay. Hoping to be a little creepy 😅
The museum scene feels so real, like we're actually strolling through and looking at the art. But Brian! My goodness. Is this a frequent occurrence in Vienna, I'm wondering - these "suicides"...?
Don’t worry, it’s fiction :)
Thanks Troy!
I dig the little image of Fred and Roger talking quietly together as Marie left the shop…I think it does a number of things: captures her sense of mistrust, and our sense as readers of her in the space, and our sense of possible unease about them. It’s very visual…cinemagraphic.
As is so much of this instalment…not just the High Fidelity shtick…Marie moving through the museum, the set piece of the party.
And, Akihito’s casual snide smirking was very vivid. As is the little community Fred and Roger believe, really need to believe, it seems, they have created together as a gay couple: I’ve lost count of the shops, delis, hotels, cafés…you name it…where that’s the vibe.
Thanks Nicolas! I like the way you’re reading all these details. Thanks for sharing the ones that spoke to you.
Hey…it’s always a thing: the scene between detail and plot. I dig the detail because it enlivens the writing…anyone’s writing.
I think the trick is, probably, to try and ensure that the story is always there in the detail, that the detail serves the story. I sometimes feel this is hard for me to get right in my work…which is one reason reading others do it well is helpful.
PS I can see you are doing this, too!
That’s wonderful. Yeah, it’s something I’ve been trying to do! I find the story comes from first observing and word-sketching details that become a part of a story. This is the first time I started with a clearer plot structure (though it also changed somewhat while I was drafting). Thanks again
Marvelous, Kate. You have outdone yourself with this piece.
That’s very kind, Mike. ☺️