I like not only the description of a city new to the narrator but also the tone of your writing. It is both intimate and dispassionate! I'm not sure how you achieve that. I am fascinated by your observations. I spent a short time in Vienna and had some strange, unsettling experiences. I'd like to share those with you one day.
This is wondrous Kate. You are once again revealing the secrets of a city to me (thinking of Hong Kong and Ivy), yet here in a totally different style. I love the prose, the way it feels intimate to me the reader even though I am not the actual recipient. Beautifully done.
PS a lot of lines made me smile or chuckle. This was one: "The Viennese understand; they enthusiastically maintain a mere four friends."
Hey, Iโd been saving this to read since it showed up in my feed, because your Introduction had been so interesting and I wanted to have some space to read.
I really loved the vibe: the lone voice, set in even further solitude by the hostile voices of the Viennese, and - I thought this was fab - the friendly Icelandic voice (with presentiment hovering over the word secret) and the warmer, but indifferent, Chinese voice.
And, man, did you nail Vienna! I found it stifling in its smugness and complacency (apologies to cooler Viennese here on Substack) and I was profoundly aware of xenophobia just around every corner. Itโs a big thing to read oneโs own sense of a city reflected back in fiction, and while this is clearly quite a shared response to Vienna, I really felt yours very vividly.
A strong opening with the mystery begun, the hook of fear at the close. I am so glad to have read this opening chapter with its epigraph to Joyce's "The Dead"--one of my favorites as it closes _Dubliners_--and the set up of xenophobia. Well-done!
Loved this first chapter, Kathleen! The descriptions of Vienna are chillingโฆ you managed to dive into some of the most intimate and dark corners of this culture and society. The observations, the writing, the pacing, the tone all work to transpose us into this new reality.
This captures so well the intense observations of a lone outsider, ruminating on her new surroundings by comparison with familiar places of her past. Descriptions like โTheir buildings have been used up like reluctant whores,โ reveal a dark undertone. Iโm hooked!
Great start, Kate! You really capture a simmering dread and alienation, which I also recognize here in Catalunya still, after 5 years - a sometimes not so subtle resistance to outsiders. I'm aghast at police tape across the cleaning products on Sunday, what a strange thing to get martial over. The stage is set for what's to come - love it!
Intriguingly atmospheric, partly the result of that mostly neutral, detached tone of the narrator Siobhan notes. The sense of an outsider outside and observing, off balance, which makes sense for the milieu and Third Man inspiration. Looking forward.
Felt right there with you! Also funny that they sell alcohol on Sundays but no paper towels or anything else (in a lot of US states itโs the opposite ;)
Ah, die Siebensterngasse. Great descriptions, Kate. Brought me right back there. Including the Meldepflicht! Yes, yes, although I was not surprised as it's the same in Germany, I was surprised NOT to have to register anywhere when I came to France. Marie is in for more of the "Wiener Charme" and "Schmรคh" no doubt as she progresses her journey. And yes, there are times to observe when to use a washing machine! Tsk tsk. Excellent details.
You convey a strong sense of foreboding and alienation for the narrator. The normal, even expected, friendliness of the waiter stands out to put everything else in contrast.
I am a creature of home city comforts, so I read this with some terror at the thought of being a stranger alone in the city you describe so well. Bottom line: you've totally drawn me in and I'm eager for the next chapter.
Yes! Brilliant and insightful writing, as others have pointed out. These scenes also go deep under the skin, if you've been to Vienna as a foreigner (= non-Viennese)
Although not mentioned, I was reminded of the Hundertwasser Haus, my favourite place in Vienna, and the experience of Hundertwasser himself, who ~ as a foreigner ~ had a hard time getting his foot through any of those heavily guarded Viennese doors. When he became a successful artist under his own steam, he was invited to give a talk at the Viennese School of Arts (all of a sudden they were keen to 'adopt' him). Hundertwasser being Hundertwasser was having none of it and gave the talk in the nude ~ in the hallowed halls of ... can you imagine?!
A tiny side note: Meldezettel is the correct spelling.
I like not only the description of a city new to the narrator but also the tone of your writing. It is both intimate and dispassionate! I'm not sure how you achieve that. I am fascinated by your observations. I spent a short time in Vienna and had some strange, unsettling experiences. I'd like to share those with you one day.
I'm loving the rich portrait of a foreigner's life in Vienna, the bureaucracy, the bells and the bewilderment. Great stuff.
This is wondrous Kate. You are once again revealing the secrets of a city to me (thinking of Hong Kong and Ivy), yet here in a totally different style. I love the prose, the way it feels intimate to me the reader even though I am not the actual recipient. Beautifully done.
PS a lot of lines made me smile or chuckle. This was one: "The Viennese understand; they enthusiastically maintain a mere four friends."
Hey, Iโd been saving this to read since it showed up in my feed, because your Introduction had been so interesting and I wanted to have some space to read.
I really loved the vibe: the lone voice, set in even further solitude by the hostile voices of the Viennese, and - I thought this was fab - the friendly Icelandic voice (with presentiment hovering over the word secret) and the warmer, but indifferent, Chinese voice.
And, man, did you nail Vienna! I found it stifling in its smugness and complacency (apologies to cooler Viennese here on Substack) and I was profoundly aware of xenophobia just around every corner. Itโs a big thing to read oneโs own sense of a city reflected back in fiction, and while this is clearly quite a shared response to Vienna, I really felt yours very vividly.
Loved it. Thanks.
Thank you. Beautiful, thorough writing. Youโve captured me, moth to candle flame.
So atmospheric!
A strong opening with the mystery begun, the hook of fear at the close. I am so glad to have read this opening chapter with its epigraph to Joyce's "The Dead"--one of my favorites as it closes _Dubliners_--and the set up of xenophobia. Well-done!
Loved this first chapter, Kathleen! The descriptions of Vienna are chillingโฆ you managed to dive into some of the most intimate and dark corners of this culture and society. The observations, the writing, the pacing, the tone all work to transpose us into this new reality.
I lived for 7 years in the Neubau bezirkโฆ
This captures so well the intense observations of a lone outsider, ruminating on her new surroundings by comparison with familiar places of her past. Descriptions like โTheir buildings have been used up like reluctant whores,โ reveal a dark undertone. Iโm hooked!
Great start, Kate! You really capture a simmering dread and alienation, which I also recognize here in Catalunya still, after 5 years - a sometimes not so subtle resistance to outsiders. I'm aghast at police tape across the cleaning products on Sunday, what a strange thing to get martial over. The stage is set for what's to come - love it!
Intriguingly atmospheric, partly the result of that mostly neutral, detached tone of the narrator Siobhan notes. The sense of an outsider outside and observing, off balance, which makes sense for the milieu and Third Man inspiration. Looking forward.
Felt right there with you! Also funny that they sell alcohol on Sundays but no paper towels or anything else (in a lot of US states itโs the opposite ;)
I really enjoyed reading this. Now I want more! Great stuff. Brava!
Ah, die Siebensterngasse. Great descriptions, Kate. Brought me right back there. Including the Meldepflicht! Yes, yes, although I was not surprised as it's the same in Germany, I was surprised NOT to have to register anywhere when I came to France. Marie is in for more of the "Wiener Charme" and "Schmรคh" no doubt as she progresses her journey. And yes, there are times to observe when to use a washing machine! Tsk tsk. Excellent details.
You convey a strong sense of foreboding and alienation for the narrator. The normal, even expected, friendliness of the waiter stands out to put everything else in contrast.
I am a creature of home city comforts, so I read this with some terror at the thought of being a stranger alone in the city you describe so well. Bottom line: you've totally drawn me in and I'm eager for the next chapter.
Yes! Brilliant and insightful writing, as others have pointed out. These scenes also go deep under the skin, if you've been to Vienna as a foreigner (= non-Viennese)
Although not mentioned, I was reminded of the Hundertwasser Haus, my favourite place in Vienna, and the experience of Hundertwasser himself, who ~ as a foreigner ~ had a hard time getting his foot through any of those heavily guarded Viennese doors. When he became a successful artist under his own steam, he was invited to give a talk at the Viennese School of Arts (all of a sudden they were keen to 'adopt' him). Hundertwasser being Hundertwasser was having none of it and gave the talk in the nude ~ in the hallowed halls of ... can you imagine?!
A tiny side note: Meldezettel is the correct spelling.