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annswinfen
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Thank you for your very kind and supportive review. And I know the execution of Ya‘aqôb is grim (well, you wanted action). However, that is in fact a true episode, found in the contemporary sources. It reminds one, somehow, of the death of Rasputin. Just one point on pace. This is quite a long novel, and not an 'action' novel, so I don't want to rush the pace. It's about an elderly, dying woman, coming to terms with her past, which she has tried to block out of her mind and memory for many years. The shocking news about her brother's death shakes her out of this self-protective shell. As the past becomes more and more real, and the present begins to slip away from her, the events gather speed. So that's why the pace is the way it is! Thanks again, Ann
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clairewhatley
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Hi Ann, I felt I should clarify that though the execution scene was harrowing to me, that is no criticism of your writing and in fact it's a compliment to your spare and powerful language that I was so affected by it. I can quite believe such a thing actually happened. Best wishes, Claire
nil desperandum
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annswinfen
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Quote: clairewhatley, Sunday, 21 Mar 2010 18:14Hi Ann, I felt I should clarify that though the execution scene was harrowing to me, that is no criticism of your writing and in fact it's a compliment to your spare and powerful language that I was so affected by it. I can quite believe such a thing actually happened. Best wishes, Claire Thanks again, Claire - even if I harrowed you! I found that scene quite difficult to write. Don't you find that too? If something really moves you, it's hard not to become emotionally involved. Ann
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clairewhatley
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Absolutely. Well done for confronting something that awful. The readers of your extract wouldn't realise that the discovery of this was a turning point in Mariam's life, but it's obviously shocking enough to be pivotal. I'm pleased to report I didn't have any nightmares! Claire
nil desperandum
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annswinfen
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Quote: clairewhatley, Monday, 22 Mar 2010 06:16Absolutely. Well done for confronting something that awful. The readers of your extract wouldn't realise that the discovery of this was a turning point in Mariam's life, but it's obviously shocking enough to be pivotal. I'm pleased to report I didn't have any nightmares! Claire Glad you didn't have nightmares! I see that we're both back yo-yo-ing in the TT. You're back up to 10. I was at 9 yesterday, then after your good review I've dropped about 8 places. I really, truly do not understand the system. Do you? I've now removed one earlier mindless review, so we'll see what effect that has. I'll probably drop another 20 places . . . Ann
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clairewhatley
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Oh no! I am really sorry if I'm in any way responsible for that.  I thought I gave you perfectly good scores! Hopefully removing a loony review will push it back up. Plenty of time yet before the end of the month... Good luck! Claire
nil desperandum
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annswinfen
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Quote: clairewhatley, Monday, 22 Mar 2010 11:34Oh no! I am really sorry if I'm in any way responsible for that.  I thought I gave you perfectly good scores! Hopefully removing a loony review will push it back up. Plenty of time yet before the end of the month... Good luck! Claire Not to worry - your scores were fine. I think the system sometimes marks you DOWN when you have good scores. Athene mentioned something about it ages ago. Apparently sometimes when you have bad scores, you can go UP!!! Ours not to reason why. I have one more loony review, but I don't know whether I'll be able to shake it off before the end of the month. Ann
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