Haunting...surreal...and yet so REAL and visceral. I enjoyed the twists we learn here and understanding through other kinds of texts (even translated!). I like that we have to really imagine the mom without much to go on except Lamb's perspective. This passage is so much about trust and love, as well as fear. Lovely, Troy. 💚 👼🏽
Thanks Kate - it is funny, the 1st person POV has felt very problematic to me in the past - the usual descriptions of setting and character feel somewhat unnatural when coming out of the mouth of someone who maybe wouldn't normally pay attention to those sorts of things, for example, but it's got it's own sort of power in the details the narrator DOES notice and write about, so I guess it's just another tool in the belt... :)
Thank you Donna! Renee suffers from what I call "Saint Mommy" syndrome, which permits every sort of bad behavior because it's supposedly in the name of protecting the kids. (I've got one in my family, and it has been the excuse for the theft of an inheritance, and discrimination against me and my husband...)
I am sorry to hear you have had to deal with that kind of a person. Now I REALLY want to meet Renee in a back alley and give her a piece of my mind (even though I’m only 5’2!).
Oh, wow. What a chapter... I know I kind of go on about this, and I promise I'll stop one day, but I have never read fiction before where I've felt so strongly that I know a character. It's so weird. It's similar to the sense of remembering a dream but then you're not sure whether it's a dream or a memory, or what. But whenever I read about Lamb I have this nagging sense that I need to call him, or check in with him, but in a very real life way! I probably sound crazy. I guess I'm just trying to communicate what an incredible job you've done in creating such a full, deep character, that my brain cannot accept that he is such!
That story he wrote...there's just so much to him. Sigh... 💜
You may go on as long as you like, my dear, I'm so touched by your fondness for Lamb - perhaps he's resonating with you from another dimension where you are friends, and he's so grateful for you - I know I am... 🤍🩵🩷
Very well done, Troy. Such wonderful execution of different writing styles to further endear Lamb to the reader. Both the short journal entry and the poem were masterfully crafted to show us more of Lamb’s soft side. Bravo, my friend :)
Oh, Lamb! My heart just pours out to him. It’s a tribute to your mastery of storytelling skill that all that befalls him feels inevitable even while I want to protect him. And the way you show us the details--these intricately crafted mixed genre pieces--magnificent!
Aaaaaacccckkk! Why is sweet Lamb so misunderstood?! His lambswool heart, too gentle for this world, or at least for the wolves in his pasture. Like the last episode, it seems like he was always leaning toward other innocents, wantingneeding to be in the presence of someone familiar, but over and over again, life bites back with sharp canines. I want to protect Lamb!
My favorite characters to write are the ones that spring out of the ether and grab you by the heartstrings, Lamb did that for sure - in my novel, a drag queen named "Dusty Davenport" came screaming out of the night demanding to be put on stage... ;) Thx, Bertus!
My friend, I’m amazed at how you find progressively more acrobatic writing feats to attempt each week. I read it twice. So good. I was curious if you were tempted to throw a couple of poorly translated phrases in. Of all the things to trust Google to translate, poetry might not be on the top of my list. 😜
It's funny, when you plug something in Google Translate English > French, and then reverse it back and forth several times, it does start to become rather absurd... 😉💛
Damn, Troy, Lamb is one hell of a poet, aka you're hell of a poet. I love that: "moonbeams dance across the glass, frosted by the pulse of ghostly breath." So picturesque. I'm so hungry for more.
"He flees South, flees West. Stars wheel in a strange sky." Super stuff; I love the "found" prose poem "translated" from the French... a brilliant repurposing of classic literary devices. Wonderful.
This was well done, Troy. Giving the vague letter, and then the prose poem. We really get a sense for the tenderness and vulnerability of Lamb through these pieces.
No chance, Troy, I for one am already feeling that I will miss Lamb when it ends. You've managed to bring him to life in such a tender, multi-faceted way, I feel I both know him and truly like him.
Haunting...surreal...and yet so REAL and visceral. I enjoyed the twists we learn here and understanding through other kinds of texts (even translated!). I like that we have to really imagine the mom without much to go on except Lamb's perspective. This passage is so much about trust and love, as well as fear. Lovely, Troy. 💚 👼🏽
Thanks Kate - it is funny, the 1st person POV has felt very problematic to me in the past - the usual descriptions of setting and character feel somewhat unnatural when coming out of the mouth of someone who maybe wouldn't normally pay attention to those sorts of things, for example, but it's got it's own sort of power in the details the narrator DOES notice and write about, so I guess it's just another tool in the belt... :)
I want to give Renee a piece of my mind. What a bitch.
Lamb is the kind of guy we want our children to hang out with, to teach them gentleness and offer a wider perspective.
Great chapter Troy, thank you.
Thank you Donna! Renee suffers from what I call "Saint Mommy" syndrome, which permits every sort of bad behavior because it's supposedly in the name of protecting the kids. (I've got one in my family, and it has been the excuse for the theft of an inheritance, and discrimination against me and my husband...)
I am sorry to hear you have had to deal with that kind of a person. Now I REALLY want to meet Renee in a back alley and give her a piece of my mind (even though I’m only 5’2!).
5'2 of DYNAMITE! 😘
That soundtrack is a killer. Perfect for this!
I always forget how beautiful and moving it is.
It did hit just the right chord for the episode - Thanks Deirdre!
Oh, wow. What a chapter... I know I kind of go on about this, and I promise I'll stop one day, but I have never read fiction before where I've felt so strongly that I know a character. It's so weird. It's similar to the sense of remembering a dream but then you're not sure whether it's a dream or a memory, or what. But whenever I read about Lamb I have this nagging sense that I need to call him, or check in with him, but in a very real life way! I probably sound crazy. I guess I'm just trying to communicate what an incredible job you've done in creating such a full, deep character, that my brain cannot accept that he is such!
That story he wrote...there's just so much to him. Sigh... 💜
You may go on as long as you like, my dear, I'm so touched by your fondness for Lamb - perhaps he's resonating with you from another dimension where you are friends, and he's so grateful for you - I know I am... 🤍🩵🩷
Oh I love this idea, friends in another dimension!
Oh I hope so. I adore you both 💛
Very well done, Troy. Such wonderful execution of different writing styles to further endear Lamb to the reader. Both the short journal entry and the poem were masterfully crafted to show us more of Lamb’s soft side. Bravo, my friend :)
Gracias, brother platypus - glad it landed, it was very outside my comfort zone 🩵
Sweet Lamb wrote a letter, we need all the letters. Splendid story telling, Troy.
Working on it - something juicy... ;)
Oh, Lamb! My heart just pours out to him. It’s a tribute to your mastery of storytelling skill that all that befalls him feels inevitable even while I want to protect him. And the way you show us the details--these intricately crafted mixed genre pieces--magnificent!
Thank you my dear - inevitable! Oh, that's good, that means each step forward has a direct causal relationship to the last, so I'm glad... 🩷🩷🩷
Exactly!
Aaaaaacccckkk! Why is sweet Lamb so misunderstood?! His lambswool heart, too gentle for this world, or at least for the wolves in his pasture. Like the last episode, it seems like he was always leaning toward other innocents, wantingneeding to be in the presence of someone familiar, but over and over again, life bites back with sharp canines. I want to protect Lamb!
I know, he tries so hard but just ends up getting burned... If only he'd known how we much we wanted him to be happy... ;) ❤️
Damn, you're a cunning writer Troy! Smuggling Lamb deeper and deeper into my heart like that....
My favorite characters to write are the ones that spring out of the ether and grab you by the heartstrings, Lamb did that for sure - in my novel, a drag queen named "Dusty Davenport" came screaming out of the night demanding to be put on stage... ;) Thx, Bertus!
My friend, I’m amazed at how you find progressively more acrobatic writing feats to attempt each week. I read it twice. So good. I was curious if you were tempted to throw a couple of poorly translated phrases in. Of all the things to trust Google to translate, poetry might not be on the top of my list. 😜
It's funny, when you plug something in Google Translate English > French, and then reverse it back and forth several times, it does start to become rather absurd... 😉💛
Damn, Troy, Lamb is one hell of a poet, aka you're hell of a poet. I love that: "moonbeams dance across the glass, frosted by the pulse of ghostly breath." So picturesque. I'm so hungry for more.
Thank you my dear, Lamb's giving me so many opportunities to try out new things... :) More to come! xo
I seriously cannot wait! :-*
"He flees South, flees West. Stars wheel in a strange sky." Super stuff; I love the "found" prose poem "translated" from the French... a brilliant repurposing of classic literary devices. Wonderful.
Thank you Jeffrey! Had fun with this one, so unlike anything I've tried before but somehow Lamb's helping me cut loose a little... :)
That's wonderful, to find freedom in one of your characters!
This was well done, Troy. Giving the vague letter, and then the prose poem. We really get a sense for the tenderness and vulnerability of Lamb through these pieces.
Was trying to see how circumspect I could be and still have the imagery and feelings come through, glad it landed for you - thanks Nathan!
Definitely did! 😊
🫣...this was so gripping and terrifying too! It can't end there, not now!💛
Not to worry, my dear - I've got we've still got a many more episodes to go, hopefully everyone won't be sick of Lamb by the end... xo
No chance, Troy, I for one am already feeling that I will miss Lamb when it ends. You've managed to bring him to life in such a tender, multi-faceted way, I feel I both know him and truly like him.
What did she think Lamb was doing to his little brother?? She sounds like a momster (see what I did there?).
I did 👁️👁️
Yes, what did she think? Sad to think she's denied both brothers of ever getting to know each other...
Sad indeed. My own momster did much the same thing with us and our family.
That was in the back of my mind in this... 😘