AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

37 Replies

aah

I can deal (at times) with all sorts of computer languages, but I can’t see how to re-blog on WordPress! Anyway, when one is all nervous and shaky and excited, how is it possible to calmly find a re-blog button? The truth of the matter is:

MY NOVEL HAS BEEN REVIEWED!!!! HERE!!!

The review is worth a read just to savour the wondrous writing skills of the reviewer: Uma Shankar. His blog is well-worth savouring – he writes stories, poems, reviews, and translates into English poetry from Hindi. It’s a delight to read a review composed with more aplomb than that being reviewed!!

So I’m posting this connection to his blog not only by way of thanks for the review, but to give others the opportunity to experience and enjoy his considerable literary skills!

Thank you, Uma.

37 thoughts on “AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!”

    1. Bruce Goodman Post author

      It’s not an easy novel to get into – apparently. I find life gets in the way of most things! You might be 40°C, but we’re almost freezing here. No summer at all. I can’t even mow the lawn it’s so wet!

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      1. Yvonne

        I think I’ll come and house sit for you so you can get warm and dry. I’ll leave red wine in the pantry for you two.

        I need to make a list of all those characters, it’s like a Russian novel, so many names and nicknames. It keeps a reader on his/her toes.

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              1. Bruce Goodman Post author

                Cynthia enjoyed the novel very much. I can’t remember what she said but she liked it. She was also a fan of Uma who wrote the review – and he wrote quite a startling appreciation of Cynthia’s poetry when she died!

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  7. umashankar

    Bruce, I could beat Hamlet hands down when it comes to his hamartia. I am glad I read it, and I found it great enough to blabber about it. It also gave me a chance to curse my professor who was a disciple of a disciple of who other than T. S.Eliot! I hope I read and perceived it as intended.

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    1. Bruce Goodman Post author

      The initial intention always disappears after any form of praise! Yes! – one says after praise – that is exactly what I meant! I seem to remember Eliot’s Prufrock saying “That is not what I meant. That is not what I meant at all” – but not so in this case. You can hamartia-cate forever! This morning I missed having my shower, I was so busy reading and re-reading and re-re-reading your review 29 thousand times!!

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  8. Yvonne

    Your novel is making a mighty hot afternoon pass by so quickly.

    You’re so darned clever. This line: ‘Or like Ophelia saying “Goodnight, sweet ladies” before rushing off to pose for Millais’ famous painting while drowning in the creek’ made me laugh and then think, “Well now I know why Ophelia was lying around in that water.”

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  9. Yvonne

    Oh, Bruce, I just finished the book. Thank you so much for providing us with the link to it, thank you for writing it.

    It ended just perfectly, and the note from the Professor provided yet another Bruce twist!

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. Bruce Goodman Post author

      You are the first – ever – to mention the professorial comment. I thought no one – because it referenced something so far back – would ever get it! So thank you. I (almost) liked better the fact that it was Mattie who signed off at the end! Which Mattie is it? Thanks for reading it, dear Yvonne. Should I write more? I have such a terrible inferiority complex! Don’t just say “yes” to be nice!

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      1. Yvonne

        Oh, yes, please do write more. You have such an original outlook on the foibles of life. Isn’t it strange that you have an inferiority complex, it should be exactly the opposite.

        (Hey, I’ve been accused of being many things, but “nice”! What is that?)

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  11. chrisnelson61

    Hi, Bruce. I felt that this might be the best place for me to leave my comment as it is related to your post.
    I have just finished reading ‘Passing Shower’ which I thoroughly enjoyed. I felt that the narrator’s tone was pitched really well, being natural and conversational and thus wholly believable. I liked how Yvonne’s feelings about each character came through despite the fact that i felt that she was trying to be objective – very true to life. The subtle changes of tense and perspective worked well, and the introduction of different narrators, albeit disruptive influences, was a masterful stroke.
    The moment when Yvonne feels guilt for Cob’s death is both poignant and perceptive – how often have we all felt that we could have changed events with one small action, and live then with regret. I also like the footnote at the end questioning the nature of the entire story!
    A fine piece which I shall return to no doubt in the future.
    My best to you. Chris.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Bruce Goodman Post author

      Gee whizz, Chris. Thank you so much for reading the novel and for such positive comments. Like you, I’m not sure where to place your review on my site – as it must be made readily available to the “rude and scoffing multitude”! Given the fact of life’s business, I had not expected you (in truth) to find time to read it – and even that alone (your review aside) is reason enough for me to show appreciation. I think I might start a separate page on this blog to highlight comments such as yours. Thanks a million, Chris.
      Regards
      Bruce

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      1. chrisnelson61

        I’m always telling my wife that you have to ‘make time’ (in her case to create visual art) which for me means deciding what takes priority and sticking to it. Sometimes, yes, this can be frustrating, but, and certainly in the case of your story, most rewarding. I shall expect more – no pressure!

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  12. Argus

    Damn. I was gonna nominate you for the “Award-Free Blog” Award until I noticed you already didn’t have one.

    ‘Twas ever thus and saves a fortune in letterheads. (Aside: does Cooch Windgrass live anywhere near you, perchance?)(I fancy his cousin Kathy …)

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    1. Bruce Goodman Post author

      Cooch is one of my favourite words – and half of New Zealand call it cooch and the other half call it by a word that I’ve just spent half an hour on Google trying to find and can’t… Fancying cousin Cathy is fine – just leave the dog alone…

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