Thanks Richard! Haha yes, the typo gremlin got you too! But always good to be made aware of these things. Scent picked up by another eagle eye reader and fixed. Mmm, yeah expresso cafés must have been a thing, I'd have to check my original notes but where they are now I don't know. I'll go check the commas now. Thanks for the note re footnotes! I'm still reading your MS you will be happy to know and enjoying it thoroughly. At first I was put off by the diary format but now I'm right in there with all the daily details esp. when you go visiting some of the places we will visit next March. Sorry it is taking me so long, but it's a very busy time of late. When I'm done let's have a zoom chat.
Like Pip, I am enjoying the story and the juxtaposition of Duras and your mother. The evocation of Melbourne in the 50’s resonates. Love the bit about the pancamke/ omelette we had a similar experience near a park in Saigon, a delicious meal cooked by a woman squatting over a single burner in the street. On footnotes, when long like the recipe, yes but if only short include in the text. A couple of minor things… you refer to expressi cafes, is this what they were called or do you mean espresso? You refer to the sent of peanuts roasting, missing the c, in the bit about melancholia there are a couple of superfluous commas in the bit about ‘never had, once had’. I really like Marj’s poems too.
I continue to enjoy the story and your style of writing. The comparison of MD and Marj. I love hearing about Mum and reading her quirky poems. She is in us both. Pip
I'm not sure of the performance piece. I feel it's a bit different from the 3 threads - MD, MJ, you finding. The performance pieces might shine more in their own space?? Just initial thoughts
I didn't find the poems too clumped, Jan, but then I tend to read poems when they pop up. But another reader might be better offered a little less in one go.
I remember Marj’s book of poems -- and artwork too??
I love the pancake recipe footnote
Not sure about the inclusion of the performance pieces -- they are relevant and I like that they convey more about you and your interpretations, but there are so many strands with your travels, MD’s story, and MC’s story. Perhaps if I read the book in longer sittings I would feel more comfortable with the flow and drifts. I am one of those people who likes to binge on my TV streaming shows rather than wait for weekly episodes.
Thanks Maureen, I think I have put Marj's art work online from time to time, great little characters she scribbled for the g kids but also paintings, but not part of the booklet. The pancake recipe is from a great little book published by MD's son Outa, delish yeah. Apparently she wa a great cook and had a few Vietnamese dishes she loved to make. Fish sauce was always on her shopping list. Re the performance pieces, mixed opinion on them, so I think they will stay...
Thanks Richard! Haha yes, the typo gremlin got you too! But always good to be made aware of these things. Scent picked up by another eagle eye reader and fixed. Mmm, yeah expresso cafés must have been a thing, I'd have to check my original notes but where they are now I don't know. I'll go check the commas now. Thanks for the note re footnotes! I'm still reading your MS you will be happy to know and enjoying it thoroughly. At first I was put off by the diary format but now I'm right in there with all the daily details esp. when you go visiting some of the places we will visit next March. Sorry it is taking me so long, but it's a very busy time of late. When I'm done let's have a zoom chat.
Thanks Pip! Thought you'd like ths one. Marj's poems have been getting a lot of praise from people who know good poetry.
Like Pip, I am enjoying the story and the juxtaposition of Duras and your mother. The evocation of Melbourne in the 50’s resonates. Love the bit about the pancamke/ omelette we had a similar experience near a park in Saigon, a delicious meal cooked by a woman squatting over a single burner in the street. On footnotes, when long like the recipe, yes but if only short include in the text. A couple of minor things… you refer to expressi cafes, is this what they were called or do you mean espresso? You refer to the sent of peanuts roasting, missing the c, in the bit about melancholia there are a couple of superfluous commas in the bit about ‘never had, once had’. I really like Marj’s poems too.
I continue to enjoy the story and your style of writing. The comparison of MD and Marj. I love hearing about Mum and reading her quirky poems. She is in us both. Pip
Ps may be they're not footnotes but side or column notes so they're not forgotten or glossed over
I'm not sure of the performance piece. I feel it's a bit different from the 3 threads - MD, MJ, you finding. The performance pieces might shine more in their own space?? Just initial thoughts
Love Marj's stuff. The pairing with MD really works. You must feel good about paying your mum that respect.
Thanks Bill. yes I do, tehre's more about that to come. Did you find the clump of poems to be too many at once?
I didn't find the poems too clumped, Jan, but then I tend to read poems when they pop up. But another reader might be better offered a little less in one go.
I remember Marj’s book of poems -- and artwork too??
I love the pancake recipe footnote
Not sure about the inclusion of the performance pieces -- they are relevant and I like that they convey more about you and your interpretations, but there are so many strands with your travels, MD’s story, and MC’s story. Perhaps if I read the book in longer sittings I would feel more comfortable with the flow and drifts. I am one of those people who likes to binge on my TV streaming shows rather than wait for weekly episodes.
Thanks Maureen, I think I have put Marj's art work online from time to time, great little characters she scribbled for the g kids but also paintings, but not part of the booklet. The pancake recipe is from a great little book published by MD's son Outa, delish yeah. Apparently she wa a great cook and had a few Vietnamese dishes she loved to make. Fish sauce was always on her shopping list. Re the performance pieces, mixed opinion on them, so I think they will stay...
Derr, should have read before posting. Pancake, expresso not i