I loved this chapter. The interactions of this unusual little family are so tender and realistically portrayed. I believe in them, I care about them. And this sentence was gorgeous; that last clause perfect: “I understood the significance of us sitting at the center of her last great work, the terminus of her spiraling journey inward.”
Thank you, Stephanie. I’m so glad you enjoyed this chapter. The book is finally done (whew). There are 4 more chapters before we say goodbye to Kelly, Lefty, and Marabelle.
Beautiful chapter, so intimate and touching. The choice for them to have this exchange at the very center of Kelly’s creation intensifies the emotion. This: “there’s a whole universe of things we can’t see or touch, and that unknowable universe is just as real—maybe more real than the one we’re so convinced by.” — feels like the beating heart of it. Marabelle reminds me of my son, who is so sensate he puts very little stock in the unseen, the magic. It’s fascinating that humans have the full spectrum of perceptions, from skepticism to full-on mysticism.
Just nipping in before the next chapter to say how well you have expressed the complicated emotions involved within a family when even within our own small worlds it is sometimes hard to understand the emotions of those we love.
Beautiful writing Ben, I agree with Stephanie "“I understood the significance of us sitting at the center of her last great work, the terminus of her spiraling journey inward.” is incredibly moving.
This story gleams. All the family intricacies, how hard we work sometimes to understand each other and fail. You've written something that feel real when I read it. Thanks, Ben.
I loved this chapter. The interactions of this unusual little family are so tender and realistically portrayed. I believe in them, I care about them. And this sentence was gorgeous; that last clause perfect: “I understood the significance of us sitting at the center of her last great work, the terminus of her spiraling journey inward.”
Thank you, Stephanie. I’m so glad you enjoyed this chapter. The book is finally done (whew). There are 4 more chapters before we say goodbye to Kelly, Lefty, and Marabelle.
Congratulations! I imagine posting has a different feel once the story is completed. You’ve taken us on quite a journey.
Yes, I can breathe a bit easier now that I know where things land. ;-)
Ben, I love this moment between mother and daughter so much. Just wow.
Thank you so much, Holly. Theirs was a relationship I really wanted to capture in a way that feels earned. I’m glad it landed for you.
Beautiful chapter, so intimate and touching. The choice for them to have this exchange at the very center of Kelly’s creation intensifies the emotion. This: “there’s a whole universe of things we can’t see or touch, and that unknowable universe is just as real—maybe more real than the one we’re so convinced by.” — feels like the beating heart of it. Marabelle reminds me of my son, who is so sensate he puts very little stock in the unseen, the magic. It’s fascinating that humans have the full spectrum of perceptions, from skepticism to full-on mysticism.
Thank you, Julie. This is exactly where I wanted the story to land, and the attention between these poles. Just three chapters left!
Just nipping in before the next chapter to say how well you have expressed the complicated emotions involved within a family when even within our own small worlds it is sometimes hard to understand the emotions of those we love.
Beautiful writing Ben, I agree with Stephanie "“I understood the significance of us sitting at the center of her last great work, the terminus of her spiraling journey inward.” is incredibly moving.
Thank you, Susie. It’s been a long road to here with a lot of stops along the way. Thank you for staying around through all of them.
Brilliant! I love how the labyrinth is finally being revealed. I wonder if Marabelle will understand she is the magic by the end and not brush it off…
Yay! I’m glad this made you happy. We’re almost there…
I want to know how the story ends, but I don’t want it to be over
Wow. Wow. Wow. I’m speechless.
Thank you, Kimberly. Almost there…
This story gleams. All the family intricacies, how hard we work sometimes to understand each other and fail. You've written something that feel real when I read it. Thanks, Ben.
Thank you, Lyndsey. That is high praise from a writer of your caliber.
Not blowing smoke. This story is something special. Thanks for the complement. I appreciate your opinion more than I can say.