This is moving and excellent Alicia. The taut and well-told unfolding of the story—from your conversation with Marjorie to your eventual decision to not go to Vassar—the internal grappling and reflections, and the engaging parallels you draw between yourself and your grandmother, all come together to make for a really compelling character study of both of you. The yearbook entry at the end is also a powerful send-off on top of an already powerful ending.
I'm sorry I didn't have a chance to read/review it the first time (travels ended up waylaying both my editing and my writing work for weeks lol) but your piece didn't need it anyway! Well done :)
Facing all the terrible stories in the making these days, it gives me much hope to read a story today so well written. In recent weeks, I had veered away from the series, but "beginning again" today, I was glued from the 1st sentence to the last.
Re-reading with fuller attention today: this fabulous insight should not go unnoticed: "I loaded the gun with secrets and she pulled the trigger."
Thanks Nick. That essay is one I'm particularly proud of! Thank you for reading!
This is moving and excellent Alicia. The taut and well-told unfolding of the story—from your conversation with Marjorie to your eventual decision to not go to Vassar—the internal grappling and reflections, and the engaging parallels you draw between yourself and your grandmother, all come together to make for a really compelling character study of both of you. The yearbook entry at the end is also a powerful send-off on top of an already powerful ending.
I'm sorry I didn't have a chance to read/review it the first time (travels ended up waylaying both my editing and my writing work for weeks lol) but your piece didn't need it anyway! Well done :)
Thanks JG. Your affirmation means a lot. This story took its time formulating, but I’m proud of where it landed.
Facing all the terrible stories in the making these days, it gives me much hope to read a story today so well written. In recent weeks, I had veered away from the series, but "beginning again" today, I was glued from the 1st sentence to the last.
Thank you Nick.