More Grist to the Mill
Viewing comments for Chapter 24 "Breakdown - 1933"Book 2 of the Cleeborough Mill Trilogy
29 total reviews
Comment from Sugarray77
Hi Jim, I always get totally immersed in this story and the detailed descriptions you give as you lead us along. Very well done on creating a sense of doom and drama with your scientific details... very hard to do. :)
Melissa
reply by the author on 22-Mar-2021
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Hi Jim, I always get totally immersed in this story and the detailed descriptions you give as you lead us along. Very well done on creating a sense of doom and drama with your scientific details... very hard to do. :)
Melissa
Comment Written 21-Mar-2021
reply by the author on 22-Mar-2021
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Thank you for that great compliment. The engineering details have been met with a wide variety of reactions from readers - too much, too little and just right.
Comment from Sanku
Are you familiar with a mill like this? The meticulous description of the machinery and its working shows detailed research and that you used this to portray Jack's sharp intelligence is a reflection of your imagination as a writer.
I am relieved because I expected a real tragedy...
reply by the author on 19-Mar-2021
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Are you familiar with a mill like this? The meticulous description of the machinery and its working shows detailed research and that you used this to portray Jack's sharp intelligence is a reflection of your imagination as a writer.
I am relieved because I expected a real tragedy...
Comment Written 19-Mar-2021
reply by the author on 19-Mar-2021
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The 'real tragedy' comes much, much later. Lol. Yes I am familiar with water mills having restored and operated a couple in the 1980s. The one in the picture is one that I restored and that is a younger me with the sack on my shoulder.
This one was the model for the 'Cleeborough Mill' in this story. Thank you for the review. I do hope you will also review the next chapter while it still has money on it.
Comment from Rdfrdmom2
Well, PANTYGYNT:
It would seem that there's a lot more to Tommy's son, Jack, than I thought there was. I'm impressed he could do a headstand in the midst of the impending doom of the mill. Besides that, the boy has a very sharp mind. Looking forward to the next chapter.
Rdfrdmom2
reply by the author on 18-Mar-2021
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Well, PANTYGYNT:
It would seem that there's a lot more to Tommy's son, Jack, than I thought there was. I'm impressed he could do a headstand in the midst of the impending doom of the mill. Besides that, the boy has a very sharp mind. Looking forward to the next chapter.
Rdfrdmom2
Comment Written 17-Mar-2021
reply by the author on 18-Mar-2021
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I have heard that the rush of blood to the brain, inevitable in a headstand, tends to enhance intelligence - perhaps it's true. Many thanks for these comments in review.
Comment from Pam (respa)
-this is a good chapter that
shows the relationship of
Tommy and his son.
-Even though Jack is only 15,
he seems like a very bright
and talented lad.
-Father and son get along
together and listen to one
another as they try to figure
out the problem.
-The best scene was toward the
end when Jack stands on his head,
not once, but twice to figure things out.
-The difference is Jack is delighted he
figured things out; Tommy now has
to deal with the consequences.
-My one suggestion would be to
look at the long paragraph beginning with
'The wheel chamber' and decide what is
the most important, divide it up, and
go from there.
reply by the author on 18-Mar-2021
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-this is a good chapter that
shows the relationship of
Tommy and his son.
-Even though Jack is only 15,
he seems like a very bright
and talented lad.
-Father and son get along
together and listen to one
another as they try to figure
out the problem.
-The best scene was toward the
end when Jack stands on his head,
not once, but twice to figure things out.
-The difference is Jack is delighted he
figured things out; Tommy now has
to deal with the consequences.
-My one suggestion would be to
look at the long paragraph beginning with
'The wheel chamber' and decide what is
the most important, divide it up, and
go from there.
Comment Written 17-Mar-2021
reply by the author on 18-Mar-2021
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Thank you for this fine review and for the suggestion re: that long paragraph, which has been attended to.
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You are very welcome on both counts.
Comment from Tpa
I thought this chapter was very informative. Although, I have not been following your book, is this a biography? I thought some of your paragraphs were long with too much history at one time.
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
reply by the author on 18-Mar-2021
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I thought this chapter was very informative. Although, I have not been following your book, is this a biography? I thought some of your paragraphs were long with too much history at one time.
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 17-Mar-2021
reply by the author on 18-Mar-2021
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Thank you for reading and reviewing. It would have been more helpful had you felt able to be more specific.
Comment from Katherine M. (k-11)
This technical description of the workings, or rather collapse of the mill machinery is fascinating. It clearly showcases Jack's character and how he differs from his father, notably in educational and imagination level.
reply by the author on 18-Mar-2021
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This technical description of the workings, or rather collapse of the mill machinery is fascinating. It clearly showcases Jack's character and how he differs from his father, notably in educational and imagination level.
Comment Written 17-Mar-2021
reply by the author on 18-Mar-2021
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Thank you for this review that catches the nuances within the chapter of the differences between father and son in both education and imagination. I am really thrilled you got that.
Comment from royowen
So that's it, the shaft is "buggered" or shafted in modern idiom. I've read these in the wrong order, but it gives me an insight into what was wrong with t'other. You must have done some super research on the workings of Mills. But Jack is showing his capabilities, I wonder when Tommy works out his kids, they will be showing other skills. Well done, blessings Roy
reply by the author on 17-Mar-2021
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So that's it, the shaft is "buggered" or shafted in modern idiom. I've read these in the wrong order, but it gives me an insight into what was wrong with t'other. You must have done some super research on the workings of Mills. But Jack is showing his capabilities, I wonder when Tommy works out his kids, they will be showing other skills. Well done, blessings Roy
Comment Written 17-Mar-2021
reply by the author on 17-Mar-2021
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Thank you for this review. Back in the 1980s I restored and operated the mill in the picture for several years. That is me in the picture.
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So there you go. Thanks Jim,
Comment from roof35
The mill was a pretty complicated industry. I think a lot of research went into your writing to explain all this so thoroughly that someone who has never seen a mill can understand it. Excellent writing.
reply by the author on 16-Mar-2021
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The mill was a pretty complicated industry. I think a lot of research went into your writing to explain all this so thoroughly that someone who has never seen a mill can understand it. Excellent writing.
Comment Written 16-Mar-2021
reply by the author on 16-Mar-2021
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Thank you for this most supportive six-star review.
Comment from RetroStarfish
You've (again) done a wonderful job of describing a catastrophic event, while using it to reveal the nature of a character, in this case Jack:
"...a concept as painful to him as the shriek of an injured person..."
This is wonderful - and so sad, as the mill itself is the main character of this series.
reply by the author on 16-Mar-2021
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You've (again) done a wonderful job of describing a catastrophic event, while using it to reveal the nature of a character, in this case Jack:
"...a concept as painful to him as the shriek of an injured person..."
This is wonderful - and so sad, as the mill itself is the main character of this series.
Comment Written 16-Mar-2021
reply by the author on 16-Mar-2021
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Oh thank you , thank you for that remark about the mill being one of the characters. Yes it is and this whole book (Book 2 of the trilogy is indeed the tragedy of the mill. Book 1 was the tragedy of Hettie and Book 3 will involve another character.
If I had a thumb left it would be yours for realising this fact.
Comment from Pearl Edwards
You lost me early in the first paragraph with the different conflicts in the workings of the mill, but it was interesting to see father and son go through one thing after another until Jack's handstand gave him the gist of what had happened. Like Tommy's answer - she'm buggered.
I'm not mechanically minded but still enjoyed the chapter.
cheers.
reply by the author on 16-Mar-2021
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You lost me early in the first paragraph with the different conflicts in the workings of the mill, but it was interesting to see father and son go through one thing after another until Jack's handstand gave him the gist of what had happened. Like Tommy's answer - she'm buggered.
I'm not mechanically minded but still enjoyed the chapter.
cheers.
Comment Written 15-Mar-2021
reply by the author on 16-Mar-2021
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Many thanks for this review. It is a tricky business steering a course that is not so technical that it becomes boring to some and technical enough to inform those interested.