More Grist to the Mill
Viewing comments for Chapter 21 "The Last Nightmare - 1925"Book 2 of the Cleeborough Mill Trilogy
31 total reviews
Comment from BethShelby
It is an interesting dream. It must have solidified something in Peter's mind that made him feel that the dream had a meaning and it is interesting that he knew he would never have the nightmare again. I'm not completely sure I understand the dream.
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2021
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It is an interesting dream. It must have solidified something in Peter's mind that made him feel that the dream had a meaning and it is interesting that he knew he would never have the nightmare again. I'm not completely sure I understand the dream.
Comment Written 03-Mar-2021
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2021
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Do we ever understand dreams? They have been open to interpretation since time immemorial. I simply let the keyboard take over. Thanks for your kind review
Comment from Jay Squires
Dynamically written chapter, Jim, especially the dream scene. It carried all the uneasiness that dreams tend to exhibit in their course, yet with the bizarre elements found in dreams. I'm still as lost as I ever was about Hettie's death, whether suicide or murder, but you very adroitly leave the reader with the feeling that Peter Allen knows.
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2021
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Dynamically written chapter, Jim, especially the dream scene. It carried all the uneasiness that dreams tend to exhibit in their course, yet with the bizarre elements found in dreams. I'm still as lost as I ever was about Hettie's death, whether suicide or murder, but you very adroitly leave the reader with the feeling that Peter Allen knows.
Comment Written 03-Mar-2021
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2021
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One of the problems of the drifted effect of serialisation is that the importance of events tends to get a little distorted. When one can read the whole thing in one's own time and not the serial's episode I think the perspective is different.
Thank you so much for your six-star appreciation of the dream sequence. I did worry how this would be received but it seems all good so far.
Comment from Suzanna Ray
Dear Jim, is this truly the end of this story? If it is, I am so glad that Mr. Allen was finally freed of the nightmare he had suffered from ever since the The death of his sergeant, Tom Warburton.
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2021
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Dear Jim, is this truly the end of this story? If it is, I am so glad that Mr. Allen was finally freed of the nightmare he had suffered from ever since the The death of his sergeant, Tom Warburton.
Comment Written 03-Mar-2021
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2021
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Nowhere near it. We are only half way through the second book of a trilogy. The focus will inevitably change slightly but it is the future of the mill that remains our concern. That and the new generation of folk who begin to ne involved with it. Many thanks for your concerned review
Comment from Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
I knew I should have saved the six for this one, but they both deserved a six. The descriptions were amazing, with imagery so real the reader could see it in all it's blood and gore. Those young lads going to war to die in such a terrible way, on fences then mowed down by a hail of bullets. The imagery of Hettie reaching and catching the roses, the death of My Tom, and Hettie, both bodies entwined in death. The only nice outcome was that Allen can now sleep at nignt without these dreams plaguing him. Amazong writing, my friend. Loads of show, no sign of tell! :)) Sandra xxx
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2021
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I knew I should have saved the six for this one, but they both deserved a six. The descriptions were amazing, with imagery so real the reader could see it in all it's blood and gore. Those young lads going to war to die in such a terrible way, on fences then mowed down by a hail of bullets. The imagery of Hettie reaching and catching the roses, the death of My Tom, and Hettie, both bodies entwined in death. The only nice outcome was that Allen can now sleep at nignt without these dreams plaguing him. Amazong writing, my friend. Loads of show, no sign of tell! :)) Sandra xxx
Comment Written 03-Mar-2021
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2021
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I am pleased that this chapter has gone down well. So far without exception. I had wondered how it might be received. Thank you for this supportive review.
Comment from padumachitta
hello. Well the ending is super, dream and all
The discription of the war, almost too rea for me. Just the sheer horror of it..and then we did it all again and again,...Viet Nam was a horror...I think all wrs must be...sorry to be stuck on this bit. But, you wrote it and it sunk in..
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2021
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hello. Well the ending is super, dream and all
The discription of the war, almost too rea for me. Just the sheer horror of it..and then we did it all again and again,...Viet Nam was a horror...I think all wrs must be...sorry to be stuck on this bit. But, you wrote it and it sunk in..
Comment Written 03-Mar-2021
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2021
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Thank you so much for this. I did wonder how it might be received it being so different from the other chapters but it is all good so far, I am pleased to say.
Comment from lyenochka
Wow! Your description of this nightmare was truly cinematographic and I hear the sounds, smell the smells and the palpable fear of men following routines in the horror of the battlefield. Great idea to intersperse the songs and ditties.
I liked how this "last nightmare" has helped Allen to finally put to rest all his wrestlings about Tom W's sacrificial suicide. It was something in his nature from the beginning to sacrifice himself (reputation to protect the Jolliffes) and his life to protect his troop. It's good that Allen's mind can be put at east. Virtual six for this brilliant post!
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2021
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Wow! Your description of this nightmare was truly cinematographic and I hear the sounds, smell the smells and the palpable fear of men following routines in the horror of the battlefield. Great idea to intersperse the songs and ditties.
I liked how this "last nightmare" has helped Allen to finally put to rest all his wrestlings about Tom W's sacrificial suicide. It was something in his nature from the beginning to sacrifice himself (reputation to protect the Jolliffes) and his life to protect his troop. It's good that Allen's mind can be put at east. Virtual six for this brilliant post!
Comment Written 03-Mar-2021
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2021
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Thank you so much for this review. I am thrilled by the way in which this chapter has gone down. I wondered if it might not work, but it seems to have done so beyond my wildest dreams.
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By the way, speaking of movies and songs which your post reminded me of (not the war theme), did you see the movie, Fisherman's Friends? It takes place in Cornwall and the story is interspersed with lots of great sea shanties.
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Regrettably I did not. Maybe it will come round again.
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It's an Indy film and perhaps just a clip is enough --
Comment from Dolly'sPoems
Those poor soldiers who suffered during the first world war with poor equipment, guns that refused to fire and threats of being shot if they deserted, poor food, no rest, being gassed and stuck in all that muck up to their knees, it's no wonder Allen is have nightmares. I liked the songs here as the soldiers tried to cheer themselves and made the best of an awful situation; you made the nightmare vivid and real. Much enjoyed, love Dolly x
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2021
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Those poor soldiers who suffered during the first world war with poor equipment, guns that refused to fire and threats of being shot if they deserted, poor food, no rest, being gassed and stuck in all that muck up to their knees, it's no wonder Allen is have nightmares. I liked the songs here as the soldiers tried to cheer themselves and made the best of an awful situation; you made the nightmare vivid and real. Much enjoyed, love Dolly x
Comment Written 03-Mar-2021
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2021
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I did wonder how this one would go down but it seems all good so far. Thank you for this encouraging review.
Comment from robyn corum
Jim,
Good job - especially in handling a very strange dream that could have gone all crazy-like. *smile* I think you handled all the representative images well. I enjoyed!
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2021
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Jim,
Good job - especially in handling a very strange dream that could have gone all crazy-like. *smile* I think you handled all the representative images well. I enjoyed!
Comment Written 03-Mar-2021
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2021
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I wondered how this might be accepted but it seems all good so far. Many thanks for this encouraging review.
Comment from Ulla
Hi Jim, this was a wonderful chapter. The dream was so real that I was almost there. The apparition of Hettie in that dream was almost surreal. I can understand why Allen has finally found peace from his dreams. It's also very well written. Now what is to happen? Ulla:)))
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reply by the author on 03-Mar-2021
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Hi Jim, this was a wonderful chapter. The dream was so real that I was almost there. The apparition of Hettie in that dream was almost surreal. I can understand why Allen has finally found peace from his dreams. It's also very well written. Now what is to happen? Ulla:)))
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 03-Mar-2021
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2021
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I am so pleased you thought this a wonderful chapter. I did wonder how it would be received but it seems all good so far. Thank you so much for reviewing.
Comment from Iza Deleanu
Wow, the conclusion of the story is mind-blowing:""Sure they do," Bernie says. "They say, 'Hey, there they go! 'After Lunch Man' and 'Backseat Stalker Lady' with 'Faceless Dog'! On their way to sit in the parking lot of Giant Eagle where they pretend to buy tuna fish!" He turns back to look at me. "No. No, they do not have names for us. They don't even notice us driving past them every day. That's just you." So after all, both committed suicide but I think the actual motif was the despair of losing the meaning and the livelihood in those harsh times. Both sacrificed their lives for the well being of to hers. Thank you for sharing and good luck with your writings.
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The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2021
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Wow, the conclusion of the story is mind-blowing:""Sure they do," Bernie says. "They say, 'Hey, there they go! 'After Lunch Man' and 'Backseat Stalker Lady' with 'Faceless Dog'! On their way to sit in the parking lot of Giant Eagle where they pretend to buy tuna fish!" He turns back to look at me. "No. No, they do not have names for us. They don't even notice us driving past them every day. That's just you." So after all, both committed suicide but I think the actual motif was the despair of losing the meaning and the livelihood in those harsh times. Both sacrificed their lives for the well being of to hers. Thank you for sharing and good luck with your writings.
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 03-Mar-2021
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2021
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I think you may have muddled this with someone else's post
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You are so right and I am so sorry for the wrong citation:(