More Grist to the Mill
Viewing comments for Chapter 3 "Days of Derring Do"Book 2 of the Cleeborough Mill Trilogy
33 total reviews
Comment from greyson ernst
this is a really really good i could never do this you are such amazing writer and as always keep writing and stay safe to you and yours happy new years
sincerely Greyson Ernst
reply by the author on 02-Jan-2021
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this is a really really good i could never do this you are such amazing writer and as always keep writing and stay safe to you and yours happy new years
sincerely Greyson Ernst
Comment Written 01-Jan-2021
reply by the author on 02-Jan-2021
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I am so pleased you find it so well done. Thanks so much for this supportive review.
Comment from JudyE
A very happy New Year to you, Jim. And we have internet where we're staying so I've taken the opportunity to keep up with your fine story.
A very few points:
'"Well, it wunna always like this, sir, not like it is out here. South Africa, The North-West Frontier, - lower case for 'The'?
It was however the cleric, rather than the lawyer who eventually broke the silence. - comma after 'lawyer' and maybe either side of 'however'
'It might help me understand better,' said the rector, feeling himself to be on dangerous ground here. 'If you were to tell me exactly what it was he did do.' - replace period after 'here' with a comma
It's an old agricultural custom, part of a ritual carried out by the first farm to bring its harvest home. The farmer ties a knot from the corn in the last sheaf cut - That is what is known as The Neck; don't ask me why - and it is brought home with due ceremony. Afterwards it was carried to the church where it remained for the year. They haven't done it here for years, not since mechanisation, the threshing machine, brought threshing out of the barn and into the harvest field. Sorry, Peter. Folklore is one of my things. Perhaps your man had taken part in the ritual as a younger chap. - speech marks needed around this paragraph
Best wishes
Judy
reply by the author on 02-Jan-2021
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A very happy New Year to you, Jim. And we have internet where we're staying so I've taken the opportunity to keep up with your fine story.
A very few points:
'"Well, it wunna always like this, sir, not like it is out here. South Africa, The North-West Frontier, - lower case for 'The'?
It was however the cleric, rather than the lawyer who eventually broke the silence. - comma after 'lawyer' and maybe either side of 'however'
'It might help me understand better,' said the rector, feeling himself to be on dangerous ground here. 'If you were to tell me exactly what it was he did do.' - replace period after 'here' with a comma
It's an old agricultural custom, part of a ritual carried out by the first farm to bring its harvest home. The farmer ties a knot from the corn in the last sheaf cut - That is what is known as The Neck; don't ask me why - and it is brought home with due ceremony. Afterwards it was carried to the church where it remained for the year. They haven't done it here for years, not since mechanisation, the threshing machine, brought threshing out of the barn and into the harvest field. Sorry, Peter. Folklore is one of my things. Perhaps your man had taken part in the ritual as a younger chap. - speech marks needed around this paragraph
Best wishes
Judy
Comment Written 01-Jan-2021
reply by the author on 02-Jan-2021
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I am so glad you are able to continue your reviewing, and pleased that you should wish to when you are on holiday. I have come to rely on your eagle eye, as I am sure you realise.
Many thanks for this review and have a great New Year's vacation.
Comment from Leann DS
I really like your chapter with its many examples of imagery and realistic dialogue. Your descriptions were detailed and the story certainly kept my interest throughout. Well done, and happy 2021 to you.
reply by the author on 02-Jan-2021
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I really like your chapter with its many examples of imagery and realistic dialogue. Your descriptions were detailed and the story certainly kept my interest throughout. Well done, and happy 2021 to you.
Comment Written 01-Jan-2021
reply by the author on 02-Jan-2021
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thank you so much for this complimentary review.
Comment from Jeff Watkins
I expected a murder mystery , but now I see that you are exploring a much deeper mystery: the reasons why people either commit suicide have death inviting and defying behaviors. Extreme sports?
I suspect that existential despair is related to failure to find satisfying meaning in life. I suggest you read The Centurians by Jean Larteguy (pen name), a French author who writes "fiction" about professional soldiers similar to Warburton. This book in particular as well as The Praetorians are read and praised by international military officers.
Existentialism says that there is no meaning in life except what we create.
reply by the author on 02-Jan-2021
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I expected a murder mystery , but now I see that you are exploring a much deeper mystery: the reasons why people either commit suicide have death inviting and defying behaviors. Extreme sports?
I suspect that existential despair is related to failure to find satisfying meaning in life. I suggest you read The Centurians by Jean Larteguy (pen name), a French author who writes "fiction" about professional soldiers similar to Warburton. This book in particular as well as The Praetorians are read and praised by international military officers.
Existentialism says that there is no meaning in life except what we create.
Comment Written 01-Jan-2021
reply by the author on 02-Jan-2021
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Thank you so much for this six-star review and for pointing me towards M. Larteguy. I shall definitely have a look at him.
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WW1 called upon millions of men to commit suicide. Re also the charge of the light brigade. It occurs to me that my fascination with the confederates and the German forces in WW1 and WW11 have to do with the sacrifice of courageous men in losing and unworthy causes. In other words, maybe I am interested in suicide, but in the comfort of my favorite chair. I like football, too, but then I'm not the one taking the hits.
Comment from Ben B.
Huh? Is being promoted to captain really something to pout about? Other than that this was a really interesting story. I feel like that colonel is up to something not so good.
reply by the author on 01-Jan-2021
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Huh? Is being promoted to captain really something to pout about? Other than that this was a really interesting story. I feel like that colonel is up to something not so good.
Comment Written 31-Dec-2020
reply by the author on 01-Jan-2021
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Thank you for reading and reviewing.
After only 2 years service, almost continually on the the western front where a subaltern's life expectancy was six weeks, to be placed in command of a rifle company (establishment at that time 227 all ranks) was something to be justly proud of.
Comment from RetroStarfish
What a lovely chapter. I actually felt warm as I read it, as if I were sitting by a fire, sipping port and having a great conversation with a new found friend. You have excellent pacing in your writing. The dialogue ebbs and flows and moves the story forward. Nicely done, again.
reply by the author on 01-Jan-2021
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What a lovely chapter. I actually felt warm as I read it, as if I were sitting by a fire, sipping port and having a great conversation with a new found friend. You have excellent pacing in your writing. The dialogue ebbs and flows and moves the story forward. Nicely done, again.
Comment Written 31-Dec-2020
reply by the author on 01-Jan-2021
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Many thanks for this encouraging review. I am so pleased you continue to enjoy this novel.
Comment from Sanku
I am really enjoying this and it is very intriguing. Your style of writing somehow reminds of Sherlock Holmes stories. May be it is the conversations leading to the analysis etc which was the hall mark of Conan Doyle's style.Thank you very much for sharing.
reply by the author on 31-Dec-2020
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I am really enjoying this and it is very intriguing. Your style of writing somehow reminds of Sherlock Holmes stories. May be it is the conversations leading to the analysis etc which was the hall mark of Conan Doyle's style.Thank you very much for sharing.
Comment Written 31-Dec-2020
reply by the author on 31-Dec-2020
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Today I have read reviews comparing my writing to Somerset Maugham and now Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Wow I begin to wonder if I might be doing something right at last. Many thanks for this encouraging six-star review.
Comment from Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
Aw, so My Tom died a hero. I'm not sure he wanted to commit suicide, but he was prepared to die to save others. That made him a hero in my book. I'm glad you gave us this so we'd know what happened to him. He was a brilliant character, and it's a shame he had to be killed off. I was half hoping he would try again and marry Heather. Things never do go the way we want, though. I'm discovering that more and more just lately. Well done, my friend. I wish you a brilliant, successful 2021. Warm hugs. Sandra xxx
reply by the author on 31-Dec-2020
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Aw, so My Tom died a hero. I'm not sure he wanted to commit suicide, but he was prepared to die to save others. That made him a hero in my book. I'm glad you gave us this so we'd know what happened to him. He was a brilliant character, and it's a shame he had to be killed off. I was half hoping he would try again and marry Heather. Things never do go the way we want, though. I'm discovering that more and more just lately. Well done, my friend. I wish you a brilliant, successful 2021. Warm hugs. Sandra xxx
Comment Written 31-Dec-2020
reply by the author on 31-Dec-2020
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We are not quite finished with him yet. Many thanks for this lovely review. I hope there will be other characters that take your fancy in the future.
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I'm sure there will be. Your characters are excellent. :)
Comment from thaities, Rebecca V.
This is such a captivating story to read and follow. The way Thomas Warburton died adds much information to this saga. He was a hero to his men. I really enjoy this story and am anxious to read more.
reply by the author on 31-Dec-2020
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This is such a captivating story to read and follow. The way Thomas Warburton died adds much information to this saga. He was a hero to his men. I really enjoy this story and am anxious to read more.
Comment Written 31-Dec-2020
reply by the author on 31-Dec-2020
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More is there already and still more to come. Thank you so much for these comments. They make it all worth while.
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Great writing!
Comment from lyenochka
I don't recall the "neck" reference, was it in that song that they sang for Josh Jolliffe when they brought in the harvest?
I liked how cleverly the rector got his companion to talk more with the analogy of their choice of drinks:
'Well, port is a rather reminiscent sort of beverage, and you seemed deep in memories of your old sergeant major. Brandy on the hand, a fiery liquid, particularly this not very noble version, suits the mood of curiosity which your story arouses in me.'
Well it seems Tom W. died a hero.
reply by the author on 31-Dec-2020
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I don't recall the "neck" reference, was it in that song that they sang for Josh Jolliffe when they brought in the harvest?
I liked how cleverly the rector got his companion to talk more with the analogy of their choice of drinks:
'Well, port is a rather reminiscent sort of beverage, and you seemed deep in memories of your old sergeant major. Brandy on the hand, a fiery liquid, particularly this not very noble version, suits the mood of curiosity which your story arouses in me.'
Well it seems Tom W. died a hero.
Comment Written 31-Dec-2020
reply by the author on 31-Dec-2020
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Many thanks for this review. You are very close. Tom W heard them crying the neck in that first harvest at Jericho when he was a very small boy.