The Letters
How quickly life can change.18 total reviews
Comment from Dolly'sPoems
It seems like everyone is a loser in this three way relationship and no one is happy. We never know what life with throw at us and whether we can rely on someone else and we always need to be prepared for the worst. Although this is the work of fiction, there is some authentic emotions displayed here, much enjoyed, love Dolly x
reply by the author on 12-Apr-2025
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It seems like everyone is a loser in this three way relationship and no one is happy. We never know what life with throw at us and whether we can rely on someone else and we always need to be prepared for the worst. Although this is the work of fiction, there is some authentic emotions displayed here, much enjoyed, love Dolly x
Comment Written 12-Apr-2025
reply by the author on 12-Apr-2025
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Dolly,
Thanks so much for your great review. Yes, you just never know what life will throw at us and when. Take care and have a most wonderful day.
Regards
Barry Penfold.
Comment from Alexandra Trovato
This reminder me of a good movie Click. This is well written and has good imagery and descriptions. The dialogue and photo presentation is good too.
Best wishes,
Alex
reply by the author on 11-Apr-2025
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This reminder me of a good movie Click. This is well written and has good imagery and descriptions. The dialogue and photo presentation is good too.
Best wishes,
Alex
Comment Written 11-Apr-2025
reply by the author on 11-Apr-2025
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Alex,
Thanks for your review. Glad you enjoyed the read. You take care and have a wonderful day.
Regards
Barry
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You have a wonderful day too, Barry!
Best wishes,
Alex
Comment from estory
I thought this was well done. I liked how you orchestrated this scene of a divorce happening through these letters between the husband and wife. I think it really articulates this sense of distance between them, how far they have gone from talking face to face. Also in the words enclosed in these letters and in the illustrations of the moods of the two divorcees is how much their own sense of happiness, their own hopes and dreams and plans, gets shattered in this moment when the separation comes. Malcolm walks in hoping to surprise his wife with this announcement of a new job, only to discover his wife has left him. She moves to begin preparing for a new life with someone else, only to discover her lover can't give up on his cancer stricken wife. So they are both left in limbo. A modern tale told with stark realistic terms. estory
reply by the author on 11-Apr-2025
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I thought this was well done. I liked how you orchestrated this scene of a divorce happening through these letters between the husband and wife. I think it really articulates this sense of distance between them, how far they have gone from talking face to face. Also in the words enclosed in these letters and in the illustrations of the moods of the two divorcees is how much their own sense of happiness, their own hopes and dreams and plans, gets shattered in this moment when the separation comes. Malcolm walks in hoping to surprise his wife with this announcement of a new job, only to discover his wife has left him. She moves to begin preparing for a new life with someone else, only to discover her lover can't give up on his cancer stricken wife. So they are both left in limbo. A modern tale told with stark realistic terms. estory
Comment Written 11-Apr-2025
reply by the author on 11-Apr-2025
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Wow, thanks so much for your six-star review. this was a little different, but I am glad you enjoyed the read. Take care and have a wonderful day.
Regards
Barry
Comment from jacquelyn popp
This story delivers a comp exploration of ambition, emotional neglect, and the fragility of human relationships. The strength of the story lies in its contrast between Malcolm's and the col, silent reality that greets him at home.
This is a beautifully tragic, emotionally resonant story that highlights how success can be hollow without connection.
reply by the author on 11-Apr-2025
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This story delivers a comp exploration of ambition, emotional neglect, and the fragility of human relationships. The strength of the story lies in its contrast between Malcolm's and the col, silent reality that greets him at home.
This is a beautifully tragic, emotionally resonant story that highlights how success can be hollow without connection.
Comment Written 11-Apr-2025
reply by the author on 11-Apr-2025
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Jacquelyn,
Thanks so much for your great review. Yes, success is often hollow without the emotional connection with a partner. I enjoyed your appraisal. Spot on.
Take care
Barry Penfold.
Comment from Iza Deleanu
Wow, she got burned poor girl.. sometimes we are like butterflies we fly so high and burn so fast, or so it's the moral of the story. Thank you for sharing and good luck with your writings.
reply by the author on 10-Apr-2025
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Wow, she got burned poor girl.. sometimes we are like butterflies we fly so high and burn so fast, or so it's the moral of the story. Thank you for sharing and good luck with your writings.
Comment Written 10-Apr-2025
reply by the author on 10-Apr-2025
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Thanks for the review. Yes, sometimes we are exactly like butterflies.
Thanks again.
Cheers
Barry
Comment from zanya
Wow a slice of potential real life here where one doesn't know what way the chips are going to fall, so to speak, even as ties have been severed and life has changed utterly.
reply by the author on 10-Apr-2025
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Wow a slice of potential real life here where one doesn't know what way the chips are going to fall, so to speak, even as ties have been severed and life has changed utterly.
Comment Written 10-Apr-2025
reply by the author on 10-Apr-2025
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Thanks so much for your review. Very much appreciated. All the best.
Cheers
Barry Penfold.
Comment from Carol Hillebrenner
It turned out to be a pretty rotten day for both of them. You have a well-told story about a man who thinks he is on top of the world with his promotion. His wife thinks it is a wonderful day after she left her husband until she fonds out her lover is staying with his sick wife. Their life after this one day is completely different for both of them.
reply by the author on 05-Apr-2025
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It turned out to be a pretty rotten day for both of them. You have a well-told story about a man who thinks he is on top of the world with his promotion. His wife thinks it is a wonderful day after she left her husband until she fonds out her lover is staying with his sick wife. Their life after this one day is completely different for both of them.
Comment Written 05-Apr-2025
reply by the author on 05-Apr-2025
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Carol,
Thanks so much for your great review. Glad you enjoyed the read. Yes, their life after this day is completely different. How quickly it can happen.
Take care.
Barry.
Comment from Rachelle Allen
Oh, Barry! You did a FANTASTIC job with this! Everybody got a sour taste of their just desserts, didn't they? Very O. Henry-esque in his famous 'The Gift of the Magi,' one of my all-time favorite short stories.
You drew your characters so fully fleshed out that they seemed like real people to me. Your writing is tight and SO cogent and articulate, yet still it was full of expressiveness and emotion. That's a fine line to walk, but you did it with aplomb and panache!
I totally enjoyed this. Thank you for this excellent, entertaining read this evening.
Two teeny weeny spags:
Cannot wait until your back [you're instead of your]
"What am I going to do. What about Brett.?" [Delete period before question mark.]
Best of luck to you in the contest, Barry. To me, this one has Winner's Circle ALLLL over it!! Hope I'm right. xoxo
reply by the author on 05-Apr-2025
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Oh, Barry! You did a FANTASTIC job with this! Everybody got a sour taste of their just desserts, didn't they? Very O. Henry-esque in his famous 'The Gift of the Magi,' one of my all-time favorite short stories.
You drew your characters so fully fleshed out that they seemed like real people to me. Your writing is tight and SO cogent and articulate, yet still it was full of expressiveness and emotion. That's a fine line to walk, but you did it with aplomb and panache!
I totally enjoyed this. Thank you for this excellent, entertaining read this evening.
Two teeny weeny spags:
Cannot wait until your back [you're instead of your]
"What am I going to do. What about Brett.?" [Delete period before question mark.]
Best of luck to you in the contest, Barry. To me, this one has Winner's Circle ALLLL over it!! Hope I'm right. xoxo
Comment Written 05-Apr-2025
reply by the author on 05-Apr-2025
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Rachelle,
Thanks so much for your great review. I hereby appoint you judge of the competition. Lol. Also, thanks for the editing tips. You take care.
Regards
Barry Penfold.
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I'd LOVE that job!!! Only quality pieces would win anymore on here; I can promise you that!!! xoxox
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The job is yours. Start immediately. Take care.
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Hahahaha
Comment from giraffmang
Hi there,
Well, there's a nice circular feel to this piece. I wonder how the mum's day went! lol
A few things to tidy up the write I jotted down as I read through but this works well.
"Let me tell you about my day" - need punctuation before the closing speech marks needed here.
Great hey. Cannot wait until your back - you're in this instance.
Love you".He disconnected - have the period inside of the speech marks and a space after them.
"Hurry up Louise and Brett" - need punctuation before the closing speech marks needed here.
Why bail out on me.?" - delete the period.
Why had he sent it here.? - delete the period.
"Oh Naturally. What about me. Hey. Just hang around with you in the recovery ward. Shit" - need punctuation before the closing speech marks.
"What am I going to do. What about Brett.?" - delete the period.
Why had this happened now.? - delete the period here.
All the best
GMG
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 05-Apr-2025
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Hi there,
Well, there's a nice circular feel to this piece. I wonder how the mum's day went! lol
A few things to tidy up the write I jotted down as I read through but this works well.
"Let me tell you about my day" - need punctuation before the closing speech marks needed here.
Great hey. Cannot wait until your back - you're in this instance.
Love you".He disconnected - have the period inside of the speech marks and a space after them.
"Hurry up Louise and Brett" - need punctuation before the closing speech marks needed here.
Why bail out on me.?" - delete the period.
Why had he sent it here.? - delete the period.
"Oh Naturally. What about me. Hey. Just hang around with you in the recovery ward. Shit" - need punctuation before the closing speech marks.
"What am I going to do. What about Brett.?" - delete the period.
Why had this happened now.? - delete the period here.
All the best
GMG
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 05-Apr-2025
reply by the author on 05-Apr-2025
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Thanks so much for your review. Your editing tips are appreciated, and I will get to them in the morning. Take care and have a wonderful day.
Regards
Barry Penfold.
Comment from barbara.wilkey
You have a very good contest entry. The story line and message are wonderful. Please edit. Good luck with the contest.
Cannot wait until your back. (until you're back.)
Love you".He disconnected as he strolled to the kitchen. (Love you." He)
"Hurry up Louise and Brett" he prompted and turned to the empty kitchen. (Brett," he prompted)
I quit editing here. This needs a good edit. Please what your dialogue.)
reply by the author on 05-Apr-2025
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You have a very good contest entry. The story line and message are wonderful. Please edit. Good luck with the contest.
Cannot wait until your back. (until you're back.)
Love you".He disconnected as he strolled to the kitchen. (Love you." He)
"Hurry up Louise and Brett" he prompted and turned to the empty kitchen. (Brett," he prompted)
I quit editing here. This needs a good edit. Please what your dialogue.)
Comment Written 04-Apr-2025
reply by the author on 05-Apr-2025
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Barbara, Thanks for your review and tips on editing. Much appreciated. Take care.
Regards
Barry Penfold.
