A Leaf on the Wind
Viewing comments for Chapter 1 "The Big Red Rooster"Autobiography of abuse
27 total reviews
Comment from Marvette
My familiarity and love for animals caused me to be entirely engulfed in this story.It speaks to life in a rural community and my own encounter with the death of my favourite pet hen who was named "Sicky." The writer captured and described the scenes vividly and I felt as if I was the author. She was in touch with the senses and the story flowed as I expected it to.
reply by the author on 31-Dec-2016
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My familiarity and love for animals caused me to be entirely engulfed in this story.It speaks to life in a rural community and my own encounter with the death of my favourite pet hen who was named "Sicky." The writer captured and described the scenes vividly and I felt as if I was the author. She was in touch with the senses and the story flowed as I expected it to.
Comment Written 31-Dec-2016
reply by the author on 31-Dec-2016
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Thank you so very much. I wrote this story years before I decided to write the book. I am so pleased you enjoyed it and understood the meaning behind it.
Comment from Mabaker
What a great story! Yes, what 'if.' Somebody once said 'take time to smell the roses.' It is the same for the child who asks 'what if'' Most children would love this story, and as for being a 'strange child who talked to roosters.' I thought it was lovely. Sincerely Mabaker,
reply by the author on 15-May-2016
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What a great story! Yes, what 'if.' Somebody once said 'take time to smell the roses.' It is the same for the child who asks 'what if'' Most children would love this story, and as for being a 'strange child who talked to roosters.' I thought it was lovely. Sincerely Mabaker,
Comment Written 15-May-2016
reply by the author on 15-May-2016
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Thanks for the positive comments. I was considered odd but talking to roosters, flowers, rocks, and clouds were a natural part of every day for me.
Comment from Siouxsun
This first chapter has an amazing resemblance to my own life.Shy and connected to animals.Played everywhere with only the street light to tell us it was time to come home. Was never afraid of insects though,I actually collected them and bees much to my sisters disgust. But I despite my logical belief that rocks had nor thoughts or feelings I wondered what if they do and we just don't know. I was very polite to them. If I picked up one I felt bad for another until I had an arm load of rocks apologizing to others I could not pick up. Looking back on it I can understand how bystanders might think this is a bit nuts! lol So many, many similarities so far.
reply by the author on 11-Jan-2014
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This first chapter has an amazing resemblance to my own life.Shy and connected to animals.Played everywhere with only the street light to tell us it was time to come home. Was never afraid of insects though,I actually collected them and bees much to my sisters disgust. But I despite my logical belief that rocks had nor thoughts or feelings I wondered what if they do and we just don't know. I was very polite to them. If I picked up one I felt bad for another until I had an arm load of rocks apologizing to others I could not pick up. Looking back on it I can understand how bystanders might think this is a bit nuts! lol So many, many similarities so far.
Comment Written 11-Jan-2014
reply by the author on 11-Jan-2014
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I have talked to many people who felt the same as I did as a child. I preferred my solitude to that of kids my own age. They just didn't understand me.
Comment from Jade Lawson
This is a very good chapter to star. I loved all the descriptions of the surroundings and how you convey and show, at least for now, how beautiful and free your childhood was. Your innocence it was really well shown with the episode of the ant.
I also enjoyed the descriptions of the animals and how you'd love to watch them, particularly the chickens. You were really fond of animals indeed, and that also shows how you felt when you realised you had eaten your friend rooster. You know I am vegetarian actually :)
reply by the author on 17-Jul-2013
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This is a very good chapter to star. I loved all the descriptions of the surroundings and how you convey and show, at least for now, how beautiful and free your childhood was. Your innocence it was really well shown with the episode of the ant.
I also enjoyed the descriptions of the animals and how you'd love to watch them, particularly the chickens. You were really fond of animals indeed, and that also shows how you felt when you realised you had eaten your friend rooster. You know I am vegetarian actually :)
Comment Written 17-Jul-2013
reply by the author on 17-Jul-2013
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Thank you for your generous and positive review. Yes, I loved animals. I was a painfully shy and serious child and preferred spending my time alone rather than with children my age.
Comment from Gungalo
Poor Valerie. She never again ate chicken. Gosh it seems as if she really needed the rooster to talk to too. Oh well, traumatic as it may seem, life moves on. Sigh.
reply by the author on 14-Jul-2013
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Poor Valerie. She never again ate chicken. Gosh it seems as if she really needed the rooster to talk to too. Oh well, traumatic as it may seem, life moves on. Sigh.
Comment Written 14-Jul-2013
reply by the author on 14-Jul-2013
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I still cannot eat chicken that looks like chicken like wings, drumsticks, or the back. But I can eat breast meat because it doesn't look like chicken. the entire book has a certificate for the next few days, so if you are bored read on.
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I still cannot eat chicken that looks like chicken like wings, drumsticks, or the back. But I can eat breast meat because it doesn't look like chicken. the entire book has a certificate for the next few days, so if you are bored read on. The entire book has been promoted. Add to your bookcase. Receive bonuses for each chapter commented on until July 24, 2013.
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Smile Smurph.
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I just reread the certificate rules and apparently you will receive bonuses for each chapter commented on until July 24, 2013. Hint..hint..hint
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LOL okay girlie. Hehehee.
Comment from DanielEkine
I could feel the sadness in the child. Abuse is something no child should experience. I liked this part even more - "Bursting with newfound enthusiasm, I jumped up and, ignoring the scattering of the chickens, I ran up the steps that led to the back of the pen and proceeded to climb up onto the roof. I got down on my hands and knees and crept across the roof stopping a few inches from the edge. From there I could view the entire enclosure below."
reply by the author on 14-Jul-2013
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I could feel the sadness in the child. Abuse is something no child should experience. I liked this part even more - "Bursting with newfound enthusiasm, I jumped up and, ignoring the scattering of the chickens, I ran up the steps that led to the back of the pen and proceeded to climb up onto the roof. I got down on my hands and knees and crept across the roof stopping a few inches from the edge. From there I could view the entire enclosure below."
Comment Written 14-Jul-2013
reply by the author on 14-Jul-2013
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Thanks. The entire book is covered by the certificate for the next few days so if you are interested you can read more and get points and some money for reading.
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Thanks. The entire book is covered by the certificate for the next few days so if you are interested you can read more and get points and some money for reading.
I just read the certificate rules and The entire book has been promoted. Add to your bookcase. Receive bonuses for each chapter commented on until July 24, 2013.
Comment from barleygirl
Your writing tone & observations are easy-going & enjoyable. The way you spell out each sequence of events is clear & continues at a good pace, so the reader is ready to see what happens next. In the introduction, you said this story was told from the point of view of a 5-year-old child, but I do not agree with this. It sounds like an adult telling this story becuz the word choice is far too sophisticated for a 5-year-old child. Another thing that's not believable is that the child didn't realize the family was eating the chickens that were also pets. I also grew up on a farm & I was well aware of what animals we were eating, even at the age of 5 or younger. But these are just minor glitches in the storyline. All I all, the story is well-told & interesting & it beckons the reader to continue.
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 03-Jul-2013
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Your writing tone & observations are easy-going & enjoyable. The way you spell out each sequence of events is clear & continues at a good pace, so the reader is ready to see what happens next. In the introduction, you said this story was told from the point of view of a 5-year-old child, but I do not agree with this. It sounds like an adult telling this story becuz the word choice is far too sophisticated for a 5-year-old child. Another thing that's not believable is that the child didn't realize the family was eating the chickens that were also pets. I also grew up on a farm & I was well aware of what animals we were eating, even at the age of 5 or younger. But these are just minor glitches in the storyline. All I all, the story is well-told & interesting & it beckons the reader to continue.
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-Jul-2013
reply by the author on 03-Jul-2013
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I was a solitary and shy child. I spent all my time 'thinking' which is where my ability to speak and describe came from. My mother and I spend hours talking about things most children did not talk about. Do plants have feelings? Do rocks think? Why do bees sting? She didn't always have the answer but that never kept me from asking the questions.I knew we were eating the chickens, it just never entered my mind that we would eat my friend.
I later learned I have a high IQ--150 which probably helped with my speaking skills when I was younger.
Comment from jgirlie152
Ah, poor Valerie, one of your very early disappointments in your young life, the loss of your poor rooster. Only young children can have such imagination as yours, learning to speak their language. That is definitely humorous, and I had a nice laugh at that. (the imagination, not the rooster's demise). I enjoyed this very much.
Joan
reply by the author on 01-Jul-2013
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Ah, poor Valerie, one of your very early disappointments in your young life, the loss of your poor rooster. Only young children can have such imagination as yours, learning to speak their language. That is definitely humorous, and I had a nice laugh at that. (the imagination, not the rooster's demise). I enjoyed this very much.
Joan
Comment Written 01-Jul-2013
reply by the author on 01-Jul-2013
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I laugh about it now but I still cannot eat chicken that looks like chicken. No drumsticks, wing, back etc. I can only eat breast meat. I cried for days after I learned I had eaten my dear friend.
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......as well you should. now, that is. it was one of those events in life never forgotten but you rose above it.
Comment from Summer Falls
What a wonderfully sensitive child you were. The imaginative thoughts and insights of a child's pov was well conveyed. I cannot wait to read more.
The essence of who you were was well displayed.
Thank you for sharing.
Summer
(I used to talk to my puppy when I was little. I was sad and felt unloved much of my childhood and I really believed he understood me when I would pour my heart out to him.)
reply by the author on 16-Oct-2009
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What a wonderfully sensitive child you were. The imaginative thoughts and insights of a child's pov was well conveyed. I cannot wait to read more.
The essence of who you were was well displayed.
Thank you for sharing.
Summer
(I used to talk to my puppy when I was little. I was sad and felt unloved much of my childhood and I really believed he understood me when I would pour my heart out to him.)
Comment Written 16-Oct-2009
reply by the author on 16-Oct-2009
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Thank you. This is one of my favorite chapters because it really describes the type of solitary child I was. I was so serious too. I look back and sometimes chuckle.
Comment from second thought
This story gets hotter as one intermix with the events. Each line conveys feelings and moments that you can't help but wanting to be a part of. Could see this as a movie.
reply by the author on 29-Sep-2009
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This story gets hotter as one intermix with the events. Each line conveys feelings and moments that you can't help but wanting to be a part of. Could see this as a movie.
Comment Written 29-Sep-2009
reply by the author on 29-Sep-2009
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Thank you. I wanted to portray this from the pov of the child I was at the time. I hope I achieved this.
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You have.