A Rag Doll Falling

Rod,
A Rag Doll Falling is a captivating thriller filled with suspense. Backed with six stars.

Walden Carrington
Titanic: Rose Dawson's Story

A well-crafted, captivating thriller. Great theme. Masterful imagery. Credible, complex characters. Realistic banter. Excellent sense of place. Illuminating narrative. Well placed twists. Inventive plot. Surefooted, accomplished writing. An impressive read. Backed.

Thanks. That has to be the best comment I've yet received.I have to go to a friends birthday bash today so I'm out all day. I'll look at yours as soon as I can.

A Rag Doll Falling

You say the first 20 chapters have been re-sequenced. I’ve just read the first nine. The first is very dynamic. I thought it would be Val who was going to take a tumble, not Danni. The obvious drama carries the reader through and you get in Danni’s skin cancer right away. Then the second introduces Jim and his efforts to understand what’s going wrong with the drug trials and also the presence of Carl at the drug company. Add the tension in the reader’s mind as he gets a missed call from Val and we’re off to a flying start. I liked the way you introduce your characters, one by one and nicely spread out, not all in one go. Introducing a missed call from Mark at the end of five and then immediately explaining what he’s up to with Danni in chapter six is very good. So we have a complex plot developing over the drug company involving all the players. I can see from the pitch that you’re not even done yet, as you make more out of Fiona and we have yet to learn about Al’s story, so far he’s just the guy back in the states, although you’ve done a good job on his characterisation. I was a bit disappointed that I didn’t stumble on the old man dying in the act! I have read the pitch again to see what clues you leave about the side effects of the new drug Danni has (I gather) unwisely taken, but can’t find any. Am I right that they are behavioural and possibly related to her lack of muscle tone? If they are behavioural, then that will make it particularly difficult for Jim to spot a pattern just from the medical records. That’s a nice twist. The line about the restaurant review and the rats out back: is that significant? The girl had been fired, and it was something to do with rats. An earlier stage in the trials? Fiona recognised one of the directors and he fired her from her first job as a secretary. Aha! I smell an expertly planted clue. And if so you have two links already between the sub plots waiting to be discovered. In short, the new structure, in my opinion works. The plot is nicely complex and the strands are beginning to appear and are being expertly interwoven. Your prose is excellent and the characterisations and dialogue are wonderful. I’m backing this unreservedly, and I’d be really grateful if you can find the time to take a look at Bokassa’s Last Apostle in return.

A Rag Doll Falling

You say the first 20 chapters have been re-sequenced. I’ve just read the first nine. The first is very dynamic. I thought it would be Val who was going to take a tumble, not Danni. The obvious drama carries the reader through and you get in Danni’s skin cancer right away. Then the second introduces Jim and his efforts to understand what’s going wrong with the drug trials and also the presence of Carl at the drug company. Add the tension in the reader’s mind as he gets a missed call from Val and we’re off to a flying start. I liked the way you introduce your characters, one by one and nicely spread out, not all in one go. Introducing a missed call from Mark at the end of five and then immediately explaining what he’s up to with Danni in chapter six is very good. So we have a complex plot developing over the drug company involving all the players. I can see from the pitch that you’re not even done yet, as you make more out of Fiona and we have yet to learn about Al’s story, so far he’s just the guy back in the states, although you’ve done a good job on his characterisation. I was a bit disappointed that I didn’t stumble on the old man dying in the act! I have read the pitch again to see what clues you leave about the side effects of the new drug Danni has (I gather) unwisely taken, but can’t find any. Am I right that they are behavioural and possibly related to her lack of muscle tone? If they are behavioural, then that will make it particularly difficult for Jim to spot a pattern just from the medical records. That’s a nice twist. The line about the restaurant review and the rats out back: is that significant? The girl had been fired, and it was something to do with rats. An earlier stage in the trials? Fiona recognised one of the directors and he fired her from her first job as a secretary. Aha! I smell an expertly planted clue. And if so you have two links already between the sub plots waiting to be discovered. In short, the new structure, in my opinion works. The plot is nicely complex and the strands are beginning to appear and are being expertly interwoven. Your prose is excellent and the characterisations and dialogue are wonderful. I’m backing this unreservedly, and I’d be really grateful if you can find the time to take a look at Bokassa’s Last Apostle in return.

The reader in me loves the thrilling fast-paced prose and narrative, and the microbiologist appreciates the scientific detail. You've done a great jobe of entwining the two, giving just enough background to make it believable without losing the layman reader.

Backed with pleasure.
Abi xxx

Dear Author
Your book inspires and threads a fine path. It is stimulating and provocative in content. Your style of writing is unique and offers up a treat. It was indeed a pleasure to read it.
Backed
The Lord of the Dawn. Beyond 2012.

Damn, as well as a great book this would make a great film. Very topical, with tighly written dialogue and rich, vivid characterisations , I am delighted to back what could be one of the great thillers on the site.
Carl
The Time Hunters

A Rag Doll Falling

What a great concept. To me I think it is the cause/effect in the storyline that sets this apart from others I’ve read. You have great narrative descriptions woven with believable dialogue in a storyline that hooked me in straight away – This is very good.

This is a good story. And timely if I believe all the claims on TV about side effects of drugs that were not discovered in original testing. You have a good character in Jim because he's a guy just doing this job - then suddenly thrust into the middle of this mess. Makes it a good read. I’m adding this to my shelf. Burgio (Grain of Salt).

Your crisp, but descriptive, writing style is perfectly suited to your plot. The story moves along with a relentless pace, also well suited to the plot. An excellent read all around.

Julie Farkas
Morning Call

How death lurks among the most humdrum details of our day and how its presence invades fabrics and the taste of things we put in our mouth – this is conveyed admirably through the relationship you set up between Danielle and her world. There’s no sentimentality whatsoever – in fact, we’re not even sure if we like her to begin with. That too is a clever device as we all tend to shy away from the dying and from death.
The prose has a gleam of cleanliness to it, as if seen against a backdrop of bright white walls. And there’s clearly a very astute and lively intelligence at work here. It’s a stately grown up book. It makes us think. And it’s got an echo of White Noise in it which is one of my favourite novels.

Rod, good job on that first chapter. Smooth, well-written work. Nothing to nitpick.

Happy to back this.

Joffrey (The Silver Spoon Effect)

I would think that there's a good market for this type of story, espescially one that's crafted by a fine story teller who is well versed on the subject matter. It's an entertaining and authentic read. Shelved.
Michael Croucher (Bravo's Veil)

Thanks for the message, Rod. I'm happy to exchange reviews. I've had a look at your opening Ch. Hope that's okay? Maybe you could have a look at my Ch3 (the 'book' Ch3 not the very long 'authonomy' Ch3!) Altho, obviously, look at whatever takes your fancy. Thanks.

I really enjoyed this, Rod. I'm a big fan of thrillers and your blurb certainly sounds interesting with plenty of scope for action/adventure/intrigue etc. The prose is very smooth. It's clear and uncluttered (altho, there were times when I felt you were digressing too much and the pace of the narrative slowed) and there are lots of cleverly understated but very effective turns of phrase to add colour to the writing (eg 'a hat and a glove lying forlorn in the snow')

The detail and sense of place is very good. I did think the dialogue felt slightly stiff and meandering. Maybe try and make it more conversational/concise? Good balance of action and back story in opening Ch and the overall structure of the Ch works well with an engaging cliffhanger (will Danni live or die) to make the readers want to read on.

In short, a very well-written, confident piece. thanks and best of luck. A

Observations on Ch1:
'...keep up (del 'with me'?]'

'...realized she'd said...'

I don't think you need the 'she thought' tag. We're in Val's POV so it's clear it's her thought. Also, it feels a bit clunky? Maybe use italics to emphasise the fact it's an internal thought??

Rep of 'steep' in dialogue. Maybe rephrase??

'...is lunch [comma]' said Danni.

Again, rep of 'steep'. As a general point, the dialogue feels slightly 'stiff' and occasionally lacking in purpose. Maybe make it more conversational/use contractions etc and focus in on the purpose of each exchange. Just a thought.

Adjusting her goggles, she said [comma]

The grammar re dialogue is a bit loose (missing commas, Q marks etc) Easy fix, though.

'Last night she'd slept in Lyon...' - confused sentence? maybe rephrase?

Some of the multi-clausal sentences are a bit long. Maybe split?

Either 'adrenaline' or 'panic' - not both??

'Gently prising the goggles...etc' - take care with sentences like this. The action in each clause has to take place simultaneously. Obviously, you can't open someone's eye while taking off their goggles.

Don't you shout 'm'aidez' or 'aidez moi' in France?

Rep of Val listening to Danni's heart. Also, why is she that bothered about finding a pulse. Surely it's more important to administer CPR??

'Should she try to phone?' - why wouldn't she at least try??

Hard to believe the mountain rescue man would ask Val to take over CPR?

I do think, at times, the writing feels a bit 'flabby' and could do with a pretty ruthless prune. I think thrillers rely on pace and the prose/dialogue needs to be much punchier. The detail, for eg, of what Val does with her skis etc just slows the narrative down??

'Danni had insisted on that...etc' - confused

Gotta agree a medical thriller is unusual, original. With that said, I feel like I am writing the same comment twice. Your short pitch is sublime. But that long pitch really needs some work. You can do better with your writing capability. SHELVING you for originality.

I can use your comments on my book when you get the chance. Cheers!

JC
The Obergemau Key
Authonomy's #1 rated commentator

A medical thriller, there's not many of those on the site, so I was happy to stumble across this great read.

And with a little editing (we all have to do it) this will be a terrific read.

Highly enjoyable

Melxx

Awesome read. Polished charcters and diolouge that create a voice seeped in realism C W

In view of the public's appetite for all things medical, this should sell like hot cakes. The quality of the writing and the obvious knowledge behind it might make the others pull their socks up. Brilliant. backed. Lynn

The lead-in is excellent. It builds interest in the girls and establishes elements of personality before the accident that immobilizes Danni.
The book i seriously in need of careful editing for typos ('Val starred' in the first chapter should, I assume, read 'Val stared') as well as missing words and punctuation. These errors distract attention from the quality of the writing.

I watch medically focused shows on television from time to time, but I haven't read a book with medical focus up till now. This one interests me, so I'm going to shelf it now and enjoy it further at my leisure.

Wendy Bertsch
(Once More...From The Beginning)

I am a huge fan of medical dramas and this is excellent! According to last months Publishers Weekly there are several publishers looking for this sort of story - there is a market at least in USA! Anyway you have written a smart well crafted story - only read first four chapters but they are so intriguing i will be back to finish this! Well done and BACKEd wholeheartedly!

Liz
The Cheech Room

Thanks for telling me about the power typo. That must have been there for months and you are the first one to notice. Thanks.

This is a great first chapter. I was with them every inch and I've only ski-ed once when I was fourteen. I do know mountains though, and I could really picture this happening. The accident is well related and her reactions both to seeing it happen and when she finds her friend are very realistic. Desperate stuff.
I would read more but time doesn't allow me to right now.
One nitpic is you say 'power' snow instead of powder in the first paragraph. I also thought you had too many names in your long pitch. Are they necessary? It was rather confusing. No hesitation in backing this work.
Best wishes, Barry (Little Krisna and the Bihar Boys)

This is a great first chapter. I was with them every inch and I've only ski-ed once when I was fourteen. I do know mountains though, and I could really picture this happening. The accident is well related and her reactions both to seeing it happen and when she finds her friend are very realistic. Desperate stuff.
I would read more but time doesn't allow me to right now.
One nitpic is you say 'power' snow instead of powder in the first paragraph. I also thought you had too many names in your long pitch. Are they necessary? It was rather confusing. No hesitation in backing this work.
Best wishes, Barry (Little Krisna and the Bihar Boys)

Hi Rod,

Interesting premise. Good vivid descriptions and believable characters. Your dialogue also felt authentic.

‘I’m not racing(,)’ said Val. I added a comma. I noticed other places in the story where punctuation was missing.

Also watch out for adverbs. An overuse of words ending in –ly is frowned upon.

I’ve only read two chapters but so far I find it an intriguing read. It flows rather well and grabs the readers’ attention. If the rest of the book continues at this pace and intrigue then you should do well.

Shelved!

Shinzy :)

Hullo Rod. Very good story line and content. Backed. Please give my book a look

Linda Lou Long
Southern dis-Comfort
http://www.authonomy.com/ViewBook.aspx?bookid=11421

BACKING you. I can use your comments on my book if you can spare the time. Cheers!

JC
The Obergemau Key

Hi,

I'm backing your book to speed it along to its inevitable date with the Editor's Desk. This has all the ingredients needed for a medical thriller, and your style is entertaining and readable. From the moment Danni starts to fall it is clear this is not just a skiing accident but something to do with her cancer. You tell it with great suspense.

Tim Chambers
Moonbeam Highway: With Apologies to Miguel de Cervantes.

Rod,
Damn...really like your cover.
Pitches: short=confusing, sorry. So does the new cancer drug have a the side effect of causing skulduggery and naked ambition? and is that naked ambition frustrated by cunning epidemiological detective work? ...which I know means seeking the source/origin for the problem but wondering if it isn't a word that might confuse more than expand an understanding about what the book is about. I will say the medical thriller aspect has my interest piqued.
Long pitch=You might chop this into some short punchy paragraphs...remember these should be like an exciting movie poster/trailer. Grab the audience with your highlights...and I can see there definitely must be some here.
Text: yikes...damn...that accident was rough! wow. v well done. Really did an excellent job pulling me in and getting me sucked into the fear and emotion of it all.
Best of luck to you!!
-=Bradley

Very nicely done. If the rest of your book is anything like the first two chapters, you'll do very well with this. I've already backed it, of course. Dave

A good and engaging story developing here, and the pitch promises excitement to come. My only possible suggestion is that when you are describing Danni's skiing accident, you could perhaps think about shortening the sentences, so as to convey a sense of drama and urgency. Not necessarily cutting anything out, just dividing your sentences up a little. Just a suggestion though.

Reading the first chapter made compelling reading and it engaged very quickly. I will return to read more when I get chance.

ww Lisa

Rod, your crisp, clear, unobstructed prose makes for a smooth, easy read. From C1 the reader is first pulled in by Danni's melanoma issues and then yanked in by her accident. I could easily see the snow flying and the scenery sitting right here in my chair. Good job. Backed.
Thomas J Winton
"Beyond Nostalgia"

This is excellent stuff. You had me mesmerized by your words. Backed with pleasure, Sana

All I can say is this is one of the best stories I've enjoyed here. Shelved.

This is thrilling. You have an excellent opening chapter. But you don't stop there. The story gets better and better. This is very easy to read and still suspenseful. Excellent job. Backed with pleasure, Sana

Hi Rod! I have just finished reading the first two chapters of your book. The pitch promises a compelling story of medical intrigue and politics, with a suspenseful crime element, too. You do have the talent to pull this off but I think you have some work still ahead. You seem to suffer from the same disease that I have been accused of….overwriting. I battle the temptation toward overwriting constantly and know that it CAN be cured! I have made a few comments, per chapter, but note that I am not an expert. I have, however, been told by many that I’m pretty good at this. Let’s see what you think…
CHAPTER ONE: You said her scar was ‘flat to the skin’ but later in the same sentence, you tell us of a ‘slight depression’. It can’t be both, I’m afraid. ‘it needed something else’ I would change ‘it’ to ‘she’ for immediacy. ‘settle down and multiple.’ Shouldn’t ‘multiple’ be ‘multiply’? I would delete ‘mostly women’ for tension and to get rid of the adverb. I think you have taken way too many words to tell us she still continued to worry about her cancer, even after her surgery. I’ve always been taught that, unless your name is Charles Dickens, less is more in fiction. You also have some tense problems (I can relate…HA!). I would delete the long reference to the ironing, washing machine and heap of clothes, possibly change it to a short reference to ‘her laundry chores were piling up’ or something like that. Also delete reference to checking the paper tray, its not necessary as you need not tell your reader every little detail about every little move she makes. Delete ‘or better or something’, again, not needed and seems extraneous. “No, not yet, but there’s one going on right now.” This seems a bit of a contradiction. Perhaps you should say that no documentation has been published on it because trials are not finished yet, instead? Delete the reference to Val’s age and the commentary on her relationship with Dr. Brogan. Its distracting to the reader here and, if it’s important to the future of your story, bring the info in later. ‘wrong footed’ I would find another way to express this idea as this one seems a bit awkward. ‘taking the decisions’ Don’t you mean ‘making’ rather than ‘taking’? ‘tame doctor’ I’m not sure what you mean by this. All in all, this chapter seems a little long and a bit of an info dump. I would encourage you to try and find places to trim it down to the necessities.
CHAPTER TWO: Why is Val glad that the teach is a woman? And what does the pattern on the floor have to do with your story? Even the age of the school, if its not important to your story, I would take it out. However, if it does have something to do with your story, by all means, leave it in. I would delete the reference to the money in Val’s initial dialogue with the teacher…not many mothers would feel that this is something to discuss with a teacher. Or if you do leave it in, maybe have her think something afterwards such as “Oh, God, why did I say that?” “The school have been” Change ‘have’ to ‘has’ to stay in tense. ‘for five minute’ the ‘minute’ should be plural…just a typo. I would delete the daughters dialogue after ‘I’ll phone you.” Or acknowledge, somehow, that sometimes the daughter seemed to be the mother in the relationship. Which doesn’t actually make sense, as later you have the daughter saying her mother is already the one that is so organized.
Well, that is all I have time for today. Except that I need to caution you as to your many uses of ‘-ly’ words such as ‘subconciously’, ‘slowly’, ‘carefully’, ‘leisurely’ and so many more. In almost every case (dialogue being an exception), a sentence becomes stronger, carrying more literary tension, when these pesky adverbs are deleted. Try it and I think you will see what I mean. Also, it might help you to find overwritten portions of your book if you read it out loud. At any rate, go over every word and sentence, making sure that all propel your story forward. If not, delete, delete, delete. I did this with my own work and ended up deleting a lot including a whole chapter. Yes, it hurt but my book was better for it. I will be doing it again in my final edit. I hope you can decipher my comments and hope that some of them help. Keep at this because with some honest editing, this will soon shape up to be just the sort of thrilling suspense story you are trying to achieve. Good Luck!

A good story well written. I like it and wish I had more time to read more. You must have done quite a lot of research on the matter of cancer to see this story through so I am backing this. I think you have a winner here, good luck with the book! Have a look at my story called Three Stayed Home, a WW2 adventure and love story, much different to yours.JohnJ

Here I am at last. You asked me to check and comment on specific things. Firstly, however, I think this is really promising and I enjoy your writing style. No, I don't think the beginning is too dark. I felt Danni's fear and I think this is an excellent opening chapter. I did want to read on and cared very much what happened to Danni, so when she had her skiing accident, I was concerned for her. I'm backing this, Rod. Lynne, Brooklyn Bridge.

The writing is strong and terse, as if you'd actually experienced what you describe. I hope not, but, as one who's actually "been there, done that" (as a survivor), I can say from experience that your tone is genuine, and, hence, gives great weight to your story. Backed, and just sign me...

Salude El Dia, C.S.

What an original idea. Coupled with your strong, confident writing, it comes over as amazing. I can already see it as a film!

My only nitpick would be to make chapter 1, two chapters, which I think would be even more hard hitting.
Probably where you have your natural break at the asterisks? Just a thought.

This is wonderful writing Rod - very best of luck with it.
Shelved of course.

Berni
Fledgling and Renegades

You asked me to have a look at this, worrying about one or two issues but you don't need help. What I have read so far is both impressive and confident. What I would call 'slick' writing in the nicest possible way. This is an original plot supported by your good story telling and as a thriller promises much.
Having written this, I've now scrolled down the comments. They alone should reassure you. Margaret.

I read your, very effective, pitches and had to read this book - my friend's son has Hodgkins Disease and I've looked into the condition in some detail. On reading your book I see I had barely scratched the surface and commend the depth of your research. This is a fully-functioning thriller with all the essential ingredients of the genre in place. I like the way you deal with serious life-threatening conditions without resorting to mawkish sentimentality and the plot is both realistic and well crafted. Robin Cook is the obvious point of reference and I'd venture to suggest your book lacks very little in comparison. This is an impressive thriller.
Backed.
Jared.

An enjoyable thriller, I read up to chapter 3 and will continue to read after. It is an intriguing plot with plenty of professional expertise entwined. Danni is a likeable character and the suspense and mystery is set alight with the outcome of her skiing accident. Val is such a caring character you want to read on as you care about her being left to deal with the situation on her own, as well as how or if Danni recovers. It is a good job Val has Jim to fall back on. Mark Baxter is a questionable character and the issue of ethics and principles within the industry is raised. I think at the end of Chapter 3 it should read as 'off to sleep' not 'of to sleep.'

Altogether a good paced story with an interesting premise, clever structure and plot containing all the essential elements of an exciting thriller.

Backed with pleasure,

ww Lisa,

A Fine Line

Rod,

First of all, I didn’t find the beginning dark at all. Danni had the cancer removed, nothing new has shown up yet, she had a realistic attitude, and even though she’s a somewhat fearful of the cancer reoccurring she still has a positive attitude. She’s well informed and actively seeking ways to boost her immune system. Plus, she actively involved in support groups. I’d say not dark, inspiring. I also think that we know enough about Danni to be concerned and keep following the story. The way she crumbles on the sky hill also spurs the read to read on. Immediate questions spring to mind. Is it the cancer? Has she been taking Immunon and had a side effect? Is she inflicted with something that has nothing to do with either?

In chapter one, consider moving the fourth paragraph and make it the first. “In her mind Danni could still see the black spot, and it got bigger in her dreams.” IMHO it makes a much more intriguing beginning. The first sentence is so important. My initial response to “Danielle Forester never varied her morning routine,” was ‘so what?’ But, a ‘black spot’ immediately conjures up all kinds of questions in my mind, that I want answered and will read on to find the answers.

Consider deleting ‘I keep thinking about the immune system, it seems to be so important in fighting cancer.’ Instead, just say, ‘I’ve read somewhere that a lot of tumors are killed off…” Because the first line, is a given and my impression of Danni so far is that she is intelligent and well informed. Stating the immune system is needed to fight cancer, is kind of like stating ‘we need to eat to live.’

Also consider shortening the beginning, the time with Danni at her house getting out the door. It drags slightly, get us to the meeting with Dr. Baxter quicker.

Great premise, and full of intrigue, I’m happy to back this.

Laurie – Into The Master’s Lair

Just the job for a wet afternoon, a very good book with excellent characters and story thread. Yes, your knowledge shines through but it is informative not 'teachy'. Good stuff, it should do well here. Backed with pleasure, Jim D Serpent's Blood

Hello Rod, This is a very well written story Your characters are real, your MC especially, comes over as a real person with real health problems. Who wouldn't want to try something that might clear their body of that one cell which could settle anywhere in their body. This is an ingenious plot - large Pharmaceutical companies are in business to make money after all, judging from the prices they charge for their drugs. On the other hand, drugs are expensive to develop. My husband ran a pharmaceutical company for years, but is now retired. The amount of work involved is immense as you well know and clinical trials can take years. And so to cut corners... Your writing is clear, concise and informative and well placed hooks ensure that the reader really wants to read on and I did.
One slight niggle: I would have liked just a tad more 'flesh on the bones' Otherwise perfect for me and I suspect for my husband too. Have no hesitation in backing this very well controlled writing.

A Rag Doll Falling is a polished thriller that should hit the target audience right on the spot. It did for me, anyway - I love medical thrillers and this one shines with your medical expertise without overwhelming me with jargon. Your characters and dialogue are vivid and believable. There are a few typos that a good proof read will root out, but otherwise you have got the thriller genre taped, and all I have to do is back you.

Hi Rod, I was immediately drawn in and the first paragraphs led to Danni's interesting character. The information about her disease was written with imagery that caught my sympathy and yet gave information. Similarly the chapter with Dr. Baxter was fascinating to follow, especially with Danni's interview skills put to use. The switch into Val's POV after Danni's accident feels very natural - but as it followed each dialogue precisely, I began to want more pace there with her condition.
This is an insider's view of the riskier options in the fight against cancer. You've created characters that gave me natural concern, emphasizing the human side of the plot. Shelved - Katherine (The Swan Bonnet)

A tangle of lives which are emotionally strung out. There is a lot going on here and I like it. The idea, as far as I know, is original. Never heard of anything like this before. THe opening was great. I adore Danni and fear for her as well. The sadness in the opening is subtle and yet a slap in the face. Simple as her tracing the scar with her fingertips. A normal thing for her to do now. I love the exchange between Dani and Baxter, something about her that screams she won't be denied what she wants.
My heart dropped when iti flipped to Jim, Val and Mary. Just the idea of a child being diagnosed with cancer makes me a weepy.
You do a great job of setting up these characters so the reader cares about them. I can see where this is going and if I am correct it will be a doozy.
Backed
T.L Tyson-SEeking Eleanor

I'm still reading but so far it's a whopper. Great writing.

sue sohn
Fate's Chastening

How death lurks among the most humdrum details of our day and how its presence invades fabrics and the taste of things we put in our mouth – this is conveyed admirably through the relationship you set up between Danielle and her world. There’s no sentimentality whatsoever – in fact, we’re not even sure if we like her to begin with. That too is a clever device as we all tend to shy away from the dying and from death.
The prose has a gleam of cleanliness to it, as if seen against a backdrop of bright white walls. And there’s clearly a very astute and lively intelligence at work here. It’s a stately grown up book. It makes us think. And it’s got an echo of White Noise in it which is one of my favourite novels.