Prayer for the Dead

Hi Alistair,
This is “literary fiction” at its purest. Beautifully considered and delicate prose. A richly woven story worked with great passion and an authenticity that leaps from every sentence.
Poignant and so artfully crafted I was sucked into the mind of the boy and his father and mother. Empathy upon empathy. Memory upon memory. The writing acted like a touch paper to my own thoughts and remembrances’. This is a rare skill.
Backed with my very great pleasure.
Dawn : ARK

I would have backed this book for nothing more than the pleasure of reading well-presented, correctly-spelled and -punctuated work; a rare treat on this site.

But there is far more here than good presentation to justify my backing. This is a beautifully-written story, by a wordsmith with a love of his craft. I haven't read it all, but what I have read makes me truly thankful for my lot in life. For here there is poverty and ignorance, love and hunger, madness, heroism, naivety and a moving -- often heart-breaking -- slice of relatively recent social history. "Gone, as the six pieces of coal, as sinful sex, as the jam sandwich, the uniforms and the smoke of trains laden with heroes". Backed with great pleasure.

You are a writer. Thank you. You are unselfish with your gift as you seem to effortlessly construct such delicate sentences; economical with words, generous with everything else. This is true literary fiction, and I loved it!
Backed,
Ellen
(Thoughts of a Teenage Girl)

Your writing is beautiful and you have a wonderful power to plant an image in the mind of the reader. I can see this doing very well and I have fully backed and starred it!

Well done,

Laura
Beneath The Blossom Tree

Very atmospheric. It resonated strongly with me, perhaps because my uploaded novel here is in the same period. Father's reticence was a particularly strong reference keeping his knowledge to himself 9considered it not worth sharing?)

I'd have liked more but I'm happy to back this on the basis of these 4 chapters.

I was only slightly uncomfortable with the changes of tense from past to present but I know the device was deliberate.

Hello Alastair--' Prayer for the Dead'

So glad i spotted this book during my browse last night. Perhaps it was the bleak cover that caught my attention.
Have to say, it's so well suited to the story to come. The pitch laid out like poetry in motion, one immediately knows the premise to come; and it does not fail to deliver---
It's a brilliant literary read from the first paragraph and on as is creates the scene.
'Father and son sharing wisdom in unusual portions' what can i say; ' delectable, enjoyable.and lots more.

The sea setting and how you describe it , lingers in my minds eye and that line
'What is a life that's not worth living'--
Set in the period just before and after the second world war, it rolls along at a lovely pace, making it
a most enjoyable read indeed. After reading the four chapters posted i was looking for more.
conjures up the smells and sounds of living as it was then. I can relate to this story as you will see if you oblige and glance at mine.
i rate this book very highly and higher if i could --six stars --

good luck
tom bye ' from hugs to kisses'

Hello Alastair--' Prayer for the Dead'

So glad i spotted this book during my browse last night. Perhaps it was the bleak cover that caught my attention.
Have to say, it's so well suited to the story to come. The pitch laid out like poetry in motion, one immediately knows the premise to come; and it does not fail to deliver---
It's a brilliant literary read from the first paragraph and on as is creates the scene.
'Father and son sharing wisdom in unusual portions' what can i say; ' delectable, enjoyable.and lots more.

The sea setting and how you describe it , lingers in my minds eye and that line
'What is a life that's not worth living'--
Set in the period just before and after the second world war, it rolls along at a lovely pace, making it
a most enjoyable read indeed. After reading the four chapters posted i was looking for more.
conjures up the smells and sounds of living as it was then. I can relate to this story as you will see if you oblige and glance at mine.
i rate this book very highly and higher if i could --six stars --

good luck
tom bye ' from hugs to kisses'

Superb writing, Alistair. Lyrical, intelligent, thought provoking with the sound of the sea somehow ever present.

Fabulously observed detail and exceptional beautiful writing. A pleasure to read.

I like this work of art - and that's what it is. Just a really wonderful read. Only had time for three chapters tonight, but I am backing based on what I've read. Keep writing!

Patricia West Hays
The Witness Tree

I remember this and how sad I was when you removed it. Now it's back i can take my time to read it and linger in your wonderful prose. You've cheered my heart :)

Firstly I love the cover and the way your love of the sea and sand drips through the first chapter. Beautifully written with some great imagery - shrink wrapped for heaven - Uncle Bonkers - Spam sandwiches. Memories threaded through the years and viewed from a different perspective become poignant reminders, throwing up more memories in their wake like a child running through a pile of autumn leaves. I hope this book moves higher in the rankings - it deserves to win through. Good Luck K.J.

I remember liking this and started a thread about it. I'll give this another spin and put the thread up again.

Read this work several decades ago, well at least some time ago, and cannot for the life of me understand why it is becalmed? Prayer for the Dead is a wonderful read full of literary cadence and flowing prose. It is lyrical, as a previous reader notes, but it also presents life and its tribulations in sombre shades. Excellently structured, the descriptions, of bygone times, of the mores and the presented material is masterful. Robert Davidson. The Tuzla Run.

Well this looks to be a bit of a nugget, shelved - comment to follow The Tails of WIllie Gusty.

This is sensitively written and a joy to read. Yur use of words is very effective, and the book masterfully crafted. Happy yo back. Eunice - The Temple Dancer.

Alistair, I wrote some paragraphs about "A Prayer" but they got wiped, and I'm too tired to re-write. Just to pay tribute to the integrity and elegiac nature of this "poem", which deserves to be valued for its truth, honesty, and emotional power. Backed it and wishing you luck, which is all you need now
David Grant "Pimpey Chimes ```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````

Yes a brilliant start. I loved it. As Binky says, it brings back father son memories in abundance. Backed. Gordon

This is a very compelling pitch with excellent cover art. The era of WWII is still fresh in some people's memories, but they are getting older. Soon it will be one for the history books only. This book helps keep the memories alive. BACKED -Elizabeth Wolfe (Memories of Glory)

It looks as though you have a hit on your hands...really. I loved this boom and I shall indeed, be reading more.

You are a skilful writer

BACKED

Brendan

Hi Alistair
This is a fantastic read. I love the descriptive writing coupled with the down to earth dialogue - a real gem. It's actually quite a uniwue idea as well and I got totally absorbed in it. My only point would be that the long pitch does not seel the excellent writing anywhere near enough. I can see what you are trying to do with it, but I found it a bit flowery and not concise enough. I reckon you'd get more readers by tighteing it up, but the story itself is great!
DP Walker
Five Dares

This is a flawless piece of prose. Very intelligent, it is fluid, emotive and you have a unique voice (Gone, as he six pieces of coal, as sinful sex... Nice!) Personally, I would have liked more actual story in the long pitch. That may be just me but it is something I think you should consider. I can't fault your actual book though.
Carl
The Time Hunters

Dear Alistair, I love your story - wish you could have shared it all - I did mine in my memoir. :) Before I began to read your book, I was prepared by your pitch, which was very well done. :) Your story is good because you create interest by having short paragraphs & lots of dialogue, which makes me want to keep reading to find out what's going to happen next. I'm "backing" your book: When you back a book, it only improves the ranking of that book, not yours. However, the author whose book you are backing may decide to back your book also, in which case yes, your ranking would be improved...authonomy. :) Please "back" my TWO memoir books, "He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not" & my completed memoir unedited version? "Tell Me True Love Stories," which tells at the end, my illness now & 6th abusive marriage." Thanks, Susie :)
p.s. Remember: Every time you place a book on your bookshelf, your recommendation pushes the book up the rankings. And while that book sits on your bookshelf, your reputation as a talent spotter increases depending on how well that book performs. :)

I'll be honest...after your first beautiful paragraph (well actually it would be the second I suppose), I would follow this book wherever it leads. Many things seem obvious to me: that you love language and love the way it sounds when artfully composed, that you are confident and uncompromising in your art, and that you see things in a unique way from which we can all benefit. I thought from the start that this was right up my alley, with the description of nature and man's blending with it, with the poetic language and the stark philosophical insights. Then the prose broke up and went into directions that were new to me, the form I mean (although I did think of Gertrude Stein at times), and I appreciated it all the more for taking me someplace fresh. The general approach of it reminds me of Per Petterson, one of my favorite authors of late, or maybe it's the mood. Needless to say (if it isn't apparent), I loved this. Brilliant.

---Mary
The Qualities of Wood

This is an unusual piece, unusual in its content and its polished writing skill. There are many things in this book that are outstanding. The writing in places is almost poetic. Its the sort of book you read a few lines, stop digest them and read on. Its a stunning work.

Sue Mackender

Knowing Liam Riley

There is a certain joy to be found in tracing down something this well-polished and constructed. Your prose seems to be embedded with a sense of awe, and you have woven a complex and stunning piece of fiction with every word. I do not immediately lunge towards historical fiction, but this is something I would pick up in a store with pleasure. Irresistible writing coupled with a beguiling and fascinating premise.

Backed.
Abi xxx

When I consider literary fiction I always judge it by the strength of its prose, and that's why I'm backing this book. A beautiful prose style which is a joy to read.

Prayer For the Dead

I don’t know what to say about this much beyond - Wow!!!!
This is an immense and amazing piece of writing, structurally superb and lyrical to the n’ degree!!
I think sentences such as. ‘proletarian jingoism shining accusations’ and ‘Hushed mutters’ show a style that is so very, very good. All that is weaved with a wonderful storyline. Good luck

Prayer for the Dead is a wonderful read full of literary cadence and flowing prose. It is lyrical, as a previous reader notes, but it also presents life and its tribulations in sombre shades. Excellently structured the description of bygone times, mores and material is masterful. Backed. Bocri. The Tuzla Run.

This is very clever. I back it with pleasure.

shah

Alistair,

I'm returning your read of Appetites. Thank you for your support.

That's an interesting pitch. My first thought is that it's a strking piece of writing. Beautiful language and great rythmn. My second thought is that I have no idea what the work's going to be about! Nonetheless, I'm impressed.

Reading on--this is interesting; I think I've read this before, but I have no record of having done so. Was it here before, under another title or with another user name?

I'm sure that I've read this before. It's striking writing. Strong imagery and a rythmn that's almost poetic.

Your use of repitition is masterful. Again, almost poetic.

Scrolling down, I find I did in fact comment on--and apparently back--this 33 days ago.

I still don't like the absence of quotation marks, but confess this time it doesn't strike me as distant. Perhaps a mood thing (on my part)?

Just in case I didn't back last time (and I can't find it on my list) I'll give this a quick spin on my shelf. By the way, if you haven't read Louise Galvin's 'Souvenirs', you should give it a go. I think you might like it.

You truly do have a gift with words. It was poetry. At times I felt the prose distracted from the plot. But I was enjoying myself so thoroughly that I couldn't be bothered to care. Lovely, lovely writing.

There's an ebb and flow to this writing much like the topography of the physical and the psychological that it describes and evokes. There is a tad too much of the meandering paragraph structure to it - a bit like this sort of thing:

There was a man. A broken man. A man with a bad back - a back strained - a back pushed to its limits and then beyond. (Not in the your actual text, but an illustration of what I'm getting at, because I don't know the technical term for it.)

And the wordy paragraph describing the laconic father can be unintentionally amusing or brilliant irony, I'm not sure..

But the gist of it all is very touching, evocative and packed with meaning - it's certainly better and lot more interesting than quite a lot of the writing here - therefore worthy of some time on my humble shelf.

I collect quotes. "I've been looking for thirty years... Perhaps there is nothing to see." Classic, and spoken "without turning his gaze from the horizon." Perfect. The rest of Ch. 1 is great too. The writing, the characters, the voice, the stories.

PRAYER FOR THE DEAD:

Alistair,

This is beautifully written. I love the variation in the length of sentences, the long ones which move with such controlled rhythm and lyricism. Perfect syntax which makes the flow of the words such a joy to read.

I was haunted and mesmerised by the passion and the emotion that comes across effortlessly, nothing forced.

I have much pleasure in backing this.

Sheila (Pinpoint)

I think this is exquisite, but needs tightening up a lot so it really does read like a prose poem. The interesting thing, I find, is that you use well-rounded words, but that the point of the narrative is as sharp as hell and finds its way into the reader's own memories of grief and wounding. You need two editing passes at this - the first for punctuation (there are some non-hyphenated adjectives, and some mis-placed and/or missing commas); the second pass should deal with rhythm and polishing the structure of sentences and paragraphs. I think this is worth backing, but please do the edit. R

It's not really good enough, is it Alastair?

I longed to like this, but so many things got in the way. This is too pretentious and too sentimental, and the grammar is so eccentric as to make a nonsense of any rhythm that the prose might have had.

I think that, in an attempt to write 'literary fiction', you have rather lost your way. Think about what you're doing. "That, then, he would look down at me and smile at himself" might be the least attractive sentence I have ever read.

The worst of it is, I'm actually tempted to think that you could do rather better than this. The intent is obviously honest, and you seem entirely sincere, both in your work, and in your responses to others' efforts.

Lick this into shape, stop thinking of it as lit-fict, and go back to school on the grammar, syntax, tone and rhythm, and show me what you can really do.

I can't back this in the hundreds, but I'd love to come back when you've had second and third thoughts about it.

Adelie High (Naming Names)

This is a beautiful story. So beautiful, it's painful to read. The relationship between this father and son is very well done. Many many readers will read this and say, "That could be me." Well done. BAcked. Burgio (Grain of Salt)

Hello Alistair, This is written with poetic ease and the lines flow like a stream of hidden consciousness.
The brick in the wall analogy is perfect, and the whole is a really unique way of looking at history.
'A fortnight after Mother was born, and because it was made of paper, Wall street collapsed.' Profound.
And one of many lines that almost blow your mind. Well done and good luck with this. SHELVED.

Phyllis
A Passing Storm (Perhaps you would have a look at this for me please?)

I have thoroughly loved every single word I hav eread of this! My only complaint is I want more - this is my sort of book - consider it bought without the money! BACKED

Liz
The Cheech Room

This is a gleaming piece of work... serious, emotional and riveting...backed with pleasure

Simply, "She taught him to smile and, after a while, she waved him goodbye when he went to the war." Or, "Mother cried when JFK got it in the head. Nobody cried for Oswald." Shelved.

I love your introspective and rather blunt style, and the opening images of the father and son watching the ocean are amazing. My only critique would be that this chapter is incredibly long, and even though I enjoyed the style, I found myself scanning parts because it simply seemed to wander too much.

The narrative covered a TON of ground, from fishing (which reads as if in the present) to sandcastles, dead grandparents, JFK, the Soviet Union, madness, suicide, tons of family background (most of which may or may not even be relevant to the story)....it just seemed like way too much. I'm left wondering how it all relates - and how much of it I'm going to need to remember in the coming chapters.

Frankly, it's daunting, thinking I may be "tested" on this knowledge later, in order to follow the story. If that's not the case, can the important bits of information be woven subtly throughout the rest of the book? Do we need all this all at once, up front? You clearly know the background of the characters very well, but, as readers, do we need to know EVERYTHING the author does, or just the vital facts?

Your staccato style is engaging, entertaining and interesting. I especially enjoyed the mood of the opening. But the story gets lost in way too much information. I've only read chapter one, but I still don't know what the story is, to be honest.

~Kristine~

'Sharing wisdom in unequal portions', beautifully put, as is this whole work ... 'Perhaps there is nothing to see', it doesn't stop the curious mind from looking, even at great cost ... 'Go home, he said to the sea'. Soon the words enthral, bewilder and lead astray, and we borrow the borrowed memories, holding them up against us, trying them on. Unsurprisingly, some of them fit. A lyrical scramble through the briar bushes of personal history ... disturbing and inspiring.

Alistair
Weirdest thing is that I began to read and swore I'd read this before. Then I checked the date of submission, knew I hadn't. Great piece of writing, some of it like poetry interwoven with genuine memory. Lovely, atmostpheric work. Well done. Backed. Rosali
Fieldtrip to Mars

Gone, as the six pieces of coal . . . Written well enough to avoid being a Remembrance of Things Sodden . . .
Congratulations.
Backed!
Marianne (Saint Paddy and the Sundial)

This is a wonderful book by a gifted writer. Congratulations. Richard Bard, BRAINRUSH

Alastair
I haven't read many works like this. Excellently crafted, full of poetic prose that is felt as you read it. This must have taken ages to write, you are very talented. Coming across the c word was a bit of a shock, but it worked in producing a shock / portraying anger.
The line -And him, call himself a man? I thought 'calls' would read better, but I'm very unqualified to give advice on writing such as this.
Read the first chapter and enjoyed it. Backed
Charlie

Mesmerizing. Very sad and yet... not. It put me to sleep. I am not sure where you're going with this but the journey is certainly unique.

Loving regards, Callaghan

Alastair, this is beautifully poetic writing. Backed without question. Kittykat p.s. I love the north-east coast too..your beach description reminded me very much of that area.

This is wonderful writing. There is a very discernable change between chps 1-3 and 4 - between travelling with the father and then the mother - and though I can't describe it properly, it works beautifully; it's something about a lightness of the latter over the former and it's certainly not just due to the subject matter of the chps. It's as is the narrator has breathed out at last (in chp 4); there is a big exhale of breath and intake of life, which also entices for future chapters. Backed, with great pleasure, Carolyn.

Alastair, I enjoyed your first chapter. I'm guessing your omission of quotation marks for dialogue is deliberate. If it is, then I have nothing to nitpick. Good work.

Backed.

Joffrey (The Silver Spoon Effect)

A wonderful novel built around relationships and the surroundings in which those memories developed. The introductry material of a son's thoughts when with his father gives a nudge for readers to move onward into the plot. The reflections on people, once known but no longer available to one because of death, is thought provoking. Backed Chuck (Paperboy Adventures)