Here Begin the Lessons

I've enjoyed this so far not least on account of my own schooldays but also because I've been in the 'trade' for over 35 years! It's well written and evokes just the right atmosphere...great job...9/10!
Cheers
Stewart

John:
Having attended a private school much like this, I found much to relate to...the good, bad, ugly and humorous. Supernatural allusions aside, I find your writing down-to-earth and quite realistic; an easily enjoyable read.
Best of luck with your book. BACKED.
Peace,
Christian Piatt
PULLING THE GOALIE

Talented writing and an intriguing storyline make this easy to back.

Liz
The Cheech Room
A Fine Pickle

School atmosphere and a boy who appeared as hero in a novel is a very rare theme. His mental exercises is reflecting his difficulties in the life. The novelist beautifully portraying it on the canvas of life.

Joy J. Kaimaparamban
The Wildfire

You have strong verb usage (weird thing to comment on, I know, but as a writer I find this one of the hardest things to tackle as far as small scale goes). Great voice and an engaging tale with great characters. Great pace, too!

All too familiar to anyone who went through the system. A keen eye for the wry side of life combined with an easy style of writing makes this an excellent read.

Philip John

"You going to lunch James?" Comma after 'lunch.' When you address someone in dialogue, offset their name or title with a comma. There are more cases of this type of problem. Other than that, this is an intriguing, fast moving story with fascinating characters. Wonderful attention to details. Lively dialogue. Clever wit. Well written. Much enjoyed. Backed.

You are totally fantastic, John! :) How can I ever thank you enough for backing my memoir book? :)
God bless you. :) Love, Susie :)

Here Begin the Lessons is a charming and amusing account written in a believable style. Backed with pleasure.

School's out forever, my friend, John Theissen, no more Wackford Squeers and all those other crummies. Ah, yes, "he lived to direct, especially Shakespeare" -- not a bad vocation, a good vocation, a grand vocation, but I know the type well. The play's the thing at Ravenhill, so go with the flow and one day it's over and you can start with The Beatles and lots of other nonsense, lad.

Best and backed.

GK Stritch
CBGB Was My High School

John -

Here Begin's the Lesson - I read CH 17 and got the gist of a wonderful dry humour. Being accused of betrayal and punished with caning on behalf of second-hand information coined as complaint about food and bullying makes a great sketch of modelling behaviour, with the ring of misplaced loyalty that still underpins the countries elite organisations. A enjoyable and thought provoking read.

Backed, Pia (Course of Mirrors)

Very nice. Backed.

14 September 2010
Here Begin the Lessons has a beautiful old world appeal in its chosen style of prose. It is succinctly structured and charmingly unhurried and has captured to a T how one would expect a young public schoolboy to recount a tale. While the Headmaster appears to be more unimaginative than villainous and the Ghost more mischievous than frightening the narrator certainly recognises the value of discretion as opposed to valour. One nit -- I think 'forthcoming' would be more acceptable in this milieu than 'upcoming'. BACKED. Robert Davidson. The Tuzla Run

Wonderful, I love the first person narrative, it's giving us a first hand look into the world at this boarding school. I'm intrigued by this and am really wanting to read more! So you did a good job of hooking me. I like your descriptions too, made it easy to visualize this as I read. You let us get to know your main character at a nice pace, it's not an info dump in the first chapter. We're learning about him through his observations, his actions and his dialogue. I appreciated that as a reader. As a reader, the one thing I would have liked to see is the scene where he says goodbye to his parents, even if it's just extended a couple paragraphs. Might give us a little more insight into the circumstances about why he is there. But it totally works without that too! So feel free to ignore me.

Missy
Mark of Eternity

Here Begin the Lessons

John Theissen

A first rate story - perhaps this should be required reading for young people abandoned at boarding school gates all over the world with only their suitcases to hold on to. I doubt very much anything has changed since your 1959 setting in chapter one. This has a memoir feel to it and I wondered whether it was based on real life experiences. Maybe most people write to make sense of their lives and the world in general - and I suppose this puts a lot in perspective. "Spit and polish. Dignity in all things .... We are here to produce gentlemen, Smitherton, not sissies." Whatever that means - for the world has seen the things that gentlemen do. . . Looking forward to reading more as time permits John. Enjoyed it so far and best with it.

Love the anonymous quote in the pitch. Ravenshill is the kind of unholy holy ground I love to visit vicariously through literature, but am grateful for never having lived there. Your writing moves at great pace and you choose your scenes carefully to give us the complete feel of the place. Some of the characters, such as Thackerby, are so strange as to almost parody themselves--you make them seem real enough, though. After flying through the opening chapters, I skipped to the final one to see how you would tie the piece up. Brilliantly done!--the bitter-sweet tone of leaving all the promise of Ravenshill behind for the shame of a working class nonexistence on the Isle of Mann. Great satire, great humor, great pacing. Heartily backed!

Niobrara Kardnova (Family Irregulars)

P. S. I noticed on your personal page that your taste in reading is quite similar to my own. The second novella in my collection is a Jeeves and Wooster knockoff that I think you'd enjoy.

You have written a very interesting, funny and unique storyline, which I do like, and I also really like your use of the first person narrative voice. The dialogue is realistic and well written and the pace of your story flows well. All of this along with your descriptive writing makes your work a pleasure to read. Backed.

Andrew Burans
The Reluctant Warrior: The Beginning

Dear John,
I like your opening chapter a lot. It was so detailed and matter of fact, I thought that perhaps it was a memoir. You've done an excellent job capturing the emotions of young boys who are dropped off with their suitcases in hand. How sad! I look forward to reading more.

BACKED
Elizabeth Wolfe (MEMORIES OF GLORY)

I've enjoyed this so far not least on account of my own schooldays but also because I've been in the 'trade' for over 35 years! It's well written and evokes just the right atmosphere...great job...9/10!
Cheers
Stewart

HERE BEGINS THE LESSONS
I remember it well! The only thing I liked about boarding school was it was mixed sexes! This is funnny and has some poignant moments and some equally unmemorable ones. Good strong writing with excellent dialogue.
Backed.
When you get a moment would you please take a look at my own book? Thaks
Faith
THE ASSASSINS VILLAGE

As an alumnus, I resent that you wrote this before I had the chance. Damn. So, what was wrong about my having a chauffeur driving me to school anyway? Must be a little jealous, eh? Case in point: "Not being born into the aristocracy was something that always irritated my father." Bankers are still peasant stock.

Simply, this was a hoot. I'll be back from time to time to read the rest. Backed for now.

The best compliment I could pay to your writing is that it made me smile. So, I'm backing it.

Dear John

really funny, truly....I have started to read your writing and must say that it is compelling. Already you have established your animated characters in my head, ( they are not leaving soon) and i feel strongly to back your book now. I feel sure you
feel like me that it is your baby and you so want to see it succeed. I do wish you all the best in rising and also
getting this book of your published. ( I wish I had half the talent some of you have on this site)


Please take a moment to look, COMMENT which is important to me, and BACK my book. if not that is OK
also

The VERY best of luck to you

BACKED BY ME FOR SURE.
Denise
The Letter

I felt for your young MC having been a victim of bullying myself. Theis is engaging and well structured. You have an easy writing style that is both pleasant and enjoyable.Eunice - The Temple Dancer.

Dear John
Here Begin the Lessons is great work. Backed with pleasure
Helen
The Last Dream

John:
Having attended a private school much like this, I found much to relate to...the good, bad, ugly and humorous. Supernatural allusions aside, I find your writing down-to-earth and quite realistic; an easily enjoyable read.
Best of luck with your book. BACKED.
Peace,
Christian Piatt
PULLING THE GOALIE

Tom Sharpe meets authonomies own 'Portland Court Mysteries' eh? I will come back to read more soon. Patrick Barrett (Cuthbert-how mean is my valley)

Talented writing and an intriguing storyline make this easy to back.

Liz
The Cheech Room
A Fine Pickle

Dear John, I love how you put me right there with you in your story to feel what your characters were feeling. :) I am so glad that I, nor my twin brother had to go to boarding school. :) I don't even think that they have them in California. :) Your pitch prepared me for your read & I was anxious to find out how it would be in boarding school? :) Fear instilled by the leaders to keep the boys in submission is terrible, but I imagine that's how it is in the military, too. :) Thank you for sharing your story. :) I've backed your book :) - could you please take a moment to back my memoir book? :) Thanks so very much. :) Love, Susie :)

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