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2,230 Public Reviews Given
2,555 Total Reviews Given
Review Style
I am meticulous about trying to give some useful pointers as feedback, if not about writing, at least about what I felt when I read the piece. I will not do line-by-line edits but will give examples of the typos or errors, if seen at all. I prefer not to read explicit details or abusive language although I will review anything asked, personal preference disregarded. My own forte is for writing short stories, observational humour. But if I review what is outside my capacity or comfort zone, I research the norms before commenting. I do not intend to hurt or denigrate, for I respect writing too much to do so. Nor do I feel I review except as fellow word-lover and writing-student. If I forget a commitment, feel free to knock on my door to remind me!
I'm good at...
... virtually nothing except honesty in attempt to be of help!
Favorite Genres
Comedy, Children's, Fantasy, Crime/Thriller, Romance ... as far as reading goes!
Least Favorite Genres
Erotica and Dark Dark stuff!
Favorite Item Types
Short Stories, Poetry at a pinch, but not from any ability as poet.
Least Favorite Item Types
Scripts, Essays, Others! What is an other? If you don't know, how can I tell?
I will not review...
GC and XGC stuff, 18+ is my limit I also have an aversion to slang, swear words, yucky stuff that does not push the story forward!
Public Reviews
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Rated: E | (4.0)
Hi, my name is Just an Ordinary Boo! and I am reviewing you as part of the Power Reviewers for April. Please accept this review in the spirit in which it is made - a gesture of friendliness.

*Flower5* The Title: I could immediately hear the theme song of Dr. Zhivago! A title that was suggestive and apt.

*Flower5* The Beginning: I liked the beginning - the one that sets up the story as flashback. I found the second line a tad long and confusing: "Dreams of the one man she had truly loved since the moment they had met such a long time ago were not an unusual thing." Maybe it is because there is a lot of information in that one sentence? If you could expand it into two or three lines - to tell us of this one man, the only one she has ever loved, it was love at first sight, but it took place a long time ago, dreaming of him was not unusual. See, a lot of information to be absorbed.

The bit that begins the flashback has a little tense confusion - "Maria boarded the plane for her return flight home"/& 'in the overhead bin and slid into her assigned window seat;' 'had stowed' as against 'boarded' and 'slid'. Why not just 'stowed'?


*Flower5* The Setting: The little descriptions are sufficient to set the scene. The emotions are well displayed for the most part, just a sentence or two that seem awkward, I'll deal with them under the 'Suggestions'. The conversation is used to good effect to further the action and movement of the story.

*Flower5* The Characters: I did not understand the implications here, did they actually 'get together' as marry, have a relationship? Was the parting amicable - were they still in touch? It is hard to have that level of confidence about a relationship that had to end. It was not clear if they were both 'free' or not. If she was 'free' why did she not think it was a good idea to keep in touch?

*Flower5* The Descriptions: There was not much physical description, it would have been easy to let us 'see' Maria or Jim.
"Before long a tall, lean man she had noticed in the gate area stopped at the end of the row and tossed his bags into the overhead" The before long is not required - it adds nothing to the action. Tall and lean, should we complete the profile -dark and handsome? Tell us, show us: 'Two legs in corduroy trousers stopped at the end of the row, tobacco-brown corduroy - she had seen them before in the gate area. She let her eyes roam upwards to see a thin pallid face, one-day stubble made his jawline prominent, grey eyes behind rimless glasses were coolly returning her gaze. She withdrew her body into the window seat as he leaned into the aisle seat and folded his long legs inside.'


*Flower5* The Story as a Whole: I liked the description of the mutual attraction, it does happen that way, chance-met acquaintance turning into more and more.

*Flower5* What I liked: I like the unusual premise that the title promises, a new direction for romance.

*Flower5* Suggestions:
A re-look at sentence construction and meaning. I was once told to study my work sentence by sentence and cut out all words unnecessary to the meaning. I do not pretend to follow that to the letter, but I make feeble attempts, and invariably strengthen my work as a result.

For example: "Maria, slightly disturbed by the feelings that spread through her when she’d met his gaze, turned her attention toward the window. " I would fit together the phrases split by the description of the emotion - thus: 'Maria turned her attention toward the window, slightly disturbed by the feelings that spread through her when she’d met his gaze. ' Then, The word 'slightly' weakens the effect of disturbed, is that what you intend? 'Maria was disturbed and confused - what was this absurd feeling sweeping through her? Just meeting his gaze made her pulse leap and dance in her throat. She tried to focus on the view outside, cotton wool creations, castles in the air, floated past the windows.' Would you say that made it clearer? Just an example, you know best what spin you want to give it.



Any comments are made as an individual opinion. Please sip what you find sweet and discard what you think is sour.
Jyo

*Flower3* May your words go on to shine! *Flower3*

*Flower1* Effort brings colour to Life *Flower1*

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Rated: E | (5.0)
Dear Big Mike 2humble2bragbut... - This is part of the *Heart**Heart**Heart* April Power Reviews 2009 *Heart**Heart**Heart*. This review is being made as a gesture of friendliness, please accept it in the spirit in which it is made.

*Flower3* The Title: I love the title, I found myself thinking of the song by Bryan Adams - "Everything I do - I do it for you." Entirely different meaning, but equally poignant. I like your turning the phrase around this way from 'Everything Reminds Me Of You"/

*Flower3* Emotions: There is a compare and contrast effect used here to great advantage. laughter and tears, singing to music, troubles and joy, faltering and strength, you and me, me and you. I think this one came all the way from deep within the warmest recess of the heart - I think it might be the simplest profundity I have seen.

*Flower3* Words: Simplicity used to the maximum, there is a intensity in this that flights of lyrical fancy could not achieve. I have to commend the ending lines for their complementing each other and providing an ending that is evenly poised.

*Flower3* Grammar: The second verse lacks the ending period, which is the only form of punctuation used. A legitimate device.

*Flower3* Poetry Form: It is arranged in quatrains and there is a natural cadence, other than that no device is used, not rhyme, not meter. It does not need the embellishment.

*Flower3* Poem as a whole: This deserves the laurels it wears, the other tow that overtook it in the placings must have been sublime indeed.

*Flower3* Remarks: You get a fervent *Thumbsup**Check2*
Jyo


Any comments are made as an individual opinion. Please sip what you find sweet and discard what you think is sour.


*Flower3* May your words go on to shine! *Flower3*

*Flower1* Effort brings colour to Life *Flower1*

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Review of The egg  
Rated: E | (4.0)
Hello Chris Winfield . I am Just an Ordinary Boo! and I am going to be reviewing your piece as a gesture of friendliness, please accept it in the same spirit with which it is offered.
This for Day #3 of
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*Flower3* My, a modern version of the Midas fable - I liked it, even as the Roman/Latin inscription suggested a rather older origin than it seemed.

*Flower3* I wonder how Jodie ( is that a girl, Jodie Foster is the only name that came to my mind!) understood the inscription instantly? Caveat actor, I puzzled over it - beware the one who acts? Maybe a line to suggest taking the subject in school or college? How old were the characters? I thought they were both young boys, but they later prove old enough to drive and they won their own houses, so adults, for sure.

*Flower3* Pure gold is actually quite soft and unable to bear weight, if the walls turn into gold they'd collapse from the weight of the structures above, like the roof or upper floor! But I guess he managed to avert that disaster!

*Flower3* The mention of Phil being a jewelry designer comes about in a most casual fashion, this too could be introduced earlier in the story.

*Flower3* I enjoyed the fantasy though, and like all such, it has a happy ending. It ends with a 'Dear Reader' warning also a trademark of such stories. You do not exactly over-egg the pudding, but it was spread rather unevenly, I am not talking here of the lack of one line spaces between the paras. I mean that the content did not remain uniformly gripping, it stuck and started. A little more character description and setting and it would be perfect.


Jyo
Any comments are made as an individual opinion. Please sip what you find sweet and discard what you think is sour.
*Flower3* May your words go on to shine! *Flower3*

*Flower1* Effort brings colour to Life *Flower1*

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Rated: E | (4.5)
Hello zanda . I am Just an Ordinary Boo! and I am going to be reviewing your piece as a gesture of friendliness, please accept it in the same spirit with which it is offered.
This for Day #3 of
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#1529013 by Not Available.


*Flower2* I am not quite familiar with the dialect, with its laconic vowel-free way of talking and a touch of the old English. Excellent title by the way, it gave this the feel of fable, almost.

*Flower2* I found the story both amusing and inspirational, truly one cannot predict exactly how the One Above will work his ways! Edna seems to be a hen with a distinct personality, thanks for letting us get to know her.

*Flower2* Under the bucolic ways and banter of the people portrayed, there is a deep vein of belief, it warms the cackles, I mean cockles!

*Flower2* The description of Edna and her responses to the sermon are classic imagery and personification. Well done. The subtle undercurrent of humour provides the leaven to the rustic lifestyle and dialect within. The end is superb, especially the bit that relates why sometimes she doesn't get an egg out until Wednesday!

*Flower2* I am city girl through and through, I'd sleep though jack-hammer drilling in the street outside but a solitary cicada will keep me awake! I loved my little foray into this rural pocket and the dose of inspirational wisdom. If I ever keep a hen, if she refuses to lay eggs, I know of one possible way to remedy the problem. Now if you could convince the zoning consultants to allow farmyard animals in my apartment block? *Laugh*


Jyo
Any comments are made as an individual opinion. Please sip what you find sweet and discard what you think is sour.
*Flower3* May your words go on to shine! *Flower3*

*Flower1* Effort brings colour to Life *Flower1*

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Rated: E | (4.0)
Hello Sara Sara Sarita . I am Just an Ordinary Boo! and I am going to be reviewing your piece as a gesture of friendliness, please accept it in the same spirit with which it is offered.
This for Day #3 of
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#1529013 by Not Available.


*Flower1* I loved the title, it made the piece come alive for me, that symbol of reaching for what is beyond one's reach, to extend oneself.

*Flower1* The gender bias seems inexplicable to me, the outsider looking in; if one saw or expected one's child to fail at things one had oneself, would one not try all the harder to help that one? But these are things beyond the grasp of someone outside that circle, a comment would not be fair.

*Flower1* It is sad that the children then bear life-long burdens because of such subtle distinctions between siblings. Each compensates for it, one with renewed interest in her child, one by distancing himself from the world and its benchmarks.

*Flower1* One bit of description stuck with me -: "and (how) share-your-milk-and-cookies nice Robin was"

*Flower1* The one thing beyond my understanding, was that after so many years - when the time came to swing the next generation on that swing - why not replace the rope? Was it not dangerous not to do so? " I took over pushing my own son on that same tire swing, further worn by age, the rope twisted and starting to fray."

*Flower1* This was a story that leads to profound thoughts and musings of one's own, thank you for the read.


Jyo
Any comments are made as an individual opinion. Please sip what you find sweet and discard what you think is sour.
*Flower3* May your words go on to shine! *Flower3*

*Flower1* Effort brings colour to Life *Flower1*

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Review of The Egg Incident  
Rated: ASR | (4.0)
Hello Gregg Lavoie . I am Just an Ordinary Boo! and I am going to be reviewing your piece as a gesture of friendliness, please accept it in the same spirit with which it is offered.
This for Day #3 of
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#1529013 by Not Available.


*Flower1* A true story that has a moral lesson within, only there is not much effort to drive the lesson home. The tale amuses and is full of a vivid description.

*Flower1* Some contradictions in the description, you have: "the unobstructed moon vividly lights up the night" followed a couple of sentences later by: "We stalk down the poorly lit driveway,"

*Flower1* A lot of adverbs are used, I am not an advocate of eschewing these altogether, but they do weaken the images created. For example you have: "With a smirk on my face, I gradually sit up" If you wish to emphasize that the movement to get up was slow, how about 'As I inch my way to a standing position a smirk forms on my face.'

*Flower1* I think the prank described here was potentially dangerous, to distract and obstruct a driver's vision, of course at night, with minimal traffic it might be more or less harmless, but that's how accidents occur. A small thing that spirals out of control.

*Flower1* I liked the relation of the story, I thought the characterization of the teens was well done, it all rang true. But, the treatment of the incident as something kids 'do' when they are 'bored' and restriction of the punishment to just a parental harangue was disappointing to say the least. Even now the reaction to the memory of that incident, sparked by the sight of an egg carton, is not regret, but a smile. The lesson is diluted by the pleasurable response.

*Flower1* One last thought, would you say all the commas were in place? I am no great expert at their placement, but I thought at least a couple were missing, e.g.: " God(,) I hope they didn’t see us." It might also be clearer if thoughts were italicized.

*Flower1* All in all, I enjoyed the item, despite my multitude of observations. Thank you for the read.

Jyo
Any comments are made as an individual opinion. Please sip what you find sweet and discard what you think is sour.
*Flower3* May your words go on to shine! *Flower3*

*Flower1* Effort brings colour to Life *Flower1*

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Review of Eggs and Chickens  
Rated: E | (4.5)
Hello broc . I am Just an Ordinary Boo! and I am going to be reviewing your piece as a gesture of friendliness, please accept it in the same spirit with which it is offered.
This for Day #3 of
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#1529013 by Not Available.


*Flower1* Wow! You must love that green cauliflower look-alike! It is immortalized in your user name! Or is it the task that is so elevated, you chop, but do not eat?

*Flower1* I first thought this was about to list all the 'eggy' proverbs, then I saw it was a clever take on two different proverbs.

*Flower1* It is short and appeals to my funny bone! I like the laconic ending and the inspired use of slang and rhyme choice.

*Flower1* The title is apt, if not quite inspired. Your intro states what this is in no uncertain terms, it turns out to be exactly as you say, thank you for that. This is what a intro is supposed to do, state what is or might be inside and lure the reader in with that promise, having lured, it must now deliver.

*Flower1* Sure as eggs is eggs, to you I'm beholden, I'd have egg on my face, not to declare this one golden. Good egg, I'm egging you on to lay, umm, write more!


Jyo
Any comments are made as an individual opinion. Please sip what you find sweet and discard what you think is sour.
*Flower3* May your words go on to shine! *Flower3*

*Flower1* Effort brings colour to Life *Flower1*

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Rated: 13+ | (3.5)
Hello kamereon . I am Just an Ordinary Boo! and I am going to be reviewing your piece as a gesture of friendliness, please accept it in the same spirit with which it is offered.
This for Day #3 of
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#1529013 by Not Available.


*Flower1* I'm sure you're tired of being asked if you're related to JRR! But, to do it another way - is the user name a tribute to that master of fantasy?

*Flower1* I see you have an interesting opinion on Dr. Seuss, that he could drive someone to the ultimate pinnacle of enforced solitude! But, whatever his rhymes were, they were impeccable in their multitude of choices and in direct rhyme - a kind of mono-rhyme, as well as natural cadence that made them perfect to read aloud. A spoof or parody should have attempted to include at least some of that.

*Flower1* In fact some of the words do not even rhyme - like 'escape' and 'grate' (assonance) and 'soot' and 'foot' - non-rhyming despite spelling similarity.

*Flower1* I'm sorry, but at best I would regard this as the curate's egg, not bad in all the parts! Perhaps it was a result of over-egging the pudding? Sure as eggs is eggs it did not strike the sweet spot of appreciation.

*Flower1* There is a suggestion of violence, of an attempt to confine, to choose permanent means of 'escape', that causes you to rate this high, a correctly rated item, but it instantly sets itself apart fro that which it tries to parody. Having said all that, the beginning verse was promising, if it had more on those lines, perhaps the character doing things the cat in the hat had done in Dr. Seuss's books only to realise his predicament and confinement, it would have been more to my taste. But, that's a personal thing, go on and produce marvels of irony and satire, may all your eggs be golden ones!


Jyo
Any comments are made as an individual opinion. Please sip what you find sweet and discard what you think is sour.
*Flower3* May your words go on to shine! *Flower3*

*Flower1* Effort brings colour to Life *Flower1*

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Rated: 18+ | (5.0)
Hello Sam N. Yago . I am Just an Ordinary Boo! and I am going to be reviewing your piece as a gesture of friendliness, please accept it in the same spirit with which it is offered.
This for Day #3 of
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#1529013 by Not Available.


*Flower1* Good egg! You made the hard-boiled me go gooey with laughter and my insides go soft with nostalgic memories of my own childhood! I understand being intimidated by superior authority, at that age, pretty much all teachers are scary! I did not see much point in this so-called experiment, but your first-grade teacher probably knew better. Then too, it was created at home, more like an assignment than an experiment.

*Flower1* I had to stop laughing before I could tap out this review, you tell the tale in a way that makes horror funny, to blend such dissimilar genres takes style!

*Flower1* I do think your class-teacher was evil, for not being able to tell you how to eat that egg! She knew there might be some student who'd make that choice and she should have anticipated that problem. But she was perhaps more thoughtless than evil, except - she joined in the laughter - yep, evil. That's my verdict and there its going to stay. Nobody with that little sensitivity should be teaching first-graders.

*Flower1* Never mind that you had egg on your face - and hands and uniform! *Laugh* It egged you into making something more of yourself than a curate's egg, did it not? Sure as eggs is eggs, you have the genius within!

*Flower1* So, let me not stop you, go on to lay more golden eggs like this one, and don't put all your eggs into one basket! Before you pick up some of those eggs to hurl at me - I'm off! *poof*


Jyo
Any comments are made as an individual opinion. Please sip what you find sweet and discard what you think is sour.
*Flower3* May your words go on to shine! *Flower3*

*Flower1* Effort brings colour to Life *Flower1*

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Rated: E | (4.0)
Hello Alan Ghent . I am Just an Ordinary Boo! and I am going to be reviewing your piece as a gesture of friendliness, please accept it in the same spirit with which it is offered.
This for Day #3 of
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*Flower2* This is a good spoof on the gum-chewing hard-boiled ( no pun intended!) detective story! Not superlative, because funnily enough, it did not carry the gag far enough. I just finished reading a piece that I felt belabored the point, so I guess I am hard to please.

*Flower2* I found the idea of someone trying to make a hobby out of disproving cliches hilarious and to actually have a government department crack down upon them was further amusement. But the detective seemed to have a lot of influence to be so implicitly believed, and rather prone to jump to conclusion - some one with a lot of eggs on the counter could just as easily have been trying to make omelettes the conventional way - by breaking eggs!

*Flower2* The accusation or denouement was too abrupt, the ending similarly so, although both were zany and produced the right feeling of gentle applause.

*Flower2* So was this one like the curate's egg - good in parts? Or have you laid a golden egg here? My approval is for the promise rather than the piece, I would like to see more effort in the spoof. But, roll with the punch, kiddo - take heart and keep on laying - I mean writing! Good egg! I am egging you on! Try to leave me with egg on my face! But, don't over-egg the pudding. *Laugh* Cluck!


Jyo
Any comments are made as an individual opinion. Please sip what you find sweet and discard what you think is sour.
*Flower3* May your words go on to shine! *Flower3*

*Flower1* Effort brings colour to Life *Flower1*

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Rated: 13+ | (4.5)
Hello aralls. I am Just an Ordinary Boo! and I am going to be reviewing your piece as a gesture of friendliness, please accept it in the same spirit with which it is offered.
This for Day #3 of
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#1529013 by Not Available.


*Flower3* Ah, how gently you skirt the issue, literally walking on eggshells, but using that one phrase to evoke such a horrific image.

*Flower3* The interaction between mother and child is full of love and the little one demonstrates a desire to take her away from harsh reality.

*Flower3* There is no rhyme, I did not care, it had no rhythm, but it was not bare. As the mother shared her fears, I watched the child nuzzle, was moved to quiet tears, at child's answer to puzzle.

*Flower3* It deserves the accolade it so proudly wears, a truly moving poem. There are some lines that moved me immensely, especially the part where she rue her loss of belief.

*Flower3* I hope the mother realizes what the child tells her, that this walking on eggshells is not the solution. As someone who has 'been there'; just the quiet confidence of the little one is enough of a push to end such a situation, out of the mouth of babes! Good egg, you have not over-egged the pudding, the end is left tantalizing and hopeful.


Jyo
Any comments are made as an individual opinion. Please sip what you find sweet and discard what you think is sour.
*Flower3* May your words go on to shine! *Flower3*

*Flower1* Effort brings colour to Life *Flower1*

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Rated: E | (4.5)
Hello NFR . I am Just an Ordinary Boo! and I am going to be reviewing your piece as a gesture of friendliness, please accept it in the same spirit with which it is offered.
This for Day #3 of
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#1529013 by Not Available.


*Flower1* I like the breathless action in this one, I am sure the kids would love to have it read out to them.

*Flower1* It was made for reading aloud with an inherent ta-dum ta-dum, ta-da-da-dum rhythm in most lines; I counted an even nine syllables right through - well done.

*Flower1* The rhymes too were simple and direct and the couplet pattern arranged as doubles in quatrains was visually pleasing too. I think two verses - the 9th and 10th - were missing the one line inter space, otherwise it was well aligned.

*Flower1* The repeat of some lines served as a kind of leit motif or refrain. I thought that if the colours were changed around, without changing the words, 'spots' and 'dots', it might make the variety to be seen more obvious - like:
"Green eggs, purple eggs, blue eggs with spots.
Red eggs, yellow eggs, pink eggs with dots."
for one verse, then jumble it up and turn it around in the next: "Blue eggs, purple eggs, green eggs with spots.
Pink eggs, yellow eggs, red eggs with dots.". And so on ... Neither rhyme nor rhythm, nor syllable count changes.

*Flower1* I think you laid a golden one here, good job!



Jyo
Any comments are made as an individual opinion. Please sip what you find sweet and discard what you think is sour.
*Flower3* May your words go on to shine! *Flower3*

*Flower1* Effort brings colour to Life *Flower1*

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Rated: E | (4.5)
Hello Richard Briley Jr . I am Just an Ordinary Boo! and I am going to be reviewing your piece as a gesture of friendliness, please accept it in the same spirit with which it is offered.
This for Day #3 of
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*Flower1* As sure as eggs is eggs this one is a winner, a cute little story complete with a moral, like the fables of yore.

*Flower1* I thought the characterization of Sherry was well done, with her initial braggadocio and later confusion when what she boasted of did not quite come through.

*Flower1* What a pity that there was no market for square eggs, but considering how the oblate ovoid shape is designed to prompt easy laying, it might be for the best. It might be a painful business keeping up with that kind of demand! So, sorry guys, square watermelons - yes. Square eggs - no.

*Flower1* The stories for children should contain either things with which they are familiar or have a subtle story within. I thought this managed both, they might not all have seen a chicken coop, but they must have all speculated upon the egg and its peculiar shape. No wonder Humpty Dumpty had that fall, he was inherently unstable!

*Flower1* I see that any comments upon how to write for children might be like teaching one's grandmother to suck eggs, but I hope you will write many more!


Jyo
Any comments are made as an individual opinion. Please sip what you find sweet and discard what you think is sour.
*Flower3* May your words go on to shine! *Flower3*

*Flower1* Effort brings colour to Life *Flower1*

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Rated: E | (4.0)
Hello ohmy . I am Just an Ordinary Boo! and I am going to be reviewing your piece as a gesture of friendliness, please accept it in the same spirit with which it is offered.
This for Day #3 of
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*Flower1* I see that I have no need to egg you on to write more of these simple tales for children, it is already part of a serie - the Egg Mother series.

*Flower1* It is amusing that the fostered child, a goose, should think of itself as a hen, endearing the way the foster mothers cluck at at the swimming lessons.

*Flower1* The description of him turning at staring at them with 'one big goose eye' was good, nut was repeated too often, one does not want to 'over-egg the pudding' does one?

*Flower1* If all the others have capitals to dignify their names, why not mom? "Boy challenged Mom" or
'the boy challenged his mother', just in the interests of consistency?

*Flower1* A simple story that yet manages to retain the reader's interest, it is child friendly too. In the end, I's say the proof of this pudding would be in its eating, er - reading, by children.


Jyo
Any comments are made as an individual opinion. Please sip what you find sweet and discard what you think is sour.
*Flower3* May your words go on to shine! *Flower3*

*Flower1* Effort brings colour to Life *Flower1*

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Rated: E | (4.5)
Hello 🌕 HuntersMoon - welcome to Simply Positive Reviews. I am Just an Ordinary Boo! and I am going to be reviewing your piece as a gesture of friendliness, please accept it in the same spirit with which it is offered.

*Flower5* The Title: I think the title was apt, but not lyrical or perfect. I thought that something like "Windsong" would have been on a distinctly higher plane. I was eloquent often enough upon the subject of title, it is a device not used to its full potential. When so used, it can arrest and attract a roving eye, lure a bored reader into a promising write. Perhaps the story upon which this is based was of the same name, and so prompted this title?

*Flower5* Rhyming: This is also a story, merely set to rhythm and rhyme. Well done. The rhyming pattern is of the abab variety oft glimpsed in this favourite arrangement of lines - quatrains. I thought the choices for the rhyming pairs were all impeccable, except for the use of soot to rhyme with underfoot. One has the longer 'oo' sound as in 'food' and the other a shorter vowel sound as in 'good', despite both being spelled similarly. The English, she is a funny language! *Laugh*

*Flower5* Meter: Ah, impeccable pentameter. I tried to check for the stresses but found that beyond me, there are so many possible variations, and this could be any of them, I do know it is not iambic.

*Flower5* Grammar: Commas prove beyond me even in prose and in poetry I just close my eyes and go jab-jab-jab, trusting that poetic licence will take care of the rest. Does it? Well, if you choose to use commas, you must try to place them wherever required. The best way to ensure this, if you have a concept of placement, is to lay out the lines as if unbroken prose. Put in all the punctuation marks required and restore to your original verse. Here for example - laying out these lines:
"It offers a promise, against the skyline,
of climbing() and swings() among its many charms."
Would you not say a comma was required at one or both of the paired brackets?


*Flower5* Poetry Form: A story in verse form - would that be a ballad? Whatever the name, it would please as well, to paraphrase the great bard. I loved the weaving of past, present, and promise of future, the whole meshes into flashback as one whole. Well done.

*Flower5* Poem as a whole: Some of the imagery was vivid, but it was weakened by repeat of metaphor. What I liked:
"Branches spread arms wide embracing the light"
&
"Suddenly I'm aware that deep within
fragments of a song whisper of truth."


Where did I find the discordant repeat? Why in the use of arms as metaphor for branches again in:
"From verdant shadows, a Norwegian pine
stands tall, its branches like well-muscled arms."


I learned a new word - bract. I loved the sound and its similarity to branch clued me in to its meaning. But when I looked it up I was not as sure it was apt - could one distinguish "Modified, usually small, leaflike structure often positioned beneath a flower
or inflorescence" in the fallen leaves, dry and lifeless as they must be? Do such shrubs shed like deciduous plants?


*Flower5* What I liked: The story was a tribute to both parent and partner.

*Flower5* Suggestions: I have none, except perhaps to watch out! I am likely to be visiting your port again, in search of such sublime items.


Any comments are made as an individual opinion. Please sip what you find sweet and discard what you think is sour.
Jyo

*Flower3* May your words go on to shine! *Flower3*

*Flower1* Effort brings colour to Life *Flower1*

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Review of Pleasure  
Rated: 13+ | (4.5)
Hello JACE - welcome to Simply Positive Reviews. I am Just an Ordinary Boo! and I am going to be reviewing your piece as a gesture of friendliness, please accept it in the same spirit with which it is offered.


*Flower3* I think the title deliberately misled, which is fine, a legitimate use of that handy device. The intro could carry on where the title left off, but in such a short story it is acceptable not to do much more than re-iterate and repeat the teasing. But, at the end of the read, the title does not prove apt. That was a big let-down, since everything else was spot-on.


*Flower3* I think the evocation of the mood was well done, with the limited words at your disposal. However, since most of the pleasure is heightened by her perceptions, it would be judicious to replace 'his' with 'her' in the playful beginnings of the mood. Her lips, her actions.


*Flower3* I love it when the author can add in all the elements of a story within those 55 words. Makes me ashamed of my more verbose attempts that fall far short. If it wasn't for my template being ten times longer than your story, I could have used it with impunity. You had a beginning, a setting, characters, description, plot, problem, conflict and resolution.


*Flower3* You even had the delectable twist in the tail! This is not a requirement, just my own way of finding people after my own heart. If you add in twists and unexpected turns, I mark you as prey and return to your port, time and time again. Be warned.


*Flower3* May I just stand up and applaud? I can find no better way to convey my appreciation! If the title were to my liking the stars would have done it for me.


*Flower3*
Any comments are made as an individual opinion. Please sip what you find sweet and discard what you think is sour.
Jyo

*Flower3* May your words go on to shine! *Flower3*

*Flower1* Effort brings colour to Life *Flower1*

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Rated: E | (4.0)
Hello Marshall _welcome to In-depth reviews. I am Just an Ordinary Boo! and I am going to be reviewing your piece as a gesture of friendliness, please accept it in the same spirit with which it is offered.

*Flower5* The Title: Loved the title. I have had a long discussion with some of the leading poets on-site and the consensus is that it is quite OK to use all caps in a title. Personally, I dislike it for two reasons, it seems a lazy disinclination to turn off Caps Lock rather than any desire to emphasise, and it is too much like shouting for anyone used to 'netiquette'. But it remains both your choice and a valid form.

*Flower5* Rhyming: Oh, this is free verse, no rhyme or rhythm here. I think this is one of the most difficult forms of poetry - no prop or device to attract or distract, just word play.

*Flower5* Meter: I should just put in 'see above' - but I have learned that free verse is free only in not having a required form. It can have meter if one so desires - to be called blank verse. Wow! Adding complexity to difficulty. I'm glad you do not tax my feeble wits too much.

*Flower5* Grammar: This needs a little more attention than in most forms. Take your first verse, (I am treating the chorus-style non-refrain in italics as a separate entity) - it says 'chanting on naked toes' - I found that hard to visualise. Chanting, yes. Being on naked toes, yes. Not a merging of the two. A comma after 'chanting' would simplify things for me; but is that what you intend to say?

*Flower5* Poetry Form: You threw us into the deep end here and assumed we were bright enough to figure it out. I feel this would then be for a few elite erudite souls. I like to know a little bit about what is being conveyed, or else that the poet is open to 'interpretation' by the uninformed! *Laugh* Like the art critic who found superlative meaning in the canvas that the artist used to wipe excess paint off his brushes! To come to the point, the addition of the on-stage instructions as a themed repeat, without it actually being a refrain was an innovative use of imagery. To put in italics made it clear to people - even dumb ones like me. *Bigsmile*

*Flower5* Poem as a whole: There's a deep love and understanding. An ability to observe without interfering. It will stand that little girl in good stead later. I understand the nature depicted here - my son crawled until he was one and half years; he did not even attempt to stand without support. When he was sure he could do it - he just stood up one morning and was running around by afternoon!

*Flower5* Remarks: Some bits of description were superb -
"my hazel eyes crouched
in her sockets,"

I also love the feeling in the lines
"Now she is first
in the center
of a warm,
safe little world;" Smart girl, lucky dad.
*Thumbsup**Check2*

Any comments are made as an individual opinion. Please sip what you find sweet and discard what you think is sour.
Jyo

*Flower3* May your words go on to shine! *Flower3*

*Flower1* Effort brings colour to Life *Flower1*



Reviewed for
 Invalid Item 
This item number is not valid.
#1488944 by Not Available.

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Review of MOUSE AND CAT  
Rated: E | (4.0)
Hello Dr M C Gupta - welcome to reviews for
 Lucky One's Poetry Contest - Results Out  (E)
Poetry Contest in honour of St. Patrick's Day. Closed, Results announced.
#1526640 by Kerry*
. I am Just an Ordinary Boo! and I am going to be reviewing your piece as a gesture of friendliness, please accept it in the same spirit with which it is offered.

*Flower5* The Title: I was intrigued by the title and eager to see how well it fit our declared theme. In the end it proved a leap of inspiration in quite a different direction.

*Flower5* Rhyming: I expected something in your inimitable style, so deceptive and smooth. I was a tad disappointed, someone who could give us all a few pointers chose the easiest of rhyme patterns. abcb - only alternate lines rhyming. There was a pair that was not rhyme, yet not quite assonance either - 'exchange/revenge'.

*Flower5* Meter: Impeccable, as always, I did not need to count, knowing your meticulous nature. But, alas, as impartial judge, I had to. No problems, stated meter all the way!

*Flower5* Grammar:I was a little confused by this line: "Time passed and I grew impatient
That the vows we exchange."
. I think it might make better sense if written as -
'Time passed and I grew impatient
That vows we should exchange.' The syllable count remains unchanged.


*Flower5* Poetry Form: Simple Quatrains. This was not the preferred form as first stated on the forum, but since you were the first to post an entry we changed the rules rather than lose you. We dropped the requirement that it be a Swap Quatrain.

*Flower5* Poem as a whole: It showed a familiar situation from an unusual angle, but since it is in past tense, the telling is plausible. In the present tense, he'd not have had as much insight. Good use of the title in the ending line.

*Flower5* Prompts: All there!*Thumbsup**Check2* I wish you had highlighted them for easy reference and recognition, but mentioning the line numbers was almost as good.



Any comments are made as an individual opinion. Please sip what you find sweet and discard what you think is sour.
Jyo

*Flower3* May your words go on to shine! *Flower3*

*Flower1* Effort brings colour to Life *Flower1*

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Rated: E | (4.0)
Hello Happy Mom's Day 2024! - welcome to reviews for contest
 Lucky One's Poetry Contest - Results Out  (E)
Poetry Contest in honour of St. Patrick's Day. Closed, Results announced.
#1526640 by Kerry*
. I am Just an Ordinary Boo! and I am going to be reviewing your piece as a gesture of friendliness, please accept it in the same spirit with which it is offered.

*Flower5* The Title: I liked the title, it immediately told me your take on the prompt was going to be refreshingly different, yet since it remained about luck and chance, it was not too far from it. Loved the deeper meaning within.

*Flower5* Rhyming: You chose to use abab cdcd efefe gg - the English pattern for this sonnet, I believe the abba structure is more popular with those who follow the Italian form. You stick to it with admirable finesse and perfect direct rhyme.

*Flower5* Meter:I'm guessing iambic stresses were not on your mind? Well, I am not a purist, I will accept the pentameter, impeccably achieved.

*Flower5* Grammar: I found nothing that I needed to correct.

*Flower5* Poetry Form: English Sonnet, all rules except iambic stresses followed.

*Flower5* Poem as a whole: Do you work in a stock market or exchange, you have described the doings of that mecca of fiscal players like a seasoned veteran. I love the unusual meaning you choose for 'clover'. The summing up of the situation in the first three verses and then the rebuttal in the final couplet was well done.

*Flower5* Prompts: All included, thanks for the change in colour for easy identification of their inclusion. *Thumbsup**Check2*

Any comments are made as an individual opinion. Please sip what you find sweet and discard what you think is sour.
Jyo

*Flower3* May your words go on to shine! *Flower3*

*Flower1* Effort brings colour to Life *Flower1*

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Rated: 13+ | (3.5)
Hello care_a_lot - welcome to a review from "Invalid Item. I am Just an Ordinary Boo! and I am going to be reviewing your piece as a gesture of friendliness, please accept it in the same spirit with which it is offered.

*Flower5* The Title: Considering that Tom's appears for all of one line in the story, to chracterise it as "Tom's wonderful gift" would be giving the reader false expectations. Then again it is just a bland statement, it is never revealed who thought that it was a 'wonderful' gift, certainly not Herbert. Something like "Automatically Gifted" has different levels of meaning within, emphasising the literal mind of the auto-helper and the fact that the gift was a gesture without deep thought behind it. You do not need to change the title, if you are satisfied it is catchy and meaningful, I just explain what more I wanted from it.

*Flower5* The Beginning: Beginnings must be flawless. I understand that it is the Robot who makes the grammatical mistake, but it is not 'cute' the way a child's would be. He is programmed to make certain automatic statements, this is one of the most obvious introductory statements. It must be prefect too. "I am.", not "I is." Then again the line is not clear whether Mr. Bigley had the funny look on his face, or the strange machine did, the phrase is awkwardly juxtaposed within the sentence.

"“I is made to work for you sir,” HDR542 stated as a matter of fact to Mr Bigley,
who looked at this strange machine in front of him with a funny look on his face."
If you were to make that '... Mr Bigley had a funny look on his face, as he looked at this strange machine in front of him .' it might help to clarify.


*Flower5* The Setting: The setting is futuristic for sure, the robotic house-help proves that - but there was nothing else to use as prop, no description of surroundings, furniture that was auto-adaptive to the body's curvature, walls that became transparent and acted as windows if required, nothing to 'set' the scene.

*Flower5* The Characters: Mr. Bigley has 80 years of experience as mechanic, so of course any machinery is a piece of cake to him - that's the advance made in the future. Even today an auto-mechanic will not be able to double up as TV mechanic or either of them as Computer mechanic. The systems are too unlike. No user manuals? I understand this was flash fiction but a line about how 'his arthritic fingers fumble in clumsy futility over the smooth surface of the oblate ovoid egg-shaped they used to say in the good ol' days meant to hold the mysteries of the robot function.'?

*Flower5* The Descriptions: There's a paucity of this too, what did HDR452 look like? Did extensible arms shoot out to reach for things above it? Did he have large multi-faceted globes to function as visual units? Was it humanoid or not?

*Flower5* The Story as a Whole: I liked the story idea about a literal minded robot and the struggle the owner has to make it do what he wants. Yet some bits are inconsistent, the robot does not 'compute' food, and yet, is able to make sense of 'blood', 'sandwich' and 's***'. Maybe instead of the standard error message - "does not compute" - it could respond 'Require more input' in response to his stating 'Food' to it? Or come up with a long sub-menu of commands of cuisine choice, spice levels, dietary restrictions, any allergies, etc. that irritates him more?

*Flower5* What I liked: It had to be the ludicrous suggestion in the end. Great twist, now to figure our how to get us there in a more descriptive and leading-down-the-garden-path way. *Laugh*

*Flower5* Suggestions:
"looking at the robot with a really adamant look on his face" The 'really' is not of descriptive use here, 'adamant' is stronger than 'really adamant'.

"and lets just say" Apostrophe required, the words are actually 'let us just say', so 'let's just say' would be correct.

"Then prompty pushed him roughly" Promptly. I am not against adverbs in a rigid, never-use-'em fashion, but here, it is a weak substitute for 'showing' what the officious robot does. There are too in that sentence. Also the fact that only a walking stick is used for aid in the future seems over-simplistic without explanation. Maybe you could make it a Weakness Aid Lift-Kick Air Insufflating Device? (W.A.L.K. A.I.D.) It could work on the same principle as a hydrofoil and it provides enough 'lift' to make the walking less troublesome for old joints? Whatever props you need to make this futuristic tale plausible, it need not be the same as mine, that is merely illustration.

What was the word count required - <500 words? Then you have enough to play with - add in some detail and more interaction. BTW for a look at a deft robot-human interaction, read Isaac Asimov's collection of robot stories - "I, Robot." The robots become more and more complicated as the stories progress - excellent stuff.

If you do edit this, and would like a re-rate, please do let me know. I would be happy to clear my rating and re-review.

Any comments are made as an individual opinion. Please sip what you find sweet and discard what you think is sour.
Jyo

*Flower3* May your words go on to shine! *Flower3*

*Flower1* Effort brings colour to Life *Flower1*

A Simply Positive multi-signature.
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Rated: 18+ | (5.0)
Hello Michael Newman . I am Just an Ordinary Boo! and I am going to be reviewing your piece as a gesture of friendliness, please accept it in the same spirit with which it is offered.

*Flower5* The Title: I would have beats in the belfry if this title did not immediately appeal to me. The intro was all that was required to tell me that this would be a tale full of the zany and quirky, I jumped into it feet first.

*Flower5* The Beginning: Loved the beginning two paragraphs, it told us that the narrator's wife was doggedly ({great metaphor - but more about that later - *Laugh*) persistent in thinking there were squirrels in the attic despite many fruitless searches.

*Flower5* The Setting: The attic was well detailed, you sure that wasn't my living room you were describing? Except for the acorns, it was my living room to a 't'. Or should it be to an 'm'? *Bigsmile*

*Flower5* The Characters: Wow, the line of metaphor you use to describe Sharon's persistence, inventive! "Imagine a bull dog, holding the end of a rope." Wait, that's nowhere near the the end of the description - "Tie the loose end to a jet plane as it takes off and flies to California. When it lands, that bulldog is still holding on." It's not over yet - "Refuel and fly out over the ocean, point the nose down and crash into the sea. Sink a thousand feet to the bottom and guess what? That dog is still hanging on." That is Sharon, just multiply by 100! I would have to wait for ages, until cobwebs formed upon my waiting figure, to see something that descriptive again. *Thumbsup*

*Flower5* The Descriptions: If there was one thing in this story that stood out, it was the depth of description, one could perfectly picture characters and setting, get into the thick of the action right besides 3-D actors. It made everything else look done to perfection.

*Flower5* The Story as a Whole: I loved it, but as with kids, so is it with wives, you just can't win. I knew the end, I just did not know which path would take the narrator there! Superb ending. *Laugh*

*Flower5* What I liked: Irrepressible bubbling humour, excellent description, this is what I mean when I say graphic, not some other connotation that has crept into writing these days.

*Flower5* Suggestions: Write on, go on then, get started on another one!


Any comments are made as an individual opinion. Please sip what you find sweet and discard what you think is sour.
Jyo

*Flower3* May your words go on to shine! *Flower3*

*Flower1* Effort brings colour to Life *Flower1*

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Rated: E | (5.0)
Hello The Foolish Ford Prefect _welcome to WDC. I am Just an Ordinary Boo! and I am going to be reviewing your piece as a gesture of friendliness, please accept it in the same spirit with which it is offered.

*Flower5* The Title: OK, there is fantasy there, the unusual too, enough to make one want to delve right in. The intro though could have something that subtly enhanced the allure of this title, the information currently there could be a footnote within.

*Flower5* The Beginning: I believe the ugliest little dog in the world is a hairless breed called Xolo. They even have an ugly dog competition ... all these useless facts raced through my mind, put there by your effective beginning. In such a short story, it is hard to retain all the elements for which one normally searches in stories. Yet you had me going - check - check - check.

*Flower5* The Setting: The setting is some time far in the past when wizards and apprentices, magic and spells abounded. Yet there is a connection to our world. Nothing much said, it is our imagination that does all the work of 'setting', yet it was your words that stimulated it.

*Flower5* The Characters: Wow, what an eclectic mix, from the famous to the ugly. I enjoyed the young apprentice's choice of spells, certainly a revelation to his master, who cannot really find fault with the logic, convoluted though it may be.

*Flower5* The Descriptions: Some of the bits are wonderful nuggets of detail, I could picture this easily: "there stood Richard Simmons in the middle of the room doing aerobics and generally being cheerful.
"
Yet there was one bit where I had to stop and ponder - "He stared with accomplishment." Does one stare with accomplishment, or with concentration and focus? Could he instead 'look up with smug accomplishment'?


*Flower5* The Story as a Whole: I loved it, it came into the guffaw-for-today category, at which point I normally stop reviewing, trying to end on a high note. Thank you.

*Flower5* What I liked: The timid apprentice, the valorous apprentice, the clumsy apprentice - I could have thought of all these myself. You had this brainwave for a sarcastic apprentice!

*Flower5* Suggestions: Other than what was already mentioned in the descriptions, I would ask that you please eschew repetition and adverbs.

Wild movements are talked of twice, once as " the apprentice began his wild movements" and once as "The young apprentice gesticulated wildly" It is fine to refer to him as apprentice throughout, but twice using the same verb/adverb is not advisable. You can see that the adverb form weakens the description, even though gesticulation is better than movement. How about retaining 'wild gesticulations' and using some other form to describe his movement. You have 'flayed the air' later, as a good substitute, how about 'playing the air violin in crescendo'? Or whatever substitute you prefer?


Any comments are made as an individual opinion. Please sip what you find sweet and discard what you think is sour.
Jyo

*Flower3* May your words go on to shine! *Flower3*

*Flower1* Effort brings colour to Life *Flower1*

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Rated: E | (5.0)
Hello Madhulika _welcome to WDC. I am Just an Ordinary Boo! and I am going to be reviewing your piece as a gesture of friendliness, please accept it in the same spirit with which it is offered.

*Flower5* The Title: Anybody who is familiar with my reviewing knows I place great stress on the power of a well-chosen title. I think this one satisfied me on most counts. It was an unusual subject choice for a poem, interesting to most of those who have suffered these woes, and in the end, succinctly apt.

*Flower5* Rhyming: There is an unusual choice of rhyme here, mainly because the the arrangement is not obvious at first, then it is seen to be a simple abab pattern, with direct end rhyme. The choice of 'hear' and 'manager' as rhyming pair made me wince a bit, even assonance is missing there. Other than that is a delicious surprise.

*Flower5* Meter: My hat is doffed in admiration, or it would be if I wore one. *Laugh* The lines are regularly irregular, that clued me in. 3-6-9-12 right through, bravo! Is this a known form, or did you just dream it up? Because the steady increase in line length serves to underline increasing board-room tensions.

*Flower5* Grammar: You wisely eschew all punctuation, ending or otherwise. The spelling is impeccable, as is the language. I thought that "graph-paper boats" might be a bit more dramatic than "paper boats" to show what they chose to use on their sails into financially rough waters, but the syllable count does not allow it. That is a minor quibble, to be discarded without further ado.

*Flower5* Poetry Form: You have got to tell me the name! Attractive and effective. The focus relaxes and shifts and is brought back again.

*Flower5* Poem as a whole: This was a marvel, it was like a short story that drew us gently down one path of expectation and deftly unmasked the unexpected finale.


*Flower5* What I liked: The bits of imagery are excellent:
"I take notes
As didactic bosses
Assail stormy seas in paper boats
Analyse frivolous gains and mighty losses"


*Flower5* Suggestions: I have none, speechless for once. There are many on-site who would thank you for that one feat alone. *Bigsmile*


Any comments are made as an individual opinion. Please sip what you find sweet and discard what you think is sour.
Jyo

*Flower3* May your words go on to shine! *Flower3*

*Flower1* Effort brings colour to Life *Flower1*

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Rated: 18+ | (4.5)
Hello Ԝ€ß☆ԜiʈCH - welcome to a review from "Invalid Item. I am Just an Ordinary Boo! and I am going to be reviewing your piece as a gesture of friendliness, please accept it in the same spirit with which it is offered.

*Flower5* The Title: The title was the part I liked the most. Not that the rest of it was not appreciated, but this fulfilled all my 'to-dos' for a good title. It was unusual and eye-catching, it was a hint of something urgent and fast-paced - o appointment necessary. It had the double meaning that became evident after reading the tale, the after appreciation of having tasted something not quite in the normal line.

*Flower5* The Beginning: Was this fan-fiction, an attempt to re-create the world of Dick Tracey or Mickey Spillane? It succeeded in doing so, certainly. Yet somehow I thought it tried too hard. The beginning set the scene well, a private investigator who was addicted to hang-overs (assumption) and disrespectful and slightly contemptuous of women, except as eye-candy. He disdains 'boring' work even if it means less money to wait for the interesting. Quite a lot of information in those few lines.

*Flower5* The Setting: One guesses the era from the type of characters, because one knows these were set in the early 1900s. But nothing in the story clues us in to the period. There were no definite 'date-specific' objects. Like if the 'dame' sported a peace sign on a long chain - it might set it in the 1960s to 1970s. Even Zeke could sport it, finger it as he talks to Lou.

*Flower5* The Characters: The characters are not the kind that leap to mind's eye. The great image that decorates the story shows the typical fedora clad detective, in a coat with turned up collars, in the act of lighting the inevitable cigarette. Nothing tells us if Lou fits the stereo-type or not. He could even sneer at Zeke for either following or discarding this pseudo-uniform of the 'dick'. Even Gloria is described only as to the 'nice view'. Typical, but not too useful in letting us form a mind's eye picture.

*Flower5* The Descriptions: Lou's reactions are the best way of determining what someone is like. "The guy gave me one of those sneers that told me I don't want to meet him in a dark alley." I loved his pithy and spot-on typifications.

*Flower5* The Story as a Whole: It was a real stroke of luck that Lou knew the people involved, like recognising Guido on his stake-out. Or zeroing on the one exact case, having heard whispers about that particular 'back-up' judge. (Does your legal system have 'back-ups' for judges?) How's that for omniscience?

*Flower5* What I liked: The flavour, I always liked Mickey Spillane. If I felt Lou was too fond of spouting 'dame' and 'guy', it was at least perfectly in character, for him to do so. The same pithy observations, unusual simile, and wry humour.

*Flower5* Suggestions: I would have liked some clues being dragged across the scene, some detective work, a little less luck. But, that is really not a biggie, this was a deftly told tale that was entertaining.


Any comments are made as an individual opinion. Please sip what you find sweet and discard what you think is sour.
Jyo

*Flower3* May your words go on to shine! *Flower3*

*Flower1* Effort brings colour to Life *Flower1*

A Simply Positive multi-signature.
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Rated: 13+ | (4.5)
Hello NickiD89 - welcome to a review from "Invalid Item. I am Just an Ordinary Boo! and I am going to be reviewing your piece as a gesture of friendliness, please accept it in the same spirit with which it is offered.

*Flower5* The Title: Wow, what a great tile, unusual, eye-catching and with a subtle undercurrent of meaning that is revealed only after the read. Great, one tick mark right there.

*Flower5* The Beginning: The beginning is unhurried and slow, like a moment frozen in time. It catches the character of one of the protagonists perfectly. I loved the way he closed his eyes to make the outer world go away. The only line with which I had any quibble was the: "he felt Wendy grab his sleeve with the gentleness of a toddler." Toddlers do not grab gently, they clutch with all the purpose of a leech, they pinch one's flesh in their fingers, unaware of the pain they cause. Or at least mine did - *Laugh*.

*Flower5* The Setting: The train station, the crowds, the crossing, all these were done well. So was the emotion scarring flashback in the woods. By contrast, the apartment received less 'setting', just bits that were seen in the 'action' when one's attention is not upon such detail, like the couch or the drapes.

*Flower5* The Characters: Ricky is well detailed, as he deserves, being the focus of the story. Wendy gets a raw deal in comparison. Is this omniscient narrator or is it from Ricky's POV - could not a little more of Wendy's thoughts and motivations be shown? inspired choice - to make 'other man' the brother. It added conflict without distracting from the main storyline with jealousy or romance.

*Flower5* The Descriptions: Some bits were superb, the ones about the deafness in the beginning and the exact contrasts in the end. I found not much character physical description though, it is not a must, but it always helps to be able to visualise characters.

*Flower5* The Story as a Whole: It is deft, well crafted, with a mix of fantasy and science, greed and temptation, frailty and ignorance, wish and consequence.

*Flower5* What I liked: I would laud this for its unique presentation of the old saw of fairy tales, that all wishes are thoughtless tempting of the fates and nothing is to be wished for lightly. To be as 'fair as snow' might just result in anaemia! *Bigsmile*.

*Flower5* Suggestions: Technically flawless. I congratulate you upon your win.

The only things I did not understand were: Why Sebastian does court danger by walking around with such a precious find? A priceless artifact carried around in a coat pocket? It would have been safer to have mailed it (because they would not know to whom it was mailed)! Then the one who, presumably, follows them home - he does not know there were three of them in the apartment? Lastly, he leaves them alive and unbound and then lingers to look at his 'spoils', so that he can be ambushed. No rushing in, picking it up and running out again? I understand that these details pale before the moral in your story, but this is a kind of thriller, assault and robbery included, it must have immaculate reasoning.

Any comments are made as an individual opinion. Please sip what you find sweet and discard what you think is sour.
Jyo

*Flower3* May your words go on to shine! *Flower3*

*Flower1* Effort brings colour to Life *Flower1*

A Simply Positive multi-signature.
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