The Letters
How quickly life can change.21 total reviews
Comment from Earl Corp
This kind of reminds me of the O. Henry story The gift of the Magi. I think you may have a winner here with the twist nobody sees coming. Good luck in the contest.
reply by the author on 21-Apr-2025
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This kind of reminds me of the O. Henry story The gift of the Magi. I think you may have a winner here with the twist nobody sees coming. Good luck in the contest.
Comment Written 21-Apr-2025
reply by the author on 21-Apr-2025
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Thanks, Earl, for your review. I must look up the gift of the Magi. Sounds interesting. Thanks again and have a wonderful day.
Cheers
Barry Penfold.
Comment from Mrs Anna Howard
I did not see the second part coming! This is so good. It reminds me of the novel Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. Fabulous plot. Thanks so much for sharing!
reply by the author on 21-Apr-2025
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I did not see the second part coming! This is so good. It reminds me of the novel Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. Fabulous plot. Thanks so much for sharing!
Comment Written 21-Apr-2025
reply by the author on 21-Apr-2025
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Anna,
Thanks so much for your six-star review. Very much appreciated. Have a great day.
Cheers
Barry Penfold.
Comment from tfawcus
What a storyteller you are, Barry. The tension in this held me all the way through. Although it was easy to guess what might be in store for Malcolm, you kept me on the hook. The turning point giving Louise's perspective produced another bombshell. Now both are in limbo. Her mother's banal "Let me tell you about my day" coming at the end was a brilliant use of bathos, looping back to the beginning.
reply by the author on 21-Apr-2025
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What a storyteller you are, Barry. The tension in this held me all the way through. Although it was easy to guess what might be in store for Malcolm, you kept me on the hook. The turning point giving Louise's perspective produced another bombshell. Now both are in limbo. Her mother's banal "Let me tell you about my day" coming at the end was a brilliant use of bathos, looping back to the beginning.
Comment Written 21-Apr-2025
reply by the author on 21-Apr-2025
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Thanks so much for your six -star review. I am glad you liked the ending. It just seemed so right for this one. Take care and have a most wonderful day.
Regards
Barry Penfold.
Comment from Dolly'sPoems
It seems like everyone is a loser in this three way relationship and no one is happy. We never know what life with throw at us and whether we can rely on someone else and we always need to be prepared for the worst. Although this is the work of fiction, there is some authentic emotions displayed here, much enjoyed, love Dolly x
reply by the author on 12-Apr-2025
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It seems like everyone is a loser in this three way relationship and no one is happy. We never know what life with throw at us and whether we can rely on someone else and we always need to be prepared for the worst. Although this is the work of fiction, there is some authentic emotions displayed here, much enjoyed, love Dolly x
Comment Written 12-Apr-2025
reply by the author on 12-Apr-2025
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Dolly,
Thanks so much for your great review. Yes, you just never know what life will throw at us and when. Take care and have a most wonderful day.
Regards
Barry Penfold.
Comment from Alexandra Trovato
This reminder me of a good movie Click. This is well written and has good imagery and descriptions. The dialogue and photo presentation is good too.
Best wishes,
Alex
reply by the author on 11-Apr-2025
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This reminder me of a good movie Click. This is well written and has good imagery and descriptions. The dialogue and photo presentation is good too.
Best wishes,
Alex
Comment Written 11-Apr-2025
reply by the author on 11-Apr-2025
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Alex,
Thanks for your review. Glad you enjoyed the read. You take care and have a wonderful day.
Regards
Barry
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You have a wonderful day too, Barry!
Best wishes,
Alex
Comment from estory
I thought this was well done. I liked how you orchestrated this scene of a divorce happening through these letters between the husband and wife. I think it really articulates this sense of distance between them, how far they have gone from talking face to face. Also in the words enclosed in these letters and in the illustrations of the moods of the two divorcees is how much their own sense of happiness, their own hopes and dreams and plans, gets shattered in this moment when the separation comes. Malcolm walks in hoping to surprise his wife with this announcement of a new job, only to discover his wife has left him. She moves to begin preparing for a new life with someone else, only to discover her lover can't give up on his cancer stricken wife. So they are both left in limbo. A modern tale told with stark realistic terms. estory
reply by the author on 11-Apr-2025
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I thought this was well done. I liked how you orchestrated this scene of a divorce happening through these letters between the husband and wife. I think it really articulates this sense of distance between them, how far they have gone from talking face to face. Also in the words enclosed in these letters and in the illustrations of the moods of the two divorcees is how much their own sense of happiness, their own hopes and dreams and plans, gets shattered in this moment when the separation comes. Malcolm walks in hoping to surprise his wife with this announcement of a new job, only to discover his wife has left him. She moves to begin preparing for a new life with someone else, only to discover her lover can't give up on his cancer stricken wife. So they are both left in limbo. A modern tale told with stark realistic terms. estory
Comment Written 11-Apr-2025
reply by the author on 11-Apr-2025
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Wow, thanks so much for your six-star review. this was a little different, but I am glad you enjoyed the read. Take care and have a wonderful day.
Regards
Barry
Comment from Jacquelyn Popp
This story delivers a comp exploration of ambition, emotional neglect, and the fragility of human relationships. The strength of the story lies in its contrast between Malcolm's and the col, silent reality that greets him at home.
This is a beautifully tragic, emotionally resonant story that highlights how success can be hollow without connection.
reply by the author on 11-Apr-2025
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This story delivers a comp exploration of ambition, emotional neglect, and the fragility of human relationships. The strength of the story lies in its contrast between Malcolm's and the col, silent reality that greets him at home.
This is a beautifully tragic, emotionally resonant story that highlights how success can be hollow without connection.
Comment Written 11-Apr-2025
reply by the author on 11-Apr-2025
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Jacquelyn,
Thanks so much for your great review. Yes, success is often hollow without the emotional connection with a partner. I enjoyed your appraisal. Spot on.
Take care
Barry Penfold.
Comment from Iza Deleanu
Wow, she got burned poor girl.. sometimes we are like butterflies we fly so high and burn so fast, or so it's the moral of the story. Thank you for sharing and good luck with your writings.
reply by the author on 10-Apr-2025
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Wow, she got burned poor girl.. sometimes we are like butterflies we fly so high and burn so fast, or so it's the moral of the story. Thank you for sharing and good luck with your writings.
Comment Written 10-Apr-2025
reply by the author on 10-Apr-2025
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Thanks for the review. Yes, sometimes we are exactly like butterflies.
Thanks again.
Cheers
Barry
Comment from zanya
Wow a slice of potential real life here where one doesn't know what way the chips are going to fall, so to speak, even as ties have been severed and life has changed utterly.
reply by the author on 10-Apr-2025
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Wow a slice of potential real life here where one doesn't know what way the chips are going to fall, so to speak, even as ties have been severed and life has changed utterly.
Comment Written 10-Apr-2025
reply by the author on 10-Apr-2025
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Thanks so much for your review. Very much appreciated. All the best.
Cheers
Barry Penfold.
Comment from Carol Hillebrenner
It turned out to be a pretty rotten day for both of them. You have a well-told story about a man who thinks he is on top of the world with his promotion. His wife thinks it is a wonderful day after she left her husband until she fonds out her lover is staying with his sick wife. Their life after this one day is completely different for both of them.
reply by the author on 05-Apr-2025
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It turned out to be a pretty rotten day for both of them. You have a well-told story about a man who thinks he is on top of the world with his promotion. His wife thinks it is a wonderful day after she left her husband until she fonds out her lover is staying with his sick wife. Their life after this one day is completely different for both of them.
Comment Written 05-Apr-2025
reply by the author on 05-Apr-2025
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Carol,
Thanks so much for your great review. Glad you enjoyed the read. Yes, their life after this day is completely different. How quickly it can happen.
Take care.
Barry.
