[Duncan Ryder] How the Light Gets In

[Amelia]

You are such an eloquent, gifted writer. The pain is so realistic and intense in every sentence. Its hard to read; the struggle is so vibrant, but I enjoy every minute.

 

Josh's stuggle with his past is real and I like that Scott is helping him see that the process of forgiving yourself for your mistakes is a long one and can't be talked away in a night, or even a few months. Matt's struggle, though for different reasons, is just as hard to move past and I hope Luc is the one who helps him to do so. I hope he can trust himself enough, and trust in Luc's strength enough, to take a risk despite everyone else's doubts.

[Conner]

Your insight into the human condition has always totally amazed me. Your ability to express the human condition in words amazes me even more.

 

A beautiful, beautiful chapter, Duncan.

[Cynical Romantic]

I loved this chapter, because it showed so much character development.

 

(Spoilers ahead...)

 

 

Matt, I have to wonder about his deep shame and self-hatred for his so-called past. I mean, sure, maybe he's not exactly proud of the fact that he slept with a lot of guys and used them. But it's not as though he's a homicidal maniac, either. A little promiscuity, especially for a guy his age, isn't exactly the horrible sin that he seems to feel it is. What made Matt break so much, I wonder? What made him so deeply ashamed and self-loathing, instead of just laughing off his college wild times like most people do as they get older and start to settle down? I sense there was some kind of defining, earth-shattering event that Matt isn't talking about, and I really have to wonder what it is.

 

Luc, well, I like that Luc is starting to look beyond himself and notice what's going on with everyone else. That's the first step to healing, being less caught up in your own personal issues and more concerned with those of the people around you. When Luc starts rescuing Matt from a situation he senses but doesn't fully understand, and then reassures him that he trusts him, I think that's not only helpful to Matt, but to Luc himself. For the first time, despite the way he's still haunted by nightmares, I really do believe that maybe he won't attempt suicide again. Maybe he's on the path to recovery.

 

And Josh. Josh, Josh, Josh. Probably the most wounded of all. Having him say out loud that he was raped... was that maybe the first time he admitted it to himself? I know it's been years, but the healing path is long for him. Scott was so great with him right then, when he needed him to be. And Josh has maybe turned a corner here, starting to see things more clearly and see how he might have to face what was head-on in order to finally be free of it. I hope he can. I always knew he hadn't come to terms with his dealings with Graham. I just hate to see him blame himself; Matt didn't escape because he was stronger, Matt escaped because Graham had decided to target Josh. It wasn't Josh's fault. I just hope he can learn to believe that.

 

This story continues to amaze me, and I keep waiting for every new chapter. I love your writing. It's incredibly beautiful and poignant. And I think I'm a little in love with all four of these boys now. I hope they've turned the corner here.

[MikeL]

Another beautifully written chapter, Duncan. CR has given us a good analysis of the characters at this point in the story, but she didn't say much about Scott. I think we have just seen that Scott is only human. He doesn't always say or do exactly the right thing. He means well and he is caring in his relationships with others, but he sometimes gets it wrong. He is certainly wrong about Matt. Matt will not hurt Luc.

 

Anxiously awaiting the next chapter, I know it will be worth the wait.

[Endymion1978]

This story needs to be read slowly and carefully to savor every Word. Personally the three asterisks used to separate each scene personally mean

[Bob1010]

As always a wonderful story told with so much feeling and emotion! Duncan you do it so well. I like the way that you seem to be developing the relationships of these guys a lot.

 

B

[biji2008]

My God, Luc's dream was so vivid and heartbreaking, we could feel his pain.

 

Great job Duncan

 

 

[Pipo]

I really love this story. Thank you for another great chapter Duncan

[Graham_ZA]

Hey everyone - just signed up a few minutes ago from Durban, South Africa (ZA = South Africa). I've just been reading the entire story from chapter 1, and wanted to say I am really looking forward to reading the next chapter! I'm 39, so I'm older than the characters are, and my life experiences are similar in some respects, different in others. 'Course there's pretty big differences in environment as well when comparing the setting to life in South Africa. BUT... man, I identify so strongly with some of the issues the characters are going through, and dealing. One one hand, the story is very touching, and great reading, and on the other, it's thought-provoking, and cathartic on a personal level. You're never too old to learn stuff about yourself - so THANK-YOU for your awesome talent and writing - and at the same time - THANK-YOU for helping me unwrap and get to grips with some stuff I've come to realise I thought was dealt with years ago, but hadn't. (I'm blabbering a bit, but hope you understand what I'm getting at).

 

I look forward to reading more, and getting to know y'all.

 

Graham

[Cynical Romantic]

Full month since the last chapter. Duncan, am I allowed to start whining yet?

[kiso]

Full month since the last chapter. Duncan, am I allowed to start whining yet?

 

Duncan did mention that it was twice the length of a typical chapter so I think that buys him some more time. sigh.

[Duncan Ryder]

And...you got a new short story too!

 

But soon. Really.

 

d.

[Guest russian]

Duncan, awesome stuff! Just the other day a buddy of mine from London sent me a link to your Everybody's Wounded story, and I've been reading it and this one every chance I get ever since. You, Duncan, have a way with words, sans aucun doute. Just one question, though. When's next chapter going to be posted? No pressure or anything, but it being so scorchingly hot in Siberia right now, the best way to wile away a hot sweltering night is by reading a superb story full of insight and emotion. So, plueeeeze post the next chapter as soon as you can, okey-doc? Pretty please with a cherry on top? :-) Merci mille fois

 

Edited to add: Duncan, I realize even you might not not the answer at this point, but how many chapters in total do you think this story will have? And have you ever thought about publishing? I don't know about all the kiddies, but I'm a bit ole fashioned in that I prefer to have what I read out on paper so I can heft it, and smell it, too. Don't know why, but I just luv the smell of books. Une fois encore, tout dont tu ecris est geniale comme idee, tout a fait. Tout a toi,

 

Un mec russe.

Edited August 13, 2010 by russian

[Duncan Ryder]

Duncan, awesome stuff! Just the other day a buddy of mine from London sent me a link to your Everybody's Wounded story, and I've been reading it and this one every chance I get ever since. You, Duncan, have a way with words, sans aucun doute. Just one question, though. When's next chapter going to be posted? No pressure or anything, but it being so scorchingly hot in Siberia right now, the best way to wile away a hot sweltering night is by reading a superb story full of insight and emotion. So, plueeeeze post the next chapter as soon as you can, okey-doc? Pretty please with a cherry on top? :-) Merci mille fois

 

Edited to add: Duncan, I realize even you might not not the answer at this point, but how many chapters in total do you think this story will have? And have you ever thought about publishing? I don't know about all the kiddies, but I'm a bit ole fashioned in that I prefer to have what I read out on paper so I can heft it, and smell it, too. Don't know why, but I just luv the smell of books. Une fois encore, tout dont tu ecris est geniale comme idee, tout a fait. Tout a toi,

 

Un mec russe.

 

Hi.

Thanks so much.

 

I just finished chapter 18 . FINALLY (I know. I know. I am a bad person. What can I say? It's a hot Canadian summer... the boys are stuck back in winter....) It's with Gabriel now for proofreading, and unless he tells me it sucks swamp water, it will be up very soon.

 

As for final length...I've not the foggiest idea. But if I were a betting man (which I'm not) I'd say...about 30 chapters.

[Guest russian]

Duncan,

 

post it anyway! You know, as a foreigner, that is a non-natives speaker of English, I can't weave words into a beautiful tapestry of story-telling the way you do so effortlessly and strikingly! So for me it's been a sensual treat to read your stories. it's like an aesthetic cumming!!! :-)

[HGC2659]

Not to seem like an idiot or anything but, it's going on ONE year since the last post of this story. Is this story really going to get finished ? After this story now I don't like investiing time in new authors if there isn't a finished product. This story is the 2nd time i read a story and it got so far and then just stopped abruptly with no notice at all saying whether or not it was going to finish. I would be more understanding if there was a reason given for the ONE year delay, but since there's no reason then I just will keep the other comments what I was going to say.