Lorenzo46

Another magnificent Ravello story. I’ve been waiting for a long time for Enzo to be redeemed and rehabilitated, and to be shown as the basically decent young man that he is - despite all outward appearances. His taking care of Cosmos was a fitting coda to his rescue of Dani and Giaco so many stories before. And for those two, may there be many more growing up stories to come.

We’ve had 20 months of closed borders in Australia, with bans on international travel. So a new Ravello story is a welcome event that allows us to travel vicariously. At the end of the last story I was hoping that Enzo would come into his own and be accepted into the main group of characters. There were hints a couple of chapters ago that Enzo’s time had come; reinforced by his encounter with Toto in this chapter. I’m feeling confident now that, in the final outcome, Enzo will play a significant role in routing the protection racketeers. Maybe he will rescue Dani a second time. This is a great story. Dani and Giacco are up there with the other couples who have featured previously.

This has been a wonderful story of a relationship developing within the ‘tapestry’ of a fairly close knit community. As it came to an end I had an image in my mind of a swift soaring overhead as it watched over all the townspeople who figured in the story. I guess there are no more stories to look forward to, so it’s up to my imagination to speculate about what comes next. I wonder how Enzo is going to cope with being a local hero of sorts when Daniele and his parents spread the story of his part in Dani’s rescue. I have enjoyed the Ravello stories immensely, writing at its best!

It's a great relief to know that Toto and Michele have finally been able to communicate their true feelings for each other and for Michele to come out to his parents - all developments most skilfully written. But there are three chapters to go, so I'm sure our intrepid author has a few more plot twists with which to surprise his readers. I liked the comment above that Enzo respects people who stand up for themselves. I'm hoping that Enzo might be so impressed by Toto and Michele's courage in publicly acknowledging their relationship that this might help him to confront his own demons and realise that there are other better ways to gain people's respect than bullying and harassment. T&M, with their generosity of spirit, might just be the catalysts for Enzo's redemption.

It looks like Signor Carnarvon is going to keep on teasing us for another few chapters as to whether Toto and Michele become an item. I wonder if the next ‘misunderstanding’ will be Michele getting very upset because Toto has talked to Isabella behind his back. But given the synchronicity between this story and the original story of Gianni and Angelo, I’m fairly confident of a happy outcome. In the meantime we can enjoy the wonderful writing and the extraordinary evocation of not just place, but light and heat and the interaction between all the inhabitants of Ravello.

The Golden Portifor is a truly wonderful foundation story to the whole of the Rothenia series. The blend of historical background with engaging characters and magical interludes makes for engrossing reading. Karl Wollherz has to be the most outstanding of all of Mike Arram’s fictional creations, outshining even Henry Atwood! There are still 160 years in between the end of this story and the beginning of Count Oscar. I hope this means we can expect more stories to depict the intervening period. As I read the stories I often wish I had a map of Ruritania/Rothenia (and a detailed map of Strelsau/Strelzen) with which to follow the action, so vividly is this country of the imagination depicted by the author.

This story is shaping up to be a fascinating development of the history of Rothenia. The story line is 300 years earlier than the Peacher series and 200 years earlier than the Crown of Tassilo series. Presumably, Prince Henry comes in time to be King Henry the Lion, who is mentioned so often in the modern series. Serge seems to be from a cadet branch of the House of Tarlenheim, but must be one of those who brought great fame and glory to the family. There is already mention of the Lady Fenice, interestingly singled out as a protector of children. This suggests the past will again intrude into the present of the 1690s to protect the country. And it links to the way Lady Fenice protected Damien in the most recent of the modern series in GA. Then there is the mysterious child in the choir of the Hofkapelle. Is this another of the Lady Fenice’s protégés? As usual, the character development and historical background is superb.

Every country is a product of its past. Shared memories guide and direct each new generation. But Rothenia is unique because the past is able to communicate with the present, particularly in the person/manifestation of the Lady Fenice. The fact that Damien seems to be pictured in the apparently ancient murals suggests that he has been imagined, or his presence foretold, in the past. This must mean that the living Damien has appeared at a crucial time in the history of Rothenia. Whatever his destiny is, it is still unfolding. But it seems likely that he will come to be a great leader in his own right.

Life in lockdown has suddenly become a lot brighter with the start of a new Rothenian Tales story; and the promise of new chapters every day. We can’t see our real friends in person, but now have the delightful prospect of meeting old friends (and villains) in Mike Arram’s finely realised virtual world.

It feels like an early Xmas present to have another Rothenian Tales story starting. I’m looking forward to meeting all the usual characters again, and finding out what weird and wonderful adventures await them.

This has been a wonderful story of a life well lived and well loved. I’m not quite as old as Rigby, but still remember vividly the ten months I spent wandering around Europe, Russia and North America in 1974. At the time I was deeply in the closet, so didn’t have the erotic adventures; but did meet wonderful people - some of whom are still my friends. I met my partner, now husband, 36 years ago and can relate to what Rigby declares as the joys of a long term relationship. May there be more stories to come.

That was a very astute account of the politics of Eurovision. Sad that Starcrossed didn’t win, but more power to Yuli and Roman for being true to themselves and not playing the closet game. I’m disappointed that Henry didn’t get to wear anything more daring than a dinner suit and bow tie. I was hoping he’d camp it up a bit. But Henry being Henry, he’d want his version of camp to be also tasteful and dignified. So I guess Henry considers he’s being ironically camp when he appears occasionally in his full dress colonel’s uniform. Will he and Ed celebrate their civil union in full dress and decorations? Looking forward to that chapter.

This was a beautifully written account of the inevitable change in relationship between Yuli and Willem, as each of them matures and becomes more confident in their own sexual identity. In this case it was Yuli who first acknowledged his orientation and his interest in another gay youth; but it could just as easily been Willem who was first to form an emotional relationship with one of the girls at the gymno. So Yuli should not feel guilty that, as things worked out, he was the first to make the move. Let’s hope that their friendship remains constant even as it changes and matures.

Great to have a new story so soon, as Hide and Seek seemed to end very suddenly. I was expecting the next story to launch straight into Rudi’s wedding and Damien’s star turn as a page boy. But what’s not to like about a diversion to the politics of Eurovision. The annual Song Contest is very popular in Australia, to the extent that, for the last few years, we have been a sort of honorary member and contestant. And years before Mamma Mia, the Australian movie Muriel’s Wedding celebrated this country’s love affair with everything ABBA! Can we look forward to Henry in Lycra, thigh high boots and spangles?

One of the occasional joys in GA is a new story in the Rothenian Tales series, with the knowledge that there will be a new chapter every morning and every evening. The characters are engaging, forming an expanding extended family that nurtures and supports its members. The writing is elegant , the historical detail rings true, and the world of Rothenia appeals mightily to this aging reader from the Antipodes. I look forward to seeing Henry go from strength to strength, and take his place as a leader in the "family".