peter rietbergen

“I think you don’t know what you mean,” Blake said, suddenly sharp. “Not to yourself, not to me. I think you look at me like you’ve made a mistake, and then speak to me like I’m the one who made it.” Pitt’s face remained still. But the silence that followed was raw. Blake pressed on. “You’re kind, until you remind yourself not to be. You’re gentle, until something in you recoils. You ask for my trust, and then punish me for offering it.” Impressive writing indeed. Even so: if Thomas hung this letter above the hearth - a very public place, unless it's an unused one, in the stables (but even then...): wouldn't that mean putting Pitt's secret out there, to every reader, even to "Mama"? And, on re-thinking the relationship between the brothers, wonderfuly well-described as it is, I yet wonder if, in those days, even siblings that close would have shared such a career-, life-, and status-shattering secret...

I assume that "no controversial moments" is a euphemism for: no sex, of whatever kind.... While, for your sake, I hope that that one icy book isn't ending up melting in a big fire, I fear the worst for anything that is controversial - also beyond the sex-related stuff.

As of today, I realise that your books, Topher, are more unlikely than ever to turn up in Canadian school libraries. Talking about convictions and ideologies...

as to your question: maybe Rex knows what "love" is, or, rather, what is means to him. But Gus? Though at seventeen he is not, I'd argue, a "kid", I'd also argue that what he feels isn't "love". He is "in love", or infatuated. As is normal at his age. But it's very unlikely to last - as "love" should, if it is real ...

This is a very good chapter. It convinces....

I've re-read this little gem three times in a row. It is, in many ways, one of the funniest (and best-written) stories I've read on Gay Authors in many months. The fact that it is highly implausible doesn't matter a bit: it's just SO good.

I haven't laughed as much in days! The Lysander pet-goat, the beach scene - well, really everything. It is, though in reality relationships between such different characters probably never succeed, the perfect rom-com indeed - and, on top of that, so much better written. I hugely enjoyed it.

I am increasingly reminded of Poul Anderson's "Corridors of Time"... If the American leader who shall not be named is the "Brann"-figure in that novel - time will tell. As to convictions being deadly: to be so, they do not need to be full-blown ideologies, as we tend to think. Said American leader's character and actions will prove deadly, too - or, actually, are already.

But if we do not define content as mature - as so many stories on this site (prudently) seem to decide to not do?

I'm probably the world's most sloppy reader, but there are things I do not understand. First: Jimmy is a (scruffy) Brit? But he seems to hail from New Brunswick... Then: what age is he, really? He graduated from high school. Then he went to Halifax, to study at university. Then (?) he went to London. Then he returned to Halifax. And then he went on to Ottowa. And there Hugo thinks of him as a "kid"?

Actually, I do feel the answer depends on the audience/readership you want to address. Contemporary American culture is appallingly prudish, and abhors even the, since the 1970s. most accepted/hence innocent' words, terms, descriptions, et cetera. In Europe, the situation is rather different. If I were to wríte a story, I'd simply not use any of these categories: readers - especially readers who turn to "Gay "Stories ? - should (be able to) judge for themselves.

Oh, it is.

An interesting analysis. I do agree, although only partly. Methinks the problem with the author's depiction of Lyn is that we are supposed to accept his intelligence - though not, obviously, in the emotional spectrum - but simply judged by his words, he does not seem particularly 'clever'. Whereas Alexander knows how to phrase his intentions and, indeed, feelings in their dialogues, Lyn seems, to me, a bit insipid. Only seldom does he come up with a repartee that - if I were Alexander - would convince me I'd encountered an intellectual and emotional equal. I'd argue that given Lyn's supposed desire to compete with Alexander, his inability to actually do so cannot be explained by his insecurity about his real feelings.

Please do not expand it. It is perfect as it is.

It's becoming a really vast panorama.

Though I really do like this story and, admittedly, there is perhaps a lot we do not know about what happened 8 years before this episode, I feel that L. Is unbelievably stupid in not realising that A feels for him. The why of that may be another matter...

How does H know that J is brilliant? You can "feel" you find someone sexy, but brilliant...?

The conversation between B and P is almost heart-breaking. It does show the author's great emotional insight as well as his real talent.

That's my recollection, too.

Didn't know about the Canadian usage. But, obviously, it doesn't matter a bit. What matters is it's a good story. Thanks for that.

Indeed. the more so since Wojciech is not a surname, a family name - as in this tale - but a first, given name....

You were right. Having read it, I wouldn't have liked missing it. Thanks.

Let us sincerely hope AI is going to be of some real benefit in this specific field - to counterbalance the far too many useless or, worse, even outright dangerous purposes to which it's now being put as well.

Definitely a message also "for our times"....

As I write above, in my country, The Netherlands, the views on Zoloft definitely are not as favourable as, apparently, in the USA. But then again, we do feel that, generally, in the field of 'medical drug'-use the American attitude is woefully lenient...