Daddydavek

So we have cliffies all around. CJ is making his bid for king of Cliff hangers for next year as well with this post.

This chapter lost some of the edge that developed over the previous one. I'm looking forward to find out just what he will actually be doing and how he will interact with the clientele.

Well since she sang it at the superbowl the year you were born or there-abouts, I don't think you really understood the 'moment'. We were in Gulf War 1 under the first Bush presidency and we had the whole free world with us. It was a joyful, proud song and it resonated with a lot of people at the time, even becoming a hit on the top 40 playlist. So while you are entitled to your opinion, some of us actually lived through that period and found it uplifting. As for as Whitney's untimely demise, it is true that she had a long history of drug abuse and it is easy to jump to the conclusion that she overdosed, but that is what the coroner will determine from an autopsy. However, sad or bad her ending was, she did give us some great songs sung better than anyone else in her generation. And she had an impact on scores of singers of who came after her. So perhaps her legacy is greater than we will ever know.

Read prologue through Chapter 4 and I am certainly hooked. Lot's of hints but little firm background other than we know: Phoenix was stabbed in the chest and apparently survived. He has/had a sister. He can fly--or can he? He is into drawing, painting, sculpting and tattoes. He has some piercings. He is gay or at least curious. His would be employers are not exactly mundane....

CJ is certainly one of the outstanding nominees for King or Queen of the Cliff hangers. So if you haven't voted, please go to the lounge and get the list of nominees for all categores from Talonrider's post and then PM Talonrider with your vote in each one. Remember, you can only vote for one in each category. CJAMES is my recommendation for King of the Cliff Hangers for his repeated abuse of the literay device in just about every chapter he posted in 2011....

Mark wrote in reply to a review by another faithful follower: "Will is such a teenager. He's actually fun to write these days. Kind of like Tonto, only young and cheeky instead of old and crusty." I found that link to Tonto delightful and it would be fun to see if someone would mention it sometime in the future, perhaps during one of the famous dinner session at Escorial; perhaps by Isadore?

In my chapter review, I speculated that the next chapter could be the end of this part of the series. Mark replied: "You want it to end? So I should scrap chapters 34 and 35?" My response: HELL NO! I'll gladly read 3 more chapters or more before the next book in the saga starts!

A well written chapter 32 with a bit of a surprise as Belvidera took some hits. The ending of the chapter is bittersweet with a booty prize tempered by the apparent expectation of the crew break-up as the ship must undergo extensive repairs. It seems just another uncertainty as Granger gets ready to head to London after making port.

Finally, some Coop relief in a well written chapter! First from Spence, then CJ, then Devon and ending with a rousing fuck from Chase. The flashback worked ok, a little drawn out, but did provide some frame of reference for some of what they had in common. The big mystery remaining is Morgan, now on the loose....

An unexpected diversion due to the storm with a pasting and prize. Still, somewhat of a letdown as the refitting will break-up the crew. London and news on that front awaits, now with the added uncertainty of George being reassigned. Next Saturday night will be eagerly awaited, perhaps with the conclusion of this book in the story....

Loved the chapter. Will's being there for JJ was nicely done and his manipulation at the ending dinner scene was just bratty enough to keep his boozing the night before out of the conversation. It also accomplished some active family support for JJ which was cool. Ryan is turning into a much nicer character than his initial foray into the story ever foreshadowed.

Loved Will's dialogue, throughout the chapter. He is an obnoxiously manipulative little shit and ful of himself to boot. He is also perceptive, loyal and an awful tease. Teenagers are just so much fun......

Lou and Mike lost a couple of feathers after Casey failed to score. Interesting twist to the story of good vs. evil.

Just got caught up on this story tonight and the tension in the past several chapters is so taut that you can almost hear the buzz.

What a place to end the chapter. Not a cliffie? Somehow, anything that appears a certainty in Circumnavigation ends up being slightly askew, so I am assuming nothing. However, I am hoping that the wicked witch on the Sea Witch is "lost at sea" in a fittingly bizarre death....

I joined Mark's Yahoo group in February 2009 and read through all of CAP that was posted at that time and from there learned of GA which led me to join here. Thank heavens! While Mark makes it look easy, I will attest that his characters do sometimes write themselves and take him places from which he has to figure out what and where to go next. So far, they have only slowed him down on ocassion. He is truly a 'manic poster' and my favorite author here.

Not one cliffie but two in a single chapter. CJ really is trying hard to retain his title as KING OF THE CLIFF HANGERS. Remember voting is going on NOW until the 25th of February!

Okay, why do I get the impression that things are just starting to get interesting? I guess I'll have to wait for the next installment.....Hurry! Please!

Congrats on making the cut! I found voting extremely difficult as I liked all the nominees in all the categories and could only vote for one. All the nominees are talented and gifted storytellers with much to recommend them. If anyone is looking for some good reads, look no further than the nominee list!

I guess Eli is about as good as Brady. Interesting game to the last second.

In my review of the latest chapter I agreed with the posted review by Torontotop and Mark replied: "Look at you. Some guy says he's a top and you automatically agree with him. :-)" I guess Mark has me all figured out! My true inclination is to be contrarian when I'm not being cloyingly agreeable. Concerning the chapter, Wade is interesting but too anal retentive for me, while Brad is too controlling. The CAP series is filled with annoyingly realistic inconsistent people who think and also think with their dicks. Just my cup of tea. Anything too predictable, ordinary or conventional wouldn't be nearly as interesting.

Wayne don't overdue it for a while and take it a little easy. The heating pad or hot water bottle really does help and can be used off and on to help ease the overstressed muscles. I have been there and done that and yes it is hell to get older and not be able to do everything just as fast as when you were forty!

Interesting conversation, but perhaps we are forgetting the historical context. These men always had to hide their 'proclivities' and were very used to dealing with mixed emotions and duplicitious actions. In the context, the two men could have been merely making hay while they can. George was worried what the menage a trois would produce but took a risk. It worked out different than he thought and left him a little lonely, something he was used to despite his many 'adventures'. I do not think the story line was forced or contrived, any more than the mixed conventions of the time were.... However, it still may be a literary ploy to change the relationships among the players and if so, lets see how it plays out. Besides with Calder aboard, perhaps it was better that George was more circumspect.

Having read the reviews posted so far, I must say that Torontop says it best IMHO. Great chapter with some interesting twists. Kudos for the scene with Matt holding Riley and promising to run interference for a messy room. Kudos also for the scene with blustering Carl.

Ouch. That chapter closing was tough to read....