The Cockney Canuck

Hej Dodger, I'm sorry if my latest review made you feel like you're not doing things right with the story. On the contrary I wouldn't read and review if I didn't like your story in spite of how much your main character frustrates me. The last part of my review was meant to convey my understanding that Robbie is an insecure teen with lots of issues, and we shouldn't expect him to act rationally - and being love makes it worse of course. So I think you're doing very well on your story line, but I still want to shake some sense into Robbie, hence the ranting. It's sort of a backwards compliment showing that you push my buttons most effectively, usually the signs of a good author.
As for my ranting at the other characters, I assumed you meant to portray Nicola and the others in a way which would piss Robbie off or at least make him react in various ways. As I want Robbie to be happy I get upset on his behalf when other people treat him badly. Nathan's dad might think he was funny, but I thought it was a cruel joke to play. I think Robbie was surprisingly forgiving and he was even able to laugh and joke back. Cool, but it doesn't make me like the dentist. Again that doesn't mean I don't like the story, it just gives me great opportunities to rant. Something I rather like to do...
But if you prefer to be without, I can certainly stop reviewing, although I won't stop reading. Or just mention the stuff I like in the story.

On 3/9/2018 at 7:17 PM, spikey582 said:

Sue: “That wasn’t funny Robbie.”

 

No, no it wasn’t.  Those were his second thoughts that he denied having.  I’m really disappointed that Robbie didn’t seek out his options and learn what his rights were. There needed to be conditions before this proceeded.  They weren’t even discussed.  He has real problems and is adamant that Don isn’t his father?  Well the time to discuss and resolve that was before he told the judge everything is just peachy and let’s go ahead with this adoption thing.  

 

Also, the pool thing?  Yeah fuck that.  Not funny.  If that were me I’d have literally no problem walking out of “my” party. I’m probably just a stick in the mud though.

On 3/9/2018 at 8:06 PM, BlindAmbition said:

I  agree with both of these things. Robbie struggled from beginning. Should have had counseling after the death of his mum. Most certainly after attack. I don’t think he realizes just how serious the situation is. He just gave them legal control. Knowing that Sue and Don do for themselves.

I agree with both of you but what you have to remember is that Robbie is of British descent, as is Don his uncle/dad which brings into play the 'good old British reserve' and 'stiff upper lip'. It's been a way of life here in the UK for so long it's ingrained in all of us. Just because Don now lives in Canada don't mean that he has 100% embraced the Canadian attitude to life, I've seen that among many ex-pats when I've visited friends in Vancouver.

All that aside it's a good story with lot's of fun, drama and emotion, all of which have their place in life and the story.  

The story could carry on more, but then the line has to be drawn somewhere. Maybe a follow-up could be good but it's necessary.

I read the story up until this point.

Writing is good (some grammar and ? errors) but the plot is seemingly going nowhere. Problem after problem for Robbie, and if something seems resolved, it probably isn't. Then add more problems. Story hints at the end of each chapter don't happen, or happen several chapters later. No consistencey here.

Should have been broken up into smaller parts, its a very very long story.

I’ve just the latest chp and I think it is the author’s gift that he can get inside his character’s head.  I heard myself telling Robbie not to stay with Alex, the reader knows it will end in tears, and yet I feel drawn, yet again, into the latest saga.  

Dodger says it’s a kind of soap opera. Perhaps but it is a bloody well-written one. 
 

keep it up, Dodger and a huge thanks. 🤗🤗

Wow, we have reached one million words. Congratulations 🎊 

Ciao Dodger, you said a little while ago that “there is an awful lot of me in Robbie.” That sentence has stayed with me. Now that The Cockney Canuck seems to be approaching its final chapters, and while we wait to see what surprises you still have in store for us, I would love to turn the question around and ask you something about yourself, if you feel like sharing it. What is it, particularly, that you recognise of yourself in Robbie? Is it his personality, his sense of humour, his insecurities, the way he thinks and reacts, some of his experiences — or perhaps something rather more difficult to put into words? And there is something else I have become very curious about after spending so much time with these characters: have you ever had a Tom, a Nathan, or an Alex in your own life? I don't necessarily mean people on whom those characters were directly based, but people who occupied a similar emotional place in your life — a Tom, a Nathan or an Alex of your own. After all these chapters, I feel I know Robbie rather well. Perhaps, without realising it, we have also come to know a little bit of Dodger through him. 🙂

Un abbraccio dall'Italia,

IAN

Ciao Dodger,
(I’m glad you seem to like this greeting too: "ciao". 😉)
Thank you. I think your answer means rather more to me than you may realise.
First of all, I felt very close to you reading what you wrote about being fifteen. I did not have an easy time at that age either, although I would never compare my circumstances with yours. I have often tried to put myself in Robbie’s shoes while reading your story, and now I find myself trying, perhaps rather presumptuously, to imagine yours: losing your mother at fifteen, leaving the country you knew, and suddenly having to build a life among relatives who were virtually strangers to you. I honestly don’t know how I would have reacted. I don’t think anyone can know until life actually puts them there.
I was a very gentle boy at that age, but when I was frightened or struggling, I could become rather prickly. I sometimes think of myself then as a little porcupine: when I was scared, the quills came out. I would hide what I was feeling and occasionally play a part that wasn’t really me.
But that’s another story — mine, not yours — so forgive the digression. Perhaps I went there because, reading your answer, I found myself thinking that I would have liked to have been one of your schoolmates back then — and, who knows, perhaps a good friend.
I smiled when you told me about your best friend in England. I’m glad you had your own kind of Tom, even if he stubbornly refused to cooperate with your plans! 🙂 A Tom is something I missed very much — or perhaps I should say that I did have one, but he was suddenly taken out of my life when my father’s work meant our family had to move to another city. That, however, would take far too long to explain.
And I’m genuinely glad that you managed to have a secret high-school romance. I had something too, although I wouldn’t quite describe it that way. The relationship I wish I had been able to experience was rather different. As I’ve probably made somewhat embarrassingly clear in some of my earlier chapter comments, I think I would willingly have lost myself in a difficult, complicated story with someone like Alex. Perhaps there was an Alex somewhere in your life too; perhaps not. I promise I won’t interrogate you. 🙂
Of course, after this answer the temptation to pester you for more pieces of your life is definitely there. I suspect that if our positions were reversed, and I had written this extraordinary story, you might be curious too. But you have already told me more than I had any right to expect, and when you say, “That’s all I can reveal,” I understand and respect that.
What your answer has given me is something slightly different anyway. After spending so long with The Cockney Canuck — discussing it, questioning Robbie, occasionally wanting to shake him, defending him, doubting Nathan and getting frustrated by his reticence and behaviour, worrying about Alex while also wishing I could be with him, blushing while imagining something with Rory, and trying to peer into all those spaces that Robbie himself cannot see — I think I have inevitably grown attached not only to the characters, but also to the human sensibility of the person who created them.
You are not Robbie — I promise I have finally got the message! — and his story is not your autobiography. But knowing now that those early chapters contain an honest reflection of something you really lived through makes them feel a little different to me. Perhaps what I recognised through Robbie was never your biography so much as something of your emotional memory.
I already feel a little nostalgic, and this damn story isn’t even over yet. When, sadly, it eventually is, perhaps I’ll dare to ask you one or two more things — only if you feel like answering them, and only if I’m not being too intrusive.
For now, thank you. And forgive this ridiculously long reply. I promise my future comments will be shorter — although, to be fair, this is partly your fault. After all these chapters, all these characters, all the questions you’ve left piling up in my head, and everything else you’ve poured into this story, I suppose there was only so much the dam could hold before it finally burst. So if all of this has suddenly come flooding out at you… well, you did help fill the reservoir. 🤭
Thank you for your answer, certainly, but even more for everything you have given me — and all of us — through this story.
And yes, duly noted: not Cobourg. (Although now I’m wondering how on earth you ever picked that particular town… 🤔🤷‍♂️🤣)
The Artful Dodger indeed. 🎩
Take care — perhaps one day I’ll be able to add “my friend” to that. 🙂
 

P.S. Since AI has also found its way into the final chapters of your story — and into some of our comments — I should probably add one small note of transparency. As I’ve mentioned before, I use AI to help translate what I write in Italian. My English simply isn’t good enough to carry across all the nuances I would like it to, especially from a language as complicated, expressive and emotionally layered as Italian can be.
For all the risks and questions surrounding AI, I think this is one of its undeniable benefits: it can help bridge a linguistic gap between people who might otherwise struggle to communicate with the same depth and subtlety. The thoughts are mine, the feelings are mine, and unfortunately for you, so is the tendency to go on at ridiculous length 🤭 — AI just helps me carry them from one language into another as faithfully as possible.
I hope that, for you, Dodger, and also for those who read and sometimes join in through their comments, this has made our conversations a little richer and more enjoyable.
IAN™ 😂🤖

14 hours ago, Dodger said:

 I was a troubled teenager, petulant and argumentative, and not an easy person to live with. Some of these traits can be seen in Robbie, but I lacked his quick wit and wasn’t as sociable. I also like to think I’m smarter than Robbie, although some would argue otherwise. 

Thanks for sharing some insight into the "Artful Dodger"    This is and has been my most favorite story on this site.   I have often wondered how much of Robbie's experience is a reflection of the author's life experiences.     I think you helped answer that question by maybe exposing more of yourself than you might really feel comfortable with - so thanks for sharing with us.

One thing I've noticed from this quote is that both you and Robbie are fearless in your self criticism.   Both of you look at your actions and assess them (maybe a bit too harshly) without protecting your egos.   That is one of Robbie's characteristics that shows up over and over throughout the story.   Even when he is engaging in his scheming manipulations - he is really honest with himself about it.   I don't think he ever lies to himself to justify his actions.     That's a really admirable trait that it appears you both seem to share.

Just as a side note - Robbies quick witted asides really are an integral part of the story and way too fun read.   You may not have had that skill as a kid but you certainly have it now and it is super generous of you to give Robbie the credit for it 

Thanks again for creating this great work and sharing a bit of the personal stuff.   After so many chapter and so many years - I think I can say we all know (and love ) Robbie but it is also nice to get to know a little about the person holding the pen 😁