My Angel; My Curse

Archer,

I have read what you have written so far. It filled me with more emotion and feeling than any written work has in months.

You are a brilliant narrator. I'm looking back now on your chapters, which I have uploaded to my Kindle. Here are a few things I'd like to applaud you for:

This has the potential to be one of the most powerful coming-of-age stories ever. You have a strong narrative voice, and your characters' dialog is pitch-perfect, reflecting an array of emotions and life situations, from expressing the trials of a shrewd younger sibling to giving a voice to a young woman aware of the unsettling racial divide in her community.

You've written out these first two chapters in a way that's reminiscent of Shakespearean tragedy. Berkeley, California is no "fair Verona," and that sets it apart, making it a more realistic, tangible setting. I realize this is your autobiography, but you have seemingly selected the most potent scenes from your experience: the urgent pulling over to the curb--and that abandoned storage building along with those long-neglected railroad tracks. God, what symbolism!

Keep using these symbols and writing out this story. The loss of a loved one--the MOST loved one is a story that so many people can resonate with. An angel and a curse, indeed.

Thank you for sharing, and please continue. You and Danielle are in my thoughts.

Posted 12 Years Ago