davidbirch.bsky.social
Worked in education and mostly taken up with poetry these days: you can find some of my poems at https://wildfire-words.com/?s=David+Birch. Loves walking, reading, theatre, music and village cricket. Lives in East Devon. Also at @tiptontimes.bsky.social
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Yes, absolutely. It's a painful read, sure, and searing at times. The images of restraint, control and helplessness are so powerful and immediate.
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Thank you, Peter! Much appreciated, especially the constructive feedback. I'll look at it again...
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My pleasure, Andy
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Yes, as I recall Bob carries on the relationship with the girls but in Dunbar's original play he gets one of them pregnant and marries her, leading to a split in their friendship
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Yes, i thought of that film too!
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My goodness, what an ending (and brilliant build-up to it). A horrifying magnification of so many teacher/pupil interactions
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My goodness, Jane, this is powerful: the insistent rhythm and repetitions of the ultimately horrifying red, blue and green hit hard
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This is great, Paul - the sins were never deadlier!
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There's a significant emotional hinterland implied here. Your hard work paid off, Andy!
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Lovely tone here, Sue, and such a clever ending. Somehow the brown uniform explains everything....
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I love the rise and fall of the structure as it builds, retreats and ends with a lovely note of defiance
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Thanks, Carolyn, for such a considered and thoughtful response. Much appreciated!
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Many thanks, Alan - much appreciated!
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"You wear your God like armour": that's a line to unpack! 👏
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My pleasure, Paul, as always
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This is great, Glenn. I've got something about casting stones brewing but I'm struggling to realise it...
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Direct, simple and powerful. This hits the mark beautifully 👏
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Somehow this captures the ambivalence I've always felt about the novel
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The sense of the uncontrolled and explosive combined with all the tactile images of restraint make this a compelling read. I love all the other comments it's prompted!
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I love "golden bowl or poopy pants"! It just encapsulates the total disregard the man has for anything inches beyond his feeble reach
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This is great - the young on their start lines and me also running down the clock. So true...
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Tough and gristly language with a touch of insouciance! Love it....
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Thanks very much for the thoughtful feedback!
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Thanks, Sue!
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Thank you! Much appreciated
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Thank you Jan - very generous and thoughtful feedback
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Many thanks! I still have nightmare's about my Mum's clippers
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Thank you!
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This seems to be striking a fair few chords, Sue. There's an elderly chap who watches me shave intently every morning...