tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3860883878498833405.post9132030350997462960..comments2023-07-15T08:26:48.031-07:00Comments on A novelist's blog: Mattie BighamRene Gutteridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11250746835571324935noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3860883878498833405.post-48906695036181496032012-06-15T22:31:30.763-07:002012-06-15T22:31:30.763-07:00this reminds me of a picture that has been floatin...this reminds me of a picture that has been floating around pinterest and facebook lately. "Don't judge me because I sin differently than you do." So true. And you gave your kids a great lesson with the Big Gulp/cigarettes talk. A story like Escapement brings something out of all of us, whether we choose to see that we can relate, or whether we choose to pretend that we don't. Mattie is an important character and I'm glad you chose to let him have his 7 hours. :-)Kahrihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14374131306333874875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3860883878498833405.post-47240996741700167422012-06-15T21:30:56.681-07:002012-06-15T21:30:56.681-07:00I read Escapement last week... trying to be crypti...I read Escapement last week... trying to be cryptic for those who have not read it yet:) I was sad that when faced with imminent death, he chose to spend the time on negative pursuits. How could someone need to call others to task for making them unhappy? I found myself saying "how sad, if I had limited time on earth, I would spend it doing something loving and positive". But how we spend our days when there is no expectation of death is our reality. Whether I have 7 hours or 70 years... what am I putting all my energy into.<br />As you say, Rene, we all have issues (stuff) and meeting a character like Matty confronts us. I recently gained weight through medication side effects and was shocked to see how differently strangers treated me. Not looking me in the eye or even engaging with me at all sometimes! Then as the weight has been dropping again, it just as quickly changed. I can't imagine what it must be like for someone carrying so much extra weight.<br />Escapement is a reminder for us all to not let other's opinions/actions determine who we are. Bullies only transfer pain to their sufferers. The pain starts in their hearts. When we realise this, it becomes less impacting on our self esteem. It's all about transference. We need to be mindful of what we transfer on to others too.<br />If I could speak to Matty today I'd say "It doesn't matter what others think of you. That counts for nothing. What you think about yourself is what matters. Meanness always come from within and is about the perpertrator, not the victim."<br />Thanks for Matty and Escapement, Renee. It was a good, thought provoking read with lots of mirrors throughout. Oh and I wouldn't worry about offending:) It's good to shake people up;)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00708151278788908704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3860883878498833405.post-30136963876907811392012-06-15T14:04:10.883-07:002012-06-15T14:04:10.883-07:00Yes, I think we all want to see ourselves better t...Yes, I think we all want to see ourselves better than others and above the ills that we see in others, but deep down, we're all much alike. We can all be selfish and insecure people. When we see someone's negative side it makes us very uncomfortable. I think this could be a good read because it could make us see the things in ourselves that we need to improve so that we don't go down a dark road like Mattie.Josiah's Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01399611840987531821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3860883878498833405.post-83063214439067911932012-06-15T13:55:56.770-07:002012-06-15T13:55:56.770-07:00I'm excited to read Escapement. I think Mattie...I'm excited to read Escapement. I think Mattie sounds like a brilliant character, painfully relatable, maybe just what people need to read. <br /><br />I am very much looking forward to reading your books and following what you have to say about writing in general - you've really inspired me already!Mickaelahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15998645965686375905noreply@blogger.com