The headwaters of a promising effort! Relatable characterizations, and good layering of inner and outer conflict: my head was buzzing with character hypotheses as I finished, and it feels like you've stuck onto something true here. I'm eager to see what fortunes and setbacks await Able in the chapters to come 🤠
The "bleak and mordant ways" we have of speaking about our kids outside of class, despite the deep care we have for them - and how shocking it is to the young teachers - was an especially well-rendered detail.
Thank you Cameron! You always commit to close reads--I'm honored. If you liked the tension between the 'bleak and mordant ways' teachers have of speaking and the deep care we have for our students, I think you'll like the rest of the novel!
I'm already loving this novel in progress! I can't wait to get caught up on all the other chapters published here so far too. I've never taught high school before, but I have taught developmental reading and writing courses at the college level where the students acted like they were still in high school. Most of them were only at our private midwestern college to play sports. They didn't care about anything else. I worked through the Trio department and not English, but I did get written up and sent to HR for teaching real books: "Fahrenheit 451" and "The Great Gatsby" instead of the young adult novel my boss wanted: "The Hate U Give."
I just finished the whole book (had to buy it, far too impatient too read drip-feed) and *it is excellent* and there are some beautiful scenes and people, some cringey and genuinely tragic and embarrassing situations all the way through. Is he Able, by the end? I'm still not sure ... But I hope he prevails.
Gripped and in! I prefer to read in one greedy immersive gulp and by e-reader. Naaaaaasty Amazon is telling me I can't kindle this from UK. Do you think that'll be fixed soon? (No way will I buy ink and paper). Anyway, I'm off to chapter 2 now. Enjoying the pace, the narrator set-up, and the promise of misery-and-joy.
Caroline--Oh no! I just checked my Amazon UK site and I'm showing that this is available for instant download. Reboot and try again? I also have the book available for the Kobo ereader, if you have access to that, and you can order the ink and paper from Barnes & Noble or Bookshop.org if you'd rather not support Amazon. Hoping this is just a temporary glitch and you can get your ereader copy asap!
Hey, I’m intrigued at the way you layer people with school politics with experience/inexperience with jock-life and then the narrator’s soul. All in the shadow of a death.
And, I dig that whole transference scene with Bryce.
What a day to read this, as I consider the idea of doing some teaching myself. This felt real, really well observed, and had a great opening location. It really focused on the complex out-of-school world teachers have to navigate. Is it wrong you had me at Garret? I still find it odd that my last name is a first name over the pond. I look forward to reading the rest.
The headwaters of a promising effort! Relatable characterizations, and good layering of inner and outer conflict: my head was buzzing with character hypotheses as I finished, and it feels like you've stuck onto something true here. I'm eager to see what fortunes and setbacks await Able in the chapters to come 🤠
The "bleak and mordant ways" we have of speaking about our kids outside of class, despite the deep care we have for them - and how shocking it is to the young teachers - was an especially well-rendered detail.
Thank you Cameron! You always commit to close reads--I'm honored. If you liked the tension between the 'bleak and mordant ways' teachers have of speaking and the deep care we have for our students, I think you'll like the rest of the novel!
Can't wait to see where it goes! I appreciate your style and command of craft - truly thought-provoking stuff 👏
I'm already loving this novel in progress! I can't wait to get caught up on all the other chapters published here so far too. I've never taught high school before, but I have taught developmental reading and writing courses at the college level where the students acted like they were still in high school. Most of them were only at our private midwestern college to play sports. They didn't care about anything else. I worked through the Trio department and not English, but I did get written up and sent to HR for teaching real books: "Fahrenheit 451" and "The Great Gatsby" instead of the young adult novel my boss wanted: "The Hate U Give."
This went hard AF in the paint. You fake elites need to go teach. And I ain't talking about TFA either, suckas.
I had to go read the Langston Hughes poem. Beautiful poem and beautiful chapter.
Everyone should be so lucky as to have readers like you--so glad you liked it and that I helped you find the Hughes poem. Thank you!
Yay. Kindle via phone told me it was only USA available, but searching by using the actual Kindle brought it up. Weekend sorted!
Outstanding! I’m thrilled that you’ll be reading my book!
I just finished the whole book (had to buy it, far too impatient too read drip-feed) and *it is excellent* and there are some beautiful scenes and people, some cringey and genuinely tragic and embarrassing situations all the way through. Is he Able, by the end? I'm still not sure ... But I hope he prevails.
Gripped and in! I prefer to read in one greedy immersive gulp and by e-reader. Naaaaaasty Amazon is telling me I can't kindle this from UK. Do you think that'll be fixed soon? (No way will I buy ink and paper). Anyway, I'm off to chapter 2 now. Enjoying the pace, the narrator set-up, and the promise of misery-and-joy.
Caroline--Oh no! I just checked my Amazon UK site and I'm showing that this is available for instant download. Reboot and try again? I also have the book available for the Kobo ereader, if you have access to that, and you can order the ink and paper from Barnes & Noble or Bookshop.org if you'd rather not support Amazon. Hoping this is just a temporary glitch and you can get your ereader copy asap!
Gonna reboot and retry. Soon as this kindle does, I need to buy a Kobo!
Hey, I’m intrigued at the way you layer people with school politics with experience/inexperience with jock-life and then the narrator’s soul. All in the shadow of a death.
And, I dig that whole transference scene with Bryce.
Nicolas—thank you so much for this close read! I had a lot I wanted to do with the novel—I needed intimations of it all in the first chapter!
What a day to read this, as I consider the idea of doing some teaching myself. This felt real, really well observed, and had a great opening location. It really focused on the complex out-of-school world teachers have to navigate. Is it wrong you had me at Garret? I still find it odd that my last name is a first name over the pond. I look forward to reading the rest.
@S M Garratt — thrilled to have you as a reader! Thank you!
Hooked! On to Chapter 2.
Also, just wanted to point out a small typo at “our draconian actions of ou administration”.
Amy--thank you so much! I'll fix that right now!
Loved it. Looking forward to reading more.
Thrilled to be read and 'liked' by one of my favorite Substack English teachers--thank you Brandon!