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Review #4746772
Viewing a review of:
 A Night to Remember Open in new Window. [E]
A short story of when i got to met my birth sisters for the first time.
by Jacqueline Author Icon
Review by . . . Jeremy Author IconMail Icon
In affiliation with WRITING.COMmunity Service  Open in new Window.
Rated: E | (4.0)
Access:  Public | Hide Review (?)


Hello Jacqueline!


You are receiving this review of "A Night to RememberOpen in new Window. in connection with "Anniversary ReviewsOpen in new Window. because you have an account anniversary this month! Time to celebrate with a review *Party*


*Candleb* Areas of Strength

*Bullet* You do a fantastic job of describing places and people. Two prime examples are the meticulous description of Margaret's well-kept flower beds and Catherine's yellow dress. Both provide a clear mental image greatly enhance the reading experience. When Catherine says, for instance, that her dress makes her think of "daffodils on a sunny spring day," it not only creates a vivid picture but also expresses her feelings and excitement for the evening. The idea of the house being "lit up like a Christmas tree" heightens the sentiment of coziness and warmth and sets the scene for Catherine and her sisters' reunion. Well done!

*Bullet* The story does a good job of capturing Catherine's emotional journey from anxious anticipation to relief to joy and a sense of belonging at the end. The scene in which Catherine finds out about her sisters' early life experiences is especially moving and gives the narrative and Catherine more foundation in reality because it make her relatable. For example, Catherine's tears running down her cheeks as her mascara smeared and her contemplation of her early years in the bathroom mirror both portray an honest and intense emotional moment. Readers can relate to the universal theme of family and the yearning for connection, which gives the story a deep emotional quality.

*Bullet* There's something genuine and emotional about the way that Catherine interacts with Penny, Jack, and her sisters. The natural dialogue between them and the well-developed character relationships add richness to the narrative. A sense of closeness and belonging is emotionally crafted with the tender embrace between Penny and Catherine and the consoling actions of Margaret and her family. The sisters' humor and companionship, which shine through when they discuss their early years and experiences, are endearing and strengthen their bonds and relatability to the reader.

*Bullet* You skillfully examine the theme of family, emphasizing the value of bonds and relationships. Catherine's desire to meet her sisters and the bond they form throughout the evening allows readers to experience a sense of warmth and belonging as they relate to her and her emotional journey to belong.

*Bullet* The last thing I wanted to commend as your pacing. The story moves along at a good clip, with suspense and tension rising just when it's needed, like when Catherine's car breaks down. This generates excitement and suspense and keeps us interested in Catherine's journey.


*Candlev* Areas For Improvement

*Bullet* There are times in the conversation between Catherine and Margaret when it's difficult to tell who is speaking, which causes confusion. Margaret says, "Come on let me introduce you to everybody," but it's unclear at first whether she's referring to Catherine or another person. Use dialogue tags or actions to designate the speaker to increase clarity. The lack of distinction and ability to tell who is speaking is also a reflection of the formatting issues with the story. The narrative is presented in awkward blocks of dialogue and prose separated by randomized breaks. I'd suggest an edit to reformat this story to make it easier to read. If a story presents as easier to read, you're more likely to have the story read and understood because reader's can focus more on the story you're trying to tell and being immersed in it rather than focusing on trying to discern what is happening and who is speaking because it's a jumbled mass of text.

*Bullet* Although Catherine is a well-developed character, there's room for improvement in terms of character development in other characters—Penny, Jack, and Mark. For instance, Mark is introduced as Beverley's partner, but other than a brief summary, not much is known about him. Think about adding more information about the histories, motivations, and personalities of these characters to enhance character development. This could be accomplished through conversation, character interactions, or introspection and contemplation.

*Bullet* A more controlled pace would be beneficial to the middle portion of the story when Catherine first meets her sisters and they discuss their experiences. Despite the rich content, the conversations and in-depth descriptions hinder the narrative's flow. Condensing some of the descriptions and dialogue to concentrate on significant events and exchanges could help the pacing. This will support the story's progression and help keep the reader interested. There are other areas where these descriptions can be sprinkled in to have the same effect for visualizing the scene.

*Bullet* It seems a little abrupt to go from Catherine's tearful bathroom moment to her reunion with her sisters. To link these two scenes more effectively, there could be a more seamless transition. Consider including a little reflection or internal monologue from Catherine as she collects herself in the restroom to enhance the transition. This could serve to balance the exhilaration of the reunion with the emotional intensity of the previous scene.

*Bullet* The story alternates between poignant and humorous moments, like when Catherine thinks back on her early years and the sisters laugh and tell tales to each other. Although this can make the story more intricate, there are times when the tonal changes come across as a little abrupt. Think about distributing the story's humorous and dramatic moments more fairly to preserve the consistency of the story's tone and its coherence. This will make the story more unified and captivating.



*Candleg* Overall Impression

All things considered, your story shares the touching story of Catherine's eagerly anticipated reunion with her sisters, highlighting themes of acceptance, forgiveness, and family. Catherine's emotional journey is well depicted in the story, from her anxious anticipation to her happy reunion with her adopted siblings. Readers who appreciate the significance of family ties will find resonance in the portrayal of strong familial ties and a sense of belonging. Furthermore, the narrative's evocative language effectively depicts the settings, enabling readers to fully enter Catherine's world and identify with her experiences.

The story could be made even more emotionally poignant and captivating with a little polish. You ought to keep investigating the intricate dynamics of family relationships and go more deeply into the backgrounds and motivations of the characters.

All in all, your story is promising and provides a poignant examination of the connections that bind us together.

Write on *Pencil*



*ConfettiV*          *Party*          *Cakeb*          *Party*          *ConfettiB*





DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed within this review are the sole product of the reviewer. They do not necessarily reflect those of the group, activity and/or event in which they are affiliated. Any implementation of suggested edits is at the sole discretion of the piece's writer; they may be used when and where deemed necessary by the writer of the piece and/or disregarded in their entirety. The reviewer releases any and all rights and/or claims to those suggestive edits should they be utilized by the writer of the piece.


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