Feed the Birds and Other Stories

Feed The Birds and... Dave Farrington 11/02/13

Hi Dave, Read your first three. Liked them and left a few comments.

Feeding The Birds.
Well crafted. Found that those first three paras gave me a sense/feeling which allowed me to step comfortably into Old Mrs Reilly's shoes. Then, as the story progresses I'm trying to back-track because eventually she demonstrates her 'evil' streak.
However, probably we all know of people who act in a similar but not quite so drastic, manner. For me, the key word is 'crafted.'

Rider's.
The Speaker for Rural Ireland. Again, someone we have met at some time – a real pain in the arse, completely cut off from those around him; unaware of the reality of living in rural 'Rural' Ireland – or any land. You've lost me on 'Rider's only a kip. What does it mean?

Tigers.
Another well crafted story. I like the way you portray Paddy's and Joe's lives revolving around different 'Tigers.' A whole gamut of emotions expressed by all characters, especially the sadness around Paddy's wife and the longing for grandchildren who don't appear. I get the feeling that Paddy offsets the downside of his life through his focus on golf.
The build up of Jenny's frustrations is recognisable. Maybe we all experience times like that.
Only a couple of things. The words 'nauseous and conciliatory' seem a bit out of place.

Yeah. For me, the short story is really a long story because it makes you think about the different strands. Thanks


Chris Sorting it Out.

Hi Dave,

I remembered enjoying reading “Cured” for the original Horror Critique Group and I was curious about this other book you wrote. I really liked “Grow Fins”. It was very sad – life only getting the old man down and his love not sharing his passion for the rain and tranquility of losing yourself in the water. I have wanted to die and be reborn as a free animal many times. “Tigers” was okay . . . the family seems so frustrated with each other. In case Joe, Jenny, and their kid wanted to know, ‘saber-toothed tigers’ is kind of a common fan name. They weren’t closely related to true tigers or any other surviving big cat today. The real name for them is ‘saber-toothed cats’. “Feed the Birds”, the first story, had to be my second favorite. As in real life, neighborhoods are filled with kids who have no idea of what is important to people and the true – emotional – damage they cause. The other three stories weren’t for me, but I enjoyed reading this book.

Kestrellian

I've read the first three stories and been very impressed. Feed the Birds is terribly sad, the disappointment of getting to the door and finding that it is not a visitor. Very realistic, the stupid kids not knowing how much misery they are causing, the over reaction to the nuisance, minor triumph of getting away with it then the nan not speaking to her. You don't take any easy options to get effect, very subtle stuff.
Enjoyed the humour of Riders, the discussion about enough and when do we want it, now and all the conversations about being attacked by stags are hilarious. My only problem is I don't really know what Riders is. I've heard of a book called that. Is it a film or tv series?
Enjoyed number 3 too. Again very realistic in looking at life but taking no easy sides and a ncie happy ending.
Really good stories and I will read the rest of them later. As someone else says below, these are better than anything I can write. ):

Grow fins went more into the literary but like all of the stories I have read from feathers you made me think. It was quite sad but where the relationship in Tigers was rescued at the end, the one in grow fins was beyond salvation.

When life gets me down I often dream of turning into an animal and leaving everything behind although I read a little suicide. Tempted to hear the Captain beefheart song now.

Another great short story. I'm still jealous I can't write them.

Maria

Tigers is good, a nice happy ending with Joe getting his priorities right. I read it as Paddy and Margaret being a good influence.

I have to say your short stories always get me thinking, you have a real gift for them. As I said previously I've always struggled to write them myself. I really wish I could.

Maria

If the message from riders is resistance to change, or way of life then I got it - Yay.

Only problem with the writing was the capitals in the first sentence (Rural Ireland Says Enough), I wasn't sure whether it was speech or not and it threw me a bit. I liked the realism in the characters and the story too. Good stuff, will read the others later.

Maria

I have tried to write short stories but never managed it so hats off to you. At the end of feed the birds the reader asks the question 'Did Mrs Reilly go too far?" which I predict could provoke arguments on both sides. She had endured a lot but scalding a child is serious business, even with a cast iron excuse.

Writing is fine, punchy and to the point and her voice was real. Well done.

Maria

Tigers is my favourite

I was very taken in by Grow Fins. It was strangely reminicent of Neil Gunn in a very good way. I liked the descriptive nature of it and felt that the lack of dialogue left it up to the imagination of the reader what the couple might talk about. The only critisism i would have of it, which isn't a very big one, is that like your play it could be longer. I think that longer descriptions of the landscape would suit the piece very well, making the landscape a character in itself, as I felt the loch to be a character.
Overall I enjoyed it and was left wondering at the end what would become of him, and what would become of his relationship with the woman.

I think the secret billionaire has a lot of promise for a longer piece. I think you could elaborate on some of the characters mentioned throughout and give scenes to these characters. It was highly amusing and delt with the theme of "very rich people giving away insignificant amounts of money to very poor people" well. I think the scene you have up here could be the first scene of the play and the other scenes could be flashbacks maybe with the presenter acting as a narrator. I'm off now to read one of your short stories.