Comment from Pearl Edwards

Excellent

Well this guy must have a story to tell about how he got himself into the state he is in. This is different, Jim, showing us the rock bottom view, dirty washing and all, with his unending pain taking its toll. Interesting to see where you are taking us,
Cheers
Valda

 Comment Written 05-Jun-2024

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reply by the author on 05-Jun-2024

Thanks, Valda. Yes, this story will be different with a main character who may not be quite as likable as others I have written about. He is definitely flawed, but let's see if he can extricate himself from the hole he is in.

Comment from joann r romei

Excellent

This was well written and pain meds are so very addicting that anyone reading this will agree. Hopefully one day there will be a newer medication that doesn't incapacitate the person suffering with debilitating pain.

 Comment Written 05-Jun-2024

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reply by the author on 05-Jun-2024

Thanks very much for reading and reviewing the prologue to this story, joann. You've touched on the major theme here: finding an extremely effective but non-addictive painkiller. Will such a thing ever be possible: having one without the other? We'll see.

Comment from LJbutterfly

Excellent

This new protagonist is totally different from the one in your last novel. This young man knows he has reached rock bottom, but before he can rise, he must find himself. If he discontinues drugs, how will he deal with pain? He has a long road to travel to reach normality.

 Comment Written 04-Jun-2024

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reply by the author on 05-Jun-2024

Hi, Lorraine. Yes, very different characters. I plan to discuss two of life's great motivators in this story: pleasure and pain. I hope you enjoy the ride.

Comment from Ulla

Excellent

Hi Jim, so you have started a new book and to me it seems like it will be about an addiction and how to overcome it. So far he appears to be rather self destructive. We'll see. Ulla:)))

 Comment Written 04-Jun-2024

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reply by the author on 04-Jun-2024

Hi Ulla. This new story will deal with the conflicting stimuli of pleasure and pain and the role each one plays in our lives. Only when he discovers all the ramifications will he be able to move forward again with his life.

He is a flawed character and is definitely self-destructive as you mention--nothing like Alan in my last novel. He has a lot of learning to do if he wants to succeed in life.

Comment from Brenda Strauser

Excellent

Some people on hoarders get like this. Your story is well written and very descriptive of hitting rock bottom. I often wonder how hard it would be to pull yourself back after you are in this state. Very good job. I enjoyed reading this.

 Comment Written 04-Jun-2024

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reply by the author on 04-Jun-2024

Thank you very much for your nice review, Brenda. At the bottom of the abyss, like he is right now, he doesn't care about anything other than the extreme pleasure of the high and the lack of pain. I hope to explore the role each of these plays in our lives--pleasure and pain--and how they guide our actions.

Comment from lancellot

Excellent

Hmm, I'm seeing that this may be a drug addiction and mental health story. Now, for those dealing with those issues, they will follow and understand. For others, this lacks impact in the beginning. The prologue is just him describing his world/ home and feelings.

But if just for FS, it will work fine.

 Comment Written 04-Jun-2024

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reply by the author on 04-Jun-2024

Probably true, but there are few among us who have not dealt with some sort of addiction at some point in our lives, be it overeating, playing computer games, watching porn, or whatever. This story will primarily be about psychological addiction rather than physical addiction and explore the influences of both pleasure and pain in our lives.

Comment from Wendy G

Exceptional

Excellent writing and a most intriguing beginning. I was wondering if he was going to drug himself to death at first, but it seems not. I have to wonder about more details of his backstory and how he will get himself together in the future. Unlikely to be a straightforward story but it sounds intriguing.
Very well written.
Wendy

 Comment Written 04-Jun-2024

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reply by the author on 04-Jun-2024

Thanks so much, Wendy, and I really appreciate the 6 stars. Part 1 will be the backstory of how he got to this point in his life, while Part 2 will be the way forward in the present.

I'll be exploring the roles of pleasure and pain in our lives and the way they affect our behavior.

Comment from Dolly'sPoems

Exceptional

Oh my goodness, this guy is in a terrible mess and these terrible situations gradually take its toll until there seems to be no hope anymore. Is this your new book Jim? A writer falling on hard times? Picking over the bones of a life gone wrong could help this guy get back on track, or not! A fine post, love Dolly x x x

 Comment Written 03-Jun-2024

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reply by the author on 04-Jun-2024

Thanks so much for reviewing this and for giving it the 6 stars, Dolly. This indeed is my new novel which I'm in the process of writing. I've only written 6 chapters so far, and there's no clear plan of how it will proceed.

In part 1, I'm planning to show what led him to this terrible mess he is in. Part 2 will bring us back to the present, and I haven't decided just yet what's going to happen then. Hopefully he'll get his life back on track, but you never know!

Comment from lyenochka

Excellent

Sounds like a great start - when at "rock bottom" there's no place but to go UP. You got us curious about what is this drug that he created. But it also is overshadowed by the horrors of addiction. I know you give us happy endings so I hope he can reconcile his relationships.

 Comment Written 03-Jun-2024

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reply by the author on 04-Jun-2024

Thanks, Helen. I'm still developing this tale in my mind, but one of the key themes will be the role of both pleasure and pain as motivators in our lives and how addiction plays into things. A lot of research and self-analysis will go into this one.

Comment from Thesis

Excellent

Hi Jim, this story had just the right mix of confusion and madness, that caught my attention. I want to follow along on this journey to see what answers can be found here.

 Comment Written 03-Jun-2024

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reply by the author on 04-Jun-2024

Thanks, Thesis. I hope to be able to provide some of those answers. Part 1 will be devoted to what led him to this low point, while hopefully we'll get some of those answers in Part 2.

reply by Thesis on 04-Jun-2024

I'm looking forward to it.