Subject: Looking at 'Rosemary's Secret'.
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Posted on: 2015-03-05 11:27:00 UTC

Okay, I've had to check up on the book here (I've only read it once): Rosemary is the previous Receiver, who went crazy and had herself euthanised, right? Okay. But even knowing that... I can't really make head or tail of this piece.

It looks like all that happens is that Rosemary bumps into someone and gets chemicals spilled on her. But it's covered in a layer of... really strange writing.

I think the problem is that you were trying to lay two different effects on Rosemary at once. She's clearly 'zoned out' - she reads like the whole world is covered in something of a haze - but you're also going for an 'emotionless/logical/obedient' strain. And they... didn't combine that well.

Add to that the fact that I'm not really clear what's bothering her. That the Giver claims to be her father, apparently - only how does that lead to 'She was… she couldn't even describe it. Maybe it would come to her in a later memory. But for now…'?

Also, she can't identify the liquids on sight: but why would she expect to? I'unno, this is another place where misty/logical doesn't combine well.

So what could be done? I think you'd be best to extend it, and basically separate the two emotions. Show us 'logical Rosemary' at first, when she runs into Duncan, and then as their relationship-of-a-kind builds, have first her emotionless retreat, and then the vagueness come in to replace it. Obviously that would need a longer story, but that's what you seem to have been originally planning.

There are some things I liked. The 'unrelated to training' paragraph worked well, probably because it's the one place where 'vague' goes away. And... well, I like the premise. Rosemary, from what I recall (I've only read The Giver once), is a minor, off-page character - but one who went through exactly what the protagonist did. Written well, her story could cast new light on the theme of the book itself: a different point of view, if you will.

hS

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