*Magnify*
SPONSORED LINKS
BY ONLINE AUTHORS
Printed from https://www.writing.com/main/profile/reviews/simply2020/sort_by/r.review_creation_time DESC/page/8
Review Requests: OFF
631 Public Reviews Given
639 Total Reviews Given
Review Style
Casual, honest, sometimes blunt. If you don't want the truth don't ask me. I do try to be nice, but I will tell you what I think.
I'm good at...
I'll read your story and let you know how it makes me feel. I don't mind spending time providing details of what works or doesn't and provide suggestions for the author's consideration. Grammar is important but I'm not a real stickler. Spelling though, at least use spell check.
Favorite Genres
I'll read many genres if your story grabs me.
Least Favorite Item Types
Poetry, interactives.
I will not review...
I'll read most things. If I don't think I can, I'll let you know.
Public Reviews
Previous ... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 -8- ... Next
176
176
Review of April Winds  
Review by Simply
Rated: E | (4.5)
Hello Prosperous Snow!

I read your poem April Winds and truly enjoyed it. I'm not a massive poetry fan, but I liked this. I especially liked the fact that you included information about the form at the bottom. This was interesting to me because my knowledge of poetry forms is just about nil.

Once I read the information you provided I went back and counted the syllables -- I didn't think that it wouldn't be right, but I just wanted to do it on my own! It helped me to understand why you might have chosen certain words to make this work.

All that said, I found the images very vivid and could see the messy results of the April winds and was shivering by the end.

Thank you very much for sharing this.

All the best,

simply
177
177
Review of What once was  
Review by Simply
Rated: E | (3.5)
Hi Mrwriter!

I read your story, What once was.

You did a good job showing us this couples feelings for each other. We could tell they were really close and in love with each other.

I'm afraid the ending didn't do a lot for me. It was just too much of a slap in the face for my personal tastes (only my opinion and food for thought).

I was really confused by the sister being so upset.

Maybe if there had been some foreshadowing that William liked horses and maybe Jake didn't .... Why does Jake blame himself ... what did he do?

Any way if you choose to make changes, I'll be happy to read it again!


Keep on writing. All the best,

simply
178
178
Review of Pro-Gay Rights  
Review by Simply
Rated: E | (4.5)
Hello Marc!

Not so sure about this being a review, but I did find your topic interesting and important. I think your points are valid.

Frankly when i read about what happened in California, I was very surprised at the outcome. I truly (and obviously incorrectly) thought that the people there were more forward thinking. I am a straight Canadian woman, but I believe that gays/lesbians have the right to live and love and marry just like I do. Who am I to decide what is best for you?

I work for a major bank here and I personally know managers that are gay, in some case their partners also work for us! The gays/lesbians here have a support group within the bank to help anyone who needs their help or a safe place to land so to speak. The bank helps to fund this group like they do any others.

Quite honestly as I sit and write this I feel rather odd. Somehow it doesn't feel right to me to even have to say these things about gays/lesbians. I know it's necessary to help foster acceptance and understanding. But I still find it extremely sad that we even have to do it in this day and age. I'd have thought by now, people might have learned to just live together.

I'm sorry it isn't that way.

Thanks again for an excellent essay. I hope people will read and open their minds.

All the best

simply
179
179
Review by Simply
Rated: ASR | (4.0)
Hi Rufus:

I thought I'd drop by to read something of yours, since you've been so kind to visit me!

I had to think about this one. Not that I didn't like it because I did. I thought the writing was very good and that this little story flowed well. Didn't notice anything clunky and no horrible grammar problems, that I'd manage to notice!! Not my strongest suit.


No, I had to think about this to wonder if I could feel it. Seems a bit excessive to bring the wind and destroy a house and your man because he wasn't into your cat. That said, cat lovers can be fierce! And well a pissed off woman can be a force to reckon with.

There I've talked myself into feelin' it!!

Thanks for posting this Rufus, it was a fun read.


All the best,

simply
180
180
Review of My Demons  
Review by Simply
Rated: 13+ | (4.0)
Hello Lobovoraz! Thanks for posting this. I am happy to offer the follow review. I hope it's helpful.


*Reading* What I liked: I liked the descriptions of the demons. I thought that you described them well, I could feel their ugliness and feel their presence.


*Pencil* Technical Stuff: Nothing glaring that I could see.


*QuestionG* Suggestions: Just a little thing.

I could not see his face but for a wide hat on his head.

*Heart* Loved that you chose to embrace your Anger...excellent.

All the best,

simply *Vignette5*
181
181
Review of IF ONLY...  
Review by Simply
Rated: E | (4.5)
Hi Joy:

This is just wonderful. Short and sweet and fun.

Thanks for the opportunity to read it!!

All the best,

simply *Vignette5*
182
182
Review of Trick or Tweet  
Review by Simply
Rated: 13+ | (4.5)
Hello Tom Buck:

Wow. Just holy-wow, Tom Buck. This was so cooool. A great read, lots of imagination and you've incorporated ideas we're talking about in today's world. And how many sci fi stories have come true a few years after they have been written? Ideas that become reality.

All I can say other than what I've already said is, I hope that you're wrong.

Thanks so much for a very entertaining read.

All the best,

simply *Vignette5*
183
183
Review of Permeation  
Review by Simply
Rated: 18+ | (4.5)
Hello Elemenopy:

Loved this piece, brilliantly written and loved the style. Didn't expect or suspect the ending when I first started to read it. But it's so interesting and well done that you MUST read it all...and be pulled into the the madness.

Thanks for the opportunity to read it.

all the best


simply *Vignette5*
184
184
Review of When I Die  
Review by Simply
Rated: E | (4.0)
Hello Opit:

Thanks for sharing this, it seems like an opinion rather than a short story, however, I thought this was well written.

Your thoughts are presented well and your proof was evident. I think your argument is persuasive. I'm not sure it's what I think, but like I say it's persuasive.

Thank you for sharing, it's food for thought.

All the best,

simply
185
185
Review of Indebted  
Review by Simply
Rated: E | (4.0)
Hello strlcuckoo:

Thank you for sharing this. I don't know a lot about poetry technically.

I thought this was a nice poem. It's a lovely way to thank your parents for what they did for you. And yeah, you're right, it's a debt that none of can repay.

Thanks for sharing this.

All the best,
simply
186
186
Review by Simply
Rated: 13+ | (4.0)
Hello bumblegrum!

This was very nice and frankly I would have sworn that it was written by a young boy. I felt like giving him a hug and telling him it is okay to cry when you best friend dies.

I don't know how the monologue/stream of consciousness thing is supposed to work or look. But I can tell you this worked for me.
187
187
Review of Ocean Boy  
Review by Simply
Rated: E | (4.0)
Hello writerpenman:

It's me I admit, but I normally don't 'get' a lot of poetry. But I got this and enjoyed it. Your description of the water, waves, and the sand castle construction and ultimate destruction were great. I could hear the ocean, smell the salt water and hear the children's laughter.

I'm afraid I don't have a lot of constructive criticism to offer as I don't know a lot about the technical side of poetry, but I can tell you that I liked this very much.

Thanks for the opportunity to read your work.

All the best,

simply
188
188
Review of The Sound  
Review by Simply
Rated: 13+ | (4.5)
Hello Tom.

Thank you for sharing this terrific story. I enjoyed it. I felt main character was well fleshed out and he felt real to me. I liked him. I thought this flowed well and it was amusing. If felt like an I Love Lucy episode with all the physical comedy, mess and trouble. Your descriptions brought the words to life, as they say, it was easy to picture everything in my head.

I'm going to have a look see at your other offerings in the near future.

Thanks again for a fun read.

All the best,

simply
189
189
Review of Greatness  
Review by Simply
Rated: E | (2.5)
Hello Ianie drows: Thank you for the opportunity to read this offering. I like the idea here and I think I understand what you are trying to tell me. Though I find it a shade too vague, for me. Now I don't think that you need to slap me in the face with the details but as I was reading I felt I had to re-read because I thought I must have missed something. For example, I have no idea what he did or said to Mrs. Potts to shake her up so.

Skipping to the end, I don't really know how I ended up here witness to the electric chair (I am assuming that's what is happening), there just seems to be too many details I have to fill in on my own.

I hope this is somewhat helpful. I think that this can really work and I look forward to reading more.

Thank you again.

simply
190
190
Review of Over & Down  
Review by Simply
Rated: 13+ | (2.5)
Hello ShatteredMirror. Thank you so much for sharing you work. I liked the idea of this story and frankly would be happy to read more but I feel that it just needs a bit more polishing. Some of it, though I read it several times, didn't always make sense to me. As well parts were a bit rough to read and a little confusing and I thought at times some words were missing that would make this flow better.

Still all that can be fixed with careful editing and punctuation.

The characters weren't too bad though it maybe helpful to give them more depth, so we feel more for them. More information about them inside not just what's happening to them.

I hope that you will continue with this story, as I did enjoy the idea.

Thank you again...please keep writing!!!

All the best,

simply
191
191
Review of Sting of my Spawn  
Review by Simply
Rated: 18+ | (4.5)
Hello Wenston: Oh this story was very yummy. Like a gobstopper that just tastes better and better as you get closer to the end. I liked that this was familiar but new as well, not your typical vampire story here.

I liked Kyle, though only seventeen he came across as a caring individual who'd learned at the school of hard knocks. Jon was believable as the suffering but soft centred Dhampir. The vampyr was great, sneaky and dangerous.

The story carried me along, it flowed very well. It was never awkward or hard to believe.

Great stuff, thank you.

All the best,

simply
192
192
Review by Simply
Rated: 18+ | (4.5)
Hello.

Thank you for offering this amusing story.

While it didn't make me guffaw (probably for the best really), I was certainly amused and had a few grins along the way. I enjoyed both of the characters and felt they were real to me. Though I could do without actually meeting Quex.

It certainly worked and I could see the smoking green muse with the scrawny neck trying to extort the author out of future recognition.

Lots of fun, thanks again!!

simply
193
193
Review of I'm Sorry I'm...  
Review by Simply
Rated: E | N/A (Review only item.)
Aw, so much pain. What a world, where we make people who don't fit the so called norm, hate themselves, make them feel wrong and not connected. It's horrible and sad that we can't even discuss this stuff with the people who love us most. Even though I can't rate this one, I'll give it a mental 4.5.

Another well written and thoughtful piece.

Regards,

simply
194
194
Review by Simply
Rated: 13+ | (3.5)
Hello. Thank you for sharing this. I like the idea you have here.

I am not trying to be negative, and hope that you will see the following as positives in the long run.

I think it will benefit if you flesh out the characters some more. They all seem kind of one dimensional and I didn't like, or dislike them. Also I had some trouble with all the stuff they carried, like just having potatos (why not find them in a garden along the way?) Why would he save a big bag of lint? Would anyone who was planning to leave to survive possibly on his own with just his dog, really leave guns behind? That makes no sense to me.

If these guys were survivalists, maybe make that clearer to us. They would be more organized-lighters packed in an organized way, not in a big bag. Give us more about their feelings and emotions to help the reader get closer to them and understand the reasons they are doing what they are doing. What happened 11 years ago?
I think this could be a great story, and this is a good start! Keep on writing!

all the best!
simply

let me know if you want me to look at your next draft!!!
195
195
Review by Simply
Rated: ASR | (4.0)
Hello, I think this was a lovely piece. Your Grandmother would have loved it. Based on what you've written I'm sure that she knew how you felt about her. I wrote the eulogy for my Mother, she died last year. It was hard, but I'm so glad that I did it.

It's nice to be able to go back and read those things that are most important to you, especially if you didn't know they would be. As well, you can leave that for your children. I know when my Mom died, I didn't want things or money...I wanted something that she'd written. A note or card but there wasn't anything. So I've started a memory book for my son.

Thanks again for sharing this very lovely memory of your Grandmother.

simply
196
196
Review by Simply
Rated: 13+ | (5.0)
Hello. Thank you for offering this lovely poem. It is simple and touching. I really like the way you are reaching for answers and describe how life feels to a lot of people in so few words. If man is made in God's image, He is everyone of us. Thank you again for this wonderful piece.

simply
197
197
Review of Bed of Roses  
Review by Simply
Rated: E | (3.5)
Hello. This was a lovely piece. Sentimental and emotional. It made me wonder if you or someone close had been through something similar. I could feel the love the husband had for his deceased wife. Though I didn't get the same feeling about the relationship between the father and child. Not sure why but that section just didn't feel right to me and I felt a little uncomfortable reading it.
That said, I still think that this is a lovely piece full of sadness but also hope for this family's future.

Thank you,
simply
198
198
Review of The Troll Wife  
Review by Simply
Rated: 13+ | (4.0)
Hello! What a wonderful tale! It was a fun read and I enjoyed the whole thing. Sorry, I when I'm reading I'm more concerned about the story and am quite negligent with regard to any spelling or grammar issues, I hope you can forgive me!!! Anyway, I hope to read more of your entertaining stories.

simply
199
199
Review by Simply
Rated: E | (4.0)
Hi, I liked this look at Dylan. I read it twice and I think I'll come back again because I think I need time to let this settle in my head. I know that sounds weird but there is more here than what you simply read the first time through. This flows well, it's not 'easy' to read because like I say it there is a lot to take in. Thank you very much for this very interesting and well written piece.
199 Reviews · *Magnify*
Page of 8 · 25 per page   < >
Printed from https://www.writing.com/main/profile/reviews/simply2020/sort_by/r.review_creation_time DESC/page/8