Brilliantly written, totally amazing, astonishingly sad. Wonderful job. Keep up the great work. I cannot wait to see what else you've come up with...

You wrote this story for me too, am I thank you for that.

I would normally wait until the last chapter to write, but I found the description of Alberta's experience at the funeral to be so amazingly well done that I wanted to take a moment to mention it before moving on to the rest of the story. The description of Susan's face, the rejection of the traditional words of comfort ('Where is death's sting...'), the feeling of the emptiness of words in the face of such loss... You wrote this incredibly well. It made me feel so sad for all those who don't know Jesus and have to face a funeral without hope.

Okay, on to the next chapter...

This is EXCEPTIONALLY well done, especially the layering that Alberta is simultaneously an intellectual (and a social!) snob, and yet is intellectually completely dependent upon her husband's guidance and undiscerning about Pevensie abilities (it is not lost on this reader that Jill Pole and Eustace Scrubb are headed toward a substantively more egalitarian relationship than his mom actually has with his dad, as you've depicted it).

This work was recommended by RTh Stewart, and I'm grateful to her and to the author. It was clearly worthy the prize it received.

Clio1792

Brillant. Admitted I've now spent the whole of Tuesday morning in tears because this is so wonderfully emotional with being tacky that I couldn't help but cry over Alberta's grief. Nice.

I'm sorry I've waited until now to post my public review. Your resolution to the story is so impressive. For one thing, it's beautifully written, with an eye for just the right visual detail, an ear for dialogue, and just the right pacing. How wonderful that you don't take Alberta past where she would get in such a profound realization, especially given her character and previous outlook. This isn't Lucy, after all, or even Susan. Alberta ends where she should, with an openness and a sense of anticipation that reminds me of the Keats phrase "a wild surmise."

You wisely show that it's largely Alberta's love for Eustace (and his remembered love for her and Harold) that carries her this far. In that regard, I'm glad you show how deeply and now painfully both Harold and Alberta do love Eustace. Just because they're "vegetarians, nonsmokers, and teetotalers" and live advanced, modern lives and hang Cubist paintings in their homes doesn't mean that they are cold fish.

One really powerful effect you achieve is to make Eustace compelling not by presence but by absence. He springs up before our very eyes all through the story, not just in flashbacks but in the current moment, when all we (and Alberta) can see is what Eustace has left behind.

Possibly one of the most beautifully fashioned conversion experiences I've read. I love the symbolism particularly, especially when contrasted/complemented with the mundanity of making breakfast. Wow. A gorgeous end to a thoughtful, intriguing, and affective story. Thanks so much!

*jaw drops to the floor* so...so...beautiful..._

I really liked Alberta's thoughts here, and the way that she has found something, though she still isn't sure of it yet. But she has taken her first step. A wonderful end to a great story! :)

Terrific work as always! Merry Christmas to you as well!

Ani-maniac494

Beautifully conceived and masterfully executed! The bit about the book and the hating also reminded me of a story from MacDonald's Wise Woman - it was the same principle, which is, I suppose, where Lewis got it, partly, and why it's also in Lilith. :)

I don't belive I've ever read through a chapter quite so reluctantly in my life. Not because it wasn't good - it was amazing, as always - but because I didn't (don't!) want it to be over! So good, and so very, very Alberta even to the last, even with all the changes she's undergone throughout the story.

I like it. We need a sequel. Where A journeys to Narnia.

YES PLEASE A MAMMOTH CHAPTER WOULD BE GREAT! Ahem...

Augh I can't wait to see where this ends, but at the same time, I don't want it to be over! Again, just...the consistent characterization of Millicent and Gladys and of course Alberta is fantastic. So many authors, I think, would have had Alberta become a Christian during the service but the way that you've done it is /so/ much more realistic.

I had no idea what Alberta was doing with string on the wall at first, but I LOVE the image of her trying to string together all of these names.

I didn't even think of what Harold's reaction to her journey (for lack of a better word) would be.

I picked up on a lot of symbolism in the first section with the repeated mentions of the fog. I was a little surprised at how many times you mentioned the fog, but it worked for me because you didn't come right out and say what the fog symbolizes (if it's a symbol at all; maybe I'm reading too much into it, haha).

Your Author's Note about Millicent made me laugh. You wrote Alberta's ongoing reactions to Millicent's "word vomit" really well.