16 Comments

Alice, I’m so pleased we ran into each other as I wouldn’t have had this opportunity to read your wonderfully written narrative. Your writing is vivid and heartfelt. I want more, and will look forward to it arriving in my inbox.

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Thanks for this, Alice. Loved it - my mother was a British war bride, so I can relate to some culture shock at school. Your chapter reminded me of when we moved into our new house in 1957. Thanks for posting this and for your excellent writing. Look forward to your next chapter!

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Thank you for your eyes that see all the details...Love the peach bathroom fixtures and the avocado formica. The interior experience wouldn't be the same to read about without all these great details.

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I am so looking forward to chapter two. It will be tough waiting a whole week!

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Alice, I love the way you are able to evoke that feeling of being a child, the impressions and reactions, while also looking at that child and those experiences from your perspective now. And the image of those six little feet - precious!

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Another reason to look forward to the weekend....A meaningful story to unfold. Although it does leave me a little impatient wanting to read more of your story this morning. This format of storytelling reminds me of how we used to watch TV - our favourite show, once a week.

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A great idea to feed your readers (fans) one chapter a week! It allows us to absorb the fine details: the shoes, the raspberry bushes, Marie Curie, the criss-crossed Bobby pins, your inner thoughts... The weekly installment also keeps us in suspense!

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Alice, thank you for the generosity of your storytelling and sharing. The images you conjure are clear, evocative and nostalgic for this 80y.o. reader. English is my first language but I also moved to Canada from England in 1967 as a 24 year old and then to Australia in 1971. The immigrant experience, though not the same as yours, still is a journey of tricks, mishaps, and triumphs for many. The children of immigrants, as you so well describe, are the ones who negotiate, adapt their language and are sensitive to their parents’ mis-steps. Thank you, I’m enjoying your writing greatly.

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Thank you for your generous comment and for reading.

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Thank you, Alice. So many compelling images - the flannel pants under a dress, the unwrapped babka, the visit of the school nurse... Your keen insights resonate deeply. I look forward to next Saturday!

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Thanks Sari. I do appreciate your support on my journey!

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Thank you for writing this Alice.It is so beautiful and sensitively written.I remember when I was on the street car with my mother who kept talking in Swedish to me and how upset I was.I , of course,wanted to be like everyone else.I am really looking forward to yout book

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Thank you Alice for the insight as to how a young immigrant child can feel and want so much to fit in!

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You write for all of us Alice! I look forward to your book. How we longed to fit in! However when my friends began to search for themselves, as I remember the phrase from my early 20s. I knew who I was & was becoming. What a gift!

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Beautiful! I can’t wait to buy the book. It will be a great addition to the shop at Canada’s Museum of Immigration at Pier 21.❤️

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Writing like this Alice is an act of bravery. You continue to lead by example. I will carry the picture of those six little feet in your car, in my mind, forever.

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