What is your opinion?
Emotional
"Its a short story, but I spent half of it crying. My chicks are still damp and I can testify that it deeply moved me. It displays the horror and terror the human mind can inflict on oneself through the lenses of WW2. The most impressive feeling tho, is the one you get knowing they are realistic. I'm talking about depression and the kind of selflessness that Greek tragedies are made of. The heart-aching kind. You can also feel the earth-shattering love the protagonist feels. Truly amazing"
Selfless
"So, I have to say, that I loved this short story. It was hurtful, realistic (there were a lot of scenes, where I felt tears coming to my eyes, so thank you for these emotions). I loved to learn about Milos and Bohdan, their thought processes and lives. They had been nicely portrayed characters. Oh, and the play around with the title inside the story was really nice, how Selfless could have been attributed to both characters. It felt like an unspoken analysis of sorts. Thank you for sharing this with us, author! ^^ "
Excellent
"I was very moved by this and I like how you let us figure things out through the story without explicitly saying it - this is an excellent example of showing vs. telling. Really leaves you thinking afterwards, which are always the best kinds of stories. Only thing I would say is I think instead of having all your short stories as separate books, I would combine them all into one collection of short stories and then have each chapter be a different story. That way it'll reach more people! All in all, excellent work and I can't wait to see what you say about my story since you're clearly a very talented writer and I'd love your advice!"
A Poignant Masterpiece
"This is one of the most brilliant pieces of writing I've ever read. Reading over the letters nearly made me cry, and I felt that PTSD was portrayed accurately, and that is something that is rare in writing. Reading about how the protagonist felt a monster made my heart hurt. This story, to me, is a reminder of all that one could lose. "
Short, Profound
"This brief yet moving story hits all of the emotional beats. It made me cry but also it encapsulates the human spirit. Well done!"
A Great Love Story
"This reminds me of the novel Message from Nam, of love and war. It's a story of how war ruins everything. The anguish and depression, and this is one of the few times I've read a character who understands that going to war to fight and die does not prove you're strong, or that you are a man. It's a very grounded perspective and I loved every minute of it. My favourite part were the letters, that started off good, then just went downhill. It really depicted how the war affected Milos mentally. I enjoyed how I learnt about Bohdan's really serene personality through Milos' introspection, and how Milos was willing to go to war in his stead, so he would not be tainted, or possibly killed. It's an evergreen story, with an unexpected ending."
An intense heart-wrenching masterpiece
"This short story left me speechless. It tells a tale of love, hopelessness, depression, regret and guilt. It revolves around a lumberjack willing to go to war and risk everything for his country so long as his lover remains safe and away from the battlefield. As he writes letters from the barracks we watch as the war and everything he has to endure takes its toll on him and slowly changes him. His only friend's death leaves him badly scarred and with each letter, we watch as he loses a bit more of himself. The story ends with an unexpected twist that ties up any loose ends and results in an impactful but satisfactory ending. Overall, amazing job with this story, I have no complaints and I genuinely enjoyed it. Would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for an emotional story that can be read in a short time."
Selfless
"The story is written amazingly. It contains right amount of emotions, twists and turns. I don't read these kind of story and I don't know anything about the wars. But the atmosphere created by author makes it easier to read and enjoy. Great work!! "
Selfless
"Most notable in this tale is the wonderfully crafted emotional sincerity centered on describing the protagonist's raw, heartfelt struggle against the chaos and mayhem of war. I very much appreciate the contradictions between Milos's profound affection toward his lover, contrasted with his undeniable increasing depression. There is raw intensity behind every word of each of the protagonist's letters, the writing precise as poetry to express every newfound sorrow and grim revelation. Overall, this is a remarkable and compelling historical fiction short story that deeply resonated with me."
Touching and thought-provoking
"I really like how this author maximises the potential of a short story. He manages to compress so much atmosphere, character development, and emotion in so few words. I loved his first romantic story so jumped at the chance of reviewing his second instalment. This time around the premise tackles deeper and more sorrowful themes. I loved the wartime era and how this turbulent backdrop acts as a metaphor for the character's struggles. The inclusion of the letters gave the prose such a raw and intimate touch. It was a refreshing change to dialogue and perfect for the setting. Just when you think the story arc is complete, the author delves a layer further. The ending was so satisfying and heart-breaking at the same time. Everything comes full circle and you are left reflecting on the words with a new perspective. I really feel you have a true gift for storytelling."
YES
"Heart-wrenchingly beautiful and intricate. Very elegantly written! I'm not quite familiar with the details about the war, but I feet like you captured the general atmosphere very well. War is always a tricky subject to write about, as it requires a certain kind of nuance to get your message across. In this case, I was tossed right into a sea of desperation, sorrow, and pain, watching the story unfold from a mixture of narration from your character's perspective, and a compilation of letters he had sent to his lover. One thing I think could be improved is plot. As far as historical novels about war go, this one doesn't quite bring anything new to the table. There is plenty of room to explore the love and loss on a deeper level, if you are willing to give your characters the space to do so. All in all, I think you did a fantastic job! I truly look forward to the next story that you write. You have great potential!"
Beautifully told.
"The writer has a true gift of storytelling. I felt myself drawn to the characters and feeling for them and their situations. I recommend this story to anyone who is looking for a compelling read."
Intense and Touching
"This is far and away the best story I have read on this site. The setting before the outbreak of the war in 1939, their happiness and the success they shared, despite his feelings of not being capable, all add to bring the story together as he finds a refuge for his lover, then suffers through the early years of the war. It is hard to understand how men differ in their ability to face danger day-in and day-out for years; both emotionally and physically. Milos is so much stronger than he knows, his letters reveal this. Sometimes humanity to another during war is proven in a way it never can be in peace. The compassion required to end another's pain is not always easy; their is a price to be paid. The story is well-structured, the letters and dates reveal the passage of time in an understandable way. I assume Milos is one of the twelve French officers that managed to return home from Colditz after escaping. A feat in and of itself even while passing through a neutural country. There are a number of places where a better word could be used--but I take these as the ramblings of a war-weary mind, numbed by what it has seen and heard. The story contained enough information to provide context, not delving into unneeded detail that would have probably muted the intensity of the story. Very well done! I might add the rating for Punctuation, Grammar, etc. is very nit-picky and an edit would resolve these in short-order."
Gripping!
"Shub Agar has done it again - an epic, emotionally driven piece about life, loss, love and regret (for things done but also left undone). It drew me in from the very start; the frantic worry and desperation felt so real and was only the beginning of the heart-wrenching array of emotions conveyed throughout the piece. The writer's grasp of emotional writing is excellent and truly made this piece engaging. I liked the format of the story: the pre-war bits about the dance company/their life together vs the war and the letters. The pre-war scenes were a much needed reprieve from the intensity of the war scenes, especially as the story moved forward and his letters became more desperate and depressed. Adding the dates and years was a good indication of the passage of time and worked especially well in adding tension and suspense when they were captured and a long time had passed between letters. The revelation at the end (I won't say what) was well placed and added an even heavier air to the atmosphere. One little thing I would say is that there were quite a few sentences that started with 'I' or a pronoun in the first few sections and it became a tad repetitive. This sorted itself out in later sections, so it's nothing to worry about and is just me being really nit-picky xD Anyhoo, great job with this; you have a wonderful ability to capture so much emotion in such short pieces, please keep writing! :)"
I read and sobbed.
"Dear author, Thanks for making me cry. This was so beautiful. I never knew a short story could break my heart and then mend it whole. I really like your writing style. Keep writing."
Rough but Beautiful
"There is no question the author deeply cares about their characters, and the story to be told. It is rare to see so much heart in a story. Would have loved to see more and be told less, struggled to be completely drawn into the narrative. But this author is going places. Please keep writing!"
