Questions About The Dark Lake (Gemma Woodstock #1)

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Judy First of all, Rosalind did NOT break up with Jacob. Gemma wrote a letter and signed it in Rosalind's name. So Gemma thought that was why Jacob committ…moreFirst of all, Rosalind did NOT break up with Jacob. Gemma wrote a letter and signed it in Rosalind's name. So Gemma thought that was why Jacob committed suicide. But it wasn't the reason; he never read the letter. His depression overcame him. It wasn't clear to me if his mother ever read the letter.

The character of Rosalind Ryan was not fully explained. Every one said how beautiful she was, but she had no friends. Was she a seductress or a pathetic girl? Why did she want to go back to Smithson? And what was the meaning of her rewrite of "Romeo & Juliet?"

Sorry to raise more questions, when I really wanted to answer yours. It seemed to me a lot of things were left hanging and/or unexplained.(less)

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Why on earth does she have to spoil it by writing in 'present tense'? Pity, the synopsis sounded like something I'd enjoy!

George It's a stylistic choice, not quite like writing first or third person, but a choice. It happens to be more common in French, though certainly not unkn…moreIt's a stylistic choice, not quite like writing first or third person, but a choice. It happens to be more common in French, though certainly not unknown in English.

As "TheVet" says in Yahoo Answers at "Why Would You Write In The Present Tense?": "it involves the reader almost immediately when done properly. It also allows verbs to exist in their most active state which pumps up the level of the writing". S/He says that for teaching writing, it eliminates using the passive voice, which can be a deadening trap, and forces the writer to think in active voice.

And TheVet points out that it's been used for centuries, through Bierce, Faulkner, Hemingway, and on through modernism, post-modernism, and whatever's going on now. As you've noticed.

That URL is https://answers.yahoo.com/question/in...

I find it strange when people--not just you--find novels written in present tense to be difficult, pretentious, or even so distasteful that you can't read them. TheVet thinks you're in a minority. Will Pasto at https://www.quora.com/Why-do-we-write... thinks the opposite.

Note that this answer is almost entirely in the present tense.(less)

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Tell me it gets better. I'm getting tired of her drinking, her adultery and her depression. Get to the mystery already. Did anyone else feel that way?

Swapna Same here. Nothing much happens into the investigation. Gemma just wants to sleep with Felix. Most of the characters are involved in illicit affairs. …moreSame here. Nothing much happens into the investigation. Gemma just wants to sleep with Felix. Most of the characters are involved in illicit affairs. And there is an overall sense of gloom throughout the book. (less)

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