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A Cleansing of Souls - Stuart Ayris
Kate wrote: "I'm about halfway through Tollesbury time and am absolutely loving it. The writing style is wonderful and the way Stuart just seems to churn out beautifully visual, evocative and (ahhh words escape..."Thank you Kate. That's really kind of you!
I agree Kate ,Stuart has a gift with words that does leave one speechless.
Thank you!Here's a little part of my latest one...
So the bird that nobody sees is an albatross in image and no more. What it truly has come to be in these hard, hard times, these brutal days of money and objects and rumour and judgement, well, what it truly is can only be seen by those who have a yearning for wonder. What we touch is not there. What we taste is but an illusion. And what we smell is what we want to smell.
An angel is one that has seen the bird that nobody sees. An angel is not some sentient being suspended above a stable or crushed upon the wall of a church all harsh and static and unmoving. We are all angels, it’s just sometimes we don't realise it. But once we do, well, we float and we catch the donovan wind and we dive into the oceans of this world and we soar into its heavens – even though the streets of those heavens are lined with pubs and schools and rambledown houses and toppermost heights of concrete and steeples.
Come all ye.
Come all ye.
Come catch the fine breeze with me.
And we will not just waft over the southern oceans and stagger upon the land, we will float and we will dance into the very lives of all those that need us – we will bring HOPE to this nation! From the second we awake we will bring hope. For what's to stop us?
Wow! Stu, you are amazing! Your writing really does take your breath away x
Stuart! the hairs on the back of my neck stood up as I read that,as Lorraine would say bookgasm!
That's good then! First draft and all that! Thank you!
I've just finished your book and it was beautiful, there was one paragraph (not the only one) which really struck a chord. I've got to say though if it wasn't for the enthusiam of the group I might never have tried your writing and I would have missed two of the best books I've read in a long time. Thank you
Yay Lynne!Just another wonderful benefit of being in our group. :)
Stu, I posted my review in the usual places but forgot to hit the 'share' button to get it on Facebook! I'm so sorry!
Feel free to share it, if you like.
Yes Patti, good books, good food and good company, thanks to you all xxx
Thank you so much Lynne. Really appreciate it! And Patti thanks so much for the lovely review! You're great! x
I just thought I would add this post which gives some background behind how A Cleansing of Souls came to be - So, in early 1990, when I was twenty, I moved in with a twenty-five year old girl with whom I worked at Commercial Union Insurance Company. The house was a repossessed house just around the corner from Romford Dog Track and just up the road from The Sun pub. Those two factors alone should have set alarm bells ringing - combined with the fact that my girlfriend was ostensibly, well, mad. But then I was something of a fool at twenty.
More or less as soon as we moved into this house, I got it into my head that the band I was playing in would be the making of me - thus I walked into work one day and declared to my manager that I wanted to go down to four days a week. He rather burst my balloon by saying they were considering sacking me due to excessive lunch-time drinking and inappropriate use of humour. So I entered into a three day a week three month probationary period following which I resigned to concentrate on the band stuff (jumped before I was pushed!)
And what of Sparkling Rain, my little band?! Well we had a gig at a place in Collier Row on the first night of the 1990 World Cup. We watched the Argentinians lose 1-0 to Cameroon and all was rosy in my world. Three hours later though, I was in hospital having suffered a serious electric shock at the hands of a dodgy microphone stand. And the song we were playing at the time? Ain't That A Shame by Fats Domino. So two days in hospital and a newly acquired phobia of electricity followed - nice one Fats!
So there I was - unemployed, no band, mad girlfriend and no money. So what was this poor boy to do? Look for a job? Go acoustic? Move back to mum and dad's? Of course not! I did what any Bob Dylan, Jack Kerouac, Kris Kristofferson influenced fool what have done - I started writing a book!
I handwrote the first twenty thousand words in a hardbacked notebook I had 'borrowed' from Commercial Union and then got hold of an electric typewriter. I think it took me about a year to finish what would become the first sixteen chapters. I typed up the whole thing about three times just to get a perfect version (no wordprocessor and computer for me back then!) and then I just left it.
A year later, I was working as a roadsweeper in Romford and a year after that I was engaged to someone else (mad as well) and a year after that, married to someone else. It was only when I started my nurse training in 1994 that, given some of the subjects in A Cleansing of Souls, I revisted the book and added the last five chapters.
When I brought out Tollesbury Time Forever on Kindle, it just made sense that I would do the same with A Cleansing of Souls. So I've deleted about 2,000 words, rewritten some sections, including the final paragraph, and ultimately really like it now. Oh and Rebecca has painted a wonderful cover for it too!
I loved this book. It didn't make me cry and I got a little bit confused in the middle (due to trying to keep going late at night when pain meds kicked in and eyes kept shutting!). I will read this again soon as I loved the gorgeous writing style.I'm not sure if the book is entirely suitable for someone very low and raw following a bereavement. Some would find it very uplifting, but it may hit home a bit hard for someone struggling to cope with loss.
I'd be interested in what others think to this.
I loved it and highly recommend it though.
I recently lost my Mum Janet - books like this are unplifting in my view. It gives hope, that most precious of gifts.It's interesting that Stuart goes for mad women! If his wife and my husband chuck us out, maybe ...?
Finished it, loved it, can't wait for Stuart's next book..
Bought the four Group Reads yesterday after reading the samples of all of them in one sitting (what a strange afternoon in the pub that was!) Will continue with this today.
50% inI have to go to work now.
I want to ring in sick.
That's great going! Thank you for giving it a go - really appreciate it.
In work now.Waiting for Managers to bugger off so I can continue.
Here's hoping:)
Great stuff! You can't beat an undercover reading mission!
Good finishings. I cried when Dagenham and Redbridge lost 4-0 to Swindon the other night so tears are fine with me!
Well just to kick things off I've decided to put A Cleansing of Souls up free tomorrow. So if people can give me a hand to spread the word, that would be great!
Hi Stuart.
I have just started the mondays freebie thread on the Kindle Forum and A Cleansing of Souls is first on the list :-) hope that's o.k with you.
I have just started the mondays freebie thread on the Kindle Forum and A Cleansing of Souls is first on the list :-) hope that's o.k with you.
And after I've spent my hard earned cash ;)Cheers Stuart, I have mentioned the book to my "Real Life" Book Group and just now sent them all the Amazon link.
Thank you Mago - you're great! And again, thank you so much for reading it. Really appreciate it!
Don't speak too soon.You haven't heared what I thought about it yet.
So can I just check when the discussion starts?
On the 15th Stu. I'll send Simon a text to remind him to open the discussion thread. Maybe three or four texts. ;)
Ignite wrote: "It's interesting that Stuart goes for mad women! If his wife and my husban..."Glad I'm not alone in feeling that books that give you a 'bookgasm' (that word will be in common usage soon Lorraine) can make you wonder if the author is married ;b I can do mad if necesary, can I be in line after Aunty Janet and Ignite? Loving this book as well Stuart.
Thank you Kate! So pleased you're liking it! Now get back in line! ; )
I must say you look scarily like my ex-wife!!
Jeez... guess thats me being left at the back of the queue then :S. I'll have to start looking for another profile pic, but it does show what good 'asthetic' taste you have lol :)
Here's a quote that could sum up the whole book - "If I ever go looking for my heart's desire again, I won't look further than my own backyard, because if it isn't there, then I haven't really lost it."
Just purchased A Cleansing of Souls in the US. Look forward to starting it tonight and joining in the conversation.
Thank you so much. Really kind of you! I hope you like it - feel free to ask any questions at all!
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Tollesbury Time Forever (other topics)Tollesbury Time Forever (other topics)
A Cleansing of Souls (other topics)
A Cleansing of Souls (other topics)
A Cleansing of Souls (other topics)
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