The first part is, I think, one of the best things you've written: Justin's perception of London is first visual, as it should be for an artist, all about spaces and buildings, how they look, how they're arranged around each other, how they compare to New York. I loved how the narrator's POV (Justin who has already experienced everything) is telling us that his perception of the city will eventually change, with time, but still conveys Justin's first original impressions as fresh and new. It will be interesting to see that transition.

Then all the other senses come in: the noises of the city, the coldness/warmth of the buildings. The closing scene of that part, with Justin falling asleep to the sound and sensation of being somewhere different and foreign is spot-on. And it was very clever that you contrasted all this with Brian's reflections on his own changing attitude about his own travelling, the excitement of new places and experiences wearing out with time or if something/someone more exciting is at home.

So I really liked how you presented all these contrasting emotions but left them somehow unresolved.

Edited 2008-07-16 09:04 pm (UTC)

Thank you SO much, Claudia!

I can't tell you how happy I am that you liked the beginning. It's a whole new thing for me, somewhat hard to define, but it feels very different. I'm enjoying writing this more than I have anything in a very long time!

Xie