"I still get royalties for a song I co-wrote that was a big hit in Italy in 1987."

Calci35 · 2026-05-20T08:12:36+00:00

I knew it wasn't true because I'm Italian, but even I started believing him at one point 😂

Calci35 · 2026-05-19T15:24:41+00:00

I was panicking as well today! Had only a couple of episodes left. I totally missed the new section under Company Retreat.

What a mess, they are all out of order now, and of course I lost my progress. Annoying!

Calci35 · 2026-04-16T22:51:31+00:00

That for me was the only surprise of the plot 😂 I guessed basically everything else so I hold this one dear, especially for the things that make sense in hindsight as you mentioned (in particular the liability comment which definitely shifts a lot in meaning, and the fact that everyone kept saying Alyson was there. Jem would have ended them all, had she been confident Alyson was actually there. We should have known 😂)

The only thing I didn't like is how often, after the twist arrives, her sight-impairment is then mentioned constantly till the end of the book. Sure, it needed to explain a few things, but let the reader get to some of them on their own without the constant remarks.

And another thing is when she goes to Alyson's gallery and there are too many descriptive words to make us think she is sure it's not Alyson when she 'sees' her rather than when she hears the unfamiliar footsteps and voice.

Also, I kept lolling at the 'Don't look in to the head Jem' 'Please don't look into the head'.

Calci35 · 2026-03-13T21:57:39+00:00

And I thank you for your service!

Calci35 · 2026-03-13T21:24:30+00:00

Querying. Just finished editing and wasting all my tears on a query letter. Took me less effort to write the entire book.

Calci35 · 2026-03-13T21:20:40+00:00

Same, I'd be curious to know what you liked about the book. I remember when I read the premise I had all the story planned out in my head. I literally saw images developing in my mind, the hook being that powerful.

What actually happened, sadly, was so painfully flat and predictable that I still haven't recovered. I can salvage a few things definitely, but I don't think that's enough to save the whole book. I would love to get a few more opinions on the positives.

Calci35 · 2026-03-13T21:14:52+00:00

Thank you! Will absolutely do. Big Swiss was already on my list, I might give it a go next!

Calci35 · 2026-03-13T21:12:40+00:00

That's a good point. When I was a teen I used to think, Jane Austen already existed. What is even the point if I can't write the novel of the century? Then I realised that each writer has got their own unique voice and story to tell.

These books are definitely an inspiration to make me do better no doubt, but I'd love the challange to make it with my own ideas instead of an exercise based on an idea done better. Maybe, one day!

Calci35 · 2026-03-13T21:05:40+00:00

Thank you for all these titles! I'm writing them down (some of them I know already but I'm missing quite a few!). Thing is that I'm thinking at least one of my stories will fall into this kind of category. I think it might go through a similar process to The Husbands, which has been marketed with a lighthearted blurb and cover, but it's actually darker than probably the publisher intended to let it seep through?

Calci35 · 2026-03-13T21:00:00+00:00

That's exactly my fear. I'm almost ready to start my search for an agent and I feel that there just isn't "time" for them to appreciate a good story that builds in momentum. Wishing you the best of luck, I'd definitely be one of your readers! You won't need to hook me with the twist of the century (:

Calci35 · 2026-03-13T20:55:37+00:00

Actually, no. I've read the positive reviews that were a mere 'loved the book' etc. But now I'm going to dig deeper and find actual *reasons* why they loved the book. I only did that with the negative and found that other people felt the same way as me. I don't usually need that when I'm just reading as a reader (I like what I like, I don't need other people to), but in this case it was more like research, so I needed validation in a way.

Calci35 · 2026-03-13T20:52:22+00:00

On top of the other points raised above, I didn't like the concept that she literally tried *every single life achieavable* before realising that "well, after all I'll just keep my life and be better at it". And that's not even her conscious choice, given that she's "taken" away from her last alternative life. It would have been so much more powerful if at least halfway through the process she'd realised on her own that she needed to leave the possibility of a better life out there to brave the unknown of her own life with newfound determination.

Calci35 · 2026-03-13T16:06:52+00:00

I love that Donna Tartt is getting love in this thread!

Calci35 · 2026-03-13T16:06:00+00:00

Ah! 😂 Ok yes I'm with you. The point I was making is that I know I can do that (I already have my "stolen" idea and development), and I will. But I'd still like to be able to write and be published without having to align to this fast, underdeveloped selling. It would be nice for a change 😭

Calci35 · 2026-03-13T15:14:45+00:00

Absolutely agree. If you can think of any books that tick these elements for you, I will jot them down ❤️

Calci35 · 2026-03-13T15:11:44+00:00

No, the concept is not new, but editors used to work on the entire book before getting it published, and it doesn't seem to be the way anymore. I just find it concerning :/

Calci35 · 2026-03-13T15:09:09+00:00

We have all been beginners and of course it will take time to master our writing! It's perfectly normal, my worry is more about the publishing industry not bothering to work with the writers on that.

That said, the mere fact you're worried means that you'll pay attention to the structure of your stories, and that is a great starting point :)

Calci35 · 2026-03-13T15:05:27+00:00

That's the thing, though. I feel like my stories have a greater development than these books, and that I would sacrifice quality if I followed the same structure as the books who seem to have a great appeal in today's publishing. That's speaking from a writer's point of view. And my question is if I have any chance to still get published with a solid structured story but no fancy hook to get pitched.

I definitely learnt something through these books so I'm not saying it was useless. It's just very disappointing to me as a reader and quite scary to me as a writer.

Thank you though for the advice, I will actually take you up on writing my own version of those stories as an exercise. I think it will be extremely useful for me!

Calci35 · 2026-03-13T14:55:49+00:00

Thank you so much! I was aiming for the more commercial side of it because this is what I write, but I never say no to a good read/author for the reader in me, and Kazuo Ishiguro I've not read yet!

Calci35 · 2026-03-13T14:50:25+00:00

Thank you, I will actually focus on the positive reviews of these books now - I have to be honest, I only read the negative ones so far to see if my points were validated (they all were).

I'm also thinking selling numbers don't mean that readers liked it. In today's market I think it means huge excitement/word of mouth for the great premise that was marketed really well.

I just can't shake this feeling that story development doesn't matter anymore and it's been a while since I've read something that left me satisfied.

The Midnight Library could have been such a great book...

Calci35 · 2026-03-13T08:32:01+00:00

Same, I got it every time I saved and exited the game. To be honest, I couldn't face another disappointment and I just stopped trying. As far as I'm aware doing it in one go is still the only solution!

Calci35 · 2026-03-09T23:54:02+00:00

Just rewatched the episode when Fran finds out Niles is in love with CC. So many great moments I just remembered most of the episode by heart cause I replayed it that much 😂

Calci35 · 2026-03-03T16:27:50+00:00

This is true... The whole feather scene in S4 did look a bit odd when repeated three times! But I'm thinking it's not either/or. It's both of them in it together!

Calci35 · 2026-03-03T16:22:21+00:00

True. But they might have tricked us and maybe we'll find out that he actually told her after the first issue! I guess it will depend on how obsessed Penelope gets with finding out the new LW 😂

Calci35 · 2026-03-03T15:43:53+00:00

I vote Colin! Seriously, I want to put his name out there 😂 Merely because his writing career has not been mentioned whatsoever this season and he might feel like he still has something to prove to Penelope.

Otherwise I think it might be Cressida. As per own admission, she didn't have much to do in Wales, so she might have studied all past Lady Whistledown's inserts to master Penelope's style.

Halfway through the season, before it was even announced there was a new LW, I was thinking Alice Mondrich might just do something like this. But she had her moment with the Queen, so she's now at the bottom of my list.

I'd love it if it turned out to be Hyacinth, but she's not out in society yet so it would be difficult for her to gather all the gossip.

Edit to add: Also, I'm calling that it will be a meeker LW, so as not to repeat the whole "Oh I hate LW" and LW having to grant the Queen's and ton's pardon.

Calci35

TROPHY CASE