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How to Tell Toledo from the Night Sky


A powerful reinvention of the love story - sometimes heart-wrenching, sometimes ...
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The barbell in the tea leaves

Created: 06/26/14

Replies: 9

Posted Jun. 26, 2014 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
BJ

Join Date: 06/11/14

Posts: 16

The barbell in the tea leaves

Was the barbell in the tea leaves clever foreshadowing that you, the reader, remembered? Or was it just writerly writing that was only obvious in a second reading?


Posted Jun. 26, 2014 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
kimk

Join Date: 10/16/10

Posts: 889

RE: The barbell in the tea leaves

I did remember it right away. Fortunately "barbell" is such a distinctive shape it really stood out. If she'd chosen something else - like a diamond shape or something - I don't think I'd have picked up on it.


Posted Jun. 26, 2014 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
juliaa

Join Date: 12/03/11

Posts: 276

RE: The barbell in the tea leaves

KimK is right. Such a distinctive shape stood out, and in that sense was a clever choice on the author's part.


Posted Jun. 27, 2014 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Retired Reader, NE

Join Date: 09/16/11

Posts: 165

RE: The barbell in the tea leaves

It was clever and subtle. The author gets points for this. Was it necessary, no.


Posted Jun. 27, 2014 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
ruthiea

Join Date: 02/03/14

Posts: 271

RE: The barbell in the tea leaves

I agree that it was not "necessary" but I did find it a nice touch and appreciated the whimsy!


Posted Jun. 28, 2014 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
mal

Join Date: 09/09/13

Posts: 164

RE: The barbell in the tea leaves

Memorable for sure, I kept analyzing it in my own head. Happy when it was revealed.


Posted Jul. 03, 2014 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
pennyp

Join Date: 03/22/12

Posts: 353

RE: The barbell in the tea leaves

I agree with all posts above. Nice but not necessary.


Posted Jul. 06, 2014 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
gwenc

Join Date: 07/14/12

Posts: 94

RE: The barbell in the tea leaves

When first reading it, i thought "Oh, this is important!' Yes, I know it stood for "broken, death, etc." but before I read that (I teach a weight lifting class) I thought about barbells = dumb bells= or weight on mind or burden in life, or symmetry, etc. I was delighted when it showed up as a brain tumor!


Posted Jul. 07, 2014 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
joyces

Join Date: 06/16/11

Posts: 410

RE: The barbell in the tea leaves

I sort of thought it was a little too cutesy and could have done without that but it was sort of fitting with the whole style of writing.


Posted Jul. 09, 2014 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
alycet

Join Date: 04/23/12

Posts: 182

RE: The barbell in the tea leaves

It helped the plot.


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