The ending was perfect, I did not see it coming , totally unexpected and wonderful because of it. I agree, if I had to choose one word , grace would define the ending, not divine grace, human grace . It really is great writing, Adam. I meant to tell you before, your character development in just three chapters is outstanding. RE: serialize on Substack. I am sure my opinion widely differs from other readers. I tend to shy away from, for example , weekly chapters. Unless I love the writer ( like you) I usually do not stick around long enough to continue on to the ending. Maybe because I have to go back and re-read every time, to remember ‘the good stuff’, the intricate storyline . The flow is lost, if that makes any sense. Otherwise I am commenting on each chapter every week or so, not the entire story. I guess it is not how I would read a book, a chapter a week. I hope everyone who reads this, can’t help but find the beauty in the ending.
I am so grateful for your care in reading. I'll take one reader who reads carefully over 5 who skim. For all the typos and misses when I reread a few months later, by the time I've finished one of these, I've probably read it over sixty times. A reader to go back and pay attention is like the point of sharing.
“Genesis to Revelation and home again. Everyone in earshot knew he was waiting on the Lord to “speak the language only the hell bound can hear.””
What a great way to learn the narrator’s name ; “Repent Frank Andersen.”
“Maybe he had one more jury to fool, God Himself.”
Was Chester really making one last great effort to repent? I kept reminding myself he was a three time murderer. I guess I will never know that answer .
‘“…watching your calendar burn”. Brilliant line , Adam.
“You get to know them. Maybe he didn’t want to be Guard Frank Andersen’s soft apple. It goes two ways. All of it.”
It is a wonderful story , Adam. Frank had seen Chester’s flat hand ,”palm up”, hanging out the drainpipe on the other side of hell bound. And then the revelation that it was impossible for any bird to get through the gratings.
“Every man gets to see one miracle in his life. You better hope you haven’t seen yours yet.”
Another brilliant screen play Adam, only this time, I was watching the movie version while I read. Thanks for offering Pidgeons in its entirety, I fell right in to the story. I actually read it twice, glad I did. When it came down to the last few paragraphs , it was all still fresh in my head making for an outstanding epilogue. I might have missed out on the ending if I had read it in pieces. He gave him his miracle, Frank Anderson’s ultimate act of kindness.
I worried a lot about how to frame that ending and how delicately I could present it so that a careful re-reader would get it - and a soft apple might read it otherwise. I’m glad to read it was right on the cusp for you.
I hope it was a satisfying revelation as I intended. Sometimes you hear and I sometimes agree that it can be up to a reader’s interpretation. But not on this one.
It’s “grace” but it’s not divine grace. All of which interests me deeply.
I’m also glad that the full length read was appealing. Posting longer stories is brutal for readership. I hate parceling out stories like this. I think they should be read in one go, but serialization may be a useful option for subscribers that don’t want to get hit with a long scroll bar.
I read it in one and it wasn’t too long at all. It felt just right. Serializing is tricky, for sure. I know people drift away unintentionally, because I’ve done it too. (Still mean to get back to your brilliant Knuckleball Artist!)
I know, but that scroll bar scares people away. I’m sure of it. I know it scares me away. We’re all so used to fast consumption.
I’ve been reading a fair amount of ”analog” paper recently and getting more used to it again, so maybe it’s habit, too. My reader’s concentration is rising.
Maybe if Substack becomes more of a place for fiction (don’t hold your breath) readers won’t notice the scroll bars. Until then, I think the dual option is worth testing.
Feel something? Yes indeed--Twisting and developing with the story.
And I loved your description of the process--how the story developed and evolved. So generous. I probably won't subscribe because I'm on a boycott after adding up all I was paying for Substack subscriptions and deciding it had to stop. But I'm glad I got to read this post. Thank you.
“They don’t tell you when you sign up that a part of everybody gets executed. It’s like swimming in ice water.” Chills (and not from the ice water). I feel for Frank Anderson’s soul, that he could do a thing like that to a man. I could see the whole scene — perfectly set and grim. Caged humanity and the surprise of quiet grace. Bravo!
Ah now. That was just brilliant. “Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies”. It did remind me of The Shawshank Redemption, which I’ve just rewatched after many years.
The ending was perfect, I did not see it coming , totally unexpected and wonderful because of it. I agree, if I had to choose one word , grace would define the ending, not divine grace, human grace . It really is great writing, Adam. I meant to tell you before, your character development in just three chapters is outstanding. RE: serialize on Substack. I am sure my opinion widely differs from other readers. I tend to shy away from, for example , weekly chapters. Unless I love the writer ( like you) I usually do not stick around long enough to continue on to the ending. Maybe because I have to go back and re-read every time, to remember ‘the good stuff’, the intricate storyline . The flow is lost, if that makes any sense. Otherwise I am commenting on each chapter every week or so, not the entire story. I guess it is not how I would read a book, a chapter a week. I hope everyone who reads this, can’t help but find the beauty in the ending.
I am so grateful for your care in reading. I'll take one reader who reads carefully over 5 who skim. For all the typos and misses when I reread a few months later, by the time I've finished one of these, I've probably read it over sixty times. A reader to go back and pay attention is like the point of sharing.
“Genesis to Revelation and home again. Everyone in earshot knew he was waiting on the Lord to “speak the language only the hell bound can hear.””
What a great way to learn the narrator’s name ; “Repent Frank Andersen.”
“Maybe he had one more jury to fool, God Himself.”
Was Chester really making one last great effort to repent? I kept reminding myself he was a three time murderer. I guess I will never know that answer .
‘“…watching your calendar burn”. Brilliant line , Adam.
“You get to know them. Maybe he didn’t want to be Guard Frank Andersen’s soft apple. It goes two ways. All of it.”
It is a wonderful story , Adam. Frank had seen Chester’s flat hand ,”palm up”, hanging out the drainpipe on the other side of hell bound. And then the revelation that it was impossible for any bird to get through the gratings.
“Every man gets to see one miracle in his life. You better hope you haven’t seen yours yet.”
Another brilliant screen play Adam, only this time, I was watching the movie version while I read. Thanks for offering Pidgeons in its entirety, I fell right in to the story. I actually read it twice, glad I did. When it came down to the last few paragraphs , it was all still fresh in my head making for an outstanding epilogue. I might have missed out on the ending if I had read it in pieces. He gave him his miracle, Frank Anderson’s ultimate act of kindness.
Bravo!👏👏
You got it.
I worried a lot about how to frame that ending and how delicately I could present it so that a careful re-reader would get it - and a soft apple might read it otherwise. I’m glad to read it was right on the cusp for you.
I hope it was a satisfying revelation as I intended. Sometimes you hear and I sometimes agree that it can be up to a reader’s interpretation. But not on this one.
It’s “grace” but it’s not divine grace. All of which interests me deeply.
I’m also glad that the full length read was appealing. Posting longer stories is brutal for readership. I hate parceling out stories like this. I think they should be read in one go, but serialization may be a useful option for subscribers that don’t want to get hit with a long scroll bar.
I read it in one and it wasn’t too long at all. It felt just right. Serializing is tricky, for sure. I know people drift away unintentionally, because I’ve done it too. (Still mean to get back to your brilliant Knuckleball Artist!)
I know, but that scroll bar scares people away. I’m sure of it. I know it scares me away. We’re all so used to fast consumption.
I’ve been reading a fair amount of ”analog” paper recently and getting more used to it again, so maybe it’s habit, too. My reader’s concentration is rising.
Maybe if Substack becomes more of a place for fiction (don’t hold your breath) readers won’t notice the scroll bars. Until then, I think the dual option is worth testing.
I had a similar experience - like watching a grainy black and white film or a stage play lit by a single bare bulb.
Feel something? Yes indeed--Twisting and developing with the story.
And I loved your description of the process--how the story developed and evolved. So generous. I probably won't subscribe because I'm on a boycott after adding up all I was paying for Substack subscriptions and deciding it had to stop. But I'm glad I got to read this post. Thank you.
Thank you so much for this kind note and for the other thing, too. It means a great deal to me. 🙏
Well, damn. This is fantastic, Adam.
And what an ending!
Thanks, Holly.
“They don’t tell you when you sign up that a part of everybody gets executed. It’s like swimming in ice water.” Chills (and not from the ice water). I feel for Frank Anderson’s soul, that he could do a thing like that to a man. I could see the whole scene — perfectly set and grim. Caged humanity and the surprise of quiet grace. Bravo!
Ah now. That was just brilliant. “Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies”. It did remind me of The Shawshank Redemption, which I’ve just rewatched after many years.