Comments for Near to the Knuckle

Comment on Uncluttering by Ryan Sayles by Gareth Spark

Gareth Spark — Thu, 16 May 2013 19:40:50 +0000

Nothing I can add other than, write like this, all the time. A powerful and original voice, capable of profundities lesser writers should envy, pursue the voice you have conquered, mate, and illuminate this crazy world.

Comment on Uncluttering by Ryan Sayles by AJ Hayes

AJ Hayes — Thu, 16 May 2013 19:31:19 +0000

Story that needed to be told because there’s too many just like that in life once you’re outside of rhetoric and media preaching and into reality. The horror of it is that it’s a never ending story. One that never makes headlines. Thanks for not letting its ferocity be passed over or diminished. Thanks for making it (and us) bleed.

Comment on Uncluttering by Ryan Sayles by AJ Hayes

AJ Hayes — Thu, 16 May 2013 19:31:19 +0000

Comment on Uncluttering by Ryan Sayles by B. Plemmons

B. Plemmons — Thu, 16 May 2013 17:21:48 +0000

Tough.

Those Cookie Monster shoes broke my heart, man. Didn’t think I still had any emotions, but I found them reading this.

No need to apologize for good writing. Terrible subject matter, but no apologies needed. Let the punches land where they may, know what I mean?

Comment on Uncluttering by Ryan Sayles by Mike Monson

Mike Monson — Thu, 16 May 2013 15:41:23 +0000

My favorite thing about this story is all the details about the woman’s life. Ryan, you didn’t just describe some brutally horrible event and then wallow in it with us like a lot of writers of “dark” stuff. No, you filled the entire thing out with specific information about what life is like for this mother, and, for some reason, you made her, you, and us — more alive, more human, and more real. Nice.

Comment on Uncluttering by Ryan Sayles by Simon McDonald

Simon McDonald — Thu, 16 May 2013 10:33:12 +0000

Tough to read, horrific subject matter, but it is a reflection of life that maybe sometimes we would rather not think about. Thank you for making me think.

Comment on Uncluttering by Ryan Sayles by Anthony Cowin

Anthony Cowin — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:58:42 +0000

Although this is a raw and unforgiving story there’s a certain dark beauty interlacing the horrific scene. I don’t know if that’s due to the eloquence of the words or the vain hope of salvation knowing it’s fiction. I read you based this in a true incident. While it’s sometimes difficult to distinguish reality from the parade, as in the inhumanity we see on the news, this story is still an interpretation.

I think this is a brave subject for any writer to tackle. However, you treated the issue and characters with respect. No demonising of the mother, you let the reader draw their own opinion. That’s a tough trick to pull off but you did it and did it with aplomb. Excellent read.

Comment on Uncluttering by Ryan Sayles by joe cliford

joe cliford — Wed, 15 May 2013 14:41:52 +0000

“He never did call the police, and she was quite sure he had planned that speech since the day he signed the birth certificate.” Brilliant line. Like Tom says, brutal story. Well done, man. Well done.

Comment on Uncluttering by Ryan Sayles by Andrew Hilbert

Andrew Hilbert — Wed, 15 May 2013 13:58:45 +0000

Holy shit. That was a great read. What a tragedy.

Comment on Uncluttering by Ryan Sayles by Bill Baber

Bill Baber — Wed, 15 May 2013 13:56:21 +0000

wow. brutal and heartbreaking. tough to read but impossible to stop.