Posted by Anisa from Dana Middle on January 15, 2004 at 12:06:47:
Mr. Ritter,
The opening lines of in your novel OVER THE WALL, "People say time heals all wounds. . . .Time won't heal anything," can apply to many people's lives, as well as the history of mankind. In putting these lines into the story at an early point, you allow the reader to read their own life into the book, and therefore, understand the emotions of the characters better and more clearly.
I'm only part way through OVER THE WALL, but I have already noticed the way the fathers in both of your novels, CHOOSING UP SIDES and OVER THE WALL, seem to keep their families on their toes in some way or another. In CHOOSING UP SIDES, the father dominated the family by enforcing strict rules with old-fashioned punishments. Luke had to be very careful around him, so he was never quite comfortable. In OVER THE WALL, Tyler felt like his dad was making him "an outsider in his own home." He and his mother had to "talk easy," and "not do anything that might upset Dad." In fact, in both stories, Luke and Tyler seemed to have to hold in their true thoughts and feelings so as not to upset their fathers. Because the cause of this discomfort was different in CHOOSING UP SIDES, I predict the resolution in OVER THE WALL will most likely also be different. I can't wait to see. Your books really make me think.
Anisa
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