1- ALL IN A NAME
Main character Dorian was named after ‘Dorian Gray’ from Oscor Wilde’s ‘Picture of Dorian Gray’. Incidentally the short story also features a Professor Wilde.
2 – MENTAL HEALTH DISCUSSION
Vivika believes in the importance of discussing mental health issues and opening up discussion about depression. Exploring this the reader is lead to wonder what may have happened if Dorian were to talk to his loving mother about the issues he was facing.
3 – DEMONS IN US ALL
Throughout the story Dorian is plagued by demons. His depression and his guilt has manifested itself into a form he recognises.
4 – COLLEGE CLASSMATES
Dorian’s room mate, Kelsey, is a medical student. It is mentioned that he borrowed an anatomy text book from one of his fellow medics. This fellow medic who climbed to a B grade in a relatively short space of time is Tracey Campbell who features in the Confessions series. (Confessions of an Anatomist, My Silly Little Confessions). The same university was also attended by Vincent Baines and Daniel Weir (Maestro).
5 – WHO’S TRULY TO BLAME?
Some say Jessica should not have allowed herself to lose contact with her son. If she hadn’t tragedy may have been avoided. Others feel that Dorian’s interfering friend Juliet is responsible and there are some who believe that Dorian alone should have reached out for help.
6 – HAND WRITTEN
Like many Vivika Widow novel, ‘The Grip’ was completely hand written prior to being published.
7 – THE GRIP
The title comes from the depression that has gripped Dorian so tightly he is unable to shake it off.
8 – COUSINS
Dorian’s girlfriend, Juliet, is a cousin of Daniel Weir (Maestro)
9 – JESSICA FEATURES IN MAESTRO
The bus trip that Jessica takes to the university after receiving the tragic news is the same bus trip Catherine Beckingridge makes from her boarding school (Maestro). In Maestro, Catherine takes note of a distressed woman travelling alone who has tragedy written on her face.
10 – AWARD WINNER
‘The Grip’ is short listed for the Costa Coffee short story award!
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