nice to meet you; I'm glad to make your acquaintance; how do you do?
to say; to be called; to do
to take in one's hand; to pick up; to obtain
novel; story; (work of) fiction
eye; eyes; sight; vision; looking
enjoyment; pleasure; amusement; anticipation; looking forward to; something to look forward to
to excel; to surpass; to exceed; to outweigh; to preponderate
spoiler; revealing important plot points of a story; spoiling a story
work (e.g. book, film, painting, composition); piece; production; opus
it is assuredly that ...; can say with confidence that ...
application; subscription; entry (competition, raffle, etc.); enlistment
attaching too much importance to; placing disproportionate emphasis on; making too much of
story; tale; legend; plot; storyline
rough (estimate, outline, etc.); broad; general; generous; openhanded
last; final; end; conclusion; rust
beginning; start; outset; at first; at the beginning; initially
being in charge (of an area of responsibility); being responsible (for a work role, etc.)
emergency; extreme; great; extraordinary
(speaking) with hesitation; falteringly; in a small voice; struggling for words; in fits and starts; awkwardly
protagonist; main character; hero; head (of a household); proprietor (of a store)
revising (a manuscript); rewriting; revised manuscript
ill-bred; vulgar; boorish
to quieten down; to fall silent; to cease activities; to become inactive; to lie low
especially; particularly; surely; clearly; as if; as though
riding; ride; spread (of paints); -seater (e.g. two-seater); (getting into the) mood; (entering into the) spirit
one eye; discerning eye; excellent judgement
may; might; perhaps; may be; possibly
after many twists and turns; after much trouble
top of ...; head of ...; the moment that ...
change; modification; alteration; revision; amendment
remains; traces; (the sorrow of) parting; end
molding; moulding; shaping; forming; modelling (i.e. plastic arts); modeling
heroine; female protagonist; heroine; heroic woman; brave woman
to cross; to go across; to go through; to cut across
painter; artist; illustrator
illustration; picture; sketch; drawing; figure
to give; to confer; to bestow; to kindly do for one; to oblige; to favour