The French Letter
Viewing comments for Chapter 26 "The Journal"A Novel
30 total reviews
Comment from Shirley E Kennedy
Wow!
Another intriguing ending and a very fine hook to read on.
I enjoyed the mix of past and present which complements the overall tale to this point.
Two young women alone in a strange land is surely a recipe for disaster.
Blessings
Shirley
reply by the author on 20-Dec-2018
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Wow!
Another intriguing ending and a very fine hook to read on.
I enjoyed the mix of past and present which complements the overall tale to this point.
Two young women alone in a strange land is surely a recipe for disaster.
Blessings
Shirley
Comment Written 18-Dec-2018
reply by the author on 20-Dec-2018
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Many thanks for both for this review and for your previous ones, catching up on the story. Very much appreciated.
Comment from LIJ Red
As a US Navy sailor, I have heard various tales from shipmates who encountered
things like razor-toting hamstringing Turkish shoeshine boys..."Aw you money, Joe." Smooth switches from story to journal. Exceptional writing.
reply by the author on 20-Nov-2018
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As a US Navy sailor, I have heard various tales from shipmates who encountered
things like razor-toting hamstringing Turkish shoeshine boys..."Aw you money, Joe." Smooth switches from story to journal. Exceptional writing.
Comment Written 19-Nov-2018
reply by the author on 20-Nov-2018
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I appreciate your review, Red, and the six star award. Thanks, too, for the generous comments. All the best, Tony
Comment from Adri7enne
It's not a bad way to get around the problem of a character in the story filling in the backstory. I learned something from your dilemma with telling the story in a writerly fashion. A diary is one way. But also, I've learned that a story will present far fewer obstacles if you allow it to happen in the moment, with all the characters being present while the story develops. Thanks for the lesson, Tony.
reply by the author on 16-Nov-2018
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It's not a bad way to get around the problem of a character in the story filling in the backstory. I learned something from your dilemma with telling the story in a writerly fashion. A diary is one way. But also, I've learned that a story will present far fewer obstacles if you allow it to happen in the moment, with all the characters being present while the story develops. Thanks for the lesson, Tony.
Comment Written 16-Nov-2018
reply by the author on 16-Nov-2018
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Yes, I rather agree with you. I've boxed myself into a corner here, running two parallel plots, one of which is initially contained in Helen's backstory. Unfortunately I can't have my characters concurrently in two places separated by time and geography! LOL I'm hoping to write myself out of this dilemma eventually!
Comment from Pam (respa)
-An intriguing chapter, Tony, with the
journal entries, and the occasional
comments by Charles as he is reading.
-We learn a great deal about Helen and
her sister when they were in Thailand.
-They certainly had some harrowing
experiences, and had to take work
that could be considered demeaning.
-One thing Charles notes was that
Helen had probably gained her street smarts here.
-All is brought back to reality at the end.
- Ironically, Charles had read about Helen and
Kayla meeting Jeanne, and when the phone
rings in the present time, we learn that Helen
is staying with Jeanne in the hospital and
wants Charles to join her there.
-I don't think we can begin to
imagine what is going to transpire next!
reply by the author on 15-Nov-2018
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-An intriguing chapter, Tony, with the
journal entries, and the occasional
comments by Charles as he is reading.
-We learn a great deal about Helen and
her sister when they were in Thailand.
-They certainly had some harrowing
experiences, and had to take work
that could be considered demeaning.
-One thing Charles notes was that
Helen had probably gained her street smarts here.
-All is brought back to reality at the end.
- Ironically, Charles had read about Helen and
Kayla meeting Jeanne, and when the phone
rings in the present time, we learn that Helen
is staying with Jeanne in the hospital and
wants Charles to join her there.
-I don't think we can begin to
imagine what is going to transpire next!
Comment Written 15-Nov-2018
reply by the author on 15-Nov-2018
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Again, I very much appreciate all of your input and the six star award. Glad that the plot is continuing to intrigue! All the best, Tony
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You are very welcome and deserving, Tony.
I guess it is safe to say Jeanne is quite a character, and all along I thought it was Charles!
Comment from rspoet
Hello Tony,
Looks like your time as an RAF navigator has led to some excellent descriptions of the flight and landing.
The old con job is nicely done, readers will be shouting: "Don't trust him"
But Kayla and Helen are young ripe victims
and then they get conned again.
The journal is well written and also introduces Mme Durand.
My only questions is that the journal clearly has nothing of interest to the Mafia
and Helen, being quite astute, might have seen that right from the beginning.
Perhaps Charles should suspicious.
Maybe I've read to many Miss Marple mysteries.
Well done my friend
Looking forward to the next chapter.
Robert
reply by the author on 15-Nov-2018
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Hello Tony,
Looks like your time as an RAF navigator has led to some excellent descriptions of the flight and landing.
The old con job is nicely done, readers will be shouting: "Don't trust him"
But Kayla and Helen are young ripe victims
and then they get conned again.
The journal is well written and also introduces Mme Durand.
My only questions is that the journal clearly has nothing of interest to the Mafia
and Helen, being quite astute, might have seen that right from the beginning.
Perhaps Charles should suspicious.
Maybe I've read to many Miss Marple mysteries.
Well done my friend
Looking forward to the next chapter.
Robert
Comment Written 15-Nov-2018
reply by the author on 15-Nov-2018
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Thanks, Robert. I certainly had a few landings of that kind when I was based in Singapore on the C130s! I appreciate the extra star - always handy to navigate by! All the best, Tony.
Comment from Sally Law
I read this days ago and got called away! Sorry about that! I went on a little holiday. This was a meaty installment filling in some gaps with a few details, and I am sure more revelations to come. More mystery surrounds the life of Suzanne Gaudin. (My sister, Suzanne, embodies most of our French ancestry.) Thanks for leaving me hangin...again!
Sally
reply by the author on 15-Nov-2018
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I read this days ago and got called away! Sorry about that! I went on a little holiday. This was a meaty installment filling in some gaps with a few details, and I am sure more revelations to come. More mystery surrounds the life of Suzanne Gaudin. (My sister, Suzanne, embodies most of our French ancestry.) Thanks for leaving me hangin...again!
Sally
Comment Written 15-Nov-2018
reply by the author on 15-Nov-2018
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Thanks for the review, Sally. I hope you had a good holiday break. All the best, Tony.
Comment from giraffmang
Very nice piece once again.
It's not easy to pull off diary entries in the midst of a tail but this works very well and crucially sounds like she wrote it.
Great stuff
G
reply by the author on 15-Nov-2018
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Very nice piece once again.
It's not easy to pull off diary entries in the midst of a tail but this works very well and crucially sounds like she wrote it.
Great stuff
G
Comment Written 15-Nov-2018
reply by the author on 15-Nov-2018
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Thanks for the sixth star and comments about the diary entries. Appreciated. All the best, Tony.
Comment from robyn corum
Tony,
Yuck. I have an idea of what the new job may be - hope I'm wrong.
Funny, but my hubby and I were watching TV last night and they were talking about this sort of thing happening so much in Mexico these days. Even the most visited tourist attractions are becoming more dangerous -- you can't trust anyone, anymore. So sad! Thanks -- very well done! I enjoyed -
reply by the author on 15-Nov-2018
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Tony,
Yuck. I have an idea of what the new job may be - hope I'm wrong.
Funny, but my hubby and I were watching TV last night and they were talking about this sort of thing happening so much in Mexico these days. Even the most visited tourist attractions are becoming more dangerous -- you can't trust anyone, anymore. So sad! Thanks -- very well done! I enjoyed -
Comment Written 15-Nov-2018
reply by the author on 15-Nov-2018
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Thanks, Robyn. You?re right. One certainly needs to have one?s wits sharp when traveling these days - especially in tourist areas.
Comment from Ulla
Hi Tony, how I wish I had a six, but alas, I don't. It's an amazing chapter. Your description of the landing in the monsoon is so spot on. That's exactly how it can be and sometimes worse. Well done. The rest of the chapter is just great. How naive and gullible they were. But what now? What is going on? All the best.Ulla:)))
reply by the author on 15-Nov-2018
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Hi Tony, how I wish I had a six, but alas, I don't. It's an amazing chapter. Your description of the landing in the monsoon is so spot on. That's exactly how it can be and sometimes worse. Well done. The rest of the chapter is just great. How naive and gullible they were. But what now? What is going on? All the best.Ulla:)))
Comment Written 14-Nov-2018
reply by the author on 15-Nov-2018
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Many thanks, Ulla. What a very nice review. Thanks for your kind words and encouragement. All the best, Tony.
Comment from Mustang Patty
Hi, Tony,
This chapter was informative, moved the story along, and made my stomach grumble. I absolutely love escargot!
I think using the journal as a vehicle to do the backstory is a great move. I like the pacing and viewpoint of Charles.
Looking forward to the next chapter,
~MP~
reply by the author on 15-Nov-2018
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Hi, Tony,
This chapter was informative, moved the story along, and made my stomach grumble. I absolutely love escargot!
I think using the journal as a vehicle to do the backstory is a great move. I like the pacing and viewpoint of Charles.
Looking forward to the next chapter,
~MP~
Comment Written 14-Nov-2018
reply by the author on 15-Nov-2018
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Many thanks, Patty. What a very nice review. Thanks for your kind words and encouragement. I appreciate the six stars. All the best, Tony.