The French Letter
Viewing comments for Chapter 42 "A Rude Awakening"A Novel
29 total reviews
Comment from TheStoryMan
It's a good thing that Charles is friends with the Wilkenses otherwise there would have been some trouble in this chapter. I'm glad Charles is taking a little time to rest before he continues investigating the letter. Soon it will be time to go back to France and find that painting.
reply by the author on 28-Feb-2019
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It's a good thing that Charles is friends with the Wilkenses otherwise there would have been some trouble in this chapter. I'm glad Charles is taking a little time to rest before he continues investigating the letter. Soon it will be time to go back to France and find that painting.
Comment Written 26-Feb-2019
reply by the author on 28-Feb-2019
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Many thanks for your review, Storyman. Appreciated. Yes, it won't be long before Charles is back in the action. Best wishes, Tony
Comment from JudyE
This is wonderfully easy on the ear with not a dull word in it. I wonder how long it will take me to catch up 41 chapters? I really enjoyed it thanks.
reply by the author on 28-Feb-2019
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This is wonderfully easy on the ear with not a dull word in it. I wonder how long it will take me to catch up 41 chapters? I really enjoyed it thanks.
Comment Written 26-Feb-2019
reply by the author on 28-Feb-2019
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Many thanks for your review, Judy. Appreciated. It sounds as though you'll need to wait for the book to come out! LOL Best wishes, Tony
Comment from HealingMuse
Hi TF,
This is an excellent chapter and very well written.
Your character comes across as a gentle, yet adventerous pragmatist. I particularly like the part about the honey bee being placed out the window onto the rose.
One offering for your consideration:
"You're welcome to them, Mr Brandon. More than welcome"
I think "Mr" needs a period after the word.
Thanks for sharing,
Jan
reply by the author on 28-Feb-2019
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Hi TF,
This is an excellent chapter and very well written.
Your character comes across as a gentle, yet adventerous pragmatist. I particularly like the part about the honey bee being placed out the window onto the rose.
One offering for your consideration:
"You're welcome to them, Mr Brandon. More than welcome"
I think "Mr" needs a period after the word.
Thanks for sharing,
Jan
Comment Written 26-Feb-2019
reply by the author on 28-Feb-2019
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Many thanks for your review, Jan. Appreciated. Thank you for your comments and the missing period - now inserted. Best wishes, Tony
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Hi Tony, You're most welcome for the review. My pleasure. I'm glad my nit catch was helpful. Jan :-)
Comment from LIJ Red
Now you did it, I think I shall go for brunch at the diner, their western omelet is
a bit narcotic. I had such an awakening as a young man, one of our little gray scorpions nailed me in the earlobe as I was sleeping. Their sting is much like a wasp...Mushrooms in an omelet? Not today...excellent post.
reply by the author on 28-Feb-2019
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Now you did it, I think I shall go for brunch at the diner, their western omelet is
a bit narcotic. I had such an awakening as a young man, one of our little gray scorpions nailed me in the earlobe as I was sleeping. Their sting is much like a wasp...Mushrooms in an omelet? Not today...excellent post.
Comment Written 25-Feb-2019
reply by the author on 28-Feb-2019
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Thanks, Red. I've never been stung by a scorpion. I probably deserved to be, though, when taunting one with a BBQ'd sausage on a stick years ago, while on detachment in the Oman. Breakfast under the stars in the desert. Days I'm glad to have tucked firmly away in the past. Best wishes, Tony
Comment from Mastery
Excellent storytelling, Tony. Wonderful imagery throughout this piece. Like: "Soon I came to a patch overgrown with brambles and scrambled through the hedge to the sunny side. Thorny tendrils stretched out to catch my coat. They scratched my arms unmercifully as I reached in to pluck the lush berries. I only managed to gather a scant bowlful to take back to the cottage. Empurpled hands and lips were evidence of where the majority had ended up."
And: "Jack laughed - a rich, deep country laugh that exposed the gaps in his crooked teeth. "You're welcome to them, Mr Brandon. More than welcome."
Bravo, my friend. Bob
reply by the author on 25-Feb-2019
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Excellent storytelling, Tony. Wonderful imagery throughout this piece. Like: "Soon I came to a patch overgrown with brambles and scrambled through the hedge to the sunny side. Thorny tendrils stretched out to catch my coat. They scratched my arms unmercifully as I reached in to pluck the lush berries. I only managed to gather a scant bowlful to take back to the cottage. Empurpled hands and lips were evidence of where the majority had ended up."
And: "Jack laughed - a rich, deep country laugh that exposed the gaps in his crooked teeth. "You're welcome to them, Mr Brandon. More than welcome."
Bravo, my friend. Bob
Comment Written 25-Feb-2019
reply by the author on 25-Feb-2019
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Thanks, Bob, for your six-star validation. You can take some of the credit for the laugh! I looked at it and thought, "I wonder how Bob might expand this to give it more life."
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And it worked! Good. Each time you add in something like that it may seem like you are dragging things out, but you are actually "showing" the story and not "telling." That is a difficult concept for many to grasp for some reason. Bless you, Tony. Bob
Comment from barbara.wilkey
Now what does Brockenhurst want? I am curious. I enjoyed Charles little trip to get berries and an omelet. I wasn't to fond of the bee on his cheek. I am deathly allergic to them so they are just plain evil. LOL Thank you for sharing.
reply by the author on 25-Feb-2019
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Now what does Brockenhurst want? I am curious. I enjoyed Charles little trip to get berries and an omelet. I wasn't to fond of the bee on his cheek. I am deathly allergic to them so they are just plain evil. LOL Thank you for sharing.
Comment Written 25-Feb-2019
reply by the author on 25-Feb-2019
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Glad you enjoyed this little side excursion from the main plot, Barbara, and thank you very much for the sixth star. Yes, I thought when I was writing about the bee that there would be a few for whom it might be just as deadly as the scorpion.
A local beekeeper keeps twelve hives on our property, just below the vegetable patch. He provides us with honey and they pollinate our garden, so I'm quite fond of the little critters. Mind you, if might be a different story if I were allergic!
Comment from Miss Sherry
Just the kind of story I love. The berries, mushrooms and the quaint country folks who know how life should be lived. Oh, I was so sad when I came to the end...could have read so much more. But I was glad to see there will be more and you have this reader dazzled and waiting.
reply by the author on 25-Feb-2019
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Just the kind of story I love. The berries, mushrooms and the quaint country folks who know how life should be lived. Oh, I was so sad when I came to the end...could have read so much more. But I was glad to see there will be more and you have this reader dazzled and waiting.
Comment Written 25-Feb-2019
reply by the author on 25-Feb-2019
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Good to hear from you, Miss Sherry, and thank you so much for your generous review. Much of the action of this mystery story takes place in France. Sadly, the cottage in Wiltshire is just a brief interlude. However, perhaps Charles will find his way back there again in due course - if not in this story, perhaps in a sequel. It's a part of the world I used to know quite well.
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I will wait with great anticipation for anything you post.
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I will wait with great anticipation for anything you post.
Comment from estory
The travel guide writer dominates this chapter, as Charles catches a fancy for blackberries and mushrooms and goes out to satisfy his tastes for both. A colorful character in the old farmer livens up the country scene. It's all very pastoral and romantic, laid back from the intrigue of the mafia. Then Brockhurst calls and the suspense is on again. estory
reply by the author on 25-Feb-2019
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The travel guide writer dominates this chapter, as Charles catches a fancy for blackberries and mushrooms and goes out to satisfy his tastes for both. A colorful character in the old farmer livens up the country scene. It's all very pastoral and romantic, laid back from the intrigue of the mafia. Then Brockhurst calls and the suspense is on again. estory
Comment Written 25-Feb-2019
reply by the author on 25-Feb-2019
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Time to drag Charles away from his bucolic existence and back into the action. Without a decent kick, I think he might be tempted to forget about the French letter, the drug cartel, and that irritating pair of Culverson sisters that seem so successfully to have got under his skin!
Comment from Sally Law
You make an ordinary day and the surroundings come alive as you place the charters in the scene. I love that about your writing. I am completely drawn in. Honorable mention goes to the breakfast, sounds sublime. It's nice to be reminded that Charles has had quite an adventure, and at his core, still very human.
Enjoy you much deserved six. This is outstanding.
All my best,
Sally ,+)
reply by the author on 25-Feb-2019
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You make an ordinary day and the surroundings come alive as you place the charters in the scene. I love that about your writing. I am completely drawn in. Honorable mention goes to the breakfast, sounds sublime. It's nice to be reminded that Charles has had quite an adventure, and at his core, still very human.
Enjoy you much deserved six. This is outstanding.
All my best,
Sally ,+)
Comment Written 25-Feb-2019
reply by the author on 25-Feb-2019
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What a lovely review, Sally. Thank you very much! Needless to say, I appreciate the sixth star, too. Best wishes, Tony
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You are so welcome! Sal :+)
Comment from WryWriter
What a delightful reading experience. Your expertise with description still amazes me. I love reading your work. It's like stepping into fantasyland. The reader is right there beside the character. Excellent chapter!
reply by the author on 25-Feb-2019
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What a delightful reading experience. Your expertise with description still amazes me. I love reading your work. It's like stepping into fantasyland. The reader is right there beside the character. Excellent chapter!
Comment Written 25-Feb-2019
reply by the author on 25-Feb-2019
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What a lovely review, WryWriter. Thank you very much! Needless to say, I appreciate the sixth star, too. Best wishes, Tony