The French Letter
Viewing comments for Chapter 48 "Barking at the Moon"A Novel
23 total reviews
Comment from barbara.wilkey
You know I love this story. Once again you did a wonderful job writing this and I really enjoyed reading this. I can't help but have a feeling that this story is writing itself. It's great when that happens.
reply by the author on 02-Apr-2019
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You know I love this story. Once again you did a wonderful job writing this and I really enjoyed reading this. I can't help but have a feeling that this story is writing itself. It's great when that happens.
Comment Written 02-Apr-2019
reply by the author on 02-Apr-2019
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Thanks, Barbara. You are right. The story is unfolding in a way that I find quite surprising. I appreciate the sixth star for this chapter.
Comment from HealingMuse
Hi TF,
This is another very well written chapter, my friend. I know I reviewed this piece before. Another member said something went haywire with the site and a lot of reviews disappeared. Did this happen with this piece? I'm guessing so, because I distinctly recall reading and reviewing it. Nothing amiss here, as always, your prose is pure perfection. Thanks for an intriguing read. Jan :-)
reply by the author on 02-Apr-2019
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Hi TF,
This is another very well written chapter, my friend. I know I reviewed this piece before. Another member said something went haywire with the site and a lot of reviews disappeared. Did this happen with this piece? I'm guessing so, because I distinctly recall reading and reviewing it. Nothing amiss here, as always, your prose is pure perfection. Thanks for an intriguing read. Jan :-)
Comment Written 02-Apr-2019
reply by the author on 02-Apr-2019
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Thanks, Jan. I, too, had a feeling that you had responded previously, but I can?t find the previous review. Perhaps it is lost in cyberspace.
Comment from LIJ Red
A realistic reaction to the realization you have been unwitting accessory to a nasty felony...although I would put as many tunnels and moors as I could between me and the crime...excellent chapter.
reply by the author on 03-Apr-2019
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A realistic reaction to the realization you have been unwitting accessory to a nasty felony...although I would put as many tunnels and moors as I could between me and the crime...excellent chapter.
Comment Written 02-Apr-2019
reply by the author on 03-Apr-2019
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Thanks, Red. A pity Charles can't hold his drink a bit better. What an idiot.
Comment from royowen
I know this should have been grim, figuring the condition of Charles, being a reasonably ordinary character in an extraordinary situation, but I found it very witty and crscriptively brilliant, some of the literary expressions were very witty and well versed, well done, Tony, blessings, Roy ,
reply by the author on 03-Apr-2019
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I know this should have been grim, figuring the condition of Charles, being a reasonably ordinary character in an extraordinary situation, but I found it very witty and crscriptively brilliant, some of the literary expressions were very witty and well versed, well done, Tony, blessings, Roy ,
Comment Written 02-Apr-2019
reply by the author on 03-Apr-2019
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Thanks, Roy. Sometimes the things we do when under the influence can seem quite humorous in retrospect. I hope Charles doesn't have to pay to heavily for his folly.
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It was entertaining Tony
Comment from giraffmang
Really good, strong opening paragraph. Nice descriptions continue throughout.
Here you are, you old pisspot. - I highlighted this as I wondered if this is an expression a young Frenchman would know/say. Again, there's an assumption made of speaking English as well. It may need to be that the initial question needs to be French with him replying in English and the conversation turning?
Ah, drink, the source of many an ill-adventure....
G
reply by the author on 03-Apr-2019
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Really good, strong opening paragraph. Nice descriptions continue throughout.
Here you are, you old pisspot. - I highlighted this as I wondered if this is an expression a young Frenchman would know/say. Again, there's an assumption made of speaking English as well. It may need to be that the initial question needs to be French with him replying in English and the conversation turning?
Ah, drink, the source of many an ill-adventure....
G
Comment Written 02-Apr-2019
reply by the author on 03-Apr-2019
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I think I may have to turn them into English tourists! Somehow the French expressions don't seem to have quite the same ring to them, though 'un sac à merde' has some merit.
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merde de visage - shit-faced...
Il y a un grande penis sur la tete - he's a dickhead....
Comment from estory
You have Charles kind of stumbling around here from restaurant to church to bar, retching in the grip of the bomb going off that killed Arnaud, but to me the street scenes around Paris seemed a bit unrealistic, given that a bomb just went off that killed someone. Tourists seem to be walking around, people seem too unconcerned. Wouldn't there be more chaos, more tension, more panicked people running around and police shouting at everyone to clear the streets? Wouldn't they be looking for the perpetrator, who in fact is Charles? Wouldn't he be in the throws of trying to hide, or turn himself in, or be lurching around in his mind to try and figure out why this happened, instead of going to a restaurant for something to eat? This seemed to be heading into a maelstrom and then abruptly turned into a side street of sidewalk cafes and people eating dinner. The ending scene was a bit better, when the girl Charles leered at asks her husband to chuck him into the street and he gets a clear smack in the face. I don't know, but I think you missed the boat in this chapter. It needs more tension and panic. estory
reply by the author on 03-Apr-2019
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You have Charles kind of stumbling around here from restaurant to church to bar, retching in the grip of the bomb going off that killed Arnaud, but to me the street scenes around Paris seemed a bit unrealistic, given that a bomb just went off that killed someone. Tourists seem to be walking around, people seem too unconcerned. Wouldn't there be more chaos, more tension, more panicked people running around and police shouting at everyone to clear the streets? Wouldn't they be looking for the perpetrator, who in fact is Charles? Wouldn't he be in the throws of trying to hide, or turn himself in, or be lurching around in his mind to try and figure out why this happened, instead of going to a restaurant for something to eat? This seemed to be heading into a maelstrom and then abruptly turned into a side street of sidewalk cafes and people eating dinner. The ending scene was a bit better, when the girl Charles leered at asks her husband to chuck him into the street and he gets a clear smack in the face. I don't know, but I think you missed the boat in this chapter. It needs more tension and panic. estory
Comment Written 02-Apr-2019
reply by the author on 03-Apr-2019
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You've made several good points here. I shall have to make some significant changes to this chapter. Thanks for your honest review. Always welcome.
Comment from damommy
Poor Charles. How humiliating that was for him. He should have stuck St. Vincent. lol. I enjoyed the humor in this one, especially about Odd Job. While he's sleeping in that back room he'll have a guard outside.
reply by the author on 03-Apr-2019
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Poor Charles. How humiliating that was for him. He should have stuck St. Vincent. lol. I enjoyed the humor in this one, especially about Odd Job. While he's sleeping in that back room he'll have a guard outside.
Comment Written 02-Apr-2019
reply by the author on 03-Apr-2019
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He certainly seems to have put himself in an awkward position. I suspect that he'll have more than one kind of headache when he wakes up!
Comment from Sandra du Plessis
A very wel-written chapter. The shock of the explosion and knowledge that it was the package you delivered that cause the explosion made you sick to your stomach.
reply by the author on 03-Apr-2019
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A very wel-written chapter. The shock of the explosion and knowledge that it was the package you delivered that cause the explosion made you sick to your stomach.
Comment Written 02-Apr-2019
reply by the author on 03-Apr-2019
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Thanks for your review, Sandra. Appreciated. All the best, Tony
Comment from kiwijenny
Oh no... couchon I remembered from French classes.
I hope no one gave you a Glaswegian kiss. That would have added to your confusion nicely
Another well penned passage. Can't wait for the next
God bless
reply by the author on 03-Apr-2019
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Oh no... couchon I remembered from French classes.
I hope no one gave you a Glaswegian kiss. That would have added to your confusion nicely
Another well penned passage. Can't wait for the next
God bless
Comment Written 02-Apr-2019
reply by the author on 03-Apr-2019
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Poor old Charles. A Glaswegian kiss would have finished him off nicely! A while since I've heard that term.
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Our son lived near Glasgow
Comment from Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
I haven't heard the word 'thingummybobs' in quite a while, it was always to describe everything you forgot the name of!
This is a really excellent part, Tony, the visuals were too clear in some places, LOL. It was absolutely believable, the way it unfolded. Poor Charles, that was a sneaky thing for the government to have done to him, at least James Bond was told what he was getting into. Your story has developed into a damned good thriller-mystery, and I am so enjoying it. Sorry I can't give this a six, each part I'm reading now deserves that accolade. Well done, my friend. Can't wait for the next part, you're on a roll!! :) Sandra xx
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reply by the author on 02-Apr-2019
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I haven't heard the word 'thingummybobs' in quite a while, it was always to describe everything you forgot the name of!
This is a really excellent part, Tony, the visuals were too clear in some places, LOL. It was absolutely believable, the way it unfolded. Poor Charles, that was a sneaky thing for the government to have done to him, at least James Bond was told what he was getting into. Your story has developed into a damned good thriller-mystery, and I am so enjoying it. Sorry I can't give this a six, each part I'm reading now deserves that accolade. Well done, my friend. Can't wait for the next part, you're on a roll!! :) Sandra xx
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 02-Apr-2019
reply by the author on 02-Apr-2019
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Thanks, Sandra. The pace is hotting up! I hope the poor chap?s up to it.