The Devil Fights Back
Viewing comments for Chapter 8 "The Devil Fights Back - Ch. 8"Challenges in the pharmaceutical field
17 total reviews
Comment from Wayne Fowler
Very well written.
The only question I had was whether Julia (and Brian) would be comfortable letting Marie wander the house unaccompanied.
Oh, and wouldn't the booze be in a high cupboard because of the baby?
Best wishes.
reply by the author on 30-Nov-2024
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Very well written.
The only question I had was whether Julia (and Brian) would be comfortable letting Marie wander the house unaccompanied.
Oh, and wouldn't the booze be in a high cupboard because of the baby?
Best wishes.
Comment Written 30-Nov-2024
reply by the author on 30-Nov-2024
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Thanks very much, Wayne. I like your idea of putting the booze out of reach of the baby. I think I'll put it on a high shelf and because Marie is small, she'll need to use a step ladder to reach it. That will make her grumble some more.
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Hah!
Comment from T B Botts
Hello Jim,
well, Marie is living up to her character I see. What a sweetheart! I know there are people like her in the world, I'm just glad I don't have to deal with them. It sounds like she must be an alcoholic if she has to drink on the plane and then again when she lands. Not only that, she feels privileged apparently, and has no apparent remorse over snooping around her daughter's house. I can only imagine if someone was to do it to her, she'd have a cow. Well done.
Have a blessed evening.
Tom
reply by the author on 30-Nov-2024
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Hello Jim,
well, Marie is living up to her character I see. What a sweetheart! I know there are people like her in the world, I'm just glad I don't have to deal with them. It sounds like she must be an alcoholic if she has to drink on the plane and then again when she lands. Not only that, she feels privileged apparently, and has no apparent remorse over snooping around her daughter's house. I can only imagine if someone was to do it to her, she'd have a cow. Well done.
Have a blessed evening.
Tom
Comment Written 30-Nov-2024
reply by the author on 30-Nov-2024
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I don't know if she's a true alcoholic, but she does like her booze, especially to relieve her stress, and there has been and will be a lot about this trip that takes her out of her comfort zone. You're right that she feels privileged and doesn't look at herself as critically as she does others.
Thanks so much for those 6 stars and your always perceptive reviews, Tom.
Comment from LJbutterfly
Marie seems to be a crude, nasty person who finds fault in everything and everyone. She snooped through Julia and Brian's home, and drew all wrong conclusions. Let's see if she can find fault with the baby.
reply by the author on 30-Nov-2024
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Marie seems to be a crude, nasty person who finds fault in everything and everyone. She snooped through Julia and Brian's home, and drew all wrong conclusions. Let's see if she can find fault with the baby.
Comment Written 29-Nov-2024
reply by the author on 30-Nov-2024
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You've got Marie pretty well pegged, Lorraine. Perhaps she will find fault with the baby. She already criticized his name as being too common in a previous chapter, but then again...
Comment from Pearl Edwards
I could visualise the scene in the plane with Marie being told her baggage was to large, you wrote that up well Jim. I don't like snoops, but I am sure Jules would expect that of her mother. A good chapter, Jim. well done,
cheers,
valda
reply by the author on 28-Nov-2024
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I could visualise the scene in the plane with Marie being told her baggage was to large, you wrote that up well Jim. I don't like snoops, but I am sure Jules would expect that of her mother. A good chapter, Jim. well done,
cheers,
valda
Comment Written 27-Nov-2024
reply by the author on 28-Nov-2024
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Thanks very much, valda. I'm glad you seem to be enjoying the portrayal of Julia's mother. We're building up to a confrontation between these two soon. Let's see if there's any hope for a reconciliation.
Comment from Tom Horonzy
The story herein could easily be of a neighborly neighbor in Anywhere USA since drugs and booze are nearly everywhere, maybe even in Cherryville, which I have been through, and as for f-bombs I never make use of them verbally though "freakin' falls from my lips occasionally.
reply by the author on 27-Nov-2024
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The story herein could easily be of a neighborly neighbor in Anywhere USA since drugs and booze are nearly everywhere, maybe even in Cherryville, which I have been through, and as for f-bombs I never make use of them verbally though "freakin' falls from my lips occasionally.
Comment Written 27-Nov-2024
reply by the author on 27-Nov-2024
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I don't know as I would describe Marie as neighborly, but I have tried to portray her as somewhat stereotypical of an elite, entitled, crude (hence the occasional F-bombs), sarcastic, complaining bitch. Let's see if anything will turn her around or if there's just no hope for her.
Comment from Pam Lonsdale
I've never understood people who refuse to get up early to catch a flight. It's one day's inconvenience in order to get to a place you need or want to go.
You state "I have never owned a car nor had a license" even though you've just told us she has a license. Of course, she would have a license for identification, I would think.
Well, I don't like Marie anymore than I did, lol! She is such a nasty woman who believes that every single thing she has to "endure" is beneath her - like the luggage. I'm wondering if Johnny will be the one to finally melt her heart.
And she really is clueless as far as "the drug-addicted husband" goes, huh? No idea what a genius he is or the great things that he has accomplished.
Time for Julia to take mom down a few pegs:-)
As always, Jim, I enjoy reading your book chapters.
xo
Pam
reply by the author on 27-Nov-2024
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I've never understood people who refuse to get up early to catch a flight. It's one day's inconvenience in order to get to a place you need or want to go.
You state "I have never owned a car nor had a license" even though you've just told us she has a license. Of course, she would have a license for identification, I would think.
Well, I don't like Marie anymore than I did, lol! She is such a nasty woman who believes that every single thing she has to "endure" is beneath her - like the luggage. I'm wondering if Johnny will be the one to finally melt her heart.
And she really is clueless as far as "the drug-addicted husband" goes, huh? No idea what a genius he is or the great things that he has accomplished.
Time for Julia to take mom down a few pegs:-)
As always, Jim, I enjoy reading your book chapters.
xo
Pam
Comment Written 27-Nov-2024
reply by the author on 27-Nov-2024
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I inserted the words "New York" before license to make it clear she never had gotten a NY driver's license. She still had her expired NC license which she used to fool the car rental agent.
Yes, I've tried to paint Marie as a snobbish, entitled, sarcastic, thoroughly unpleasant woman so far. Let's see if your thoughts about meeting her grandson are correct.
I really appreciate your in-depth reviews, Pam, that show you are so engaged in the story.
Comment from lyenochka
Marie is still a source of fun humor because of how difficult a personality she is. I am guessing if Dana can be transformed, there might be hope even for Marie, especially if she has any maternal instincts that awaken with getting to know her grandson. Thanks for the note about the TV character. I heard of the show but never watched it, except a few snippets.
reply by the author on 27-Nov-2024
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Marie is still a source of fun humor because of how difficult a personality she is. I am guessing if Dana can be transformed, there might be hope even for Marie, especially if she has any maternal instincts that awaken with getting to know her grandson. Thanks for the note about the TV character. I heard of the show but never watched it, except a few snippets.
Comment Written 27-Nov-2024
reply by the author on 27-Nov-2024
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I'm so glad you see the humor in Marie's portrayal, Helen. That's exactly how I intended it. Your instincts, as always, are quite good about the plot direction.
Breaking Bad is probably my all-time favorite series, along with the spinoff Better Call Saul. I highly recommend them if you ever get a chance to see them. My wife, who normally doesn't like too much violence, really loves them too.
The characters in both series are just so interesting and multi-faceted. Watching Walt's slow transformation into a monster is something to behold. Even though Walt turns really evil, you still find yourself kind of rooting for him right to the end. Same goes for Jimmy McGill in Better Call Saul.
Such incredibly interesting and well-conceived characters. There are a lot of ethical dilemmas in both shows and both are extremely intelligently written.
Comment from Carol Hillebrenner
Marie will never be a doting grandmother. It is interesting that she clings to the belief that her son-in-law is an addict. Julia should never have been honest with her mother. Is Marie drunk enough to make a fool of herself or attack her daughter or son-in-law?
reply by the author on 27-Nov-2024
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Marie will never be a doting grandmother. It is interesting that she clings to the belief that her son-in-law is an addict. Julia should never have been honest with her mother. Is Marie drunk enough to make a fool of herself or attack her daughter or son-in-law?
Comment Written 26-Nov-2024
reply by the author on 27-Nov-2024
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You're really invested in this it seems, Carol. Let's see how accurate your predictions are.
Comment from Debbie D'Arcy
Ha ha! I love this woman! She's just the sort for whom everything possible will go wrong. At least she didn't get plastered waiting for their arrival, I don't think! And if she believes she's going to get an apology from Julia, she's got another think coming! As ever, the chapter is detailed and reads credibly and engagingly. There is just the tiniest of omissions: The attendant at the desk announced that(,) due.... But another goodie, Jim. Thanks for sharing. Can't wait for the interaction:) Debbie
reply by the author on 27-Nov-2024
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Ha ha! I love this woman! She's just the sort for whom everything possible will go wrong. At least she didn't get plastered waiting for their arrival, I don't think! And if she believes she's going to get an apology from Julia, she's got another think coming! As ever, the chapter is detailed and reads credibly and engagingly. There is just the tiniest of omissions: The attendant at the desk announced that(,) due.... But another goodie, Jim. Thanks for sharing. Can't wait for the interaction:) Debbie
Comment Written 26-Nov-2024
reply by the author on 27-Nov-2024
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So glad you enjoyed this further portrayal of Marie, who, if she'd been smart about it would have taken the earlier flight to get there on time. You've certainly gotten into the spirit of her, Debbie. I hope you'll enjoy the coming confrontation with Julia and resolution of it.
Comment from royowen
It seems Marie hasn't changed, and I hope she falls in love with the baby, the deserve it, perhaps this is the redemption of Marie? Nah!. I can't, nor ever will understand someone like Marie, beautifully written, blessings Jim, Roy
Typo : In the (Frig) fridge?
reply by the author on 26-Nov-2024
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It seems Marie hasn't changed, and I hope she falls in love with the baby, the deserve it, perhaps this is the redemption of Marie? Nah!. I can't, nor ever will understand someone like Marie, beautifully written, blessings Jim, Roy
Typo : In the (Frig) fridge?
Comment Written 26-Nov-2024
reply by the author on 26-Nov-2024
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I like your thinking here, Roy. I think you may be onto something.
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Knowing you Jim, you're probably plotting Marie's redemption! Heh heh.