The French Letter
Viewing comments for Chapter 4 "Le Rendez-vous des Amis "A Novel
40 total reviews
Comment from BeasPeas
This is such an interesting and well written chapter of your book. It has excellent dialogue and story telling with nonstop scene setting and great word choices. Hints of humor here and there are well done. Good luck in the contest. Marilyn
reply by the author on 06-Sep-2018
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This is such an interesting and well written chapter of your book. It has excellent dialogue and story telling with nonstop scene setting and great word choices. Hints of humor here and there are well done. Good luck in the contest. Marilyn
Comment Written 03-Sep-2018
reply by the author on 06-Sep-2018
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Thanks, Marilyn, for your encouragement and support. Glad you're enjoying the story. All the best, Tony
Comment from Renee J. St.Germain
You are very descriptive and detailed. I could picture everything just like I was there.
"I felt a warm wetness on my sleeve as my right forearm started to ooze blood in sympathy with the tomatoes.". I loved the words you chose.
"discomfiture"-I've never heard this word. I wasn't sure if it was a French word or if you meant "discomfort".
She certainly seems dangerous. Excellent piece! Best to you in the contest!
reply by the author on 07-Sep-2018
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You are very descriptive and detailed. I could picture everything just like I was there.
"I felt a warm wetness on my sleeve as my right forearm started to ooze blood in sympathy with the tomatoes.". I loved the words you chose.
"discomfiture"-I've never heard this word. I wasn't sure if it was a French word or if you meant "discomfort".
She certainly seems dangerous. Excellent piece! Best to you in the contest!
Comment Written 03-Sep-2018
reply by the author on 07-Sep-2018
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Thanks so much for dropping by to review this chapter, Renee, and for your good luck wishes. As it turns out, Bob and I just got pipped on the post by Sandra. I thought your chapter deserved more than two votes, but it does take a little while to build up a fan base. Don't be discouraged.
As a noun, 'discomfort' generally suggests a slight physical pain, whereas 'discomfiture' suggests more of a mental feeling, of unease or embarrassment.
Best wishes, Tony
Comment from heart of Lou
Excellent writing! I think I read the installation after this one, that you posted. Now I see how he got the cut. I love your description of the tree that fell on the greenhouse, and all the smashed tomatoes. Helen is definitely a dangerous woman, which you hint at so well, without giving too much away.
reply by the author on 18-Aug-2018
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Excellent writing! I think I read the installation after this one, that you posted. Now I see how he got the cut. I love your description of the tree that fell on the greenhouse, and all the smashed tomatoes. Helen is definitely a dangerous woman, which you hint at so well, without giving too much away.
Comment Written 16-Aug-2018
reply by the author on 18-Aug-2018
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Many thanks, Lou. Glad to have you along for the ride and that you are enjoying it so far.
Comment from Giddy Nielsen-Sweep
I enjoy that some intrigue is creeping in here. It increases my curiosity and interest in reading the rest of the story. It seems there is some mystery to Helen's background. Looking forward to more, Giddy
reply by the author on 18-Aug-2018
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I enjoy that some intrigue is creeping in here. It increases my curiosity and interest in reading the rest of the story. It seems there is some mystery to Helen's background. Looking forward to more, Giddy
Comment Written 16-Aug-2018
reply by the author on 18-Aug-2018
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Thanks again - I'm hoping to develop Helen into a much more interesting character than just a 'love interest'. There is more to her than meets the eye, though I haven't quite got to the bottom of what it is yet! LOL
Comment from Pearl Edwards
He really has had a bad morning. It's odd she thought Madame Durand was dead then says she'd spent the next day in the hospital with her, something doesn't add up with Helen. Interesting characters and intriguing story-line Tony,
cheers,
valda
reply by the author on 16-Aug-2018
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He really has had a bad morning. It's odd she thought Madame Durand was dead then says she'd spent the next day in the hospital with her, something doesn't add up with Helen. Interesting characters and intriguing story-line Tony,
cheers,
valda
Comment Written 15-Aug-2018
reply by the author on 16-Aug-2018
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Both Helen and Charles were mistaken about Madame Durand's death. As Helen said in her explanation, she had only been knocked unconscious. Appearances can be deceiving! Nonetheless, I think there may be something fishy going on!
Comment from barbara.wilkey
Okay, now I know how Charles cut his arm. I read the posts out of order. DARN!!! It's on me. I am back to work, summer break is over. The kids don't start until the 27th. My reviewing will be scarce, but I'll do my very best to keep up with this story. I really like it.
reply by the author on 16-Aug-2018
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Okay, now I know how Charles cut his arm. I read the posts out of order. DARN!!! It's on me. I am back to work, summer break is over. The kids don't start until the 27th. My reviewing will be scarce, but I'll do my very best to keep up with this story. I really like it.
Comment Written 14-Aug-2018
reply by the author on 16-Aug-2018
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Glad you are enjoying this still! I had meant to arrange the promotion of these two chapters so that the earlier one was higher on the posting list, but it didn't quite work out as intended!
Comment from Pam (respa)
-Very good image and well penned chapter, Tony.
-Everything flowed well from beginning to end.
-The chapter begins well with the vivid description
of the storm damage, the landlord's efforts to deal
with it, and Charles's wound.
-Of course, it gives Helen an opportunity
to give even more attention to Charles!
-He is so comfortable with that, anyway!
-I was glad to hear that Madam Durand
was not killed in the accident; I didn't
think she had been, as there was no
foreshadowing about that.
-However, you include a bit of
intrigue about her, as Helen says,
"She's a tough old biddy."
-As the chapter draws to a close,
there is more mystery to Helen-
she wanted to get away from that
accident pretty quickly, and she
didn't seem concerned about Charles
having her purse for that length of time.
-As he said, things weren't adding up.
-At the end of the chapter, I think
Charles is getting more intrigued
and infatuated with Helen, even though
he finds her "Beautiful, but dangerous."
reply by the author on 16-Aug-2018
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-Very good image and well penned chapter, Tony.
-Everything flowed well from beginning to end.
-The chapter begins well with the vivid description
of the storm damage, the landlord's efforts to deal
with it, and Charles's wound.
-Of course, it gives Helen an opportunity
to give even more attention to Charles!
-He is so comfortable with that, anyway!
-I was glad to hear that Madam Durand
was not killed in the accident; I didn't
think she had been, as there was no
foreshadowing about that.
-However, you include a bit of
intrigue about her, as Helen says,
"She's a tough old biddy."
-As the chapter draws to a close,
there is more mystery to Helen-
she wanted to get away from that
accident pretty quickly, and she
didn't seem concerned about Charles
having her purse for that length of time.
-As he said, things weren't adding up.
-At the end of the chapter, I think
Charles is getting more intrigued
and infatuated with Helen, even though
he finds her "Beautiful, but dangerous."
Comment Written 14-Aug-2018
reply by the author on 16-Aug-2018
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Thanks for your comments, Pam. They confirm that the intentions I had when writing these chapters are coming through OK. Very kind of you to bestow six stars on this chapter. Appreciated! All the best, Tony
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You are very welcome and deserving of the stars and review, Tony. I am glad you feel your intentions are coming through, as you are doing a good job.
Comment from rspoet
Hello Tony,
Holy Potatoes! You certainly get yourself into a mess. (Charles, I mean)
"At this stage, having done everything I could to assist him"
it seems you haven't done anything to assist him. lol
I agree with Charles; things don't seem to add up,
but "the musky, floral fragrance of her perfume"
appears to forgive all inconsistency.
I remember that character from The Matrix--very dangerous, and beautiful.
Excellent chapter. Love your poetic descriptions, humor.
The intrigue thickens.
Robert
reply by the author on 16-Aug-2018
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Hello Tony,
Holy Potatoes! You certainly get yourself into a mess. (Charles, I mean)
"At this stage, having done everything I could to assist him"
it seems you haven't done anything to assist him. lol
I agree with Charles; things don't seem to add up,
but "the musky, floral fragrance of her perfume"
appears to forgive all inconsistency.
I remember that character from The Matrix--very dangerous, and beautiful.
Excellent chapter. Love your poetic descriptions, humor.
The intrigue thickens.
Robert
Comment Written 14-Aug-2018
reply by the author on 16-Aug-2018
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As you say, the plot thickens! I'm enjoying stirring the pot!
Comment from lyenochka
She's is so very charming! I'm wondering if she really did go to the hospital and why didn't she just hop in the ambulance? Wouldn't that have made it less suspicious that she cared about Mme Durand?
"Zut alors" seems really tame as to what could have been said. Lol.
Great job building up the relationship. I liked the "bleeding tomatoes" as the foreshadowing of the cut on the arm.
reply by the author on 14-Aug-2018
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She's is so very charming! I'm wondering if she really did go to the hospital and why didn't she just hop in the ambulance? Wouldn't that have made it less suspicious that she cared about Mme Durand?
"Zut alors" seems really tame as to what could have been said. Lol.
Great job building up the relationship. I liked the "bleeding tomatoes" as the foreshadowing of the cut on the arm.
Comment Written 14-Aug-2018
reply by the author on 14-Aug-2018
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Yes, that missing day is still a bit of a puzzle. If I were Charles, I'd do a bit more checking up before falling hook, line, and sinker for this enigmatic woman!
Comment from krys123
Cheers, Tony;
>Interesting where the main character is uncalculating. I look at the main characters who stumbles and having fallible mishaps, while he's trying to help another human being with his garden and greenhouse. Ends up cutting himself Since, but that's before a sheet of cloth wraps around him in the wind and he loses his hat, by raising his arms.
This is what I think partakes.
> In doing so, he cuts is forearm and it seems to be quite a gash, then he goes and meets a girl who's involved with called, Helen. She takes him back to his apartment to bandage his arm.
> All the while, mysteriously ,the woman that he knew the day before is dead and he worries that he might be caught up in it, if he's ever found out he was with her the night before.
> You got a lot going on here, Tony and it's great.
>I don't know that my French but does the title mean, "Rendezvous gone amiss".
> Well if it is it sure had.
> Thanks for posting this, Tony, I really enjoyed reading it and take care and have a good one.
Alx
reply by the author on 16-Aug-2018
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Cheers, Tony;
>Interesting where the main character is uncalculating. I look at the main characters who stumbles and having fallible mishaps, while he's trying to help another human being with his garden and greenhouse. Ends up cutting himself Since, but that's before a sheet of cloth wraps around him in the wind and he loses his hat, by raising his arms.
This is what I think partakes.
> In doing so, he cuts is forearm and it seems to be quite a gash, then he goes and meets a girl who's involved with called, Helen. She takes him back to his apartment to bandage his arm.
> All the while, mysteriously ,the woman that he knew the day before is dead and he worries that he might be caught up in it, if he's ever found out he was with her the night before.
> You got a lot going on here, Tony and it's great.
>I don't know that my French but does the title mean, "Rendezvous gone amiss".
> Well if it is it sure had.
> Thanks for posting this, Tony, I really enjoyed reading it and take care and have a good one.
Alx
Comment Written 14-Aug-2018
reply by the author on 16-Aug-2018
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Thanks for your comments, Alex. I'm enjoying making the character of Charles a bit of an anti-hero. Rendezvous gone amiss does sum this chapter up rather well, though the translation is actually 'a meeting place of friends'!
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That is so true, Tony, Charles is not like a Jacques Cousteau but he is someone who seems to fumble and stumble his way to a mystery. But he does it with class and an accountable way.
I'm enjoying it.
And you're very welcome, Tony.
Alx