The French Letter
Viewing comments for Chapter 19 "A Car Chase"A Novel
33 total reviews
Comment from Spitfire
I love that I know enough French to translate the restaurant scene. I don't know "merde" though.
With your references to streets and places, I feel as if I'm back in Paris. (I've been there five times and learned on the second visit how to read the stops listed on the Metro.
Lots of action here. I like the bits about the exasperating people in the ticket line, the slow line, the old man and his carthorse holding up the traffic and giving the finger.
reply by the author on 20-Oct-2018
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I love that I know enough French to translate the restaurant scene. I don't know "merde" though.
With your references to streets and places, I feel as if I'm back in Paris. (I've been there five times and learned on the second visit how to read the stops listed on the Metro.
Lots of action here. I like the bits about the exasperating people in the ticket line, the slow line, the old man and his carthorse holding up the traffic and giving the finger.
Comment Written 20-Oct-2018
reply by the author on 20-Oct-2018
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Many thanks for the sixth star, Shari. Appreciated! 'Merde!' is the French for 'Shit!' Clearly her husband was unimpressed!
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That explains why my teachers never taught us that. :-)
Comment from apky
Your excellent writing shone through once again. It's always a treat for this reader to read your work. I had to smile at myself at the point where you had to over-tip the waiter to compensate for settling your bill earlier - I'd have thought doing so later merited the over-tip!
Clean prose (writing style I mean, not lack of my kind of expletives, although I did notice your Merde!) and a good clip to the pace.
reply by the author on 20-Oct-2018
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Your excellent writing shone through once again. It's always a treat for this reader to read your work. I had to smile at myself at the point where you had to over-tip the waiter to compensate for settling your bill earlier - I'd have thought doing so later merited the over-tip!
Clean prose (writing style I mean, not lack of my kind of expletives, although I did notice your Merde!) and a good clip to the pace.
Comment Written 19-Oct-2018
reply by the author on 20-Oct-2018
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Thanks for your encouraging review, apky. Appreciated!
Comment from Adri7enne
Gee, did Helen get kidnapped? Shouldn't he be reporting this to the first gendarme he sees? Pretty good driving to follow a car in downtown Paris. I never drove in Europe. No, I have to correct that. I drove in Portugal for three weeks. From Madrid all the way down to the Algarve, through the mountainous sea cost. Hard driving!
City driving must be even harder.
When you described the old fellow's hand signals to the kidnappers I was happy to be reading alone, because I did the gesture as you wrote it. Lol! I could just see the old fellow giving him the finger. Loved it!
Good chapter, Tony.
reply by the author on 20-Oct-2018
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Gee, did Helen get kidnapped? Shouldn't he be reporting this to the first gendarme he sees? Pretty good driving to follow a car in downtown Paris. I never drove in Europe. No, I have to correct that. I drove in Portugal for three weeks. From Madrid all the way down to the Algarve, through the mountainous sea cost. Hard driving!
City driving must be even harder.
When you described the old fellow's hand signals to the kidnappers I was happy to be reading alone, because I did the gesture as you wrote it. Lol! I could just see the old fellow giving him the finger. Loved it!
Good chapter, Tony.
Comment Written 19-Oct-2018
reply by the author on 20-Oct-2018
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Many thanks for the sixth star, Adrienne, and all of your kind comments. I think we may find some involvement from the gendarmes in the next chapter.
Comment from krys123
Cheers, Tony;
.> It's 10 PM on the California coast on this beautiful and cool 55° night, with the seals barking at low tide.
> I couldn't read this fast enough, as the action and the intensity of Charles driving his rental and chasing after a Citroen holding Helen hostage,
> The traffic deTAIL and the skirmishes between the vehicles in the bicyclist falling down and getting up and showing his finger, or someone showing his finger and throwing their fist at, the speeding away, as Charles drove away. Phew!
> And then I had to recall later before this scene that he wished Helen was with him at the coffee place. And then I thought of his following actions occurrring and then the it would've been ironic.
> Now your difficulty as a writers try to come up with your next one is just as exciting, and not so much in action, but as intensity.
>I find that the hardest thing to do.
> Thanks for sharing Karen, Tony. Especially because I loved it.
Alx
reply by the author on 19-Oct-2018
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Cheers, Tony;
.> It's 10 PM on the California coast on this beautiful and cool 55° night, with the seals barking at low tide.
> I couldn't read this fast enough, as the action and the intensity of Charles driving his rental and chasing after a Citroen holding Helen hostage,
> The traffic deTAIL and the skirmishes between the vehicles in the bicyclist falling down and getting up and showing his finger, or someone showing his finger and throwing their fist at, the speeding away, as Charles drove away. Phew!
> And then I had to recall later before this scene that he wished Helen was with him at the coffee place. And then I thought of his following actions occurrring and then the it would've been ironic.
> Now your difficulty as a writers try to come up with your next one is just as exciting, and not so much in action, but as intensity.
>I find that the hardest thing to do.
> Thanks for sharing Karen, Tony. Especially because I loved it.
Alx
Comment Written 19-Oct-2018
reply by the author on 19-Oct-2018
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Hi Alex California sounds just about perfect at the moment! We've had some much needed rain over the past few days, which will keep the paddocks green for another few weeks. Thanks for your comments about this chapter. You're right, I'll have to think hard if I'm to hold the intensity. It's great that you thought this one worth six stars. Most affirming.
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It was a very intense chapter. But I think a book is like that it has chapters that have different intensities and some are even metaphoricaal.
> Yes, California Is pretty near perfect during the months of October through February then the rains should come but they never do. For years now we been in a drought.
> Take care my friend have a good one.
Alx
Comment from Earl Corp
Not having read what came befkre this chapter jeopardized me enjoying what i was reading. On it's own merits i believe the chapter could stspand in it's own. The mystery of Helen being kidnapped piqued my interest enougb i want to know how it turns out. The cast of characters at the bottom helped.
reply by the author on 19-Oct-2018
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Not having read what came befkre this chapter jeopardized me enjoying what i was reading. On it's own merits i believe the chapter could stspand in it's own. The mystery of Helen being kidnapped piqued my interest enougb i want to know how it turns out. The cast of characters at the bottom helped.
Comment Written 19-Oct-2018
reply by the author on 19-Oct-2018
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Thanks for dropping by, Earl. I appreciate your supportive comments. Best wishes, Tony
Comment from lyenochka
Really well done, Tony! I enjoyed the car chase and the perfect stalling of the black citroen by the old man. I also really enjoyed the interesting cultural interaction with the waiter unaccustomed to being paid earlier than expected. Hope that Helen is safe and that Charles has a backup plan!
reply by the author on 18-Oct-2018
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Really well done, Tony! I enjoyed the car chase and the perfect stalling of the black citroen by the old man. I also really enjoyed the interesting cultural interaction with the waiter unaccustomed to being paid earlier than expected. Hope that Helen is safe and that Charles has a backup plan!
Comment Written 18-Oct-2018
reply by the author on 18-Oct-2018
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Thanks, Helen. Charles is still working on his backup plan. LOL
Comment from Tpa
This was my first time following your book. so it would be totally unfair to judge the quality of your performance of be entice, but I do commend you on your skillful talent on writing the chase scene paragraph.
reply by the author on 18-Oct-2018
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This was my first time following your book. so it would be totally unfair to judge the quality of your performance of be entice, but I do commend you on your skillful talent on writing the chase scene paragraph.
Comment Written 18-Oct-2018
reply by the author on 18-Oct-2018
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Thank you, TPA. I appreciate your read and review. Best wishes, Tony
Comment from Gloria ....
Another action packed chapter, Tony. The only thing that stood out for me was the too often use of the word Citroen .
That said no clue what is going on with Helen but I guess we are about to find out. :)
Much enjoyed.
Gloria
reply by the author on 18-Oct-2018
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Another action packed chapter, Tony. The only thing that stood out for me was the too often use of the word Citroen .
That said no clue what is going on with Helen but I guess we are about to find out. :)
Much enjoyed.
Gloria
Comment Written 18-Oct-2018
reply by the author on 18-Oct-2018
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Thanks. Gloria. I'll have a look at removing a few Citroens. All the best, Tony
Comment from kiwijenny
Hmmm who are these men . why did they abduct Helen?
Good driving and describing driving..
You obviously know your way around Paris
Well penned intrigue
God bless
reply by the author on 18-Oct-2018
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Hmmm who are these men . why did they abduct Helen?
Good driving and describing driving..
You obviously know your way around Paris
Well penned intrigue
God bless
Comment Written 18-Oct-2018
reply by the author on 18-Oct-2018
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Thanks, Jenny. Actually I relied rather more on Google maps than personal knowledge for this one! LOL
Comment from Ulla
Wow, Tony, yeah, what now indeed. This was quite a chase through Paris. It was very well written and I liked how you took us through street to street. That emphasised the whole procedure. I loved it. Well written and well paced. But what now? All best. Ulla:)))
reply by the author on 18-Oct-2018
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Wow, Tony, yeah, what now indeed. This was quite a chase through Paris. It was very well written and I liked how you took us through street to street. That emphasised the whole procedure. I loved it. Well written and well paced. But what now? All best. Ulla:)))
Comment Written 18-Oct-2018
reply by the author on 18-Oct-2018
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Thanks, Ulla. What now indeed? Both Charles and his creator are having a think about that! LOL
