21 Comments

As I listen to this, Annabel reminds me of this generation's ne plus ultra of Barbara Pym's 'Excellent Women'. I'd take a whole book on her alone. Ray's antics are priceless--the height of idiotic male dithering... love it. 😂

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I almost think Annabel deserves a book on her own. I love her.

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I do too. Truly.

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Maybe it’ll happen. You never know. By the end of writing it felt I felt all three - Annabel, Kate & Janet , could have had their own spin off novels…

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Ray’s pratfall into the bushes is a genius comedic moment. I enjoyed bouncing between POVs in this - it matched the frantic quality of the crisis. One small note - could we see Annabel get into the car? How would Paul react to that?

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I'm afraid a leap of imagination is required to get Annabel from the path and into that front seat. If it gets picked up by a publisher, I'll think about editing something in. Thanks for note.

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What a great chapter…andI could read an entirely new novel about Annabelle.

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I could write one.

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I loved this chapter. And somehow I find myself imagining it on the stage, where I think it would be great as well.

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*picks up phone to Sam Mendes / Kathy Burke / Phoebe Waller Bridge

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Oh my gosh, so much is happening all at once, the chaos and fear and hilarity and emptiness. Incredible! I love this chapter and laughed out loud, "Not this man!"

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😊❤️

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This might be my favorite chapter yet - Ray, Janet, Annabel, and even Paul so perfectly themselves. Finally, Ray has a worthy project in his unsatisfying life, and he’s all dither and fumble.

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I just love that you're reading it, Tara. makes me so happy.

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🥰

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Ray is worried about his daughter but also in his glory, a mission to conduct, map in hand.

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Remember the art of driving while turning over the pages of a map on your lap? 🤦🏻‍♀️

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Or trying to retrieve the maps from under the passenger seat while driving.

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Oh Ray…..he’s hilarious. As well as a total pain in the arse

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He really is both 😂

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He really is both 😂

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