| dryad |
| (member) |
| 11/05/2008 17:28 |
STRAIGHT AND TRUE Nicci French (short story in June W & H)
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STRAIGHT AND TRUE Nicci French (short story in June W & H)
What a powerful story! I am a great admirer of the writing of Nicci French. It can be thought provoking and emotionally disturbing; it can also arouse memories. This story set me thinking not only about a school reunion I attended a few years ago but also about my school days. We never forget, do we?
The reunion was in a hotel – the school buildings were in a depressing state apparently – and when I entered the bar, nobody recognised me. My school experience was not like Bella’s in the story; I was not the victim of bullying – I was ‘quiet’, in other words, ‘insignificant’.
Eventually (thank God!) the school friend I had kept in touch with over the years made an appearance. We waited in vain for the girls from ‘our crowd’ to arrive but they did not. Perhaps one needs a particular type of courage to attend reunions; I noticed that all the girls and boys from the ‘in crowd’ were there.
By now, others were recognising us and actually seeking us out for conversation. As a school girl I wasn’t exactly an ugly duckling (neither am I a beautiful swan now!) but even in the sixth form I still had a flat chest and skinny legs; big glasses and poker straight hair did nothing to improve my image.
Appearances may change but character traits seldom do. The comments from catty, sneering girls which I had avoided at school made their presence felt that evening. ‘No middle age spread and no grey hair for you then’ was one I remember. (True, thanks to genes inherited from my father!) Now I was noticeable.
That evening took be back – I might have been sixteen again. For half a minute I felt flattered that the ‘the group leader’, like Pauline in the story, had spoken to me at all. Then I woke up and I was myself again and I was glad. Nicci French’s story is responsible for all these thoughts, feelings and memories!
| jayra |
| (member) |
| 11/05/2008 17:37 |
Re: STRAIGHT AND TRUE Nicci French (short story in June W & H)
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Haven't read it yet but I also really enjoy Nicci French's novels.
How do they (ie Nicci Gerard and Sean French) manage to write a chapter each and still keep the stories so tight, suspenseful (made up word?!) and thrilling... a fantastic writing duo.
J x
| dryad |
| (member) |
| 11/05/2008 18:28 |
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Re: STRAIGHT AND TRUE Nicci French (short story in June W & H)
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Hi jayra,
I would like to know the answer to that question too! The latest novel UNTIL IT'S OVER is in two sections so maybe they wrote a section each. However, I don't know how they manage otherwise. And what about this short story STRAIGHT AND TRUE? How did they write that together?!
| Psyche |
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| 12/05/2008 10:33 |
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Re: STRAIGHT AND TRUE Nicci French (short story in June W & H)
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Hi jayra - great story probably because it hit a nerve with me too, I was Bella, though I don't think I smelt. I've avoided re-unions ever since.
| dryad |
| (member) |
| 12/05/2008 17:54 |
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Re: STRAIGHT AND TRUE Nicci French (short story in June W & H)
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Hi Psyche,
I was interested to hear that the Nicci French short story hit a nerve for you too. The reunion, which I mentioned in my post, was considered a great success and another reunion was planned for 5 years later. However, this second one didn’t happen…because of lack of interest. Clearly you and I were not the only ones to feel that one school reunion was enough (or maybe one too many!).
jdm
| Psyche |
| (member) |
| 14/05/2008 09:43 |
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Re: STRAIGHT AND TRUE Nicci French (short story in June W & H)
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Yes definitely 1 too many - if I never saw any of them again It wouldn't bother me. My school days were not very happy.
| jennifer36 |
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| 25/05/2008 14:20 |
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Re: STRAIGHT AND TRUE Nicci French (short story in June W & H)
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I agree that this was a great story - I love her/their writing and have read several of their books. I remember I read one very spine-tingling book ages ago - but can't remember what it was called!
I'm intrigued, too, as to how they write together!
| dryad |
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| 26/05/2008 15:18 |
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Re: STRAIGHT AND TRUE Nicci French (short story in June W & H)
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Hi jennifer36,
I wonder if the book you found especially spine tingling was SECRET SMILE. That one made me feel really uncomfortable, mainly because of the character, Brendan. His girlfriend ends the relationship when she finds him reading her diary. Soon after, her sister phones to say she has a new boyfriend – Brendan. The themes of obsession and revenge make this novel very disturbing.
The book was made into a film for television (starring David Tennant) but I missed this. I have looked for a DVD but so far without success. I wonder if the film (or any film of Nicci French’s work) can capture the nightmare quality. I would be interested to know if you (or any one else) saw it and what you thought. I know there are a lot of Nicci French fans on the W & H Forums!
| Barbs |
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| 29/05/2008 16:24 |
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Re: STRAIGHT AND TRUE Nicci French (short story in June W & H)
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About an hour ago I sat down and read the story. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I think I must have a vivid imagination as I was reading it I could picture it all. I too like the two authors books.
How glad I never had to go to a school reuinion.
| nicnac |
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| 01/08/2008 08:30 |
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Re: STRAIGHT AND TRUE Nicci French (short story in June W & H)
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Nicci French is one of my favourite authors so am disappointed to have missed the short story. Has anyone read the new one yet? I ususally buy hard back as soon as they are out but haven't done this time and am finding it very hard to wait for the paperback!
| dryad |
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| 02/08/2008 11:46 |
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Re: STRAIGHT AND TRUE Nicci French (short story in June W & H)
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Hi nicnac,
I have read Nicci French’s latest novel, Until It’s Over, and posted a review on this forum. Other readers have added comments – most of us really enjoyed the book.
If you lived nearer to me, you could borrow my hardback copy of Until It’s Over and also the June issue of Woman & Home magazine for the short story Straight and True!
| nicnac |
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| 02/08/2008 12:53 |
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Re: STRAIGHT AND TRUE Nicci French (short story in June W & H)
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Thanks for the thought, will go check out the reviews. I've just treated myself to Elizabeth George's new one (bargain in Tesco) so am going to order the Nicci French one from the library.
| dryad |
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| 03/08/2008 14:32 |
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Re: STRAIGHT AND TRUE Nicci French (short story in June W & H)
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Hi again nicnac,
I also bought Elizabeth George’s latest novel at a bargain price! I really enjoyed it – Careless in Red is not as tragic for Inspector Lynley as the previous two novels (With No One to Witness and What Came Before He Shot Her). Hope you enjoy it!
Incidentally, I have read about the television series in the Radio Times but I can’t bring myself to watch it. Surely there is a fair haired actor somewhere who could play Inspector Lynley? This dark haired actor is nothing like the image I have in my head!
| nicnac |
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| 03/08/2008 14:55 |
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Re: STRAIGHT AND TRUE Nicci French (short story in June W & H)
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I've just read the first three chapters and I'm hooked as usual. I'd actually seen a couple of the very first Inspector Lynley tv series before reading the books so have struggled with the vision of him that the book describes. The problem with tv series is that they have to skip out so much that they don't really relate to the books at all. I cherish the day I read the first book and then discovered there were already over 10 books in the series already written just waiting to be devoured.