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Lenny Downes
That was my favorite part when I realized it. It brought the story together for me. And I also liked when the origin of each daughter’s name was revealed. I thought it was wonderful connecting then and now. The “rest of the story.”
Natalie Spadolini
Gosh I disagree with some of these answers! I was delighted by the subtly, and I don’t think the girls would have made a fuss, considering they’ve heard the story so many times.
Karen
Patchett clearly did NOT identify Nelson as Lara's husband Joe (and I don't remember there being any way to know it was him) until the big revelation and I thought doing it in this way was contrived and disruptive, for the very reason you cite. The girls made a big deal about Lara seeing the farm for the first time, certainly they would have made a big deal about her meeting their dad.
Myra White
There was a bit of confusion for me as people went back and forth between their stage names and their given names. And as always, it took a bit to know what was “then” and what was “now”.
judith
No, there was no reason to connect Nelson the director to Joe the cherry famer until this chapter! Even after that, I couldn't reconcile that he knew Duke too & had witnessed what happened between Lara & Duke that summer...it was pretty random & out there! (but it is fiction, & some found it "delightful.")
Dh
That was a big eye roll for me. Ta-da! The farmer husband is revealed to be the director! So what? Big yawn. It made no sense that suddenly she calls him by a different name. It was a clumsy gimmick trying to infuse some kind of interest into a lethally boring story. It also underscored the nonsense of always calling Peter Duke by his last name.
Cassie
Ok I’m here from chapter 12 too. If you’re in the same spot, I highly recommend reading-reading the beginning of chapter 6 (or listening on 2x speed on audible like I did). I have a horrible memory for the details and there are so many callbacks and references to re-live. She doesn’t met Joe until about 1/3 into chapter 7 at the table read.
Katrina Tan
I DIDN'T!!!! I needed to rewind and listen again!!!
Sarah Cauldwell Bratt
I just started chapter 13 and came to ask this question - I was very confused, not delighted, by the connection, as I think we were supposed to be.
The daughters certainly would have reacted differently at the beginning of the telling of this day.
It’s ok, I’m still very much delighted by hearing the story read to me by Meryl Streep. :-)
The daughters certainly would have reacted differently at the beginning of the telling of this day.
It’s ok, I’m still very much delighted by hearing the story read to me by Meryl Streep. :-)
cdundas
I know, right??? I thought I missed something.
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