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Topic: Sad news about Monica Sone

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Last Reply: Oct 04, 2011 11:50 PM

Joined: Dec, 2007

Sep 22, 2011, 1:36 AM	5152
I am not sure if my last post went through so apologies if this is a duplicate. I came across the sad news that Monica Sone passed away on September 5, 2011 at the age of 92. Pat

Suz

Joined: Dec, 2007

Location: Pacific Northwest

Sep 22, 2011, 2:25 PM	5153
I'll always think of Monica Sone as that beautiful young woman in the bed across from Betty's at Firland, wryly commenting on her "enormity" as compared to the rest of her family, and coming up with some real zingers aimed at the whining self-centeredness of a couple of their roommates. I am very sorry to learn of her passing.

PatH

Joined: Dec, 2007

Sep 27, 2011, 4:59 PM	5154
That Monica lived to the grand age of 92 years shows that the treatment she received at Firland, despite being very different from modern treatment, was very successful. I wonder if any other patients recognised themselves in "The Plague and I" or if Betty used an amalgamation of personalities. Some of her descriptions were not very flattering.

Suz

Joined: Dec, 2007

Location: Pacific Northwest

Sep 27, 2011, 6:42 PM

5155

I think Betty dodged a bullet when she was sued by the Bishop family over her characterization of them as the Kettles, especially since half of the Chimacum Valley apparently knew immediately who she was talking about. I know she said in court that she was using composite characters, but I think she realized she'd better be more careful in future. So maybe by the time Plague was published, she really was making more of an effort to make her characters less identifiable. But still, didn't that whole scene involving Monica Sone as Kimi and the character of Minna (whoever that was) just make you snort with laughter, when Minna is so whiny and nasty with her visiting husband and Kimi looks at her after he leaves and says, "With what a vast feeling of relief he will close the lid on your coffin."

johnftwa48in

Joined: Feb, 2005

Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana

Sep 29, 2011, 12:34 PM	5156
I have just learned of the untimely passing of my dear friend Monica Sone. I spend may a happy hour talking to her on the phone and exchanging emails with her. Sadly, my school work kept me from keeping up with her. Debbie and I will be working on a special edition of the Egg Crate dedicated soley to Monica!

debbies

Joined: Jul, 2005

Location: Northern California

Occupation: Online Sales & More!

Oct 04, 2011, 11:50 PM	5157
Oh, I agree Suz. To this day it's a sore point in Chimacum, especially among the Bishops. The book came out in 1945 and the movie in 1947 - none of Bishops alive today were around then, but that doesn't matter. Losing the case didn't help, either. And Betty definitely learned her lesson from that trial, no question. Her hesitation is almost "palpable" in the later books. Once burned, twice shy!

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