5F

Did we see a different side to Michelle in her actions when abducted? What are your thoughts about her?

Michelle seems to have resolved herself about Ruth and Nelson and is just as concerned as Ruth is about what is happening to Nelson.

To be honest, we haven’t seen much of Michelle in recent episodes. It’s easy just to see her as the maligned wife. It was good to see her show some backbone, not an easy thing to do considering she’d been abducted, it would have been easy to lose her head when she knew Nelson had been shot.
She gained a lot of respect from me; whereas I find Ruth jealous and rather self-centered.

I have always felt a bit sorry for Michelle. She seemed to be happiest when she was with Tim.She was very understanding of Ruth's feelings for Harry. Like >3 Sergeirocks:, I have a lot more respect for her now.

>3 Sergeirocks: completely agree. I think more highly of Michelle. And my respect for Ruth has dropped off. When the series began I saw her as self centered and self absorbed with a whiny attitude. She became more self-assured and less self centered for several books. But since she moved back to Norfolk she is in ‘poor, pitiful me. All alone out in the cold’. She’s so jealous of Michelle now that I have little compassion for her now.

I feel for Michelle she is in an untenable situation. This is the woman her husband had an affair with that yielded a child. And they're still so wrapped up personally and professionally. What is she to do?

I felt more respect for Michelle, that she is able to negotiate herself in this difficult situation. Not just with the gunman but also with Ruth. She is offering Ruth a bit of grace and us readers at bit of smarts.