The Farley letter was about the husband who would not have sex. It lit up Table Talk for ages. It came out whenever people were bored. It's a classic.

To shave or not to shave!

Fairley's letter (should I have an affair since my dear hubby won't have sex with me?)

The letter from the woman who didn't want to have to act girly and "helpless" to get men interested in her, where you explained to her why people allow others to help them (from 2002 or '03). Your response to this was really excellent.

There have been a lot of great letters over the years. Standout topics: Writers who complain that they're beautiful, brilliant and misunderstood. Writers whose spouse/partner is sexually withholding or deficient and should the writer stay in the relationship. Struggles with addictions. Llamma ranching.

Replies: There was one a few years ago that had Cary joining the underground and eating good cheese in the current political climate. I think there were a couple that touched on people you meet in your life, some of whom are massively significant but aren't meant to be in your life for long.

And I may think of more, this is off the top of my head.

I think the column that generated a lot of letters and a lot of different opinions was the one where the woman asked if she should break off her relationship with her married online friend once they lived in the same city. Maybe that'd be a good relationship one?

After reading your response to the desperate mother, that's when I knew I'd love you forever.

Amy B.

...but the kick-ass line was:

"what is it about the dead that makes them feel they have the right to control the living???"... or something like that. the writer was worried about calling off a wedding because her mother was dying and wanted to see her get married before she died. your advice was brilliant.

yeah, that column.

I think that a book is a good idea so I'll chip in some thoughts...

You must include the crazy Bondesque guy that pined for the old love that he had located after many years. This is the guy that swam the bay, ran drugs TO Canada (Ya, that was the tip off that something was fishy) and came into great question by almost every reader of the column. I still think that he was a fake but the letter and the response made for a great read.

I also remember the letter from the mom that fought her back-woods upbringing in favour of a more liberal and hopefully enlightened future in a far away city only to find that her son who she was estanged from was embracing the past that she ran from.

Come to think of it Cary any letter that I have posted a response to obviously moved me to do so. I think that the majority of them would be good additions to a book. Feel free to add a reader response portion of your book as well. I come cheap - an autographed copy and a fab weekend in San Fran would suit me just fine.

Good luck with the book. I love that we live in a time where you can self publish in a way that will keep you and your wife true to yourselves while (hopefully) making a decent buck.

Cheers,

Jayne

Peanut lady.

Right off the bat, I think yesterday's column was incredible & deserves to be in the book.