Mary Nesbit

Mary was extremely generous to me when I first ventured on to the NYT Books.She was highly intelligent, argued logically and lucidly, had a sense of humour and believed in reason. We will miss her.

Adding my respects and condolences.
Mary had more recently graced the bookchat at worldliteratureforum.com as Sevigne, her biographical self-description there: "I resemble Monty Python's housewife who decided to visit Paris to ask Sartre a question" ... her wit and wisdom will be sorely missed.

How nice to see the readers from the New York Times coming out to honor Chartres, a woman who lived a life well read.

I'm sure each of us has a book or writer she pointed us toward. For me it was Moby Dick (and that cantankerous westerner, DeVoto).

My condolences to her family. She will be missed indeed.

Chartres

One man's avatar; another's holy ground.

Where the light flooded in,
the words tumbled after
the confessions,
the laughter.

Rain mars the glass now.
Faith barely warms the stone.

And it is still beautiful.

Dearest Mary, when we corresponded on the New York Times, your wit invariably spurred me to Pindaric flights, Goliard would have said Pundoric fights, - - for once I am left without words. I embrace your memory, as I do, virtually this evening, the others here, Jen, John and Whit, the (once, now) merry company from that wonderful time who joined you in what, retrospectively, is now, and more so with your death, the lost art of civilized and intelligent conversation. Sit tibi terra levis.

I am so sad.

I met Mary early on in the Times Books Forums years. She became a fast friend there, treasured by me and all for her wit, rich trove of knowledge of British historical and literary detail, and renowned for her love of France and Proust. I often thought she'd make a fine children's story writer, in her unique piquant style. She spoke of her family with great affection.

Mary, if you're looking on, I meant to but never managed to tell you that I finally got...

I just returned from 3 weeks of no computer access to hear of Mary's passing.Sad does not describe how I feel.Mary was my first NYTimes book forums friends and I kept in touch with her for all these years over books.She was a one in a million and I shall miss her every day but recall all the fun we had online and the one time I met her in person.John Abel otherwise known as Bo from the NYTimes forums.