My Brother Michael > Likes and Comments
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Sara
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Apr 11, 2026 06:35PM
This is the buddy read thread for My Brother Michael by Mary Stewart. Discussion begins April 15th.
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I don't think I've read this. I'll join in!
Great Annette!I've read this before and loved it! I'll be joining for the buddy read.
Looking forward to getting into this one!
Can't wait to read this with everyone. I always say it's my favorite - we'll see if it still is! Here are a few bits from my spoiler free review:I'm not sure that anyone does romantic suspense as well as Mary Stewart at her best. She gives you smart, capable, likable heroines who aren't superheroes, fascinating settings and adventure that builds throughout the book. She's also a master of foreshadowing, Modern writers don't know how to do that - they hit you over the head with clues, but Stewart strews bread crumbs in your path and lets you grin and follow. And wonder.
I've never been to Greece. I've never been anywhere near the Mediterranean. But reading Stewart you feel as if you're there, tramping the countryside, feeling the heat of the sun or enjoying a cooling dip into the sea. I love a book that truly "takes me away", and this one does.
You don't have to love mythology or Greek history to enjoy this, but it might help, as it's fun to read a novel and stumble upon references to other stories and places that you've read about before.
I was Super busy on the 15th, so this afternoon, the 16th, I'm happily curling up with this book. And the first line made me smile. :)Spoiler for opening of the book
"Nothing ever happens to me." No fan of Mary Stewart could read those words without a frisson of pleasurable anticipation. "So far..." I murmur, "So far, but just you wait." :)
I will be joining in tomorrow .. one day later than I'd planned to . Mary Stewart again 😇 ! I've thoroughly enjoyed the previous Buddy Reads , and am so glad that after this one ends , we all will meet again for Airs Above The Ground . I hate it when a good book ends !
I probably can't start today, but should be able to tomorrow or Saturday. I'm looking forward to it. :)
I was able to fit some reading in today after all, and this post has spoilers through the end of chapter 3.I'm glad to be reading this again. Even though the action starts right away, in some ways this book gets off to a bit of a calmer start than some of her other books. The heroine is less spunky and more vulnerable (more realistic?) than the heroines of This Rough Magic and The Moon-Spinners, for example. I find I empathize with her right away. And you can really feel how reassured she feels by Simon's calm presence.
And Mary Stewart is back with her trademark lovely descriptions of setting. I love how she is able to convey the magical feeling of the abandoned ruins. Here's one of my favourite passages from these early chapters:
High up, in the angle where the bluff joined the mountain, I saw it, Apollo's temple, six columns of apricot stone, glowing against the climbing darkness of the trees behind. Above them soared the sunburned cliffs; below was a tumble, as yet unrecognizable, of what must be monument and treasury and shrine. From where we were the pillars seemed hardly real; not stone that had ever felt hand or chisel, but insubstantial, the music-built columns of legend; Olympian building, left floating - warm from the god's hand - between sky and earth. Above, the indescribable sky of Hellas; below, the silver tide of the olives everlastingly rippling down to the sea.
Yes, I’m enjoying the beautiful descriptions, too. And I like the funny misadventure Camilla has stumbled into! Her driving adventure to Delphi was entertaining! And I’m enamored of Simon, so far. I hope that keeps up! :)
Wobbley wrote: "I was able to fit some reading in today after all, and this post has spoilers through the end of chapter 3.I'm glad to be reading this again. Even though the action starts right away, in some way..."
"the silver tide of the olives everlastingly rippling down to the sea." This is such a powerful image, it's stuck in my head all day. :)
I've read three more chapters, and this post has spoilers through the end of chapter 6.At this point we've learned the central mystery of the book: what happened to Simon's brother when he was killed in this area during the war? There are a lot of unanswered questions. I read this book just last year, so I remember most of the answers, but I don't mind that, since I loved the book the first time.
I'm enjoying watching Simon and Camilla's relationship evolve, which I think happens very naturally. Even this early in the novel Simon is already my favourite Mary Stewart hero: calm and compassionate and yet able to look at the world with a smile behind his eyes. One slightly surprising thing is that their relationship so far seems to reflect traditional gender roles to a greater extent than what we usually get in Mary Stewart's novels. While this isn't my preference, I find I'm able not to be bothered by it because of how good-humoured they both are about it.
There have been some more great descriptions of setting. I liked the part where she went looking for the pilgrim's path to the Temple of Apollo from Itea. But I've also noticed some repetition in her descriptions, which I don't remember being normal for her (for example, a few times the olive groves have been described as a river with ripples from the wind blowing the leaves; and I think she's used the word "apricot" to describe three different things so far -- stones, the moon, etc.). I can't decide whether this is an editing problem or an intentional repeated motif. Does anyone have thoughts on this? She's a skilled writer, so I'm leaning towards intentional repeated motif used to convey the nature of the light in Greece. (But I still think she may be using these too close together in the book.)
I'm still very much enjoying my time with this novel.
Wobbley wrote: "I've read three more chapters, and this post has spoilers through the end of chapter 6.At this point we've learned the central mystery of the book: what happened to Simon's brother when he was ki..."
Whoa , Wobbley , you're way ahead now ! It's true , that as such your reading speed is good , but maybe , because it's your second read , you're able read even faster .
I'll be opening your spoilers as I reach that part .
Teri-K wrote: "Wobbley wrote: "I was able to fit some reading in today after all, and this post has spoilers through the end of chapter 3.I'm glad to be reading this again. Even though the action starts right a..."
Commenting on msg 11 : Wow , just , wow 🤗 . What imagery !! There is sheer magic in the way this author weaves her words . Prose , poetry and music.. it's all there woven together!
Savita wrote: "Commenting on msg 11 : Wow , just , wow 🤗 . What imagery !! There is sheer magic in the way this author weaves her words . Prose , poetry and music.. it's all there woven together! "Yes, she's a beautiful writer, and her descriptions of scenery are pretty amazing.
I've read some more, and this post has spoilers up to the end of chapter 10.I'm about half done. I remember this from the last time I read this book: For me it doesn't start off with as much of a bang as some of her other books - somehow it's a quieter adventure story - but it really builds, and by this point I'm just loving reading it! Here are a few things that struck me from this section:
First, the scene where Simon recites at night in Greek in an amphitheatre with perfect acoustics. This scene was just magical.
Then his voice came up out of the well of darkness, and the great rolling Greek lines rose and broke and echoed, rounding like a wind among the high crags.
The development of the relationship between the two leads is a joy to watch. I think what I like best is how little drama they introduce into their relationship. Just simplicity and truth. For example, the part where she was annoyed about Danielle, and he calmly tells her to come off it, and she just laughs and says okay. That was lovely.
The descriptions of scenery are still so wonderful. Here's a favourite from this section:
Beyond it the valley of the olives swam and shimmered in the immense liquid distance of light, and beyond that again mountain after mountain, and the sea.
There was an entire page or two I wanted to copy down in the section where Camilla was talking about how everyone is connected and Michael's grave is as moving and important as Agamemnon's, and the effect of being in Greece on her thinking. Rather than writing out that immense quote here, I'll just include this response from Simon:
I think the secret is that it belongs to all of us - to us in the West. We've learned to think in its terms, and to live in its laws. It's given us almost everything that our world has that is worth while. Truth, straight thinking, freedom, beauty. It's our second language, our second line of thought, our second country. We all have our own country - and Greece.
So, I accidentally spent all day yesterday reading, and finished the book. This post has spoilers through the end of the book.Obviously I really enjoyed this, since I couldn't stop reading. The second half is very action-packed, with a properly evil villain. My favourite things were:
- Simon. I continue to think he's Stewart's best hero (at least among those I've read so far). He's calm and confident and understanding and compassionate. Although the climax ended in violence from him, and although he talked about vengeance a few times, he didn't resort to violence until their lives were in very imminent danger (the villain was literally in the middle of trying to kill Camilla). It was a case of using violence for defense. I appreciated that, especially in contrast to what happened at the end of her other book, (view spoiler)
- The focus on Camilla's search. They mentioned a few times about Camilla searching for something. I think this is about self-worth. She had just left a relationship in which she felt always inferior, and had little sense of self-worth. I liked the emphasis here on how being herself was enough. She and Simon could be equals even though their abilities were different. I love Simon's handling of that topic in the cave. And I also really like that Camilla isn't a perfect adventure story heroine; she is actually scared in frightening situations, and this makes her easier to relate to as a reader.
- The scene where they found the Apollo statue. I found this scene just beautiful, similarly to the scene where Simon was reciting at night in the amphitheatre.
This is still my favourite Mary Stewart novel. Her writing is just lovely. Here's a favourite quote from the second half, for the road:
It was a picture I was never to forget, that quiet tailpiece to tragedy.
I just finished chapter 4. I'm enjoying it so much! I agree with Wobbley that Camilla is a less spunky heroine that usual, and it makes me recognize that I'm not all the adventurous, either. And having driven along some windy mountain roads, I felt a little white-knuckled myself as Simon drove them around. Those hairpin turns with a steep drop on one side - whoa!I noticed, too, what Wobbley mentioned about the continual use of the trees as waves or rivers. I think it's deliberate, and is Stewart's way of conveying the rolling of the hills and the ocean around them, too.
Quote/SLIGHT SPOILER toward the end of chapter 4:
They're driving together and Simon compliments Camilla on not pretending to misunderstand him. Then he says, "O rare for Anthony."
That's a quote from Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra, and in the play it comes right after Cleopatra's beauty and riches have been described. It's kind of like we might say, "What a lucky guy, she's really something!" So Simon's showing that he thinks Camilla is as special as Cleopatra was. It's a great throw-away line that shows us how he's feeling about her early on.
Here's a great photo of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi that they look up at from the car and she walks off that evening to see. It's so atmospheric!
https://scontent-iad6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/...
Teri-K wrote: "I just finished chapter 4. I'm enjoying it so much! I agree with Wobbley that Camilla is a less spunky heroine that usual, and it makes me recognize that I'm not all the adventurous, either. And ha..."Thank you so much for linking to that photo -- so spectacular! And thanks for explaining the Shakespeare quote -- I bet there are a lot of little things like that that I'm missing in this book.
I'm so glad you're enjoying it as much as you remembered. :)
Teri-K wrote: "Quote/SLIGHT SPOILER toward the end of chapter 4:They're driving together and Simon compliments Camilla on not pretending to misunderstand him. Then he says, "O rare for Anthony." That's a quote from Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra, and in the play it comes right after Cleopatra's beauty and riches have been described. It's kind of like we might say, "What a lucky guy, she's really something!" So Simon's showing that he thinks Camilla is as special as Cleopatra was. It's a great throw-away line that shows us how he's feeling about her early on."
Now that you've explained what this quote meant, I really like it as an early instance of him thinking she's different (better) than other women. He says nine out of ten women would have pretended not to know what he was talking about. (This is the simple honesty between them that I mentioned in post 16.)
There's a parallel moment later in the book. This has spoilers for chapter 14.
Simon indicates that he's going to go back up into the mountains to find the cave, and Dimitrios will likely be heading there too, making it a potentially dangerous idea. Camilla says: "When do we start?" Then she thinks:
I don't know what I expected him to say. I know what nine men out of ten would have said - and Philip would have said it twice.
Most men would forbid her to come, but Simon respects her choice and enjoys her company, and doesn't try to stop her. She, too, can see how rare and special he is. It's a nice counterpoint moment to the one Teri-K mentioned on the drive from Itea.
Teri-K wrote: "I just finished chapter 4. I'm enjoying it so much! I agree with Wobbley that Camilla is a less spunky heroine that usual, and it makes me recognize that I'm not all the adventurous, either. And ha..."Oh, how beautiful!! Thanks a lot, Teri-K. That really adds to my imaginings of the scenery in the book!!
I've just started chapter 2 . The first chapter was delightful ! Slight spoilers from chapter 1 : I kept grinning 😀 throughout this chapter ! I had heard that the Italians are an emotional kind . But , the description of the Greeks , here , reminded me of what I have read about the Italians . The scene at the proprietor 's counter , where Camilla goes to inform him about the key muddle, is just too sweet ! Everyone has something to say , but it all amounts to nothing 😄 !
It's, also , hilarious when she tells the stranger ( who wants to give her the car keys ) , a firm ne , only to realize a little later that ne means yes in Greek , not no [ like it does in most languages, actually] ! 😅
Another place where I couldn't help smiling was : A donkey so laden with massed flowers that it looked like a moving garden ... 😅 !
Teri-K wrote: "Can't wait to read this with everyone. I always say it's my favorite - we'll see if it still is! Here are a few bits from my spoiler free review:I'm not sure that anyone does romantic suspense as..."
Hmm ... I am familiar with some of Greek mythology , but not at all with Greek history .
Teri-K wrote: "I was Super busy on the 15th, so this afternoon, the 16th, I'm happily curling up with this book. And the first line made me smile. :)Spoiler for opening of the book
"Nothing ever happens to me...."
Absolutely agree 😀 !
Through to the end - slight spoiler on the ending I've just finished and enjoyed it very much. Mary Stewart assumes quite a solid knowledge of Greek mythology from her readers which I enjoy, but it does mean looking at other sources as well.
In Chapter 3 there is a reference to Isabella and Lorenzo in the context of a basil leaf. I had never come across the story, but my eldest promptly provided the Keats poem as she is currently studying it for A-levels.
I really liked the ending with them leaving the statue as they found it, She created a very credible villain and I liked Simon very much. Camilla develops confidence as the story progress which is also much appreciated. Mary Stewart packs a lot into a fairly short novel!
Savita wrote: "I've just started chapter 2 . The first chapter was delightful ! Slight spoilers from chapter 1 : I kept grinning 😀 throughout this chapter ! I had heard that the Italians are an emotional kin..."
Yes you're right, the scene at the proprietor's counter was pretty funny!
Carolien wrote: "I've just finished and enjoyed it very much. Mary Stewart assumes quite a solid knowledge of Greek mythology from her readers which I enjoy, but it does mean looking at other sources as well..."I'm glad you enjoyed it Carolien! I agree with everything you've said in your review here. I loved their decision at the end as well.
Carolien wrote: "I've just finished and enjoyed it very much. Mary Stewart assumes quite a solid knowledge of Greek mythology from her readers which I enjoy, but it does mean looking at other sources as well.In C..."
Carolien , please could you mention the name of the Keats' poem , so I could look it up when I come to the concerned part . It makes the reading more meaningful, as I discovered while reading This Rough Magic recently.
Although I have read many of the Greek mythology stories ( from a beautiful set of 10 encyclopedias- by Arthur Mee , which my father got for me and my two sisters, during our childhood years ) , I don't know how many I can remember with clarity , especially if only the somewhat difficult Greek names are mentioned, and it's expected that the reader is familiar with the relevant story . However , I do plan to check up on as many references as time permits . 😊
Wobbley wrote: "Savita wrote: "I've just started chapter 2 . The first chapter was delightful ! Slight spoilers from chapter 1 : I kept grinning 😀 throughout this chapter ! I had heard that the Italians are an e..."
So far I'm finding this book very easy reading, but as yet I am still close to the beginning.
Just started this one, so haven’t read through other comments yet. Just wanted to say what a great opening chapter! It pulls you into the story immediately.
Janelle wrote: "Just started this one, so haven’t read through other comments yet. Just wanted to say what a great opening chapter! It pulls you into the story immediately."Yes, doesn't it? You're in for a treat! :)
Janelle wrote: "Just started this one, so haven’t read through other comments yet. Just wanted to say what a great opening chapter! It pulls you into the story immediately."Welcome to the buddy read, Janelle! I hope you enjoy the book. It's a reread for me, probably my favorite Stewart book. I'm taking it slowly to stretch out the fun. :)
Savita wrote: "Hmm ... I am familiar with some of Greek mythology , but not at all with Greek history ...."I love recognizing or looking up references to classic lit in her books, but I don't think you need to know them to enjoy the stories. They do add another layer, though.
You definitely don't need to know Greek history, she explains it as you go along. I just love learning bits about history and culture from a novel, so often I'll go look it up and read more.
Slight SPOILER for The quotation in chapter 5
"Poor naked wretches, whosoe'er you are..."
This comes from Shakespeare's King Lear. It's a scene after the king has been blinded and deposed and he's wandering outside in the storm. Lear has been proud and blind to the needs of others, now he's beginning to look at the poor with compassion. I think it shows Camilla contrasting Philip's uncaring attitude toward the beggar and others lower than him with Simon's, and we see which one she values.
It feels to me like Camilla is on her own journey. As Simon wants to discover what he can about his brother, she's discovering things about herself - what she truly values, who she wants to be and be with. They both came to Greece with a purpose but may uncover more than they'd expected.
Carolien wrote: "I really liked the ending with them..."It's great to have you in the buddy read! I'm glad you like the book - have you read others by her? I think this is my favorite, but she has lots of good ones.
Because people read these threads at different paces and some people want to avoid any spoilers, we try to make them stand out by using Bold Spoiler Warnings With Chapter # or Section of Book in the Title This allows people to read the general comments but avoid anything specific. :)
I'm back again on Chapter 5 reference to Callimachus.Not trying to be pedantic, but for me these little references add real layers of meaning to Stewart's books, so I love looking them up and sharing them, as well as reading what others discover.
Michael's last letter home refers to "the right bit in Callimachus" and Simon doesn't know what piece he's talking about. Callimachus was a poet in ancient Greece. One of the pieces attributed to him mourns the death of a friend. It tells how Hades can take his friend's life but he can't take the "nightingales" - the memories of their friendship and the things they shared together.
"They told me, Heraclitus, they told me you were dead,
They brought me bitter news to hear and bitter tears to shed.
I wept, as I remembered, how often you and I
Had tired the sun with talking and sent him down the sky.
And now that thou art lying, my dear old Carian guest,
A handful of grey ashes, long long ago at rest,
Still are thy pleasant voices, thy nightingales, awake;
For Death, he taketh all away, but them he cannot take."
(translator Wm Cory)
This so reflects how Simon feels about his brother! I found it really touching.
Teri-K wrote: "I'm back again on Chapter 5 reference to Callimachus.Not trying to be pedantic, but for me these little references add real layers of meaning to Stewart's books, so I love looking them up and sha..."
You're not being pedantic -- this is super helpful and interesting! Thanks for sharing all these sources and interpretations. :)
Teri-K wrote: "Savita wrote: "Hmm ... I am familiar with some of Greek mythology , but not at all with Greek history ...."I love recognizing or looking up references to classic lit in her books, but I don't thi..."
This is very interesting, my Shakespeare knowledge is very limited, so I love this detail. And I agree that Camilla is on a journey to find herself,.
Teri-K wrote: "Carolien wrote: "I really liked the ending with them..."It's great to have you in the buddy read! I'm glad you like the book - have you read others by her? I think this is my favorite, but she ha..."
I read Mary Stewart many years ago, but inherited a box full of her books when my mother-in-law died, so these buddy reads seemed like a good opportunity to read them. I joined for This Rough Magic, and will hopefully also be able to join the next one. I love this type of romantic action-orientated books, mostly post WWII. Jane Aiken Hodge wrote some like Strangers in Company and there is also Helen MacInnes.
I've updated my post to make clear it contains some spoilers as you've suggested.
I like Helen MacInnes, too!I've not read Hodge, I'll have to look her up. I also have a sweet spot for these types of stories. I wish there were more of them.
Just thought I'd post another lovely description of nature, this one from chapter 2:Bigger and bigger grew the circling hills, barer the land, drawn in with great sweeps of colour that ran from red to ochre, from ochre to burnt umber to lion-tawny, with, above all, the burning, the limitless, the lovely light. And beyond all, at length, a grey ghost of a mountain-massif; not purple, not faintly blue with distance like the mountains of a softer country, but spectre-white, magnificent, a lion silvered.
Wobbley wrote: "Just thought I'd post another lovely description of nature, this one from chapter 2:Bigger and bigger grew the circling hills, barer the land, drawn in with great sweeps of colour that ran from r..."
Wonderful! Thanks for sharing. I can picture it all in my mind.
Following up the above interesting comments, but unable to comment right now , it being too late night. Will comment tomorrow. 😊
Carolien wrote: "Savita, the Keats poem is Isabella, or The Pot of Basil."Thank you , Carolien ! I'll check the reference when I get to the part .
Janelle wrote: "Just started this one, so haven’t read through other comments yet. Just wanted to say what a great opening chapter! It pulls you into the story immediately."Welcome , Janelle !
Teri-K wrote: "Savita wrote: "Hmm ... I am familiar with some of Greek mythology , but not at all with Greek history ...."I love recognizing or looking up references to classic lit in her books, but I don't thi..."
Well , that's a relief , because I just know nothing of Greek history unfortunately . And , I , too , love getting to know a bit of the culture of the country in which a story is set . I just loved the way everyone reacts and behaves when Camilla reaches Archova village in her car ( chapter 3 ) .... it was just too cute and hilarious 😂
Carolien wrote: "Teri-K wrote: "Carolien wrote: "I really liked the ending with them..."It's great to have you in the buddy read! I'm glad you like the book - have you read others by her? I think this is my favor..."
I , too , would love to try these two authors if they are like Mary Stewart. Also , Sara mentioned Wilkie Collins, but I am not sure if his books , too , fall in this genre .
Teri-K wrote: "I like Helen MacInnes, too!I've not read Hodge, I'll have to look her up. I also have a sweet spot for these types of stories. I wish there were more of them."
Victoria Holt also combines mystery with very likeable romance . Quite enjoyable ! Especially, The Shivering Sands and The Secret Woman ( the book link is not w9rking ) .
Spoilers through to end Chapter 8I’m finding it hard to suspend my disbelief while reading this one.
I don’t get why Simon trusts Camilla when he barely knows her and she basically a car thief. Why would he take her to a very personal meeting about his dead brother?
Also why does Camilla trust him? He clearly isn’t telling her everything.
I haven’t decided if he’s a snob or borderline racist. He called the Greeks ‘fighting animals’. It seems a bit English superiority to me but I’m probably taking it more seriously than I should be!
Janelle wrote: "Spoilers through to end Chapter 8I’m finding it hard to suspend my disbelief while reading this one.
I don’t get why Simon trusts Camilla when he barely knows her and she basically a car thief. W..."
This is just my take here, but I see Simon going into his "school teacher" mode when he first meets Camilla. I think he's the kind of teacher who can interact with all the boys equally well but probably has a soft spot for the ones who are out of place, shy or awkward. He gives them a little extra support and encouragement to help them along. And at first that's how he views Camilla. She's clearly done something that makes her uncomfortable, has made it to Delphi but doesn't know what to do now, and he's taking her under his wing, so he brings her along.
I also wonder if his quest hasn't made him appreciate having another English person his age there, someone he can talk to as he works these things out in his own mind. And Camilla is a sympathetic listener.
As for the car, he doesn't see it as stealing. Someone basically gave her the keys and told her to take it to Simon. She tried to get out of it and then she impulsively grabbed the opportunity, which is exactly what Simon would have done. So he's OK with it, and in fact it's part of why he likes her. She may be unsure but he sees that same bit of adventurousness in her that he and Michael have.
She trusts him because he's English and around her age with a respectable job and he's willing to take charge. (And it's 1959. Kids were backpacking around Europe and making friends with total strangers back then.) Remember she's just left a long term relationship where the man was clearly in charge, and that feels comfortable to her. Then she begins to notice things, like his loyalty to his brother, his compassion for the poor, and she likes him for that and trusts him more.
I enjoy how Stewart gives us little glimpses of their feelings towards each other changing as they spend more time together and get to know each other better.
I don't think "fighting animals" is meant as snobbery or racist. People often say "they fought like wild cats" or such. In 1959 such language was even more acceptable. I think he uses the term with admiration. Stewart's books can be a little stuck in their time about gender roles, but I don't remember ever reading anything racist in them, though I might be forgetting something.
Of course, every reader can only decide for themselves if a book is working or not. It's not all about how logical it all is, and if this one doesn't work for you that's perfectly legitimate. This is just how I see things. And I'm usually willing to give the author an inciting incident that is a little off if the rest of the story hangs together well for me. But if it doesn't - I'm out of there. :)
