C. (Comment, never msg).’s Comments (group member since Jan 30, 2014)

C. (Comment, never msg).’s comments from the Gentle SPECTRUMS group.

We did not start our excitedly anticipated sequel, Shirin. Kerri is taking long to write the last post or two of "The Gargoyle". ;> I have been reading health books for our cats & us.

I had an idea of how you could finally send mail to me. You have guests who are soon leaving the country. Maybe it occurred to you that this is a wonderful opportunity to make me a video tour of your home and animals (and whichever rocks or postcards you wanted to give me. Get them to mail your package from Turkey and Germany. :) You only need to give them my mailing address and e-mail, in case they wanted to verify anything. Your friend, Carolyn.

alexis wrote: "CAROLYN!! Thank you so much !! I indulged myself in reading your book reviews - they are always so helpful and detailed."

This is sweet, Alexis. I hope to find beautiful comments like this on my actual reviews. It is rewarding to know you admire them, which a 'like button' click does not tell me.

Anne Perry was not only original, compassionate, well varied, and prolific. She kept going: similar to David Bowie, who produced his dream play when he knew he had terminal cancer. It feels like a cut-off, harder than the eventual departure of an author or artist whose work we love and remember. Anne released her newest novel the week before she went. Daniel Pitt, a future hero, is still a toddler where I am, in 1994. The novels are exactly 100 years behind. :)

My other heroine, Phyllis A. Whitney, stopped a few years before her death but was the same. We certainly excuse her: she lasted until 104!

Isn't it freaky how much I am running into Melanie, after shuddering about her Juliet Hulme and "Ever After" portrayals? I did not know she was married to Jason Ritter, whom I hardly know. But I had a feeling he was John Ritter's Son and see that it was true. Wow, she married television royalty's Son. I grew-up on "Three's Company", although the humour sources don't hold up and he was unforgettable in the uncharacteristic film "It".

No wonder Melanie is in the US and can imitate them. When I saw her profile with Jason's, it told me she is in another freaky show called "The Yellowjackets". So that was she on "Celebrity Family Feud" - sigh. I don't watch it and only turned on the TV, to get out of the room while Ron put away laundry.

I saw a sweet interview by Drew with Pamela Anderson and want both of their books, especially Pamela's. Pamela is the opposite to Melanie; she is home in British Columbia most of the time, growing and preserving her food, caring for animals. Yes, I saw "Sweet Home Alabama" and enjoyed it. I don't recognize actors in until I know who they are.

"The Riel Rebellion ~ 1885" was good. I knew the tragic end of Louise Riel and that he used to be mistaken for a villain, instead of the hero as whom he is recognized now. Metis history was important to Mom after she clued into our roots, which Timmy has surprised me by taking up seriously. Help maintaining and expanding our history is good; especially someone to appreciate it with me.

I think this outline is enough regarding rebellion and execution. I don't want to read Mom's longer books on the subect, although more about family roots would be different. A few years ago, I reviewed the short story of Louis' Grandmother, "Marie-Anne Lagimodiere" and appreciated learning our history going as far back as Manitoba goes, which Louis made into a province. He was defeated against defending Metis and Aboriginal land though. That rural Dawson Road written about in that history, is a walk from us! https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Having mixed roots is wonderful, so your Dutch Grandpa is a fun surprise. I feel for people who only claim to have one bloodline or language ability. Knowing other languages and owning other cultures is like a wider world to walk through and a more highly tuned awareness and understanding of hints and flavours all over the place. This was one of my favourite things about "The Gargoyle" and I urge you to try "The Magic Circle" by Katherine Neville, Andrew's only other content rival. If you feel like learning a language at a flexible pace, just say which one. :) https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I am glad you are willing to get up and dance if it moves you. If you would do it for Elvis, you would certainly do it for our modern music and the fun stuff of our childhood eras!

I was thinking you should videotape part of your birthday celebration, so I can see it later! My way of attending your 30th extravaganza! I also know about now, you are honouring and missing Stevie very much.

Figuring out this misperception is becoming interesting. I truly remember Marianne was the one in hell having conversations with various people. And was it also the devil or some other manager there? She was not someone I interpreted in the cameos of the past but the actual protagonist at that time. Either I made a mistake at the time of reading, which my review corroborates, or you made a mistake; or they both had scenes in hell. I was surprised when you said Ulrich experienced it.

I also remember him as connecting with Marianne's memories eventually, which is why he believed her. I think he did remember something after she described it. I am glad I have kept up well, despite planning to ride along!

I guess a life mission can exhaust us. We might wonder why a subject feelings trying, including in the present life we are consciously and currently living. However, if Marianne is not extending one life but giving those hearts away over several, she restarts every time. Remembering her mission should not tire her but make her eager to start each time she has a fresh life.

In case you are used to reincarnation stories, I thought it went without saying that the Ontario boy discussed on the television program was afraid of water. I think it stopped after he understood this happened to a past person, not the person as he stood now. These stories are many but it must be rare to meet still living parents and how his heart must have lurched! This is why I still feel moved to think of their story.

I wish he had stayed to talk with his parents. I'll bet their feelings about him woud convince them of who he was. They could have filled in his blanks, answered questions, and healed themselves. Imagine the comfort of seeing before them that the Son they mourned, truly continued to live, like Jesus tells us our loved ones will. Although "The Dead Zone" was fictional, I wish the doctor who discovered his Mother survived the holocaust would have spoken with her and reassured her of his safety too.

It sounds like you think the 2008 of our story is when Marianne found Ulrich. I understood their past occasions to indicate that they continued to reunite in different places. However, made like that "Circle Of Eight" movie, the conscious people involved are tired of hoping their scenario will go right.

What you propose at the end is a new thought for me. I wonder if knowing other lifetimes or missions crowd our minds and be tiring, quantitatively, like a load? My capacity for having a lot of memories feels nice to me but they aren't of 600 years. However, I think we fit things into our lives and understandings. Marianne too knew which information belonged to whom but maybe general fatigue is possible. I will mull this over for awhile.

The gauge for good faith is if you are happy and healthy in its guidance and practice. You don't fault someone for not squeezing beliefs into the gospel book, for example. If you believed in a purple being and care about people, animals, trees and are living a good life; something we don't need to understand is working.

I would miss one baby or husband, except I believe we see them immediately when we ascend to Heaven. If they are living a physical life at that moment, it won't seem a long wait there. It is in physical life, I guess because we are limited, that we feel years. I also believe she must have reunited with her "soul mates" in other countries or centuries. Either we or Andrew would misunderstand the afterlife, if we thought you waited and waited on Earth to find someone. She must have had other children and loves too.

The true definition of a "soul group" or "mate" is not romance but our most beloved soul family, whom we sometimes gather with on Earth. You must be a part of my personal soul family, which is why we click and love sharing life with each other!

I think I have pondered as far as I can, unless more impressions of these awesome subjects form. We seem to finish when we can't tell if an author was misinformed about subject matter, or we have discussed everything to the extent we know. Your last point is fantastic too, that she knows how things work enough to know that Earth is not predictable for anyone, even those with previous life recall. If you soak thoughts in enough to share more, I am here.

Fair enough if singing isn't for you. You obviously relish the singing of others. Do you love live concerts? Are they regular in New Zealand? Winnipeg gets great names. Well, you know I have seen even Gordon Lightfoot with Ron in the early 2000s! In your memory stick is a list of "people I have seen in concert" that I thought you would get a kick out of.

With a surprising but worthwhile Louis Riel interlude, I will finish "The Hyde Park Headsman" (resembling Anne's first 1979 title that meant a lot to me during Love's last day). I will also get a little further in "The Wisdom Of Menopause". Dr. Christiane Northrup is spending a chapter listing hormone therapy options, even though neither of us believe in it. If it makes sense, I want to get those 40 pages out of the way and have NATURAL care options to look forward to.

It is our babies' birthday tomorrow! :) I will make sure I have a lot of space on my digital camera. I use a real camera.

When I start "The Dream Thieves", I will gobble it, won't you? Easing up here makes resuming e-mail easier. :) There is a ton of fun stuff to talk about privately. You know how you laughed at my "Hardy Boys" review for writing boldly: "Just fucking get a bigger boat"? I am happy to be back to my humour and the light, bright side of life, which I want you to know me for. I hope you always have seen it. Your friend, Carolyn.

I wonder why you didn't remember Anne Perry is one of my favourites but guess I don't mind not knowing of her ascension any sooner. I wonder how you came across it, since for me it was seeing the past-tense as I checked her series. I looked at my review of "The Cater Street Hangman" and you are not among the commenters. You probably visited me on succeeding volumes.

It seemed like subjects were missing but I did a lot of conversing in our book reviews yesterday. I'll gather relevant things here. You will be surprised to find when you revisit comments of "The Changeover" that there is something creepy going on with Melanie Lynskey! I even saw her AGAIN last night, more randomly than any other of the five times this week! I discovered the was the crazy neighbour in "Two And A Half Men", then saw her on "The Drew Barrymore Show". It was a cast reunion of "Ever After", which I hated because I am against disrespecting anyone's sacred keepsakes and couldn't focus on the movie after that awful scene with the blond stepsister.

Already surprised that an American sounding actress I do not know is Kiwi in reality and showing up so much; it creeped me out to discover she was in the disturbing movie about Juliet Hulme, in which Peter Jackson disturbed Anne Perry's privacy! The next morning, I found your comment on "The Changeover" with pleasure, already suspecting you would say there was a movie about it. But I could not believe that you mentioned Melanie Lynskey!!!! That is crazy enough as it is.

Unbelievably, last night, Ron needed me out of the bedroom while he changed linens. I put down my book and browsed TV for a few minutes, where nothing interesting was on but "Celebrity Family Feud". As it ended, someone in the background looked like Melanie Lynskey but they didn't focus on her. Oh, you can't be serious! I finally saw her name tag and yes, it said "Melanie". I don't want to search the show "Yellowjackets" and see if she was indeed a cast member of it. It is bizarre to see someone who creeps me out. It was fun to often run into Rob Lowe!

I am glad to remind you to review "The Haunting Of Maddie Prue". It is partly for this pleasureable chance to understand it with a friend who knows it. The other part is for the reason you recognized too: those who do know this novel need to promote it.

The most important update of our Andrew Davidson discussion was in my reply to your review comment, which is what I sensed was missing so I will paste it here. "The line between interpreting the divine and mental stability is a good discussion". I am glad I am reminded of one more subject I had looked forward to discussing! It is in our conversations but I worded it just right here.

I seemed to confirm Marianne visited hell like I recalled. Could I misread that part of the book, or did you? I thought it must be a mistaken impression across four years but my impression of Marianne seeing her spirit guides in hell is there in my review. There is a reason I understood that this is who they were too. Would you please check whether or not she visited hell, even if Ulrich did too in the part you were thinking of?

I don't think we question that she received messages from God. Someone raised in the spiritual would find that normal. How she did the task and did not care for herself or others, is not what God would want. Her guidance from God and spirit guides or angels and coming back to Earth were real but she was emotionally sick too.

Yes, it is a big question and complaint from all of us, that there is a way God could answer our prayers, instead of offer a degree of comfort. As you suggested: why not save the couple, the pregnancy, and all the horses.

Of all the things I have explored since childhood, seeing something off about what my religious relatives thought, I was slow to believe in reincarnation. My little self matters and so do each of us. I slowly understood that our soul is one unique identity the way I hoped it is. However, our being goes into a few physical lifetimes that most of us don't remember. There is in between time and maybe a few of Marianne's dramatic lives were colourful enough experiences to give her growth.

I am trying to teach my angel-reading friend, who has used the "it is for a reason" stalemate, that we can ask for changes! To grow, we propose challenges before starting a life. We can't fathom their hardship, until we are a part of Earth. Our spirit guides can negotiate with Heavenly elders. Love ascending young and Conan missing were enough. Still; McCartney, Spirit, and Marigold went and Mom! I have asked God to please draw the hardship line there (as well as after the other problem). My friend who is religious also used the "it was God's plan" assumption. I said: there would be no use for prayer if change wasn't possible. Apparently, only souls who have lived as people or animals can be spirit guides. Only they understand what it is like to be here among negative and positive atmospheres. We have that advantage of understanding, ahead of the Heaven elders who have not given Earth a try.

I love the idea of someone planning for returns, who remembers her residency in Heaven and other personages. Storage or knowing how to repurchase or manifest items that please Marianne must have been possible.

I will share how I began to believe in reincarnation, after being reassured there truly is only one Carolyn in my pure soul. It is hard to think that I have been someone else but I can accept it if there is only one me, at the root. I did not need to be taught to care about animals, plants, and emotionally significant belongings and record-keeping.

In the early 2000s, I saw a Canadian show about a young Ontario man stopping in a small town to see a dentist at his house. His wife answered the door and he knew these had been his parents. He was too uncomfortable to stay with them for some reason. As he left, he observed a river in the backyard and knew he had drowned in it. The amazing thing is that this was a short turnover. Those elderly people were that boy's parents, still living! He met his actual parents physically! What a powerful and certain feeling that must be, far more convincing that land, a building, or story feeling familiar.

Since you & I want the same question answered, one of us ought to e-mail Andrew Davidson and ask if finding Ulrich was luck, or if Marianne sought him or sensed his proximity. Was it in a draft that was not printed?

Now you know someone from French immersion. I only spoke Spanish to our teachers and pupils in Spanish classes too. I started in high school and continued in university, which I think you know. It did not feel daunting for long in grade 4 because everyone else was in the same Anglican boat and teachers would say or write English words for us at first. They certainly knew English but the sooner we turned to French as our communicating resource the better.

In Spanish, learning on paper first was the method with which I started in grade 9 and I love it. You don't want to parrot words you don't know. I could teach either one but have more resources ready and honed for Spanish. I gave Ron a primer before going to Mexico and did the same for a former boyfriend.

I hoped you wouldn't say you were someone who didn't sing or dance. I don't mean professionally but if we were at a social or pub and I wanted to hit the floor for a great song; there would be no fuss about joining me, I hope! The same with singing along to a CD or something. I'm not saying anyone should get up for a karaoke solo if they aren't comfortable. Music lovers have to move and sing along, don't you think?

In terms of awkwardness, please know the person who doesn't think they are great dancers but gets up and participates, blends in beautifully. The one staying off the dancefloor is disappointing and they stick out. As long as you sway along without silly self-consciousness, everything is good. :) I love hearing that instruments interest you without hesitation. You'll find on the memory stick (look forward to those e-mail conversations) that I shared Crowded House sheet music with you.

It is cool that you have heard of Andre Rieu! It is through my parents, who were introduced by "mes tantes", that I know him. I can't wait to watch Mom's two DVDs. Dad loves the music but finds it easier to draw from whatever is on his TV programming.

I love that you are taught basic Maori in New Zealand schools! I wondered if you learned from your Dad and how much he knows. It is cool that his or your Mom's Dad is Dutch. Yes, I see how silly English is every time I consider antonyms and homonyms. Isn't that the most telling? Who uses one word to mean tons of things? At least the Chinese give different intonations, which is the reason their tones rise and fall expressively.

I was drawn to read "The Riel Rebellion ~ 1885" from atop my nearest bedroom shelf simultaneously since last night. It is short and fits nicely in pauses from Anne Perry's "The Hyde Park Headsman". Then I will work through "The Wisdom Of Menopause" after we begin "The Dream Thieves". I mix stories with education just like you do. I think we are winding down and I am enjoying our conversation very much all along the way, Kerri. I hope, as I asked, that I kept up well enough to hold up a pleasant conversation for you as well.

Hi Kerri,

I will write only a short bit to allow you to follow-up the rest of what I offered. I scooped it up and summarized it in the last couple of posts and leave it to you. I see that you graced many of my reviews with your eyes and your words and after breakfast, I will treat myself to reading all of them! Thank you for this, my friend.

I remembered the pregnancy part as soon as you wrote of it the other day. Things come back to me, except for negative things I am interested to see I successfully blocked. Parting from a baby is poignant to me, even if it is sad.

I appreciate the summary (or did you quote?) of the hearts from the ice. It clarifies that there were thousands but I have no memory of this at all. Maybe because there was no character growth in Marianne that we could sense, owing to the author not achieving it I guess, therefore the mission with the hearts did not gel in my mind. I am glad for your explanation and will think about it, until you have written about the rest.

My knowledge of God, different perhaps from how nuns and othe christians were taught to think of Him / Her, is that they do not punish. It is part of our life plan, "blueprint" on Earth to overcome some things. We can credit Marianne for getting through the loss of her pregnancy and for this love in many lifetimes.

Yes, I am glad you remember now that Anne is one of my most personal favourites; that special author we all cherish who cheers me up anytime, anywhere. They are also enormously well written portraits of life in those mysteries. Remember that I don't care for historical fiction? An exception for me lets you take notice, doesn't it! She was a compassionate woman who has earned her peace.

I wish someone would write a eulogy in which the mistake of her childhood, for which she paid 5 years, was not considered an "interesting event" to bring up again. She didn't even marry because she didn't think she deserved it. May she know now how much I appreciate her and will remember her fondly: for her work. I meant to e-mail her but tried drumming up what to say to encapsulate how much she means. Anyway, they see all about us from Heaven, so that is fine.

You looked up Andrew Davidson. I would love to see what he ommitted. It couldn't be more burn healing descriptions. If it was an additional country or story from the past, or better elaborations of explanations we need in several places, I am right there with you, Kerri.

Yes, was a psychologist with the physiotherapist. We realized an appearance is connected with one's self, so it is good he had one. It also helps me figure out who the male was.

Museums are fun if they have artifacts, even though I prefer standing on the land and buildings of history. I have visited them in a few Canadian towns and Inverness, Scotland; London, England; South Dakota, USA; and California, USA. Castles are very much museums as well as monuments. Our parents took us to the Manitoba Museum Of Man & Nature numerous times but the more I learn, the more it is worth going back. You know art galleries are my goal too.

Home records and keepsakes are personal museums. Our library is in the ways outside of age or monetary value. If you remind me how big Marianne's library was, we likely match her in number. I need to clean up our library building and start selling our discards to locals soon. The gift pile for you and family is in the hallway behind me.

Isn't it cool, my parents joined me to see Corey Hart & Chris DeBurgh and treated Timmy & I to seeing Andre Rieu? I have Mom's DVDs of his now, my exception of liking some classical music. He is fun to watch as a conductor and player. Corey & Chris are obviousy unforgettable and personal to me to the core.

Languages are an expertise of mine, with a proven way to approach them. I am a great teacher. Are you more interested in French or Spanish? I let a person learn on paper first and set their pace through some basic vocabulary and sentence building, with a little feedback from me. Then, when you approach how words are pronounced, you are not meaninglessly imitated what you hear. You will know these words and probably remember how to say them better. Where did you learn Maori words?

Additional languages is easier for a few reasons. One one hand, if you have a natural talent or passion to learn languages, it always serves you well. You will find working your way to comprehension a delight, not a chore. No one grades you by a certain date, so you are free to persist until you get it! I would have loved home or remote schooling. Not being a morning person and not being interested enough in some subjects was my performance problem.

The romance languages and some German look alike in their roots. It becomes easy to recognize the words of neighbouring languages. It also hones your skill to learn the concept of article genders so that they are old hat in other languages. English is so undisciplined, contradictory, and recycles so many sounds and words; I don't know how foreigners learn it.

Maybe a brain muscle is turned on that gets you good at this thinking, which might be true of playing musical instruments too. Do you sing, dance, or play any? These are yeses for me.

Yes, immersion helps. Are you familiar with the program? Instead of taking one French, Spanish, or German class no matter how advanced the level; students have their whole day in the language. It was considered rude to speak to teachers in English, even passing staff or other teachers in the hall. We also got in trouble if we did not speak in French to each other, except outside at recess. So you get a ton of practice from the first day, when you know no words. We must have absorbed what we needed fast because I don't remember resorting to English for long in grade 4, when many Anglophones started the program. Gym, science, music, math, sewing, wood shop, typing were all in French too. Marianne obviously had time and immersion in each country.

Do you concur with my clues, that Marianne had to have reincarnated and not lived 600 years? You are unsure she was among the hell visitors. Are you also unsure she was the person we visited in other countries? Why else would Marianne tell the story? If they were friends she made, wouldn't that have been clear in the narrating and her placement in the story? If you don't think she was a companion to those people, she must have been the protagonist, musn't she? Thus, different genders, races, and ages means she was born in different epochs.

If Andrew studied how reincarnation seems to work, he would know some traits or situations go from one life to another. But we are new, different people housing our common soul. I am Carolyn but must have been called other names previously. When you consider this, is it likely Marianne was referring to her previous names? Sylvia Browne studied birthmarks as sometimes being the places where individuals were impacted by death in the past. However, because these are fresh new lives and personages; unless Motherhood was a quest that needed resolving, Marianne was likely fertile in every other lifetime.

I don't remember the 2000s film title or know the actors. I searched a broad synopsis. A dropped toothbrush was not mentioned, which I remember instead bodies but it sounds like "Circle Of Eight", 2009. Perhaps I can block out things I disliked.

Rechecking might be handy but I trust you have a detailed, intelligent eye for gaining information from even a small cue. If you aren't seeing an answer, it isn't there. Do you think Andrew surmised too much that readers would fill in blanks he implied? Do you think he explained too little to keep size down, pace up, or from thinking he would never release the book if he persisted in tuning details? What is your impression of what the novel tried to do or lacked? Is it likely he did not research the angles enough and got sloppy enough to let in some plots that don't fit?

It sounds like you don't see enough information to decide if Marianne was lucky to find Ulrich without trying, or was hoping to find him. If there was Germany, Italy, England, Japan, Iceland, and presumably California in 2008; were they all her lifetimes? Were there others and did she only recount those in which she shared with Ulrich? I think this cycle could stop when she saved him, or did something better than she did before; maybe less dumb or selfish like you put it.

In our "life blueprints" or as some call it "life contract" that we design before coming to Earth, most of our living and life improvement themes are for ourselves. Maybe getting something right with Ulrich was a bonus if they met and she recognized him. Maybe God made sure she did.

Most of us don't remember our goals because that the lesson is developing and growing without our universal knowledge and full senses. When we sense déjà-vu and something clicks; proof of a past life seeps in for us. I have only experienced that a little here & there over years, in short feelings or images that only build a little picture. I have read that it is odd for children to keep the ideas they had. For me, the morals and sense of what is right about animals and stuff has stayed with me all the way through life. Have I developed over time? Am I remembering lessons as I am going along and learinng?

Please remind me when Ulrich started remembering what Marianne told him: which country or story, for example? I think I have added the tidbits that weren't picked up today. Please let me know if there is anything I missed of yours.

An ice scene is familiar. Is it when Marianne stopped being pregnant? Did God say she was given more hearts to blanket that loss? You wrote "She revived the hearts under ice". I need a reminder of that reference please. It sounds like you know where the hearts were from. Did they appear in the ice or in her arms?

I have needed a few refreshers but am glad I remember enough to have kept up with you. If we weren't blessed with thousands of books, I would reread this to glean meaning after conversing with you, at least the parts that interest me.

A book I want to discuss with you, in e-mail or anywhere, is "The Haunting Of Maddie Prue". There are no other peers. Please let me know when there is a review because I am eager to read it. Don't worry about the time past. I hope you left notes at Goodreads or elsewhere but when you begin writing, your opinions and impressions will likely return to you. They do for me, sometimes after six months.

Hello, my dear! I hope I am giving you a good conversation, despite planning to be a background contributor. It is wonderful that you are sending Andrew around New Zealand and any other Canadian books or CDs you don't need to keep. I replied about "Breathe" at your update of the other book.

You don't mind continuing "The Dream Thieves", even though Shirin concurs wistfully? I won't start it as immediately as we considered it and need a few more days.

I feel the need to turn to my next Anne Perry novel. I just found out she has ascended to Heaven and she is one of my dearest, favourite authors since 2014, when Lovey ascended shockingly, so young. Anne's first mystery cheered me up with real sympathy for loss in the characters and I am forever grateful for it.

Oh, no! The wonderful Anne Perry, whose primary home was Scotland but lived in New Zealand and England, ascended to her next chapter of life in April! She was 84 1/2 and her work means a lot to me. I am glad I read it slowly but I need to read a novel of hers now, when I retire to bed tonight.

I have been a fan since "The Cater Street Hangman" 1979, helped me get through a shocking personal time in 2014. Her novel kept me sane, focused on something besides anguish and fear and was also a balm of compassion and understanding I did not expect from mystery fiction, when fear became agonizing loss of a young family member. I ever shall be Anne's fan.

Rest in peace, gifted lady! Your past matters not and you have earned peace and joy! Sincerely, Carolyn.

I am glad you are back today, Kerri! We are gathering threads, with your awesome new remarks and we're done. I suppose a skipped day feels longer besides being engrossed in our conversation, because you are about 16 hours ahead. I'll figure out the hours again. I used to flip "12 AM to PM + 3 hours" easily with a previous Australian friend I occasionally phoned. I hope you are enjoying that it is your birth month now! Welcome, September!

Our kittens have their birthday on the 7th! May Conan be home in time for this. Gosh, to have the 3 of them at home would relieve some of the pain of missing Love (it is also his birthday always), Marigold, Spirit, McCartney and help the energy not feel so quiet and empty. Angel & Petal mean the world but I loved our 7 dear faces all together. Anyway, birthday memories are happy and so September is sacred because of them, Mom on the 23rd, and you. :)

If we have a couple of more rapid goes in our conversation here, I will happy dig into "The Dream Thieves". It sounds like you read mine & Shirin's conversation. She wishes we would wait but understands not wanting to delay another month. We started "The Gargoyle" in June but there is no rush. I guess I am keen to continue one. I would content myself with other books if you prefer waiting but we have plenty to enjoy with Shirin, including the Ian Rankin & Agatha Christie she & I read. I am going to aske Leeanne if she will read "Poor Tom Is Cold" soon so we can indulge in "Let Loose The Dogs" and I'd like to read the next "Anne Of Green Gables" soon. I think Shirin went to the museum with her Cousins yesterday. Can you imagine a museum in an ancient, history packed place like Tehran!? I hope someday women can travel there freely.

Let's start with Shirin's awesome quote in message #35. When you reread it, please let me know what you think. I would not have remembered that description and am glad she brought attention to it - a fine collection brimming with humour in its description! You saw all three of my messages on here, right? I replied to you in one, added a small note, then my last one carried over a few items I found in previous entries.

I thought it would be fun to share that our library has a few language options. Are you interested in learning other languages? You said yo know a little Maori. I think you know I am trilingual, so I have my course material and a little fiction in those languages. I also took German but only was at the baby level in it. Our small nearest city that has the thrift shop is a Germany community, so I can easily find a few toddler books with which to practice. Then I send them to my nephew. Our whole family loves languages. My Brothers & I all went to immersion schools which is popular in our country, although I'm the only one who went all the way to grade 12 and a bilingual diploma. They preferred technical vocation schools for the last few years, which looked a lot more fun! Sometimes I pick up dictionaries and little introductory course work of languages I would love to learn, so I have a few bits for future interest and Mom's Latin books.

Musically, it is neat that you are a feature person like we are. It sounded like you had music going all the time, so I didn't know that. Ron's farming parents are not keen on playing anything. Ron coming out to be the huge fan he is, is wonderful; not to mention becoming animal rights conscious and somewhat vegetarian! Then again, my Mom always complained about any volume but is passionate about her favourites. It is a cool Mom & Dad who accompanied me to Corey Hart & Chris DeBurgh concerts! They also treated Timmy & I to a symphony with Andre Rieu.

Were the previous deaths Marianne's? I think she discussed two of Ulrich's but that was clear. Were these remembered lifetimes of different genders? They are of different races. My feeling is that Marianne has to have been reincarnated but remembers all of them and somehow kept going back to build that library, or stored her books somewhere before buying her house in this lifetime or a couple of others. If she said her stories were of her lifetimes, whether or not they included Ulrich; various genders and countries confirm that she is not in the same body all along 600 years.

Do you agree she must have married and had other children? Andrew can't get into everything without making his story a series but a sentence here and there to convey that there were other children and marriages would do. Would you say so? Maybe it wasn't only cultural details the poor writer was working out all that time. He might have decided his plot was as detailed at all ends as he could make it. I felt that way in my baby step drafts of a few chapters and stopped!

Now that I know it was Ulrich who encountered people in hell, were those Marianne's past incarnations he met? There was also a hell resident he conversed with too. Did he have to do or answer something to be released from there?

It seems I have the fortunate ability to block out things I dislike. I remember what you explained about their pregnancy but forgot Marianne had cut herself while sculpting. I gave myself the relief of not remembering a dog needing medical help or risking a horse's life and would be just as outraged. I would call it not being sensitive about animals instead of selfishness. On one hand as you wrote, Marianne was sickly focused on sculping at the one time. Nonetheless, I am certain in my dying days, I would naturally care about the animals and people around me. When escaping, especially when running and climbing made more sense: I would not risk the wellbeing of a horse, bird, amphibian, or insect. I take worms to the soil if I see them out after a rain.

About photographs helping me through loss but being avoided by you a short while, I think this was a typo. I believe you mean you would not remove displayed photos. "Although if there were already photos hanging or something, I would remove them." I have to see them and enjoyed viewing all of yours again, in a folder on our PC. It is a wonderful selection. I don't know why there appeared to be only a few the first time I looked.

I love what you wrote about supporting a story for trying to be original and creative, even if it does achieve it entirely or stick its landing. In my reflections of how I felt after reading books and upon choosing opinions and star grades, I regularly assess if what I appreciated dominates what I disliked. Sometimes I loved a story but too many detractors piled up, or some awful ones.

With you being away, Shirin disliking the novel, and having international company over afterwards; you two did not buddy read as planned with me peeking in. I hope I kept up well enough with my memory, to give you a nice discussion. I was sure you two would come up with the themes and it would be fun for me to just answer them. So if you can think of anything fresh that occurred to you along the way, I am game.

You raised something interesting today. I am pondering how to bring it out. If I asked "Was Marianne negligent and oblivious in 2008 because she was sick, too desperate about a task to focus on anything including food", we would cite her lack of consideration for a horse decades ago. Just by the way, I hope nowadays in medicine and with animal rights mindsets, broken legs are fixed. I know that horse couldn't get down a mountain in that century but nowadays, I hope horses are helped to mend and at least retire if they need to.

You said there was no deadline on using hearts. How many were there? Did she receive them in her first life in Germany? Engel sounds German but we have covered switching genders and her build in different climates. So did Marianne rush their reunion together because she was sick and was going to die anyway? Did finding him trigger her exit? You made a good point that she walked into an ocean (I recall that California came to my mind) instead of trusting a natural death cycle. I think my question is, was she lucky to have found him just before the end of her life, or was she ready to go because she saved him this time, at last? She spared him torture in the past but this time, he came through alive: with prayers, modern medicine, and the hope she gave him.

He does need some caring for even though his independence is improving and certainly the dog does. Did Marianne already have him or did Ulrich adopt the dog? Perhaps this much can be implied, that Ulrich has enough money to hire nurses, or a health plan covers it. You made me smile and remember that his physiotherapist married another caregiver. I remembered the physiotherapist and doctor were women and am unsure who married whom.

I guess that is my conclusion, by memory and with your help boosting me on details. Marianne saved Ulrich this time and can stop coming back to lifetimes on Earth, to find him and try again. For some reason that is different from every other person in life and in fiction, she remembered each return.

I saw a film about this but don't recall the title. It was something I downloaded that looked interesting. Either I gathered a few films when I was in the city or put in the work on slow speed here but I tried a few films I had never heard of. A woman dropped her toothbrush in a puddle when moving into an apartment building and the manager had a whole pile of new one for her, each time this sequence restarted. It ended in a fire too that she finally knew she needed to escape differently by daring to jump, I think. Along the way, she noticed that people in the building kept knowing or having things that were strangely convenient. They counted on her to make the difference for them all and stop the disaster from occurring or repeating. It wasn't great but was interesting to see once. I gave the DVD I made to my pal, Marc.

It is hard for me to choose between telling erratic people off like they deserve, or staying professionally peaceful. Without back-up for me, some people disbelieve they are rude. Since I was alone and did not want to resort to deleting without knowing what you thought, I chose the polite path that would shut the fuckhead up soonest. Anyway, maybe you are more confortable stepping in knowing that people accept the position of a moderator. A friend's back-up is enough and as powerful. :)

"Breathe" is a book you should read, if you were not taught about diaphragm breathing and exhaling forcefully, to get all the carbon dioxide out. It creates room for a full, clean inhale of oxygen. Along with not knowing if you know this from a hospital or elsewhere, I wondered if you deemed it important enough to buy. I will give it to one of my Sisters-in-laws, unless you aren't getting a copy similar to it. My review explains that I sense other teachers might simplify and write it better but it is important for all of us to read. We need to clear and nourish ourselves with our breaths for our food, blood, organs, and exercise to do their best as well.

Lung capacity is far less important than breathing right, which we all are capable of doing starting today, based on what I explained. It is like that book quote: "The man / woman who doesn't read, is no better off than the man / woman who can't read". It is said that most of us do short chest breaths, using only the top 20% of our lungs. The richer, denser parts are apparently lower and there are exercises for training us to do that. I don't think Barisa needed to elaborate and repeat as much as she did and I'm uninterested in calculating and monitoring my "vital lung capacity". Improving the basics is clear enough for me. It is a book from which you draw what you value.

My posts for this day start at message #56! Next, I suggest visiting my favourite input from Shirin in message #35. I asked her to share something positive and it was a great memory refresher for me. You two would love our home library as well, although most of it is in English! Not all of it, being who I am but most of it.

You agree about self-worth and recognition. I made distinctions about other injuries and am checking that it was not missed. People who feel sorrow about the inability to play an instrument or other passions, are spared a facial recognition challenge. They are sad about missing breasts, hands, or feet. I think some people confuse manual careers and struggles, with the impact of looking like yourself in the face. I can't look at a face injury because it looks alien, a telling impact even to a stranger but I can handle seeing other injuries. Ron won't wear shorts because of varicose veins. That is far better than what we read about fictionally.

Ulrich's Aunt & Uncle were irresponsible but I do not remember them selling him in the sex trade. Did they? Anyone would want to escape as soon as they could something that must have frightened kids, unless they could not think of anything else to do.

Are you like Mom and my friend, Lorraine, who avoid photos, videos, places for awhile of ascended loved-ones? Or does it nourish you like it does for me? I have to see my babys' faces every day, even of the childhood cat with me longest.

I think you said Ulrich said good-bye to a shady career because he improved as a person. Did Marianne watch his film? I can't help but laugh at the thought of him saying: "Look at how nice my crotch used to look"!

Did you watch the show "Mom"? Bonnie Plunkett's husband was in a wheelchair. On a videotape of him walking, he didn't mind seeing himself mobile. He hated the womanizer he was in those days. Even dearer to our hearts: "Lucky Man". Mike's closeness with his family reached the level it did with Parkinsons Disease slowing him down. May we all achieve balance without a nudge.

You understand Andrew Davidson taking a long time to write! The scope of his cultural and historical content is unbelievable for one country and astonishing for many. The only other person who does the same is "The Magic Circle" by Katherine Neville. Read it if you can. An ancient slow burn, mixed with frenzy in present day 1989, is something I am glad you & I appreciate in common.

Yes, Kerri, we both love magical / paranormal / fantasy elements and humour! That earned a star from me as well. I thank modern literature for fun, relatable dialogue and humour. Wry observations, funny quotes to go along with the list of Christmas food that was made ("Slime, snails, puppy dog tails")! I recall this by memory from 2019 because it made me laugh most, local familiarity.

Book titles I pass by on Goodreads often remind me of song titles and lyrics, which I launch into singing! Music is a big part of my life, even though I seldom play it. I don't read or watch TV along with it, nor when I seek nature outside. It is something Ron & I set aside as a feature instead of a background. Just something to share with a fellow music fan.

I finished checking all the way up to your conversation return in message #45. It is up to you, sharing new material and how you felt in your earlier reading, before coming back to post. This is all from me. :) Love, Carolyn.

I backtracked the posts, when you only updated us on dear Izzy. She came out all right! You ended up being away from the conversation for two months, even though your Aunt's road trip and setting up house were a few days. Naturally, you did not expect Shirin to bow out at the same time

You didn't expect the need to battle a creep. I stayed calm but might have allowed myself, or someone along with me, to tell "Paul" to fuck off! He accused me of wanting "validation"! I spoke my mind for my conversation being ignored, because no one wants to waste their time or to be treated as if our ideas aren't worth raising. His suggestion pissed me off and I could have kicked the fuck for thinking that, about strong women like any of us.

I dearly support family health and visits. I hope we are in harmony about avoiding delays if we can, for other reasons, like focusing on other books. Duration is supposed be short, so I commit as an almost live way to spend time with *you*: long-distance friends. Please build me back up to trusting a skipped day doesn't mean a week or month! ;> Now that we are writing daily, our conversation is amost finish in a week. I look forward to the same smooth regularity for future buddy reading.

I have a lot of other things to do but checking e-mail and Goodreads is a morning habit I would probably keep, if someone stayed over. Because my present tome is a medical & spiritual textbook, I am happy to start "The Dream Thieves" any time you want, after the last words on "The Gargoyle". Message #58 has my last contributions: yay!

Short commitments clear the path for catching-up e-mail too, which I look forward to very much. :) I can't believe our babies, including our wonderful Conan wherever he is, are having another birthday in a week. Hugs, Carolyn.

I am happy to continue our conversation today! We are at good parts, including new topics you are inspiring! Your ponderment of Shirin's dislike was informative. Although I usually give big points for the value of effort and story content that is important and well told, it must be a disappointing inability to connect with it. Shirin, who read this in English, probably couldn't help missing some things that people normally admire about this book. I think you are right and that it was both.

I hated the animal death references in "Cousins", dreary ending for one of them, and terrible life for the other. That she met that Cousin just before she died and luckily ended up returning to their family all of a sudden, was contrived and too little too late. The minute she was no longer in the clutches of her boarding house, she could have phoned or visited family, no matter how nervous or curious about why she thought they hadn't kept in touch with her. She was desperate enough to leave her house and walk the streets for Pete's sakes. But still, I had to give this novel at least 3 stars because everything else was beautifully told, original, and I sensed all through me that this was important New Zealand culture for me to know. I am glad I know it.

You have helped me understand that if Shirin connected with no one and missed why this novel was special, no matter how glorious Andrew's numerous cultural and historical contents were, I guess two stars are possible. There were times when I couldn't connect with anyone either, or accept the plot most of all. I know "Cousins" would have received 4 stars if it hadn't been for the almost unrewarded ending to extreme but ridiculously needless hardship. Her abandoning husband got no flack. Are we supposed to love him because he helped her plan a Maori funeral? And yet, even though "Chappy" had an identical character who did nothing to help himself and willingly wandered around without making an effort to survive, the rest was so positive and triumphantly unique, it had to have 5 stars from me. I excused the mention of the nephew telling his Uncle he refused to help him kill a sheep. Well, this turned into my chance to converse about Patricia Grace too!

Given the nosiness of the public internet, we won't give details. I am merely curious for future e-mail, if you fell off horses or bicycles, or had operations. Yes, this novel gives us perspective. Are you able to say why you disliked Ulrich and Marianne? I haven't reread my review from 2019, which an error with the group book resulted in having to repost and lose the comments I had. There will be new ones! I think they were not my kind of people and except the burn injury, I did not sympathize with them greatly.

That is right, Marianne could live with Ulrich for at least a decade or longer and yes, he needed her beyond a home. She would not be growing thin and unnourished if not hurriedly finishing grotesque sculptures and as you reminded me of the legend, if she was not giving away hearts. Did Andrew give the provenance of this?

I think you hit upon a mistake that I am confirming both ways! It is more than information not worked out and provided. If Marianne is the same person living 600 years, Jack could not have known her as an identifyable teenager. She started out young in the monastary but grew in that crutial first lifetime. If she were physically reborn to new Mothers & Fathers, each childhood would need no secrecy.

Okay, we raise a timeline doubt that baffles and angers me, not towards you but the popularity of fake 'historical fiction' for causing it. THE PUBLISHING YEAR OF BOOKS IS ALWAYS THE SAME FOR THEIR STORIES. It is only a different year if Andrew stated that. Until made-up 'historical fiction' became popular recently, no one doubted that the book's release year is the present day.

I looked up the 14th century, not remembering how they worked. It went from 1301 to the end of 1400, thus Marianne can be a maximum of 608 years-old. Always trust that a book's publishing year is the present day, as the author wrote it. If it were 'historical', readers would be told. I think 2006 is when I finally got high speed internet, to leave the city and lose it in 2010! I still use videotapes occasionally and always make sure Ron & I have a way to play our nice collection. They would certainly have been around with early DVDs in 2008.

I guess I would not stop her from running into the ocean because her destiny and decision must have been discussed at length with Ulrich. Where I disagree is with him not convincing her to stop building those grotesques and to live with him for his lifetime or a lot of it. I gather Andrew did not explain how statues use a life force, or why she got numerous hearts, did he? I guess that was overriden by your enjoyment and admiration of everything else, to earn five stars, Kerri?

Were any of the cultural stories happy? Did they all end in the appearance of a death because they were presumably former lifetimes, or were some of them peaceful or content; not just funny to ease something gruelling? Here is a good question: did Marianne change genders in any of them? If so, she had to have been reborn along the ages. I don't recall Japan. I loved Iceland, along with Germany!

Thank you for reminding me what the scholar wanted. Each time you answer, the context floods back to me. You brought up good stuff again! I am thoroughly enjoying this! By tomorrow, I hope to glance along my paragraphs written when you were away, to ensure I didn't miss anything we would enjoy chatting about. Besides those, I think this is all I have to propose. I am open to any new observations you raise, which are always so much fun to think about.

I have to laugh that, far from reading the next funny little jaunt by Charlotte MacLeod, your "current" queue has returned to 7 and all heavy subjects. You might have finished the 4 you had gotten down to, haha. I am reading hefty matieral but positive: spiritual healing (Jack Angelo), how to breathe properly (Dr. Berisa Vranich), and "The Wisdom Of Menopause" (Dr. Christiane Northrup). Good health for all of us at home is important and dear to our hearts, as you know. It is the same for your family. Hugs, Carolyn.

Yes, I know people often using applications would not think of handwritten souvenirs. You won't be sorry to have this personal touch from each other. It could be on letter stationery, a card, postcard, even normal lined paper for university. Write each other a note or letter and save it in a photo album or book. :) It creates "a time capsule". Look at it two years from now, for example and feel very encouraged and close to people you miss.

You said you have a better idea about "The Dream Thieves"? Catching up later is what we are doing. Of course we are going to finish the whole series but I don't want it over fast. I bought these sequels new and we don't find favourites like this every day. Even Maggie's wolf series is terrible. I love saving the best books for a time when I really need to feel excitement!

If your suggestion was to read the series by yourself and check our notes later, that is not buddy reading, Shirin. The whole book is finished and it is only a longer comment on someone's review. Experiencing the suspense together, writing to each other in the moment, is the special thrill we share. I am grateful you will e-mail Kerri & I "Opal".

After your Cousins & Aunts have visited, I hope to receive photos of your gorgeous fun! I have never seen Iranian women without hijabs. I know at home you wear regular clothes and I can't wait to see what your casual or dressy style is! Xoxo, Carolyn.

Do you too, find people miss things about books? Individual preferences go without saying. I see it all the time. I remember the pasts being fascinating, never boring. Who says fighting amounts to action? Discovery and forging a life are adventurous to me. Yes, I loved learning that books used to be handwritten.

Are you surprised Shirin gave this novel two stars? Do you feel the originality, accurate research, and major culture variety should have earned a point even if it was not to her taste? Be honest, no glib "we all have tastes". Do you see the shift from loving the book to disliking it after I mentioned Ulrich's career?

I need that reminder, please, of how old Marianne Engel is. You confirmed Germany came first, her home country and Engel suits that. I would know German names! Thank you for reminding me about Italy and Japan.

Yes, I remembered the library contents being major proof of Marianne's long age and now I am reminded of the enthusiastic scholar. I think Ulrich refused to let him do something, perhaps borrow the book. Is that right? However, it was the most compellnig proof that she handwrote in the Germany script of her century (I really want to state it correctly). Wouldn't you say?

I am very sad to be reminded of the baby going out of her life. She must have others over the years, whether or not the other husbands were thought to be true loves in their own right. We always have a chance to love again, even if one woman or man is special in a forever way. However, it was a lapse on Andrew's part not to name and remember other children. I keep wanting to name the number of centuries!

What you appreciated and enjoyed generally as well as the hell visit, gave this five stars for you? I think that creative trip, which I thought Marianne took instead of Ulrich, made it four stars instead of five for me. I will reread my review to see my other comments. I probably wanted a greater number of answers but in the main, I hated the ending. How about you?

What an odd thing to imagine Ulrich is turning himself into Marianne. Whence does that idea come? Unless you mean in her honour, he is changing the grotesque rather than continuing it, to make one of her instead.

Yes, I said I knew the manager was a woman, which is why I wondered if her name was Linda. You can't forget her.

I hope Ulrich lives awhile but then again, I said even I would have trouble forging ahead without the main skin and appearance that makes me feel and look like myself. Maybe spiritual energy healing of some kind could have helped him. It does step in where medical limitations to the physical leave off. I guess he would be fine sticking to the house and a small circle of friends and their dog, if a homey life fulfilled him.

I guess a big discussion subject is: was Ulright right to let Marianne complete her life the way she felt she needed to? Why did she want to when he had just met her again? Why not have awhile together? Maybe her conclusion would be all right if they had had time to enjoy being a couple after he healed enough to be comfortable doing things.

I never liked Ulrich or Marianne but sympathized with them of course. I imagine that formed part of my four star grade. I remember keeping a star to acknowledge the creativity and awesome work that went into everything. Humour helped.

I wonder if you had imperfections, like I mentioned about a darkened patch or skintags, that you wanted gone but think nothing of, now that you have read these fictional problems! I am keen on anything you propose as great food for conversational thought.

Yes, you have turned into supermodels and photography professionals! I hope you do videography too. How do you like my story about keeping a card, note, letter, or some kind of autograph in handwriting? I am grateful to have these hadnwritten souvenirs in my family.

A month would seem like forever to me. How about if we only read this sequel? It will almost make no difference for you to come back, reply to everything we wrote, and introduce your own reactions and conversation topics. We will return to answer and chat with you right away! Everything will be ready for you, from us, instead of one day at a time. :-) Maybe Kerri & I could read "Confessions Of A Shopaholic" first but there would be a lot of time left to be eager to start "The Dream Thieves" afterwards.

Please e-mail sometime "Opal" on PDF. It comes after the series. We have the spin-off series to share next, starting with "Call Down The Hawk". I am also saving Ian Rankin and most Agatha Christie for you. Last week, I finished "The Big Four" and to my surprise, I loved it with 5 stars! Enjoy my review. :)

Thank you for telling us, Shirin!

No, we did not know. I was not getting e-mail replies but saw you on Goodreads. I am very happy for your Aunts. I know from my friend that going to Turkey if the way most of you get out. Are they your Mom's or Dad's Sisters? Or if you prefer details in e-mail, okay. Yes, this is a special time of life, being with family while they are right there!

I see that your family does not travel and am uncertain Germany is a country Iranians could go to. Enjoy them, take many photographs and videos! Try to get notes in writing to cherish always. I have an autograph book, an actual small book with blank pages. It is meant for celebrities but I got many family and friends to write or draw in it when I was a child. This is a happy time for you all and I am glad, my friend.

If you do not want us to wait until September to read our favourite series, the folders will be there for you to come and reprise the conversation anytime. We will see it and talk about it again with you. Please tell all your family from my family: "God bless you and safe travels"! Love, Carolyn.

I am very much looking forward to it too, Kerri! I love sharing these books with Shirin as well. Lately, she has not replied to personal e-mails or our group. It is unfair to me if pushing again and again is the only way to receive follow-up. Our friend already has my e-mails and we are giving a lot of advance notice that we are reading “The Dream Thieves” soon. It will be lovely to hear from our dear Shirin in both places.

You will be finished “The Gargoyle” by the time you read this. I foresee a week of great conversation, or faster if our awesome daily updating keeps us writing & replying immediately. :) Then, it is a matter of finishing whichever book we are into, when we talk through what we want to. Hugs to both Kerri & Shirin, your friend, Carolyn.

I feel that Andrew Davidson leapt to an assumption of contrast. You & I concluded that everyone would freak out about disfigurement the same. I am compassionate but can't bear to see it. I think a head injury is like wondering about a scratch in the pain, reconstruction, and mental trauma Ulrich was dealing with. I think it is helpful to learn about burn survival but think this novel would have been as successful without it. I was surprised Andrew didn't have Ulrich getting a doctor's note to obtain new identification for banks and whatnot.

Now comes the fun part, of discussing whatever you propose and looking for subjects I tried to introduce when you were away.

The trip to hell was among my favourites, one of the reasons I consider Andrew original and unique! It is enough to cover numerous countries to a degree that had to have been researched meticulously, wouldn't you say?

This is what I hoped Shirin would appreciate above two stars, despite disliking the protagonist and the introduction. I would enjoy her explanation if she ever sees this. I don't know if it was a coincidence or cultural but she originally liked the novel and humour, despite the awful burns we see right away. Thinking the former profession was revealed earlier than perhaps it was, I apologize for saying too early that Ulrich had been a pornography actor. After that, Shirin couldn't stand the novel. She reads historical fiction all the time, you would think she would have a field day with all the ages and countries she visited.

If pornography turns up most of our noses, what her culture make of it, who reserves sexuality as sacredly as many more people should, too? Was that where she lost her patience and interest? Kerri, did the descriptions of his former job and medical / mental recovery go on too long? He stopped discussing the job eventually but had to keep healing from then on. However, was that interesting to you, or did the ancient stories give ample breaks from it? For the first time, this is when I myself preferred the ancient stories to the modern scenes.

Did you find the ancient scenes lacking in action like Shirin did? Were they too tame for a fantasy fan? My impression is remembering that a lot of major things happened that I wouldn't want to face. Did they lose a baby or did she / he grow up? One more question you have me puzzled about here. I thought Marianna went to hell, Iceland, Japan, Germany, and somewhere else. Did figures met in other countries gathered in hell for that super atmospheric, suspenseful visit? Please help me remember everywhere she went, in case my review did not name the countries.

I am happy not to remember Marianna cutting herself. Hoewver, you led to an excellent conversation piece that we might spend time on, Kerri! This is the stuff great book conversations are made of, finally! :) Yes, there is ample proof that Marianne really is hundreds of years old. Which year was she born in Germany? What is her last name there? Was she an orphan or young novice? I would have great fun listing the proof, wouldn't you? Having the books she does, using verifiable ancient caligraphy as her natural handwriting, and having the memories and knowledge she does. Her library is not just old but multilingual. The final proof I remember is that something, I don't recall what, gets Ulrich to have past life memories. That is in a late chapter, isn't it?

To recap: countries, Marianne's birth and name, and proof of ancient age are things I would delight in collaborating with you to compile.

What I meant by you introducing a great subject is about whether or not Marianne has developed mental duress or illness that has nothing to do with everything being real. That is very astute of you. What I suggest is that living for 500 or the number of years you fill in for us, takes a toll on the body and mind that does not usually go on 5x as long. Did she say she was born with extra hearts, hence not dying naturally?

I would look forward to the afterlife with my loved-ones by then and don't blame Marianne for having had enough. She has children, parents, Grandparents, animals, friends to look forward to. But it is one soul that reincarnates so if Ulrich is here, he is not in Heaven. Why go now that they are together on Earth? Was she fated to find him, did she search in present day, or was she fortunate to recognize him at the hospital?

I'm not keen on the subject of story perspectives because that is an easy way for historians and students to dismiss what someone has taken the time to record and preserve. If we said a story is always different from person to person, it would create an endless argument. I like instead, to think we zero in on different elements and contribute to remembering different things together for the full picture. You did convey an important lesson that Ulrich's memories are valuable too. To test that this was the message, did he have his recall back by the time the Viking said that?

Anyway, you know how every profile bio declares that the member loves discussing books? Have you tried politely commenting with an additional perspective or in respectful disagreement and received the closing-off comment: "everyone's opinions are different"? I have found that few people want to discuss books here but instead, only want you to write "nice review" and leave. Others want to argue like assholes. A truly open conversationalist like you is a gem, my dear Kerri!

The potential stalemate about different perspectives reminded me of that closing down statement about "everyone being different". It does not invite conversation. I love exploring differences if people are open to swaying or appreciating other views at least. It is fun and invigorating when you find someone who really puts thought into it and enjoys it too.

While readers like and dislike personal things, like misophonia hampering me from tolerating certain vocabulary; there is such a thing as someone not GETTING what was awesome and unique about some books. So I share it, in hopes they will enjoy it and see it, like no one ever recognizing non crime mysteries. :) Some people read too much, too fast, or EXPECT one mystery to have the formula of others and miss special attributes that are obvious to me. I look for them. I also wonder if free e-reading has stopped people from appreciating books as much as they normally would.

As for Ulrich ending up by himself, I guess he he healed enough to do that and is well prepared. He gets physiotherapy, presumably therapy as well, and is safe financially including if doctors help him reclaim his bank access and various accounts and ID cards. But he has made a friend in Marianne's manager. Is her name Linda?

Haha, the words for filmmaking are "filmmaker", "director", and "producer". In 2008, with the internet beginning to get faster (but not southeastern Manitoba along with it), Ulrich could write, direct, or switch and do a lot of things remotely. I see Linda being his go-between representative.

I don't remember him seeming to be heartbroken, after Marianne sufficiently explained why she didn't want to continue living despite finding him. If I remember right, he understood and was prepared to carry on in a new life and push past the physical and emotional difficulty.

The next time you write, you will be able to tell us how you liked this novel and what degree of complexity you felt Andrew achieved. Manitobans write a broad variety of things, that you have read enough of to know! I say the same about New Zealand and appreciate your education from there too.

I have been looking in your profile for a status update and wonder where you are in the book chapter and storywise.

That former creep was too angrily reactive to understand my conclusions, so it is nice to ponder things freely with you. It is an automatic assumption that an actor might have an extra layer of hardship with a head injury. I did at first but thought a lot and new perspectives dawned on me. I think we can test that most people would have the same mental anguish to climb. Try this.

Would you, as a non actress struggle emotionally with an injured head? I would, even if the public hardly sees me. Picture yourself as an actress. Would your career or public representation be your first thought after a serious head injury? I say it would not. I think we all would struggle with the same basic humanity: being able to recognize ourselves calmly and seeing the reactions of others.

I do not think a career would add an extra layer of difficulty because that does not enter the urgency of life, death, and overcoming trauma emotionally and physically. Honestly, unless we need no job, work from home, or in the dark; most people's faces involve a public presentation. No one wants to be prejudiced but how easily would managers hire a disfigured cashier, receptionist, or other professional?

How many fingers did Ulrich lose? You are reminding me of a lot of consequences, like burns affecting body temperature and sweating. Is there any reason the author did not simply write about a modern day guy finding out about his past lives?

This has me thinking about what you proposed about careers, one way it might be another mental hurdle: fingers for example and what you wrote about soldier rifles. No one wants to be a porn actor by choice. I would argue (if I knew we didn't want to move on) that people in the prostitution professions have a low opinion of their bodies' sacredness rather than the opposite.

You do aptly remind me that it would be hard if someone could no longer be a musician or dancer. I think it is because those are loves that are a part of those people. They are fortunate that they also happen to be careers. Secondly, they have room to mentally mourn what those handicaps remove, because they are not dealing with a crisis of their personal appearance. Ulrich could not even use his bank account, although he could have had a note from his doctor to confirm his identification.

I will happily turn to the other subjects we raised in their own comment box. It is uncanny that you read about skin injuries in a war book. I have read two about struggling survivors who are not actors and they both contain the title "Moon"! Phyllis A. Whitney published "The Moonflower" about Hiroshima survivors in 1958. In Ben Aaronovitch's "Moon Over Soho", officer Leslie May too, has serious injuries that she too, hides even around her home like Phyllis' character. What is the correct name for sculptures that are not gargoyles? I would like to say it properly.