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

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

I worked with a Karen, haha. I have seen by now, her character name was Veronica, Ronnie. I don't know if her last name was given but the internet says Veronica Lee.

By now, I have seen most of "Schitt's Creek" in daily reruns, this being the Levy's home country as well as that to Catherine, Annie, and everyone on the cast. Except Chris Elliott, humorously, for reasons I hope your souvenir book, "Warm Regards" tells me. How did he get on an all Canadian cast? It is the role of his life so far and he was very funny and awkward.

I was wondering what your top five favorite books have been so far this year? You have a very diverse and eclectic taste and we seem to enjoy similar genres. :)

Alexis, this is a fun topic! I feel the same way when I reread your profile write-up, that we have wonderful things in common like animal welfare and holistic healing! I watch what you read with pleasure too, my new friend! Here is some of that eclectic variety that I would deem my top 5 so far. I keep a typed list on a Word document. :)

Why don't you chime in and everyone else in our group who wants to share? Here are 5 books I easily granted 5 stars! Your friend, Carolyn.

“Energy Medicine for Women: Aligning Your Body’s Energies To Boost Your Health And Vitality” Donna Eden 2008 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

“Friends, Lovers, And The Big Terrible Thing” Matthew Perry 2022
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

“How The Light Gets In” Louise Penny 2013
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

“The Raven Boys” Maggie Stiefvater 2012
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

“Manitoba” Irvin Kroeker 1979
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Thank you, Lorraine, for corraborating "Paul's" rudeness and to Shonna, Darcey, and Kerri for solidarity privately. I asked if he realized he kept brushing aside 99% of what we wrote and explained that we reply to each topic everyone contributes. It feels great to come on knowing your peers are answering you and enjoying what you say, because we are positive and generous.

If he didn't want to converse deeply and found it "critical" for us to politely ask, his offer to leave was appreciated. Venting at us was unacceptable. Never tolerate anyone's bullshit and please stand up for your peers and friends. I should not have dealt with that loudmouth alone. With a glance at membership, you would have noticed he had not gone as he claimed to.

The moderators have seen to it that he is gone. Please write, share pictures, and browse as usual. Sincerely, the moderators of Gentle Spectrums.

8-paragraph replies elaborated on nearly everything you wrote with earnest pleasure. Picking one point and ditching the rest indicated not wanting to converse at the same scope. No, finding we are incompatible doesn't bother me. I broached it politely and neutrally, with no personal remarks about you. I'll have none about me either. I'm content with where we left things in message #60 and wish you well.

I love best that we give a reply to each of what we write. We feel good about putting in the time and effort, if nothing we contribute is dismissed, or breezed through.

I realized that anyone going through trauma, fear, pain thinks of what the situation means to themselves. Did Andrew wonder if an actor would struggle more? I concluded: no. Losing a sexual organ, limb, or digit is handicapping enough. However, not looking like yourself in the face is horrifying for all. Everyone's faces is their emotional and mental IDs. The protagonist felt terrible for a little girl next to him.

I enjoy modern literature for 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, for local familiarity. Book titles I pass by on Goodreads often remind me of song titles and lyrics, which I launch into singing.

Most people revisit photographs and videos of when they were healthy. The reasons are as diverse as we are. I recall Ulrich feeling better about doing it. Ditching the DVD was like facing forward in his new physical state. In contrast, we relate to not wanting photos of loved-ones unrecognizably sick, nor in decease. We want to remember them as they would be, without the ailment. However, if someone is surviving, not dying; you don't cease photo records of them in the family. I only say that pornography was an interesting choice of past jobs because few have nude photos or videos. It was a source for Ulrich to see his skin and missing organ.

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 was 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 a nudge.

Some good friends had multiple close family losses, which include animals. One American friend can't bear pictures of her loved-ones at this time. I myself, NEED to look on the faces of loved-ones daily. I am reassured that I can still see the sight of them. Do you understand what I mean? A disfigured person seeing their supple face might feel tortured but I think that result is unintentional. Whether it feels good to know how they look normally, or it is closure that they don't, those are the best outcomes from a photo album or video. I would never discard records of personal history and likeness. Ulrich is a different person, which this might have helped move on. Or, equalling disfigurement to mourning, he is like my friends who feel sad rather than glad, to look upon what is visibly gone.

Marianne helped him. Few autobiography titles are more poignant than Christopher Reeves' "Still Me". I appreciate knowing how burn victims felt and recovered: spiritually, emotionally / mentally, and medically. Even a character with a concealable burn, chose medicine as a career. If I were not against euthanasia in any form, I could only imagine the temptation to thinking it might be better not to live, if disfigured from feeling human.

A subject of mine, is the importance of stories featuring how characters are FEELING, rather than what they are physically doing. It makes the difference between fine literature and cheap fiction. I am done with the many authors who feel the need to treat novels like a screenplay. They frequently say characters drink coffee, wine, or tea and continue to sip or refill them. Set the scene that someone is having a refreshment and leave it there. I have read novels in which I could clearly see that the feelings of the characters weren't conveyed at all. We can relate to anyone, of any age, if authors drive their stories with emotions. Andrew gave us more than we bargained for.

I took a day to ponder. There is no difference at the core, in the importance of facial recognition in particular and how we perceive ourselves as feeling human. No mindset on looks would make it any easier and that it isn't about attractiveness. It is about looking like yourself and noticing that others were unable to simply perceive you as a person.

I don't watch "Dancing With The Stars" but here is an example. There was a burn survivor on it years ago, whose disfigured face I could not bear to look at, in TV commercials. I am not prejudiced or vain. It just looked horrible in a way I could not stand to see. I also replied in other areas I hope you enjoy. Perhaps you relish originality too, or wonder what I meant by Manitoba humour.

This is a book to carry us along and not define goals or genres. We marvel at the humour (I recognized good old Manitoba humour) in terrible times and learn about healing burns. I am drawn most of all to complete originality. Andrew had to have put immense research into several cultures he features!

Reaching emotions and sympathy is always a must. Allow us to relate and I am following that story on almost any subject. I have noticed keenly, superficial novelists focusing on physical actions instead. We don't need a screenplay of characters repeatedly reaching for coffee or wine, or "narrowing eyes". We don't do that the way authors put it.

I certainly took awhile to relate to him. His Aunt & Uncle were irresponsible assholes whom he left. I don't recall selling children and would balk at that. Kerri commented on the contrast with a convent scribe. I initially thought a sex worker would lament losing good looks but after consideration, I say this would be a horror to most people more than they expect.

My spouse won't wear shorts because of prominent veins. What our character wouldn't give for his physical worries to be this minor! I felt strongly for him, besides losing his sexual organ and I think some fingers, when even the headgear he wore accentuated the scarred skin and didn't give him an opportunity to conceal it!

You see, how we look in physical life is not about vanity or being used to using our looks for jobs. That would suggest an actor would have more to lose than anyone else. It is about how cuts or burns around a face could look less human, because facial appearance is the main way we recognize others and ourselves. Even if our family saw through to our souls and got used to the appearance of disfiguration; the people we met shopping or anywhere we went would not. Imagine every time you met someone, wondering if they would react silently or ask you to explain what happened.

Shirin & Kerri, I have by mail the rest of "Raven Boys" series. I see there is a novella at the end called "Opal". Would you send it to me sometime, Shirin?

I am not in a rush to blow through a series we love. I am glad I have "Call Down The Hawk" afterwards, with sequels to look forward to. Therefore, the next of Maggie's work I would like to read after "Dream Thieves" is "Lament". Wondering if there is interest, this being summer book sale season. :)

Ah, wonderful descriptions, wonderful writing! This is what I remember and am glad you enjoyed at least, Shirin. Yes, Andrew also slipped in regular humour. My favourite part here is, deciding long ago that everyone would stand on Greek shoulders.

This quality and originality is why I am surprised by two stars, even if you didn't find enough battle type action for your tastes.

No, surprisingly, I don't remember many details. Only impressions of how amazed I was by the work, originality, and detail Andrew put into it and also some humour. Please do share your quotations with me, Shirin. I love how you & Kerri include those in your reviews and replies!

Isn't it odd, Shirin, how our favourite author also has a series that is so revolting, we refuse to read any of it? We have these two raven & hawk series ahead of us and I am intrigued by "Lament" too.

Very happy about Izzy. Looking forward to knowing how old and what kind she is in e-mail.

I remember that burn treatments and survival are juxtaposed with Marianne's adventure recollections. Don't worry. They continue to be wonderful stories after the monastery from whence she came. I think she is from Germany. After reading those stories, I hope you and even Shirin understand why I am impressed Andrew Davidson researched and wove together ALL OF THAT in a novel. It is usually one culture per novel, with exception of the wonderful Katherine Neville.

A reminder that with Shirin finished, we can be very specific and hold real conversations here. I would appreciate the reminder of what you are seeing and where the character is going. I am happy to finally see that you are on page 225!

It would have to be. Maggie wrote straight off about a woman dying while wolves bite her. I skimmed and another page started the same way with another victim. It is horrifying and unnecessary for fiction. There is no doubt this was what Kerri hated. I am grateful Maggie showed what kind of book it was so I do not read those. Sell pile! I have certainly been watching for your e-mail reply, dear Kerri.

Shirin & Kerri, I'd like to wait to do this when you are both available to make notes and chat every day. Barring surprises like relatives visiting, please let me know when your internet and time are available to commit to constant conversation. We truly feel like we are reading together if someone has written everytime we log in and perhaps replied the same day once in a while, too. :)

On a separate note, I said I had three "Shiver" books in first editions, hoping that one of my favourite authors in "The Raven Boy's" series was similarly good and exciting in others. Kerri said she disliked the first novel because it was implausible and disgusting, in terms of being attracted to a canine. I wish that were all it was, Kerri and can't believe you didn't cite the extreme violence.

I checked the first couple of pages and was disgusted. They described how girls felt getting attacked by wolves, a murdered person and a person watching! I put all three hardcovers in our library to sell to people when we invite customers. I will not read about violence, attack, or suffering. We know Maggie has way better work than that.

For when you are both available to talk and write reading notes daily, I want you to know my copy of "The Dream Thief" is here.

Kerri, oh my. If you had e-mailed, you would have had our prayers through this instantly. We are glad to have good news and pray for Izzy now. I didn't know she is a girl and don't think you have used her pronoun before. Give her a hug and kiss for me, please! I hope Kammie is cuddling her too. Love, Carolyn & family.

I have never watched "The Amazing Race", which I got the impression was a travelling version of "Survivor"; being dared to do unpleasant things for prize money. I was glad Canada's beautiful land was shown to the world 9 years ago but did not watch this edition either, until last week. I caught reruns of the final two shows of a recent season and was pleasantly surprised.

This is not news to many folks: it is not about disgusting or gruelling dares. Participants are challenged to a wide variety of skills that give everyone a chance to excel. They pieced together agricultural irrigation pipes, heli-skied, assembled oversized deck chairs, and sought elves with uniquely coloured candycanes.

Before they reach these challenges, competitors receive or earn clues that they need to decipher. This has the flavour of mystery-solving for me, which had me interested in at least peeking at the introduction of the new season tonight.

I discovered "The Amazing Race Canada" is setting off in my home city and apparently the host's province too: Winnipeg, Manitoba! I have to tune in. If friends want to see our city, this is an original way to tour! I am sure it can be downloaded anywhere in the world; if you are resourceful and don't wait for your service to carry it. Go, Winnipeg, go!

🍁 Thank you, Kerri & Leeanne! Happy Canada Day to the two of you, too! I love that you found a maple leaf gif to add to the pictoral delight of our unifying message.

Leeanne, I asked in your Scotland status update if it is grade 11 you finished, or if you have graduated from highschool! These are great achievements and you must be excited to dance around this summer! Fewer memories are as poignant and happy as when we weer kids getting out of school! Love, your friend, Carolyn.

Gentle Spectrums is a versatile Canadian lounge for worldwide friends, that has been here for a decade. From all of us in this group, to the Goodreads community: HAPPY CANADA DAY TO YOU!!! Yours truly, Carolyn & the Gentle Spectrums members.

Shirin, we have heard what you disliked. Since you are far in the novel, how about some parts you do like? :)

The last subject in "Raven Boys" is everyone telling us where there are ley lines near their city. I imagine it is a short look on the internet like it was for me. :) I hope my mail order comes through soon, otherwise I would buy the other Maggie Stiefvater books I want from somewhere else.

The English company "Awesome Books" and Canadian customs, who lately only allow $20.00 CDN without charging tax to pick up mail, are troublesome. They should do better, with low postage and merchandise other countries benefit from.