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

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

Happy birthday to my childhood hero, Corey Hart! As a child, I would play his whole catalogue of the 1980s and 1990s, which is the bulk of it. Now, a tune or two today will do, for "the man in shades". :) Love, Carolyn.

https://www.theguardian.com/travel/20...

I saw New Zealand's wonderful tree here. They are associated with the Maori but it sounds like they grow abroad, perhaps with different language names, because this is called the largest in the world. I am glad their health and roots are protected. There must be an effort to propagate them. The sole question remaining for me is how far they are from Kerri's home. :)

Nearby on a beautiful Kenora, Ontario trail, Ron & I visited a special tree in late 2019. A bald eagle nests at the high top, too far to stretch your neck and see. I wonder how old she is. She is called "spirit tree". Ontario is Mom's birth province and even though Kenora is close to Manitoba, we always lovingly remark that we are in "Mom's land".

My Mom was out of the hospital for the last few months, supposed to get better. The hospital had not tested for mini-strokes, the most common illness! That terrible affliction cramped her focus and she eventually only picked up phone calls. She stopped having the concentration to use phone numbers. That day, sitting at the spirit tree, Mom phoned me herself for the last time. We had a nice talk about how she was. She was also happy to hear what we were enjoying and seeing in good old Ontario. I told her how special it was to receive a phone call from her there. Love, Carolyn.

>I keep picturing Tāne Mahuta, which is this ancient Kauri tree here in New Zealand. Not so much the look of the tree but the age and size of it and the presence that has an energy that is amazing to be around. It would be incredible to be able to directly talk to them.>

Good morning, ladies! I have looked forward to going back and talking about other wonderful things with which you have enriched our great conversations together. Kerri, please tell us more about this tree! How many, which regions, age, fruit, height, width, anything you think of. In this day & age we can look up pictures and descriptions but that is nothing compared to someone telling us about such a fantastic sounding presence. It is on my wish list to see those Kauri trees!

I have always loved the presence of trees, as much in my parents' yard as in my forest now. When I drive down the highway along our old neighbourhood, I can recognize our dear, fluffy, tall tree and get excited to see him again. I planted some of his branches when they moved in 2017, when Conan vanished and most of them worked awhile. I will see if the last live branch is still budding. I need to learn how to get it to grow and flourish into a tree.

Yes, our precious Marigold, Spirit, & McCartney had great lives and experiences for us to be joyous and proud of! Angel & Petal are careful around wildlife, as you can tell by Angel's fast flee in June 2021. However, they have been comfortable approaching whitetailed deer since they were babies, therefore I watch them to be extra safe; especially if a neighbour's dog were loose. Shirin, I am happy you saw our absolutely beautiful Rose-breasted Grosbeaks as well as the very pretty Baltimore Orioles!

Chickadees are my favourite birds, whose sweet "beeping" voices make me happy no matter how glum I might feel. They land right on your hand if you have food and they are strong little animals, around all year even in Manitoba's winters. They are pretty to me, their simple black masks and caps with their grey and white feathers.

The day my Mom went to the afterlife in winter 2020, I had to get outside to breathe after making phone calls and sending e-mails. I needed to hear the chickadees before sunset for relief. I was rewarded, for the chickadees were more numerous and singing the most loudly I had ever heard before.

We three love animals and nature. It doesn't matter that Shirin & I were raised in cities. Thus, it occurred to me that another thing Maggie's book makes us feel good about, is nature featuring prominently in her story. Yes Kerri, you can converse with trees the same as with animal communication, aka telepathy. It was part of my course in 2006 to try talking with trees and writing down what came to your mind. I still have my sheet of paper from a sweet little guy next to the hostess' barn. It was raining lightly but I loved our little session together. I have asked deer and trees to help lead our Conan home to us, sending a picture of him from my mind. They will see him somewhere and they can communicate as a group. They will keep him company all the way home, if it is a walk of any distance.

Shirin, your similee of water rippling with the energy we add to our world is refreshing. In our heatwave, I am glad to think of water and grateful it shall be raining starting this afternoon, all week. However, I will only go on-line carefully so that no more storms ruin my internet modems. I have no Smart Phones or anywhere but our PC, modem, & phone line to go on-line.

Yes, Shirin, speak to your cats and parents aloud. Your parents too will try a little English. It is very good that you hear English daily. Now pronounce it yourself, even if you pause some parts of a story and repeat it aloud.

Blue never met Noah or any raven schoolboy until 2012, when she was 16. She was only 9 when he died. I meant if he freely goes around town, why didn't his parents see him while the ley line was strong? Was this a mistake in the novel's logic? Kerri has great theories for the average person not noticing him but his parents might have seen him from afar. I think a spirit must have visited his family and home, until he met and befriended those younger boys. I don't recall reading a description of their meeting.

After some orientation in Heaven, I think spirits can manifest any time their loved-ones need them a lot. If the loved-ones are willing to see spirits. I wish I saw Mom and our cats but I *have* dreamed about them after asking strongly to see them. How Maggie's fiction world interprets these logistics will be fun to see, including about getting physical life out of dreams. Thank you for waiting for me to get a good deal for book 2 because we are all eager to race into it.

Ron & I have brought our new furniture into our house. He has two more days of holidays from work. Our 3 gardens were planted last week-end, nice and early. Today, I will plant herbs, fruit, and vegetables that we want in pots or boxes; followed by flowerbaskets in a few days. I also have a lot of cleaning up to do in our crowded house but I made a start yesterday. Tomorrow, we will go book shopping. Afterwards, I will order my on-line shopping cart, where I found good prices on several wonderful books.

Well Shirin, now that you know about ley lines and petroforms, see what there are in Manitoba, New Zealand, and Iran. :)

Yes, Adam's Mom needed to do much more to protect her Son. I know anyone's plan is to eliminate the problem without people knowing but we didn't see her making any changes. Her method of trying to avoid a maniac, wasn't getting them anywhere.

I agree that Adam's wariness of Guansey's wealth was exaggerated. Having your own income and respect from your independence matters but you know I have no trouble sharing resources. If anyone offered "I have a lot of money. Could you use some?"; I would gratefully say "Swell, thank you for the boost!" All the years I had outside jobs, I wasn't paid what I deserved. I appreciate the advantage of a lift up here and there. I had friends who moved out young and struggled with their incomes. I picked them up and paid for our outings. Whomever has more money picks up the tab, so that we all can go out together. When I get somewhere with my writing or bookselling, I will gladly treat Ron to the benefits.

Kerri, I loved my Hermetic Code, grand birthday outing, which by coincidence was the publishing year of this book. :) I added a few photographs to the memory stick I am about to mail with additional goodies. I hope you e-mail to verify a few details. I think the point of ley lines is that spiritual human structures are laid along them. Think of a sacred New Zealand place and seek ley lines. I am interested to know what is there. I think Iran's spiritual connections would boggle the mind, since I have read Katherine Neville's "The Magic Circle".

Finally, while I am using the internet on a storm free afternoon, I will conclude with replying about languages. The easiest way to register how late Latin is, without browsing any details, is to recognize that it precedes our modern languages: all of them using the Greek alphabet; romance and slavic languages. It occurs to me that I do not know how Hindi and Sikh are written. However, consider that Shirin's Farsi / Persian, Japanese, Madarin, Cantonese actually write hyrogyphs like on cave dwellings. THIS has to be one way to tell a language's age! Even Roman, as old as it seems to us, is a romance language, which you can literally tell from the 5/7 letters of the name.

As I hypothesized, if North American trees aren't using Aboriginal languages of their land, Maggie's story must be an environment in which the Welsh king has included a small area in his presence. Mayhap these trees, water, and land are supposed to help solve the quest to wake him. You would think he would speak Welsh but Maggie needs her pupils to understand him, so making things up comes in handy. Love, Carolyn.

I knew Tina Turner was in Switzerland at an impressive age but she was so strong, I am surprised she is gone at 83. May we all avoid kidney problems and learn to do our energy balancing and healing exercises. Medical health knows how to cure so little, we need the legs up that eastern medicine brings.

The transition of someone whose records, tapes, and CDs I have had a few of since my childhood feels personal. Her work, performance energy, and voice were phenemonal. She was strikingly beautiful and fit all her life. Rest in peace, Anna Mae Bullock. Our condolences to her three Sons and husband of 10 years, Erwin Bach.

You are welcome, dear Kerri. I am happy to know that. I hope you two can handle, as well as I managed to, the topic of burned skin. We guess what those patients go through is painful and perception altering but we learn the details of how hard it is to overcome. I can't wait to be refreshed about the rest of the novel through you.

Shirin, it isn't like Kerri can't finish the 7 other books she has on the go, right! If she didn't see messages earlier about you reading this together, I am glad she knows now. We're still talking about "The Raven Boys" with pleasure. :) Love, Carolyn.

I am unsure this is on a ley line but it was part of an article about them by a Canadian history authoress I have read before. When hoping Manitoba was a part of her discussion, she honoured us by mentioning a place I have been and visited for a great length of time! The Whiteshell forest district is close enough for us to visit any time we wish, much closer than when we lived in Winnipeg. Have either of you heard of "petroforms"? I wonder if Stonehenge is one or if it is too large for that qualification. Here is the part I copied for you.

"Petroform Site: In Manitoba, a large, nine-acre site exists in the Whiteshell Provincial Park that may be North America’s largest, intact petroform site. It includes human-made boulder outlines, effigies, large carved boulders, stone circles, medicine wheels and rock art. Medicine wheels and petroforms are also found in Manitoba’s Turtle Mountain Provincial Park".

About languages, Shirin is in a better position to tell us more about the ones from far back in time. The land around her was populated by record-keepers of many forms for centures, from cave drawings to scrolls. She knows I would love to visit Iran at least, when it is safe for women! I believe Shirin has seen her share of sacred, old archaeological sites. I can't wait to see what she knows of ley lines.

I looked them up and found to my surprise, that Winnipeg is on intersecting ley lines and in fact, I have been to the legislative building ("the leg") over some of them. I took a tour of it to learn about unexpected ancient Greek symbols and the like that are carved into it. Why are there Hermetic Codes and such, we wondered, when it is all the way in the Canadian prairies?

This is what I did with family and friends, when choosing something special to celebrate my 40th birthday! My parents, Brother & Sister-in-law and one friend joined us for an elegant supper afterwards, at the Fort Garry Hotel. It is Mom's favourite place to dine and that place has both national historic significance and well-known paranormal lore. I suppose Kerri has learned a fair bit about Upper Fort Garry, the wall left next to it and Lower Fort Garry, old trading posts in the "Haunted Manitoba" book she read! I did say the author's history was magnificent even if he downplayed spirit matters.

As discussed before, trees and nature share telepathy as their natural language. However, since no one was speaking with trees anywhere else in Maggie's story, I guess she chose Latin for those ones because they were drawn into the proximity of the Welsh king's enchantment.

The way Ronan left a note to guide them in their quest is one of my favourite parts. It is a smart thing to do, presume that time would wrap around them flexibly so that they were likely to see the note and understand how it was there! It reminds me of the hilarious "Bill & Ted" trilogoy, Keeanu Reeves' earliest films (next to "Youngblood", haha). In it, they know the convenience of leaving themselves not merely directions but dropping items and tools with which to escape from odd situations! Ron & I watched the DVDs gradually last year, a gift from me.

Your remark about having no interest in werewolves couldn't have been put in a funnier way. Thanks for that laugh. Certain neighbours have tanked our patience for canines and I less attracted to hairy people, so my conversation would such a one would have concluded curtly too.

Kerri, I don't think Adam's Mom said anything about abuse being his fault in any part. I think it was a common plea to try to avoid that temper. The problem was everything set that creep off. In that family, it was not possible to tiptoe any more. Yes, most certainly police were needed. They had to ask what good avoiding fines or jail would do for a person who was berserk and needed anger management seriously to be around them. For some people, there are problems that can be resolved much better without police and that is why they hold out. For example, addicts have recovery programs, a step best made without jail jeopardizing their jobs or fines worsening financial stress.

I noticed that the Father was already home after his arrest and wonder if Maggie looked up their State's laws. Thankfully in Canada too, you are only in jail overnight and can keep going to your job while you await a court date. In some screwed up provinces as you know, a restraining order is forced on families even if they wanted police assistance without pressing charges. It seems the Father was allowed back to his trailer without a restraining order, or maybe Adam stated he was leaving the residence.

When Adam was hurt more than usual, at least as far as readers knew, I hope he would have said "Enough is enough" and called police as soon as he could reach a telephone. I love that Ronan helped. I have tried to tell certain friends that there is a difference between helping when you can do good and leaving people to struggle with relatives who are overstepping even verbally, without a fucked up idea of imposing on someone's privacy. Even verbal bullying among family should not be allowed and I told former friends I was pissed off for them saying nothing to my Dad and Brother in the past. For example, all they need have said was "Come on, that is not nice" and my relatives would have been startled by the outside view of how they were behaving. Outside witnesses, perspectives for bad habits that went on for years, could have changed tracks.

While hopeful Adam did not only get his Father arrested to preserve Ronan, who was obviously helping him, I am glad he was pushed into speaking up and getting outside help. His Mom made the call, thinking to stop the squirmish with Ronan and the Father, which must have seemed additionally ugly with an outsider. While she probably only wanted the fight stopped and would not have implicated the boy helping her Son, she did not dream Adam would report the man and we are glad he did. Readers do not abide injustice and we needed that break for our character.

Of course I appreciate modern times for numerous reasons: loving animals like family without hesitation publically, openly standing up against prejudice, and the ease of communication, travel, and cooking. It is when it presumes to replace or forget about something that was far more valuable that we have to use our intelligence and think outside the presently popular box. I love that this series of stories are modern so we can relate to the people, their situations, and humour! :)

Ron is sensitive to moods but has not yet presumed to feel subtle energy or spirit presences. I do not read anything specific but did feel that being in those surroundings was strong and magnificent. I was in awe and gratitude for being there and am glad I have active amazement in wherever I go, including priviledged historic places like Mayan and Druid momuments. It is my pleasure to share them with you. Love, Carolyn.

I am happy and proud that two of my international, close friends are eagerly reading a small town Manitoba author. Andrew Davidson was born in Pinawa, a picturesque drive from here that we made once. He grew up in Winnipeg and went all over to study literature, which is very obvious. Our easy prairie humour is evident, mixed with dark situations; probably sustaining this injured protagonist through them.

I can't wait to read and participate in your reactions and observations, my dears! I have said with admiration that I have never seen multiple cultures so well researched for a novel, besides from Katherine Neville. Into this strange but riveting labyrinth you go, Shirin & Kerri! Love, Carolyn.

I didn't know you ordered the next books. I will be lucky if you ladies don't blow me off and tear straight into the sequel. If $19 NZ is less than CDN, it is cheaper than it sounded. Amazon.ca (not .com) sits at $14 CDN and another source has it lower.

Ron & I are planting our other two gardens this long week-end. (You two know what else occurs the following week). I need to squeeze in a lot of Canadian literature in May and June before Shonna's Canadian challenge concludes. It resumes on Canada Day, July 1, if you want to play along by signing up at her blog.

I know no details of ley lines either and am pleased by the originality of exploring them, as I wrote. I have long known they are invisible markers across the world at sources of power (not that they are the source), connecting sacred places like Stonehenge. I am proud and happy to say Ron & I have stood on that spot! I wonder which ley lines are close to where we all live. Whether or not it is a ley line, Ron & I have also had the joy of standing among Mayan pyramids! You might have heard of one famous special effect. If you are at the pyramid with the snake statue at the right time of year, apparently the shadow goes exactly along it and points somewhere special.

What we call modern about ourselves - from our insufficient medical practices, to the debasement of women in status, and the rapidly constructed dwellings and furniture we build today - is laughable. We keep hearing about what past societies used to do. Our health and longevity shave improved from a few hundred years ago but civilizations go farther back than that. One thing I learned from Lyn Hamilton`s archaeological series is that women dieties used to be worshipped instead of male (“The Maltese Goddess”).

No, Latin is not among the oldest languages at all, an example of something that seems ancient from where we stand. I believe Shirin's Farsi / Persian is far older and so is Hebrew. I have heard people think that God's spoken language must have been Armenian, although I don't know from which countries it comes.

Yes, Shirin made awesome points I am eager to follow-up too. Maggie probably knew if she introduced foreboding information about a boy, we would hope it was flexible as soon as we met him. Shirin is right that the ladies changed their minds about Blue`s new friends being positive and kids worth involving themselves with. You & Shirin both raise intelligent conversations about the possibility of change being a positive book theme.

An aspect of psychic readings I dislike is predictions. It is logical to sense who and where someone is in life at present and what they have faced in the past but the future is ours to shape. I do believe our souls come to Earth with a life plan we shaped with Jesus or God but there is room for movement in how that education comes to us. Goodness knows, I have also hoped we can opt out of stuff that got to be too much in one lifetime. Predictions are the one part of psychic interpretation that I consider bullshit. They might only sense some of your life plan about what you might experience.

Either we get an adventure in which they figure out how to overcome Guansey`s situation, or something else occurred to me. Since Noah`s physical life is done, maybe it would be all right for him to go to the afterlife and let Guansey live.

Except him who actually goes by his family name, you know I loathe last names used like a slang or in reviews. So it boded me well that I recalled the professor's name is Roger, without needing to retain his family name. :) I think they know all they need to from Roger and that they are ahead of him now, certainly with the psychic and varied gift advantages of their American team.

I wondered why Barry was not giving his friend's first name, nor the boys Noah's last name. Wow, what a revelation! My jaw dropped even though I knew Noah was dead because I took his statement literally. When shaking Declan's girlfriend's hand, he explained the cold by saying he had been dead for 7 years.

Here is where I think Maggie made errors. Why were Blue & Guansey able to walk past his remains? If not buried well before, her family had visited those grounds every year.

Secondly, Noah was a spirit everyone could see, including Declan's minor girlfriend character. His dear parents could not, who needed that comfort more than anyone. I suppose his remains were off the ley line at that moment but that seems cruelly dismissive of Noah's family, no matter how minor their characters. At a time like a funeral, suddenly she was picky about who could see him? He could certainly have comforted his parents with a spiritual visit the day or so after, when he was buried in the ley line. All those times in restaurants, did no one recognize Noah around time?

Thank you for picking up what I made a point of sharing, Kerri. I kept the details out of public, which you & Shirin know. Adam's Mom only warned him to keep trouble out of the family. I don`t know if you meant his Dad's lack of temper control or about calling police. A warning to try avoiding that rage is all she meant and of course, everyone dealing with it wants to solve it without the added trouble of police or outsiders. Adam's main angst was about moving out, which mean losing access to his Mom.

I understand avoiding outside complications but agree with Kerri, that she was disloyal to herself and her Son for not deciding enough was enough. What family and what kind of life was she preserving by letting an abusive asshole harrass either one of them? There was no treatment program for that. My problem was the government: offering free treatment programs that take dangerously long times to get into! Then two stupid laws complicated his driver`s license and our access to each other; made worse by two stupidly unhelpful friends.

Adam's Dad, a violent personality rather than from an addiction that could be corrected, needed the police. He struck out with zero provocation for anyone to predict or avoid. I don't recall if Maggie said he was a drinker but he had a rage problem anyway, with the idea that injuring children or other people was acceptable. He could not be approached to consider therapy or behaviour and attitude modification.

About money, they did not begrudge their Son getting a great education. What they were was low income, needing all the help they could get from the family who lived at their home. To a person who would react like a lunatic for anything, seeing a good paycheque while they struggled felt like a betrayal to him. We sane people know it barely covered Adam's tuition and necessities. I think they would have preferred him taking an advanced education after he was on his own. I definitely agree that Adam did not need to prove his independence and strength to Guansey and that his wariness of his wealth went too far. Help should be gratefully accepted, especially from someone for whom it amounts to mere pennies.

Shirin, reading is always easier to understand but it will make your conversational education easier. I used to teach Spanish to a few friends or family by getting them to understand it on paper first. You don't want to repeat meaningless words. Now that you know how to structure and interpret a good vocabulary very well, please find a way to listen to and speak English with your own voice. Do not stay long imagining how things are pronounced, until it gets hard for you to think of their sounds the correct way. Even if you talk with yourself and your cats, speak aloud a little every day. :) If you can download free audio with an e-pub, watch how the words sound with the audio going.

Do your parents know English? They are welcome to visit us in Manitoba, although our modest house has no spare rooms. We`d figure something out in a room nearby. :) Maybe they will come here or elsewhere in Canada for good and have all the nature they want to see! I grew up in Winnipeg, Manitobas' capital city. A city girl can fell in love with being around pure nature. Please tell me when you have seen photographs of the beautiful Rose-breasted Grosbeaks.

Yes, black bears are beautiful at a window or with carefully standing beside the house. The last week Marigold was alive, she had a very close wilderness thrill. A black bear nearly walked up to her. Her Daughter, Angel, ran away to the back door! Haha.... Not much help, that Daughter! The bear heard me coming out the front door because he or she was already running away fwhen I approached Marigold's hiding place on a storage pile. Marigold was standing straight up, with her face exclaiming “What was that”! Heehee! I am smiling at this wild encounter because the bear would not have seen nor have been able to touch Marigold or Angel. It is just neat to know something so big and wild was close enough for them to witness, in Marigold's last days.

I am all for happy endings in real life and in made-up stories. I am as eager as you to enjoy what comes next. The werewolf series has terrible reviews but that says something coming from Kerri. I have it in hardcover first editions, go figure and am hoping I will somehow like it better than other people. I'll see if I can get through the novel “Shiver”. I've put aside to sell subsequent series books before. Funny how the same authoress can create our favourite new series, isn`t it?

Thank you for appreciating my writing about our precious Son and honouring our sweet boy along with us, dear friend. Yes, McCartney trucked right on until almost 22! Kerri, you would have loved meeting Love, Spirit, Marigold, and McCartney. May Conan return for you to someday soon meet him and his Sisters, Petal & Angel.

Here is my first blog article. I am grateful for comments at my blog above all, which is much more personal. It is about anything I want to write, holds my master lists of reviews as a public database, and my membership predates Goodreads. Thank you so much for adding love and letting me know my words are seen. With love, your friend Carolyn. http://cmriedel.wordpress.com/2011/02...

Hey guys, I am happy to have your updates and dicuss the exciting elements freely. If you refer to dollars, please indicate which ones and it is understood for the rest of the day's communication. There are people who assume the USA is a standard among all the world dollars, which annoys Canadians. I hope you mean NZ. :)

Kerri looked forward to visiting her cousin for a day or two and it is nice they stayed longer. Six days is a long pause in a group discussion. It is good to know you will track your pages for us to see, if you do read on. There is a lot of chatting we can do no matter which chapter we hover at. However, impromptu long family visits are precious.

Your updates are wonderful. I'll dig in later. I hope everyone replies to what came before, that conversation pauses do not penalize earlier contributions into being discarded or hastily summarized. For example, it was sensitive for me to offer that I know it is hard to request outside help in stopping a family problem. I get Adam's mental anguish even if nowhere near as bad. Maybe Shirin will comment on this important subject now too.

If I missed anything you want to highlight, raise it. I saw my paragraph about Maggie getting things wrong with Noah and will discuss it with my reply to Kerri. I can't wait to talk about trees, with whom communication is real. "Intuitive communication" with them is similar to "animal communication"; both using our telepathic voices. Telepathy nullifies specificity of spoken languages but I don't mind buying into an author's invention. If I were picky, we would say their language is of the early native people there, unless the Welsh king's magic distributed his origins into the forest's ambiance.

Come on now, a week is a long time to wait for the joy of the cat scene to be echoed back to me. I'd be surprised if you guys didn't find it as enormously funny as I did. However, surely the gleeful mirth I conveyed in detail, came across strongly! I am looking forward to the re-enactment of my reaction to reward me by sharing it with you two!

Good to know you loved the flower scene, funny and sweet. Yes, that DNA quip was good and I love the feeling of laughing over something again and again. Even better is your quote about Guansey's shoes. I need help figuring out if Blue deems them a fashion faux-pas, which would be the funniest meaning, or if the boat shoes are expensive (doubtful) and she doesn't want to be reminded of his abundance.

Had you two heard of ley lines? I did and love the originality of a modern novel drawing from that subject. This is a good topic: this novel is relatable and funny because it is in 2012 times! It would not work the same if it weren't. Most of the joy comes from seeing that there is mystery and adventure questing for us to relish in, in our lifetime!

There are wildfires around the province of Alberta. Please pray for her people, animals, the homes of both, her trees, plants, and land. May the rain come and wind stop so the danger fizzles out. Sincerely, Carolyn and our worldwide communities.

Hi Shirin! This is my favourite entry you have written! It is expressive of your likes, dislikes, guesses, and hopes in detail; what makes reading books with you a profound pleasure! I am excited you will be back to discuss more; you are right about that. Kerri was with cousins this week and will be back soon. We see her briefly on her profile to update books, haha.

Also, Shirin, it so happens that your views echo mine precisely! Harmony with friends is a lovely feeling! Yes, that humour about Blue disliking the most popular English expression "Out of the blue" is a nice touch on giving her a personality.

My favourite part of what you wrote is: you are feeling exactly what I am, that these characters aren't descriptions on pages but LIVING their events and environments; I love that! I am going to reread short prequels of Maggie's to which I only gave three stars because of course, I could not grasp the contents. We will always remember these personages and they are realistically rounded with flaws, strengths, hopes, and the efforts we all make in between.

Haha, there is no better introduction to your discussion offering than exclaiming "oh my gosh, there is so much action now"! I love it and feel the same! You see why I had to finish, laughing in bed beside Ron late, after the first visit to the amazing trees. I have two criticisms of the novel that I would like you girls to remind me of, please when we discuss the whole novel, both about Noah. However, I love every part of this book and you see why it is a paranormal mystery instead of fantasy. Of course communicating with trees, other nature, spirits is real.

Yes, we hope nothing happens to Richard Guansey or anyone else we have come to befriend and love. Maybe Blue will choose him or Adam as a mate (she is only 16 anyway), maybe not but as Kerri & I agree and perhaps you too; romance is in the background and we love the action and mystery solving as the priority. Yes, one of the mysteries is Blue's Dad.

I freaked out when we learned about Barry killing a school friend. When you both get to the specifics of that (you'll know what I mean), tell me so we can burst out our feelings about it. It wasn't a surprise but still, I was breathless with the turning of events and drama. THIS is how you write an adventure and mystery!!!! Feelings, action, beautiful descriptions, and connections all together make a wonderfully alive, vibrant story. Not one overpowers the other, therefore we have perfection. :) Even if everyone can find criticisms in 400 pages, our pleasure and how impressed we are with the whole world and premise can have five star heights.

I understand why you like Ronan and am impressed by the detail with which you are gleaning the nuances and meaning of novels in English, Shirin. Even though I speak French and Spanish fluently, I am nowhere near like a native speaker who knows many more words. I do well on what I know but even babies books show me several words to look up. You earned that PhD, girl! I think you are saying you would prefer someone angry looking like Ronan, who at least offers his true colours; except what he wants to keep private. You likely know the common way of saying that in English: "What you see is what you get".

Shirin, was it Richard Gansey or Adam who couldn't reach peace until finding his new friends? I remember the bee nightmare but don't remember Adam in it. My Brother outgrew bee allergies I think but he stays away from wasps just in case. However, Richard Guansey (which name do you prefer?) is only 18, still a boy but doing well in a grown-up living situation. Thankfully he has parents and a Sister to visit. Also thankfully, I am not allergic to stings or anything. About three years ago, wasps stung me many times that summer and fall, hiding at our back door!

I also understand and concur that Neeve keeps herself too neutral and secretive to like very much. She does not know Maura well but needs to open up and share questions and worries with family and friends; even if it is good to be independent. Usually I know what I want and need to do but both of you ladies saw that I came to you for advice. Confirming our conclusions is helpful and reassuring too. I want everyone to be safe and might slowly develop sympathy for Neeve. I am beginning to like Calla.

My favourite scenes are the wondrous, gorgeous forest. We won't solve that king mystery, Ronan's, or Blue's in one novel and I like that there is much more to enjoy and discover. Yes, there is lots to say and marvel at together. I can't wait until the next time you each write. Love, Carolyn.

P.S. The next beautiful birds to look-up are the female & male Rosebreasted Grosbeaks. The male scouts arrived yesterday! Goldfinches are here too and purple finches have been here while there was still some snow.

Shirin, did you know that I feed whitetailed deer nightly over winter and spring? This is the last week I am giving them rolled oats, with the grass nearly all green and the forest budding leaves. I sing a supper song to them that I made up and they come to eat. :)

Sometimes we see painted turtles and that is a special treat. Frogs awoke before the last snow melted. Toads will come out of hibernation and.... black bears. :) They are nice to see but we must keep the birdfeeders indoors at night, so they keep walking through.

They are gorgeous and their fur is so polished, healthy, and well kept. Their faces are amazing and their noses are precious. We look from a window. They are peaceful and do not attack normally but we must avoid Mothers hiding children nearby.

Yes, Shirin, I saw the male oriole as soon as I finished on the computer with you! Oh yes, they are a gorgeous electric orange. Orange is the colour of most of our babies. Now the hummingbirds take turns with them to drink but Ron & I place two birdfeeders of honey and water far apart.

Also, because I keep plants indoors every night it starts to get cold, they live all winter. We empty the soil into the flowerbed when they are done, or put them back out in the spring if plants are still going. This year, three flowerboxes are still green and are back outside; two of them are two years-old. For the first time, four of our plants are still blooming with flowers after living indoors all winter! The hummingbirds are pleasantly surprised to find flowers already in Manitoba to taste, not just the birdfeeder supply.

Hummingbirds can be in the city, if there is green space with trees. You only need to put out birdfeeders for them and you will see them through windows.

Yes, the thing about travelling is making sure you get a good deal, fair treatment, and no one assumes you are rich. I would bring you with me, or ask in advance what things should cost and hand servers that amount firmly, like I know what I am doing.

Too bad prices are good where we are not allowed to go but you can guess the theory on that. Old secret archives, natural magical places in these countries, which is why they fight and dissuade foreigners from visiting. Katherine Neville's "The Magic Circle" only discusses that mysterious region a little but it is intriguing.

Shirin, please don't finish the novel before sharing reactions again. This is the chance to give individual opinions in progress, instead of abbreviating a whole review. What did you think of the chapters and revelations you recently read? :)

Hi Shirin, I see you were writing your contribution as I was working on my second book conversation entry. Nice timing!

A correction about currencies. When someone says "the dollar", we specify which one. Canada has her own dollars. I think you mean American ones. I don't have their dollars anymore than you do and would covert the same as anyone. If the *Canadian* dollar is good in Iran, that is nice news! I would of course love to go. We are worth .75c compared to the USA right now but we often rise higher and have sometimes outweighed them. I am touched you deem me suited to archaeology and geology.

It is interesting you like Ronan best. My favourite is Adam but I like Richard Gansey a lot. Noah is a sweetheart too but hard to know directly. I dislike personalities reacting with anger but I know Ronan is kind and loyal. Of the women, I am contrary. I like Persephone least because it is annoying if authors keep describing someone as using "a quiet voice". Just speak up! Anyone with their abilities should be firm and confident. Calla is too bitchy and Neeve is too sly but they are fun.

I am glad you love the humour and could see it in the scenes I laughed about, Shirin! I did not wake Ron to tell about about the novel. He awoke from my laugher! He was glad to see me happy, as long as I didn't have the lamp on much longer. Also, our cat wanted to come in the covers but there was no room while I was reading. When I put the book away, finally she could rest under them with us.

I remember and enjoy the part you found funny too, how fast and smart these boys are, right? Thank you for reiterating that when Richard Gansay joked "No pets", Ronan retorted "Too bad about Noah"! :)

Shirin, I wonder if you were clear that Richard Gansey wrote the journal. Barry was just their school teacher of Latin, who was acting like an ass by listening to the boys' conversations. I love the way Blue liked Richard better after she learned that he was a passionate journal writer. It is easier to appreciate a person who shows sensitivity of emotions and great interest in whatever they love.

Until I know where you and Kerri have reached, I dare not tell you how right you are about things. You will love the discoveries you make! :) You said when we planned our reading that you have the second novel and I am glad you could obtain it easily. I have a few used places to check, otherwise Amazon.ca has it at a good price of $14.00 CDN.

Speaking of birds, two summer visitors have arrived and our winter guests have flown back south. Believe it or not, southeastern Manitoba equals "going south" for some northern birds. We hear the Baltimore Orioles but have not seen those pretty orange feathers yet! I see my first hummingbirds, with their lovely reds and greens. I melted honey and water for their birdfeeders and have seen the hummingbird enjoying it. I think I will see the orioles today. We often see ravens and crows. :)

I will contribute basic replies to Kerri's input as well as the hilarity above this message, so that she has the pleasure that comes from people answering whatever we share and muse. :)

Yes, I echo being glad Shirin suggested starting with "The Raven Boys". For loving it, maybe I will better tolerate "Shiver", which I did not know contains werewolves. I would not have continued past the ugly first Kay Scarpetta novel, if I hadn't tried Patricia Cornwell's smaller series opener. If neither of you expects to get "Lament" soon, I might read it this summer.

I will try to wait until September to see the fruit our next book shopping trips yield but Amazon.ca (the Canadian warehouse) is priced okay on a new trade paperback of "The Dream Thieves". I think I have the third and looked in our library building for more of Maggies books, which has none. That means if there are copies behind the front books, they are likeliest to be in this office. I'll look. I did not used to have double stacks but it is better than towers on the floor.

Kerri, I love what you proposed: if a caring, fair Mom like Maura withheld details, there was a valid reason. That is intuitive and considerate of you. I always think we should know everything about our arrival into the world but perhaps trickier information is wisely eked out at the right intervals, starting at Blue's age. It seems like learning more than a little is reserved for the stories ahead.

Adam certainly had a terrible home life. I understand more than anyone need say in public how hard it is to involve authorities with loved-ones. In my family, you know there was a medical issue that was fixed and that the incident was unremembered. Adam's Dad is *an abusive person* who was not going to get better unless forced to learn a new way of thinking and reacting. Adam had the hard decision of giving-up his Mom along with home. She unfortunately not only did not think her husband deserved to be arrested but was unenlightened enough to think Adam was lacking a code of honour, if he reported Robert to make the abuse stop.

I don't think Ronan has a hard home life but is going through a hard thing, losing his Dad and according to Calla's intuition, knowing about a factor in the death. Ronan's freedom and guardianship is lax, shared by his best friend and Brother. Declan is understandably frustrated with him and his Mom too unwell at the moment to run their family. Yes, Ronan was a sweet caregiver despite drinking alcohol. It seems the uniqueness of him that Calla detected will be in the story of the next novel.

Ron has read some of our CS Lewis boxset but I have not. Yes, it is funny about being burdened with certain names. The most famous example is the song "A Boy Named Sue" by Johny Cash. Barrington is an asshole and when we learn his motive, it is no excuse. The past revelations adjacent to him will blow your minds, worse than nasty shit that occurs in our timeline. I can't imagine the stress of a family losing money to live well. That is more poignant than being rich and then working to get by like the average family. However, no motive was understandable to me.

You pleasantly surprised me by saying the same thing I noticed, Kerri. If a love triangle emerged, we like all the people enough not to mind and romance is kept way at the bottom of the focus. For once, an authoress is keeping the mystery and adventure first!

Hi Kerri & Shirin! I will delve more into whatever you add, after Shirin writes again. As highlights of my own, I will tell you what made me laugh so ecstatically the night before Ron went to work, hee hee. He reassured me in the morning that he was well rested, thank goodness. There is another funny part much later that does not give away information, therefore I am eager to share that too. What have you guys found funny? Maybe it is only my humour being delighted but let me know what you think.

Blue was outside with Calla, the most grumpy of the women. Blue spending time with her is what allowed me to like Calla. Up comes a delivery truck with an unusually chipper sign "Flowers By Ali!". Where else but North America would we would an exclamation point on our business name? Too cute, right? So I am grinning at this, when the funniest thing I have ever heard comes next. "Up the sidewalk came the world's smallest floral arrangement"!!!! It was ONE carnation with ONE baby's breath flower!!!!

Oh my gosh, that set me off crying with laughter for 20 minutes, because I reread it and kept thinking in detail about everything behind that flower order! Can you picture someone placing that humble order? "Hi, what is the minimum flower order that you can make?" I was aready roaring before Calla added "The delivery must have cost more than the flowers"! The poor guy wanted the smallest arragement possible just to send something. I went on to picture the open package and a brain wrapping around it containing ONE carnation and ONE baby's breath flower.

The other funny scene drove me into hysterics too but I didn't keep rereading it or picturing it as many times, so that these hysterics were kept more brief and less dramatic. Also, I had just cleaned my reading glasses, haha but I found this scene JUST as hilarious. Blue takes a phone message at her friends' apartment. This is already delighting me as the personal kind of segue that Kerri said she enjoys too but here is where I went crazy with laughter.

"She took closest piece of paper on Gansey's desk. It looked like calculus homework or something. However, he had already doodled a cat attacking a man on it, so she figured it was safe to use"! Hahaha! A cat attacking a man? That is too good for a lot of reasons.

How awsesome does anyone's humour or bored creativity have to be, to think of that as a subject? I can picture a crudely drawn man going "Ahh!" with outflung arms and a cute simple cat hanging from his chest. It also shows that Gansey is just a boy, no matter how refined and mature. Maybe I am too, come to think of it, to be in stitiches over such simple things.

It gets even funnier a few pages later, when Blue hands over the phone message! Oh man, after quite some drastic happenings as Kerri put it well, it felt great to burst out with laughter. "This guy called, Blue said. She held up the piece of paper where she'd jotted his name. The place she had written it made it look like the doodled cat was calling it out"! Can't you picture a dialogue bubble like in the comics and the cat announce a phonecaller by name?

Oh, this imagination was so good! Oh my gosh, that was even more hilarious to me. Once again, I stopped myself from guffawing and tearing up too hysterically, to keep my glasses clean and my reading pace going. But I reread this several times as it was. I hope the two of you see the humour that tickled me so awesomely. :-) Your friend, Carolyn.

Hi Shirin! Kerri visited me in the "Music" thread where I was sadly talking about the passing of Gordon Lightfoot, whom you might know if you like Leonard Cohen. She ran out of time to discuss the book before bedtime. I wish she had said which chapter she was in but will tell us when it is evening in our countries.

I apologize for mentioning a part you had not reached. Thankfully, there is nothing so far except Ronan finding a raven and caring for her. He did not say where or why but like me, probably could not find a safe way to return her to a nest. Thank you, Shirin. I cried about my failures to help those babies but learned a little better each time.

Adam lives in his family's house and we read those hints early that his Dad hit him. Yes, they are low income but I think through three jobs, Adam sends himself to the private school. Is this author actually available in Farsi? It is neat to know which language you use each time. I know other languages but seldom read books in them since school. It is hard to absorb the numerous nuances and vocabulary words outside our native language, even if we are fluent, isn't it!

Noah is the third boy living with Dick Gansey and Ronan and we don't know whence he comes yet. I don't think he goes to school with them in Aglionby.

Yes, Shirin, in old Middle Eastern stories I think your homeland is magical, except these stories are less well known to us. I hope to find them. However, if you can, read the long novel "The Magic Circle" by Katherine Neville. She is the only author I know of who researches multiple cultures as deeply as Andrew Davidson of "The Gargoyle". Oh my gosh, the important places that are suppose to be around Iran are crazy, makes me want to fly and explore those mountains with you now!

Oh, I love the story of treasure hunting with your Cousins, Shirin! Is there a book, legend, or show that sparked your interest? You were very creative too, with you map! You would have loved the movie "Goonies" as a child, like all of us did in the 1980s.

Did I tell you, if I did not love writing and reading; I think my other calling might be to be an archaeologist or geologist? I love stones, I love artifacts and history preserved in time, and I love touching and seeing the physical trials of living beings from the past. I was also born with an ease of language. My parents said I started earlier than any baby we have heard of, even to this day. The ancient sites and geological formations you could show me around Iran would be a dream come true. Someday when it is safe from warring, take me there, okay?

Wow, Shirin, I was just guessing the same thing about Blue's Father! I think he is going to become more important than the hints that were made! I wondered if he was the Irish Dad of Ronan, Declan, and the other because Ronan is different. When Maura and Neeva say they are looking for someone, he must be alive and of course Maura knows him.

That bitter school teacher, Barry is interesting. He used to be a raven boy but his parents financially crashed. Now he is there as a teacher and wanted a psychic reading from Maura, Clara, and Persephone. But they were shaken-up whatever they detected in him and asked him to leave. They would not do that if he was related in any way to Blue's Dad. What happened on his boyhood quest for the Virginia ley lines that was bad?

Hm, I am thinking about Blue's Dad. He might be someone of influence who is not giving money to his family. However, I doubt he lives in Henrietta. It would be wrong to not let Blue acquaint him and Maura would not need to search for him. Another good question is, why she is searching now that their Daughter is about 16 years-old?

Okay, I want to reassure you, my friends, to read as far as you want; even finish the novel if you are excited to do it. I woke Ron in bed last night, for laughing so hard about how funny one scene was and stayed up late! I hope you aren't disappointed that I reached chapter 25. I didn't discuss anything here. Shirin, I am having a lot of fun with the nice, long conversation you have us this morning! Replying to it was enough of an entry from me until you both proceed more.

I probably won't be able to help finishing this novel tonight, so feel free to do likewise! I have at least one other volume but of course, we will read them in sequence. I will relate the funny part later. I actually laughed so hard, tears wet my face, pillow, and I had to clean my glasses. I laughed so long, I awoke Ron and took a good 20 minutes to stop laughing and rereading that part! I am enjoying myself thoroughly. I dislike Barry the teacher but his chapters are short. Everything else is a treat. Your friend, Carolyn.

My dear Kerri, thank you for honouring a great person, Dad, wife, artist, animal lover, nature, and Canadian with me.

Did you see message #15, my original post? I mention that I got extra invested in Gordon recently, more than before, while working on the music project for you? I don't know which greatest hits you have but let me know. You have had 53 songs waiting to be sent to you with your memory stick! :-) I am glad you already like him.

It is good you heard of Gordon Lightfoot. I wonder where you saw the news about him? He is a big Canadian deal and I guess people didn't connect him with me, nor did I expect to feel shattered. I have been preparing all music I have on hand for you, including downloading all of his album covers. You will love it and I certainly know the studio albums I want to buy. I hope you do download a YouTube file converter, which are easy to use and send me whatever you download.

Then I suddenly saw Gordon's book months later at that sale and was thrilled to sit down to his TV special. I didn't wonder why they aired it on May 3, two days after sad news. My family & I drove past Orillia, Ontario in 2009. :) Thank you for answering a heartfelt post, Kerri. I needed to share this with someone. Love, Carolyn.