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

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

Hi Kerri! Happy Father's day, Dad figures of the world! Including mine, whom I have phoned, Ron to our kitties, and McCartney to our second generation of kitties.

We worried about Marigold, so I delayed message #5 impressions. I will continue those early ones, followed by later chapters. Between a pill with our usual care yesterday and fluids and rest this morning, with some encouraging hints; Ron & I feel certain Marigold has what she needs to be set to rights again.

Kerri, please take the lead to continue our conversation. I will reply to message #5 soon. I am done the book too, so please delight me with whatever comes to mind.

Thank you for your lovely e-mail this morning, with well-wishes for McCartney, as well as in my "Carolyn" member folder. He had a great celebration and is lounging in the livingroom sun today.

You, Shirin, Leeanne, and any member is welcome to create your own folder and post whatever you like. News of your countries, yourself, or favourite things would be enthralling to me.

Ron & I worked to replant some garden rows and pots and I must plant the flowerbaskets while he is at work. I fell asleep after only starting the foreward and Maud's introduction. I guess folks called her Maud instead of Lucy. But it was striking that there were a lot of impressions to have even then, didn't you think so

She goes on and on about what a strong island life is Prince Edward Island, where you can't get away from seeing or feeling the water. Why did not that convey to her novels, even these red roads, only mentioned as Anne et al left for Nova Scotia? It sounded like my prairie province actually. If no one fished, which I wouldn't like anyway, surely there are certain birds, animals, and temperatures typical to islands. I guess all she wrote about were beautiful trees, lakes, flowers, and chores; neutral everywhere.

I avoided hearing any details about Maud and only caught wind that she lost her parents young. I was relieved that the beginning includes a strong sense of family and heritage ties going back a ways, that is well-known to her.

I love that she cares about helping writers navigate the terrain of success in this do-it-yourself field. We should copy her poem here, for it really does inspire one, in any field of our dreams.

These are my impressions and while you are an absolute ace at replying to other people, I look forward to being surprised with your observations as well! :)

We are grateful Marigold is eating, mobile, happy, and here on Earth with us! She gets picky meal moments, where perhaps toxins not cleaned well enough by kidneys feel unsettling, or low red blood cells. Some habits are a little off but I would sleep high up, if I were unsure you wanted to snuggle or give medical care. Marigold lounges, explores, plays close to the house, and regenerates from laying against the Earth. No surprise this turned out to be an energy healing technique.

We are very grateful for and proud of our McCartney too! Here he is at twenty-one years old, without ailments or pills. He can do with athritits supplements, when manufactuerers make them smaller, chewy, and tasty.

We took wonderful photographs together and stayed close to McCartney around home. We sing "Happy Birthday" a few times, starting at midnight of a birthday. I will tell him he has received well-wishes from New Zealand, Kerri! He is happy to know he received them from Ontario and Iran and of course Dad.

We don't take our health for granted. We are so grateful that our McCartney & Marigold keep on living happily and well. May Angel & Petal continue to be well and Conan come home soon too. Summer, my birthday month, and Jesus's, are for smiling! :-)

The cats & I started a Canadian cat trivia book yesterday evening, for McCartney's special birthday! I will switch to Lucy's book tonight.

I imagine a birthday well wish from his Aunt Kerri in New Zealand is coming one way or another. :) That day of turning twenty-one has been here, with Marigold to share it! We miss Spirit like crazy. I got a photo with his portrait in the background and others with Lovey's portrait, of the four kitties relaxing in the bedroom.

Ron helped us take our annual portraits with the birthday boy outdoors too, always with a proper digital camera. We always ensure there are some professional quality portraits. And all of the cats savoured the treat of different foods! I will take more photos if the cats ramble around nearby, when they go out later today. Warmly, Carolyn.

😍😍🌻🌼

Thank you, dear Shirin and Leeanne! I will tell McCartney, with whom Ron & I are going outdoors to take digital camera photographs, that two of Momma's friends wish him happy birthday today! Being twenty-one is wonderful for a cat and promising for the future! Yes, we are blessed that Marigold is feeling great and sharing this day, too.

When I find her and Angel (Petal is asleep), I will snap photgraphs of them with McCartney too! I will tell my Dad that you wish him well also. With gratitude for all, Carolyn and my family.

Please join Kerri & I, Carolyn, to read Lucy Maud Montgomery's autobiography and reflection on her writing life.

Dad's recovery is not easy and we hope that clears out soon. However, it is important that he be cancer free and he is. Marigold is still here too, another miracle answered prayer. I am grateful because today is a special day.

It is McCartney's twenty-first birthday! We are grateful for our proud dear Siamese and love him very much! The cats including Marigold, shared tuna bisque catfood with him just now. Something new and fun occasionally keeps her interested in their regular food. Everyone but our indoor preferring McCartney is prancing outdoors. He is free to step out for munches of grass, sun, and fresh air too. He likes knowing the door is available to go back inside when he wants.

Spirit, whom we miss like crazy on this milestone day (and for his birthday next month) shook off his apartment childhood easier than McCartney. However, you don't need to be far from our front and back doors to see the birds, including turkeys, deer, and occasional painted turtle and black bear.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, OUR DEAR, ADORABLE McCARTNEY! Love, Momma, Ron, Marigold, Angel, Petal, Conan, and with light & love from Spirit, Lovey, and Grandma.

Yes I know you are rushing onward. I try not looking at your number so I am not bumbed out by that! I chuckle to myself "Maybe focusing on e-mail will slow her down and allow us to be at an even pace again". I started out with a few more books this year and it is too bad my pace had to drop. But you know the year this has been in more ways than Spirit's ascension in January.

We can start "The Alpine Path" tonight if you like. It is funny, I chose "Bathroom Book Of Cat Trivia" as one of my closing books for the Canadian reading challenge of my friend, Shonna's, that ends this month. I momentarily forgot about Lucy Maud Montgomery and was wondering this morning, what thin book would do well. Haha!

The thin healing one I started last night, "Your Body's Telling You: Love Yourself!" is a manual listing problems. I might ask Shonna if I can count it if I read the written descriptions besides the list of problems, only looking-up a few that pertain to our family. The root causes and advice are repetitive after awhile.

I am replying to the wonderful, personal part in my own group folder. Please find a celebratory entry there!

Yes, society could assume marriage and parenthood until recent decades. I never thought I would be common-law and Mom to cats but not humans. However, I am happy with that and don't see where we would fit kids in this small house. The property having a few acres is what appealed to us. We intended to marry traditionally and are formally engaged but in no rush. Getting your bearings after a house and property purchase takes the average income years. Meanwhile, relationships can dip out & back into bliss. Now, I don't feel like having a wedding and children my Mom is not here for.

It is fun to not know where Anne, Gilbert, Marissa, and Diana's will take us. I thought reading "The Alpine Path" after the three most classic books was ideal. I don't suppose it will spoil anything of the next three, having come soon after them, I think. And we will read them having a little insight to bolster the experience, don't you think?

I root for characters passionately, even if not aloud. That is what makes "completionists" like me; wanting to collect everything more there is with them, after I am a fan. In music, I must go after every album and single too; an author, every oeuvre, related or not. I reread as a child but am blessed with amassing too large a reading queue to do it. I will refresh myself on spiritual energy healing pages and other skills I learn. I will also revisit stories I read prior to about age 25, that I do not remember.

I let you know important stuff in e-mail. Dad came out of surgery okay. Marigold surpassed the doctor's estimate Friday and is all right too! We are going to stay on top of kidney cleansing and assisting food and treatments, paired with energy medicine, accupressure, and prayer. Something is working, thank goodness!

My reading slowed. It is gardening season and suddenly hot. We were 38 C, 100 F on Friday! A little less yesterday. A couple of weeks prior we had -3 C one night. That is Manitoba as spring turns to summer. I have treated myself to a little TV. When I go to bed, usually the only place I read, I just get cozy and sleep. I have most of our flowers to plant, thus this is not the period to sneak in reading by day.

I will get back to my reading roster tonight and know next week when to fit "The Alpine Path". A nice, thin book in the last month of the Canadian reading challenge.

Good morning, group members! My friend, Shonna runs the Canadian reading theme at her blog with Canada Day, July 1, as the start date. That means we are entering the last month and I see how many more Canadian books I can include. I think I will read Lucy Maud Montgomery's autobiography, "The Alpine Path" in the next week. Please let me know if you have it and are interested in reading along with me.

I ask for prayers for my dear Dad, for cancer surgery this Monday. He is giving up a bladder so that he can continue life on Earth. He has a very good attitude about it. My Mom & dear cat Spirit, are proud of Dad and will watch over him. Your friend, Carolyn.

Shirin, thank you for your care. I wanted to share the worry so friends know what we are going through. Let's continue in e-mail.

We have the Royal Canin foods for kidney disease. We believe in serving dry food as treats. Food is only maintenance. My first childhood cat had this at age 20, not age 10 when Marigold was diagnosed last year.

We are trying to help remove the toxins, cleanse and preserve her kidneys from overworking. There is a special herb capsule blend coming by mail, she has medicine, and I have started giving sub-cutaneous fluids.

For a miracle, I appreciate prayers from caring friends like you. I add energy medicine and acupressure that I am learning too.

I hope friends respond to laying Spirit to rest yesterday. It was a major day, sensitive. We make sure he is still talked about. Today is Mother's Day and I identify that way with them. Happy Mother's Day to offspring and animal Moms! Love, Carolyn.

I see we both gave the novel five stars. Is there anything you would like to discuss about "Hide And Seek"? Along with any subjects or favourite parts you add, I think it would be fun to describe why this is a five-star story or mystery for us.

On a personal note: we laid our Spirit to rest 2 hours ago. The ground thawed enough lately and we planned everything we wanted to say and do, with all of our other cats in attendance of Spirit's service with us.

On a shockingly sad note: we are told that Marigold is in stage 4 kidney disease and doctors expect her to only survive the toxins poor function leaves in a body, for 1 month. This again, 3 1/2 months after Spirit! Well, we are going to fight this with a combination of the very best we can do with western medicine, prayers, faith, and the energy medicine types of aura and other healing I began studying with our precious Spirit. We are warned about Marigold but we do not give up.

We are giving her a wonderful Mother's Day tomorrow. She is Mom to everyone except McCartney & Spirit: Angel, Petal, Conan (missing), and our late Love (ascended in 2014). Photos, good memories, happy times. If we receive a miracle of bonus time and health: we accept it gratefully and gleefully! Your friend, Carolyn.

Hi Shirin,

It looks like you are finished the novel. Instead of new progress notes, I can see what you think of it. To answer your previous question about if people getting close quickly is realistic: do you mean peers and friends generally, or did you refer to romantic relationships? I don't know if you meant who John was dating. You might be circling back to my comment about Tracey's role confusing us. Yes, you can make friends and boyfriends fast sometimes, if the people and situation are open to it.

If you referred to Tracey, the introduction of tears over the addict's panicked behaviour indicated a married couple. It did not resemble someone who only knew the person by first name because they slept in the same empty street of houses. The narrator wrote that when he pushed her outside, "someone always let her in, whenever he did this". The narration also said that Tracey allowed herself to cry "this time", as if this were a long committed relationship. It does not match the superficial acquaintances they prove to be later. I wonder if Ian drafted them to be a couple and did not correct the introduction, when he made role changes.

Yes, dog-fighting was bad enough but separate. Ian used a lot of short plots to through us off the trail, including the cult idea. We find at the end that it is about causing drug-hungry people to offer sex in cars, through two-way windows, and boxing for the entertainment of the wealthy in a dirty secret club.

I like the way Ian fooled us. I don't think he wasted time on the "red herrings", the trails that went nowhere, like the photographer. I do not think he wasted time on them but entertained us until he got onto the right track. It would realistically take time. I love the new officer and his girlfriend.

Do you like the ending? Do you think it is realistic that criminals would get away with that illegal, dangerous club, just because they were public figures in public government jobs and other places? Tony was not a criminal after all but he knew about "Hyde's". His addicted brother visited it.

I am glad to have your update, Shirin. I will give you a little time before I write more. There might be something you want to reply to in message #2. When I wrote it, you avoided looking at it too much until you got further in the novel. Thursday is quite far along! Yes, I am relieved the plot line is not about cult evil, or such fealty to religions that it is cult-like.

When you have a moment to catch-up on message #2, I will enjoy contributing to all of the great topics you are adding here. I love having your perspective, so that I understand the stories better, myself. And to have great memories of trying Ian Rankin out and becoming his fan with you. Your friend, Carolyn.

Hi Leeanne! I am so glad you continued a book discussion that has a lot to enjoy and say about it. I hope everyone knows that they should not come to a stop when I have begun reading or discussing another book.

I am always happy to hear fresh ideas, indeed am hungry for them, whether or not I understand at first try. It is stimulating to have something new to me, to think about; which is what I hope I bring other people. It is why we have conversations in person, letters, by phone, and on-line: to delight in what we have in common or impart something new to each other. I never seek debates deliberately, which is why I have trouble with people like my middle brother and Dad. If I get the sense someone debates kindly and openly, in an informed way; then I am comfortable disagreeing and seeing if there is wiggle room for people to see things the way I do.

I think the way I summarize what I believe you are saying, Leeanne, is that you yourself wanted Anne & Gilbert united at the right time, with the right kind of relationship. But you were eager for the book to reach where they eventually belonged? If I don't have it right, I am all ears.

It makes me happy when people remember things I share about myself, like having built such a blessed collection, I need to aim towards reading the rich library Ron & I have. No one may call us hoarders because we use our books, as you would stockpiled groceries and supplies. We with keen attentions and minds might not realize how rare it might be. I always remember what people tell me about themselves because I look forward to learning it. Well, one of my best in-person friends whom I wouldn't trade with all my heart, multitasks terribly, or has ADD. She does not retain what you say and you can see her glancing elsewhere. This, before the advent of carrying cell phones that are also e-mail and text-messaging (for all but we two flip-phone carries of voicemail only). I treasure those who care to pay attention to getting to know me. :)

I have thought of a less prude sounding way for me to express what you and I agree on, Leeanne, is this. In the olden days, marriage was taken too casually. Nowadays, sex is taken too casually and marriage reserved almost for impossible standards. Or the equivalent of marriage, such as my common-law union of 21 years this summer. :-)

I see too that similar to me, you presume even better Anne books are the sequels coming forward? I sure do feel excitement about them because we have no prediction about what they will be like! We imagine they will contain marriage, parenthood, and house-building or house-buying but everything else is a mystery and I look forward to seeing what their adult adventures will be.

As soon as you quoted the first line about Marilla, I remembered it. Thank you for remiding me. I loved it too. I can't picture life before or without all of the dear cats I have had, who are our equivalent to children. And my life is brightened too, by you friends at a little and larger distance. Yours warmly, Carolyn.

Hi Shirin, only one person is poisoned so far; no sign of a serial killer. There is only the need of people who know something about him, including police investigators, to be careful. The whole novel seems to be about why one crime took place, which I like.

No, we don't like to read of a serial killer. I favour serious "standard mystery" like this and sometimes "cozy mystery" but not "thriller / horror". There is only a hint of the occult so far. I am glad you note the difference between obsessive practices and actual spirituality like paganism and wicca. You introduce a good conversation topic that I did not yet because my reading entry was long.

I love non-traditional spirituality and also the paranormal but never evil things. It seems that what makes things evil or fanatical is obsession with rules and tradition. That way, one is religious or fanatical but misses the heart of spirituality. When people kill in the name of a religion, they lacked understanding in the love and faith at the centre of it. If a thriller novel is about the occult, it would disturb me, because you know a person is justifying evil acts in their mind.

I think the word "occult" was used because our author knew nothing about the subject. I sensed naivety when that student, Charlie, whom readers thought was a homeless squatter, was a university student. It is naive to believe an expert on paganism and wicca needed to sought at a university. There are pagans and wiccans in every country where there is freedom of religion; viewed harshly by traditional religions.

An author must gain a lot of information and knowledge in researching their wide variety of stories. What we take for granted as common knowledge now was less known decades ago but farther in the past than 1990! That was recent. It is when I graduated from high school! :) Anyway, I like it best when a crime mystery has nothing to do with the investigator, so that I as a reader feel more safe. We will both be relieved if the novel is not as evil as we thought.

I can't tell if Tracy is meant to be an unreliable character, or if Ian did not establish her clearly. In the beginning, it sounded like she was the wife of Ronnie who yelled "hide" or "Hyde"; crying as if she had been affected personally by his rants. I wonder if you were shocked, Shirin, when we discovered that she was only a girl who had visited or shared an empty house with him over 6 months and did not know his last name, or much about him.

Also, the beginning of the novel described "calvinists", another type of religion, putting a teenager's body into a hole at a construction site and pouring cement to hide it. I have seen nothing about a missing teenager or calvinists, therefore there is more to learn. I look forward to hearing more of your thoughts as you go along. Of course you can look at my posts closely when you have reached "Friday". Does your novel have no chapter numbers either? In which language are you reading Ian Rankin?

Yes, we love John like usual: his kindness towards everyone and his passion for books! Haha, I laughed too, that he bought books instead of clothes for a party. Especially, since he was not much interested in that party nor in that brief girlfriend.

I always hope my friends will go first, so there is no way notes only reply to me. Please don't hold back on giving me all of your ideas and impressions, Shirin, even though I am writing first. :)

I remember the nice feeling we shared in common of loving John Rebus right away. It came back immediately in this sequel, too. I think we have to acclimitize ourselves to entirely different supporting personages because he is not dating the same woman, nor working with the same police. It is fun to watch John communicate and work with anyone. His thoughts about a life that is not perfect are relatable and funny.

My omnibus of 3 novels, "Rebus: The Early Years" does not have chapters, does your book? I am 60 pages from the end in the heading entitled "Friday". I will stay general enough, that my pondering should not spoil wherever you are in the story, Shirin.

I love that he has been promoted from a constable to an inspector and now leads crime investigations. Obviously, he has a new chief inspector, because the predecessor lost his son in the first novel and we are grateful John's Daughter is safe. Samantha Rebus has not visited in this novel so far but I prefer less talk about divorces and ex-spouses.

The crime is thankfully is not so disturbing as taking or killing children. Addiction is a subject that interests me, since I am dealing with it (pertaining to alcoholism) in my family. Besides containing a crime of course, I find this whole novel much more pleasant and easier to enjoy. Maybe life is lighter for John. He only needs to pay attention to doing his job. He is not juggling emotions about his Dad or Brother, nor being stuck doing "grunt work" (an expression that means small jobs no one likes). I am happy to see John as an inspector who can delegate leg work to other officers. He is not shy about taking charge in his new role. In many series, authors too long portray their characters are struggling and not achieving what they want to.

The crime is not personal at all. It doesn't involve anyone he knows. Of course, John's kind personality shows care for everyone: victims, families and friends, the young, the poor, the elderly, the fearful.

I distrust Tony. I make a guess that he is guilty of a crime. It does not matter if one neighbourhood is usually the district where you work. If another officer takes a case there, you leave him or her in charge of it. Tony appears at the crime scene too much. Later, we learn that his brother is one of the three wealthy men investing in the new chief's anti-drug strategy for Edinborough.

One of the three rich men committed suicide. Was it embarrassment for being seen in the car by John, on the hill where people pay for sex from poor, drug-addicted boys? Was that man involved in another crime? Was his death a suicide?

I will close my pondering with the question you & I have anticipated, Shirin: do we pick up any similarities to "The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde"? The novel and character are mentioned halfway through but I have not thought about this question yet.

I got a lot of reading done in one night, fortunately, therefore my notes about "Hide & Seek" are numerous. However, I am happy to find that with Ian Rankin, I can't help reading on! There is no slow or boring place that creates a pause! A lot like Anne Perry's stories, which also balance the personal lives of characters with their investigating work; the interest and action keep us reading, doesn't it!

Here is our buddy-reading conversation about "Hide & Seek"! Ian Rankin's theme of his first 3 novels, which he did not recognize as mysteries, draws from Robert Louis Stevenson also of Edinborough. This title comes from an early line in "The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde". It reads: "If you be Mr. Hyde, I shall be Mr. Seek!" With this 1886 quotation, Shirin & I begin reading this 1990 book! Your hostess, Carolyn.