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

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

I am on standard central time and it is now the morning of April 7th in my country, too. However, unless I am busy with cleaning and a little cooking I'd like to do today and catching-up on writing book reviews, I might make a little more progress with "Written In Stone". I usually don't juggle-read and my official reading time is before sleep, as I shared. :)

A nice thing about wintertime is that the early sunset lets you sneak into bed early without looking lazy. Too often, I fall asleep too soon to cover the pages I had planned. There is little TV for Ron & I in the spring and summer. Right now, "The Voice" is on Mondays and "The Curse Of Oak Island" Sundays. I guess networks did our book collections a favour, when they ended "The Big Bang Theory", "Modern Family", and "Schitt's Creek". However, there should be a new "Star Trek Picard" or "Star Trek Discovery" later this year!

Yes, Ron & I love our wildlife. With some below 0 C temperatures forecast at the end of this week and snow, I am glad he bought two more bags of oats from a feed store in the city. The winter birds seem to have left, light the gloriously , pretty pine grosbeaks, dear red poles, and adorable pine siskins.

One pine grosbeak sweetheart who got killed striking our window, is going to be laid to rest with Spirit, as well as a junko for the same reason. Usually a window kills or not right away. I attended to the junko for 4 hours, thinking he needed to recuperate and felt sad when he died. They both have a highly honoured place to go!

The junkos and black birds who are here now are long season birds, arriving earlier than those who will herald summer. They can handle snow on the ground and eating dry, left over seeds on plants but we pamper them with good meals.

Ladies, feel free to lead Robert Louis Stevenson conversations. I offer the reassurance that we should use chapter headings and write what comes to mind, without reservation. If we are behind and don't want chapters spoiled, we won't read ahead. In this way, no one withholds great conversations and personal reactions. I look forward to sharing this classic discovery with two friends who are going into it with no knowledge, like I am !

Hi ladies! It is nice to hear from each of you in our corners of our world! Out of curiousity, what are your reading habits? I read almost entirely in bed. By day, I write reviews and catch up on e-mails or business on computer.

Off computer, I am cleaning the house and next month, will be attending to our yard as well. I have been home based since we moved to the country but always have a huge list of things to do. My goal is to write and my city "make do" temp jobs were not worth travelling for. Of course I spend time with and take care of our cats by day. Then other seasonal wildlife by day or evening.

Ron feeds the white-tailed deer oats in the evening. If he will be late, I do. He refills our main "T-bar area" birdfeeders at night. When black bear season returns in about a month, he will keep the birdfeeders in our workshop overnight (the small end of the "library" building). He will set them out before work. They are at the west, well lit front of our house by our driveway.

About 3 years ago, I added a plastic picnic table my parents gave me when they moved. A place to feed birds on our house's east side, gives us the pleasure of seeing birds from our room and kitchen windows. Ron doesn't have time for the darker east before work, so I sprinkle food there later. Wild turkies have returned, who partake of both sides.

I started "Written In Stone" by Ellery Adams while giving you both a chance to respond. I am lucky enough to converse with her at Goodreads occasionally and have wanted to return to her writers' club series. Her main character is special for being a gorgeous heroine at 40. We don't see that enough. She is also wealthy, which is fun to watch. We see too many characters struggling. Olivia Limoge's black standard poodle dog is so sweet, even I love "Captain Haviland".

How about we work at what we are reading today and tonight and start our buddy reading on April 7, in each of our countries? I looked-up that Scottish book of yours, Shirin; a new one that looks good. Kerri, you sure are on a Neil Gaiman kick. I might treat myself to more of Olivia's & Haviland's story by day if I can. Whether I am finished it or not, I look forward to turning to "The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde" with you both tomorrow! Your friend, Carolyn.

Shirin, Kerri, and every interested friend: I am keen to read this Scottish classic horror / science fiction novel the evening that I have heard both of you are ready. It is short and I want to be in synch on making observations, as much as possible, while our reading is in progress. If we should finish it in a day or night, so be it but let that be the sole reason for not writing mid-book notes.

Let's share as many impressions as we can, each morning or evening at the computer. I read at night and write updates in the morning. We only have one chance as our first time, to react and make guesses about how this story will go.

I am so due to read this masterpiece that informed a world of references and analogies, I am even unsure of what its genre, or combined genre is. It is time to join the millions of generations of fans and scholars and know for ourselves, isn't it! Warmly, Carolyn.

In Canada, our regions are called "provinces". For example, my province is Manitoba and its capital city is Winnipeg. Ah, I have never been to Yukon Territory or the Northwest Territories (two exceptions to "provinces"). So, we have diamonds there and one of the largest! That is wonderful! I will look up Diavik mine.

I saw photographs of your world's largest water cave! Oh my gosh, it is beautiful! It might surpass Carlsbad Caverns in Arizona, in splendour and size. I also noticed a place where Iran has two 5th Century inscriptions and another nice cave near that! I guess if a place is cold like our north, or politically complicated like your land, it is no wonder such precious natural wonders are preserved from excess tourists. It is nice that they are kept pristine but I would like to visit all of them.

All the mining was before I was born and before my parents met. Yes, Mom is a great person and Mother. I use preset-tense because after all, she is still my Mom and she still exists; simply in a way I cannot see. The same of course, applies to our precious Spirit, Love, Thumbelina, Grandparents, and all cats and people we love.

I hope you caught message #16, added separately from our other talk. On the nature note, here is a review I shared this year, about the reactive and healing sentience of water. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

To reply to our overall world and Ian Rankin conversation: yes, I guess grade 9 makes me 14 years-old. But we who are multilingual find it natural to add male or female pronouns to words and are used tothe way grammar and vocabulary works. It is easier and easier to learn subsequent languages. After a very good start in grades 9, 10, and 12, Spanish became my university major.

I love that you are a geology PhD and could talk to you all day about that. I have always loved rocks and stones and even now, pick up pretty ones. Manitoba is well-known in the nickel industry and Saskatchewan and Alberta for the oil industry. I did not know we had diamonds somewhere else! Where?

We are the largest country in the world after Russia, so it makes sense that we our widely varying terrain would yield a great range of geology worth exploring. My Dad working in a mine for a short while and some of his older relatives. My other Grandfather was an inspector of mines in Ontario, when my Mom was a child! I wish she and he were here to talk with you about it too. They loved meeting my friends over their lifetimes, Shirin. I always told my Mom about my friends by internet too.

We have a small house with no spare room but you would be welcome here somehow, or renting a place nearby. I won't travel with McCartney turning 21 in two months. But someday, there are world wonders and other delights that I want to see, even in Canada: like Nova Scotia (again), Prince Edward Island, and the Yukon Territory.

Manitoba herself, has irregularities. I discussed with Leeanne and Kerri last year for "Journey To The Centre Of The Earth", that we have a "relict population". I refer to it in my review about Carberry, Manitoba here. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Dearest Shirin & Kerri, if you see this: I am glad you have Robert Louis Stevensen's e-pub and that we are ready to read one of his classic tales! Please allow me to finish "Morality For Beautiful Girls" tonight or tomrrow and see how Kerri is doing with her reading selection. I prefer not to juggle-read but it seems that you two are the queens of it. :) When I think of all of the decades comparisons and analogies have been drawing using Jeckyll & Hyde; I am humbled by what a classic story it is and glad I will finally be in on knowing it.

It is great to know more about your language culture, Shirin. Yes, Canada as dual official languages and most people with a keen mind understand a fair bit of both, like you do in Turkish. For those who want to speak and read it more, or fluently, there are classes and of course whole "French Immersion" school systems like mine.

In this system, not only do you conduct all classes in French right down to gym class but even walking in the hallways and on school grounds, it is considered rude to speak to your teachers in English instead of French. You got in trouble for speaking English instead of French to other kids on school grounds. We became fluent quickly because we were put into a French-speaking world.

In grade 9, I began studying Spanish and continued it at university. Romance languages are easy once you know one. I excelled at this language too and my greatest reward, was one time using it in Mexico with Ron. It was many years after high school and university but it came back to me, like French does. :) I just haven't had as long or profound a background as I do in French, to know as many Spanish vocabulary words and expressions but I can speak and read it.

Yes, I know your capital is Tehran. You make a good point, that millennia of history might make your rules of society outdated and dysfunctional. Especially in today's world where the internet lets you befriend and work with people with different traditions. Please know that you are understood and respected. We too, benefit from seeing how other people live. :)

I have not heard of Hamesdan and will look it up. Alisadr Cave sounds amazing. I must visit Carlsbad Cavern in the United States (I reviewed a great book about it late this winter). Seeing the majestic geography of New Zealand and Australia (not to mention Kerri!) are great dreams of mine too. I have been to a cave in South Dakota, USA, some cravasses in Georgian Bay, Ontario, and caves around England. One of them included a boat ride. :)

Do you know what, Shirin? It was not Edinborogh but I have seen a little bit of Scotland! That was a great dream to come true for me. So I love reading books set there with you and I can picture the accent of John and the characters when they speak. Kerri & I are happy to read "Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde" as soon as you have a copy, then I won't wait long to dive into "Hide And Seek" afterwards!

Yes, I was waiting for and mesmerized by Anne meeting her parents as best that she could and standing in her own rooms! It sailed everything right back up to 4 stars for me! I am a big fan of those ancestry and adoption reunion shows. Both of them, meeting parents and gaining personal history, give me a happy cry that feels good! It is the only crying I like to do from a book or movie.

My grade was unaffected by personages needlessly added to the novel whom we did not need to meet, including Diana's Dad's bitchy Aunt. None of us found we cared about them, or that woman who spent a whole chapter urging a mare to hurry up. Who can respect a 40 year-old couple who doesn't so much as admit interest in one another, nor have the balls to seek someone else, all because they think it is more honourable in life to keep a stupid promise?

Any Mother would have respected a sit down conversation from that son, saying: "Mom, I believe in keeping my word to you but there is no good reason to not court someone I love". I do loathe books and films that make people so dumb, as to only think there is an A or B option: keep the promise or not. No, tell her the promise is screwed up and that you will not make it! At the time you thought she was dying but how many decades does it take, to grasp that she is still living? So dumb, I couldn't respect that couple but neither did I care. It was just a few short chapters to see Anne teaching somewhere else.

"Anne Of Avonlea" would have had 5 stars without the frequent bird-killing, outrageous repetition of using everything but the word "lunch" for the noon meal, and all that stupidity about Dory being mean and Anne unable to borrow a plate safely from Diana's Aunt Joephine. I am really sorry she died and wanted to see more of her.

However, when I pondered a 3-star rating for each of those books after a few annoying parts, I realized that we love Anne, the characters, the whole setting, and writing style too much for that. It is ahead of most books to which I give a 3-star rating, do you know what I mean? So it was 4 stars for "Anne Of Avonlea" and since no cat actually died, except hypothetical kittens, which was pushing it as it was; it had to be 4 stars for "Anne Of The Island" too. I think it had to have 4 stars at least but Anne honouring her parents made me certain. There was no more wavering.

I think the rest of the books are going to be beautiful. Lucy found a way to keep Anne and Gilbert young and unmarried, while at the same time settling the question that they will pair up eventually. I am happy we are past the days in society where you are expected to be pretty much engaged before you can date.

I imagine courting might still have clear rules in countries like our dear Sirin's. I am not up to date on the new shaw of Iran but the last I heart, women were not permitted in public with men, unless they were her relative. So I guess under laws like that, you can't do too much testing or experimenting. You have to be sure of someone from conversations and I guess, chaperoned dating.

For Anne in 1915, it meant constantly proposals from people she hardly new, or expectations of a proposal from anyone she dated. She was lucky to go out with her university beau unattached, for as long as she did.

If I may be so bold in our multigenerational discussion: I take issue with an opposite problem. Because North American, Oceania, and some European society is so free about courting whomever we like; I hate fighting off the expectation of leaping into bed with anyone! When I was just getting to know some one and even long after we dated; I did not believe in adding sex to the relationship unless we were comitted in some way. It is too important and sacred to give that away, in my opinion.

I hate the idea that if I were out dating again, I would have to come out and say that I do not believe a kiss leads to clothes flying, like in every soap opera and movie that you see! I truly like a clean sort of date up until the 1970s, where you just enjoy getting to know each other and even holding hands or a kiss is a big deal to look forward to, later. I just want to watch that movie, go to that restaurant, etc without something as intimate as sexuality mixing into something so casual.

My personal rule is that it is off limits until we reach the "I love you" stage. At least if you got pregnant or an illness, you are with someone you love. You never doubt wonder if you got engaged for a baby. So there we are: our world jumps into bed too easily, Anne's world married too casually. I love that happy medium. And as Kerri wrote: great relationships are worth waiting for! :-)

Shirin, I understand recognizing some words spoken and written. We linguists who know more than one language have a special understanding about communication, have you noticed? Most people in Manitoba, New Brunswick, Quebec especially and in Canada generally, understand the basic French that we see and hear. It is the law to include both official languages on every product that enters our country at on signs at every government place: cereal boxes, milk cartons, shampoo....

Is that how you understand Turkish: because it is everywhere in your region, or is it because it resembles Farsi / Persian?

My brothers & I went to school in the "French immersion" system that was new in 1981. You are completely "immersed" into the language. Teachers will only speak to you in French in all classes (except English or Spanish class) and on school grounds, except to help you if you are stuck in your first year. I was in grade 4 when I started, my youngers brothers started at the beginning. We are all fluent and my Mom knew French well too. My Dad understands basic German.

Thank you for clearing up a point for me about the book. It is good to know John Rebus likely invited his brother and girlfriend to find out whatever they could, in his memory.

Have you seen many caves, crevasses, tunnels as a geologist or on personal trips? I am amazed when I think of old archaeological sites and artifacts of the Middle East. I love both geology and archaeology. You understand, I don't live in a place where things are more than a few hundred years old but on your turf, history spans thousands of years.

That is great, Shirin! One clarification: I do not have "The Mysterious Island" and do not e-read. I look forward to it sometime in the future. I will only have it, if I shop for physical books.

Shirin, do you not speak Turkish? I am counting every language. The in-laws of the friend I used to have spoke Farsi and Turkish. You do very well in English.

Yes, I love the way everybody has a part in solving cases in Ian's books but we stick with John's point of view most of the time.

I love caves, crevasses, and tunnels! I must find out what we might have around Manitoba and look forward to going to the ones in Moosejaw. I read a children's mystery based on them, called "Tunnels Of Time", which gave us a lot of detail.

When the world is safe for North American women, I would love to see Middle Eastern places. They have such old places and history, they would be a marvel to see. Although not Edinborough, I have been a few places in Scotland briefly and absolutely loved it. If we had not been at a wedding in England, we would have chosen more time in Scotland.

I believe John knew what his past was but did not want to discuss it. I don't like that his girlfriend deliberately found out his secrets through hypnosis, even though it was to save people and solve crimes. I believe John failed to think there was a connection with his past, even though he remembered what it was; just like he didn't think the anonymous notes connected to the crimes he was investigating. If hypnosis prompted anything, it was more detail.

Saying that using a books words was cheating makes me think of something funny. I used to think it gave me "a leg up" (an expression that means an advantage), that I went to French school but used English resources for school papers, reports, and projects. There was no way I had to be concerned about plagiary because I always had to translate my resources into French. I could transpose my resources directly! :)

Me too! Shirin, Leeanne, Patricia and group members: are you interested? It is a short classic that we would want to start on the same day. That gives us a better opportunity for short notes in progress, instead of reviewing a story that we finished.

I would like to be familiar with the famous "Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde" before I read Ian's next novel, "Hide And Seek". He praised the sole reviewer in the 1980s who understood his title. I do not read authors back to back, so it'll be a couple of months before I revisit Ian. But I am ready for Robert Louis Stevenson as soon as we have our roll call.

The full novel, "Treasure Island" is on our list too. :) If you have seen "Journey To The Centre Of The Earth 2" with Dwayne Johnson in place of Brendan Fraser, you might recall a "Vernian" society or fan group, wherein they believe clues in famous novels of a similar time period led to a real island. I need a copy of Jules Verne's "Mysterious Island" but have Robert's full novel, "Treasure Island" waiting. It is on the list of clue novels and is on our proposed join reading list. Feel free to add titles of your own. :)

Shirin, that was fast for you too, in another language! Is English your second, third, or fourth? It was interesting that you find it easy to write about books you have read in English. All the years I went to French school, did I find it easier to write in French, if I was already reading it? I will give it some thought.

So much to talk about. Yes, some group's or country's idea of training is psychotic. Certainly they should have let George out when they let John out of the tent. That was enough! Do you think it was the policy of that secret branch of the military to do psychopathic training, or only the idea of a couple of crazy people in charge? I think John must have rememered but didn't want to talk about it. He got no choice when his brother and girlfriend hypnotized him.

Is it weird that he did not connect his past to the notes, or the notes to the crimes; or is it natural that someone would not guess that? No, you can't tell what people are like, no matter how composed they appear to be. It will not be long before I want to read "Hyde And Seek".

I love that John is a reader. But I am sad that the only reason he has books all over, is because it was 1987. Nowadays, many readers choose e-books. I am always happy to know people love books decorating their house, like Ron & I. The ones we don't need after finishing, we can give as gifts or sell. Thankfully many people want books, the actual objects.

I think there are two things I love about Ian Rankin not shaping a typical crime mystery. One: we take the time to get to know him. Since I prefer other mysteries that are not crimes (like "Ajax Penumbra 1969" and "The Bookshop Of Yesterdays"), it was great that we spent most of the time unravelling a personal story. When there was enough information to heat up the crime chase, the action tot exciting. There were not numerous boring chapters about police.

Two: everybody helps solve the criminal case. John did not need to be the hero, even though he is the protagonist the overall novel is about. Michael and his girlfriend helped a lot, Jake found other things out. Even the police chief helped at the end, the poor man. I would love to visit those underground tunnels! I did not know Edinborough had them like Paris. Apparently we have the same in Moosejaw, Saskatchewan; the closest one for me to visit, one province to our west.

I laughed about Jack's sarcastic reaction to getting bitten by a dog, while canvassing people's houses all day. John asks why he has a scratched leg. Jack exclaims "It was a fucking Alsatian"! The language in normal for city people like me. I only dislike swearing with religious words; too disrespectful. Otherwise, it is modern expressiveness that adds colour and sometimes, humour. It reminds me of Eddie Murphy's fast-talking style making me laugh in "Beverly Hills Cop" when I was a little girl. I look forward to seeing his new movie, "Coming To America II".

Dear Shirin, I love the way we are sharing small steps of this story as it goes along. I don't usually finish a book in 24-hours but I started it one night and kept reading the next night. Structurally, "Knots & Crosses" makes it easy; unless reading it in our second or third language. It only has 227 pages and my omnibus chapters are short, with a blank page between chapters. That makes it easy to decide: "I will finish this chapter and stop here", or "This chapter only has a few pages left. I will keep on going". Yes, when you reach the part where the mystery kicks in, you will be up late, Shirin!

Before that point, it is presented as a personal story and we like John right away. It felt logical that the police did not know where to start or look for their murderer. I wanted the girls to be saved, or for justice to prevail on their behalf but I do not like switching any focus to extra characters' perspectives. I only want to know one story protagonist, so I am glad Ian Rankin stayed with John.

I have a brother who is tough on family members. I say "Happy birthday" or "Merry Christmas" and send a card and present but a visit is uncomfortable, unless there are friends with us as a buffer. Then, he won't shout about religion or politics that he knows Ron & I believe in differently. John's discomfort with Michael made sense.

We get to know John before the mystery becomes active. Since I gave this story five stars, it worked well to tell it that way! The police were working on their crime case and that was good enough as a build-up. Now, I will tell you what the introduction of my omnibus shares about Ian Rankin. Ian did not know he was writing a mystery! No wonder he did not bore us with an over-used, predictable formula.

Ian was an English literature major, who wrote the first three John Rebus novels while he was working on his PhD. Since he and Robert Louis Stevenson are from Edinborough, he wanted to write a modern "good & evil" story, in homage to "Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde". He made his rivals a policeman & criminal. He did not know "Knots & Crosses" counted as a mystery, or crime mystery, until it was published and readers gave it the label! I guess Ian was not a mystery reader. He said in his introduction that afterwards, he tried Ruth Rendel and P.D. James,

That makes me interested to see what his second, third, and fourth stories are like. In the second, he knew he was writing a mystery and in third. The fourth volume is when he discarded the university PhD and wrote his series. This is when he got started, whereas his first three novels were written for fun. I imagine book #4 onward will be different and can't wait to look for the growth. But may he keep his fresh originality, of not trying to write a typical mystery! Right, Shirin? :)

I was impressed with Ian Rankin in "Knots & Crosses". Another fine Edinborough author I have planned to read soon is "Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde" because it is a classic referenced often. It turns out Ian's first couple of novels are an ode to it. If anyone has a copy and wants to read it in the next month or two, let me know. It is a short story that will jog along quickly, therefore I would time it with companions to the day.

Dear Shirin, please take control and write more. To my surprise, I finished Ian's novel last night. I will let you make all the observations you like first. Then, when I know which part you are at (your profile does not show page progress so far), I will add to the conversation. :) I am glad I wrote my early notes, like you did.

Yes, Ian has a great way with words and I noticed the "warn instead of tell" sentence. Not much happens for most of the novel but getting acquainted with a character we like, is good enough. Except sleeping with women he just met. Trivial sex is not my attitude but it is expected in books and movies! After we know John quite well, the action goes into high gear and you can't stop read. I hope you can stay awake late when you reach those chapters, my friend!

P.S. I had to look-up the word "punctilious", to know it is a synonym for "meticulous". I had seen the word but thanks to you, it will be included in my vocabulary. :)

Initial reaction: I enjoy Ian's writing and think I will like his protagonist, John Rebus! Except the post traumatic stress syndrome from an military experience; his day to day city life is relatable. So is 1987, recent enough for me to recall it.

Computers and telephones had jobs to do. You used them for personal communication too but no one was hooked on them. I love these media sane periods up to about 2010, when you used a computer or telephone, then put it away; as I still do.

I love being in a normal modern time period that relates best to me and am so sick of historical fiction being all the rage. I like the adult level of this series: discussing sexuality with normalcy and joking about the downsides of their jobs. In my culture, it is no insult for a little swearing to enter normal language, so the way Ian has written his people's dialogue is normal and humorous for me. It is what we city born people are like.

Paired with this, I find a deep, beautiful side to Ian's writing. I love creativity above all and am excited, whenever I find cleverly-crafted sentences that I marvel over! Here is my favourite from page 34, chapter 6 in "The Early Years" omnibus.

"He left the station at four o'clock. The birds were doing their best to persuade everyone that it was dawn by no one seemed fooled".

An author who is relatably modern and funny and is also eloquent with depth, is just right for me. At the beginning of the novel, I smiled too at John entering a police meeting late, because he just got asked to join that team. He smiled apologetically when he opened the door and found a seat but knew it was a wasted gesture. Haha! I am glad I am finally reading Ian's novels, Shirin.

It is my pleasure to finally sample the well-liked Scotsman, Ian Rankin. I have collected around 30 of his books, piled high atop a shelf. It is fun to be trying out his 1987 début series novel with my friend, Shirin. I like Ian's writing style so far.

Shirin and Leeanne have finished the book, so I will discuss anything I think of; even though we said we ought to proceed, using chapter headings. It was great to see Kerri's replies to everyone. Let us know, Kerri and Shirin, if you would like to highlight anything else of your own.

If it helps, Leeanne: I was going to give three stars over killing a dog and the Aunt calling it acceptable to drown kittens. Bullshit, even when there was no spaying & neutering. Did we do it with humans before there was birth control? Since Rusty did not die (though I'll never respect Mr. Harrison because of the dog); I was more disturbed by the previous novel. Anne deliberately asked someone to kill birds she had raised since they were chicks, for Priscella's author Aunt.

I wrote that the Janet & John episode was superfluous. I wasn't bored to see Anne teaching somewhere else. However, I could not respect two 40 year-old idiots who let a selfish idea screw them over. I guess the ride with the mare getting distracted was supposed to be funny. The chapter could have been allocated to a classroom peek.

We couldn't spend much time at a lecture or in hallways. It would be about social life, like the improvement committee at home. A taste wouldn't amounted to much more than the studying and socializing we saw at the rented house. Anne and the Aunt pampered Rusty. Anne was sorry but understanding, about her taking all three cats.

Stella made no impression, except bringing her Aunt and two cats. Pricilla's page time diminished bu she was a long-time friend of Anne's, her first female friendly face at university. I don't remember what we learned about Marilla's childhood. Do remind me.

Leeanne, I would have considered it weak and misguided if Anne had caved to Gilbert's pressure. She it made it clear to her readers and him that she was not ready to ponder love. She adored him like family and told him that if she had to answer now, she did not feel a spark yet. Believing they would be a good match eventually like the rest of the town, does not make it right to rush.

Especially in 1915, when you picked someone quickly, just to have a marriage and the right to have sex, I thought it was smart for Anne to date someone else. She had to stamp out his pressure to make a marriage of it. She merely wanted try on romance, without spoiling a childhood bond.

Anne suspected she loved Gilbert at their momentous graduation. She knew it when he was sick. I liked those parts because she was ready, not rushing. However, it sagged my respect for her (since Gilbert was respecting her space) and raised my appreciation of Phil, that her letter to Gilbert galvanized them to broach the subject. Phil grew up by falling in love with an open-minded minister.

Diana's marriage and newborn baby, although described more briefly than the mare ride and romance of people we don't know and the death of their school friend were poignant and meaningful. Seeing a book entitled "Island" show the island was what we were waiting for. Dora as the lead in a chapter was wonderful.

What tops it all off and insisted on four stars from me, was Anne finally touring her parents' home! I wondered why she didn't ponder or visit Nova Scotia earlier. I then recalled that she lived in her home town with neighbours, until she ended up in Avonlea. The only thing that was new was touring her house and receiving those precious souvenirs, from both her parents. They both wrote letters. I surmise Anne was too young or busy babysitting, to consider the town graveyard. Paying respects at their resting place was emotional too. I am glad this bolstered Anne and made her feel like she belonged to this short-lived relatives.

That was so emotional and important to Anne's story, I have to give four stars. We also have a way to grant Anne's wish not to rush romance and marriage. For their career training, they won't marry for three years; waiting like Diana and Freddy did.

I was disconnected, except with the Janet & John chapter. Navigating the path of a writer was great to see. I have no trouble with characters or editing. My hesitancy seems to be opposite to other writers; letting my mind make scenarios and plots up. I am used to describing real life and focus too much on accurate details, when I need to exercise my invention.

Paul didn't lose his imagination. He didn't picture his story characters as vividly. Lavendar annoyed us for not giving her imagination a rest. We need a balance: feeling the freedom of playing with our toys but presenting an adult voice, depending on with whom we are speaking. We need the right playmates. :)

I imagine I will love what these next three novels contain. I will let my second boxset simmer awhile. Later this year, Kerri, me, and anyone who has a copy, will read Maud's short autobiography "The Alpine Path". However, the discussions of "Anne Of The Island" are just warming-up, so please take the leads everyone!

Yay! Thank you for a fun update, Leeanne! I have been waiting for you to continue your notes, or for someone to proceed with comments on what we have written so far. It is a way to be sure I have the pleasure of other ideas, instead of replies to mine. I see you and Shirin have been juggle-reading! Tsk tsk.... Q;-)=