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

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

I want to ensure my message of this tragedy feeling out of place and wrong, is not misunderstood. You understand me if there are no stating-the-obvious, simplistic retorts "bad things happen, I guess she was showing a negative side of life". I hope you get that I was saying this was not a fit for the the novel that progressed naturally. There was a heavy-handed, deliberate marring of the happiness, which ruined the rest of it for me. It had been five star reading for me before that.

It bothered me in a way that Matthew's adult, self-induced stress did not. I loved Matthew and wished that had not happened, as did his author. This tragedy however, of an innocent young life, who did nothing wrong and was ready to live. An elder passing away is terrible but can be dealt with. A child is a pain that doesn't go away; someone who is always missing, a tragedy always felt. I am disgusted with Maud for doing something permanent, rather than a challenge that Anne would put in the past.

I want to arrest the idea that it was no shock. I hinted around something that was dreadful and upsetting and you said, for some reason you were already braced for something sad. I was annoyed we weren't treated to Gilbert & Anne secretly discussing their pregnancy in any language couples most certainly used. Maud was thinking she was surprising readers and got in the way of letting us anticipate the joy. No matter what period, we were supposed to be in the protagonst's head and heart.

"Still birth" is to stop living in the whomb. It must be equally heartbreaking to parents and Grandparents who know them and look forward to their arrival in their families. It is different, however, from a child who was expected to live. Baby Joyce lived for a day.

The tragedy was not obvious, Kerri. I was shocked, hard. I didn't know why Gilbert announced his child's birth "sadly" and was pissed off about that. I thought it a horribly insensitive writing indulgence of Maud's, alluding to something instead of plainly saying it. I knew Anne had a hard birth, which is normal in any period. I had no thought of a baby not making it, in this happy novel. In rural Canada of 1917 and in our middle and lower economic groups up til now, we do not need "an example of finding happiness after hardship". However, there were sorrows in this novel, without the permanent loss of a baby.

Many readers LIVE in novels and take the pages as they ARE. We should not be thinking of what we know about the author and if fiction expresses anything about her life. This was a lovely novel of beautiful descriptions and minimal challenges, that were a joy for those reasons. I have mystery crime novels for sorrow or dismay. No, this felt tacked-on. It was like an alien appeared in a todder's board book of happy, colourful, baby animals.

I look forward to both your impressions. I hope you can decide if you would have been shocked or horrified, if you had not expected something sad. It was the best I could do to write at all, taking care not to reveal much. You both were far behind me, even though I haven't read much either. I did not want to stop posting my feelings for large stretches.

Put it this way: whatever an author wants readers to ponder; their goal is not to ruin a novel. She did: I hardly cared to read it after that, so surely it was a misstep. I can't stop thinking of that beautiful infant, who is fictional. Imagine the Mother, in their world. I know people who lost babies or children. It is too big a cost, as a way to show "how to get through hard times". It is never forgotten, a face who should be there always missed. It didn't belong in this seres, where money, illness, elderly passing, and opinionated townspeople were hurdles enough.

It slapped me as an undoable add-on, wrong for everything written around it. Don't compare this series, free of terrible fates, to grim things you have read. I acknowledge that they fit elsewhere. I felt sharply that they do not fit here. Maud suddenly thought her novel was too happy and second-guessed the power and benefit of that for readers.

I don't mind if we disagree in any areas. I only want what I am saying to be understood. This was a blotch on the novel that felt wrong. Perhaps Maud would subtract it, like she would for Matthew if she could. That bothered me far less, for his stubbornness caused his heart attack for ruining their finances.

Newborn Joyce was a gift from God for her parents and readers. A misscarriage would be hard enough in a novel and unforgotten by parents. Bringing a baby in and taking her out is different. There was no reason but to force a situation to make us sad. Fiction can be as happy in the world as Maud wanted to make it.

I think I am most shocked and mad because of Maud's stupid hinting. It made me feel like she was going to make Joyce's arrival triumphant and a HAPPY, POSITIVE surprise. Yes, I am disgusted about hardly referring to Joyce as Anne's & Gilbert's Daughter, or as herself, Joyce.

That was a thunderclap to the face. Everything afterwards lost points for being so awfully predictable. I won't spoil those but expect you will see them a mile away. I groaned at how predictable every outcome was. I would have predicted them if our chapter pace was even.

Second to a baby's loss, the worst damage for a story is a "Deux-ex-machina". Are you guys familiar with that Greek term? Something is resolved in an outrageous, "Come on, as if!" way, reducing an author's credibility. It reveals that they were lazy, not smart enough to think of something logical, or did not give the person it involved a chance to be a hero. "Plunk! Here is the resolution in a tidy, socially acceptable way".

I am grateful Leeanne filled in Canadian things: kilometers, child care (what did you do after school having single parents?), the well-remembered Eaton's. In cities, they were huge department stores, like the Bay! In small towns, they were dependable order catalogues, as Leeanne said. I thought they went out of business; did not know they were bought by Sears.... another famous catalogue and store.

Leeanne dear, I hope you remember I normally give food for thought as well as answer your posts. I typed more than I thought I would as it was. It isn't so much the tiny typing; it is annoying to not have easy to use keys to rise up & down editing screens. I most missed opening multiple tabs and typing where my history was retained and could be clicked on. My cell phone gives me "popular searches" instead of key words bringing up pages I opened before.

It took ages for one of you to answer about very helpful things to make it better, like cut & paste and the forward button. I am glad but am leaving smart phones for what this internet can't open - often enough!

I also share with Leeanne what we worked out at our Maggie Stiefvater discussion threads. If you don't have much time to post, don't worry about writing and answering. It is a greater pleasure for us and a better record for yourself, to prioritize posting your reading notes. Come back later to reply. We'd rather have each person's feelings and topic proposals.

Finally, even if you have only read a tiny bit, that is marvellous and gives us plenty to say or guess about. We don't want to tackle a bunch of chapters. Small is fun, easy, and rewarding. However, there is always the freedom to read like the wind, or finish if you like, if reading time appears for us.

I loved the first half as much as you did, was shocked by a horrifying part, became fed up with Laurie, and Cornelia is a judgemenal bitch, even if funnier and more likeable than most of Maud's personages. The excess adjectives and adverbs rotted lovely descriptions that ought to have gone without compound sentences, or maybe it was me.

I do love Captain Jim, who wouldn't? I only hated to hear he & the other men hunted birds, with the fish I expected. I am more annoyed with Maud for not being able to write about cats without some stupid attitude removing the compliment a few words later. Jim does own a moment I dislike. He said he could not like cats as much as dogs; no matter how wonderful and loyal Matey was in his present life. It was not about how long he had a previous dog, Leeanne. It was prejudice, which was shitty for Matey. Yes, he was a better cat warrior than what usually got into Maud's novels. He was a gem.

Yes Kerri, you had to bring a man home to his people. It is short-sighted to think hiding a person would solve any problems. Go to his relations, send him to jail or court for abandonment, ask for an anullment, or as Kerri suggested live apart. If was kind that Laurie cares for the injured man, whom she liked better. Government facilities needed no payment (even before medical care in the 1960s) and remember the banker relatives. The whole situation came from Dick's Dad owning or managing the bank with the mortage on Laurie's family's house.

Besides some nice moments, the rest of the novel went downhill. My private update near the end read "This gets three stars because I loved the first half, unless Maud screwed it up". She did. You will know the instant the stars sank to two.

What bitch threatens to hit a cat with a fireplace poker, for going near family members; with whom he belongs???? Anne & Gilbert said nothing; who doesn't fire the vile housekeeper?

What pissed me off as much as that, is that Maud could not shut her trap and let one sentence be printed to compliment a cat. She wrote that a cat was beloved by Gilbert, Anne, and Laurie. That sentence had not ended when that bitch of an author added that Susan disliked cats and thought they sucked out souls. All her employers told her in warning or chastisement to straighten out, is that she was quoting outdated superstitions.

Anne & Gilbert did not need this "Susan". She was only supposed to help for a time. She seems to have become a household character. Meanwhile, Dora did not get one sentence in the whole book. Oh, there is one other mistep when Captain Jim annoyed me. When the twins were there visiting, the same age and athletic level, the same interest in seeing oceans and lighthouses.... he only invited Davey to see it! Women went to Captain Jim's lighthouse all the time and counted among his friends.

The only other mention of Dora in this entire book was a letter from *someone else*, of all things, saying she was dating. Could Dora not send her adopted Sister letters, so that we got her voice at least once? Maud made them cardboard characters. Even though the focus was on making new friends, as it always is in each book; give a few pages to Anne's central family.

This author also forgot logic. Rachel had ten children she bragged about raising well. She only lived with Marilla because she didn't want to leve the town. Marilla's vision illness needed help while Dora & Davey were young. Rachel had children to constantly visit at Christmas or entertain at Green Gables, her shared home. When she went with Marilla and the voiceless cardboard twins, to Christmas in Four Winds; I thought: "Hello! Rachel has ten kids"! Authors need to remember the worlds they built and be logical in them.

Finally, spoiling nothing for you ladies, I'll just say that except a bad shock; everything took place as predictably as I imagined it, down to the detail, with one exception. That isn't good. It was saccharine and lame. Surely even in 1917, such fanciful drama must have been overdone and old news.

So three stars were on thin ground, prior to hired help of all people; threatening a beloved cat with violence if they dared to approach human family members. Touching and loving family members is the point of having cats! Please know I don't expect anyone to feel the same about the effect for you, of the bulk of this book as a whole. If you are able to like it better, I am glad for you. Please by all means, suggest your own subjects and give your pleased reactions if any. I am here for it.

Joseph is Jesus's Dad of course. It is an old expression you can tell Maud expected some people to have heard. My Grandparents did not use it but my interpretations are similar to what Anne imagined. "Being in the house of Joseph" is being part of the same family of beliefs, thoughts. We are all in the family and house of Jesus but there are petty religions that think Heaven is earned by church membership and our behaviour, rather than being the realm where all our spirits naturally go.

It is being "birds of a feather" and "my kind of person". The way we three friends love animals, are balanced about politics, learning, reading, and having fun. We would get along well in person due to our shared interests, passions, friendly personalities, and similar morals.

Gee, it is nice to type freely and easily. Also, Protonmail has deigned to open on our desktop computer and internet too. I am savouring the pleasure of alll of your gradual pieces of mail, including yours, Leeanne. :) Love, your friend, Carolyn.

On page 142, of chapter 24.

I am writing on my PC's keyboard, with access to all possible movement and buttons, freely. Loading webpages is slow but what a relief the freedom of two-handed, ten-fingered typing and using a mouse is.

I think you both are at the same stage. It isn't so much a novel, the feeling "Anne's House Of Dreams" gives me, as a patchwork of stories in Anne's new adulthood and marriage. It doesn't feel like a jerky, uninvolved short story suite either but a snapshot sojourn in between them. I loved it, until now. Out of nowhere, pain is needless in fiction we can invent with any glorious outcomes. It marred the joyous contents of the series I loved.

It needs no stating that pleasant stories can have challenges. THIS sorrowful event is something else. It is so out of place and made-up, I KNOW Maud did it because the analytical side of a writer thought: "This has been happy. Let's ruin it". It is the feeling Kerri & I got in "The Sisterhood Of The Travelling Pants" except those characters' challenges were not as permanent or sorrowful as that was. It was robotic, the way Ann Brachares deliberately said "Okay, let's make the next chapters rocky"; then worked everything out for all four of the teenagers too coincidentally.

After the most negative event, Leslie who was closed to emotions and dialogue for eleven years, suddenly outpours everything she thought and felt? Analyzed in a way most people don't identify what was stirring? Concluded with a tidy bow that her ugliness, barriers, and jealousy will not stir-up again? How I wish one wonderful conversation with a spouse or relative meant they were fully aware and had utter control of never being cold or injust again.

The beautiful descriptions are a talent but their double or treble adjectives and adverbs are grating. I didn't have an explanation for disliking that until I read "On Writing" by Stephen King years ago. "A swirling brook" is pretty. Don't add more. Take care that there are no long, compound sentences. I am angry at Maud for making up an awful circumstance that permanently mars this family's story, no matter how many similar opportunities appear. When a quaint description is too frilly or long, I say "Shut up".

I say the same about Leslie now, too, whose present situation is far less bad or insurmountable than Anne's and except Leslie losing her Brother and Dad, of course. Anulment and divorce were uncommon but they were possible and someone that unhappy (even prior to Dick going to sea) would look into it; including the cheapest way to do it with or without representation. Leslie was also surrounded by wise elders who would have told her: "Shit or get off the pot". Find a way to be happy, or find a way to change the situation.

There are so many possibilities that a woman who did nothing but dwell over them, would think of and investigate. You could file a petition that you were forced into marriage in financial duress. You could petition you had been too young. You could prove a special needs victim incapable of marriage and not a functioning adult.

You could tell the Four Winds community to fuck off, send Dick to a government care facility or his bank family, and start a new life independently on your terms. You might also find romance when you were ready and the community knew very well that you tried to anul or divorce a situation that you needed getting out of. In any case, sympathy and tolerance for Leslie whining instead of doing numerous things to resolve it (even in the year 1917), is at its end for me. Shut up.

After the awful outcome I'm talking around until you have read it, nothing angers and annoys me more than Maud making up "White Lady" as a nickname. This precious, sacred being should be called by name. Maud's nickname is offensive, disgustingly tries to make something quaint or fanciful out of tragedy she invented pointlessly, and it has the aggravating timbre that Madison King used in her animal healing tutorial. For goodness sakes, call people and beings what they are, who they are.

This Holy, powerful event was not referred to by name, as a grown-up would talk. It was hinted, instead of openly looking forward to it. Anne's life was full of frank people and whether it is 1917 or 2057, there were always expressions as well as plain terminology, for referring to natural things. I thought hinting was so stupid before it was spoiled. It made me extra upset afterwards, trusting Maud did dumb hinting to surprise readers who couldn't figure it out. It was obvious to all ages.

I wrote in our first book's thread that I was only going go up to "Rainbow's End", because I saw the sypnopsis of the last novel and it disgusted me to the core. I am not going to read about children trying to keep animals from being killed. What the hell is wrong with this author? Using outhouses was "acceptable then" but no one wants to read of that either.

I will push through the rest of this novel tonight and perhaps tomorrow. I hope there is pleasure and relief around the permanent sorrow. My investment is deflated. I no longer trust Maud to be a safe place of happy reading.

Naturally, I respect it if anyone else is able to enjoy the rest of this novel. I will read your own musings and reply. There were things I was going to gush over but they were ruined by where the novel went. Perhaps your writings will include what I liked previously and I will chime in that way. To meet my quota, I want to get reading another novel as soon as possible but will continue following you and writing here.

Leeanne, we girls had a thorough conversation at our thread "Blue Lily, Lily Blue" about how we read and what we look for; why some negativity is acceptable or entertaining to some people. For a start, we read for different reasons. I learned that Kerri accepts most contents, as if she were reading an encylopedia; you don't fault a dictionary for describing negative things. I read for joy, laughter, humour. If I choose literature that is layered or darker, I don't complain about finding it.

Here, I feel betrayed and I am not alone in that. I have the fortune of finding a new copy of Phyllis A. Whitney's "Guide To Fiction Writing". She said a bad outcome made her throw a book across the romm and not buy that author ever again. Most books have trials (which is why I value the rare series that are almost all positive). Phyllis warned writers, however, to "Never disappoint the reader".

Secondly, I am an empath who feels the emotions and predicaments of other beings - plant, animal, people - even if they are fictional. I can't brush a story off as "interesting" or "that was too bad" like Kerri does. The terrible parts take a long time to shake off of me. I am worse during movies, yelling at the screen and asking Ron if he is at outraged as I am. During books and films, I invest in the experience as if I were listening to someone's real story. It isn't "just a book" to me, so it has to be good.

If you understand this, it says a lot about why I felt sorry only for Leslie ending up marrying Dick; not for her staying frozen. If I think something can be done about a situation, I do not worry for the character; they frustrate me, or are dismissed. If Leslie resolves to stay married on paper, or take care of Dick in her home; find a way to make delicious lemonaid of those lemons.

Captain, retired, has Dick by day and so can other people. When home; give him a useful task to do, let him run around in the yard supervised or go swimming - we know he needs watching. You certainly know what toys interest him. His mind is easy to occupy and exercise is also a healer and soother. What was less common for a woman in that day was to have utter control of home and activities. The night was hers to socialize, play music, dance, read, draw, paint. Leslie had a right to feel trapped and angry before: not anymore. She was free since age 17 to choose a different course.

Thank you for lovely wishes.

The landline and modem ARE our internet. When the telephone was back, the internet was back. Prairie loads as easily as usual; just don't attach files there. Protonmail doesn't want to load at dial-up speed ~ also typical ~ but I no longer care. I can read Protonmail via cell phone and reply with Prairie for full-fingered ease! Write at Prairie because it is usually accessible and easier.
Attachments to Protonmail.

I said my twelve Christmas cards include the one you got with your parcel a month before the postal strike. I look forward to birthday cards for me and Jesus from the two of you. :) (You know I am back on my PC when all you get for decoration is a keyboard smiley face, hee hee)! I believe you are mailing it today, which is December 27 in New Zealand - yay!

It might be a day or two before I have time to resume typing here and at "Blue Lily, Lily Blue". You and Shirin are awaiting my freely typed, thorough replies to your expressions of book finishing glee.

In our Anne thread, I am past page 100 and beginning chapter 17 momentarily. I will not blow this off; even though Ron gave me almost the rest of the "Mr. Lemoncello's" series, "Bassoon King" by Rainn Wilson, and Donna Eden's new healing! Ron is so excited about its scientific presentation and choosing it for me without being asked, that he is convinced to give "Energy Healing" a chance first!

It is still Christmas Day in snowy, amazingly warm Manitoba (0 C!) and only midnight in Ontario. There, Leeanne is continuing the novel at the same pace we are but presumably partying too much to post. Merry Christmas my friends, Leeanne and Kerri! Ron receives your greetings with pleasure and returns them to you all, Izzy included.

I am almost at chapter 11.

Aren't you both appalled by this author's and Captain's attitude about cats as a rule? Maud not writing of cats without strife or minimizing? Captain not thinking one individual among them as blanket prejudice, is as close as dogs in sweeping generalism? I am removing a star. I had felt impressed that Captain rescued animals, told off thoughtless people, and seemed to adore Matey, the orange beauty.

I retired, furious at people's cluessness and did not excuse the rampant prejudice, even though these belittlers obviously have not acquainted and viewed felines properly. I went to bed cuddled by my two cats, absolutely wrapped in their love for me. Do you know what? One of our precious faces disliked being picked-up but he was powerfully loving and affectionate too. Our family has never had kitties who did not love us powerfully and loyally. They ate the reason I am loyal and passionately protective too.

Animals vary like people from experience and their education. Kerri's family has three sweet dogs of different ages and types. These sweethearts needed to be protected from dogs in the street and park. Matey cat earned love and reverance.

Leeane, my young trip to Nova Scotia was to three places: visiting a family friend and meeting two internet pals. All of it was wonderful and different. Their province felt like Manitoba by the sea. I did not know Oak Island was there, or Titanic history. Winnipeg's old buildings are appreciated, so I asked one friend why Halifax's downtown looks new. She must have mentioned the December 1917 explosion but I did not focus on history I did not know, while taking this beautiful new city and the ocean in. Me, in front of an ocean! A city beside an ocean!

There is so much I would look for now in Nova Scotia, popular Peggy's Cove doesn't come close. The boat ride Tracey & I took (hoping to see my first whale), embarked beside a little island with a lighthouse: that was my first sight but sailing by. My first lighthouse approach that summer in 1998 was in Digby. I was over the moon.

It would take until the year 2009 to see two more lighthouses: both in Cornwall, England. I could touch the Truro lighthouse but the one Ron & I stepped inside was Land's End!

I loved every other page of Anne's story, all with spectacular scenery described majestically. I will quote a few unforgettably pretty parts when I can type in full again. The landlines should be restored by December 27, where I hope I have not missed e-mail at Prairie. I will read posts again but imagine our focus is on our homes and loved-ones for awhile.

Kerri, I want these days to feel like Christmas and for my perception to be balanced and immersed in warmth and fun. Of course I must hear how everyone celebrates. Chatting about Jesus's big birthday occasion helps me feel happy and puts me into the spirit of it. I baked pumpkin loaves last night and wrapped Ron's gifts.

I have mailed 11 Christmas cards, plus your early one, Kerri: 12, by the December month it matches.

Leeane, I will make a prepaid box of books after I check your previous list, in the new year. I also glance at your Goodreads profile, even though we input few of our books there. As Mom would ask when doing something fun for us: How does that grab you!

Merry Christmas to my two sweet, intelligent, compassionate, inspiring, warm friends Leeanne and Kerri! May God bless you both always. Love, Carolyn. 🍁🌲🪷🐑🐏🐫🐪🌟

I am at chapter eight.

There is a common misconception that was caused by the mass production of fake historical fiction. Readers never doubted before that book eras are around publishing time, unless authors write a date to put us elsewhere. My document where I save book lists and review URLS has 1917 but my edition only referred to a 1922 printing, which is sloppy.

Trust that stories are near publishing years. I know war history. I am against war fiction and love these novels for staying positive. Surmise that Maud chose pleasantness! Kerri might not know the fighting was in Europe and Asia, not here. Our hardship was worry for loved-ones and supplies.

You both have your own copy of "Barometer Rising" from me, about the Halifax Explosion. Prince Edward Island likely saw and felt the blast and desperation of Nova Scotia's people, just before Christmas. Maud might mention that in a later novel. If not, it confirms she kept everything happy.

I sometimes watch a few minutes of "Y & R" at lunchtime. The pandemic did not exist there and I am glad.

I know the history of the metric system, just asked which measurement Maud had written. Mom said people learned both in school going way back.

I see Kerri's math but 7 hours from here to the city feels wrong. The train seems too slow too. Anyway, it would be a brief ride to a train station. We are talking about Marilla or Diana with kids, not Anne or a trunk. I hardly have visitors at this distance that takes 1 hour. I am sure rarity is about Marilla and Diana needing to organize a week away, to make a grand visit of the occasion.

I am glad to plunk out a bit of typing. I will share my impressions, rather than replies, when can use my PC keyboard again.

I must get some Christmas packages and cards ready, even though there are only a few. I will have time to do a few more in January. Canada Post went back to work too late and Bell MTS couldn't care less either.

It is a relief to at least check an alternate e-mail address and enjoy a little bit of the internet, like seeing each of you at Goodreads.

Some of the smart phone help I need is back & forward buttons on this keyboard. The app back button for the smart phone generally is obvious but not a forward one, if we unintentionally back out of a webpage we need. I certainly look for closing menus or Xs at the top of programs but rarely get them. There must be an individual way, better than "close all".

I need "undo" in the keyboard. I also need to know how to slide around to any sentence in this typing box. So far, I am using the editing arrow to do it. I can only slide and reposition the webpage around message boxes. There might be a click selection that I need to know how to do. E-mail is fine again for instructions if you prefer. A manual would take wading to locate what I want. Thank you. 🍋

I was happy that this novel gives us an island environment. Afterwards, Anne shared my observation. Hers & Gilbert's honeymoon entirely exploring their new home, was absolutely lovely. A great idea that the finest memories are at home.

I left plenty of writing, which was not easy without back & forward buttons or cut & paste, never mind ten-finger typing. I have started chapter seven.

Gee, even in 1922, 60 kms (or 60 miles, 0.62 × 1 km), is not far or hard for a horse to ride! I was sure Kerri would say that and tell us how fast they trot, compared to speed limits that limit cars anyway. It dawned on me that a non traveller or small country perspective might be skewed. See again: with the kilometers to miles conversion, this is Ron's daily drive - each way - to work.

It might take more time in 1922, with people needing arrangements for family animals and farms, or for rides if Marilla or Diana did not have horses and carriages, that is all. They would need rides to trains or public coaches, that is all. Don't miss what I said, that after motors were better and more common in the 1940s, 60 kms were no different from today. I see and maintain fewer friends since I lived in the country. I have demonstrated well that it is about setting aside time for the trip.

People easily came and went for birthday evenings and Christmas with us. All Marilla and Diana are thinking is that Anne won't be next door any more and they need to carve out time to stay with Anne for good visits; just like holidays.

Yikes, you surprise me, Kerri; changing horses for 60 kms or less than double miles? They are barely getting a workout! It is two hours for those powerful beauties at the most, cantering comfortably, including with luggage. They didn't bring furniture. Of course they would load what they had on the same trip. Anne's mementoes and household trousseau are light. Gilbert likely brought his marriage trousseau supplies prior.

No, it us nuts to think a two-hour horse ride or shorter train were too far for a leisurely house shopping trip. I normally defer to Kerri on horse details. I go on rare, glorious trail rides with horses and an hour or two must be common. This is Anne's travel duration.

Maud was making the unveiling dramatic. Misleading readers into thinking it was too far for Anne to decide on their house (very clearly *theirs*, not rented) annoyed me. The dramatic first look, though, was poignantly described. I notice in "compare books" that most Goodreads members stop after book one; sometimes after two or three. For the fans who went this far, Maud wanted a memorable moment of discovery, just like Anne's introduction to Avonlea, which was famous and treasured.

I know a bit about early costs but can't type anymore and it is a sinch to look up. Make sure you get CANADIAN 1920s prices; a big difference. Stamps were a penny, our tiniest currency and people bought sheets to write Christmas cards and zipped off letters for anything else too.

Guys, I can't be retyping. I said I hardly recalled any characters, including Jane, except the main university folks. I clued into their rented house Sisters when they gave the present of Gog and Magrog. Please remind me of everyone else. I already wrote: if we read about Anne's teaching year, a year ago (and were there two years at home before this sequel?); it was two or more since we met Avonlea characters. I already wrote (come on, typing is rough!) that I otherwise only remember Leonora (horrible to subsume her own identity as "Charlotte"!), Paul, Lavendar, Rachel, and the Harrisons. Please introduce me to the other Avonlea people. Was Lavendar at the wedding? There was no dialogue.

It was weird that best friends did not stand up for them at weddings as matrons of honour. Maids were illogical because friends and relatives marry and remarry anytime.

Guys, I hope you read which buttons or functions I don't know on smart phones. Hoping you'll answer doesn't necessarily come in the form of a question mark. Help is requested!

One of the worst misophonia freak-outs: calling lunch by a "D" word! That fucking Jim did it twenty times! Shut up, man and say LUNCH for me to enjoy reading this!

I would enjoy reactions to how much lighthouses mean to me, like those I visited and why. I wonder if you appreciate that I live as far as can be from lighthouses and oceans. There is a "centre of Canada" sign close to us that is a popular posing spot.

I look forward to meeting all the other neighbours and the goose walking woman. The home origin stories are nice but immediately afterwards, chop chop. Leave. This is the wedding night of newlyweds! For the religious even today, it is the first time some folks dare to be intimate. We didn't get a wedding kiss! Do you think there will be a juicy sex scene? 🐰🐇

Up to chapter three.

I am grateful there is so much for us to write, me before starting our story and Kerri only as far as I am now. Savouring the first two chapters in bed allowed me to climb onto the magic carpet with you, of this lovely 1922 place. This authenticity is partly why I dislike faked 'historical ' fiction but love the real tableaux of bookd that aged. Oh, I just thought! We are precisely 100 years from the author's real time for her Prince Edward Island people! I loved learning its real name. I knew the royalty of the English name was not old.

Reaching two chapters fewer than Leeanne allowed me to cautiously read more than half of her post, until something new loomed up about Charlotte and I went "crap" and stopped. This is how our headings help. We are free to discuss whatever comes to mind and know how openly we dare read the entries.

It is a relief to know Leeanne shares my puzzlement of one character. I don't remember anyone mentioned so far except Diana, Gilbert, Marilla, Rachel, and a couple of university friends. I don't recall how Anne knows Jane or why Cordelia is among Diana's toddler's names. Kerri knows but let me ensure Leanne does too, that my memory is exceptional. I might not recall a person or event I was uninterested in and it has been years since Avonlea or other personages were mentioned. I can't fly between tabs on this smart phone butvit must be a year since we read our previous novel and it introduced a new place.

Everyone who has met me knows my love of trees. I grew up with a single one who is very happy. Much younger ones were in seeing and root hugging distance from him around our parents' and our family home. Up above, he and many other old trees could see each other with ease, they tower so regally. My tree has my love to this day. My adult home is a forest now andi speak with love to our trees here too. I loved Anne's priority for trees as much as Leanne did. No era is an excuse to buy a house without showing your partner however.

I am intrigued with lighthouses and visited my first in Nova Scotia, outside, followed by England, inside! Manitoba is the farthest from coasts possible, in the precise centre of the second largest country. As soon as I read that our novel would introduce lighthouses, I smiled and thought, "Yes"!

Use our group's photo album, Leeanne. I asked Shirin to add caves to it too, for our Maggie Stiefvater adventures. I will write more there too when our landline and dial-up internet are back, to write with two hands via PC.

Kerri, phones were not for "check-ins" but to use fully and talk as personally as my Grandparents and country relatives wanted. Their rural street respected an easy etiquette. Your conversation was leisurely unless you heard someone pick up a receiver. No one needed to say anything unless it was pressing. You signed off, or told your relative you would talk more later. The neighbour hoping to use the phone knew it would be free a few minutes after their pick-up had been heard. The etiquette worked well.

The challenge was calling anyone on a party line. It would stop callers with a busy signal from any resident using it. You could not reach that phone line to warn "This is important. Would you free the line please?" Thankfully, party line sharers could hear and call each other. Each family had their own ring signal.

My beloved Manitoba Grandparents and all the country family you met in my history tribute for my dear Dad, used party lines until at least the 1980s! I am familiar with it and so is Ron. Gratefully, I never had to live with it, as a city girl. I can see in 2024 that rural residences are still served last generally!

Here in bed, I have asked Ron about our third question, hereby participating more than I hoped to!
Did our Canadian Maud use kilometres or miles? Although the dear horse can take us far, distance was only farther in their period of main locomotion. After motors worked efficiently in the 1940s, our highway speed of 100 kph is similar. Ron confirmed that his work ride is 65 km each way. We are under 1 hour from the city.

After a short e-mail to Kerri, I am exchanging this smart phone for the fresh, new "Anne Of Green Gables" book! Let's see how many chapters I drink in!

Kerri posed two questions whose answers I know personally. As a homemaker who will return to writing, now that death and strife are done, I am judged for not hustling outside the home. I gathered a wise rebuttal: do not judge females anymore! These rebuttal details answer Kerri's first question passionately.

Ladies first replaced men in WWII. The workplace (besides nurses and teachers) became available to them, if they chose. Homemaking remained our choice too! However, it is wise to build our own finances and I choose writing as the way, a career to create from home. Women did stop working after marriage until the 1980s! It was less expected each decade but I remember the unspoken opinion of "not being a full-time wife".

Until the 2000s, that "not devoted enough" judgement (hidden behind a hand) was made of ladies who had careers when they became Moms. " What kind of person leaves their children in daycare, or as latchkey children?" My Dad asked my Mom if she would be a full-time Mom when they married in 1971. She had ambitious goals and might not have become agoraphobic if she had done a little something after we were teenagers but she agreed. We loved having a Mom welcome us home and meals, especially since Dad was stuck with shift work.

Until the 2000s, we children were trusted to watch ourselves for a few hours and go places on our own more. We lived in a scary "don't talk to strangers" era where there were kidnappings or murders but we were taught to be careful and smart outside of the house, not fear going out altogether. It is similar to not avoiding nature: learn how to be safe, calmly regain your direction, or carefully back away from a wild animal if you had to. Above all, avoid danger.

The fashion this decade is to judge anyone for *not* working outside of home. The intrusion must end. Canadians still are only paid for 1 year of maternity leave. One of my Cousins stayed home until her third child was in full-time school, which is grade 1 at age 6. Nursery and kindergarten are a half-day.

Leeanne recalls that full school lets out at 3:15 PM, as recently as this June! Most kids go in their neighbourhoods and can bike, walk, or bus home before 4:00 PM. I don't know full-time jobs that get parents homevin time for that, for full-time students still too young to be unmonitored. It is unideal for career parents and must be challenging for single parents.

I will answer our second subject in a third message, to avoid losing this typing. There is a back button on this cell phone but I don't see a forward one, nor wow to close individual screens. I only see a "close all" option; which is what I do.

It looks like Leanne goes into detail by chapter 5, so I will only add to the career and telephone subjects. Thank you both for starting with gusto! It was a productive bus trip, Leeanne. I am excited to open our book tonight.

I am hampered by the annoyances of a picky, small, one finger, virtual keyboard and will make it short until our landline phone, powering our landline internet, is back for our PC. Unacceptable news is that Bell doesn't seem to work on repairs evenings and week-ends and gave a shocking estimate; December 27! Telephone and internet are essential services, especially when living in the country!

This keyboard sucks and must only fill in, which I am grateful about, including for e-mail and business. Good news is that I have more internet data this month than the phone had suggested was left. That leaves the keyboard as the limit rather than internet allotment, thankfully.

With this information imparted, here is the conversation I can plunk out, in a separate message box.

My friends, I trust you know I prefer YOU to start conversations and suggest buddy-reading plans. Therefore, I am leaving this thread for you to open. Seeing a lot of posts gathered up, regardless of when I can join you, will be a treat.

I am finishing a Billy Crystal autobiography and have used too much cell phone data in one week. I might read your entries so keep typing them. After making this awkward typing and thread-making effort to tell you the gift it is to post last, please let no one dismiss it with "we could wait".

Leanne will be on a bus, we all need happy togetherness and happy, relaxing days, and tomorrow is our start date. As my beloved Dad had fun exclaiming for us children: "On your mark, get set, go"!!!! 🐈

It is okay Shirin and it is only me. What did your comparison of words I dislike mean? That people are different? I was unoffended; as I said, only asking. Cell phones are hard to type on. I look forward to using our PC on-line again.

I leave you to read the rest. While you typed this, I added much more to my book post. 👑

That is right: I do not understand what you were saying and ask you to clarify please. It sounded like you said I called Kerri odd, when I am very odd. That part is true, no problem! The debate is only on her book interpretation, never a remark about anyone personally. Was that your issue?

Agreed, we friends speak honestly, comfortable there is never anger. With our questions, we are seeking to understand. You already know I admire your linguistic bravery, grace, and intellect.

I asked both of you to prompt me on parts I forgot but have a strong memory for clues and information. Here is what I know, still using a data limited cell phone instead of our PC! The novel might have implied Maura was the Mom but she said Artemis was gone as soon as Blue was born. We also know Blue was born 18 years ago.

Maybe her capacity as a mirror sent Artemis away. Neeve was transported by a mirror but I don't know how that worked. Kerri suggested an adoption and that the three resemblances prove they are relatives. Agreed.

I don't see why Kerri thought Richard was put off by illigitimacy! He is a compassionate, modern sweetheart like his parents in 2014. He only disliked his hero punishing someone with extremeness. I don't think Richard is a child making up an ideal hero. He believes Glendower somehow communicated in compassion with him, after a hornet sting. His experience of him was of kindness.

Richard and Roger knew about Gwenllyn from history. It was no surprise, Kerri. I do not remember getting a reply to message 24. I thought it was skipped until you both were done the novel. You know I saved your fabulous reactions to the conclusion. I was replying in detail when our internet source broke; our town’s phone line. A week later, those jerks are starting to fix it today!

Yes indeed, the pace of many stories were slowed by details we didn’t want. I would like to have read a brief scene of Richard and Ronan finding out about Adam’s appointment and skipping school to join him. How did they evade teachers? It was suspenseful when Harry Potter and friends avoided teachers!

Although Blue should have updated Calla, she had permission she had not requested before to use their car. Calla had never paid attention to her and is not a Motherly figure. She gave Blue an excessively negative reaction. Everyone else used the communal car regularly. Blue merited a turn too.

What drove Noah bonkers? At Jessie's home we might think it was Gwenllyn’s unhappy vibes. He also went nuts at her university counselling (we do not say "college" in Canada). I don’t think Noah was with them in the cave nor know why not.

While I fill a bath, I will disprove the century believed fallacy that "The Turn Of The Screw" was unclear, or free for interpretation. Recognizing information is a mystery solver's bread & butter! I am not divulging story contents, only emphasizing facts in the introduction: the story's genre itself! It was an 1800s novella that began with a prologue.

Supper guests were asked if they want to hear a ghost story, considered extra scary for pertaining to two children. Their host said it was acceptable to tell something so sensitive as a ghost experience because the lady, whom he knew, had just gone. It was a fact. For 100 years, some readers tuned this out, or were misled by synopsis writers and academics who thought the crux and genre were vague.

This lady who was a governess briefly saw a man and woman in a window, from the driveway. She reported it to the head housekeeper, concerned about thieves. No one was there. When this housekeeping manager got their description, she was shocked that they sounded like dead employees.

The governess saw them a couple more times, the boy saw them, and his sister said she did not but acted as if she was lying. It is natural either way, for a child to block something uncomfortable or honestly not see a ghost. She was angry to be asked.

I suppose that confused unfocused readers long ago, into missing all that was written, with no question about it. Some readers wondered if the lady spooked herself into thinking she saw ghosts, or was unstable. That is an insulting outmoded perception of females and anyone who acknowledged the existence of ghosts until recent periods!

The lady did not have the paranormal in mind. Her report to the manager was seeing *people*. The other large point of evidence is this: you twist what was written to propose the woman was unwell and are in error to propose she thought of ghosts at all. Leave the book pages as they are and the answer is clear that she saw ghosts, unknown to her.

Do you see now, why questions about Artemis' sense of time and whatnot, feel like a tiring, needless stretch? He said Maura can't be Blue's Mom. l don't recall anyone saying he can't be her Dad but Maura DID belatedly tell her child that this was the truth. He vanished at her birth, she guessed he was trapped, and she found him. I caution questioning what we know. If Maggie created drama over a statement of surprise like you wonder about, it will be lame. If she adds a dimension to these novels that we enjoy, it will be impressive and emotional.

I'd enjoy your opinions on the things I asked last time. For example, do you like that Maggie skipped action details, Anne Perry style?

Do you feel sad Matthew is a guest on Earth instead of a native? I do.

In real news, please monitor Canada Post's strike on-line. You can see the status and send mail when it is over. I will be relieved to finish our private and group conversations thoroughly with both hands. Message 24 is well worth seeing anew, meanwhile. It has retained fun discussions that you both naturally, put aside while completing the novel.

Shirin, I don't understand why my neurological condition was mentioned, called misophonia. It is not about "disliking" certain sounds, as if it were deliberate. They are painful awhile afterwards, not only when they occurred, so I told you two friends about it at the beginning. I deleted those private revelations after you read them. Misophonia had no part in my recent posts.

I would not criticize anyone in a personal way. Literature wise, I think Kerri is stretching something that was stated plainly, the same as Noah telling readers he is a spirit. I suggested in friendly counterpoint, that we believe what is written unless Maggie shows us not to.

Power outages are serious and we understand anyone needs to save entertainment for when power is stable. In the country, we have well water that works with electricity. Power outages remove water access, a serious inconvenience.

I can't type anymore than this without our PC keyboard using landline internet. The best I can do to keep pleasant conversation going is ask you to reread message 24, where I think I posted my excitement of finishing our novel. It will be fun for you to see it now.

I *LOVE* both of your excited posts after you finished the whole story and will answer everything you wrote when our technology is restored on Monday. It is hard to type this much on a cell phone keypad, using one finger instead of trained professional typing using all ten fingers.

Shirin, I have no trouble among friends with my guesses being incorrect. Maybe these characters had little time to talk like Kerri said. I think it was lazy of an author to want us to believe no one peed or ate for years. Please never imagine I would disrespect either of you, or deem that my views were perfect. I don't understand what you were saying.

My review of an old story discusses a time when I am certain people missed what was written clearly: "The Turn Of The Screw". I wondered if this happened again but am obviously waiting for Maggie's resolution of Artemis' odd comment. We want Maura to be Blue's birth Mom, don't we? Kerri, I explained being unsure of hours has nothing to do with Maura updating Artemis about Blue - who was there for her pregnancy. She likely spoke awhile before being enchanted by the spider's door. I don't know if he spoke. In reality, I sure know that those who are unconscious hear us.

I wonder if you saw my points about Blue seeming as young and inexperienced as the age she knows she is: 18. If correct, she can't be the daughter of sleepers. She is not old. Perhaps she is related or reincarnated to the woman on Roger's flag. We learned from Gwenllyn that Artemis might be old but that is fine for having kids.

Do you consider Gwenllyn an underused, anticlimactic event? A live relative of the fabled Welsh king ought to be a startling plot turn; proof that the raven king is real, in Virginia like they thought. She validates for the questers that beings of 600 years can be suspended. Richard tried getting information but no one else exclaimed: "What a discovery"!

I wish I could type better. W eare going to another town to shop anyway. Look, I knew you would say exactly this, about being instantly frozen. I consistently feel that you are stretching this, not accepting the dialogue word for word. In any case, those words are evidence to the contrary. Artemis said "She can't be your Mom"; not "Wow, did you have a baby while I was away".

We need Shirin to remember Joe's death or to check the book. Your paste ended with the identical paragraph that did not include what we want to clarify. I am grateful for anything personal to read this morning! Thank you for you e-mail too, sweet friend.

Shirin, don't lose interest now that we can gush about everything together! Please reply to message #24, where I recorded my reaction and summaries of what each novel brought to the quest story. "The Raven King" is for answers!

Maggie skipped some details that I guess is okay. We don't know how Adam's pals discovered his court date or how Richard brought Calla to Jessie's place. I think Noah told him, after calming down from his freak-out, or Richard suggestebd they try that recent location. Detail after big events and to leisurely close stories with satisfaction are the areas of importance. Augmenting her afterglows was my sole critique of Anne Perry, whose later novels are longer.

Your revived animals in a cathedral cavern are two gorgeous, favourite quotes, Kerri. Before our phone line plopped out, they were replies I most looked forward to making. Along with Shirin finally enjoying my end of novel exclamations in the message I identified a couple of paragraohs ago.

Our landline, our source of internet, cut out before I was done my response. I am not going to peck out a full reply on a new cell phone I am learning to use.

To keep us moving, how did Joe's creature die and specifically kill Joe? I think Ronan's spider killed Joe's. Then that creature fell on Joe's car, while he was in it?

I had typed examples of Artemis' doubt or surprise being nonsense after two weeks in the cave with nothing to do but talk. Short reply is that you are reading too much into a plain statement.

Shirin, I don't think Neeve is evil; only seeing if Piper needed assistance after the rockslide.

Shirin, read message #24 now that you are finished. Let's compare our feelings of this experience! I am going to reply to your reactions too, which are wonderful.

Hello, my friends! You know the pile-on of not writing for a day because you had things to do, then returning to insightful, exciting posts. I was occupied again, then you both wrote more of your inspiring, enthusiastic updates. I took a trip to town and now am ready to write. Where to begin, with so much to say? I will follow the advice I give: start small. I don't need to write all of it today. Give us something to talk about and I can check that topic off of my list of great subjects to write about.

Help me clear up a detail about the previous novel. How did Joe Kavinski died? I think his creature died and fell on a car. Did the crash kill Joe? Did something different kill Joe, whose removal expired the creature? I ignore negative or superfluous characters. I hope Maggie did make an mistake. A dreamer should not die because their dreamed image did. They should be able to discard items or return them to Cabeswater.

One more bit of food for thought, before I dig into our principal subject. Do you remember why you did not react to Noah saying in response to being cold: "I have been dead for five years"? Did you read fast and miss it, or not take it seriously? I don't believe in stories being indirect, having hidden meanings or being symbolic. I like to follow the descriptions and dialogue on the pages. They should convey the story they are telling, even if we can relate big significance to it after. However, did you think it was a figure of speech?

In our present novel, no one is commenting on a big revelation Artemis made. You are wondering why a 600 year-old person could be Blue's Father. No one is reacting to this: Artemis told Blue "Maura can't be your Mother". I look forward to writing again.