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

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

I'm careful not to spoil. I figured you knew of Elizabeth's art courses already. Knowing of her business acumen a little early is fine. We tiptoe as much as we can until we're both done. :)

Yes, we lost respect for Elizabeth's abortion because Johnny wasn't capable of a relationship that deserved a second glance. My previous boyfriend was similar with his time. He insisted I went in knowing he belonged to this or that sport and it would be an outrage to smother someone's activities. Smother was harldy the word. I made excuses for him so often about not bringing him places, people asked if he lived out of town. It was when he ceased those original activities, that I put my foot down. "Hey, I accepted the crazy schedule you started with but if space has opened up for us to actually BE a couple; you don't fill it with other shit"! Anyway with regards to abortion I'm a mix. Pro-choice so that the option exists but pro-life in the hope that such a decision is not made at a whim. I'm pretty big on 'thou shalt not kill', even vegetarian. ;) I get what you're saying about Elizabeth's age giving her a pass, even though Johnny wasn't worth maintaining. For me, it was the absurdity that she had an income and parents who wouldn't freak out. Even church-going Aisling said: "Forget marriage and just have the child". It was a dire choice without verifying how Johnny would infact be. Maybe *if* he threatened to throw her out but even still; not a just cause.

Yes, about Violet. I've wanted to ask you why Maeve would create that circumstance for her. She did what it took to regain happiness and succeeded. She was radiant with Harry; reborn. How on Earth does it make sense for her to fall ill?

The first question I meant to ask you is: how do you find Maeve? Do you agree, without ghosts or mystery, doesn't she sweep you away? I don't care for multi-perspective narration either but it works! I understand all of the characters and couldn't picture it any other way. She defies, genre and style, the usual components of why I love the books I love. I love this one to 5 stars.

Nobody would guess. ;) But I admired that you dared and am honoured that you did. I hope my reply comes across well because I went for it without editing. Hoping all good things got across.

I agree Nina. The rare time I hurried, like December 31st, I haven't gone back to fill those few in. So 14 books wait for my usual 300-word write-up. Now that you've seen our challenge review pages, I hope you like how they are set up. I will catch-up with yours soon too. :-)

Here's another discussion block, so it's easy to dive into the ones we wish to. :) It turns out Elizabeth's Dad had a fun side that an enthralling game of bridge, new friends, and Aisling could bring out. Elizabeth took very good care of her Dad and was right to learn the game with him as a hobby. Notice Violet lit up and was a whole other person after shaking off whatever bogged her down. When you arrive, I'd like to mull over why Maeve Binchy proceeded as she did. Violet became bubbly after solving her problem and extremely happy. I adore Harry and love that he became an invaluable member of Elizabeth's family. I love the antique couple and Elizabeth's business ideas, like an art tour. Both girls grew up well.

Did you, like me, find yourself enthusiastically swept away by this story quickly? I loved almost every part of it, which is extrememly rare in a book. The most poignant parts of this whole novel for me were when Aisling visits England and when Elizabeth returns to Kilgerrin. It was joyous to bursting. You would be at that spot. When you get further with the Tony section I have a question.

Concluding between what we've discussed: I agree George's personality remained a wet blanket. He'd been though a war, a displaced daughter to ensure she was safe, and his wife no longer felt a flame for him. But I think Elizabeth yells at one point: why blame her? Did you do anything to keep her? If my own spouse acts a bit snappy I say hey, we don't want to live among harsh tones. Let's keep that flame happy. But my fiancé is my kind of person most of the time, George just wouldn't be.

The point of the whole tale seems to be not to let something you're dissatisfied with, ruin your whole personality and outlook. And that everything is all right with these two friends having each other. When I was younger I had a best friend but it became a sprinkled assortment, which worked better because *she* could be a wet blanket. ;) Now that she's broadened her mind she's running in other circles but was always too flaky for me to bear anyway. The kind who too frequently answered "I'd love to come out but can't this time either because...." A sprinkled assortment worked out better, then I came to regard my mate as my BFF. We all have a lifeboat. :)

It's a relief you didn't *see* my attempt at conversation. And our tabby seems back to normal today, although one wonders why they might have an upset stomach in wee hours. Feel free to e-mail on anything you might wish be private. Yes, sometimes I separate comment chunks. Well met with the conversation fodder today!

Obvious discussion, what of Elizabeth's decision in the story? Story wise, one part is glad she has no trace of Johnny. But it is obvious to you and I, above thirty, it came from a young mind to drastically 'keep a guy'. Aisling had the wilder personality but Elizabeth had parents who would react calmly. There was no reason for this decision and desperation seemed out of character for her. Spiritual influence shows disparity of thought process best here. Her choice was businesslike.

Given Aisling's faith, I admire her when she said Elizabeth didn't give Johnny a chance to clarify how he would swing. Even she said: why not have a child - marriage or not and Johnny or not? I lost a bit of respect for Elizabeth. Not for the topic of abortion itself although she had ample support, including her own career. It was a dire viewpoint to take, for a cheating guy. Do we give her points for immaturity? I believe she was 20.

A "reply to one thing" person, is a squirmy thought for someone who *never* goes to the effort of writing anything rhetorial. ;-) Surely you'll be glad to know my kitty is improving. Man, I loathe worrying about them. I hope you enjoyed all the other observations above.

I'm not picky, I'm fun. :-) Honestly, if you just write one line to create a review page URL, it doesn't matter if you fill in a larger essay later. There are ways to shortcut, when you and I read so many and do so many!

I also hope my guests feel it's helpful that we party all the way to February 28, 2015. Woohoo!!!! I'm reviewing for your challenges too. I can't believe how many "Guilty Reads" are suprising me, to not be the pieces of shit they looked like. Hahahaha! To my surprise also, I am finding many "Out Of This World" situations.

Yes, our Goodreads threads are for posting whatever we wish. Such original titles! As you know only 1 of each 10 is needed to finish. But if you find extra subjects or colours, keep on linking those reviews! I'm sure we all like to see more ideas and my members shouldn't feel extra books they read, have no place to fit. I need to post a prize activity for "Gentle Spectrums" and "Ethreal" so I'll do that shortly.

Hello Nina!!!! :) Yes. RIEDEL is German, after all. Canadian ancestors come from all over the place, so RIEDEL challenges = all languages! Nice move, hitting both games with one book. :) You can list everything you have in mind, even if it isn't reviewed yet (I am behind 14 reviews). Review links only matter, when you put it on our Wordpress review pages anyway. xoxo, Carolyn. http://cmriedel.wordpress.com/gentle-...

When you reach Johnny, of course we'll talk about what Elizabeth considered. I'm sure we'll agree the guy wasn't worth beans but I too am guilty of spending too long, with two guys I knew weren't "it". When you reach Tony, I look forward to running an opinion by you about what his problem was. Be well Margaret. It's very good to find your thoughts today. I wanted to tease and ask how in the fleef & flarn you ended up with an 800-page version! Let me know if you've been swept up with the novel immediately, too. Happy reading.

My first impression of book characters: I found Violet unhappy rather than cold. You knew she loved her daughter and had affection for her husband but their routine fell flat for them. I've learned in my own life, after much advice from my Mom, not to assume friends aren't keen on hearing from us. Many aren't letter-writers and that was the case with Violet & Kathleen, even her daughter's birthday cards at first. We each prioritize different things. Notice that Violet cared for cleanliness and manners, to the point where Elizabeth made the already-strict Kathleen wonder why she hadn't brougt up more considerate children! But she cared more about small affections and big attention on birthdays. It was her turn to think Violet cold for not writing out a birthday card (or her husband for that matter).

At first I found Kathleen harsh for smacking kids who were merely eager to bring that first letter into the store. But yes, of course we fall in love with her the minute she opens her arms to great Elizabeth. Everyone hit their kids up until recently and the harshness (like Maureen beaned on Christmas day!) went along with the equally-outward show of devotion. Yes, Aisling kicked ass defending her brothers and I loved how it was written that "She was formidable".

Sean I disliked from the get-go for his impatience with Elizabeth. I might be irritated about my parents sending me on errands but it would have nothing to do with the guest. And I'd have been excited to meet someone from out-of-country. No, I didn't know him enough to mourn either although the pity is that he'd grown excited before he died, writing his Mother with joy about visiting the pope in Italy. We do know by the tear he shed when his Mother gave him shit, over Elizabeth's arrival, that he wished his folks weren't so annoyed by him. He wanted to please and I know what it's like, the eldest kid getting more shit than others and expected to be perfect.

Violet I liked, as soon as she started writing her daughter more. First, it was about the stress of the war. She willingly pitched in to work, she wasn't all glamour. I respected what she said about why struggle paying for a fine house when there's no money to run it and it isn't a time of joy. And frankly I admire someone who does something about their unhappy situation rather than settling for second best or misery. Her husband understood at once and didn't lift a finger to win her over. Elizabeth got to see her Mom happy for a fear years.

Good day, Margaret. This morning our 9 year-old grey tabby appears sick. He's asleep. I'll read beside him this afternoon. I feel unwell unless my babies are well. Ron thinks cats can have a flu so that might what's zipping through. Whatever preoccupied you, I pray all is well too.

Hello Margaret! I have a discussion forum warmed up for you right here, so let's hear how you find part I! :-) At first I hurried to bite a big chunk because I'm used to 300-page stories and I had no gauge for a mammoth novel like this. Then I found I couldn't stop reading, up to 4:00AM last night. Anyway read all of my early reactions here. I'm dying to hear yours!

Well Margaret, when you have a chance to gather some impressions, I'd love to collect them here. Since this is your first Maeve Binchy venture, I'd love for you to lead and I'll reflect off of what you share. :) Carolyn.

Good morning, Margaret! Today is among the most pleasant Mondays to which I've awaken. To think I worried about reading a chunkster infused by Maeve's voice. I dragged all the way through Susan Wittig Albert's mere 276-page novel and at last hurriedly finished "The Tale Of Oat Cake Crag" last night, in preparation of 'buddy reading day' with you. The Canadian challenge closes the day before Canada Day (being July 1st), so I immediately gave our selection a peek last night, lest it not cover too much time.

I must have started it by midnight and Margaret, it is so good as I knew Maeve Binchy would have to be, that I didn't cease until rueful admission that it was 4:00AM! Today is a perfect day, not only looking forward to talking over these wonderful pages with you but because it isn't a day in which I need to clean outdoors, exercise the cats, or do anything but THIS. Even Ron is off work on vacation to join me in tending to the days but he has gone fishing this morning. (The alarm struck at 6:00AM deep in my peculiar-dreaming R.E.M. sleep). I couldn't be more pleased that it is pouring very hard rain! I'm returning to bed with our cats to pick up last night's enjoyment.

Oddly I collected Maeve's work without once looking at what they're about. I've never been into the war periods but it'll be a pleasure to watch you see how this author reels you in on any content. It is like she is conversing with you right into whatever's going on and the pages keep turning, as though it were a skyrocketing adventure. Elizabeth is coming to know an Irish family and the multi-child Mother, Eileen, is coming to love her, a polite English child in her brood. Daughter of her school age friend, who has been a poor writer over the years, she is staying with them through the London war scare. Elizabeth is a connection with that friend who has been poor at writing and Eileen sees that she can bring affection and pizzazz, where her Mother herself hasn't seemed to provide it. The child too is learning to speak up. I know, just having lunch or supper with friends, it does a lot of good to sample how other folks live. I am loving every page and don't wish it to be over any time soon! It is going to be a memorable saga of them growing up. Yours in unison, Carolyn.

I seldom read 'chunksters': books greater than 450 pages. I am embracing comparison with a friend in this thread, reading in unison. It is my first of the late Maeve Binchy's novels but I know her short stories well, including her non-fictitious humour. I expect to enjoy every page.

It's a "slipway", for bringing boats in or out of the harbour. You wouldn't swim off that cement but it made for a great way to photograph us up to the water. I was frustrated that day because we had already delayed our departure for a night. On our last, planned evening together it took a few hours to catch up with our hosts at a pub. Ron & I had spent the day somewhere and I didn't want to leave without one more good visit with them but it took forever to hook up. They left a note about a pub and I struck out in the wrong direction. By then, they urged we not set out at dark. We had hoped to reach 'Tintagel' (King Arthur's Castle) and move on to Wales. I even dropped a drink in my poor friend's lap but it was a fun evening!

The morning of our actual departure, our hosts were in no rush but we didn't want to say we *were*. Compounding that, it was the first day without rain. It wouldn't do not to pose for those wonderful photographs together. My friend is a professional. At our moment of departure, I was more stressed than I wished because Ron had just explained to me that we'd have to cut out Wales. There was no decent time to visit the person who invited us there and we had better head right up to Inverness, Scotland. Anyway I'm certainly glad we have the photos and you couldn't find two warmer people.

Unlike North America, the United Kingdom closes up at 6:00PM. Driving through roundabouts, frought with wrong turns for lack of information and highways with narrow places; make progress slow even if one were an early riser. We were forever stuck with the decision: do we stay a night in this place to see our attraction in the morrow, or do we skip something we had wanted to see? We limped like that until Cornwall. After that visit, we got into a groove.

We seemed at leisure from Tintagel to Inverness (Loch Ness!!!!), back down to visit friends in Peak District, England. The same day we made it all the way south to ditch our rental car at the airport, took a subway to London, and spent our last two or three days there. It was the least favourite, with some misadventure (I forever ban the 'Travel Lodge' franchise and so should everyone else). But we struck a groove there too and I felt great once we recognized landmarks and saw some things we wanted. To do it over again, we'd be much more at ease. The moral? It would mean jobs for part-time people and less conjestion for tourists, if they'd open things until 9:00PM.

No, for reasons I discuss higher up: I strongly feel ambiguity, after investing in quite a sedate novel, came off for me as a gyp. However no argument that Daphne's ending makes great discussion fodder. Nor do I dispute that most of it is very well achieved. Yes, very clear examples of perception colouring interpretation. It's nice for Leslie to get her say. :) No, I don't feel letting her fall was justified, criminal or not. I'm sure she was poisoning him into his menengitis or fever with advance planning to make things look plausible, only in case she / Rainaldo *did* decide on a fatal blow.

There did begin to be evidence she was vascilating strongly about not doing it and simply leaving. Does anyone match my thoughts, in the paragraph just above, of how things would have unrolled if Rachel hadn't died? Also hope y'all enjoy my even broader view of the Cornish area of ocean; with Ron & I at its edge. :-)

If everyone seeing this is finished the novel: what I understand matches a good portion of what I said recently, above. Possibly dictated by Rainaldo (for owing money? old loyalty?) I believe she used herbal knowledge to set the stage for making Ambrose & Philip ill, if it was decided they ought to. It was and thus both men, after nearly a year a piece, became so. Rachel also held knowledge of a killer plant should it come to finishing the job, which it did with Ambrose but not Philip. Her drawer seemed to have been cleared up to go without killing after all. By the discarded tisana tea, it appeared she was occasionally keeping his health iffy.

Because her final cry was for Ambrose, I'm torn about the nature of his death. It appears she loved him. Rainaldo's "hurry up" letter, saying "bring the boy, already but get going", showed a sway towards affection for Philip. I think she grew fond of him as second fiddle, if not the love of her life. I submit she would have married him if not for the husband clause of Philip's revised will. Had she not perished, she would leave for Florence that week and Philip might get over her and they might share benign cousin contact. Sadly he caused too much guilt to consider romance with Louise or anyone.

Perhaps "Rebecca" is more so. I have many unread Daphne titles, I sure will pick it up! I found no suspense in "My Cousin Rachel" until the last while. Everything was nice and friendly; the only chaos being Philip's obsession, not the reader feeling danger. He's the one who grabbed her throat and opened the possibility of a fatal fall. We wonder about Rachel but nothing shocking until Ambrose's third letter, the seeds, and the end.

Now that you're done, I'm happy to chat about the end with everyone keen! The tail end is entirely psychological as well as unsettling and dark. It was too little too late as I feared and I'm not thrilled about an unrequited ending without summing up our questions. But I never felt a lack of meat to discuss on THOSE bones! Also, I put up a photograph of us in Truro, Cornwall I thought you and Leslie would enjoy even more. :) Carolyn