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

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

Kerri, I love reading all about this. It works out beautifully that you lead the conversation in your feelings and reactions to Anne Perry. I delayed contributing, because we were busy with letters and three book discussions but this gave you time to add more, which is my delight. I agree with everything you said. I wonder if I should hold off replying to things that you want to discover in the series, or may I confirm some general things to look forward to? :)

I think you signed off for the night. As Graham Norton says: "Off I go with my story"! I could do without "the big red chair" and dislike that he tumbles some people but know it is fun for local viewers. I hope Graham gets their names afterwards, thanks them, and gives them a t-shirt, mug, or studio souvenir gift. Their dismissal looks abrupt on stories everyone loved. I was on TV once and worked in radio, so I know people are greeted before and after being on air.

If someone naturally hilarious like Ricky Gervais and Alan Carr are there, seeing them take pleasure in a regular person's comedy or story is thrilling. I am also proud to know who the hell British talent like Alan Carr are now. Also, apparently Kylie Minogue is still making bestselling albums there! I like her.

Reading about Bridget Vreeland was a pure joy. She really loved life and her chance to play on a team in Mexico. She loved the sky, the stars, and everyone she met. She dared to dance, sleep outside, and romance a coach. He was a teenager too and kind enough to speak with her about being pushed past his own sexual restraint. I would have winced if he had been 25+ upwards. I was sad to see this powerful, carefree colt feel sad and uncertain but it confirmed for us that this magnificent spirit was human. Our little colt soon rallied and had friends to talk with about her experiences, which perhaps will be in the next childhood novels.

We were not introduced to her Mom or her family's life when she lived. I thought your cancer reference was about Mrs. Vreeland. I would like to know her twin Brother, Perry and her Dad better. As hard as something like this is to fathom, say, and write; you know my dear Dad just went to Heaven last week. I can't help getting personal here. Where we are and how we are feeling in life, opens or closes us to what we are reading and how it impacts us. As I consider our fictional Bridget & Perry, I am very glad I thought about what my Dad has meant to be lately, in the nick of time to thank him for it.

I realized he has been both Parents to me for these 4.5 years. In a good moment, the time I saw him before he got too itchy and uncomfortable to focus on talking, I shared this significance with him and thanked him for being both Parents to me recently. He appreciated it. As a 51 year-old in the position to appreciate the poignancy of your remaining Parent, Mr. Vreeland must be the whole world to Bridget & Perry. I hope Ann Brachares gets that right and says something about it in one of the childhood period novels. I am grateful for my Brothers & I and every child who grows up to be an adult before there Parents go to the Second Chapter. I pray for and feel for those who need to adjust to that big change earlier.

I was stunned but recognized your ability to say you know a lot about sick kids. I have questions that I believe you want me to pose in e-mail instead, so I will defer that part of our conversation therein.

You will see that I am reading Britney Spears' autobiography. You might be surprised that both Ron & I love her music and are drawn to her as a person. If she is on, which I was delighted to catch a bit of yesterday of all coincidences, we listen and watch with pleasure. I did not know much about her and neither did the public, as open as social media purports to be. I am getting that Elvis Presley movie feeling, of horror rising for someone going through strife I cannot fathom experiencing, especially with the public shouting around you for your attention. She is a star figure like Elvis and Michael Jackson. She started early enough to sing with Michael, a performance I am familiar with that I enjoyed when we had city internet. I am surprised and dismayed that she had sex at 14 years-old while dating her Brother's friend. If you couldn't interest me in uncommitted sex in my 50s, I was not going near it before I was 20. Even then I was pressured at every physical stage and reluctantly agreed, to shut that boyfriend up. What matters is someone's comfort level and morals. Sex is something Britney is freer with, which paired with her well-earned fitness, makes her at ease in risque clothing. She is gorgeous and suits it well, as does her confidence level.

Sexuality for her is less set by personal rules but she must have had an emotional or mental reflection or crisis. I knew she was upset about Justin Timerlake's break-up but did not know they had lived together, perhaps because she was young. I guess when you have money, you move out of Louisiana. He was more terrible to her than I knew and it flattened her, like anyone would feel. The press was shitty to her about taking a break from performing, even though she had blown through three hit albums and travelling tours in a row. She abbreviated that early but clearly has a lot more to tell her fans in her autobiography. I have almost 200 pages left and dread what she is going to say. It seems like fans asking if she was all right, was not exaggerated.

You are right that tamping down hormones and getting to know the person behind the attractive physique, would serve Bridget well. Even the coach said he would happily date her, after she is a few years older. It seems like their personalities are compatible. You do get to know each other well in camp, even if you don't seem to interact much. All meals, leisure, activity, and sleep are in the vicinity even if you interact as a group. If people prioritize sex, that needs to be compatible. It is ideal if the sexual experience between a couple is marvellous. However, I think being personally compatible comes first. Unless intercourse is everything to someone, you stay loyal to a partner if sex is not easy, or sublime, or medically limited. This is another reason to ensure you love the person you have met, or with whom you have children. After the bedroom, whether it was adequate or fireworks, you need to be able to talk to and like each other around the house. When an old friend told me her boyfriend, in their early 20s, only said "I love you" during sex; I suggested it was time to pick someone else. After he displayed a number of hangups and excuses, she did.

I liked the camp girls but Bridget was wise to only be open with Lydia. How long could a teenager resist telling one person, who might tell another person, about sleeping with the coach? That would get him in trouble at least with his reputation, even though Bridget would defend her willing participation. As a woman, their undenied attraction made me keen to read the details but I remembered it was a kid Ann was writing about. No steamy details for us in these books! I seldom read romances, so am pleasantly surprised if a sex scene comes into a mystery or something, ha ha. I don't care for pornography, so it is nice to have a little entertainment in a book once in awhile!

Yes, I know all the "Friends" references, even though I liked Joey Tribbiani least. I can picture the not sharing food reference as well as angry Ben Stiller, tweeting a retort at two birds. After "The Office" ran twice and I used my PVR to rewind and look at all the details, including items in the background, I am well versed in quoting and picturing everything from this wonderful series as well. I am holding myself back from reading Jenna Fischer's book, which I know is not entirely an autobiography. I will start with Mindy Kaling's first one and will run for it, if John Kraskinski or Rainn Wilson write their stories. Rainn probably has books about general musings, which would be funny enough to buy. I hear there are "Superfan Versions" of the shows, that are not entirely on the DVD sets. If I can download them and find MORE details to pour over, you bet I will.

I too loved Lena's art. I love Ann describing how artists and athletes feel and think and put themselves in the present moment.

I did not remember Brian giving Bailey a handheld game, only that Tibby delivered something. Any boy who offers to console a girl for crying, is worth a coffee together. Tibby should have gotten to know the guy she had been interested in. She thought she was curbing expectations fairly by not accept a date but how about changing her mind or being friends? I don't know about you but I had many guy friends. They might have been interested in romance at first but many of them morphed into friends, whom I valued for a long time. The two who were close friends with each other, coincidentally moved to different parts of the United States. One visited me where I live now, before going out of touch. Others were part of couples Ron & I enjoyed. I am devoted enough to Ron, that he did not care who I spent time with if he was busy. I returned that trust to him when an ex-girlfriend phoned, wondering if he was single, ha ha.

If managers are professional and consider profits, they would know they lost more business from us than they saved. Asking us not to take plastic or paper toys, or sharing a couple of dollars worth of food, resulted in not selling us one meal plate again. If you have rude employee stories, I would enjoy being entertained. After being customers and working in public, all of us have tales to tell with which to regale each other. Something we were discussing recalled a pushy security guard story awhile ago. My reflection on someone trying too hard was recent. I will see if I remember our topic.

If the movie plot changes were from the first story, please describe them. I am curious but if I see the film, it will be good not to expect events that were different.

I really must have pushed through the Tibby parts, because I have no reflections on Tibby's interactions with her little Siblings changing. Now that you mentioned it, I remember the story of her Parents cleaning someone's house and wanting to upgrade themselves. I remember Bailey's interpretation of them wanting to do even better for their youngest children. I did not think about it anymore or Tibby softening towards the ruckus. I think I chalked it up to her feeling grief over Mimi's and Bailey's passing. I was always glad to get past Tibby's parts and hope the need for that goes away in the rest of the stories.

I enjoy reactions to what I tell and write, as you and everyone must. We speak and write to communicate, which we want to come back two ways. I smiled and laughed whenever you said you felt angry at the two restaurant managers on my behalf and got angry as you wrote about Carmen's Dad.

Did you like Lydia and the kids? I did. I am also pleasantly surprised that we share a four star grade for a novel we thoroughly enjoyed. I am glad you recalled the series little enough, to read it with me. It feels good when you pick up something I did not and I feel just as nice when we harmonize on details and topics.

I see you are reading multiple entries in our conversations. I hope you will check even if I do not write "continued", to end worries about any messages being missed. Scrolling to the end and seeing all of your entries, as long as possible, is a pleasure!

I think we are done here and levelling off personal subjects, which are the fun part.

I suggest you ask for a fresh digital camera as a gift. Even if I had a smart phone, I don't see myself using anything but a camera. I am not a scientist but sense that there is obviously more to camera quality than photo file size. A former friend assumed his cell phone was superior based on file size, to the fancy digital camera they stopped using. The lack of quality was clear, to my eye. You might look up a superb used camera, with so many people thinking a cell phone is good enough. I might do that, come to think of it. I am due and have earned a new camera.

What if there are camera sets in boxes someone does not use? I would save the tax and store mark-up. On the other hand, I want an employee to confirm, from the manufacturer if need be, that whatever I buy has a great flash and batteries, that quickly recharge to take successive photographs indoors and when it is dim.

I loved travelling with our boys. It was the only time they beheld a lake and they shivered at its immensity. It was dark and of course they see well but McCartney & Spirit could also sense its vastness. I did have them on leashes and put each of them in my arms in turn. There was a screened porch at the cottage rental. Once, Spirit ran under the place for several minutes, when the woman bringing the note for me let him out by mistake. Spirit didn't go anywhere else, it was only annoying to wait for him to emerge. Ron was worried about me politely chatting when we had minutes before check-out time but it isn't everyday that a fellow traveller comes to bid you good-bye.

One must be careful with every pet. It is harder to lose a horse and I smile at thinking of the birds you saw. I wonder what kind they were. A woman took her cats camping several miles from my home. Her Parents live around our town and she visited from Winnipeg. Her cats went missing. It must have felt terrible to leave, which I could not do and wait for the week-end to return to look for them. She had to have trusted that her Parents regularly called them. She was pregnant and thankfully found one of them that first week-end, I believe.

The other cat, named Galaxy, for some reason did not stay beside her home partner and went looking for help. I know all of this because when she saw the light of a campfire and cautiously came out of the dark to meow for assistance, September long week-end of 2011: the help she found were Ron & me. She made it to the home of people who would help any animal.

For a couple of days, I wondered if she might be a friendly neighbour's cat but she kept coming back. I checked her ear for a tattoo and there was one. Otherwise, I would have posted her photograph in town and on-line. That is what to do. Thankfully, she let me read it and prior to glasses, I could see it clearly. The Humane Society gave our phone numbers to them and her Parents got Ron's cell phone. It took a long time to phone the people because they weren't home and had no answering machine. Since then, I ensured that my file for Conan has instructions to give our e-mail address and phone numbers to his "finder" right away. That avoids waiting for staff members to be available to retry people's phones or e-mail addresses.

They told me the cat's name was Galaxy. I tried it and she replied to it with relief, that we knew her. I explained that her family was coming for her. I fed her daily but had let her stay free in case she wanted to walk home. The pregnant woman phoned me after her Dad and asked if I would keep her until the week-end. I agreed and kept Galaxy close, who had no need to go anywhere else again. The reunion was lovely. This is the only cat other than ours, who I have seen rise up on two legs to reach for you. It was a beautiful way to spend our four kittens' first birthday. I gave the girl a CD of numerous photographs together, around our driveway and yard.

Kerri, I was able to finish my replies this evening, after message #12. Now I am going to read Britney Spears' wonderful autobiography. I opened my first edition from Ron last night, for our anniversary and loved it instantly.

I really loved Lena's initial approach to Kotos. I think the picture she gave him was a sweet touch.

Do you mean only wanting to know her Grandparents and enjoy Greece? Her Grandparents should want the same thing. Introduce and get along with Kostos, fine but not push a romance for the few months her family had to share in person. I love a girl who does not need a boy, or woman who does not need a man. It became a cliché to become interested in him. I think Lena's emotions were mostly stress from Kostos' rift with her Grandparents, the need to speak up in fairness, and the sadness of discovering he was orphaned. He was apparently good looking but the other emotions were all related to her compassion and concern. Also, the sexiest and fittest guys aren't always the best mates. Sweet people can be attractive but one is suspicious of self-absorption at first, that such people are not superficial.

Lena was very right not to go by looks. She was not very disappointed in anyone she dated. It must have been mentioned marginally because my impression, as I wrote, is only that Lena was a magnificently honest, intelligent girl who did not want appearances prevailing among the people she met.

I disagree with Bailey and Tibby in one regard. Bailey was made to be ALL correct and wise. No one is. She was a very rude person. Later, you appreciated her directness when she had some good lessons about life. I felt that only Bridget was candid gracefully and affectionately. Tibby had been attracted in a boy for awhile and there is nothing wrong with that. We think it is the outer package but what we pick-up of a personality is what attracts us the most. So what if the guy wore gel and spent time on his appearance? Most teenagers do. There, the author got the guru idea wrong that she was trying to attribute to a child, facing a time limit on life. The point Ann originally made about Bailey is that she looked past the video games, freakish nails, and low wage retail manager geek. The guy Tibby liked for months wears gel and the moral cherry atop the novel's resolution, is to turn down coffee with him? He was being nice because she was crying. He was not even asking him for date. I would apologize for THAT reaction in this novel, instead of Rebecca looking at a chequebook.

I caution you not to think I will feel uncomfortable about hospitals, generally. It was the tender, end of life care of cuddling someone in a hospital bed, or holding their hand. Hospitals and cancer had so little to do with my family, praise God, they are not difficult connections to me. Similar personal details are what is powerful and too fresh.

Bailey and her authoress were imperfect, including forgetting that her protagonist foursome needed no lessons about friendship and its diversity. Tibby spent her life with close friends of all backgrounds and temperaments. She knows all about acceptance, tolerance, and reaching out a caring hand. However, she made light of hobbies she did not share and I agree that Bailey taught her that.

I am surprised you forgot about the animal. You read the story in print first, didn't you? Fair enough that the film did not feature Mimi. Tibby's grief over Mimi is highly felt by me and was too much for this novel. Ann did not make her hamster biology clear enough. She named a lot of human family members, with whom Tibby helped. When Bailey came over and asked: "Can I hold her?", I thought it was one of the babies. It was odd when she said "I have not had a pet". Chapters later, the idea of talking to Tibby's Sister did not change when Tibby said she forgot to feed her. Even when she poured seeds, I thought "That is something healthy we would eat". After, I knew it must be the hamster who had been introduced much earlier, whose name and species the authoress needed to remind us of upon reintroduction.

We don't know of Tibby's other films, only that she filmed activities with her girls. Ann did not convey she was talented, only that she had ideas. It reminded me of Herbert Wells: presenting the project but you & I doing the filling in of how any of it works! Bailey learned about equipment but took Tibby's plan and found human interest stories that Tibby did not see. You don't teach intuition. That is like me with great photography. I only have to add the word "amateur" to be clear that I will not do in technically challenging settings, or where the photographs must work out.

You & I agree that Ann was being dramatic about pushing a character wearing the jeans, when they did not make sense. You bet that there was tons of time to bring any good dress to Al's wedding.

We also agree that the authoress was portraying a tender moment with Bapi & Lena, which should not have cancelled Lena learning to speak to him. He would have been overjoyed at a few Greek sentences from her and they could talk more. They could also go back to reclining together peacefully. Being contemplative people was not the only reason they hardly talked. As the expression of confusion goes: his language was literally "Greek to her"! From humour, I turn to how much your suggestion touches me, Kerri. I would have swooned much more if Lena's new words were "I love you" and "I am glad I came here"!

It is helpful to know there is a second film and that it shows the fourth story. I might have watched it before reading those books.

I often think of stories to tell from real life. They are good comparisons or morals to help paint a picture of understanding for people. There is a North American (not just "American") restaurant chain called Boston Pizza. They have a chest beside the front desk with tiny toys, which children and adults can dig among for little treats. Offering a trunk full of toys for free, means they are cheap items likely worth a penny apiece, our smallest denomination. No one has ever cared how many anyone takes home. I get them as side gifts for my Niece & Nephew. I don't fill a suitcase for Pete's sake but I might choose four or more to send my family over time.

I kid you not, one full of himself manager told me that I should not be taking more than two at a time. He made an issue and took me aside. I politely listened, refrained from a "whatever" eyeroll, and complained instead, to the waitress who served us after Ron & I sat. I am a smart person but am surprised by rudeness and am not always quick with retorts. Had I ordered first, or received the bill and been treated like that on the way out, I would have fluttered the bill in front of him to remind him of what we had spent. I could fucking buy the treasure chest for a quarter, if you know what I mean. The waitress, in her words agreed "It was a douchebag thing to do". Ron & I did not eat at that Boston Pizza again, for years if at all.

On the theme of minimum wage managers thinking they need to control some flimsy corner of the public, the other time we were treated like thieves was in a nearby restaurant. Yes, I guess some people take advantage of buffets with a flat "all you can eat" price. We were not rowdies, winos, or children. I had already ordered a meal, Ron wanted the buffet. I tasted his plate while I waited for mine and a fuckhead came flying at me, to say he would charge me for a buffet meal if I kept it up. I told him I had already ordered a meal and that in every other restaurant, it is natural to try each other's food. We never returned there at all.

I worked for minimum wage for half my teenage and early adult job years; was chopped a huge percentage of my salary the other half of my work life, by temp agencies contracting my employment. I never acted like a dickhead. I knew where my bread was buttered (you see what I did there) and wanted to remain professional. It is essential to obtain further temp assignments and I take pride in the reputation of my own God given name. Like Tibby, I felt unsuited for and disliked by retail jobs and dramatic managers. She should have left retail. I did.

I can't wait to see what the girls are like, together again after that summer apart and with their newfound confidence and wisdom. If it was Ann's first novel, I look forward to seeing how she grew better, too.

Hi Kerri! I hope to trust that: (1) You would have kept posting without waiting for a formal "reply". (2) You will raise fresh thoughts and ideas, not only reply to mine. I wish you would go first but maybe it has been said enough that you don't hesitate in either case. Most of all, if one of us is preoccupied and the other person delays posts until then, they don't only lost the opportunity to be daily reading entries instead of book reports. It stretches waiting and freshness. If you were busy after I eventually posted, it wouldn't do for me to wait for your entries either. You get it, right?

I love reading your thoughts just as much. I am eager to read the rest of thoughts that are your own. It is nice that we agree on items we criticized. Any novel you generally enjoy appears to get five stars, so it was a pleasant surprise that you agree as much as you do. Other areas, receive more of my understanding than you expected, which will be fun to talk about.

I hate the "R" word and use the synonym "sexual assault". I wouldn't miss it if it got edited out of view. Absolutely no experience with it but a terrible crime that I will not read about, fictionally or not. No, the coach would not have been charged with statuatory assault. Bridget would not have laid charges or complained because her hormones hoped to be intimate with him. She was almost 16 years-old, a small loophole that would not have been fought unless Bridget claimed to have been coaxed into it. I am surprised it came to mind, having nothing to do with Bridget. It is not a subject I am keen on.

Your point is excellent for everyone considering sex with someone, new or not and at any age, that cravings or curiosity does not mean being ready. There is a greater spectrum of considerations than readiness, pregnancy, and disease. The authoress kept details and discussions to a minimum but I understood Bridget when she described how she felt. It was more personal than she imagined: meaning too intimate for someone she is only attracted to hormonally. It is the same conviction, feeilngs, and comprehension I happened to share with you by e-mail, about spirituality and morality. I have ZERO interest in "a booty call", unless it is my personal mate. Sex is too huge emotionally, mentally, and sacredly to offer as a mere activity in dating.

Understand: I don't make myself wait until the time or person is right. I HAVE NO SEXUAL INTEREST unless I am in love with a person. Someone added similar morals to the "LGBTQ" group, which I think is excessive. It is only about morals, man! I think a lot of people are good looking and might have sexy dreams about them. I wouldn't want to walk up and touch them.

I appreciate everything that comes with choosing an intimate partner and for me, my monogomous mate. Knowing how someone looks naked is supposed to be a rare, special event and the trust and comfort level need to have grown to be sky high by then. There is a major difference between Bridget feeling sexy and self-assured in jogging and swimming clothes, versus undressing for sexual bonding. All she knew was Eric's first and last name, town, and career. Sex is reserved as advanced step in a relationship, unless both parties ONLY regard it as a solely hormonal act. By then, you should feel love and trust and know your mate's favourite animals, music, authors, flowers, colours, places. You should have been through ups & downs together as friends and already confided feelings or situations in each other.

It was not only about Bridget not being ready mentally or age wise. She got a glimpse that this act belonged to the advanced part of a relationship. Seeing that it didn't fit and was out of place, is what had her ill at ease. She wondered if she squandered something she should save for another time or person. I think she learned and calmed down enought to know that no, it was not too late. She had plenty of years to enjoy sexuality in all its glory: lovemaking. Sometimes we end up with a few partners because the relationship went as far as possible and it is fine to move on with someone else. As long as we build up to the level sexual intimacy deserves in the relationships we are in.

Many of the issues feel so easy to resolve that I wonder why Lena doesn't calmly point out her Grandmother misinterpreted the situation and Carmen not have a chat with her dad without running away!

You are right. Her Grandparents were odd for saying they didn't want to talk about what happened. I hoped they meant the men's fight, not a Granddaughters need to discuss how she felt, traumatic or not. Her Grandma knew English well enough for Lena to say: "Listen, you need to hear this. Kostos only saw me at the pond. I ran away to get dressed".

I am more understanding of Carmen in retrospect, than I thought. This is the gift of great discussions between us friends! I just love it. I am good at remembering my feedback no matter how long ago I read the book. I customarily alternate between reading a bunch and then breezing through a writing queue. But do you know what, Kerri? I have not had an easier time knowing what to say in reviews, than when I have discussed those books with you. It is all done for us by the time we write those mere 300 words (my limit), after all our chatting here.

So! Carmen should not have the temper to throw a rock. She should have shown her Dad she was upset enough to leave, so that he would wake up and prevent it. Have that honest, healing converation come out of them at last, although I remind myself that it is cheap and fast to fly to North Carolina from where she lived. What is the town setting of this series? Anyway, getting a hint of Carmen's rage or disappointment after she left made it more awkward to talk: a serious disadvantage I hope Ron is clear about once and for all! Taking a breather around the yard or in front of the TV is one thing. Renting a hotel or worse, leasing an apartment makes it harder to talk and indeed, to resolve everything and come home. Living or visiting in the same place, means having to say and resolve something or have some peace that it IS NOT over, within the day and in person. However, do you remember how many times Carmen tried and how often she was dismissed or unnoticed? She was only 15 years-old but I myself would feel awful if anything similar had happened to me. Imagine this.

Carmen believes she has a whole summer of Father & Daughter time and is soaring with happiness over it. This is her other equal Parent whom she sees so little, it is a pleasure to yell out "Hi Dad"!

Carmen does not know he has a girlfriend to see in between, which she could tolerate. She obviously doesn't know her Dad has moved into her house and is engaged to her. There is no time to get to know her or caution her Dad, because the wedding is that summer. What adult could take all that in?

Carmen was looking forward to seeing her Dad's apartment. We aren't told how long they were dating and engaged. She wanted a piece of her Dad while he was still no one but himself and her Dad. She is also piled on with having to handle the disappointment too, that just being with her Dad is less likely anymore. She has to balance all of that out in her mind and emotions, before she could contemplate being happy for him and getting to know Lydia.

Carmen is prepared to deal with all of that, don't you agree? She accepts a room and supper with them, they are very nice to Carmen. What went sour is her Dad not bending over backwards to make her feel loved, prioritized, and heard. She tried to express her feelings but her Dad continued up the stairs, closing the space for her to answer and explain that she did not have a good day. Either conversations were not opened ended enough for her to answer much, or he was too uncomfortable and unfair to hear Carmen express discomfort. If someone does not forwardly ask "Are you okay, Sweetheart?" and wait at length for you to find the words and composure to answer, how many of us would speak up? Carmen was so confused, disappointed, betrayed, and upset; she needed someone to coax her or listen while she worked out her feelings and put them into words.

On top of hardly stopping to talk to Carman and ask about her feelings in private, I was disgusted that her Dad kept inviting the in-laws into their personal space and postponing the sole tennis game he had reserved! When he stopped at the soccer game on the way to FINALLY play tennis, I thought: "I will freak out, if this author goes low, into the expected drama of cancelling the tennis game". Of course, Lydia had a fit over a business hurdle that could not wait, the one day Al was prioritizing his Daughter? She was selfish for that and Al was too stupid to understand he had stretched Carmen's patience thin, by screening the soccer game, on their one damn day out. Being a house guest does not mean sharing quality time, like Lena and Bapi communing over breakfast.

Lygia was stressed about having to find another reception hall. It was inconvenient but did not need to impose on Carmen's pittance of conversations with Al. So her only time with her Dad was cancelled by a soccer game and hall rental problems. She agreed to be in the bridal party of someone she had just met, for her Dad's sake and to try fit in as family with his Dad nonetheless. She wondered if remarriage meant seeing him less often, or hardly speaking alone. At the height of these questions and heaviness, the dressmaker unintentionally makes Carmen feel oversized and alien to a family she has belonged in longer than the wedding party has. All she wants to do is be babied a little by her Mom and Dad and vent about the remarks that were made about her appearance.

This was the worst time to not receive his focus and time to talk. She had tolerated enough and had no patience left. She took off. It would let her think, calm her down, and was the only way without words or interruption, that Carmen knew how to get her Dad to worry about how she felt. It was a sure way to get him to ask if she was okay and privately talk about it. It would be gratifying if he would search for her and sit down with her on the riverbank alone. It pisses me off if Ron does not ask how I am in another room or in the yard and I have reached age 50, with a whole set of skills and experience for coping with slow-minded males.

Kerri, can you imagine pain of walking back to the house because your Dad had not sought you out as you hoped and finding that they had noticed NOTHING wrong at all? Or that they had decided they could only wait for Carmen to return but were calm enough to eat supper without her?! I almost understand throwing the rock and wanting to shake some shock into those fucking people. I almost understand leaving. Only experience and intelligence taught me that WARNING that you have been pushed to feel like leaving is enough. How her Dad did not insist on speaking to her by phone thereafter, loses his respect for me. The window break was violent and extreme but it was not about that and the Dad of a 15 year-old should know that. I was never prouder of any of the kids, than when Al had listened awhile and Carmen pushed on, assertively saying: "I am not done". I like Lydia and her kids. That man had a lot to learn.

I look forward to our Anne Perry conversation too, something to brighten my life for sure. Your friend, Carolyn.

I want to start by reiterating the form book discussions take: keep posting each time you have read a bit. If you were busy, like the time wasting of goading Protonmail to work for two days and counting, fine. This is not like letter writing where you wait for turns. If you write again and again before I chime in, go for it. This novel does not have chapters numbered, except if we counted them. However, a page number is a good approximation to avoid spoiling anything. Keep on posting your notes.

I had already received the e-mails you sent but thank you for sending them where I could reply to them. Proton had better stop the fucking "session expired" glitching and damn well show my e-mail by tomorrow. I don't have time to waste on this, ever but I have a houseful of my parents' items to organize and more to gather the next week-end or two.

I am in the position of having to discuss the whole novel instead of a little section, which is not the way buddy reading should go. However, I am taking a break from wrestling with Protonmail to catch-up with you. I was concerned you might not have posted until I reminded you that short notes should be on-going. Alas, I am finished the novel. Oh well, perhaps a summary will be easy and leave plenty of conversation space anyway.

I loved 3/4 of the characters, a very few side characters, and loved the writing. Unfortuantely, Ann is one of those maddening people that jangle misophonia by spelling "backwards" without an S but thankfully that only occurred once. I hate "towards" lacking an S but was able to ignore it. Her descriptions were beautiful, warm, and usually true to life. The girls themselves were well acquainted by me and I didn't care that their families were mainly known by name. Some authors like Kate Morton load on excruciatingly superfluous detail and skipping the family members and keeping the main scenes going was fine by me.

My soothing enjoyment waned when Lena and Carmen began having trouble and I never enjoyed Tibby, who always had anxiety or anger. You might call it the natural drama of a story but it became formulaic. Everyone was given a difficult situation at the same time, even the vibrant Bridget. It was like flipping a scene set of a play, then everyone worked the rough scenes out and took a bow when the novel closed. My criticisms are few but I decided four stars suited how wonderful this novel is, with space to place my ultimate favourites higher. Comparison should be considered.

Tibby's hamster did not need to go to Heaven and also Bailey! Lena did not need to like the guy we were proud of her not liking, when her Grandma hoped she would have a summer romance. Lena never said the boy threatened her. Her Grandparents reacted at seeing her upset and she needed them to listen carefully to her English to set them straight. I was annoyed with Kostos for approaching Lena often but am glad he was going to the pond himself. I don't think Lena had trouble with boys. I read that she wanted the focus away from a person's appearance generally.

I do not identify my precious Dad or beloved Spirit with cancer. It is distant from who they are. What you did not warn me about and should have, is the pet going to Heaven and a visit to a hospital. Those are way more personal and way too recent. I got into the bed and cuddled my Dad too. I spent hours in hospital rooms with him and my wonderful Mom, where thankfully visiting hours were disregarded. I hate hospitals now. I had hardly been in them before.

Bailey saved Tibby's story from being boring. Losing her beautiful, elderly hamster was too sad. However, Carmen shone when she went to comfort her and Lena was a God send for Bridget. It was an awakening education for Bridget to crave sexuality but find sex too personal and serious for her young age. You don't act on yearnings just because something is exciting, she knows that now.

It was unnecessary for Lena to fly to Mexico, however, because Bridget was returning the next day. I love how Lena and Carmen handled their families, even if the drama seemed made-up. They both learned to communicate no matter how unused to listening their relatives were, nor how uncomfortable.

Carmen could have arrived before the wedding and not surprised her Dad. Even booking a flight the night prior to flying, she could have worn or brought formal clothes! Putting the jeans into that situation was tacky. We get it, they are special and gave you courage: now put on an elegant dress.

I don't know Carmen's or Tibby's talents. Lena is a wonderful painter. Both she & Carmen have relatives that make learning a second language easy and rewarding. Bridget is a wonderful athlete and confident girl, who appreciates where she is. So did Lena. Tibby and Carmen were complainers but I understood Carmen's reasons.

What Dad would not tell his Daughter he was dating and then that it was serious? How did Ann think she could sell anyone heaing about new people, living with her Dad and a wedding set? I felt proud of all four girls for being brave in rough situations, including Tibby for loving her hamster and Bailey enough to cry.

I liked Tibby developing respect and interest in people such as the video game champion, instead of laughing at them as if they were odd. Tibby's environment and personality were unpleasant, added to it that she did not bathe for days! I can't stand that. Mom & I bathe no matter how unwell we feel. It makes you feel better. Feeling gross does not. I never liked Tibby's chapters and her emotional scenes sprang from boring or too sad, even though we appreciate that she was touched to being a better person by her hamster and Bailey.

The only place I liked any extra characters were Lena's Grandparents and Sister and Bridget's teammate, Diana. That black girl was special, smart, skilled, insightful, respectful, and fun all rolled into. I would love to make friends like her. I disliked Carmen's Dad and step family. Her Mom was sweet and comforting. I didn't mind skipping the other characters to keep the story interest high.

I was surprised that you wanted to reread this series, after finishing all of it; not only the first story. You also saw two films. However, if it was over a decade ago or you don't remember the novels clearly, it is my pleasure to keep on when we are in the mood to travel with this girls again. I dislike their rules for the pants, starting with not washing them and costing mail in a short span of time. However, the premise of confidence and beauty shared between the friends equally is lovely.

Ann Brachares is great but used a few gimmicks to raise emotion, that came out false for me. The novel was lovely without pushing unbelievable behaviour. For example, Lena had decided to learn Greek phrases for her Grandpa. She decided they both enjoyed being quiet. That does not mean you should not speak a few sentences with him! Also, letters and the pants arriving the day they were leaving certain places, is trusting mail farther than anyone would in reality. The girls knew each others' itineraries.

This book was warm and just what I needed to read, as my dear Dad's life was closing here, in the First Chapter of living. Thank you for sharing it with me, my own dear friend. Love, Carolyn.

Kerri, we agree everywhere on the subjects that have arisen from this novel. Even if I were a binge reader or watcher, I want a break from Rebecca's whirlwind of changes, even positive ones like being wealthy and working in fast paced writing and television. I hope she genuinely seeks what she needs, rather than justifying worse spending. However, I look forward to seeing how she is and what Brandon is like. I think I saw an error: he said his lady had broken-up with him a couple of weeks or months prior. However, she walked through the film studio with him.

I did not laugh at anything in this novel as I remarked in your well-written review: neither Jesus quips, nor actually supporting a luggage industry that steals fur and skin from animals, especially babies like calves! I have grown educated enough that I do not accept words like "slaughter", "calf skin", "veal", and neither "leather bound book" with anything but disgust. Writers often brag about leather books, chairs, meat related food and I would respect anyone who broke this casual use of animal death vocabulary.

If not for that and Rebecca learning that Brandon had a girlfriend, playing with suitcases would have been a fun scene. Yes, every scene with her parents and how much she felt free going there any time she wanted, was beautiful. I think a phone message to her roommate was enough. Her roommate did not need to imagine she was forced to phone her and pretend to be okay. Rebecca left word and did not want to talk any more than that. Opening up to her parents was a must. No indeed, don't let your parents think you were stalked. Asking them to help stay away from an unsettling creditor should have been enough. I did not think her Mom had a spending problem but was only keen when Rebecca was with her.

Her neighbours were very generous in comforting her by remarking that asking her advice did not mean they needed to act on it. That was true. However, it was tiresomely stupid that Rebecca did not emphatically correct: "I work at a press release writer but am not trained in finance". Feeling embarrassed at a meeting is one thing. She should be able to correct her neighbours and also easily clarify that she had no attraction to their Son.

Sophie kept pushing things, perhaps trying to mimic physical comedy but her gimmick amounted to being dumb. I respect and advocate that women can assault men and call out her inappropriateness. I wonder if we think it is less serious because men are unlikely to be harmed by women and female assailants are less common than men are. However, one might emotionally push a man past an appropriate comfort level, as women have been goaded into sex. Experiencing an inappropriate touch or suggestive push can be distressing, like it was for Brendan Fraser. However, you noted that the fictional boyfriend could be less forceful than punching. Self-defense can get desperate if a person does not know how to ask or stop an aggressive person.

The hardest part of the Hallowe'en photograph fiasco was the couple expecting to see the unsuccessful photos. It was awkward to see that it wasn't going to work, as suspected, when the lights and pace got worse but I felt I did my best by asking a colleague to take over the photos. I conveyed it to the couple but they wouldn't hear anything, including that I was unqualified in unnatural light and technical training. Even though I said their photos were transferred to the colleague's camera because mine did not suit their room, they had me trying my best as their photographer for still photos during the evening. They had no right to be disappointed that mine did not turn out, when I said I switched to the colleague as soon as I saw the problem.

I needed to emphatically say "No" no matter how uncomfortable I was with their certainty that any camera & flash would do. People see my excellent photographs but do not consider where or how I succeeded at them. Natural light requires minimum technical know how, where my natural talent shines. Even if a wedding were outdoors, for which I did turn down friends years after, a wedding should be recorded by someone who is trained to guarantee every contingency will turn out clearly and well. People take photos more than ever but I think there is less adeptness at doing it well because people think the quality of a camera (or cell phone) is all they need. Get all those feet, ears, and tails into my photos of Henry, Izzy, and the other animals please. I am good at photography for an amateur. I do not have the training or equipment for a wedding.

My digital camera has served me wonderfully well for memorable locations. Even its flash and batteries are not good for dim light. About ten years ago, Ron was among those honoured for a job milestone. I had my digital camera to see if I could get a good one or two of him accepting his gift at the front of the dining hall, at the Christmas banquet. I knew I had to hold it still and try to record photographs were he was still enough for it to be clear instead of blurry or dark. I expected to pose with him up close afterwards.

It was far back enough that everyone having a smart phone and a camera was uncommon. The former boss asked if anyone had a camera to shoot everyone's award and I knew not to offer that. At Ron's turn, I discreetly photographed him. The former boss said "Oh, I guess there was a camera" and his bitchy Daughter blabbed out "Hm, it was only available for Ron". This wasn't the place to explain that the dear little camera was not for distance flash situations. I would have done better walking in front of the podim, then I would have needed to have stood there for everyone. Abbreviating details to calm people in that situation, does not compare to Rebecca's inability to speak-up. I said I had retrieved it from the hotel room in time for Ron's award. People need to fuck off from bugging me to taking charge of photo events. I hope higher quality digital cameras with excellent flashes and batteries are available nowadays. They have been on a low priority wish list. My cameras are wonderful: in natural light.

I think how often the creditor found Rebecca at events was an exaggerated gimmick of stupidity. I was ready to throw something when her boss divulged her neighbourhood, she had given both her names, and the creditors recalled her. I also wondered if Rebecca quit that job for the television and freelance newspaper ones, or if she related that in the second novel.

Rebecca saw that information had stuck with her but it did not relieve the hundreds of pages wherein she acted like a factory drone. I had a job of cutting & pasting translations but had to know French to read and correctly identify my sentences and paragraphs. I could do that but even at my high level, am not brushed up enough on extended vocabulary to qualify as a translater. However, I do not know if Rebecca was supposed to only copy memos. She might have written press releases if she had not been lazy.

Yes, we enjoyed the story when Rebecca helped and cared about her neighbours and paid attention to the wrongful actions of an insurance company. We always like people and animals caring about each other and I prioritize and feel brightened by stories like that.

I don't know if Sophie put effort into the logic of this plot or if it was a fluke but I notice two good morals. We discussed Rebecca's concentrated work leading to better suited job opportunities. I also notice that Rebecca being honest enough to take care and state her intentions about writing an article to the opposition, no matter how awkward it was, served her well. Brandon could not complain that she did not reach him, warn his company, or ask his assistant questions. Doing the work right does not only reward yourself and the others who read it: her fairness was covered from any complaint by the opposition.

I don't think there was anything to apologize about to Tarquin. She peeked at his chequebook, tacky rather than rude to him. A little moment passes, or makes an impression on the other person about if they want to pursue them or not. It isn't an issue to resolve. She was uninterested and should merely have been honest with her roommate. She tried dating him and her roommate accepted it. Tarquin got the hint that she was uninterested when she did not go to the theatre, which was all she needed to say anymore.

Terms like "fancy" and "sorted" were weird because as I said, Canadians do not use them the way Brits (and New Zealanders) do. Fancy is an adjective, not a verb and "sorted & out" need to go together, which means physically organizing something. It is a relief to read North American and notably, Canadian stories after awhile. :)

On the subject of impressions we keep to ourselves, many years ago, Ron & I met a nice woman at a camp. It was the special time we took McCartney & Spirit travelling with us, where Ron took the unbelievably unique photograph of our boys & I posing at the Ontario province sign. We don't see cats travelling with families. :) At the camp, an assertive woman chatted with us. I was more comfortable with her than Ron was. She left me a nice note, about being a solo woman traveller who was glad to have a conversation with another lady. She offered to keep in touch.

I am keen to write people I have met. I reread her note a few times for a couple of years and eventually gave it up. It was a little thing and goodness knows, I was pushed to vent and beg for peace in my new neighbourhood afterwards. However, the woman yelled at someone rushing by fast in a car or truck, which I could understand. Animals and people must be kept safe. Yelling as her first reaction, where she had stayed temporarily, coloured her character as explosive. I yelled after years of feeling disrespected, unheard, and a prisoner to noise around our home. The Ben Stiller role on "Friends" demonstrates how I felt, so I let that meeting stay in the past.

Ha ha, I have to laugh! I arose early to look for condolences and caring words and found more of them, including from you. I noticed that the day my Dad went to Heaven, you spent more time than usual with yours. I am happy for you & him. I know Sue's name but put his in a future letter. I composed hearty conversations in both of our book threads and as I finished, your nice letter came in. You went to bed, understandably if it was 1:00 AM. I spent all my waking day working on all kinds of writing that you will find to reply to anew. Hee hee, thank goodness you enjoy this as much as I do, Kerri.

Ron & I chatted over breakfast, he went for a bike ride, he hoisted two flowerbeds of hollyhocks that yesterday's rain tipped. Then we picked delicious produce from our gardens. I cooked a rice goulash Friday for supper. Ron is making a Swiss chard pasta for us today. Tomorrow, we are going to Mom's & Dad's place. I am enjoying saying that.

The other productive task I did, arose from seeking my other Ann Brashares books. I thought they were behind a HUGE stack of Clive Cusslers and J.D. Robbs on the shelf by the cat pedestal and west library window. They were not in the left corner but Sophie Kinsella was. I could take a photograph but you can tell how tall our cat pedestal shelf pile is, if you have heard of Clive Cussler and know how big his hardcovers are. Several of his and J.D. Robbs' paperbacks teetered around them. Well, it dawned that the wonderful Ann Brashares was BEHIND them, in the middle!

I took most of the front books out, sat them on the handy pedestal and Barbie camper near me (yes, mine from childhood) and organized the lot.... after retrieving Ann from the very bottom of the stack against the wall. I stood most of the Clive Cusslers upright, making most titles visible and handy and laid a much smaller quantity in a pile. The fun news is that I have all six of Ann's books, besides fan volumes "Letters" and "Scrapbook". Except the first novel, THEY ARE ALL IN FIRST EDITION!

Two outside the "Sisterhood" series look good: "The Last Summer" and most notably "My Name Is Memory". What have you read and how many films have you seen, if there are more? Reviews are low for her 2014 and 2017 novels, everyone saying they are fans of this sweet series but not those. That is fine. I don't need anymore to read, if moving a drop in the books we have, makes my biceps sore.

In continuing my praise of my hundred page introduction, my second favourite story is Lena's. Lena is smart, self-assured, does not give a shit who her Greek Grandma hopes she would date, is a painter, and appreciates the special place she & her Sister, Effie are visiting. She does not minimize herself but does not believe it is right for people to focus on her looks; intelligently dressing plainly to avoid that.

I also love Cameron but her story became unpleasant. Her Dad not tell her she was walking into a new family. Preferring to say it in person was a poor choice. She needed to be warned and her Mom, who should communicate with her Dad in South Carolina, did not know he was engaged and in a house either. Before that, I loved all the writing about how Carmen enjoyed her Dad and was not bored being asked about school and regular stuff, because she saved it up all year to tell him. Ann wrote beautifully about that and how this is their first full summer together. I hope she gets a lot of one on one time with him and acquaints his fiancee & her kids.

I am disinterested in Tibby, who seems to be pushed to portray a tomboy or rebel. There was such a character on "The Facts Of Life", if you saw that 1980s TV show. Confidence and individuality can be conveyed without acting tough and while being feminine. However, I appreciate the confidence and uniqueness to herself and that she is a beloved, equal member of this quartet of friends. Her story is also less interesting because she doesn't travel, is angry about missing everyone else and not in the buoyant mood of the others. No one wants to read about a retail job.

Is the child she meets with leukemia the cancer topic? I worried it might be the girls, or story of Bridget's & Perry's Mom. If this is all, it is fine. Now Ron has made that wonderful, freshly picked, vegetarian, Swish chard pasta lunch, so I am off for that. Thanks to our meals, your eyes and fingers get a break! Xoxoxoxo, Carolyn.

In two night readings, I have zipped to over 100 pages. Stories, which for me include autobiographies, go by fast for me because I am compelled by the people, places, feelings, and goals they feature. They just need to be written well, without dislikes or clichés, and this book is. I would call Ann Brachares a fine writer, a high quality authoress, which surprises me from popular, modern fiction. I guess we look to classics for being well written, don't we?

Loving the characters and wanting to see them through their story helps too, as much as this positive, happy atmosphere does. Problems are little but when we get to them, we care about the protagonists and they aren't isolated, like in many stories that are wretched to drag through. They have a huge support network.

I did not have a big circle of mutual best friends but very separate people whom I saw one at a time. I had a best friend, who is still in my life as one of my "closest". Now a few special people, among whom I include you, are "my closest friends". Then, there are others I can call on in need or for fun. Many are via the internet now, so those I can see and phone nearby are important.

I was thinking of how my experience compares and when I had larger selections of friends, they did not go together, unless I threw a birthday party. I also have wonderful Cousins who are my age but only those in each family go together. My Mom's family hardly knows my Dad's, among relatives who are living nowadays. I guess that is partly because the 2/3 of us children who had a wedding, married out of town. Therefore, watching these pals be a quartet of best friends together is sweet. I love the unique storyline of their Moms giving birth together, meeting at a pregnancy exercise class. Kids who meet in school are going to be born the same year, like my childhood bestie is but their unique bond was given an ingenius, completely plausible back story. Every family is unique and every story thread is built so well, I admire it.

It just occurred to me after I got started writing, that modernity is a gift that keeps on giving in the books I have found. Besides a few special authors like Anne Perry, I feel disconnected from historical fiction and absolutely relish stories written in their true time. This is modern enough, without anyone bogged down with smart phones and I am loving every word of it! Adding to all these positive attributes, dividing between four families and four locations leaves no room for boredom.

I love Bridget in Baja, California the best because it is pure joy and discovery. Here is a girl who knows what she loves, goes for it, and appreciates every instant around her. I love that for someone only about to turn 16. I applaud her confidence in herself, especially with a Mom she would miss with all her heart, clearly lost far too young, at both their ages. I dislike sports as you know but am loving how much I am learning from this positive space. Reading about how Bridget feels about jogging, soccer, teammanship and why she is good at jogging without much practicing, are revelations to me. I am uninterested in those activities but love watching her shine and enjoy her passions. I relate to being comfortable making friends and stepping into a community of strangers. As a temp, introducing myself as the new girl was a regular event. I loved meeting people, animals, and insects as a child anyway.

Similar to Anne Perry, Ann Brachares (I just noticed they have a similar first name), very skillfully narrates how everyone feels and what is special about those situations. She informed us that Bridget liked strangers and made her vacation comfortable by inviting anyone she pleased, to go swimming or to sleep under the ocean stars. A 16 year-old just should not have flirted with a 19 year-old. One could marry and have sex maturely, with some wisdom and earning power. The other is a child.

I will continue after Ron's beautifully fragrant vegetarian breakfast, our week-end pleasure and communion together as a couple.

It is comforting and lovely for me to have several conversations going with you, Kerri, personally and in literature pleasures. A question it is helpful to pose is: because you read but mainly remember the story of "The Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants" from a film, is there a such thing as a spoiler? May I post whatever I like, even if I am way ahead of you? I seem to be breezing through this novel as well and am glad to love it so much, because I need a light heart, calm, stability, and peace.

If you do not recall the book and do not want the differences spoiled that might be in it, you only need tell me so. Should we use our normal way, to give a chapter and page heading, so that we can postponing looking at some of our entries if we want to? Is it okay for me to generally gush about character traits and broad story threads? Or shall I treat this gradually, as a new novel for you?

There are some books I read so many years ago that I do not remember them. I want to read them and will enjoy the fun of using fresh eyes on them and making discoveries within. Recall improved amazingly well after I got to know authors and became aware of books belonging to series. Even better refreshers are my reviews, which are so naturally paired with my regular reading, that I can't believe I only began to create reviews (with a few exceptions) around 2012.

{Continued from message #15.}

I relate to edging into a strange situation. You know me for loving to take photographs and being good at it. So did my co-workers. I shoot most of my photographs in natural daylight. Nowadays, I use automatic cameras where the flash is adequate. Frustratingly, I still don't have a superb flash, or batteries, that regenerate quickly. My exceptional camera is manual, on 35 mm film. You have to focus each photograph. Focusing in the dark and not guaranteeing your flash will work well, is a double challenge. Unless I have faster film in natural light, manual focus cameras are for portraits standing still only.

Now picture my retail boss asking if I would photograph her Nephew's wedding in her basement. They did not know my excellent photographs were in daylight, over many attempts on film. I told her this and that I am unqualified for weddings but they were sure an amateur was good enough and were determined to save money. It was my mistake to not say "no" until they listened to me and reiterate my inexperience and lack of tools for dark settings. I got roped into it, because I had a shower soiree in which to test my flash in their basement. I said if the light is on like this and we do still portraits, it should be okay. I did say my flash was not ideal and that I was not efficient at this part of camera use. They waved me away.

I guess I knew they wanted photos of the wedding in progress, which I only now realize is more appropriate for a video camera. People seldom owned one. I see now that they hoped I would capture as much of the day, as closely as photographs could stand in for video footage. It certainly wouldn't do on a manual focus camera but I did my best.

To my horror and later theirs: they started the wedding with someone turning OUT the lights (in my boss' basement!) for effect, played the "Star Wars" theme, and galloped down the aisle so fast, the naked eye could not follow them. I just remembered, this being all the way back in about 1993, that it was a Hallowe'en wedding and they were in costume. The darkest solstice night of the year was also outside the windows: a day of the least light possible on the Earth did not enhance any quarter!

I quickly turned to a co-worker with an automatic film camera, who was also good at photography. I said the setting was not good for my camera and she agreed to take over. I could finally explain to the married couple later that the conditions required our colleague's camera taking care of their portraits. They wanted me to do still poses with them, which came out blurry anyhow in the darkest of possible Earth settings, with a poorly synchronized, economical flash. They still looked at the photos I took, rather than deferring to the other girl and were aghast at their results. I felt like crap. I had spoken up but this was a time when I should have firmly ended with "no", even though they should not have needed me to decline so firmly and repeatedly.

You can see that I understand getting into uncomfortable situations but hope you see that I differ greatly from Rebecca. I was only shy about declining as hard as these people needed me too. There was no misrepresenting on my part. I am talented at photography but dark scenes and flashes is a whole other ballgame. I was asked about a wedding several years later but emphatically said "no". I have a good eye and instinct but you need a professional.

I did not feel the improvement suspended disbelief because here, was finally a part of the novel to enjoy. As odd as a television offer might sound, newspaper headlines garner interviews and general media attention. Doing well there does lead to more work. If you thought it was a stretch, let's call it a symbol of good work generating a positive effect that trickles down. I want to read about the new, matured Rebecca, perhaps next year.

There is so much to say even about a disliked novel but it is because your writing, wit, and intelligence compel me to say more. Also, we did appreciate the improved action and ending enough to read the second novel. What is your concrete answer: you will read it if you find it in person, or are you willing to order it? I often find first novels of the lowest quality and that an authoress and her character picks up. I already own the series though, many in first editions. I found them repeatedly and put wrinkly copies in my sale pile.

A fun fact: the little girl who lives north of me, surprised me with a visit a few weeks ago. Alexis brightens my day like this from time to time. There is no way to my street and the major road, without driving a roundabout route from their oddly situated, larger land, thus we gave permission for them to walk back & forth to play with friends down our street. It is seldom and has been a long time, so Alexis was overjoyed to see me in one of the gardens and ask me. I marvelled at how she has grown (age 14!) and invited her to choose books for that recent birthday. Apparently, her young Mom again has ANOTHER child, already age 2!

I was surprised she choose volume three or four of Ann Brachares' books. The early 2000s are on the old side for Alexis, which does not matter to a fellow reader. Mainly, I wanted her to be clear her selection was in a series. It was neat to learn she had read the others and was eager to have the sequel. I see myself being very glad I collected the whole lot! I notice there are some offshoots but I think I will find, when I go into the library today, that I have the main novels. They were everywhere. I likely have some first editions and this is a series I imagine wanting to keep. I am only dumping Sophie Kinsella's first in my bargain bin so far and I think the sequel is in New York.

We share incredulity for this novel, with relief and gratification at the end. We agree the character feels stupid, shallow and in conclusion, false. Rereading your previous entry has me marvelling anew at things you observed. You are right, the way you described liking the fit and newness of your skirts and rings, is different from how Rebecca spoke of clothing. Now that I think of it, she did list items, colours, and brands. You are right, there is a dullness about her and her supposed passion that I did not notice.

Referring to her boldness with a date as assault was unexpected, because I thought of eager kisses leading to trying his zipper. It is true that not respecting "no" immediately and needing to be pushed away, crossed a comfort line. We see men as wanting sex more automatically than women but if the answer is "no", you go away. I guess a difference is, men have little fear of being overpowered but pushing sex is wrong anytime.

One point I have wanted your take on, is if you were as tired as I was of the too numerous mishaps: losing a job, a pen mark in a book. You hated the lying like I did but wasn't pretending to know a language extreme? I don't know about New Zealand but think of my personal example with German. In North America, you don't presume no one can test your Finnish. Come to think of it, I recall London having everyone except the English in it! It was not like Ron & I expected from books or television. It brims with foreign residents, like many cities. Further to the seriousness of saying you speak a language you do not, it was another stupid scenario that this novel had too much of. Would you agree this was the problem, more than unrealistic spending behaviour?

Having no care for her job industry, not reading the magazine under her arm, which I pointed out should be at her office for free, annoyed me. Few of us work in our dream careers, at least at first. Didn't you take some interest when you worked at a place?

I know a lot about discount clothes and accessories because it was my first and longest public job. I delivered fliers when I was little, then babysat regularly. Two of my first sympathy e-mails about my dear Dad yesterday, are from the eldest child I cared for and her Mother. She became one of my Mom's best friends. The eldest girl remains dear to me and is now a Mother of many in a blended family. Talk about taking an interest in your job.

I came to loathe working week-ends for little pay but excelled at my cashier / sales job. I did my best in the offices at which I worked thereafter. Then, I was a professional temp. You have to behave well everywhere you go, because reports and references enable the next jobs. As a result, I have a lot of experience in a lot of industries. My favourite permanent jobs were in radio (I met Burton Cummings many times and once, Randy Bachman!) and at CAA. It was actually wonderful to have dreaded my onetime geography teacher but discover that with ten seconds of focus, that I am superb at it. Give me a blank map of North America and I will fill in all of our provinces, their states, and all of our capital cities. I love using maps.

The least interesting jobs to me were a clone agricultural company, which I vividly oppose but I loved being near the many plants. They were born however they were born. I had no care for insurance, at CAA or the huge company where I returned as a temp for years. I made friends there, though and enjoyed my wide variety of office and computer room work. I loathe reception and tried to avoid it. Doing it as a temp in government offices was better. Translating French courses for our military was a very special assignment that I repeated, too. Here, although the military is not for me either, it felt neat to learn about it. My staff were wonderful and my French improved. Oh, to be paid the full wage, instead of an agency taking huge cuts from temps.

I seem to see our problem with this novel coming down to the authoress giving Rebecca no personality, at work or home, except to shop and even that was mindless. Yes, fright should not have pushed her into that last frenzy for duvets, slippers, and robes. I do know addiction makes no sense and people might act something like Rebecca did. I could see someone using the excusing "What is a few more dollars if I am already in trouble" but the point is, stopping and saving every cent is powerful.

Thank you for saying you understand our home debt as needed and chosen reasonably. We do go big on used book sales but it is one way we splurge, not habitual. We save hundreds by stocking up on books we like there, instead of if we had ordered each one on-line, used or not. I add books I might not need but only at a low bargain. Ron & I work daily at reading most of our collection. His biggest complaint is freeing our space and I agree with him.

Something that occurred to me this morning, that I am glad to remember to write this far in, is to shake my head at how many clothes anyone remotely like Rebecca might have. Kerri, I buy nearly nothing and my closet and drawers are full. I share half my closet with a man but have two bureaus. I was given formal secondhand clothes by a friend of Jennifer's about 20 years ago but donated most of those pieces eventually. I have a few suits I might fit again. I have more blouses than anyone needs but those that fit me were preserved for decades. I also have my precious Mom's wardrobe. I will share what I don't fit or need with loved-ones as first choice. Thereafter, I will sell or donate items that will better serve other people. For now, it is A-okay that the function of my Mom's clothes are a comfort to me in her absence. In our land of all seasons, I have an ample, great variety of clothes to interchange between.

You & I agree about not buying drinks or supper items we can make at home. If I am out long enough to want a beverage, I select juice. Of course, suppers out are delicious and where Ron & I have smiling, light-hearted conversations. At home, he cleans up quickly. It is odd not to drink coffee but I hate novels or actual people depicting it as a "must have". It is something Ron & I enjoy throughout the day but we microwave cups until our carafe is empty. We don't abide waste.

I recall that New Zealand and Australia are more related to England than we are. Your accents and manner of speech resemble it. I don't use words like "sorted" without being followed by "out". I say gas, not "petrol" and mail, not "post". That one sounds strange to me because it is a verb. Pet peeve #1: "garden" is where you grow plants, not the whole yard space! Anyway, you preferring tea makes sense in your culture. You might find it odd that we almost never have tea, even though we own many varieties. They are packets, not loose. We don't mind heating one bag and sharing it in two cups but use teapots too. I brought home my parents' teapot from my childhood, which they only used occasionally as well.

The internet in the year 2000 is interesting and something I know about. I first tried a very rudimentary Apple in highschool in about 1988, only for a class. It used a cassette tape to load files. In university, in about 1992, I was briefly introduced to Macintosh again but disliked it. These and my first PC, used the large floppy disks, followed by small disks. In university I also tried the internet for the first time. Using a computer and the internet required basic typed commands in Dos. I was no good at Dos but rapidly began chatting on the forum of the day and loved e-mailing the few people I knew who could reciprocate. I made a little circle of friends through this at home in Winnipeg, with happy memories. In 1994, a boyfriend at the time sold his first computer and this is when I got on-line at home.

I am telling this history because in 2000, the internet was available but few people had it. I guess libraries did and it certainly had to be a fixture of the financial sector and journalists. I like that Rebecca cared about her neighbours, family, and friends and turned out to be a good writer. I sympathized with her being nervous about being on television and debating, when she was pushed into that. However, when I was liking the novel better, the aspect of not being upfront about not being an expert brought it down. That might be why I gave 2 stars, along with the good storyline coming in late. Just say you are fighting for your neighbours and are a journalist but can not give financial advice. I could not like the character for not having the nerve or personality to speak up. {Continued in message #16.}

Dear Kerri, I started this novel last night, before putting it away to sleep. When I laid down, I suddenly was having a conversation in my head with my dear Dad. My Brother confirmed the time I made sure to take note of, this morning. It was real! Spirit communication works and I received Dad's first attempt!

I am happy to say, I instantly loved this novel from the first page. It is positive, bright, heartwarming, and inspiring. I think it will be funny too. Sentimental or emotional parts will be all right. They will be handled with love, surrounded by family & friends. I am in a serious, sorrow head space anyhow. I love the close Moms & Daughter friends. I love the way all body types feel beautiful and confident in those shared jeans.

I will gladly continue our Sophie Kinsella conversation when you post in it again. I think you will find the end improved but will let you write there. With love, Carolyn.

Rest in peace, my dearest Dad! Have fun in Heaven with Mom. Discover bountiful wonders and joys! Please guide and send our Conan home, now that you can see all the way clearly. We love you as much as you love us, with all of our hearts! With love always: Carolyn, Ron, Angel, Petal, Conan.

Do you know what I love, Kerri? I alluded to this in our e-mail letter today: I love that you vented your face off! You are sweet, you read just about everything without penalizing a subject for darkness or imperfection. You seldom view family challenges as woe. Now that you are speaking your mind privately and in entertainment herein, it is a doozey! I am as distracted by sorrow as I need to be. We aren't even answering each other about this novel yet. We are each like a toy top, with plenty of spinning momentum to let loose and go! I think we are so much in agreement that instead of a question and answer, we each have an ample list of complaints to lay into Sophie Kinsella's debut! I also love that your ranting is written uniquely from your reactions, giving me fresh issues and a way at looking at similar ones, to admire and agree with. I thought I had my bitch fest of this novel covered because I used up the word count of my comment (or soap) box, on the dot. I admire you for raising things that I did not and these fresh subjects are a pleasure to take up. I usually know why I arrived at my thoughts. When I do not put my finger on it and you do, it is exactly the gratifying fun that I am keen for.

It seems obvious but you observed more clearly that Rebecca wanted everything. It seemed like she had trouble curbing her coffee, muffin, and magazine routine; even though breakfast and lunch are necessities and not the serious problem. If there was a sale, she justified partaking in it. Many of us do. I act on reading material or whatnot that I decided I wanted if it cropped up at certain prices. I thought that is what Rebecca did, having made the round of local stores. I winced because she came upon too many sales without covering the costs. As a homemaker sharing a spouse's income, I insist on only buying what I can pay off completely in a month. A credit card is merely a convenient month of grace before using savings. I do not permit interest to accrue because I do not give those billionaire companies a minimum payment bonanza. I understand debt rising, if a few special opportunities appeared at once. The best example is medical bills for a loved-one. New Zealand and Canada pay for medical care, therefore we are considering beloved animal family. Rebecca just kept following sales and you are right, that she wanted everything. I saw that most of them were not items she had anticipated.

Our invitation to a wedding in England in July 2009 was a must because Ron & I sensed we would find it hard to fit in the money better than we could that year. It is a dream come true that we went, especially to Scotland. The sudden marriage of my Brother followed in October, also not to be missed. Toronto is in Canada but nonetheless required an airflight, cottage, and car rental. Very well, two lovely trips for someone who seldom travels are twice the memories made! In May 2010, my favourite band from childhood was ONLY coming to one Canadian location. Thus, Ron & I returned to the now married Timmy & Andrea and treated them to behold A-ha's performance with us! We stayed with them and were treated fabulously but bought another airflight.

We learned our apartment company owner was rejecting animals after renovating. McCartney & Spirit are our Sons and among our most brightest reasons for living. Therefore, with three trips being worked off and having no down payment planned, we bought our first land and house in August. By the September long week-end, I kept my promise to help animals more directly after owning a house and fostered our beloved, precious Marigold. As soon as Angel, Love, Petal, Conan were born; I knew the five of them were ours. By March 2011, we asked our city veterinarian for the lowest possible prices for three spays and two neuters, with ear tattoos. The good Lord knows that Conan's shall come in handy.

In 2012, we needed to replace one car and bought our Mazda. Every year, we supported vet check-ups and vaccinations for seven felines. Over the years like everyone does, we needed a new washer, dryer, dishwasher, and plumbers for a variety of reasons. Everyone handles car repairs too. Vehicle gas and home electricity are not cheap and the mortgage will take awhile to clear. Debt is high but it is for necessities. I do not bring much in yet but rectify that by hardly spending money. We really do believe in and enjoy using what we have at home. I can't bear the thought of paying for coffee like so many people do. I only buy what we don't easily make ourselves at home. I only go to Winnipeg when I need to and for seasonal fun, so that I use no gas at all. We grow a lot of our own food and freeze it to last well into winter. The books and music I buy for education, sanity, and pleasure are secondhand most often. I already have more clothes and jewellery than there are places to appear in them and drawers and hangers for them.

I could not relate to Rebecca, for spending money after already being overdrawn. You pointed out that nothing she bought was on a wish list. There are know-it-alls who think they are geniuses for remarking "some people are like that". I know shopping addiction is real but it seemed false and exaggerated in this fictional character. We both object to comparison to the harm of substance addiction.

My main problem with this novel is that consumerism that was already bollocks, was overshot by endless situations too stupid for readers to believe anyone would get into. She was fired to keeping jeans from a customer. She had to buy a recipe book because a pen mark got on it. She was bored with a cheese sandwich lunch, when she only need to make a more delicious sandwich or salad. Cooking did not mean buying new pots for food that was new to her. Wanting a charity sale bowl to please a disappointed seller was nonsense. Buying lemonade for a few dollars to please children, or a little something to brighten a craft sale for a good cause; sure. Dropping tickets into a family or friend's wedding social raffle, sure.

"Socials" are apparently unique to Manitoba. We rent a gym and throw dances and silent auctions for anything. They are word of mouth public events and we can buy tickets to anyone's social, anywhere. It does not matter if we aren't going to their wedding or playing on their baseball team.

We agree, more maddening than overdone mishaps was lying. Speaking up can be hard but we don't respect someone is not straight with people. That twit lied when the truth was nothing uncomfortable or noteworthy at all. Thus, if anyone were bored enough to state the obvious "some people are like that", we listed numerous issues with Sophie's novel that exceed materialism. About materialism, I wanted to yell at Rebecca for wondering what else she could buy instead of how much financial relief she could pave the way for. I find it exciting and satisfying to FINISH a collection I worked towards building. I feel triumphant to reach the level where seeking something is done.

We agree about showing interest and respect in your employer and field. Make an effort and earn your keep. Try to be the best wherever you are. Substance is more important than what is on the surface. Also, wouldn't there be loads of "Financial Times" in her office for free?

It is nice to enjoy skirts and rings that you had in mind. It is lovely that some of them suit you well, with their prices reduced. Replying to that did not fit with my faith focused letter, plus Sophie Kinsella's stupid character had me fed up. When you talked for a few paragraphs about your shopping, although well earned, I thought "No! Hearing about fashion after closing this novel yesterday, is too soon"! Thank goodness its effect on you was to choose only what you wanted and could beautifully use.

I most recently dressed prettily for our wonderful Dad and that is splendid for me. I do have a few anniversary photos, even though our worry about Dad and drives to the city postponed our portrait posing outside. It sometimes takes awhile to put aside half an hour to dress up and bring our tripod outside, for any occasion. We happened to ask a waitress for photos with my digital camera on August 4 itself and they are good. Thus, my hair trim and brow wax are in view. :)

Kerri, I do not know what this novel is about, except girl power, which is good. I do not mind reading about cancer but thought this series would be funny, an improvement on Sophie Kinsella's lack of comedy. If it is heartwarming in place of that, fine. It brings us one year nearer our present day but is less about fashion than the other one, I think. I hope it is the happy, carefree fun I am seeking! Your friend, Carolyn.

Trying to read quietly and use lamps farther from Ron, I nearly finished this novel in a go. Use your own best, zany speed, Kerri! For round about 200 pages this novel is utterly unrelatable, unbelievable to reality and behaviour, outrageously stupid, and without any humour we supposed it generated.

As a side note, this is among the few British, Oceanic, or Canadian authoresses who offends my enjoyment by spelling "backwards" without an S, which is worse than the often lacking "towards" she does as well. Also bugging the heck out of me is authors using "scrabble" or "pawed" as a supposed comedic or dramatic schtick, who keep on doing it. Just fucking say you looked through your purse. I never see purse, though, as if saying the drab word "bag" is more elegant than that lovely, flowing word.

As you said, we are finishing this quickly. Putting aside the obvious possibilities of a shopping condition that we know exists, I doubt anyone is as unstoppable or as dumb as this woman is. When you have that much debt, you take a break from buying and also try to earn more money somewhere: both of Rebecca's wonderful Dad's advice. I love her parents, whom I think are Graham & Jane Bloomswood. His advice should have stayed with her as a guide and encouraging goal. Who would feel good about that but let a book tell her there were excuses for spending anything at all, to purportedly make money or reward your push to financial relief.

Brainstorming about anything except what you will pay back with relief when you do earn any additional funds, is nonsense and garbage. When she started with $40.00 CDN (the estimate of 20 pounds, for which North Americans have no keyboard symbol), no one afraid of their plight would blow it on anything!

What else do we dislike or deem unrealistic? The problem is there is a lot. I deem the extreme of Rebecca's "must have" as exaggerated as Sophie Kinsella's offensively appropriated "alcoholic" related title. The addictions are a type of sickness and affect one's living but should not be compared. You do not go into threatening withdrawal if you do not have something you thought you wanted a few minutes ago.

This idiot was willing to ditch her journalist job errands over a sale scarf, or lose her retail job over a fucking pair of jeans? Except occasionally with special items we truly want or need, out of sight, out of mind works. Many people eager to have something might tell themselves: "If I go to the store in time, I am meant to buy the scarf. If not, that is money saved". You don't go nuts thinking about every damn sale item.

The way Sophie wrote about jeans pissed me off most of all. There was a realistic way to behave if she did think she would like to buy something at her new job. Ask her co-workers if she might put them aside into her break, or put them aside right away and ask later. We set things away from customers at our clothing store regularly, when they were new or we saw they were going on sale. It was her stupidity that was more appalling than her materialism in this chapter.

The lying is the worst outrageous part. So what, if a conference heard her discussing shoppning with her friend? Just say you wanted to buy something, or say it was grocery items. No one will deem it their business for you to reply. You don't lie about a sick family member, as she did numerous times at work and to the bank. I understand being ashamed to tell your parents or not wanting a reprimand when she felt low but get it over with and have someone's help or understanding thereafter. At the minimum, say you aren't comfortable discuss it but reassure them you are not in any danger or any kind. Don't lie about a stalker.

I hate how pushy creditors are and understand it but you must tell them something and produce payment of any size. Rebecca has been right when she estimated at the beginning that she need only save $120.00 CDN per week, something see how easily this protagonist could probably save herself in a day.

If you are breezing forward in the novel, there is no problem reassuring you that this novel does suddenly develop a respectable, interesting, redeeming branch after round about 200 pages. I don't see it garnering more than two stars for the novel in which we neither believe nor respect this character resembles a person in reality. However, it furnishes a late thread that is interesting to read.

The other bollocks aspect of this character is not taking her life supporting job seriously. I understand and enjoy, in the wonderful comedic example of "The Office", horsing around with colleagues. Rebecca was something different. She put nothing into her job. I disliked many jobs as most people do, especially clothing store retail where I worked longer than anywhere. Still, if you decided the job was decent enough to try, you act professionally and fairly and put it a good day. Apply for a field or career you would like better but be decent while you are working at each one. Switch or resign respectfully.

Not learning the basics of her industry, as easily as reading the damn magazine she bought as a stupid prop, was preposterous. I don't recall how long Rebecca working for her magazine but even under a year, there is no way she should have been clueless about the big news that affected her neighbours. Also, getting jammed into and embarrassed by the assumption that she liked her neighbours's Son or vice versa, was the sort of ridiculous that ruins novels. Less is more and funnier, Sophie Kinsella. Kerri, I have seen no humour yet, have you?

The feeling of things going awry might be relatable but Sophie outdid patience for the extreme. All the undesirable actions made the novel less enjoyable than if it were merely unrelatable. Rebecca fucks up a date with someone who liked her for years and gave him a try because he was wealthy? She ditches the boyfriend she had because he wouldn't sleep with her on the third damn date? That equals being a stranger! She screwed up a clothing store job where she knew her product well? Does anyone really get caught copying a recipe and if that transpired, would they really make a pen mark and have to buy it? Sophie made her character look like so much a loser it was aggravating, even if a realistic sample was her idea.

The most fucked up idea of all: she lies about speaking a language on a resume and does not expect to be tested about it? I applied for an airline job an age ago. I thought it would be a good place for the languages I do truly know fullly and partially but the money and weird job dynamics themselves were not worth spurts of international dialogue here and there. I saw that I would have been a waitress, with nowhere to retreat from difficult situations, spending time away from home. I learned flight attendants only were paid for time in the air, not all the effort and giving of their time leading up to take-off.

To be cautious and honest, I clearly said I only knew basic German. It could help sometime and be a leg up from someone who knew my other languages. I was tested that day and could hardly get by with the interviewer, making me glad I specified only knowing it a little lest it come in handy.

Rebecca being faced with a boardroom and Finnish speaker, lying, hiding things from customers, having anxiety over every item she decided she wanted, dating a guy for money (perhaps the most realistic item), not caring a fig about her job and actually asking where she could buy clothes without working much.... turned me off.

The other thing that turned me off is the sole complaint you wrote about in your brief entry: who the fuck needs all of that? You know when your drawers and closets are full. You know how many shirts, pants, shoes, purses you use. Also, what is wrong with enjoying time at home? Why did she constantly need to go out? I went out with friends in my 20s a lot because I was a grown lady who wanted a break from living with her parents. Going to a friend's or boyfriend's home for a board game or movie was good enough. I was working off university debt on low-paying retail jobs. Once I lived on my own and may I say, Thumbelina & I lived very humbly in a tiny, comfortable space; we loved staying in the space we made together. I relate to recognizing savings in book deals. I do read those books; even if the size of my bargain results widens most people's eyes and eyebrows. I stay home and read, watch, play, plant, wear what I have bought.

The less one goes out, the smaller variety of clothes one needs. I circle through varieties of my goodwear when I go out. I dress casually, comfortably, without makeup at home. I have no trouble enjoying my free time at work! It was the limit when immature Rebecca also complained about that. You find a place to sleep or close your eyes if you are tired, you bring a book and read. She could truly read those stupid financial magazines she was shallow enough to buy for show! The locked briefcase she didn't take the time to seek the combination for, was also idiotic.

I hope I have left you with ample nonsense examples to vent out, Kerri. I recall more of them. Just for example, what kind of an immature, uncreative person (I disagree with lying being a positive trait of any form) is tired of a sandwich in oen work day? If I tired of a sandwich in school days, I asked Mom to make a different flavour. In work days, I switched to other items, like leftover pasta if there was a microwave. Bring whatever you want! What kind of pampered, uncreative idiot can't make a more exciting lunch for themselves to begin with?

Buying Indian cookery was stupider, in view of saving money. Cook with what you fucking have. Anything will do to boil rice and warm vegetables. Who makes their own spice on the first try? Just use the dollar store prepared spice, that is literally named "curry"! For starters, use what is at home, then buy a few new spices at the dollar store or otherwise, or try making your own after the meal has been cooked successfully a few times. What kind of fucking idiot does not imagine testing the spice level of endurance?

What kind of fucking idiot in a financial hole, actually thinks buying pots makes sense? Did Rebecca need to try curry because she read it in a book? Make any of the foods you like, which your parents taught you to make, or you saw them making. Simple pasta or rice are easy. So is opening a can or freezer bag and giving yourself a serving of vegetables on your plates at home and in work day lunches.

Save money using what is at home. Bargains feel lovely if they are on something you want. Normal people, which this author separated from her fictional character, mull over how much they need something, have room for it, and if a price is okay. I delayed buying books I considered life-saving healing guides. I waited decades for pieces in a series I love and needed to read it, ensuring to pay no more than I want to. I cheer at a bargain on things I WAITED FOR, or encountered affordably, so much so that I have intended to write a blog article or thread to share it.

Anticipation of something we need, or improves life, is a lovely feeling. There is a healthy way to shop. This novel is obviously about unhealthy shopping but everything was too stupid to believe. Rebecca enjoyed her scarf and other things. You observed that she forget other buys. Wanting more clothes bugged me because it was greedy and shallow. You can interchange many pieces to make different outfit ensembles, when you dress formally or for different places and times of day. I think of bills to pay and be free of, when I imagine procurring additional money. I envision a few purchases to make life easier, safe, and comfortable: soundproof fences between neighbours and superior internet. The rest of an influx would be preserved to keep our cats healthy and us all happy and safe.

I dislike this novel from the first page. I am whizzing through it to distract from a hard family time. I also won't mind being finished with this novel. I do not relate at all. I think we will discuss it for why we dislike it, rather than admire it. If you happen to like it better, Kerri, I will want to hear how. Mayhap the numerous sequels, bought at sales, are superior. I would try one more to see if they are.

Many of us enjoy Anne Perry. Good friends are becoming fans anew. Let’s chat about her wonderful talent generally and the books we love most. We are going by the stories Kerri & I have finished. We need only be conscious of not spoiling her wonderful series progression for one another, so that we can discuss these Charlotte & Thomas Pitt stories as freely and thoroughly as we wish. I am far in this series but have focused on this one.

New readers should avoid spoilers here. Wherever possible, we will give our posts book title headings but the asset of this thread is to chat about Anne in any hodgepodge of angles that inspires us. Start our thread by describing why you enjoy Anne Perry and what you thought of her first novel.

We have discussed everything that occurred to me, including this post. How about you, Kerri? What did you make of my list of portraying future or advanced creatures? If you think of others, I would enjoy reading it.

Authenticity of people in 1895 is why I prefer naturally aged fiction to the made-up historical kind. What education, prejudice, or experience they had informs how they interpreted people, animals and plants: life itself in all her forms. The challenge for us was examining the premise of someone who did not use the detail available to him. One of my heroines, Phyllis A. Whitney took her husband on vacation to prospects for her novels. Almost all of them were places she had visited and she wove them palpably into her adventures. It is baffling that she is not considered a classic and her typical gothic mystery covers sometimes were called a term she & I both dislike, ‘romantic suspense’. The covers do not present her work with the profundity it wields. She wrote realistically about everyday people of all cultures too. Her genuineness, insistence on conclusions that please readers, and her writing outlines would make mincemeat of Herbert Wells.

A few clarifications: did you think Herbert Wells lived outside the Victorian era? It lasted until the year 1901. In case you think it easier for modern women to travel and research their novels, Phyllis was born only 37 years after Herbert, in 1903! Eighty years are a life to be grateful for but Phyllis was on Earth until 2008.

Herbert lived until 1946 and seemed to know topography and geography changed over millennia. Rivers and lakes continuing or closing, forests trimming or enriching, weather warming or cooling are realistic. Did we think he misunderstood how firm basic biology is, or did he sidestep it to invent opposing communities, as abnormally stark as they had been? Why is some fiction accepted no matter how unreal it is, whereas we are poking holes in this?

I am unsure you know, the point of the “The Big Bang Theory” story was having the prop from the veritable time machine film. They did not assemble a made-up version. I recognized it minutely.

It is easy to think of animals when our loved-ones are cats, dogs, horses, birds, fish, amphibians, or insects whom we love dearly. I admire how beautifully Angel & Petal leap, climb, stretch, run, curl, and move every day. Stretching every time they get up is key. A week or so ago, a garter snake ran from the grass to the trees so fast, I marvelled at this without arms & legs. Minnows flicker by fast. I found a tadpole in mud, where our ditch has thankfully only recently needed me to add water. I carried her or him to deeper water and she burst to life and swam away. I admire small life endlessly. I have also seen the strength of newborn birds, mice, and butterflies.

Do you know “The Night Circus” is one of my favourite stories? That hardcover is used. Ron bought me the “The Starless Sea” first edition. I am savouring it and “Sourdough”, Robin Sloan. You have “The Xibalba Murders From Me”, I think. That is the review you commented upon this morning. It made me happy to read it, Kerri. Yes, doing something besides reading and definitely a variety of authors is a lovely balance to life.

Comment boxes are for conversations but some people do not know and think they should avoid details. I suppose to say everything we want freely, our group is handy, even though we have not read Anne together. With you binge reading and me thrice per year, you might catch-up. I think we would enjoy a general Anne Perry conversation thread, to discuss any of her work. The Lord knows we put all kinds of entertainment and natural life subjects anywhere we spend time together. :) Love, Carolyn.