The Luminaries - Vimal & PSmith

[Ahtims]

No thanks. Don't want to become opium addict :P

[Vimal]

Lol, he is a chemist. He can prepare other concoctions too. Remember Gasgoine getting one for his stomach trouble?

[Vimal]

Another beautiful anecdote conjured, this time involving Edgar and Anna

[Ahtims]

I don't remember. :/
am at page 284. Will resume in the evening.

[Ahtims]

Today didn't read much. At page 310. I got acquainted with the friendship between the only 2 ladies of the book - Anna and Lydia.
Now I am keenly watching the meeting between the cleric and the maori man.

[Ahtims]

Venus = Lydia
Capricorn - Gascgoine

[Vimal]

Finally you gave me some space to catch up.. At page 330

[Vimal]

Yep.. Gasgoine's Capricornian roots were laid threadbare in his interaction with Lydia

[Vimal]

After navigating to about 40% of the book I've reached the starting point again.. The congregation at the crown n the story begins as if afresh.. Talk about circumlocution

[Ahtims]

Awwww...... you raced me. :-/
Will try to cover ground tonight.

[Ahtims]

I loved Devlin's discourse to Tauware about prayers. Most of it made sense to me.

[Vimal]

Yeah, that part was ok to me, despite the proselytizing undertones

[Vimal]

Moody reveals his secret.. Finally! And as expected, its very pertinent to the mystery, although not tending in anyway towards solving it

[Vimal]

Part 2 begins.. And Catton mesmerizes yet again with the description of the vast and knowing influence of the infinite sky.. M absolutely spellbound.

[Vimal]

A switching of allegiances is in the air.PSmith is required to report at the crown.GodSpeed.

[Vimal]

M at page 430.. No lulls, no slackening.. Kind of astounded by this degree of taut story-telling

[Ahtims]

Wow.... am stuck at 320. And may not be able to rejoin for atleast a fortnight. Am so sorry about that. But I have valid reason, which I have PM,d
And I never did get notifications for the previous 4 messages. Hence the late reply.

[Vimal]

Well that's fine Smitha.I thought the slow pace had made you pause the book, that's why thought of pulling you back :) I'm not going to forget this book in a fortnight of fortnights, so we'll analyze, over-analyze and ponder over when you are back.

[Harsha]

How's this going guys? I got my copy today...

[Harsha]

You both seem to have taken a break. The sheer challenge of the book is exciting to me, so planning to start it, but will go at a snail-pace as I will be able to read only a few pages a day.

[Vimal]

Welcome Harsha. The first 25 % of the book is snail-paced although penned with an exceptional lyrical and analytical bent. After that the novel has been real pacy,but it can still be a slow read due to the sheer vastness of the canvas.

[Vimal]

Smitha has paused for 2 weeks due to her professional obligations. I'm still continuing. Wasn't posting here since she was away. I'm at page 540 now.

[Ahtims]

Reading this again. Hence reviving the thread.
Anyone interested, do join in..

[Ahtims]

I am reading this for a second time. Again as a buddy read in a WA group, but unfortunately my various reading buddies dropped off due to one reason or other , but am persevering.
at page 200.
Loving the slow meandeting historical tale occuring in coastal Newzealand gold mines. Finding it difficult to remember the characters , though

[Gorab, TheGunman]

I DNFed this few weeks back - at page 140.
Went through the discussion, hoping if something would click and make me pick this again. Unfortunately no.

I am intrigued by the book structure - the canvas as you have mentioned it. Also read one of the messages in personal chat explaining the details of all the planets and zodiacs.

But certainly this is not a read for me - at least not in another decade. Needs laser focus, patience, and the eye to appreciate finer arts - which I seem to have none!

Will keep coming back to sneak read the discussions :)

[Ahtims]

ha ha.. no worries. But do read it after a few years. I think you will like it

[Ahtims]

currently at page 200..as elusive as the first read 9 years ago.