Time Travel discussion
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The River of No Return
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THE RIVER OF NO RETURN: General Discussion
Interesting! And I've just started War & Peace in my classics group, so I love the Napoleonic time period synergy! (Although I think this will start when the other leaves off.)
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And adding an additional 464 pages to 1300 shouldn't be too hard ...
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Will start reading it later this week!
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Your job is to educate time travelers from centuries past about modern culture and/or history. List 3 books, movies, television shows, and/or music albums you would consider essentials.
Hi Everyone! Thanks so very much for reading THE RIVER OF NO RETURN. I'm honored -- and I wish we could have this reading group in real life, with a big plate of Vermont cheeses in the middle of the circle . . .
That is a tough question to answer, because there would be so much ground to cover. I think I would be more concerned with getting them up to speed on historical and current events, rather than just culture. On that note, I think something along the lines of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, combining news with comedy and plenty of pop culture references would be a good place to start. As for movies, the first thing that popped into my head was Forrest Gump.
Amy wrote: "PRE-READING QUESTION 1Your job is to educate time travelers from centuries past about modern culture. List 3 books, movies, television shows, and/or music albums you would consider essentials."
Happy Days,
Fast Food Nation
mmmmm .... The Beatles. All of them. All of it. :D
Amy wrote: "PRE-READING QUESTION 1Your job is to educate time travelers from centuries past about modern culture and/or history. List 3 books, movies, television shows, and/or music albums you would consider ..."
Sex and the City
Confessions of a Shopaholic
The Kardashians
Its all about consumerism --isn't it?
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Great idea.
MK wrote: "mmmmm .... The Beatles. All of them. All of it. :D ..."
Ha. That was going to be my answer. Luckily, I could let them listen to the all-of-the-Beatles disk I keep in my car to inculturate my 3-year-old.
Heather wrote: Sex and the City..."
That was going to be another of my answers. I actually had a Saudi female student who was in love with that show. I asked her what she thought of all the promiscuity, and she answered that she thought that it was all pretend. She didn't believe American women really behaved like that; it was just fantasy fiction. She seemed shocked to learn that serial dating (+ sex) was a reality in many non-Muslim countries among women. So, yes, it's very telling culturally.
I've only read one Bill Bryson book, but I'm guessing that a book like I'm a Stranger Here Myself: Notes on Returning to America After 20 Years Away might be helpful. And I'd insist on them experiencing it as an audiobook since there's so much fun in having Bill Bryson himself read to you.
Amy wrote: I've only read one Bill Bryson book, but I'm guessing that a book like I'm a Stranger Here Myself: Notes on Returning to America After 20 Years Away might be helpful.Yes! I think A Short History of Nearly Everything would be great too.
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Welcome to the group. I'm really sad there's no ability to share a real plate of cheese among our members. Now I'm envisioning you going incognito to the meeting of a non-virtual book group that's reading this book. You'll be wearing a wide brimmed hat, sunglasses, and be bearing a plate of Vermont cheese. Or perhaps you'll put the cheese inside a Chinese box to make things more interesting ...
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Ha -- I think the cheese would give me away. I was accidentally incognito on the train here in Philly, overhearing people talking about my book and thank God they said nice things! Even so it was strange. Finally I turned around and said, "um, hi, I wrote that . . ." There was, alas, no cheese involved in the encounter.
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Oh, wow. How randomly wonderful is that? I only seem to run into people talking about ... ya know ... Hunger Games and Harry Potter.
This sounds like a fab read. Count me in.
TV show: Six Feet Under.
Movie: Borat
Album: Automatic for the People
I reckon they would do the trick.
Damian
TV show: Six Feet Under.
Movie: Borat
Album: Automatic for the People
I reckon they would do the trick.
Damian
This is really hard, but I would pick:TV: Coupling ( funny sit-com about modern relationships in the uk)
Book: 4 hour work week by Tim Ferriss (this is the way things are going in the next ten years or so)
Film: the Diving Bell and the Butterfly ( for what happens when bad luck strikes. I know how accurate it is as something similar happened to my wife)
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TV: Coupling ( funny sit-com about modern relationships in the uk)..."
Absolutely!
Timothy wrote: "This is really hard, but I would pick:TV: Coupling ( funny sit-com about modern relationships in the uk)
Book: 4 hour work week by Tim Ferriss (this is the way things are going in the next ten ye..."
My husband and I watched that on Amazon Prime streaming a couple years ago. It was SOOOO good!
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The change culturally in the past 15 years is breathtaking. Did you all see the Cosby show on Thursday night? Oh yeah it was a good one...To bad Ralph missed it...and no going and watching it online after it aired. The shared experiences of watching together is a thing of the past...or if you want to watch it together, you schedule it and watch it together whenever you want.
The advent of Ipods and music tastes, The high school kids are not all listening to the same songs being played on the radio...there is not common ground for the group...If you dig bagpipe music, or opera you just go get it. Yay for diversity and having something that proclaims your individuality but what of the community of shared culture?
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Amy wrote: "What sources did you use to compare Nick's London with today's?"I've lived in London at various points for various periods of time -- I know the walk Nick takes through contemporary London like the back of my hand. I did piles of research for 1815 London, poring over maps and descriptions. I made everything accurate to the best of my ability. Even what's under Soho Square is based in reality -- I just expanded it quite a lot.
Bee, when will the sequel be out?
Tracey wrote: "Bee, when will the sequel be out?"It depends on how the paperback does. But hopefully in a year.
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Reading Questions
1. Who or what do you think Mr. Mibbs is? (22%)
2. What do you think about the stated purpose of the Guild? (25%)
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I've lived in London at various points for various periods of time -- I know the walk Nick takes through contemporary L..."
It's definitely written as if you were describing a personally well-worn path. It's nice that you had that advantage to add. It also explains adding little details like "plus fours". Do you mind my asking what brought you to London?
Plus fours have to be the most ridiculous trousers of all time, either in the UK or the US. I spent a couple of years in the UK as a graduate student, and I lived in London for my sabbatical year a few years back.
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1. For some reason, I keep envisioning Mr. Mibbs as one of the Observers from Fringe with no eyebrows or hair and a wearing black suit even though Bee has CLEARLY given me another image that I should be seeing (plus fours, yellow socks, googles, etc.). My theory is that Mr. Mibbs is (view spoiler)
2. The Guild's stated purpose is to (view spoiler).
I finally started reading this last night-although I only got the Prologue read, I am finding it very quickly engaged me, I think it will be an enjoyable read!
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Yay! I've been postponing reading any more until someone else catches up with me. It's just no fun to discuss plot points with myself. A large number of group members have the book marked as "to read" but only a couple have it marked as "currently reading".
I should get well into it on the weekend Amy-it is supposed to rain all weekend, perfect reading weather!
Just finishing off Storm Front by Jim Butcher, then I'll be on to this one. Looks good.
Reading Questions1. Who or what do you think Mr. Mibbs is? (22%)
2. What do you think about the stated ..."
Having finished the book, it's hard to answer these questions without giving things away. I can try to answer how I thought at that specific point in the novel.
1. I thought Mr. Mibbs was a member of some fringe group that refused to follow the Guild's rules (because you know that's bound to exist, right?), but what his purpose was, I had no idea.
2. I pretty much agree with Amy about the Guild's purpose. It's all about control. I had more to say about this, but it all seemed too spoilery for those who are not well into the second half of the book, so I'll leave it at that for now.
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1. Who or what do you think Mr Mibbs is? (view spoiler)
2. The Guild's stated purpose is to...(view spoiler)
Heather wrote: "Amy wrote: "PRE-READING QUESTION 1Your job is to educate time travelers from centuries past about modern culture and/or history. List 3 books, movies, television shows, and/or music albums you wou..."
Public Television's children's programming
My tiny town's two weekly papers
International Herald Tribune
and I love everyone else's ideas although Sex and the City is not my particular reality. I'm still stuck in Happy Days.
Reading Questions1. Who or what do you think Mr. Mibbs is? (view spoiler) Having finished the book, I still have a hard time imagining what kind of man he might have been before the pivotal event in his life made him Mibbs. Time will tell.
2. What do you think about the stated ..." (view spoiler)
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Please, please put the spoiler behind spoiler tags or I'll need to delete it. For information about how to do so, go to the "(some html is ok)" link above the comment box.
Amy wrote: "Tor wrote: "Reading Questions..."Please, please put the spoiler behind spoiler tags or I'll need to delete it. For information about how to do so, go to the "(some html is ok)" link above the com..."
Done. Apologies. Rookie move.
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Please, please put the spoiler behind spoiler tags or I'll need to delete it. For information about how to do so, go to the "(some html is ok)" link a..."
Thanks!
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Time Travel through feelings? How did that idea come about? I am reminded of "Somewhere in Time" where a huge desire to travel in time will allow you to do so. Nostalgia for a time period and dwelling on it will take you there.
As opposed to a portal or a time machine?
I started reading last night. Only have read the prologue and chapter 1 so far. I really like the way you write, though, Bee!(edit, I started 4 books last night :p)
MK wrote: "I started reading last night. Only have read the prologue and chapter 1 so far. I really like the way you write, though, Bee!(edit, I started 4 books last night :p)"
Bee has a lovely turn of phrase, doesn't she? She's also done some incredibly detailed research into London's old street patterns, and what ladies of leisure were able to treat themselves to on summer days.
She really does, Mark, I agree. I'm further in now, up to page 82, my Goodreads reading meter says *smile*, I think maybe Chap 8? not sure, as I don't have the book in front of me at the moment.I am really loving the story. This was on my TBR before it was selected as the group's monthly read. I'm really glad it was chosen!
I'm on chapter 19, so I'd better keep my trap shut! :-)
Time Travel
Books mentioned in this topic
The River of No Return (other topics)The Time Tutor (other topics)
The Time Tutor (other topics)
The Time Tutor (other topics)
A Short History of Nearly Everything (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Bee Ridgway (other topics)Bee Ridgway (other topics)
Bee Ridgway (other topics)
In Bee Ridgway’s wonderfully imaginative debut novel, a man and a woman travel through time in a quest to bring down a secret society that controls the past and, thus, the future.
“You are now a member of the Guild. There is no return.” Two hundred years after he was about to die on a Napoleonic battlefield, Nick Falcott, soldier and aristocrat, wakes up in a hospital bed in modern London. The Guild, an entity that controls time travel, showers him with life's advantages. But Nick yearns for home and for one brown-eyed girl, lost now down the centuries. Then the Guild asks him to break its own rule. It needs Nick to go back to 1815 to fight the Guild’s enemies and to find something called the Talisman.
In 1815, Julia Percy mourns the death of her beloved grandfather, an earl who could play with time. On his deathbed he whispers in her ear: “Pretend!” Pretend what? When Nick returns home as if from the dead, older than he should be and battle scarred, Julia begins to suspect that her very life depends upon the secrets Grandfather never told her. Soon enough Julia and Nick are caught up in an adventure that stretches up and down the river of time. As their knowledge of the Guild and their feelings for each other grow, the fate of the future itself is hanging in the balance.
Author
Reading Period
April 15 - May 31, 2014
Where to Buy
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-River-Retur...
Powell's: http://www.powells.com/biblio/62-9780...
Indie Bound: http://www.indiebound.org/book/978052...
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-r... (ooo ... nice cover here)
Upcoming Author Reading Events
In Philadelphia; South Hadley, MA; Chicago area; Palo Alto, CA; and Corte Madre, CA: http://www.beeridgway.com/#!engagemen...
Not Sure You Want to Read It?
Download an excerpt here: https://www.goodreads.com/ebooks/down... (.pdf)
Or here: http://www.amazon.com/River-No-Return... (Kindle)
Pre-Reading Questions:
1. Your job is to educate time travelers from centuries past about modern culture and/or history. List 3 books, movies, television shows, and/or music albums you would consider essentials in their education.
Reading Questions:
1. Who or what do you think Mr. Mibbs is? (Answerable at 22%)
2. What do you think about the stated purpose of the Guild? (Answerable at 25%)
3. Eamon is such a delightfully awful person, wouldn't you agree? Julia contemplates her options regarding him when she has (view spoiler)[frozen time at the end of chapter 7. Do you agree with what she did and pulled a reset or rewind?
Do you think she should freeze time and just flee the castle? Freeze time and steal anything of value and then flee? Should she kill Eamon? Perhaps imprison him as he has done with her?
I am not certain what will happen next but do you think Julia can learn to keep her mouth shut about her ability? (hide spoiler)] (Answerable after Chapter 7)
4. For those of you who no longer live in the vicinity of your original hometown ... Would you need a culture and pronunciation class to fit seamlessly back into your old life if you had to return to the place and time you left? Do you think your life experiences since then would have noticeably changed your personality such that friends and family would think something was wrong? (Can be answered at any point during reading)
5. Given the ultimatum at the end of Chapter 25, would you choose Guild or Ofan for your allegiance?
6. Who would you cast in a movie version of this book?
7. What do you think about the concept of (view spoiler)[all wars being caused by the Guild and all wars being about money? (hide spoiler)] (answer after Chapter 32)
8. What do you think about the idea of friendship (view spoiler)[obligations being translated to money? (hide spoiler)] (answer at the end of Chapter 35)
Post-Reading Questions:
1. After finishing the book, what's your guess about the purpose of the Talisman?
2. After finishing the book, who or what do you think Mr. Mibbs is?
P.S. Please feel free to add your own reading discussion questions at any point.