Madam, want to talk about author Mary Stewart? discussion
New member introductions and group read planning
Gogol wrote: "I had sincerely forgotten about that detail in my profile! However my profile was set up for me by a cousin who lives in the US, who is a sweetheart and recommended goodreads to me for the first ti..."How fascinating! I certainly don't view you any differently because you're from Iran. I think it's fair to say that on this group on GR - we don't buy into the prejudices that others promulgate. Our love of books (and Mary Stewart in particular) means we celebrate our diversity and respect our differences. Looking forward to the Ivy tree discusssions with everyone in the group - as always! I think I have read the Ivy tree once but I have no memory of it - so it's like new to me!
And, don't laugh! but one of our best friends is from Iran!
I'm afraid I have the impression that a misunderstanding has happened and I hope you bear with me while I try to clarify. Iran is a beautiful, wonderful country, that around forty years ago was betrayed on two fronts. Now it's crumbling down and on the verge of disintegration. It's heartbreaking to witness. We had and have such treasures to offer the world, instead, we were looted from within and without for money and oil. Something the majority of people don't understand when they see videos of the revolution, or those people who walk on flags and say those awful things, is that we are a country of 70 million. A large percentage of rural people didn't even know until years later that the revolution had happenen much less participate. And after the revolution the war happened so the people who had grabbed power were solidified during that time. Lots of other people's lives, like my family's, were destroyed by the revolution in a manner that were never recovered, we are still in and out of court, and my uncles, father, and cousins were in prison up until ten years ago. What you see represented in the telly comprises of a very small percentage of the whole country. Also, Islam, as used to be practiced in most of Iran, in its pure form was influenced and an influencer of Sufi masters like Rumi, or Hafiz who years later enthrall people with the beauty of their teachings. You are all being very kind, trying to reasssure me that it's ok, and that you don't view me any differently, and I truly appreciate that. It's very sweet in a way. So, it's important to me that you don't, even for one second, imagine that I'm anything but proud to be Iranian. I had only took a cursory glance at the profile and the nickname! that was prepared for me, and until Tadiana mentioned, I hadn't thought about it twice! I only read the books and the reviews. It never occurred to me to even check where anyone else was from. Or to change anything on my profile, because I'd definitely change this nickname Gogol endowed to me by my cousin which sounds funny to my ears, I'm reminded of a bald man with moustaches, but I honestly never even got around to change that. Wasn't Gogl the name of a Russian writer?
Thanks for the insights into life in Iran! I've heard a fair amount about it before, and I know better than to think that everyone who lives there has similar ideals, but it's so interesting to hear about it first hand. By the way, it's very easy to edit anything on your profile page, including your user name and location. Just go to your page and find the "edit profile" link. Click "save profile settings" when you're done. Let me know if you have any questions about how to do it. It's interesting to check out what's under the other tabs while you're at it.
Gogol wrote: "I'm afraid I have the impression that a misunderstanding has happened and I hope you bear with me while I try to clarify. Iran is a beautiful, wonderful country, that around forty years ago was bet..."Concerning the name 'Gogol', have you read Jhumpa Lahiri's book, 'The Namesake'? The central character is called Gogol, for various reasons, and the story basically hinges on this.
Gogol (haha! "bald man with mustaches"), those of us who are Americans are in the midst of being portrayed by the media as idiots, murderers, and law-breakers, so I feel your pain at the portrayal of your country, too. I think it's very hard for the average person to realize that what they see in the media is not true, that it's being edited, for instance, to sell something or other. Books help us to understand that, I think, because they show us that "people are people" no matter where they are.My Iranian friend, by the way, came to America as a young teen-ager (on a ballet scholarship) right before the Revolution and wasn't able to go back to visit his family for decades.
Sorry i hadn't access to Internet, so I'll reply to all in one message:It's a relief he wasn't bald at least!
Thank you for the directions dear Tadiana, I did change my location, but I didn't put the name of any country, for various reasons, the most important being many social media are constantly scanned in Iran to find Iranians who have accounts. Put it down to paranoia but I much rather not provide information. Also I was on the verge of changing my nickname, but the profile had been such a sweet gesture that I rather bear the name than change it!
Anjali, how funny, I think I am also, a namesake of the same book, read by my cousin, my own name is Golnar, and sometimes it's shortened to Gol, or Goleh. She thought the names were close enough to be funny!
Karlyne, I understand perfectly. Not having a trustworthy national media, has had one advantage and that is being able to see the "spins" in all other media as well. It's such a touching story about your friend. I love that he had such an open minded family to let him pursue ballet. Because as much as I love my country and am proud of my heritage, I know how close minded some people can be. I hope he got to see his family at last! My own youngest uncle never got to come back to Iran for years and years, my grandfather died without seeing him. Also, it may surprise you to know, most people in my country love Americans! Looool! They love foreigners, as a rule, guests and being hospitable is a large part of our culture, but they especially love Americans, and are protective of them. But of course I'd still advise caution to any American who comes to Iran because they'd still be under surveillance from well some other people.
Gogol wrote: "Sorry i hadn't access to Internet, so I'll reply to all in one message:It's a relief he wasn't bald at least!
Thank you for the directions dear Tadiana, I did change my location, but I didn't put ..."
He's been back twice, and got to see all of his relatives who were still living, including his elderly father. His mother and sister left Iran, too, so they have luckily part of his life through the years.
Karlyne wrote: "Gogol wrote: "Sorry i hadn't access to Internet, so I'll reply to all in one message:It's a relief he wasn't bald at least!
Thank you for the directions dear Tadiana, I did change my location, but..."
Sometimes, I think at the end of the day, as long as one doesn't spend too much(!) time wallowing in "what if's" or self-pity, everything will turn out ok for the most part. And the story of your friend, while it must have been very difficult for him during the years, seems to prove it. I grew up under a very heavy cloud of fear and anxiety, albeit justified, and a great deal of nostalgia and melancholy. Sometimes it seemed to me that my family mostly were stuck in a time before the revolution and stopped living. But I look around and see how life could have been different, had they not got stuck! Adapting, and dealing with hurdles as they come, is part of life, no matter what the scenario is. Sure their lives didn't pan out as they had envisioned, but then whose life does? Sorry, I'm getting too philosophical here. I'm glad your friend is living his happy ending. I love ballet, and I think people who have dancing in their lives are so much happier for it.
Susan in Perthshire wrote: "Yes Gogol was a Russian writer - but not bald!http://www.online-literature.com/gogol/"
I just opened this link. He wasn't bald, but I was right about the moustache!
When I think of the life I envisioned, I have to laugh. I mean really laugh! But the good part is that it has, I think, turned out the way it should have.As far as ballet, I met Afshin decades ago when he was a young man fresh out of the New York City Ballet. He came to our tiny town in the West and held a ballet workshop my young daughters attended, and we've been friends ever since. Both of my daughters continued with ballet, and they're both teachers at really good studios now.
He went to college after he retired from dance and became a chiropractor, by the way, and specializes in dance and sports injuries. Isn't that great?
Karlyne wrote: "When I think of the life I envisioned, I have to laugh. I mean really laugh! But the good part is that it has, I think, turned out the way it should have.As far as ballet, I met Afshin decades ag..."
It's fantastic! And i agree whole heartedly, if one doesn't let oneself get stuck and not fight change, then things turn out as they should.
Hello, Like most, I also began reading Mary Stewart in my early teens. I recently visited Sooke, a place on the western coast of Canada, that brought back memories of Mary Stewart's settings. It has this entrancing, wild and rugged coastline. I'd walk my little dog along the Spit and try to put my finger on the wispy memories created in her stories. So here I am. Trying to find The Ivy Tree now, rediscover her and catch up with the group.
Welcome, Lewin! I'm still working my way around to pulling out my own copy of The Ivy Tree, so you're not too late to join this month's buddy read. :)
I have it out, but I'm still furiously trying to finish a couple of others before I get started, too.
Hi everyone! I know September's not over yet, but after Tadiana explained what a Buddy Read was, I can't wait to start Nine Coaches Waiting, especially as I haven't ever read it. I just want to know where the notification comes? I mean will there even be a notification, or should I just keep checking?
Gogol wrote: "Hi everyone! I know September's not over yet, but after Tadiana explained what a Buddy Read was, I can't wait to start Nine Coaches Waiting, especially as I haven't ever read it. I just want to kno..."Hi Gogol, sorry, somehow I missed your message when you posted it a couple of weeks ago. Here's what I recommend if you're interested in participating in our buddy reads (lately we've settled into an every other month pattern with buddy reads): go to the "more buddy reads?" thread (linked below) and either comment on it or click to be notified of new comments. That's where we discuss and unofficially vote on the next group read. Next up is The Crystal Cave in November. About the same time I'll open it up for discussion and voting on what January's buddy read will be.
Here's the link: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
We did do a buddy read of Nine Coaches Waiting not too long ago, so it'll probably be a couple of years before we work our way around to that one again.
And if you post comments on the Nine Coaches Waiting threads, lots of us will receive them and some might join in with you, or at least reply!
Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ wrote: "Gogol wrote: "Hi everyone! I know September's not over yet, but after Tadiana explained what a Buddy Read was, I can't wait to start Nine Coaches Waiting, especially as I haven't ever read it. I ju..."Thank you. I would love to re-read The Crystal Cave. It's one of my favourites and I can't wait. And thank you Karlyne for suggesting I try the thread.
Hello,My name is Evelyn. I've been a fan of Mary Stewart's since... well never mind how long exactly. A looooong time.
The first MS I ever read was Airs Above the Ground. I picked it up at the library mostly because it had a horse on the cover. I loved her voice from the start. Since her romantic suspense novels have become available on the Kindle in the US, I've gleefully started upon rereading them all.
When I'm not re-reading, I'm writing stories of my own. (My first book comes out in January.) In a way, it's hard to re-read MS because I'm never going to be able to write the way she did. But I tell myself that going back over her works is research and therefore it's okay. Maybe some of her gift will rub off.
Welcome Evelyn! Always happy to meet another Mary Stewart fan. Take a look around the place, make yourself at home. We are just starting a buddy read of The Crystal Cave, if you have any interest in joining.
Welcome Evelyn! So glad you found our Little corner of the Internet. I discovered Mary Stewart when I was a teenager in the 60s by reading the moon spinners. Over the last five years I have re- discovered her and have been reading all her books.How exciting YOU have a book coming out next year! What is the title and what is it about?
Thank you Tadiana and Teaqueen!My story is called His Forgotten Fiancée and deals with ... wait for it... amnesia. It's being published by Harlequin's Inspirational (Christian) line and is set in Oregon in 1851. A man is attacked and wakes up in a strange room with no memory of who he is or what his name is. A woman walks in and tells him they're engaged. Complications ensue!
(Note: I don't want to highjack this thread, but if that sounds interesting, I'm holding a giveaway starting next week if you'd like a copy.)
Mary Stewart's romantic suspense stories are popular with a lot of people who read/write "sweet" romances like mine because the emphasis is on the emotional relationship much more than the physical. I'm curious--does anyone know if she lost readers when she wrote the Arthurian stories? It's been a while since I read them, but I thought The Hollow Hills at least had some sensual scenes in it.
Off to find my copy of the Crystal Cave... it's here somewhere. I have rather a lot of books. I might have to break down and buy it on Kindle. (I find it much harder to misplace my Kindle.)
Hi, everyone--I'm Julie and was pleased to find this group as Mary Stewart is one of the authors I re-read the most. I guess I found her when her Merlin trilogy was new, as I was in my early teens and would read anything Arthurian; but then I wolfed down everything else she'd written as well and have pretty much never stopped. Some of my favorites are The Ivy Tree, The Moon-Spinners, and A Walk in Wolf Wood. Stewart has influenced me in a lot of ways--made me desperately want to travel to Greece, for one thing, which I did end up doing. I also admire the way she blends history and myth in the Merlin books, and I envy, envy, envy how smoothly she can plot a story. I don't think there are any Stewart novels I haven't been through, but it's been so long since I read Rose Cottage that I can't remember any of it, except the description of the rose tree outside, unless I am mixing that up with the roses in This Rough Magic. I suspect there are probably lovingly detailed roses in both!
Anyway, I was pleased to see you have Rose Cottage scheduled for a buddy read coming up, so I look forward to joining you on that--and maybe in the meantime will take a look at the discussion for Touch Not the Cat, also one of my favorites.
Welcome, Julie! We’re delighted to have you join us!
Welcome Julie! Always love when another Mary Stewart affectionado finds their way here. It's a lovely group! I'm currently reading Airs above the Ground. I always seem to be reading a MS novel. She is so wonderful!
Yep, Mary Stewart is on permanent rotation with most of us, so welcome, Julie!
Greetings, I've been a member for a while but not sure I ever introduced myself (and no, I haven't gone through all 15 pages of intros to confirm that so apologies if this is a duplicate).
I've been a Mary Stewart fan since my teens. I recently re-read most of my favorites (9 books?) while recovering from surgery. It was necessary for me to find something to read that would be satisfying. And that's what Mary Stewart's books are to me.
I have never read the Merlin series - started a couple times in my youth but never made it through. I think I will take that on this year!
Hi Deb! Glad you introduced yourself! Several group members are reading the Merlin series this year. They were on the second book last month; I'm not sure when they'll pick up the third one (that's up to them - I'll schedule it when they ask). You might want to try to catch up with them, or at least join in their discussion threads when you do pick up the series again.
I think we were planning on May? But I may be making that up. Deb, if you want to join us and zip through the first two (ha! they're not particularly easy to zip through), we'd love to have you join us!
Hi folks - I just joined the group because I got a bunch of Mary Stewart at a bookstore's going out of business bag sale. (sadly, none of the Arthurian novels.)I see you are currently reading Madam, Will You Talk but I hate to start when you are almost done - I hate being "behind"!
I'm not clear on what a "buddy" read is, is it just like a group but only two people??
I'm going to list the books I got and if anyone wants to read one with me coming up, that would be great.
Rose Cottage
The Ivy Tree
Wildfire at Midnight
Nine Coaches Waiting
Thornyhold
My Brother Michael
Airs Above the Ground
Thunder on the Right
Touch Not the Cat
The Gabriel Hounds
also, if anyone wants to suggest some kind of order to use for reading them, let me know.
Jackie
Jackie wrote: "Hi folks - I just joined the group because I got a bunch of Mary Stewart at a bookstore's going out of business bag sale. (sadly, none of the Arthurian novels.)I see you are currently reading Mada..."
Welcome Jackie!
MWYT was Ms Stewart's first book so that may be a good place to start (I know you said you don't want to join the thread late, but...)
Welcome to the group, Jackie! I'd also encourage you to jump in with reading Madam Will You Talk and posting your thoughts in the discussion threads. It's a very quick read, and even if most of us who joined this month's read of it are finished, we'll get notifications when you post and will be happy to respond to your comments. It's one of my favorite Stewart books, and the discussion threads have some wonderful pictures and comments. Here's the thread where we discuss (and sometimes vote on) upcoming buddy reads: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... I'd encourage every group member to turn on notifications for that thread (or just add a comment to the thread and notifications will automatically turn on, unless you've set your GR preferences otherwise).
And here are the two remaining books that we have scheduled for group reads for the rest of 2018, earlier in that same thread:
August: Airs Above the Ground
October: Moon-spinners
There's no need for any particular order in reading Stewart's books, but if you're interested in my favorites, I particularly recommend these from the ones you have on your list (besides MWYT):
Nine Coaches Waiting (gah, I love this book SO much)
Wildfire at Midnight
Airs Above the Ground
The Ivy Tree
Thornyhold
This Rough Magic isn't on your list, but I'd encourage you to look for a copy. (The Kindle version is only $2.99 ... in fact, most of MS's books are less than $3 on Kindle.) It's another favorite, not just for me but for a lot of Stewart fans.
This group has always called our joint reads "buddy reads" and for historical reasons we've stuck with that, but really they're what most GR groups would call "group reads". Any group member is welcome to grab one or more friends and do a smaller "true" buddy read of any Stewart book, any time, and add to this group's discussion threads for that book.
Even if you just read a Stewart book by yourself, you're welcome to add to the threads for that book. Several of us leave our notifications turned on for the individual discussion threads, so there's a good chance of getting a response if you comment on any thread here.
If you go to the Buddy Reads section of our discussion threads (here's a link: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group...) and scroll through the four pages of threads, you'll see all of the discussion threads for MS's romantic suspense novels, plus a few others. Her Arthurian books are under a different topic heading.
Yes, Jackie, do read Madam, Will You Talk first! I'm sure we'd all like to hear your first-time reactions and compare them to our multiple reads. Have at it!
All comments always appreciated. I think it’s fair to say we all love discussing MS - the more the merrier!
Karlyne wrote: "Yes, Jackie, do read Madam, Will You Talk first! I'm sure we'd all like to hear your first-time reactions and compare them to our multiple reads. Have at it!"OK, the replies from everyone have convinced me: I'll start tonight with Madam, Will You Talk. it's an odd title, I've always thought, so let's see what it means.
I'll plan to start posting once I'm through chapter 5.
Have fun, Jackie! I think you’re in for a treat. Hope you love it!
Hello all, thanks for having me in this group. My GR friend Susan in Perthshire whetted my appetite for Mary Stewart with one of her amazing reviews. I had not ever heard of Mary Stewart (I know, I'm chagrined.) So this will definitely be my 1st time ever reading anything by her. Susan suggests I start with The Moonspinners. Thankfully my local library has quite a number of MS's books. Again, I look forward to interacting with old and new fans and upping the "girl-power" feelings as I discover her heroines.
S Dizzy wrote: "Hello all, thanks for having me in this group. My GR friend Susan in Perthshire whetted my appetite for Mary Stewart with one of her amazing reviews. I had not ever heard of Mary Stewart (I know, I..."If you grab a copy of Madam, Will You Talk you can read along with Jackie, who just started!
Karlyne wrote: "...If you grab a copy of Madam, Will You Talk you can read along with Jackie, who just started!"Ok Karlyne, on my break, I will see it's at my library. Thank you
Hi S Dizzy! Moonspinners is a sentimental favorite of mine, but you really can't go wrong starting your Mary Stewart experience with Madam Will You Talk? (or Nine Coaches Waiting, just because it's my personal favorite and I always have to throw it into the mix). But Karlyne's idea of joining Jackie at the end of our month-long buddy read for MWYT is a great one. The discussion threads for the book are still active!See my long post at #736 for more information.
By the way, Moon-Spinners is slated for a group/buddy read in October, so you might want to save that one until then. We'll be reading Airs Above the Ground in August, and some of the group members are reading the third Arthurian novel, The Last Enchantment, beginning mid-July.
Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ wrote: "By the way, ..."Thank you Tadiana. My local library did not have MWYT but I just purchased an ecopy for $1.99 at Amazon. Will start it tonight and post something in the discussion thread. It will be fun to read Jackie's posts on it. I will follow the group read for Moonspinners in October as well. Thanks
Excellent! Mary Stewart fans waited SO MANY YEARS for her romantic suspense novels to be made available on Kindle, so there was a lot of excitement around here when they finally showed up on Kindle about a year ago, especially since they're so reasonably priced ($1-3). The price was so good that I bought several of them just to have Kindle copies, even though I own them all in paperback. In fact I was just looking through my basement bookshelves for another book a week or so ago and realized that I have three (!) paperback copies of Airs Above the Ground, lol. I think it happened because one of them was really old, so I got a newer copy, and then I picked up the third as part of a set of four. The set was brand new and very reasonably priced at a used book store, so even though I already owned them all ... yeah ....
I get worried when my back-up to the back-up gets worn...
Hello everyone! I'm Maith, from India but have lived in the US for the last 25 years. Grew up on a diet of British authors, and discovered Mary Stewart as a pre-teen in my local library and have loved her ever since. AAtG has always been my favorite but I love most of hers. Not a huge fan of the Arthurian ones nowadays, though I loved them in my teens. Went through a huge horse phase for a while (while never coming *near* a live horse :)) and AAtG stuck because of that aspect first....it was a while before I appreciated the romance! Can't remember how many times I re-read MS, she's always on my re-read list and especially so when the real world seems fraught. Looking forward to the AAtG re-read next week! I haven't been on a book-list in about 15 years - used to be on the old rec.books listservs when they were a thing, and the Heyer, Lord Peter and Austen lists but stopped some years ago when the lists all moved to Google.
Madam, want to talk about author Mary Stewart?
Books mentioned in this topic
My Brother Michael (other topics)The Moon-Spinners (other topics)
Rose Cottage (other topics)
Rose Cottage (other topics)
Frost on the Window: Poems (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Mary Elgin (other topics)Mary Stewart (other topics)
Katherine Wigmore Eyre (other topics)
Katherine Wigmore Eyre (other topics)
John Buchan (other topics)
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My favorite Mary Stewart book is Airs Above The Ground. Glad you have been able to read tha..."
Thank you Debbie!