New member introductions and group read planning Showing 751-800 of 1,039

[Karlyne]

Maith wrote: "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 lo..."

I think you have just found a home here, Maith!

[Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽, Moderator]

Welcome, Maith! Our group read of Airs Above the Ground starts tomorrow and lasts for all of August. We'll also be reading The Moonspinners in October. Please join if you can; the discussion threads are fun.

[Maith]

Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ wrote: "Welcome, Maith! Our group read of Airs Above the Ground starts tomorrow and lasts for all of August. We'll also be reading The Moonspinners in October. Please join if you ..."

Thank you! Absolutely plan to join the AAtG discussion :) How I wish we had the planned Lewis and Vanessa sequel!

[Maith]

Karlyne wrote: "Maith wrote: "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 libra..."

Thank you!

[Patricia]

Hello! I'm Patricia and like so many here, I started reading Mary Stewart when I was a teenager and came across her books in my high school library! I can't remember which was first, "Airs Above Ground" or "Nine Coaches Waiting", but I instantly fell her heady mix of romance, European locales, and adventure. I also read (and loved) her Arthurian series in HS, but didn't realize it was the same author til years later, somehow. I've read quite a few of her books by now, but look forward to working my way through the rest and discussing them with this group.Thanks!

[Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽, Moderator]

Hi Patricia! I'm sorry I missed your comment when you posted it back in August. A sincere welcome to our group, and please join the buddy read of The Moonspinners that's just starting up today, if you have time and interest.

[Kathryn]

I joined the Retro Reads group last month and discovered this group as well. I am delighted to be here to read more Mary Stewart. I somehow missed her entirely growing up, but read "Nine Coaches Waiting" this past summer, and was immediately hooked on her. Looking forward to the Buddy Reads of "The Moonspinners" and I'm already reading up on Crete!

[Shannon]

Hi, I’m Shannon. I’m happy to find this group and am currently catching up on your present read The Stormy Petrel, which I luckily had on my bookshelf. I haven’t read all of the Mary Stewart books, but my favorite thus far is Touch Not the Cat. I’m looking forward to discovering new favorites!

[Karlyne]

Shannon wrote: "Hi, I’m Shannon. I’m happy to find this group and am currently catching up on your present read The Stormy Petrel, which I luckily had on my bookshelf. I haven’t read all of the Mary Stewart books,..."

Welcome, Shannon!

[Julie]

Hi, I haven’t read Mary Stewart for years, but I still have one or two of her books and I remember how much I enjoyed them! Seeing this group has given me the incentive to perhaps reread one or two. Is there another group read in the pipeline?

[Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽, Moderator]

Hi Julie, welcome to the group! The group reads have slowed down lately but we’ll probably do two or three more this year. The MS books where it’s been longest since we’ve read them (and so the ones we’re most likely to reread soon) are Wind off the Small Isles, Gabriel Hounds and Thornyhold. Join us over in the Buddy Reads - General Discussion thread to keep track of what’s coming up and to put in a vote for any particular book.

[Julie]

Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ wrote: "Hi Julie, welcome to the group! The group reads have slowed down lately but we’ll probably do two or three more this year. The MS books where it’s been longest since we’ve read them (and so the one..."

Thanks for the welcome Tadiana! I’ll keep an eye on that thread.

[Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽, Moderator]

Julie, we've been discussing our next group read in that thread the last day (thanks for kickstarting me on that). It'll be Gabriel Hounds in July. If you have a book you want to suggest for a group read after that, please chime in on that thread. :)

[Julie]

Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ wrote: "Julie, we've been discussing our next group read in that thread the last day (thanks for kickstarting me on that). It'll be Gabriel Hounds in July. If you have a book you want to suggest for a grou..."

Thanks Tadiana. I went and checked my bookshelf and, surprise surprise, I still have copies of 7 of her books which I’ve kept since my teens. They’ve therefore survived quite a few clean-outs! The “Gabriel Hounds” will be a good place to start - I’ve no recollection of that one at all.

[Jackie]

I might be jumping the gun, here, but I just put Gabriel Hounds on hold at the library.
really looking forward to it!

[Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽, Moderator]

I think we said July 1, so we’re about a week away from the official buddy read start date. :)

[Julie]

Jackie wrote: "I might be jumping the gun, here, but I just put Gabriel Hounds on hold at the library.
really looking forward to it!"

I am as well...got my library copy all set too!

[Jackie]

I pick up my copy on Wednesday. I'm excited that I have not read any reviews or blurbs: I have no idea what it's about. I like that.

[Julie]

Jackie wrote: "I pick up my copy on Wednesday. I'm excited that I have not read any reviews or blurbs: I have no idea what it's about. I like that."

I’ve managed not to read any reviews but as for the blurb....can’t help myself!

[Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽, Moderator]

It's a different kind of book for Mary Stewart. Not one of my favorites, but still pretty good!

[Jackie]

I've already started but will try to pace myself.

[Virginia]

Hi, I haven’t posted or visited the group, but a post popped up on my feed and brought Mary Stewart to my thoughts! I first read her books over fifty years ago. And I’m about to read my way through them again. Not most people’s favorite, but the first of her books I read is Airs Above The Ground, and it’s always been my favorite maybe because I read it first and I love horses!

[Jackie]

Hi, Virginia
I own The Ivy Tree but have never read it so say something when you start that one. or just post on old threads as there is nothing wrong with that. I have so many library books I forget to read the ones I have found at thrift stores.

[Peggy]

Virginia wrote: "Hi, I haven’t posted or visited the group, but a post popped up on my feed and brought Mary Stewart to my thoughts! I first read her books over fifty years ago. And I’m about to read my way through..."

I love Airs Above the Ground, definitely because of the horses! 😊

[Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽, Moderator]

I love Mary Stewart's romantic suspense novels - I own them all and have read most of them multiple times. I got burned out after a few too many rereads, so this group has been on the somewhat inactive side the last couple of years (no one else wanted to volunteer to be a moderator for this group, haha). But I'll probably be up for another MS read some time.

And anyone is always welcome to add their comments to the older discussion threads for any of her books. A lot of us will still get notified when new comments get added, and we're always happy to chat.

[Julie]

Airs Above the Ground is one of my favorites too--partly for the horses, and also for the skilled and savvy heroine and a romance that I will describe (to leave out the spoilers), as starting on very different and much less commonly-covered ground than Stewart's others.

[Fiona]

Hi everyone. Fiona from Ireland here. I started with Thornyhold a couple of years back and am slowly working my way through all of them. Looking forward to discussing as I get through each one!

[Linda]

Hi there - I'm a latecomer ... I read some Mary Stewart books when I was young (a long time ago) and this year returned to her. I've read The Crystal Cave and Thunder On the Right. Now I'm reading Nine Coaches Waiting which is an amazement to me as the heroine has the same name as me. I normally go by plain "Linda Martin" . . . but never thought of that as a name for a romantic heroine so I'm guessing this was not one of the Mary Stewart books I read as a teenager. After this I'll backtrack and go through her books in the order they were written, so I can see her development as a writer as I read them. I plan to read all of them in 2022 or maybe some will be in 2023. One book at a time! I'm reading the Audible audiobook versions... they are my comfort-reads for this year. So excited about this!

[Jackie]

Hello, Linda, and welcome. As people have said upthread, feel free to post on old threads as you like.

[Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽, Moderator]

Hi Linda, this group hasn’t been really active for a while, but i’ve been thinking lately that one of these times we need to plan a few group reads again for those who are interested. Nine Coaches Waiting is my favorite Mary Stewart book!

[Linda]

H Jackie and Tadiana - thanks for responding to my intro - I didn't expect that. A book of the month would be nice, but I'm still going through the books in the order they were written... soon as I get done with Nine Coaches Waiting. It is the fourth book - and I missed reading the first two. I will read through the old discussions with spoilers when I'm done with it.

[Katherine]

Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ wrote: "...i’ve been thinking lately that one of these times we need to plan a few group reads again for those who are interested..."

I'd definitely be interested! :-)

[Katherine]

Linda wrote: " ...I'm reading the Audible audiobook versions... they are my comfort-reads for this year..."

Hi Linda, I've read most of Mary Stewart's books a number of times and recently have become interested in experiencing them via audio. (I also use Audible.) I loved Nine Coaches Waiting, the narrator, Ellie Heydon, did a great job.

[Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽, Moderator]

Linda, if you’re interested in a buddy read of any of Stewart’s books, let us know in this thread when you’re planning to start them. There may very well be some group members who are interested in joining you. :)

[Julie]

Katherine wrote: "Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ wrote: "...i’ve been thinking lately that one of these times we need to plan a few group reads again for those who are interested..."

I'd definitely be interested! :-)"

Yes, me too. And I think I’d probably go the audio route as well.

Hi Linda, and welcome!

[Susan in Perthshire]

I’d be happy to start reading from the beginning again! It does seem ages since we had a group read!

[Linda]

Hi Katherine, Julie and Susan (and Tadiana and Jackie) . . . would you all be interested in reading a book in April... starting at the beginning, the first novel is Madam, Will You Talk? (1955)

Would you want to read one or two each month? I could read two but either way is fine with me. The second novel is Wildfire at Midnight. (1956)

[Veronique]

Tempting! I’ve only read a couple of hers. I’m moving mid April but if I can get the audio, then I can join.

[Julie]

Linda wrote: "Hi Katherine, Julie and Susan (and Tadiana and Jackie) . . . would you all be interested in reading a book in April... starting at the beginning, the first novel is Madam, Will You Talk? (1955)

Wo..."

I’d be keen to read Madam, Will You Talk in April. One a month would be my vote!

[Susan in Perthshire]

If Tadiana is happy to host - then one a month would be my choice starting with MWYT.

[Jackie]

I'm not sure if I can do one a month as I am having trouble keeping up with all the reads I already have scheduled but MWYT was actually the first Stewart I ever read and I would be happy to re-read. I requested it from my library so when it gets here I will read it and join in. I look forward to it.

[Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽, Moderator]

When we were doing regular group reads, one book every two months seemed like a pretty good pace. My life is so busy right now that I probably won't join all the group reads (hopefully some though), but I'm happy to support you in organizing and publicizing the buddy reads through this group.

It has been a while since we did a group read! I got burned out as a moderator after we'd done the rounds on MS's books a few times. If anyone would like to help organize these buddy reads, please ping me. I'd be happy to make someone else a co-moderator of this group.

[Linda]

One book every two months would be good for me too.

[Linda]

Tadiana, I don't know how to ping someone and when I tried to send a private message it said you're not accepting them.

Anyhow, if nobody else volunteers I will be happy to help organize this, and I will let people know on my Booktube channel so others might join in.

[Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽, Moderator]

That’s odd, I didn’t realize I’d turned my PM’s off for non-friends. I’ll see if I can undo it. Or send you a friendvite. :) Happy to have the help!

ETA: okay, you should be able to PM me now. I’ve changed my settings, unless I start getting too many weird PMs from strange guys, lol. No wonder my inbox has been more peaceful lately!

[Iolanthe]

I've haven't been a member of Goodreads for long and I have always felt sad not to have been able to participate in a Mary Stewart group read, so count me in as an active participant!

[Linda]

Hello, Iolanthe - welcome to the group! I hope you are enjoying Goodreads. It has become a daily habit for me.

[Iolanthe]

Thank you! Mary Stewart became my COVID comfort read, and I have now worked my way through all the books from Madam Will You Talk through Rose Cottage (and excluding the Merlins) 2 times over!

[Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽, Moderator]

I just reread Rose Cottage a week or so ago; got it on a Kindle sale for just a couple of dollars. It was pleasant enough but pretty bland compared to her earlier novels. Ditto for The Stormy Petrel. If you don't go into them with high expectations, they're not bad, but definitely not the best of her work.

[Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽, Moderator]

Let's plan on reading (or rereading :D) Madam, Will You Talk? in April. I'll put it on the group calendar.