The Far Pavilions BOOK 1: THE TWIG IS BENT. No spoilers for later books. Everything in Book 1 fair game.

[Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽]

Sorry to hear that, Joanne, but it's understandable. We'll miss you!

[Dorcas]

Joanne, maybe you'll be ready to pick it up later on when I do. I'm thinking it'll be a good winter read. Things are so busy for us too right now that ive just been reading shorter or lighter books. Besides, I like a good hot climate read when its cold...

[Misfit]

Bummer, Joanne. It's too bad life got in the way, but it is nice to have this group here waiting for you (and others) to join in when you are ready to read.

[Diane Lynn]

Joanne wrote: "this is just not the right time for me to tackle this mega book."

And mega book it is! Like Misfit mentioned, these threads will be here whenever you hear Ash calling. I've also been busy and reading slowly since I don't cart this one around with me. Enjoy the rest of your summer. :)

[Hana, Hana is In Absentia]

I'm sorry you won't be joining us now Joanne, but I totally understand and the threads will still be here when and if you get a chance to come back to the book. I for one will keep following them, so I'll look forward to eventually sharing thoughts. Have a great summer!

[Joanne]

Diane Lynn wrote: "Joanne wrote: "this is just not the right time for me to tackle this mega book."

And mega book it is! Like Misfit mentioned, these threads will be here whenever you hear Ash calling. I've also bee..."

Thanks, everyone, for understanding! This is actually the one time I wish the book was available in digital format. The font is so small and, of course, the book is a tome.

[Joanne]

Dorcas wrote: "Joanne, maybe you'll be ready to pick it up later on when I do. I'm thinking it'll be a good winter read. Things are so busy for us too right now that ive just been reading shorter or lighter books..."

Thanks, Dorcas. Sounds good!

[Joanne]

Misfit wrote: "Bummer, Joanne. It's too bad life got in the way, but it is nice to have this group here waiting for you (and others) to join in when you are ready to read."

Absolutely!

[Hana, Hana is In Absentia]

That would be so much fun, Dorcas and Joanne! Something to look forward to about winter--I'll get to relive The Far Pavilions with you both :)

[Katy]

Finished Book 1. Kaye's writing is wonderful, I can see why this is a favorite of you who have already read it.

[Hana, Hana is In Absentia]

I loved this chapter, Kathy!

Here is a picture I found of the Dur Khaima--the Far Pavilions:

[Hana, Hana is In Absentia]

I found some great images on Pinterest for some of our characters:

Ch. 5 "....for the first time in her short life...Kairi was ordered to take part, as a Princess of Gulkote, in an official ceremony....dressed in unfamiliar finery and decked with resplendent jewels...."

[Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽]

Great pictures, Hana. We recently had an Indian wedding for the son of some neighbors--which is highly unusual for our neck of the woods--and the bride's dress was AMAZING.

[Diane Lynn]

Hana wrote: "Ch. 5 "....for the first time in her short life...Kairi was ordered to take part, as a Princess of Gulkote, in an official ceremo..."

Great picture. That's from Jodha Akbar if I'm not mistaken. Loved that movie. :)

[Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽]

Here's another picture of the "Far Pavilions" that I love:

[Misfit]

Tadiana wrote: "Here's another picture of the "Far Pavilions" that I love:

"

*likes*

[Hana, Hana is In Absentia]

Beautiful!

[Katy]

Those are great pictures. Really brings the place to life!

[Hana, Hana is In Absentia]

Diane Lynn wrote: "Great picture. That's from Jodha Akbar if I'm not..."


Well spotted, Diane! Bollywood at it's most gorgeous, costume-crazed best :) In fact, that reminds me....*heads off to find another picture*....

[Diane Lynn]

The actress in that movie would have made a great Juli!

[Hana, Hana is In Absentia]

Diane Lynn wrote: "The actress in that movie would have made a great Juli!"

You read my mind, Diane Lynn! I've posted her picture on the Book 3 thread because (view spoiler)[we wouldn't want anyone to find out how gorgeous Juli grows up to be! (hide spoiler)].

Meanwhile, Central Casting called to tell me they have found two new stars for our Far Pavilions Bollywood remake, both from the hill country....

[Hana, Hana is In Absentia]

p. 46: Several times during the months that followed...Sita thought she had discovered the right place....But each time there had been something that drove her on....

[Diane Lynn]

Excellent!

[Hana, Hana is In Absentia]

p. 44: Constant exposure to the monsoon had succeeded in washing away most of the dye from his skin...But although Sita was aware of this she did not renew the dye, since by now they were close to the foothills of the Himalayas and hill folk being fairer-skinned than the men of the south...her son Ashok aroused no comment....

[Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽]

Hana wrote: "p. 44: Constant exposure to the monsoon had succeeded in washing away most of the dye from his skin...But although Sita was aware of this she did not renew the dye, since by now they were close to ..."

Love huh!

[Hana, Hana is In Absentia]

Can't you just hear him saying 'Aren't we every going to stop anywhere?

[Felicia]

Hello all! I happened to come across this group just as I started the novel. I'm listening to the audio version narrated by Vikas Adam, and it's wonderful. His reading is pitch perfect, conveying the emotions of the characters so effectively as well as the drama of suspenseful moments. I was on edge the entire time Sita fled with Ash to escape the Sepoy Rebellion, and later during their escape from the palace.

I think the first chapter might be the best I've ever read in a novel. I mourned Professor Hillary & his friend Akbar Khan, and I remember them every time Ash points out the unfairness of a situation. What a foundation for the story to come!

I also loved Ash's invention of his own religious devotions. They seemed exactly how a child would comprehend and put together Hindu & Muslim practices.

And what about the moment when Ash returns to the cave where Sita died and touches the ground where she lay? A breeze stirs & erases the impression made by her body. What a wonderful way to symbolize Ash's transition from child to man, and his leaving the past behind to face the uncertain future.

[Misfit]

Felicia wrote: "Hello all! I happened to come across this group just as I started the novel. I'm listening to the audio version narrated by Vikas Adam, and it's wonderful. His reading is pitch perfect, conveying t..."

*waves*

Hi Felicia, glad you found us.

[Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽]

Felicia wrote: "Hello all! I happened to come across this group just as I started the novel. I'm listening to the audio version narrated by Vikas Adam, and it's wonderful. His reading is pitch perfect, conveying t..."

Hi, Felicia. Great thoughts. Happy you can join our discussions!

[Diane Lynn]

Felicia wrote: "Hello all! I happened to come across this group just as I started the novel. I'm listening to the audio version narrated by Vikas Adam, and it's wonderful. His reading is pitch perfect, conveying t..."

Hi Felicia! Listening to the audio version must add a whole new dimension. I loved your thoughts about Ash and Sita. Glad to have you join the discussions. :)

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ , She's a mod, yeah, yeah, yeah!]

& I thought we might try using the existing threads (although the ones for Book 2 & Book 8 have been locked)

I'm about to start now.

My copy is this one.

[Andrea AKA Catsos Person]

Can someone unlock those threads that are locked?

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ , She's a mod, yeah, yeah, yeah!]

Andrea (Catsos Person) is a Compulsive eBook Hoarder wrote: "Can someone unlock those threads that are locked?"

I'll message Tadiana about it - I haven't seen Hana on GR for a while.

[Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽]

They're unlocked now! If memory serves, there was some annoying spammer posting on those threads back when we were reading this a couple of years ago, so Hana locked them.

Have fun -- I really enjoyed this book!

P.S. Carol, I just made you a moderator in case there's anything else you want to do.

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ , She's a mod, yeah, yeah, yeah!]

Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ wrote: "They're unlocked now! If memory serves, there was some annoying spammer posting on those threads back when we were reading this a couple of years ago, so Hana locked them.

Have fun -- I really en..."

Wow, thanks! :)

[Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽]

Well, the group's been inactive since we read Shadow of the Moon last year, so I'm just happy it's seeing some action again. :)

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ , She's a mod, yeah, yeah, yeah!]

I've just finished Chapter 2 & am enthralled. I'mnot going to read any of the posts from the earlier read until I have finished book 1.

One thing - Isabel's very early demise took me completely by surprise!

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ , She's a mod, yeah, yeah, yeah!]

I'm up to page 97 & definitely ready for Ash to become an adult!

Been a bit unsettled with my reading this week. Hopefully I can knuckle down next week.

[Katy]

This was a wonderful book. Carol after you and Andrea finish the read, we just might need to choose another Kaye book to continue this group.

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ , She's a mod, yeah, yeah, yeah!]

Kathy wrote: "This was a wonderful book. Carol after you and Andrea finish the read, we just might need to choose another Kaye book to continue this group."

That would be nice - the only one I own is The Ordinary Princess which is a children's book.

Kaye's books seem very hard to get hold of in New Zealand

[Hana, Hana is In Absentia]

Hi everyone! It's great re-reading this thread and remembering what a terrific book this was. Tadiana, you're right about the spammer--thanks for unlocking the threads. Carol and Andrea, I hope you enjoy it the book and our discussions as much as I did. Kathy, maybe we should tackle some of her mysteries.

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ , She's a mod, yeah, yeah, yeah!]

Finished Book 1 & am loving the earlier comments - & the link to the map. Thanks very much.

Was very moved by the writing on Sita's death.

[Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽]

I worked my way through all six of Kaye's "Death in" mysteries in the last couple of years. They're fun light reads, kind of like a cross between Mary Stewart and Agatha Christie.

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ , She's a mod, yeah, yeah, yeah!]

There is a big annual book fair on in our town this week. I'll add Kaye's books to the list of books I'm looking for.

I'm sure another library in our area had her memoirs. But they have been deleted now. :/

[Hannah]

Carol ♛ Type, Oh Queen! ♛ wrote: "I'm sure another library in our area had her memoirs. But they have been dele..."

Hi Carol!
Her memoirs are well worth checking out if you can ever find them. My only complaint is that they end right as she marries, so it's an incomplete autobiography, as Kaye lived to be almost 100 years old.

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ , She's a mod, yeah, yeah, yeah!]

I volunteer at an op (charity) shop so hopefully they will turn up there. :)

I didn't buy a single book at the book fair! First time for everything!

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ , She's a mod, yeah, yeah, yeah!]

Hi everyone the post in message 97 is spam. Don't click on the links.

Fellow mods. Don't delete I've flagged for GR Supports attention.

[Andrea AKA Catsos Person]

THis spam has shown up in two other groups where I’m a member.

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ , She's a mod, yeah, yeah, yeah!]

Andrea (Catsos Person) is a Compulsive eBook Hoarder wrote: "THis spam has shown up in two other groups where I’m a member."

Yup hit the GH group as well before I had a chance to warn the other mods. Annoying.

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ , She's a mod, yeah, yeah, yeah!]

Carol ☀ Walking in Sunshine wrote: "Hi everyone the post in message 97 is spam. Don't click on the links.

Fellow mods. Don't delete I've flagged for GR Supports attention."

GR has removed the spammer. :)