Week 1 Discussion thread June 16-22

[Elizabeth]

Today is the official start date for this read-along. Of course anyone can jump in whenever they want.
This will be our discussion thread for the first 5 chapters of Part one. The chapters are not numbered so here are the names of the chapters just to clarify.
1. Ghosts Stir
2. The Drawing Room
3. The Nursery
4. Waiting for the Recital
5. All Good Things

If you want to read further, then please hold your comments about future chapters for the next discussion threads.

[Melinda]

I have read the first five chapters and am enjoying both the story and the writing. This is my first Kate Morton so I wasn’t sure how she wrote dual timelines. I can’t believe how smooth she flips between present and past. I am liking the characters. The “children” are hilarious. Their play in the recital, the jam and cream. 😂. One thing I found a bit icky was Fanny flirting with Frederick, hoping to be his wife. She’s the same age as Frederick’s son. Even though Grace is telling the story we don’t really get to know her except that she is quiet and reserved. But love that she smuggled in books when she moved into Riverton. I have to ask if anyone besides me was thinking of Downton Abbey when reading about the supper and the upstairs, downstairs? So far a good book and I can’t wait to read next week’s chapters.

[Elizabeth]

Hi everyone! Today wraps up our first week in the read-along. I had originally planned to read a little each day, but I only got the first two and a half chapters read earlier in the week and neglected to get back to the rest until this morning. Anyway, I just finished the All Good Things Chapter and thought I had better comment while it was fresh on my mind.
I'm still trying to get all of the characters straight and their relationships. I even went back and reread a bit of the first two chapters again while trying to sort things out. Are Lord Ashbury and Lady Clementine the parents of Jonathan and Frederick? Why are the the last names different. Is Ashbury a title or a first name, and not a last name? I've never read much about British aristocracy so you guys might need to help me along.
So automatically I started thinking that Gracie is probably the daughter of Frederick. There seems to be some mystery there and some clues leading in that direction, like when he looked up the stairs and seemed to be seeing a ghost. (I'm assuming that Gracie looks like her mother did at that age) Did anyone else get that idea?
On a personal note, it's fun to have a character with a name the same as my daughter's. It was probably a more common name back then. My daughter Emelie is actually named Emeline. We just spell it with one M instead of 2. We gave her this name because it was also my great grandmother's name and also my great-great-great grandmother's name.
The play was something else, wasn't it! Hannah is definitely one who isn't likely to bow out of a challenge. I was wondering how she found men clothes to fit her, but I guess they were her brother's.
I've only seen a little bit of Downton Abby, but this does certainly bring up those images. I'm really intrigued by the story and I love the setting. I'm really excited to read this finally and am even more excited to have all of you reading it with me.

[Catherine]

Hi everyone. So Grace is reminiscing about her childhood at Riverton. Obviously something like a tragedy happened there and or a scandal enough for them to do a film about it.
How sad that at 14 Grace had to start work to earn for the family. I had a conversation with my own Grandmother before she passed about how she started work at 14 too at the Cotton Mills in West Yorkshire UK. She had to walk miles to get there and back. She like Grace was very intelligent but as the family was poor she had no choice.

[Catherine]

Yes Elizabeth Lord Ashbury and Lady Violet are the parents to Jonathan and Frederick and grandparents to the current children. Often the master was called by their surname and the lady by their Christian first name. All serving members of the armed forces used their title of rank is Major etc.
Here in UK before Downtown Abbey there was a series called upstairs downstairs which was really good.
A side note my sister was married at Downtown Abbey in 2016. It's real name is Highclere Castle it is amazing.

[Catherine]

I think that Gracies mother left under a cloud and Ruth is either Lord Ashbury s daughter or either of the boys. Oooh.
I am enjoying it but reading it in small chunks I had forgotten what happened as I've read other books since.

[Elizabeth]

Jayne Catherine pinkett wrote: "Yes Elizabeth Lord Ashbury and Lady Violet are the parents to Jonathan and Frederick and grandparents to the current children. Often the master was called by their surname and the lady by their Chr..."

Thanks for clarifying that Catherine. I thought that was the case, but wanted to be sure.
How neat that your sister was married at Downton Abbey! I'm so glad that you are reading this with us. You definitely have the "hometown advantage" and I hope you will continue to give us your special insight.
It is sad that young children had to go to work so young in earlier days. My own mother came from a family of 11 children and they were tenant farmers who picked cotton. So as each child was able, they were expected to be out in the fields picking cotton.
I think that my mother did appreciate a large part of her upbringing because it made her a stronger person.

[Melinda]

I remember the show Upstairs, Downstairs. It was good. I too thought Grace was the child of one of the men of the manor. I also feel it was because of her that the scandal happened that this is leading up to. I will be reading week two’s chapter this weekend. I can picture each of the characters in my head and can’t wait to dive deeper into this book.

[Donna]

I completed these five chapters on the first day of the challenge and was struck by how the story seemed so familiar even though I have not read this book or this author before. Total déjà vu experience while Grace waited for her daughter to pick her up, her whole time at the movie set, the scene with the children in the nursery, and the allusion to the poet on the beach.

Foreshadowing in the story is used well to peak attention and interest in the book in these first few set-up chapters: the poet on the beach, the ghost on the stairs, the mother's experience working in the same household.

I like the story and am glad to be part of this readalong. I do wonder if the déjà vu experiences will continue.

[Elizabeth]

I finally got caught up! i definitely agree with Elizabeth that a) Fanny is icky and b) I think Gracie is Frederick's child.
this book is definitely intriguing to me.