Once Upon a River

[Christina ❤️M❤️]

I listened to 8. A well-Practised tale & 9. Lily`s nightmare and I need to stop for tonight although I don't want to.

[Esther]

I just finished chapter 6. I had no reading time yesterday. I feel like I am ready a puzzle. Loving it.

[Christina ❤️M❤️]

Peggy wrote: "chapter 10: okay, so maybe spoiler removed

(view spoiler)[ He is such a likeable character, but there is getting to be an awfully lot of characters. I hope that I can keep them all straight. (hide spoiler)]

[Christina ❤️M❤️]

Chapter 10 (view spoiler)[ Armstrong definitely got more heartbreaking news than he was prepared for and yet he managed to spread hope as he went. I don't think he will take long for Ben to find his way to Armstrong's farm. (hide spoiler)]

[Christina ❤️M❤️]

Lol.. I just started Chapter 11 (view spoiler)[ I agree with Margo... giving up on making any sense of it. Was Lily calling the girl Anne? That wasn't the kidnapped girl's name. Was it? (hide spoiler)]

[Christina ❤️M❤️]

Maybe it is the way this book is written, but I never want to stop at the end of a chapter, but I know I will never find my spot again if I don't. I finished Chapter 11.

[Peggy]

I know what you mean Christina, there's so much going on that I also worry (view spoiler)[ that I'm going to mix things up or miss important details. (hide spoiler)]

[Peggy]

Chapter 12: (view spoiler)[ it seems we have 3 people claiming the child. They call her Ann, Alice and Amelia. Only Armstrong is not sure about it. The man who carried her in is about to wake up, can't wait to hear what he has to say!

I feel like I'm right there in the inn! (hide spoiler)]

[Peggy]

I finished Part 1. This must be one of the best books I ever read in terms of writing. Absolutely amazing.

(view spoiler)[ The girl has left with the Vaughns. Mr Vaughn does not seem to believe it's their daughter, but Helena is convinced. I don't believe it either.

There's something fishy about Robin Armstrong.

I loved the story about Quietly. (hide spoiler)]

[Sandra, Moderator]

Peggy wrote: "This must be one of the best books I ever read in terms of writing. Absolutely amazing. "

I completely agree. I think The Thirteenth Tale was good, but the writing in this one is so much better. Clearly the author has grown in that aspect.

[Christina ❤️M❤️]

I finished 12 & 13 (view spoiler)[ This whole time I have been very interested to hear from the injured man... It seems his mind wanted to say yes.. but he said that it wasn't his child. I wonder why the initial thought. (hide spoiler)]

[Peggy]

Sandra wrote: "Peggy wrote: "This must be one of the best books I ever read in terms of writing. Absolutely amazing. "

I completely agree. I think The Thirteenth Tale was good, but the writing in th..."

I read that one too but don't remember that much of it, except that I really enjoyed it. I think I agree with you that the writing was good, but nothing compared to this.

[Peggy]

Christina wrote: "I finished 12 & 13 [spoilers removed]"

Yes, that was interesting! (view spoiler)[ I suddenly have a thought.. what if he is her daughter, but he can't take care of her and imagines that she's better off with other people? (hide spoiler)]

[Cherie]

I feel so far behind but no pressure. 😊
I finished the second chapter, The Corpse Without a Story. (view spoiler)[ I like Rita! I laughed so hard about the handkerchief to protect the hurt man’s modesty and Rita’s reputation. How wonderful of the Doctor to leave Rita money and his books in his will. He sounded like an exceptional man. Radcot it was so luck that Rita decided to settle there after she left London. I can’t wait to turn the page and see “what happened”! (hide spoiler)]

[Cherie]

I’m on my way to bed but I wanted to comment first. I’m in chapter 4. I love the imagery this author comes up with! I have so many book marks already. (view spoiler)[. There sure are A LOT of people walking around in the dark in this chapter! I want to know who woke the cat up, but I can’t keep my eyes open. (hide spoiler)]

[Peggy]

Cherie, I feel like I could bookmark the whole book!

[Esther]

Peggy wrote: "Sandra wrote: "Peggy wrote: "This must be one of the best books I ever read in terms of writing. Absolutely amazing. "

I completely agree. I think The Thirteenth Tale was good, but th..."

The Thirteenth Tale is a book that have been sitting on the pile in my bedroom for years. I never started it, i always ended up picking something else. 2021 my be the year i finally read it. I am enjoying every minute of this one.

[Esther]

I am trailing behind. (just finished part 1, chapter 10. My knitting took over my "free time" this week. But i like the story, the way it is told, little tons of little part of the story that will all come together, some in obvious way, some more puzzling. I feel like i am investigating myself and collecting all this stories, I also like that the river is almost a character.

[Peggy]

Esther wrote: "Peggy wrote: "Sandra wrote: "Peggy wrote: "This must be one of the best books I ever read in terms of writing. Absolutely amazing. "

I completely agree. I think The Thirteenth Tale wa..."

Lol, we all have those books!

[Peggy]

You're not that far behind me, Esther.

Several people mentioned the river being a character. I agree, but after reading pt 2 ch 5 I think (view spoiler)[ the story (about the girl who was dead and then alive) is like a character too.

I loved the discussion about 'haring', it's like Sandra's quote earlier, with the astounded and dumbfounded. It just reflects such love of language and stories. (hide spoiler)]

[Cherie]

I can’t seem to want to read on unless I comment first. I am just starting chapter 8, A Well-Practiced Tale. (view spoiler)[ The author sure seems to be setting us up with the “Something is going to happen.” lines. I felt sorry for Helena. It seemed to me that she must have lost a baby. The River “story” from the previous chapter was fun. I’ve read so many stories set in London where the Thames or a familiar tributary was a character. (hide spoiler)]

[Cherie]

Oh, I am laughing so hard at myself! I just finished chapter 9. (view spoiler)[ So, “something happened” and we already knew about it. That is my take on it anyway. I was intrigued by Mrs. Constantine, whom Mr. Armstrong went to see. Will we see her again? Poor Lily, in Marsh Cottage. Was the the River child hers? All these chapters were back stories to where we started the book at Radcot? Oh, and even more terrible that Helena had “lost” her child, was that she was taken! Okay, back to Mr. Armstrong. (hide spoiler)]. I need to get on my laptop tomorrow to read the spoilers now that I’m catching up. 👋

[Cherie]

I realized that I entered the wrong name in my spoiler in chapter 9 above. (view spoiler)[ it was Mr. Vaughan that went to see Mrs. Constantine to talk to her about his wife, Helena. (hide spoiler)]

I just started reading chapter 11.

[Cherie]

I just read Esther's comment about the chapters. My ebook has part, chapter number, and chapter name in the table of contents. The chapter numbers run sequentially from 1 to 50. They do not restart at 1 when the part changes. I will try to make sure to add part, # and name to my comments after this. Part 2 starts at chapter 17: Things Don't Add Up and goes through chapter 26: The Genie in the Teapot. Part 3 starts at 27: The Longest Day through chapter 31: Two Strange Things. Part 4 starts at chapter 32: What Happened Next and goes through chapter 42: 4th Other Side of the River. Part 5 starts at chapter 43: The Knife and the last chapter is 50: Happily Ever After. There is an author's note after chapter 50.

[Cherie]

I read all of the spoilers up to chapter 11, which I am just going to start. (funny about the cat.)
Peggy - I love the writing too!
Christine - I agree about Robert Armstrong.

[Esther]

Cherie wrote: "I just read Esther's comment about the chapters. My ebook has part, chapter number, and chapter name in the table of contents. The chapter numbers run sequentially from 1 to 50. They do not restart..."

want me to renumber the chapters? would it be easier for everyone?

[Esther]

Peggy wrote: "Chapter 12: ."

(view spoiler)[Indeed we went from "who is this child? to "who really is this child?". 3 claims indeed. I would not be surprise if the man that carried her has no clue. (hide spoiler)]

[Peggy]

Not necessary for me Esther, I don't have any numbers anyway. I think this will work fine, as everybody can check and with the combination of part, number and title we can't go wrong.

[Peggy]

Part 2 ch 7 (mr Armstrong goes to bampton: (view spoiler)[ As I thought, Robin seems to be up to no good. What's the history with his father? Not enough has happened to say he is not his father.

I wonder if the Vic guy who visits Lily, the man who robbed Rita, and the guy who held Armstrong in the green dragon are one and the same. They're all small, wiry and strong and do not speak 'proper' English.

I hope Ben is okay! (hide spoiler)]

[Christina ❤️M❤️]

I finished 13- Part 2 chapter 1? last night. I have to admit that I didn't plan very well. It is really hard to listen to CDs with the kiddos here all the time. They go back to school tomorrow :) (view spoiler)[ Lily is off her rocker. They can't even talk with logic to her. Well, the husband seems pretty sure that the little girl isn't actually his, but he doesn't want to talk sense into his wife. Definitely not Ann. That just leaves Armstrong, but he can't be sure. So the wife wins it seems at this point. (hide spoiler)]

[Cherie]

I’m just starting The Story Flourishes, chapter 20 in Part 2. (view spoiler)[ It seems like the little girl is waiting for someone to show up (her mother?). She seems content to be at the Vaughn’s though. The magic tone in the story seems to have changed. It feels that way to me anyway. It is just a “story” now. (hide spoiler)]

[Christina ❤️M❤️]

Part 2 1- 5... I had to recheck Esther's list. I had listen to alot more chapters than a thought the last time I commented. I will fix it. I am looking forward to reading all the comments... now that I actually know where I am. (view spoiler)[ I just finished listening to Rita's and Daunt's experiment... Super funny. He must be head over heals. (hide spoiler)]

[Peggy]

Part 3 ch 3: (view spoiler)[ this doesn't make sense! Robin has been visiting the Vaughans repeatedly, and only now at the fair he claims the girl as his own? I'm sure Rita and other villagers who know about his visits should think this is strange too. And at the summer solstice too.. Armstrong doesn't seem to trust it. And what's up with that picture of Daunt he was so rattled about? (hide spoiler)]

[Esther]

Cherie wrote: "I feel so far behind but no pressure. 😊
I finished the second chapter, The Corpse Without a Story. [spoilers removed]"

it reminds me of what my mom told me. She was a nurse. The female nurse would wash a male patient, starting at the head and going as far down as possible, Then go to the feet and wash up as far up as possible, A male nurse would take care of the possible later.

[Esther]

Cherie wrote: "I’m just starting The Story Flourishes, chapter 20 in Part 2. [spoilers removed]"
i agree(view spoiler)[that girl is waiting for someone or something. I am also surprises that she does not seem wary of the river. (hide spoiler)]

[Peggy]

Part 4, ch 2: (view spoiler)[ Ah, this is actually not surprising (I didn't figure it out myself, but it makes sense). Robin wants money for the child. It's like another kidnapping. (hide spoiler)]

[Christina ❤️M❤️]

I just finish photographing Amelia.. I agree with everyone. (view spoiler)[ I think see is waiting on "something to happen." Robin is horrible. (hide spoiler)]

[Esther]

Christina wrote: "I just finish photographing Amelia.. I agree with everyone. [spoilers removed]"
I just finished this chapter as well. (view spoiler)[the part with "Amelia" and her father by the river was really weird to me.
I am fairly sure she i not really Amelia, but I am sure she is better there than with Robin Armstrong. (hide spoiler)]

[Peggy]

Part 4, ch 2, Retelling the Story: (view spoiler)[ Wait, what?! Vaughan brought the ransom money, and in return he got a dead Amelia! I didn't see that one coming... and he never told his wife about it either.

I wonder if there's a logical explanation for this. Were Robin and his gang also involved in the kidnapping and death of Amelia? Was she really dead? It's strange that Vaughan placed her in the river, and two years later a dead girl is found in that same river and comes alive. Is it the same girl? I can't help thinking about Quietly, is he involved? Or did the kidnappers just drug Amelia or something, and they picked her up from the river and brought her back to the Vaughans 2 years later, all with the plan to extract even more money from them? (hide spoiler)]

[Christina ❤️M❤️]

I just finished part 2- I don't have a clue where this is all going. I will say (view spoiler)[ that there for a second I thought Lily was going to decide that the pig was her sister... I am glad that didn't happen. She seems to be such a tortured soul. (hide spoiler)]

[Christina ❤️M❤️]

I listened to all of part 3 tonight. (view spoiler)[ There seems to be a massive plot against... ?the Vaughan's? Someone has got a scheme anyway. I am feeling for most of our main characters right now. Victor is Lily's step brother... hummmm... A mother's worst nightmare. (hide spoiler)]

[Esther]

i>Peggy wrote: "Part 4, ch 2, Retelling the Story: ..."

¸(view spoiler)[Wait what indeed. I knew I was missing something. Vaughan was acting to weird, but I never saw this one coming. Hide her death for so long. And placed her in the river?
Now what I am wondering is: will there be magic element. or will a logical explanation for who Amelia is?
(hide spoiler)]

[Peggy]

I finished this a few days ago. I really loved it and gave it 5 stars. I think part 1 was best, (view spoiler)[ so magical and I loved the story and the people at the Swan, and the writing soooo amazing! I'm not sure though if I just got used to it in later parts, or if it did change a bit.

I liked the ending. It was more magical than realistic, but I don't mind a bit of magical realism and with Quietly having been introduced from the beginning it made sense. I started wondering at some point if the girl was Quietly's daughter. The only thing I'm not sure about is why she was found in the water.

All other storylines were wrapped up, no loose ends or plot holes. (hide spoiler)]

[Peggy]

Esther wrote: "i>Peggy wrote: "Part 4, ch 2, Retelling the Story: ..."

¸..."

Same here, (view spoiler)[ that really came as a suprise. I started wondering about whether the book would turn into magical realism somewhere around here too. (hide spoiler)]

[Christina ❤️M❤️]

I just finished Part 4- I think it was a "huge" mistake for my to listen to the audio of this. (view spoiler)[ Up until Vaughn went to visit Constantin again, I honestly thought that the first visit was part of Lily's story. I loved part one... and I loved part 4, the illusion was awesome and from that point, I feel like I know what is going on. However, I was completely lost through Parts 2 & 3 (which was a long time). (hide spoiler)]

[Esther]

part 4
Lily (of sister and piglet): (view spoiler)[Lily story explains so much about her behavior. it all makes sense now. Imagine all these year thinking she had drowned her sister... (hide spoiler)]

[Peggy]

Esther wrote: "part 4
Lily (of sister and piglet): [spoilers removed]"

Yes, (view spoiler)[ that was so sad. And how twisted Victor Nash was.. (hide spoiler)]

[Esther]

Peggy wrote: "I finished this a few days ago. I really loved it and gave it 5 stars. I think part 1 was best, "

I totally agree.

[Christina ❤️M❤️]

I just finished... Okay, so My take is.. (view spoiler)[ that there was a magical element to the story. "Quiet" the ferryman.. in my opinion aka.. the grimm reaper had a daughter that was found by Daunt. It is said that she was a gypsy, but I am putting more stock in Johnathan's account of the night. Especially considering the speed that the ferryman propelled the boat and recovered Victor twice and Robin. (hide spoiler)] If that is completely wrong please feel free to let me know. I have no intention of rating this book because as I have stated.. I had no clue what was going on through the middle of the book.

[Esther]

Christina wrote: "I just finished... Okay, so My take is.. [spoilers removed] If that is completely wrong please feel free to let me know. I have no intention of rating this book because as I have stated.. I had no ..."
(view spoiler)[You are not wrong. I see it as a believe what you will ending. (hide spoiler)]