Once Upon a River

[Cherie]

I really am reading the book, but I have been doing more gophering for next year than reading lately.

I am currently reading in Part 3 - a couple of chapters in.
I have so many comments that I wanted to make but I have been sitting in front of my laptop all day and do not want to type one more thing. I have the day off tomorrow.

[Christina ❤️M❤️]

@Cherie, I have been having the same issue. :) I only have 1 more book for this year for badge 2 and I have been looking at so many books for next year that keep getting distracted.

[Cherie]

Part 3 chapter 28: Philosophy at the Swan
(view spoiler)[ “Cricklade was a quaint town a few miles away, renowned for its intermittent infestation of dragons.” It cracks me up how, with everything that happened in the previous chapter, the author could insert such an impossible statement into the stream of the story. Daunt could not possibly believe that there were dragons there but he wanted to go take pictures there. (hide spoiler)]

[Cherie]

Chapter 27: The Longest Day (view spoiler)[ Who was in the photo that Mr. Armstrong bought? Who was the person that detained Mr. Vaughn in the palm reader’s tent and was trying to blackmail him as that lady picked up the child Amelia and handed her to Robin? Did Robin decide to blackmail the Vaughn’s for the child? I can’t believe she could really be his. (hide spoiler)]

[Cherie]

@Christina - I understand about your trivia challenge books. I hope you can finish them!
I finished my monthly challenge book tonight.

I should have been reading a book for the toppler but nothing appealed to me.

This is reading limbo time. It depresses me.

[Esther]

Cherie wrote: "Part 3 chapter 28: Philosophy at the Swan
[spoilers removed]"

I think it is a perfect illustration of what i love so much about the book. Take a story that if you stripped it down to its bare minimum is a drama but it is told in such a way that it feels like a cute little tale.

[Cherie]

Awesome, Esther. I’m glad it is not just me. 🤓
I just got to Part 4.
For chapter 31: Two Strange Things
(view spoiler)[ So Robin immediately turned the girl over to the Armstrong’s after having her delivered from the Vaughns. Is he the one blackmailing Mr. Vaughn or what is his gain?How strange! I could not believe that the picture that Mr. Armstrong purchased and was so excited about was a picture of his missing pig! Regarding the photographs. Are they printed on paper? The photographic process in an earlier chapter was facing. Watching the picture develop reminded me of he old Kodac pictures. (hide spoiler)]

[Christina ❤️M❤️]

Cherie wrote: "Awesome, Esther. I’m glad it is not just me. 🤓
I just got to Part 4.
For chapter 31: Two Strange Things
[spoilers removed]"

Yeah, I pictured an old time low tech dark room. Strangely when I do that, I always think of the old pictures of the outlaws in the coffins...

[Cherie]

Part 4 chapter 33: Thruppence (view spoiler)[ Never any answers- just more questions! Mr. Vaughn was finally contacted. It sounded like Victor, from the description. Is he in league with Robin? Was it Victor who kidnapped Amelia when she was two? What did he do with her? I feel so sorry for Mr. Vaughn. I’m so glad that he did not drown himself. He is going to go back and talk to Mrs. Constantine. Interesting. For his own mental health? (hide spoiler)]

[Cherie]

@ Christina - Funny about the old gunslinger photos. I always thought that they were especially gruesome! At least the photographer could count on them not to move! Oh, that is awful..🙃

[Cherie]

Part 4 chapter 34: Retelling the Story (view spoiler)[Oh no! I cannot believe it. I don’t want it to be so. Poor, poor Mr. Vaughn. To pay the ransom money only to find his baby dead. And for him to put her in the river and hide it from his wife and everyone all of this time. My heart is breaking or him! (hide spoiler)]

[Esther]

Cherie wrote: "Part 4 chapter 34: Retelling the Story [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I suspected the girl was not Amelia, but that part i never expected. Disturbing. And he went in total denial mode after that. (hide spoiler)]

[Cherie]

@Esther - I wish I could see your spoiler, but I am on the mobil app on my iPod. I just got to chapter 42: The Other Side of the River but I need to get a few hours of sleep. (view spoiler)[ I am dying to read on, especially after the show at the Inn and Lilly’s confession and to find out what Mr. Armstrong knows of Victor Nash but it must wait. (hide spoiler)]

[Cherie]

I just got finished with Part 5 chapter 45: Fathers and Sons (view spoiler)[ Wow. What a revelation! Can’t say I wasn’t sorry to see Robin and Victor carried away by Quietly but who was in the punt with him? Was it the girl? Sorry to see Joe pass on, but a new baby boy is born too. Will they name him Joe? (hide spoiler)]

[Cherie]

I finished the book today. Still thinking over the ending chapters. I will come back when I can think what to say.

[Christina ❤️M❤️]

I am interested to know your thoughts Cherie. Even with me having a hard time following the book... I enjoyed the ending.

[Cherie]

Sorry, Christine. I didn't exactly forget, but I have been off in my own little world reading Sherlock Holmes books. I will come back, I promise.

Did everyone else finish?