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Decision at Delphi
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Decision at Delphi: October Group Read Chapters 1-15
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I have this copy
It has been eons since I last read it -- I suspect it was in the late '60s or early '70s. So this will be like reading it for the first time, as I remember zip about it.
Time to go find a copy!
This is my first time reading, but I enjoyed the Salzburg book very much, and wanted to read more! Unfortunately, Salzburg was one of only two MacInnes books my library had, so I ordered a used paperback, same as Barb’s
. I’ve only been able to read the first few pages, some long-time holds finally came through from the library, and you can’t renew those, so I put this aside for a bit. I’ll try and catch up!
I have four group reads that I want to participate in starting on the 15th, so I may not get to this one immediately. I’ve read only one of them so far!
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No worries! other than tomorrow, I have a very full week.
It is going to be hard to tear myself away from this book to go to work!
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I love the opening chapters - the romance of traveling back then! Seems like a lovely, restful way to get to Europe, as opposed to hopping on a plane. Of course, being able to travel at all in these pandemic times seems like a treat!
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& a bonus for Mary Stewart fans- he's a smoker!
Right away, so many questions - why did Katherini run into and out of Preston’s office in New York? Why was she hidden away on board? What’s up with Steve? What’s in the film case? What are the “family matters” he’s so worked up about?I do like Ken! She writes such intriguing, attractive, intelligent heroes - they have interesting careers, and they’ve been places and done things! AND grey eyes, as Carol says - who doesn’t love that?!
I'm about 7 or 8 chapters in now and I'm starting to think I read this book many, many years ago - so long ago that I'd completely forgotten I'd read it. I still don't remember anything except a few vague ideas about the Greek mountain country and a villain. So far this one reminds me even more of Mary Stewart's early romantic suspense novels, except less lush descriptions of scenery and more spy stuff. But the 50's social mores are familiar here, and we even have (view spoiler)
Tadiana--I know I read this 50+ years ago, as it was my first MacInnes. But that doesn't mean I remember anything beyond the fact that I really liked it!I'm a few chapters behind you, but I am also getting the Mary Stewart-ish vibes. I really like Ken and all the stealthy goings-on. I even (view spoiler)
I’m around where Barb is, I think, and I know I’ve never read this, but very intrigued to be learning more about Greece in WWII and after - something I know little about.
I'm going to give this one a try; will possibly start on it tomorrow. This author is new to me.
Cphe--That scene in Ken's stateroom, with friends and family, was truly an excellent set up. The reader doesn't know who to pay attention to; doesn't know who will become important as the story progresses. Very clever bit of writing by the author!
Three chapters in...love the shipboard scene like a old black and white movie, and all the interesting characters that have made their appearance.
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Macinnes is so good with scene setting.
I have had a shocking day & I'm off to bed, but hope to catch up on my reading soon.
Agree, excellent set-up, I loved the glamour of the opening scene, the feeling of adventure as Steve is setting off for a job he loves! Made me nostalgic for cruising in 1960 - tough since I wasn’t even born until 1965!This is my first read and only second MacInnes thriller, and I’m only about four chapters in - but just finished the scene with the massive Anxious info dump by the American lady to Steve in the cafe. I’m so confused- what exactly does she want Steve to do? How will it help her English husband? Does she truly think she can smooth over the wartime atrocity memories between her husband and his buddy, and they’ll be pals again? British officers were in Greece during the war? Not surprised, I did a paper in high school about the Resistance, vaguely rings a bell, but most of my reading was focused on their activities in France.
Between what Steve said and the American wife, I’ve learned much more than I ever wanted to know about the horrible situation in Greece during the war, and I’m confused. What the heck am I getting into? And now Katherini and her grumpy old aunt (?) have popped up again...so confused! Like my previous MacInnes read, I get the impression WWII is just yesterday and still haunting many of the characters, understandably. They go about their sophisticated, civilized lives, but I feel like at any moment, Nazis or vicious communists might come marauding down the tourist-infested streets!
Susan--some good points in your last paragraph. The book was published in 1960 (so probably written in '59 or earlier). WWII ended barely 15 years earlier. Most adults remembered the war vividly! That the Greeks were still settling scores left over from that war requires almost no stretch of the imagination.Also, the communists were solidifying their hold on the Balkans and desperately wanted to add Greece to their bloc.
Those real-life situations provide enough fodder for dozens of novelists. MacInnes stepped in with a fabulous version.
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I'll ask everyone to please be careful of spoilers or use spoiler tags. I am working the NZ election & today & Saturday I won't be around much. 😊
Barb in Maryland wrote: "Susan--some good points in your last paragraph. The book was published in 1960 (so probably written in '59 or earlier). WWII ended barely 15 years earlier. Most adults remembered the war vividly! T..."My Brother Michael is another tense thriller set in Greece-after-the-war. As usual, I learned more about the situation from a novel than I ever did in "history" classes. (I don't have a copy of Delphi, so I was reading all your comments to see if the book would come back to my memory - but it's just been too long and nothing remains!)
Now that I'm finished I'm not at all sure that I've read it before. I think maybe the first half just reminded me powerfully of something I'd read before set in the aftermath of the Greek civil war.
If I ever get to hang out at used bookstores again (sigh), I'll have to keep my eyes peeled for this one.
I am getting frustrated, Ken is in Athens now, I’ve had information and character overload, and am still confused as to what is going on...
I thought the first section of this book was pretty disjointed myself.
I think the reader is meant to be confused; that way when we figure it all out we can feel clever! :-) I'm looking forward to learning more about modern Greek history from this book. At the moment though, I just want to slap Caroline for being a stereo typical silly woman!
Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ wrote: "I thought the first section of this book was pretty disjointed myself."Thanks! I was trying to get some reading in before bed, but getting more irritated by the minute. I’m going to put this aside for a few days to read something else - I’ve gotten overly ambitious with knitting projects, books, and we’ve had a family illness to deal with long distance over the past weeks. Too much on my plate right now, I’ll check back later!
Yeah, it’s a bit difficult to figure out whom Ken should trust, but I hope things will clear up soon. I’d forgotten just how stereotyped were men’s attitudes toward women, even in this novel by a female author. They all seem to be classified by their looks.
Kellie wrote: "I think the reader is meant to be confused; that way when we figure it all out we can feel clever! :-) I'm looking forward to learning more about modern Greek history from this book. At the moment ..."Lol, good point! Well, I’m not feeling particularly clever, but agree about Caroline!
Elinor wrote: "Yeah, it’s a bit difficult to figure out whom Ken should trust, but I hope things will clear up soon. I’d forgotten just how stereotyped were men’s attitudes toward women, even in this novel by a f..."That, too - good point!
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I got a late start and have been binge reading this afternoon. I think you are right, Kellie. We are meant to feel the confusion. Who is who? And whose side are they on? And should that matter to me? What part of our past memories are real and what part of those memories should guide us in making decisions in the present? I'm actually very impressed with the author's skill though it does not make for easy reading.
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My reading time is limited right now so I am a ways behind; just finished chapter 9. It does seem to have a lot of talk in it, especially for a book with so many characters with secrets! But I am struck with how strong was the “band of brothers” feeling—that if you were in a tight corner with someone during the War, you trusted that person always. I hope that continues to be true as the story goes on; I like to believe in such things.One passage struck me as reaching out from the past to speak to the present: Christophorou talking about nihilism. “How many people, all through this world, see nothing ahead for them? Life is meaningless, a cruel joke where injustice is made into law.” Maybe I’m a materialist, but I see that hopelessness, that sense of being kept on the outside of opportunity, as lying behind a lot of the societal disintegrations today, in the USA and around Europe. Christophorou speaks of democracies offering food and sympathy to the suffering, but that aid only making it easier for those in power to keep their thumb on the people. And the anger and bitterness that results. I do enjoy it when MacInnes waxes philosophical!
Abigail wrote: "My reading time is limited right now so I am a ways behind; just finished chapter 9. It does seem to have a lot of talk in it, especially for a book with so many characters with secrets! But I am s..."Perhaps because humans need a cause, a reason to live? Otherwise, why bother...
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This book has reminded me that I did used to read & enjoy longer books. I haven't minded the slower pace although I'm glad things are picking up now.
Exactly, Karlyne! The inconvenient psychological reality that those who want to hog all worldly benefits for themselves so often overlook. Those chickens will come home to roost.
Abigail wrote: "Exactly, Karlyne! The inconvenient psychological reality that those who want to hog all worldly benefits for themselves so often overlook. Those chickens will come home to roost."I think the whole emotional part of being a human being is rarely acknowledged by the greedy and power-hungry - unless, of course, they can use it to control the masses. And, then, they tend to think of it as a tool for manipulation - and forget that it can turn on them in a heart beat.
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Hana wrote: "I'm so sorry I'm also running behind, not helped by the latest GR font change that I have trouble reading."That font change is not reader-friendly, that's for sure. These old eyes arealso having trouble with it. Which young whippersnapper decided that changing the font was a good idea?
Funny, I’m not seeing any font change on GR.
Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ wrote: "Funny, I’m not seeing any font change on GR."How bizarre! It changed back to the previous font sometime today.
Anyway, for a couple of days the font for the comments was more cursive and somewhat smaller. It was a pain in the nether regions to read.
Barb in Maryland wrote: "Hana wrote: "I'm so sorry I'm also running behind, not helped by the latest GR font change that I have trouble reading."That font change is not reader-friendly, that's for sure. These old eyes ar..."
We have entered the age of Change For Change's Sake....
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I'm sorry I have fallen behind! I am going to spend the next couple of days trying to catch up!
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Just finished the first half and at first I did find it rather slow and confusing, so many characters and not knowing much Greek history I was having some problems keeping up. Also, my paperback has very small print so a little hard to read. Now it is getting more interesting and certainly more exciting. I have been to Greece and it was so fascinating so it is always good to read about a place you have been so you can picture some of the surroundings. This is my third Helen MacInnes book and my favorite thus far is The Venetian Affair which was my first.
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Decision at Delphi (other topics)
I've read this book 3 or 4 times, all at least 30 years ago.
My copy is this hard cover
Please - no spoilers or use spoiler tags. We don't want to spoil a first time read for anyone!