Touch Not the Cat

[Annette]

I started reading Mary Stewart 40+ years ago so I may have read this one before because there weren't any real surprises but I won't spoil it for anyone. I liked the ending and I think folks got what they deserved.

[Wobbley]

Luffy Sempai wrote: "Chapters 5 and 6 went by fast. Very good writing... although I haven't cracked the mystery."

I'm glad you enjoyed the more recent chapters you've read. Hopefully now that the plot is moving along more, you'll get into a better rhythm with the book. :)

[Terris]

Annette wrote: "I started reading Mary Stewart 40+ years ago so I may have read this one before because there weren't any real surprises but I won't spoil it for anyone. I liked the ending and I think folks got wh..."

I'm glad to hear that! I am having a hard time figuring out how this one will end!!

[Teri-K]

Terris wrote: "I'm glad to hear that! I am having a hard time figuring out how this one will end!!"

You can trust Mary Stewart to give you a pretty satisfying ending, Terris. :)

[Terris]

Yay! :)

[Luffy Sempai]

Wobbley wrote: "Luffy Sempai wrote: "Chapters 5 and 6 went by fast. Very good writing... although I haven't cracked the mystery."

I'm glad you enjoyed the more recent chapters you've read. Hopefully now that the ..."

Hey, thanks.

[Terry]

I’m in Chapter 14, and am finding it quite compelling.

[Kimberly]

I just finished the book this evening. I thought that the beginning was slower than usual for a Stewart novel, but I pushed through and I'm glad I did. One thing that I found challenging was to remember that this story was to have taken place in the 1970s while all its elements were of a gothic nature. Maybe it was the setting of the old manor, but this story could have taken place a hundred years earlier.

[Terry]

Interesting point, Kimberly. I think the telepathy would have been more believable, but the travel would have been slower.

[Ninie]

Kimberly wrote: "....One thing that I found challenging was to remember that this story was to have taken place in the 1970s while all its elements were of a gothic nature."

Kimberly, I had the same problem. I think it's because Bryony tells the story in the same way as first-person Gothics set in the 19th century. We don't see a whole lot of 1970s life, either.

[Lynn]

Ninie wrote: "Kimberly wrote: "....One thing that I found challenging was to remember that this story was to have taken place in the 1970s while all its elements were of a gothic nature."

Kimberly, I had the sa..."

Good point. I hadn't considered the narrrator stryle. Perhaps that is why I like Mary Stewart's books. They can have a 19th Century feel. I at first thought of Jane Austen, but that's not quite right. Perhaps more like Elizabeth Gaskell Of course setting contributes to that as well.

[Ninie]

Lynn wrote: "Perhaps more like Elizabeth Gaskell"

Yes, particularly her ghost stories. Or, maybe, something like the narration in Jane Eyre.

[Wobbley]

Lynn wrote: "Ninie wrote: "Kimberly wrote: "....One thing that I found challenging was to remember that this story was to have taken place in the 1970s while all its elements were of a gothic nature."..."

Yes, you're all right, this book does have a 19th Century feeling to it (though slightly more modern in the ease of the language for modern readers), and I think that's part of the appeal. Good point!

[Savita]

Gosh , talk of the atmosphere , the ambience .... 😱😨 ... I've almost finished chapter 4 , and I suppose , reading it late night , as is now , I found the church episode really blood curdling.. 😨😱 .. I actually glanced nervously over my shoulder once or twice when .. Beware Spoilers [ Byrony walks into the church in the gathering dusk , all alone , and the events that follow... ] End of Spoiler .... anyway, further reading tomorrow, in broad daylight !

[Savita]

And on a lighter note , I had a good laugh when Mr Emerson, the business partner , assures Bryony that no court decision is likely to occur in the near future ... " .. that ( court decision) will take quite sometime . The mills of God work like lightning, compared with ( human) law ! ... 👌 Even the courts upstairs must have enjoyed a good laugh at the audacious, sarcastic wit in Mr Emerson 's assuring remark 😂 !
Another thing , I have , with gladness realized that India , then , is not the only country where court cases go on and on and
on ....
Of course, the reason why the Divine courts take long to pronouce judgment is very different from that applicable to our human courts , but there's wisdom and justifications , too , I think , in the latter courts . We humans need to show convincing proofs , lest injustice is meted out !
And , with regards to the former courts , we cannot but be glad that that highest court upstairs gives us oft erring human beings a very long window period to show true repentance, before Divine judgment is pronounced ⚖ , which can , then , be nothing to feel
happy about 🤔 .

[Terry]

I finished the book — thoroughly enjoyable right up to the end, even though I had guessed the primary mystery early on. And I loved the remark about the “polygon!” I love it when a book makes me laugh! 😂

[Wobbley]

Terry wrote: "And I loved the remark about the “polygon!” I love it when a book makes me laugh!"

Haha, thanks for pointing this out. I confess I glossed right over that line and didn't even notice it was a corny pun.

[Savita]

Terry wrote: "I finished the book — thoroughly enjoyable right up to the end, even though I had guessed the primary mystery early on. And I loved the remark about the “polygon!” I love it when a book makes me la..."

True , Terry ! M.Stewart excels not only in breathtaking descriptions of nature and building up a spine chilling ambience ( like when Bryony walks into the church , in the gathering darkness, in chapter 4 ) , but she can also make you laugh outright with her sudden wit ! I'll look out for the polygon remark , but hope I'll catch the joke because Wobbley's mentioned it's a bit oblique , and something about it being a corny pun .

[Savita]

I've finished chapter 5 . This is, I think, more of wishful thinking on my part , than guessing the future course of the story , but .. Beware Spoilers [ Rob Granger seems such a nice sort of person , I wish it's him who's Bryony 's mysterious lover 🤔 . That first evening , when Bryony goes to the Granger cottage, to fetch her vehicle, and two prepare dinner together, ... well , if there's anyone , so far , that seems so right for Bryony, so dependable and trustworthy, it seems to be Rob Granger, with all his rusticity , his lack of education 🤔 . He comes across like an unpolished gem . I wish Bryony would just stop looking for her shadowy lover , and grab this gem of a living person right beside her !
Or , who knows , Rob Granger is a tall man himself ... is it he , himself, who was there in the church that first night of Bryony's return ? ..... well , I suppose, this is another wild guess , a wishful hope , actually, like the romantic reincarnation theory , which I have gleaned from the non spoiler remarks, wasn't quite right ! ] End of Spoiler

[Savita]

The chapters are preceded by quotes from Romeo and Juliet . And , in chapter 4 , ... Beware Spoilers [ a Juliet is mentioned in the book that the year 1835 gentleman picks up from the floor . Hmm , not sure who's this Juliet mentioned in the book . ] End of Spoiler

[Savita]

Lynn wrote: "Savita wrote: "Lynn wrote: "Savita wrote: "Lynn wrote: "Mary Stewart is one of my favorite authors. I read Touch Not the Cat in 1989! I found this book [book:The Spell of Mary Stewar..."

Sorry for the late reply , Lynn !
So glad for you that the surgery went well and that you're healing well now . My good wishes to you for steady and complete recovery! 🙏☘
Meanwhile, books help so enormously to keep the mind happily occupied! Happy reading, Lynn , and a peaceful recovery!
Oh yes , one thing , you mentioned that you read a 100 pages per day ! ... was that a typing error, or a real fact ? 😳

[Terris]

I just finished! I was so pleased with the ending because I couldn't figure out how it was going to finish up in a positive way, but Ms. Stewart did it! I really enjoy her stories and her sense of eeriness. She's always good and I'm excited for my next read with her -- which will be This Rough Magic in February, since I've already read The Moonspinners that they are reading in December. And I definitely think we should add My Brother Michael in the spring, since a couple of you said it is very good!

Happy Reading everyone and thanks for the reading adventure! :)

[Wobbley]

Yay, I'm glad you enjoyed it so much, Terris! I'm in for My Brother Michael if we read it, even though I've read it before. It was one of my favourite books this year (recommended to me by Teri-K). :)

[Teri-K]

Wobbley wrote: "Yay, I'm glad you enjoyed it so much, Terris! I'm in for My Brother Michael if we read it, even though I've read it before. It was one of my favourite books this year (recommended to me by Teri-K). :)"

I'm so glad you liked it that much! And I'm definitely in for a My Brother Michael reread, anytime.

[Luffy Sempai]

I've read the entire book :- spoilers below

(view spoiler)[
It seems I have trouble in identifying the atmosphere in the book. Is it Gothic? I liked the more Victorian vibe of Gothic stories.
I thought Rob was the main villain of the book.
But what takes a star off my final rating (I will rate it later) is the reality of the female characters. Cathy had but a bit part. And Mrs Underhill was a glorified extra. I don't understand this. There could have been a single and female parent and gifted businesswoman. That would have made the first part of the book more taut.
But I liked reading the book and I read it in a few days. I want to read more of Mary Stewart's books.
(hide spoiler)]

[Wobbley]

Luffy Sempai wrote: "I've read the entire book :- spoilers below"

I'm glad you enjoyed the book, Luffy! I agree that the atmpsphere of the book is gothic. If you're interested in more from Mary Stewart, perhaps you'll join us for the Buddy Read of The Moon-Spinners in December.

Beware Spoilers: I'm interested in your interpretation of Rob as the main villain. That's very different from my own interpretation, which was that Emory was the main villain, since he tried to kill the main character (Bryony). Can you expand more on this? In what way did you think Rob's role was villainous? Is it because he was going to take her away from her childhood home to a life on the other side of the world? End of Spoilers

[Terris]

Wobbley wrote: "Luffy Sempai wrote: "I've read the entire book :- spoilers below"

I'm glad you enjoyed the book, Luffy! I agree that the atmpsphere of the book is gothic. If you're interested in more from Mary St..."

I agree with you, Wobbley. I worried a little about what Rob's part in the story was going to be, but was happy with his part in the end.

Luffy, I'm also wondering where you got your ideas about Rob.

[Terris]

Teri-K wrote: "Wobbley wrote: "Yay, I'm glad you enjoyed it so much, Terris! I'm in for My Brother Michael if we read it, even though I've read it before. It was one of my favourite books this year (recommended t..."

@ Wobbley & Teri-K, we have "This Rough Magic" down for reading in February. Do we want to go ahead and schedule My Brother Michael? I definitely want to read it since you both liked it so much and are even up for a re-read!
Is March too soon, read in April? Which month do you like? :)

[Luffy Sempai]

Wobbley wrote: "Luffy Sempai wrote: "I've read the entire book :- spoilers below"

I'm glad you enjoyed the book, Luffy! I agree that the atmpsphere of the book is gothic. If you're interested in more from Mary St..."

Luffy, I'm also wondering where you got your ideas about Rob

Oh, nothing as lofty as that. Rob didn't try to kill Bryony. I was merely thinking more of the plot than of the theme.
I thought that Rob had been kind of swept under the rug as the book stood 3/4 in.
I wanted to believe in a villain who was not only hiding in plain sight, but also a villain whose author had left clues about the book for his villainy.
I thought that Mary Stewart had been alloying Rob in far falser metal than what actually happened in the book.

[Teri-K]

Terris wrote: "@ Wobbley & Teri-K, we have "This Rough Magic" down for reading in February. Do we want to go ahead and schedule My Brother Michael? I definitely want to read it since you both liked it so much and are even up for a re-read!
Is March too soon, read in April? Which month do you like? :)."

I'd like either March or April. I prefer not to wait too long after that, because people get busy with other things and lose their momentum. See if Wobbley has a preference and then whatever you choose will be fine with me. :)

[Savita]

I've almost finished chapter 10 .. where Bryony and Cathy are .. Beware Spoilers .. about to start on their way back from the Pavillion, through the rather scary maze . I kept expecting something fearful to happen when they went inside the Pavillion, but nothing scary happened there . I hope Bryony remembers the way out ... 🤔🤞 .. End of Spoiler
A few musings tomorrow ( about the cat whose reference comes up in context to a number of things 🤔 , and this Emory and his ancestor Nicholas 🤔 ) , before I resume my reading . Terris has rightly said .. this is really a reading adventure .. a very enjoyable, exciting, but , at least at present, quite a confusing one ... can't
make up my mind who to trust, and who not to .... 🤔😒 .
Most of the spoiler comments are from the latter part of the story , but will check tomorrow if any are till chapter 10 ... it'll be interesting to read how other members fared en route .

[Savita]

@ Terris , Wobbley, Luffy and Teri-K : I have already downloaded ebooks of The Moon-Spinners ( December read ) , This Rough Magic ( February read ) , and The English Patient ( March read ) . Each book I'll try to start a little earlier than it's scheduled time , so that I will not lag too far behind the group . The English Patient is about 325 pages , so my reading may spill into early April. Is it possible to keep the starting time of My Brother Michael around 15th April ? Is it okay with Teri-K ? ... she has a point about delaying it for too long 🤔

[Lynn]

Savita wrote: "Lynn wrote: "Savita wrote: "Lynn wrote: "Savita wrote: "Lynn wrote: "Mary Stewart is one of my favorite authors. I read Touch Not the Cat in 1989! I found this book [book:The Spell o..."

I read 100 pages that day while sitting still and recovering. Life is sadly too busy to be able to do that every day.

You read deeply Savita. Your comments are insightful.

[Terris]

Savita wrote: "@ Terris , Wobbley, Luffy and Teri-K : I have already downloaded ebooks of The Moon-Spinners ( December read ) , This Rough Magic ( February read ) , and The English Patient ( March read ) . Each b..."

I understand about having a tight overloaded reading schedule, Savita! And, as I am planning to join the Dickens read I think April 15th will be good. I will ask Sara for that date :)

[Wobbley]

Terris wrote: "I understand about having a tight overloaded reading schedule, Savita! And, as I am planning to join the Dickens read I think April 15th will be good. I will ask Sara for that date :) "

That timing works fine for me too

[Luffy Sempai]

Savita wrote: "@ Terris , Wobbley, Luffy and Teri-K : I have already downloaded ebooks of The Moon-Spinners ( December read ) , This Rough Magic ( February read ) , and The English Patient ( March read ) . Each b..."

Hi Savita, I think I will go along with this schedule. All reads seem attractive to me. Even The English Patient, which I gave an unflattering score. But I have changed in the last few years and I look forward to reread The English Patient with older but in a way, newer eyes.

[Wobbley]

Luffy Sempai wrote: "I thought that Mary Stewart had been alloying Rob in far falser metal than what actually happened in the book."

Ah, I see! I had misunderstood your comment. I thought you were saying that after the book finished you thought Rob was the villain, but actually you were saying that while you were reading you thought Rob would end up being the villain. That makes sense. Thanks for explaining. :)

[Luffy Sempai]

Wobbley wrote: "Luffy Sempai wrote: "I thought that Mary Stewart had been alloying Rob in far falser metal than what actually happened in the book."

Ah, I see! I had misunderstood your comment. I thought you were..."

Gladly, Wobbley! Happy Reading.

[Franky]

Okay so I know there has been a lot of posts in this thread. I have avoided most of posts for fear of spoilers and am close to the finish line of this book (about 40 pages away), but I have to honestly say that I'm a tad disappointed in this novel. I have a lot of thoughts about it, but I am kind of annoyed with 1) the general direction this novel goes, which proposes to be about solving a mystery of father's death and is about all this other stuff. It sets us up for one thing to be more about missing objects, and inheritance, and property rights, 2) the naive narrator, who has telepathy or whatever, but then cannot even guess her lover correctly and 3) the cheesy and impulsive love/romance from our narrator. Got on my nerves for sure. I love the depictions of the estate and everything, and her attention to detail in describing the tense moments of suspense, but it feels like it takes way too long and this book is off kilter in its focus for good portions. I'm about 40 pages away so my opinion may change, but I just had to voice something here lol.

[Wobbley]

Franky wrote: "Okay so I know there has been a lot of posts in this thread. I have avoided most of posts for fear of spoilers and am close to the finish line of this book (about 40 pages away), but I have to hone..."

I agree that the romance was too cheesy for me too. But I didn't really mind the plot being about more things than we originally expected. For me, the best part was the descriptions of setting. I found the book fairly enjoyable overall.

[Lynn]

Wobbley wrote: "Franky wrote: "Okay so I know there has been a lot of posts in this thread. I have avoided most of posts for fear of spoilers and am close to the finish line of this book (about 40 pages away), but..."

I agree. I overlooked how cheesy the romance was. Things worked out the way they should for the heroine because that is what Mary Stewart writes about.

[Savita]

Lynn wrote: "

Have you noticed the references to The King Must Die by Mary Renault ? We read that book as a Buddy Read last year. It's about Theseus, the minotaur, the maze, a st..."

Lynn , not sure whether the spoilers of msg 63 and 64 are from before or after chapter 10 , so I better open them later .

[Savita]

Wobbley wrote: "I've read a couple more chapters, and for me the book had its first wobble.

Beware Spoilers: It was when Bryony was in the nursery communicating with her love, and they tried to make an almost sex..."

Yes , agree with you there ! Actually, I felt that the magic mystery in the telepathic communication seemed to have become sort of mundane, seemed to have lost its mystical power .
But , other than that, so far , I am continuing to enjoy the story .

[Savita]

Luffy Sempai wrote: "Savita wrote: "The gentleman , of the 1835 couple , has also been concurrently reborn , and is communicating with Byrony because of soul ties due to karmic ( our deeds ) links 🤔 ? Then , his identi..."

This story is not about re- incarnation, Luffy , so it would be irrelevant to discuss / or argue .. 😊 ..... more about reincarnation .

[Savita]

Wobbley wrote: "I just finished the book. Although I had no real idea of what the father's warning was about until the end (cat on the pavement, etc.), the predictions I made at the halfway point about what would ..."

I didn't read your spoiler part , Wobbley , but you've mentioned that your halfway through predictions were correct... WOW ! ... I have almost finished chapter 10 , but , as yet , I don't have any idea which of the characters, other than Bryony , can really be trusted, though I am hoping that.. Beware Spoilers [ Rob and Byrony make it with each other .. but it's turned out that he's already engaged to someone else .. 😕 .. hmm] End of Spoiler

[Savita]

Lynn wrote: "Savita wrote: "Lynn wrote: "Savita wrote: "Lynn wrote: "Savita wrote: "Lynn wrote: "Mary Stewart is one of my favorite authors. I read Touch Not the Cat in 1989! I found this book [b..."

Oh yes , I see .. ( about the reading speed ) .. nothing like a good book to help time pass by easily!
And , Lynn , thanks for the kind remark 😊 !

[Savita]

Terris wrote: "Savita wrote: "@ Terris , Wobbley, Luffy and Teri-K : I have already downloaded ebooks of The Moon-Spinners ( December read ) , This Rough Magic ( February read ) , and The English Patient ( March ..."

Thanks , Terris , 😊 👍

[Savita]

Luffy Sempai wrote: "Savita wrote: "@ Terris , Wobbley, Luffy and Teri-K : I have already downloaded ebooks of The Moon-Spinners ( December read ) , This Rough Magic ( February read ) , and The English Patient ( March ..."

Hi , Luffy , nice to know that you're enjoying M.Stewart and are planning to join further reads , and also The English Patient read . What you've mentioned about the benefits of re-reading after a passage of some years is , I think , applicable to most , if not all of us . So , looking forward to reading your comments in the upcoming reads . I have not yet opened your spoiler comments of the latter part of this story .

[Savita]

Franky wrote: "Okay so I know there has been a lot of posts in this thread. I have avoided most of posts for fear of spoilers and am close to the finish line of this book (about 40 pages away), but I have to hone..."

Many members commented that the end of the story's very nice , so maybe, Franky, your impression may improve at the end . The way the end is handled is important.

[Teri-K]

Franky wrote: "Okay so I know there has been a lot of posts in this thread. I have avoided most of posts for fear of spoilers and am close to the finish line of this book (about 40 pages away), but I have to hone..."

Honestly, if this were by someone else I probably wouldn't bother ever rereading it. But I really appreciate a number of her other books, and have fond memories of when I first read this one, so I do occasionally. She can do a lot better, but this has just enough for me to enjoy it. You certainly don't have to feel that way, of course. :)