Welcome and introductions

[Skye]

I have read everything by Atwood. I hope you are enjoying King Tut, Marian.

[Marian]

I am very much enjoying King Tut Skye..its not a very big book,so that's ok,but very interesting reading:)I shall be finished with it soon.Im thinking also of going back and reading the David Starkey book..I guess I miss Henry the Vlll and his wives..lol!We shall see thou.

[Skye]

I think you and Susanna have amazing knowledge of the Tudors, Marian, and staying power with the non fiction books of the time frame. I read very carefully; there is so much historical information within the course of a paragraph, with annotations and foot notes and family trees. I give you SO much credit for your complete devotion.

[Marian]

Thank you Skye for the compliment,but I only wish I knew half as much as Suzzanna does..she knows a lot more,thats for sure:)Im not sure thou Skye,if one would call it devotion per say,I just love reading it all:)))
You mentioned up above,that you have read all of Margaret Atwoods books..do you have a favorite?

[Skye]

Cat's Eye
Lady Oracle
Life Before Man
The Edible Woman.
btw, I don't like dystopian themes.

[Hannah]

Susanna Kearsley is my favorite contemporary writer. I agree with Marilyn that she isn't gothic, but if you like clean books with engaging characters, you should like Kearsley.

My very favorite is Mariana followed closely by Every Secret Thing (published under her pen name Emma Cole).



...Another who doesn't do Facebook or Twitter : P

[Skye]

Hannah, thanks; I put the second on my TBR list; it seems to revolve around a mystery.

I am too private for FB or Twitter.

[Hannah]

Skye wrote: "Hannah, thanks; I put the second on my TBR list; it seems to revolve around a mystery.

I am too private for FB or Twitter."

Every Secret Thing is a wonderful mystery/espionage that has a present day story line as well as a World War II storyline (Kearsley is excellent for her dual storylines). The end makes me cry every time I read it (Kearsley is excellent for making me do that, too...).


I'm too private for FB & Twitter, too. Really don't get the appeal of telling people all my business on a minute-by-minute basis.

[Skye]

Thanks for the heads' up, Hannah: I like mysteries, and both you and Marilyn give her praise. I used to adore espionage books in the past ( Helen Mac Innes). I suspect I will also like Kearsley.

Social media, in my opinion, tends to be an impulsive/compulsive activity that can create book positive and very negative effects.

[Hannah]

Skye wrote: "Thanks for the heads' up, Hannah: I like mysteries, and both you and Marilyn give her praise..."

I hope you will enjoy it. I too read 1 or 2 Mac Innes books and liked her style. Need to try some more. Do you have any recommendations?


Social media, IMO, has had more negative effects then positive. Just look at all the families glued to their electronic devices at restaurants, games, etc. Seems like no one actually engages in talking to one another any more. My daughter, who recently graduated from college, complained about it all the time. Said that people would often run into her while she was walking to/from class because she had stopped walking and they were so glued to their smart phone that they didn't even see her in front of them.

It's a different world for sure.

[Skye]

Hannah wrote: "Skye wrote: "Thanks for the heads' up, Hannah: I like mysteries, and both you and Marilyn give her praise..."

I hope you will enjoy it. I too read 1 or 2 Mac Innes books and liked her style. Need ..."
http://www.orderofbooks.com/authors/h...
I loved The Salzburg Connection and Decision at Delphi; I read most of her books. I find David Balducci to be too disturbing to read.
I detest the use of iphones or smart phones in public, Hannah. I see it everywhere, and before I retired from the university, I had begun to fail many students because they spent more time on their phones, and if I caught them, I said something. We went from a noisy, jovial bunch to a silent, bent heads....eerie.

[Hannah]

Skye wrote: "I loved The Salzburg Connection and Decision at Delphi; I read most of her books...."

Thanks Skye! I put both on my TBR pile. They sound good. I enjoy a good espionage book. Just finished 2 by Ken Follett. He's a decent writer, but I abhor his nasty sex scenes. Really not necessary to further the plot, and even if he felt he *had* to go there, I prefer a fade to black approach.

[Hannah]

Skye wrote: "I detest the use of iphones or smart phones in public, Hannah. I see it everywhere, and before I retired from the university, I had begun to fail many students because they spent more time on their phones, and if I caught them, I said something..."

I am so happy you took action against those students who couldn't go 30 minutes without the aid of their so-called "smartphones" (more like anti-social phones). How did any of us EVER survive in the '70's and '80's without them? Answer: very well, thank you! : )

[Skye]

Hannah wrote: "Skye wrote: "I loved The Salzburg Connection and Decision at Delphi; I read most of her books...."

Thanks Skye! I put both on my TBR pile. They sound good. I enjoy a good espionage book. Just fini..."

I read and enjoyed his books ( and I hate sex scenes, too). I liked Eye of the Needle.

[Skye]

Most of my friends, and also my children and their spouses do this on their phones, too-----------they text. There is something, in my opinion, inherently wrong and anti social about this, and frankly, to me, it is the rudest thing to do when one is out with a friend. I say something and feel like walking away.

[Hannah]

Yep. Terribly rude. Why even go out with a friend or family member if the only thing you want to do is text with someone you're NOT with?

Eye of the Needle was one of the two I read. I liked it too.

[Skye]

I have a small mobile phone; the little flip top that I keep in my purse for emergencies, ONLY. I don't even have it hooked up in my car. I am clueless about this, Hannah, because I don't text.

[Marian]

You ladies should see this woman,and what happened to her..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcL9e...

[Skye]

Marian, I actually saw that on the news a bit ago. Unbelievable, huh>

[Hannah]

Skye wrote: "I have a small mobile phone; the little flip top that I keep in my purse for emergencies, ONLY. I don't even have it hooked up in my car. I am clueless about this, Hannah, because I don't text."

haha - same here. I have a pay-as-you-go flip phone. I do text (basically to daughter), but like you I use for emergencies on the road. I'm definitely low-tech ; )

[Marian]

We had here,a young girl driving her car and was texting her Mother,back and forth..well,the daughter ended up in a car accident and died:(I wonder how that Mother feels today:(

[Skye]

Driving and texting are deadly, and I'm always wary when I'm out driving. I know it's a law in my state, but so many people break the law in this sense.

I am low tech, too, and I like it that way.

[Hannah]

Texting while driving is so wrong. I see it all the time, and the amazing thing is that more people aren't in accidents because of it. There has been one occasion when I needed to text while on the road. I pulled off an exit, found a fast food place, and texted from the parking lot.

Marian, that is tragic.

[Marilyn]

Hannah wrote: "My very favorite is Mariana followed closely by Every Secret Thing (published under her pen name Emma Cole)."

I also enjoyed Every Secret Thing very much! I'm not sure what my favorite by her is as I liked them all. Her last one 'A Desperate Fortune' was very good! I like the dual storylines too. Another modern author who does that well is Kate Morton.

[Skye]

Marilyn wrote: "Hannah wrote: "I'm too private for FB & Twitter, too. Really don't get the appeal of telling people all my business on a minute-by-minute basis.

reply | flag *"

This is just how I feel about Face..."
I understand from friends and colleagues that FB can get very nasty, too. It would make me uncomfortable. I saw some photos during student presentations in class that had been taken at a party in the dorms; frankly, it was so disgusting, I had a difficult time facing a particular student ( a shy, homely, meek kid) after seeing the horrible pictures. I say what I want to whom I want, but privately.

[Skye]

Marilyn wrote: "Hannah wrote: "My very favorite is Mariana followed closely by Every Secret Thing (published under her pen name Emma Cole)."

I also enjoyed Every Secret Thing very much! I'm not sure what my favor..."

Thanks for the recommendations, Marilyn.

[Marilyn]

I added another photo of three new books I got in the mail today! I don't know if this link will work but I'm going to try it!

https://www.goodreads.com/photo/user/...

Also, can anyone here start a new topic? I tried and can't seem to do it! I thought it might be nice if we made a new topic thread just to show photos of our Gothic book collections, like Michelle had previously suggested! Anybody like the idea? :-)

[Skye]

Marilyn wrote: "I added another photo of three new books I got in the mail today! I don't know if this link will work but I'm going to try it!

https://www.goodreads.com/photo/user/......"
I will check out your link, but my mobile phone doesn't take pictures, and I am just longing to see your new haul!!! I am searching for some books to buy ( I have a ton, Marilyn, but the ones I am currently reading are somewhat disturbing, and I need some GREAT, lighter gothics to read.

[Skye]

Wonderful, Marilyn; and they all look familiar, too. You certainly have a haul, don't you? I am searching like crazy for the two in between Moura books; NO LUCK. Either Out of Stock or unbelievably expensive.

[Marilyn]

Skye wrote: "I am searching for some books to buy ( I have a ton, Marilyn, but the ones I am currently reading are somewhat disturbing, and I need some GREAT, lighter gothics to read. "

Definitely a lot of disturbing books out there. :-/ I'm really enjoying the Gothics right now! So much fun to have so many to read! :-D I'm glad the photo link worked!

[Marilyn]

Skye wrote: "Wonderful, Marilyn; and they all look familiar, too. You certainly have a haul, don't you? I am searching like crazy for the two in between Moura books; NO LUCK. Either Out of Stock or unbelievably..."

They are still on Amazon Skye! I can have a look for you! :-)

[Hannah]

Marilyn wrote: "I added another photo of three new books I got in the mail today!..."

Saw them! Looks like you got some good ones Marilyn!

[Hannah]

Marilyn wrote: "Another modern author who does that well is Kate Morton...."

I like Morton as well, but I do think her books would improve with some editing. Cutting out 10 - 15% would make her stories tighter IMO.

[Hannah]

Marilyn wrote: "Also, can anyone here start a new topic?..."

Marilyn,
Go to the Gothicked home page. Near the word "Discussion Board" you should see Topic: All/ New/ Unread. Click "New" and you should be able to post a new topic.

I like your idea to post pictures of our gothic books!

[Marilyn]

Hannah wrote: "Marilyn wrote: "I added another photo of three new books I got in the mail today!..."

Saw them! Looks like you got some good ones Marilyn!"

I really wanted to try Veronica Black. Have you read one by her? I think she also writes under the name Catherine Darby. This one pictured here that I bought had good reviews but it was hard to locate!

[Marilyn]

Hannah wrote: "Marilyn wrote: "Also, can anyone here start a new topic?..."

Marilyn,
Go to the Gothicked home page. Near the word "Discussions" you should see "New Topic". Click that and you should be able to po..."

Thanks Hannah! I'll give it a try! :-)

[Hannah]

Marilyn wrote: "I really wanted to try Veronica Black. H..."

No, I've never tried Black. You'll have to let us know how good she is.

[Marilyn]

Ok, I made the new topic! Hope others will share their photos!

[Skye]

Marilyn wrote: "Skye wrote: "Wonderful, Marilyn; and they all look familiar, too. You certainly have a haul, don't you? I am searching like crazy for the two in between Moura books; NO LUCK. Either Out of Stock or..."

Thank you so much, Marilyn: I even looked on Amazon.

[Skye]

Marilyn wrote: "Hannah wrote: "Marilyn wrote: "I added another photo of three new books I got in the mail today!..."

Saw them! Looks like you got some good ones Marilyn!"

I really wanted to try Veronica Black. H..."

I read her under both names, Marilyn.

[Skye]

It would be fun to choose a book we all have and read it and discuss it , too. In the other Gothic group, they tend to read other novels, but less similar to the ones we discuss on this thread.

[Hannah]

Skye wrote: "It would be fun to choose a book we all have and read it and discuss it , too."

I'd be up for that Skye. It should be an author who would be pretty easy to get their book from the library or used book store/online book store.

[Skye]

Yes, yes, I agree with you on that.

[Skye]

Hannah, have you ever read Elisabeth Ogilvie? Very haunting stories, suspense, mystery and unusual romantic connections.

[Marilyn]

Skye wrote: "It would be fun to choose a book we all have and read it and discuss it , too. In the other Gothic group, they tend to read other novels, but less similar to the ones we discuss on this thread."

I would enjoy that. I agree it would need to be a book/author everyone could easily get their hands on.

[Skye]

Yes, and maybe we could have nominations and then vote ( there are many of us at all).

[Hannah]

Skye wrote: "Hannah, have you ever read Elisabeth Ogilvie? Very haunting stories, suspense, mystery and unusual romantic connections."

Skye,
Her name doesn't ring a bell. Can you recommend some of her books? I'll look for them and try her!

[Hannah]

Skye wrote: "Yes, and maybe we could have nominations and then vote ( there are many of us at all)."

My vote would be for a book by Victoria Holt or Anne Maybury. Holt is extremely prolific and easy to obtain. Maybury might be harder to find--not sure. But I'd be good with some other writer as well, so let's all throw some out there and see what sticks!

[Skye]

Hannah wrote: "Skye wrote: "Hannah, have you ever read Elisabeth Ogilvie? Very haunting stories, suspense, mystery and unusual romantic connections."

Skye,
Her name doesn't ring a bell. Can you recommend some of..."

Image Of A Lover

Where The Lost Aprils Are

[Skye]

Hannah wrote: "Skye wrote: "Yes, and maybe we could have nominations and then vote ( there are many of us at all)."

My vote would be for a book by Victoria Holt or Anne Maybury. Holt is extremely prolific and ea..."

That sounds good to me: do you have anything by Virginia Coffman? There are so many we could choose; let's see what Marilyn comes up with, too, and I hope Sabrina and Marian get involved.