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The Far Pavilions - next chunky /Reading Sched
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Beth
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Apr 01, 2011 11:29AM
It is very interesting! I did not know about this part of history either
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I got a brief view of the history of the Taj Mahal with a book called Beneath the Marble Sky by John Shores. It is a great book if anyone wants to read that after this one, I highly recommend it.
So in this section of the reading, Ash moves on (literally). I think it is easier to get away than to watch but I worry about what will happen to her. I wonder if Ash can really get away from the situation or if he comes back. Could you do it this way? Could you forget? Poor Ash doomed from the very start.
It really did seem like he had no choice. I'm glad he got to see her before the wedding however. I definately don't think he can move on, and as he gets closer to Juli (a hundred miles as the crow flies) he seems to have more difficulty keeping her out of his thoughts. I can't help but get excited that the next book is titled Juli. I wonder if it will bring the two back together? :)
The way the author writes about Ash, I can't predict that it will ever work out. I hope I am wrong. I just started the week's reading and it is really good and exciting!
I am finally back to reading. March was a crazy busy time for me at work, 14 hours a day with only one 15 minute break to wolf down peanut butter saltines. But, yesterday I actually had several hours to read. I am still behind, but catching up. It was so great to spend time in this magical place. I am enjoying traveling with this moving city called a wedding party. I only wish I could see a bit more of the life beyond Ash and the royal family. I am wondering why more people are not alert for danger. Juli knew about the palace intrigue by the time she was 6 and actively worked to thwart the efforts to kill the helpless. Ash was able to save the young prince's life from poison several times. Yet, the royal family has suddenly become minimally suspicious. Jodi is as old as Ash whenhe he figured out how to recognize and protect himself from danger. Jodi certainly knows of the power struggle. Reading the posts in this thread, it appears that there are not many significant developments in the coming chapters. I like the pace of this book. I can feel the lazy flow of time that settles on this culture. Even though it seems that little happens, the daily life is sufficiently filled with living that I do not find myself impatient with things, it does not drag.
I'm still really loving this book, and aside from the love story and the immersion in another time and place, I'm also really impressed with how Ash interacts with other characters (aside from Juli). No matter where he is, or what he's doing, he makes deep, life-long friendships with an assortment of very wise men from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures.
In some ways this "friendship love story" touches me more than the romantic love.
That is a very interesting point Sharon and I do agree with you. Ash is a very special person, I just wish he was luckier in love.
I am still playing catch up. I am only on chapter 30. Maybe it is that I am reading rather intensively right now, but I am finding Ash unbelievable. Or maybe it is the type of person that I am and the type of people that I surround myself with. But, he seems too virtuous to be real. He is honorable even when endangered, wiser than any other character even those far older, possesses inate and practical intellegence surpassing the most experienced Brit or Indian, a superior athlete, and above reproach in his commitments to those he cares about. I want a bit more good and bad, a bit more strength and weakness in the same person because my experience of people are that we are all a mix of both.I am having a hard time with this bride price negotiations. The descriptions of this kingdom is so foreign and written with so many supurlitives of description that I have conjured up a Shrek like cartoonish sceen with the baboon prince on his cushioned throne.
I am also starting to get irritated with the leaders of this moving wedding party. They regularly state that the Brits have little real power over their lives, their political arrangements, their continued use of traditional behaviors. Yet, they bow to the authority of this young, relatively inexperienced English soldier with complete deference and obedience. They laugh at the idea of the Brits ending the burning of widows or deciding local political decisions, but move and stop and sit and beg like well-traind lap dogs when Ash gives the order. I want to see a bit more equality for the Indians and a bit more self respect by the Indians.
I agree, Sharon. Ash does seem to have a knack for finding true friends, no matter where he is. He seems to value friendships too, which I found admirable.
OK, this section of the reading has me upset. How sad that wives were burned when their husbands died. What an awful custom that was. Poor Ash facing all that. What do the rest of you think? There are so many barbaric customs in the world for women, I just don't understand it.
This section was disheartening. We learned of many deaths it seems. Shushila's two miscarriages, and then the death of her daughter, along with two waiting women and Geeta. We also said goodbye to Mahdoo.After the second pigeon returns with the message of the Rana's illness, and the suspected suttee for the Rani's, Ash seems to fall into a tailspin. His desperation is evident in his thought to put a bullet through Juli's heart to avoid her being burned alive. I sure hope she is behind that curtain...
A couple of things that stuck out to me:
Chapter 38 mentions that the Rana had no concubines to follow the wives onto the pyre, only catamites. After looking up the meaning of the word, I was really surprised.
In chapter 39 I was saddened for Ash when he was eating alone at Sarji's home (even though that was not always the case). The rules of the caste applied at Sarji's family home, but he didn't always follow them as strictly.
There's a movie about that tradition. For the life of me I cannot remember the name of it. The wife of the dead man gets someone to shot her before she is burned to death... I'll look for it. I'm still behind, due to work and school, but I'm so glad I am still in it.
This week's read is very sad to me. Anyway else reading it yet?
I just started and am only on page 650.....I'll work to catch up. The treatment and views of women throughout this read are very overwhelming. Being burned alive??? I'm reading fast and may not be absorbing enough, but I don't fully understand the relevance of that custom.
Meg wrote: "This week's read is very sad to me. Anyway else reading it yet?"Yes, but just began. More sadness? I'm still holding onto hope that it will turn around for Ash.
Collin: When I read through the section I was too desperate to find out what happened to stop and look up "catamites." Now that I have, I'm pretty surprised too... NOT something I expected.
I am behind too, as I have been away and just could not drag this chunky heavy book with me. I am up to the end of Book 5 and find that Ash is always struggling with many things, his love for an unattainable woman, his loyalty to the people he loves and admires, and his inability to rationalize the British treatment of what he feels are his people. I have to wonder if he will ever find happiness and not just live a sort of day to day existence.
All I can say Marialyce is keep reading! I couldn't put this week's reading down and read it all in a day. But I am off to traveling tomorrow so I will not be taking this chunky with me.
Beth wrote: "I just started and am only on page 650.....I'll work to catch up. The treatment and views of women throughout this read are very overwhelming. Being burned alive??? I'm reading fast and may not be ..."I'm not even near that...school and work has gotten the best of me the past few weeks, but I'm determined to finish this book.
Having said that I may stay away from the discussion to avoid finding out too much too soon. Luckly, I will be off for the summer by the time the next chuncky read starts.
I am finally caught up. I was at the start of chapter 12 last Sunday and am on chapter 43 now. I whish I knew how historically accurate this novel is. Unfortunately, I know nearly nothing about cultural practices in rural India in the mid 19th century. I am enjoying the cultural insights into India the most and would feel awful if I discovered that the author had taken great liberties with the facts. As for the plot, I am convinced that the good guys will triumph, so I do not feel much suspense. I am anticipating a happy ending based on events to this point.
I like your optimism Irene. This is one I am rooting for the good guy, I really hope Ash gets all he wants, he deserves it.
I am sorry to jump in so late. I know you all are almost finished with the book. But I wanted to have this in my library and was wondering where did everyone purchase this book?
Veronica, I am using a borrowed copy. I did not buy mine.
Irene wrote: "Veronica, I am using a borrowed copy. I did not buy mine."Oh ok.
Veronica wrote: "I am sorry to jump in so late. I know you all are almost finished with the book. But I wanted to have this in my library and was wondering where did everyone purchase this book?"Veronica,
I ordered my copy from amazon, and with another book so that I could get free shipping.
http://www.amazon.com/Far-Pavilions-M...
Collin wrote: "Veronica wrote: "I am sorry to jump in so late. I know you all are almost finished with the book. But I wanted to have this in my library and was wondering where did everyone purchase this book?"..."
You know Amazon.com slipped my mind. Duh! Thanks. LOL
Meg wrote: "I got mine from paperbackswap.com."ok. I will check that out
I got my from betterworldbooks.com
Veronica: I got mine from half price books. As I remember, it was only about 4$, and was a first edition! :)http://www.hpbmarketplace.com
Carrie wrote: "Veronica: I got mine from half price books. As I remember, it was only about 4$, and was a first edition! :)http://www.hpbmarketplace.com"
Ooo. Ok. I wish I started reading with this group. It seems very good.
Veronica, you can probably catch up to me and we can read together... I'm so far behind...I am giving myself until mid may to finish.
Sandra wrote: "Veronica, you can probably catch up to me and we can read together... I'm so far behind...I am giving myself until mid may to finish."Oh ok. I would start it in May if I do a buddy read
I have finished Chapter 43 and by this time Shu Shu is dead and the group is escaping from Bhithor. How truly appalling this rite was! I have to say I admire Julie for staying until the end and that Ash was able to stop the pain that Shu Shu was about to face. It always bothers me that people relished going to these spectacles of death.
This week's reading was very disrurbing to me. My heart went out to Juli when she described what her life was like and how cruel her sister actually was. I am wondering if they will be together and if they truly can be happy.
Marialyce wrote: "I have finished Chapter 43 and by this time Shu Shu is dead and the group is escaping from Bhithor. How truly appalling this rite was! I have to say I admire Julie for staying until the end and tha..."I don't think I will ever understand the all of the death that people chose to watch throughout history ~ all of the guillotines, hangings, public stonings, witch burnings, etc. It's everywhere and I cannot imagine or understand why this was such a common practice. The only thing I can think is that people were much more used to death caused by each other than we are used to now. It is extremely disturbing to me. I had trouble reading this section ~ so much sadness and pain
Starting Book 7, surely it will start to turn around soon. If there was anything I was glad to read, it was that Juli did come to realize the true character of her sister before Shushila's death. Juli stayed true to her beyond all reasonable circumstances. (reminds me of Sita's character) This section gave answers to all the questions raised since the wedding...Shu-Shu seemed to be behind everything. I'm surprised at the extent of her evil behavior, especially at her young age.
I was not expecting the wedding on the ship, it seemed a little sudden to me. I was really worried during the beginning events on the boat where Juli seemed to be slipping into a depression over the loss of her sister. And I hope now that she appears to be past those low moments, that she and Ash will be happy together. They have much stacked against them. I wonder if they will continue to keep their marriage a secret, and if it will ever be accepted?
I am at the exact point in reading where you are Collin. I was so saddened to see how badly treated Juli was. It seems that she and Ash have both endured hardships and bad luck beyond what most can endure.I am really hoping that they will finally find happiness with each other although the ship board marriage does worry me.
If any of you are interested...go to bookdrum.com and look up the book. You can then click on a tab that says bookmarks. The site has bookmarked certain passages and gives you an explanation and a picture to go along with the explanation. You do not have to log in or register...just by pass that stage and search for the book.
Sandy wrote: "If any of you are interested...go to bookdrum.com and look up the book. You can then click on a tab that says bookmarks. The site has bookmarked certain passages and gives you an explanation and a ..."Wow, that is a cool feature. Thank you for sharing. I looked through several pages, and it's really neat to see a visual of some things I have wondered about.
That is a nice website Sandy, thank you!
That is a very cool website and one that I will continue to reference, thanks for the link!
Love the website! It's bookmarked in my favorites for future reference. :)
This week's reading was hard for me, I had trouble focusing on it. Anyone else have that trouble? What kept you reading this week?
Glad to know I'm not the only one. I usually do the bulk of this reading on Saturdays and Sundays, and I'm having trouble staying with it. So very different from last week. I'm most interested in Ash & Juli rather than the Amir, so my mind tends to run away mid-sentence.
I am struggling through. As we get to the end I am sure somethings major will happen.
I am also finding this section a bit tedious. I'm really beginning to want this book to end already!
