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Stealing Athena: Part One - To the East
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Sara W
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Sep 15, 2008 11:16AM
Please discuss Part One: To the East here.
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Ok...only on page 58 or so..but mary seems to be a ninny and I really am not a fan of elgin. I like the other story a bit better...so far...??
Ha ha, yeah, I see what you mean Kim. I'm not sure how far I'm in - I think I've gone back to old Athens twice now (kindle version = no page numbers). I'm still in this section. I like the book for the most part (it helps that I know nothing about these people to compare the story to). I agree that I like the old Athens' characters better - they seem more real for some reason and more grounded. Mary does seem flighty, and all the "Eggy" lines are a little annoying. Elgin seems a bit obsessive.
Thanks Sara....makes me feel a bit better. I am now on 100 or so...and well when is Mary going to have this baby! It just seems to be taking forever. and really everyone is in love with Mary? Sultans, captains?
I wonder if it's just because she seems exotic since she's a foreigner? Maybe they hadn't seen a white woman before (or maybe never talked to one of them before) so she's a little bit of a novelty? She keeps getting showered with all these gifts for no apparent reason. Or maybe they just really want to impress the English. Anyway, all that is said just to say, yeah, I agree that it seems far fetched that they all fall madly in love with her after seeing her or talking to her for a few minutes!
I just finished this part, starting part II tonight. A quite interesting story, different from the usual ones.
I don't think I've ever read a book that jumped between two stories before like this one does (at least not that I can remember right now). I think it works pretty well. It's definitely different from anything else we've read here - different time period, different cultures, etc. I like the Old Athens part of the book the best so far.
Sara, I too am puzzled by all the attention placed on her, especially since she is not described as being particularly beautiful. I am also thinking that her choking attacks are asthma, but am at a loss to what is causing Elgin's scabby nose.
That's a good question LaLatina (about Elgin's nose). Did they ever really say what was causing it?***POTENTIAL SPOILER ABOUT ELGIN'S NOSE*** (CAN'T REMEMBER WHERE THIS HAPPENED IN THE BOOK - PROBABLY MUCH LATER)
I know someone mentioned that it might be caused by syphilis, but did we ever get told for sure? I don't remember anything definitive being said about it. Mary's illness was never really explained either, but I agree that it seems like asthma.
