Nothing But Reading Challenges discussion
This topic is about
And Only to Deceive
Previous BRs - Authors; A - D
>
Alexander, Tasha: And Only to Deceive "Buddy Read" Start Jan. 26, 2012
date
newest »
newest »
message 51:
by
Lisa Kay
(new)
-
rated it 4 stars
Jan 29, 2012 11:15PM
I didn't realize the Daru Staircase was so big until I saw the pictures.
reply
|
flag
Lisa Kay wrote: "That's okay, Leslie! Sorry Real Life got in the way. These things happen. I, myself, have no excuse, Sandy. I've been on http://pinterest.com/ for hours now, instead of reading and doing my DQs."
OK I had never heard of pinterest.com, now I will be wasting lots of time. LOL!
Leslie, no problem, we are not slavedrivers in this group. :-)
I apologize for not posting questions. I could have but I have been lazy and just glued to The Winter Rose.
Lisa Kay’s Questions for Chapters 23 – 2841. What did you think of Ivy’s news at the beginning of Chapter 23 that there were rumors of a sick Englishman was wandering in Africa? Were you hoping Philip was alive? Did you think Emily went off a little halfcocked?
I was very much hoping he was alive. I felt that he and Emily could have a wonderful life together.
42. Okay, we know Andrew did the set up with the picture, but why? Did he just need financing to Africa? Is there something there that he wants, or is it just another safari again? Why does want Emily to go? To compromise her?
I believed his intentions were certainly not honorable. I had no idea what he planned to do, but I knew it couldn't be good.
43. Did you figure out how “Mr. Prescott” – if that’s his name – came in to possession of the wedding photo before it was revealed? I surely did and was suspicious of him from the beginning.
No, this completely surprised me. When he showed up and produced the picture, I thought it was proof that Philip was alive.
44. Chapter 25 Quote: “Nonetheless, I shall not let him be my Patroculus.” The word “patrol” comes from the word Patroculus. Whatever did Philip mean when he wrote this about Colin?
Patroclus fought for Achilles and was killed. I think Philip meant that he wouldn't let Colin take the fall for whatever it is he had done.
From Wikipedia: When the tide of war turned away from the Acheans, and the Trojans threatened their ships, Patroclus convinced Achilles to let him don Achilles' armor and lead the Myrmidons into combat. In his lust for combat, Patroclus pursued the Trojans all the way back to the gates of Troy, defying Achilles' order to break off combat once the ships were saved. Patroclus killed many Trojans and allies including the Lycian hero Sarpedon (a son of Zeus), and Cebriones (the chariot driver of Hector and illegitimate son of Priam). Patroclus was stunned by Apollo, wounded by Euphorbos, then finished off by Hector.
If you haven't seen the movie Troy starring Brad Pitt, I recommend it!
45. Did Emily kiss Colin a little more passionately on the Pont Neuf (see picture above) than she did Andrew in her drawing room? Why ever in the world is Mr. Murray in Paris – and meeting with Colin? Is Colin working for the British Museum?
It seemed that she did, but did you get the impression from her before this that she had any sort of feelings for him? I don't think I did.
46. Cécile du Lac is proving quite invaluable in Emily’s investigation. At this point in the story, were you still as suspicious of her? And why does the cat burglar keep getting brought up? Is that a MacGuffin?
I was not suspicious since she was helpful by posing as someone looking for genuine artifacts to buy.
I am not sure about the MacGuffin aspect. Looking back, I think maybe Philip's whereabouts may have been the MacGuffin, at least for part of the story. Is he alive? Is he dead? Thinking he was alive drove a lot of Emily's actions in the latter part of the book.
I will post questions tonight for the final chapters.Lisa Kay, have you been to Paris? I was there in March of 2000, and your pictures are bringing back fond memories!
1. Do you read a lot of historical fiction? If so, is this one of the time periods you enjoy reading about? What are some characteristics about the Victorian era that appeal to you or turn you off? I love historical fiction and this is one of my favorite time periods.2. What do you think about Emily so far? so far she is rather annoying. I find her character rather flat and unappealing.
3. Emily marries Philip for the sole reason of escaping her mother’s control. She had many other suitors, so why does she choose Philip? this is never clearly explained to my satisfaction. It appears that he fits her need for a husband that is not around too often.
4. What do you think about Philip and Emily not spending much time together as newlyweds? Typical of the times? In contrast, Ivy and her new husband seem very close and spend much time together. I think given the circumstances of their marriage, that it was relatively typical of the time. I think couples of that time period could marry and never see each other if they so desired or if they married for more personal reasons, could spend alot of time together. Given the fact that men of society did not spend their days in the office, they had more disposable time available.
5. We know Philip dies, but we are not told how he died. Was it a hunting accident? Do you think foul play may be involved? Hmmm, do you think he is really dead? it feels like this is a mystery we are leading up to. He is either not dead or it was foul play
6. Why is Emily not very alarmed by the mysterious man who is watching her at the museum, at her home and then in Paris(!)? I would be calling the police pronto! they didn't really have a police force to call at the time and it feels like one of those things where the person tells herself she's making more of something than is actually there. If you are raised very sheltered, it would never occur to you that someone was stalking you. That wouldn't be in your vocabulary.
7. Someone has not-so-good intentions. I am suspecting everyone. The footman who was snooping was probably working for someone, but whom? Could be anyone. Lord Palmer, Colin Hargreaves, or another collector. Does anyone stand out in your mind as a prime suspect? I suspect Lord Palmer and the footman was working for him. It's possible another collector is involved. I don't suspect Colin Hargreaves yet.
8. Is it just me, or does Colin seem awfully anxious for Emily to go to Greece? He may know something and is trying to protect her
9. Is Emily too trusting of Cecile du Lac? Emily just appears very immature in all her decisions about people.
10. Emily learns that her husband thought very highly of her, but she barely thought of him at all. I am wondering how is this possible. If he loved her so much, why spend so much time away from her, and also why not communicate his feelings in his letters to her? She has to find out from someone like Renoir that her husband thought she was extraordinarily beautiful.
I think her husband developed an idealized passion for her that had nothing to do with her character. She was like a character in one of the myths and legends he loved. Not real
11. Colin and Emily have an interesting relationship. Do you think it may turn romantic? It appears it could, but he wants to control her and she is trying to escape control.
12. The Iliad figures very prominently in this novel so far. Do you think some parallel with the story could occur in the novel? Someone’s wife is stolen/seduced and a war ensues? Or instead of a wife, it’s some valuable antique object? interesting analogy and very possible.
@Leslie2. She annoyed me too...immensely...at the beginning of the story. I didn't feel she was likable at all.
6. Good point...she was very sheltered and didn't have reasons to be suspicious. I didn't consider that aspect of it.
7. & 8. I suspected Colin right off the bat, but then again I suspected everyone. I was thinking Colin wanted her to go to Greece so he could get his hands on something valuable Philip had stashed there. I had no idea what that might be, though.
10. I think her husband developed an idealized passion for her that had nothing to do with her character. She was like a character in one of the myths and legends he loved. Not real Ah! Very good observation! I never considered that, but that makes a lot of sense.
13. Have you read The Iliad? My ex listened to it on audio – so I would say I’ve heard it; however, I wasn’t “actively” listening. This book makes me think I should give it another go. You? NO! I hate greek mythology. The closest I get is to watch Brad Pitt in "Troy." My son is a Greek and Roman Studies magor. That's enough for me.14. It seems my suspicions were incorrect; Lord Philip Ashton was well known for his patronage of the arts. Hmmm… What do you make of Monsieur Pontiero? The Englishman, Mr. Aldwin Attewater? Is Colin’s concern legitimate, what with him being a forger as opposed to an artist? Did you think her response to Colin “immature”? I think all of her responses are immature. She is annoying the crap out of me at the moment. I think Colin is trying to steer her away from certain people for a reason.
15. I’m confusing my Palmers – Andrew is the elder (“got all the good looks the family has to offer”), Author the younger (“doesn’t seem particularly bright”). Nevertheless, they are in Paris?! And Author was “luring” her away from “crusty old pots” as well as Colin! Maybe he’s a little brighter than others realize. What about the dinner companion on the other side of her, Monsieur Fournier, saying he’d be interested in Philip’s bust of Apollo? Comments.
I think Andrew is more than how he acts. I think he's hiding something. That's why he wanted her to come for a walk, so someone could look in her rooms. Not sure about Fournier. He could just be a rival collector.
16. What do you think of the American, Margaret Seward? Why do Americans always have to be portrayed as too brash? She smokes, she drinks, she speaks her mind. For once, I’d like to see one depicted against type. I think she is typical of a Bryn Mawr gaduate of the time.
17. Are we reading Philip’s journal or his monograph at the beginning of each chapter now? I don’t think they are his letters. Have you found any hints as to what he was looking for – or found? Maybe it’s in his letters to her. I have a feeling someone is going to riffle through things back in England now that they know she left Philip’s letters at home. You? I was thinking that something might be in his cellars and now that Emily is drinking port, she may find something. (BTW, I adore Davis!) I think we are reading his journal. And I agree that we will find that his stuff has been gone through. I think they are looking for notes about the Apollo that Fournier was talking about.
18. Oh! I spoke too soon! Her Paris hotel suite was ransacked! Who do you think did it? And why? I think the Palmers are involved.5
19. To what was Colin referring when he said, “Did it begin on your wedding trip?” What “business”? How does Colin really feel about Emily after her confession? She certainly fell of her pedestal, I think. I think it has something to do with the bust of Apollo. And I think that Colin is in love with her, and he realizes that the woman Phillip thought he had married, the idealized Emily does not really exist and that he is in love with the real one. And he wants to keep them separate.
20. What did you think about the Praxiteles bust of Apollo, donated by Thomas Barrett? The one discovered by Davis in Philip’s dressing room. Could the one in the museum be a forgery one – and the other is real? Or are both forgeries? I think the one in the museum is a forgery and the one in the dressing room is the real one.
21. Will Emily be able to trace the gentleman talking with the “man with the scar” outside her home? Was it one of her dinner guests?
Lisa Kay wrote: "That's okay, Leslie! Sorry Real Life got in the way. These things happen. I, myself, have no excuse, Sandy. I've been on http://pinterest.com/ for hours now, instead of reading and doing my DQs."
I am obsessed with Pinterest as well! I'm almost caught up on the questions now.
22. I love how the servants are happy about Emily drinking port with the gentlemen. I’ve recently started watching Downton Abbey, so any time there’s a scene with a servant I think of the TV show. It’s funny how her friends chalk her behavior up to missing her husband or being rattled by the break-in in Paris. Because she is acting so outside the norm, I think they just don't know what else to ascribe her behavior to. And Davies is awesome!23. Andrew is awfully forward with Emily, but she admits to enjoying his attentions. I am so suspicious of him, I am glad that she tells him she won’t see him again without a chaperone. I am a little wary of him looking in her library while she goes to the country. I don't like him and I completely suspect him. I'm glad that she began to not like his attention, though she still trusts him too much.
24. Colin is very persistent with his questioning. The big mystery must involve some missing antique, no? I agree
25. Well, we were right about the statue being the real thing. How funny to imagine the maid breaking it (again I think of Downton Abbey). I’m still confused about what’s going on with regard to forgeries, etc. I am a little confused as well. But I am often confused while reading mysteries in books, so I'm used to it.
26. Andrew doesn’t trust Colin, but we don’t know why. Hmmmm. I think Andrew is trying to set it up that Colin is the bad guy when it's actually Andrew who seems to be the bad guy.
27. Emily remembers her wedding trip and hoping her husband would wake her up when he came to bed since she enjoyed their physical encounters. This is the first I have heard of her “enjoying” her husband, physically or otherwise, while he was alive. To me, this softens her character a bit (as she was before he died). At least she wasn’t completely cold to him. I completely agree. Her character does seem to be so cold. I like the part where she realizes they would have had different opinions and accepts that and the part where she finally cries. That definitely rounded out her character a little for me. I'm still not crazy about her, though.
28. I find it odd that Emily hasn’t visited her other homes. If I had inherited a country estate and a Greek villa, I would have been planning my vacations ASAP. I guess it was harder to get around in those days. I think having been born around great estates, she doesn't feel the same urgency. And they probably feel so unreal to her and not really hers. Well, the estate wasn't really hers. She just could use it.
29. The plot thickens: possibly more “real” art objects at the estate, and (allegedly) an argument between Colin and Philip before his death. I wish I knew what was going on. Do you believe Philip deliberately engaged in illegal activities? I hope all will be revealed. I don't believe that Phillip engaged in illegal activities. He was too enamored of Archilles and the heroic ideal. I think he stumbled upon something illegal and was trying to solve a crime and be like Archilles. I think he was killed in Africa, possibly poisoned.
@ Sandy#41 – I was hoping he was alive too!
#44 – Ah! Thanks for the background info. I hadn’t looked it up, but it is all coming back to me now.
#45 – To tell you the truth, I found Emily a little fickle with her love interest at times; did you notice when she was reading Philips journal on the train she grew bored and wondered if she really should track him down! That surprised me. I thought she was attracted to Colin a little more than Andrew. But, I even thought she was flirting with Arthur, so what do I know?
#46 – Very interesting!
@ Leslie#2 - Very interesting. I liked Emily at the beginning and less toward the middle (very much so) and then liked her more at the end. LOL! Maybe I’m as fickle as she.
#3 – I think you nailed it – he was in the right place at the right time.
#5 – Yes, one or the other.
#6 – Good points.
#9 – She is quite young. Let me know if you think her character matures over the arch of the story.
#10 – Whoa. Very insightful. I totally agree.
Sandy wrote: "Lisa Kay, have you been to Paris? I was there in March of 2000, and your pictures are bringing back fond memories!"I'm jealous! I've never been to Paris. I had an opportunity to go once with my ex-husband on a business trip, but I had to work.
I've seen the movies Troy - where BP got all buff for the role.
@ Leslie# 13 & 14 – LOL! Okay. I think you’re right about Colin. But, I don’t know, as I haven’t quite reached the end of the book.
#15 – Ah! He did want her to take a walk.
#16 – Ah! I didn’t think of that either.
#19 – Interesting.
#22 – Yes! I need Davies to come work for me!
#26 – I thought this too. Though, I must admit, I was put off by Colin at the very beginning b/c I thought he was calling her “Kallista’s” because he had an ulterior motive.
#27 – Yes, I found I liked her crying too. She finally realized a lot of things and grew up a bit.
#28 – Desensitized? Possibly.
#29 – I was thinking along these lines too. I’ve changed my mind… but maybe I shouldn’t have, LOL!
Leslie wrote: "I am obsessed with Pinterest as well!"Maybe we can exchange url's. ☺
The hotel...Hotel Le Meurice, Paris - Called "The Hotel of Kings" - founded in 1815.
I have to say that I am hoping that Phillip is not alive. It's seems to me that that is not and never will be a passionate relationship. Emily is creating something that isn't there because she has never experienced real passion. That's part of her immaturity. I think that Colin is the real deal and that's why she's so angry at him. He makes her uncomfortable. Just a thought.
Am I clear to post Q's for remainder of the book?
Leslie wrote: "I have to say that I am hoping that Phillip is not alive. It's seems to me that that is not and never will be a passionate relationship. Emily is creating something that isn't there because she has never experienced real passion..."Yes, and she has never aspired to have real passion. She never thought it was possible and was resigned to living her life without it.
Lisa Kay, love the hotel pics. One can dream....
Santorini - or officially Thira (Greek: Θήρα [ˈθira]), is an island in the southern Aegean Sea.
Sandy wrote: "Am I clear to post Q's for remainder of the book?"I'm fine with it; I don't know about Leslie. I guess you could post them under a spoiler. Maybe?
***Spoiler Alert if you have not finished the novel***Questions for Chapters 29 – 36
47. Wow…Philip is alive! No, he’s dead! Wait, he’s alive! Poor Emily, I really feel for her as she rides on the emotional roller coaster.
48. We learn Andrew murdered Philip, and he is the center of the forgery ring. Although I suspected him of the art crimes, I never thought he was capable of murder. That was a little shocking to me.
49. More of a comment than a question...I really wanted Philip to be alive. I thought it would have made for a great ending.
50. What did you think about Fourniere allowing Emily to keep the stolen ring?
51. After Emily learns the truth, I just don’t buy her sudden agreement for Colin to court her. Did she hint that she had any feelings for him before? I didn’t see it. At least Colin will let her be herself and pursue her own interests. I wonder how long her infatuation with Philip will affect her ability to truly pursue a relationship with Colin.
52. I really like Leslie’s theory that Emily was an object to Philip, rather than a person. The more I think about it, the more I believe it’s true, especially considering the brief time they actually spent together. Do you think if Philip had lived, would they have continued to live separate lives?
53. Overall thoughts on the book? Will you continue this series?
Thank you for the buddy read! :-)
I'm fine with it as well! Thanks for all the great questions. As a side note, my son will be doing an internship in Greece this summer. Great pictures!
Hey, we finished a day early. Yay us, Sandy! ☺
Leslie wrote: "As a side note, my son will be doing an internship in Greece this summer."How neat!
Questions for Chapters 29 – 3647. Wow…Philip is alive! No, he’s dead! Wait, he’s alive! Poor Emily, I really feel for her as she rides on the emotional roller coaster. I never thought he was alive and thought she believed it too quickly. It was just to easy that the missionary showed up.
48. We learn Andrew murdered Philip, and he is the center of the forgery ring. Although I suspected him of the art crimes, I never thought he was capable of murder. That was a little shocking to me. I started thinking that he had poisoned Phillip. there was just something not quite right about him
49. More of a comment than a question...I really wanted Philip to be alive. I thought it would have made for a great ending. Nooo, he and Emily were never right for each other. He never saw HER. He allowed the social conventions of the day to shape their relationship.
50. What did you think about Fourniere allowing Emily to keep the stolen ring? I think his wife may have been unhappy, but it had a nice touch to it
51. After Emily learns the truth, I just don’t buy her sudden agreement for Colin to court her. Did she hint that she had any feelings for him before? I didn’t see it. At least Colin will let her be herself and pursue her own interests. I wonder how long her infatuation with Philip will affect her ability to truly pursue a relationship with Colin. I saw this relationship from the very beginning. The author kept giving little hints- she would react when he touched her. She was more angry with him than she should have been. And she opened up to him and revealed herself that time in the library. She was herself with him.
52. I really like Leslie’s theory that Emily was an object to Philip, rather than a person. The more I think about it, the more I believe it’s true, especially considering the brief time they actually spent together. Do you think if Philip had lived, would they have continued to live separate lives? I think that's exactly what would have happened. They would have had the typical relationship of the time period. So sad.
53. Overall thoughts on the book? Will you continue this series? I liked this book for the most part. I see more to like in Emily toward the end of the book. She is not so brittle and immature. I got a little muddled on the mystery part, but that happens to me alot! I will definitely keep reading this. I enjoyed the story and the characters and their development. Also, I think the author's fixation on corsets matched Emily's personal development throughout the story. She starts out so tightly corsetted, and by the end she is barely wearing any corsets at all. Interesting!
thanks for all the great questions and the great pictures. This was the best buddy read I have done.
@ Leslie#47 – I actually was wondering if he was alive earlier in the book. But when the rumor happened, and she went off half-cocked, I just knew she was in for heart-ache. Then I had another moment of wondering if he was alive… then Mr. P showing up squashed it.
#48 – I don’t know when I started suspecting he had been poisoned, but it was b/f it was revealed. Probably around the time Colin was trying to convince her Philip was dead. I never thought Philip was mistaken about the fact that Philip was gone.
#49 – True. Sad, but true.
#50 – Ditto.
#51 – All excellent observations! She was attracted to Andrew, but didn’t have the “zing” she had with Colin.
#53 – Oh, I thought you understood the mystery very well, Leslie!
This was a very good “buddy read” – maybe we should do the next book in the series in a month or two. Sometime at the end of March? First of April? The sad thing is, it will be here b/f we know it!
Lisa Kay wrote: "Hey, we finished a day early. Yay us, Sandy! ☺"It's easy when the book is good, right Lisa Kay?
Leslie wrote: "I'm fine with it as well! Thanks for all the great questions. As a side note, my son will be doing an internship in Greece this summer. Great pictures!"Wow, lucky son! That's so exciting!
Ok, I thought (hoped?) from the very beginning that Philip was still alive, but I didn't have any sort of theory how that could be possible. When Emily first hears that Philip is alive, in a way I was disappointed with the author, thinking "my, how predictable." The joke's on me!Kudos to you two thinking about poison. That never crossed my mind.
As for Colin, to me, Emily never seemed interested in romance with anyone except her dead husband, and even those feelings took awhile to show up. I probably just wasn't paying attention, and/or I was too busy casting Colin as the bad guy.
Leslie, I really like your insights, especially about the corset.
Great buddy read ladies!
I would be happy to read the next one whenever y'all want. Just let me know. Back to the Colin thing. I agree that Emily never seemed interested in romance. She was definitely more interested in falling in love with a dead husband than the real thing. Part of her immaturity. Andrew was a move in the right direction. She began to express her own personality with him and allowed some kissing. But it was still done at her pace and at her control. When he kissed her passionately in the hotel room in Paris, she didn't like that at all. But Colin always treated her like a person from the beginning. And he didn't ask her permission to kiss her either. Which made her angry.
Even though I found Emily's personality annoying in the beginning, I do find it fascinating how the author matured her throughout the story. Very well done. And I really did enjoy the insertion of mythology into the story, even though I said I hated it in the beginning. This was a common theme in literature of the time period and I thought it enhanced the story. And I agree with Emily, Hector is so much better than Achilles. He's my favorite character in the movie "Troy".
I forgave Emily a lot at the beginning b/c of her age. When she started waffling in the middle of the book, she started annoying me. Then I had to laugh at myself b/c I was waffling!
I want to go to Santorini!
Nothing But Reading Challenges
Books mentioned in this topic
A Poisoned Season (other topics)The Winter Rose (other topics)
And Only to Deceive (other topics)
