Madam, want to talk about author Mary Stewart? discussion

Yes, I like that she's not easily impressed with affluence. She's quite happy with her Marks&Spencer swimsuit whereas her sister is all "designer" and Lucy isn't afraid to get dirty or look "herself " in front of men. No makeup required. (unless of course your sister leaves a bit of gold lipstick within reach. lol)

Just getting started. :-)

Chapter 2 I'm impressed with Max's description. MS does so much with so few words. "But something at once sensual and sensitive about the mouth contradicted the impression of a purely physical personality;"

Have 46 pages. left of Gabriel Hounds which will be finished today then I'll be able to join chatting with you, ladies!

Glad u are enjoying GH like I did Mary. I can't wait ( after work) to really get a couple of chapters knocked out in TRM. I love gothics.

Me too. I should be getting it done today then on to TRM.

And she's willing to throw herself (view spoiler)[in front of an unknown shooter to protect dolphins (hide spoiler)]! I like Lucy.

Chapter 4: Saint Spyridon's mummified body is for real:

I thought he was real...MS is good about stuff like that.

Ok, Lucy is packed in my book bag, and I'm heading for the mountains. You all have a smashing weekend, too!

Judith wrote: "Chapter 2 I'm impressed with Max's description. MS does so much with so few words. "But something at once sensual and sensitive about the mouth contradicted the impression of a purely physical pers..."

I also liked the second half of that sentence: ". . . here, one felt, was a man of aggressive impulses, but one who paid for them in his own private coinage."

Frankly, I'm not entirely certain what Mary Smith meant by that, but I like the way it's worded. :D

Chapter 4: I also like the "meet cute" between Lucy and Sir Julian. It's so much fun that they use lines from The Tempest and that those lines fit the situation so well. And the way he keeps teasing her about the roses is humorous.

Sir Julian rocks my world.

I still like Lucy but she's not like Charity Selbourne or Bryony. I do love Julian Gale.

After I've finished a chapter, it's fun to go back and read the Tempest quotes at the beginning of the chapter. They make a lot more sense in retrospect!

Love the Rose garden...the whole place is amazing.

Tadiana wrote: "And she's willing to throw herself [spoilers removed]! I like Lucy.

Chapter 4: Saint Spyridon's mummified body is for real:

"

wow!

Right now I would love to be on a beach by the sea watching the dolphins play. Dolphins are my favorite. they are just too cute.

Tadiana wrote: "After I've finished a chapter, it's fun to go back and read the Tempest quotes at the beginning of the chapter. They make a lot more sense in retrospect!"

That's a good tip.

Actually I would love to be in the water with them playing.

Mary wrote: "Actually I would love to be in the water with them playing."

me too!

Chapter 5
I love roses, I'm looking all those Rose names in my Rose book. What a charmer is Sir Julian.

Judith wrote: "Chapter 5
I love roses, I'm looking all those Rose names in my Rose book. What a charmer is Sir Julian."

What an idyllic place: wisteria, roses, shady trees, sandy beach, sea, dolphins -- I'd never leave!

It's been so long since I read This Rough Magic, it's like I'm reading it for the first time again! I love the characters so much, especially Max! Oh, Max! *sigh* :) But Mrs. Stewart's descriptions are so beautiful, it's like I'm there!

Hj wrote: "Judith wrote: "Chapter 5
I love roses, I'm looking all those Rose names in my Rose book. What a charmer is Sir Julian."

What an idyllic place: wisteria, roses, shady trees, sandy beach, sea, dolp..."
I wouldn't either!

Yeah, Max is great. He's one of my favorites of her men. Tough, yet sensitive, and a so protective of his father.

I love rose too. This place just seems so beautiful. I would love to visit.

Just got to ch. 3. I am loving this book!

I hadn't read this one in quite a while! But although i remember the plot very well, the writing makes me see why it's one of my favorites. The meeting with Sir Julian in chapter 5 with all the stories about the roses and the theater world is just delightful, not to mention the little undercurrents with Max. And I like Lucy very much!

Hj wrote: "I was lucky enough to go (from the UK) to Corfu on holiday a couple of years ago, and it is just as gorgeous in real life as in these photographs. Of course, I re-read This Rough Magic ..."

I have to admit that as one of the few Europeans in this group, I too have been to Corfu. We rented a motorbike from a guy inevitably called Spiro. That really is the most common name on the island!

I really need more time to read this weekend. You all make me wanna hurry up and get to ch.5. :-)

I just finished chapter 5.

I love how Ms describes the roses scenery. And roses were everywhere and one dense bush of frilled white roses must have been ten feet high. There were moss roses, musk roses, damask roses, roses pied and streaked.There must have been twenty or thirty varieties there, all in full bloom, old roses planted Yeats ago and left in the wild, as if in some secret garden whose key is lost. The place seemed hardly real.
This gave me the scent of roses. I love the smell of roses.

I especially liked this rose: "one old pink rose straight from a mediaeval manuscript, hemispherical, as if a knife had sliced it across, its hundred petals as tightly whorled and packed as the layers of an onion."

MS, amazing writer...I can smell the roses!

Tadiana, I liked that rose also, and Judith I agree MS is definitely an amazing author.

I had no time to read today. boo!

It's hard for me to find the time to read on weekends. I am having a hard time reading about The Tempest. I've never read it before. I hope I can get a better grasp on understanding it. Other than that I am enjoying the book.

Mary wrote: "It's hard for me to find the time to read on weekends. I am having a hard time reading about The Tempest. I've never read it before. I hope I can get a better grasp on understanding it. Other than ..."

I'm tempted to pull out my copy of The Tempest and reread some of it along with this. Which reminds me, I love that Sir Julian gives Lucy his own copy. I think I'd have been afraid to take it!

I thought that was pretty cool also.

Ok, I am way behind. I just didn't have any time to read this weekend either. I hope to pick this back up tonight. Yall make it sound so interesting.

It is starting to get really good right now!!

Well, I am just starting the read today as most of you finished!

I think there are still several who haven't finished. The comment threads are still pretty lively, too.

I'm behind as well. Busy week. Just getting to ch 6. So let's hang in there. ;)

Debbie wrote: "I'm behind as well. Busy week. Just getting to ch 6. So let's hang in there. ;)"

Me, too. I thought I had a copy, but I was wrong and had to wait for mine to arrive from the library. Have it now and am flying through it. :)

A few years ago, I had the pleasure of watching Christopher Plummer play Prospero in The Tempest. It was at the Stratford (Ontario) Festival and he was unbelievable! I almost imagine Julian like him.

Cryssa wrote: "A few years ago, I had the pleasure of watching Christopher Plummer play Prospero in The Tempest. It was at the Stratford (Ontario) Festival and he was unbelievable! I almost imagine Julian like him."

My envy knows no bounds.

I would have loved to see that to! I love Christopher Plummer!

I wish someone would do a beautiful film version of The Tempest. The Helen Mirren one as Prospero looks interesting, but I'm just not sure about it. Does anyone have Emma Thompson's address? I'll ask her to do a screenplay and produce and direct it...

Karlyne wrote: "I wish someone would do a beautiful film version of The Tempest. The Helen Mirren one as Prospero looks interesting, but I'm just not sure about it. Does anyone have Emma Thompson's address? ..."

I'll join with you in urging Emma to do it!