Madam, want to talk about author Mary Stewart? discussion

Oh true about Stewart! That’s why I can picture him.

Well, just cleaned up my backyard garden path. Dusted off my reading chair and am about start on Chapter 6. See you on the next chapters section.

Oh yes, last night I read through this entire thread and it was fabulous! So glad that each subsequent buddy read just adds onto the previous. I also love when people post pictures.

I Love this book and all the characters in it... except for one.
Why on earth is Max so grumpy? Yes, he's protective of his father but Stewart writes about his "aggressive" impulses and that makes me think of him from the start as a bully. It put me off him.
Granted, most of Stewart's heroes aren't overly concerned with being charming, but they're usually likable from the start. I wish I could like Max better.

If you want to see my (vintage) dream cast for this book (with pictures!), go check out my review here. Natalie Wood is my Lucy and Sean Connery is my Sir Julian. :) Willow's review here also includes a great cast.

Fabulous casting for both of you!!!! I can totally see all of these actors in their respective roles.

I have a special fondness for this book as when I started to re-read Mary Stewart about six years ago, this rough magic was where I started. I remember reading it on vacation while we were at the beach and it was just absolutely a perfect choice!

I just started reading the tempest last night. It's much more readable than I thought it would be. I finished act one last night and started Acr 2 before sleep took over. I am seeing now some of the in jokes that MS put in this rough magic. There are also so many great quotes that she could've used at the top of each chapter. She certainly had a plethora to choose from!

Tadiana: I love Natalie Wood and Sean Connery for your vintage cast! Pitch perfect!

Teaqueen wrote: "I just started reading the tempest last night. It's much more readable than I thought it would be. I finished act one last night and started Acr 2 before sleep took over. I am seeing now some of th..."

Reading Shakespeare is a lot like reading subtitles in a movie. It always sounds like it won't work, but it takes very little time to actually get into the rhythm of the words!

I read a bit of the new evidence in Natalie Wood's death (I usually stay away from those kinds of things, but casting her as Lucy made me read it!), and, seriously, there might be too many parallels in her death and Lucy's adventure to make it a comfortable movie to watch...

Karlyne wrote: "I read a bit of the new evidence in Natalie Wood's death (I usually stay away from those kinds of things, but casting her as Lucy made me read it!), and, seriously, there might be too many parallel..."

Wow, good point; I never thought about that!

It's seriously creepy!

Totally agree Karlyne! And theater is meant to be spoken. So last night I had fun playing all the parts and doing my Shakespearean voice! Actually the scene between Prospero and Maranda where he reveals his true identity and her true identity was incredibly touching. Reading both parts out loud was wonderful! What a fabulous scene!

Teaqueen wrote: "Totally agree Karlyne! And theater is meant to be spoken. So last night I had fun playing all the parts and doing my Shakespearean voice! Actually the scene between Prospero and Maranda where he re..."

One of my fondest memories of "Book Club", which was for all ages and lasted for years, is our Shakespearean adventures!

For Max I'd imagine Dougray Scott - good-looking but a bit dour. But is DS too old for the role now? For Godfrey, Tom Hiddleston. I love Patrick Stewart as Sir Julian.

For Lucy, I love Lady Sybil but would also like to suggest Hermione Corfield who played Emma in The Halcyon. (For the very many who didn't see this, it was a Downton-esque drama set in a big London hotel during WW2. Fabulous period detail but cancelled after one series, alas.) Emma was an ingénue but courageous and independent. Not sure about hair colour though - she looks dark blonde or light brown-haired IRL. I imagine Lucy as brunette and Phyllida as blonde, although I'm not sure that's in the story!

I really do want to read this book this month! I’m fighting the dreaded flu but hope to get to it :O)

Veronique wrote: "I really do want to read this book this month! I’m fighting the dreaded flu but hope to get to it :O)"

Veronique wrote: "I really do want to read this book this month! I’m fighting the dreaded flu but hope to get to it :O)"

Salt water might help!

Annabel: I loved watching Halcyon! I think Hermione Corfield is a good alternative for Lucy. I was thinking that Lucy is brunette in the story, but Hermione could change her hair for the role.

Veronique wrote: "I really do want to read this book this month! I’m fighting the dreaded flu but hope to get to it :O)"

Sorry to hear that, Veronique! : ( Hope you feel better soon!

Karlyne wrote: "Salt water might help!"

Especially if a friendly dolphin is included!

Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ wrote: "Karlyne wrote: "Salt water might help!"

Especially if a friendly dolphin is included!"

LOL!! Wonderful response!

*lol* I wouldn’t mind a swim with dolphins :O)

Veronique wrote: "*lol* I wouldn’t mind a swim with dolphins :O)"

Best medicine ever!

I'm getting an early start on this read because my January reading calendar looks pretty busy. My, Phyllida certainly leads a glamorous life! And an idle one as well.

I'm going to start reading this tonight. :)

Clear your calendar, then! Once you start, it’s hard to stop.

is this one for January? I think I can start it today or very soon, I have it from the library and a hard copy which I almost always prefer to an ebook.

Yes, it was put off from December because everyone was busy.

Jackie wrote: "is this one for January? I think I can start it today or very soon, I have it from the library and a hard copy which I almost always prefer to an ebook."

Hi, Jackie. While I'm grateful for the wide range of material available on the internet, I too, prefer real pages!

;-)

I'm starting it: we are just starting to melt from an ice storm so I need to be on an island off Greece!

Yeah, uncomfortably hot sounds pretty good right now!

Just started my read - have had this copy for 30+ years!

I look forward to your thoughts, Julie!

Thanks Abigail! Likewise. :)

Well, enough mystery in the opening chapters to warn the reader - and Lucy - not to be lulled by the beauty and surface peace of the isle. Within hours of her arrival there’s (view spoiler)[ an unidentified gunman on the loose (hide spoiler)], a drowning, and talk of intruders.

I like Lucy, she who rescues wasps, spiders, worms, baby birds, and who certainly shows plenty of reckless courage in protecting a dolphin.

This Rough Magic is one of my favourite Mary Stewart novels, so when I travelled through the Corfu Channel by ferry at the end of March last year, naturally I was up on deck taking pictures and making videos. I think I've worked out how to share the videos: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLY...
Does this work? There are five videos, just scenery, which I've uploaded to my YouTube channel.

An extra challenge apart from all this social media stuff is that I haven't got the book here, only the audiobook, so I can't check chapter and verse. Please add, discuss, and challenge as you see fit.

My Dad was interested to learn that the ferries pass through the channel these days – in his memory, they had to go round the island's west coast because the channel was mined. I'm not sure if this is quite accurate, but if you're interested in the history, it's worth reading up on the Corfu Channel Incident (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corfu_C...) and the Corfu Channel Case (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corfu_C...). Interesting that Mary Stewart doesn't mention them (or does she?).

Listening to This Rough Magic for the nth time, I'm trying to remember how it first struck me. Max Gale and Godfrey Manning: which of them is to be the hero? (view spoiler)[ Max is grumpy and unpleasant, so it can't be him, can it? But Godfrey talks too much, and to the wrong people: this time around I'm more appalled than ever at his asking Phyllida to break the bad news to Maria and her mother. He's thinking only of himself, with no consideration for her condition! (hide spoiler)]

I like Lucy a lot; the way her profession colours her perceptions is so well-written. (view spoiler)[ I love it when she tells Max: "I know what a ricochet sounds like!" Just the kind of thing one likes to tell an obnoxious alpha male. How does she know, though? Even before that, we learn that she recognizes the sound of a bullet flying past, but I don't believe we're ever told why. Or why this is the first time she's stayed with her sister in Corfu when Phyllida has been married for eight years or so. Have I missed something, or are there some holes in the backstory? (hide spoiler)] Sorry about all the hidden bits, I couldn't find the spoiler thread for This Rough Magic.

Just starting this read today - it's been a few years! I just saw The Tempest play this summer at a Shakespeare festival in Cedar City, Utah, so that dovetails in nicely. :)

Lucy is one of my favorite Mary Stewart heroines. And This Rough Magic is in my top 3 MS books.

Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ wrote: "Just starting this read today - it's been a few years! I just saw The Tempest play this summer at a Shakespeare festival in Cedar City, Utah, so that dovetails in nicely. :)

Lucy is one of my favo..."

Oh same! I named one of my cats after her. I love this book so much! I will join! I have read this one a few times and I want to check in on the discussion. It is my top MS books too! I have the physical book, the kindle book, and the audio! Squee!

oooh, audio book....!!!

Jackie wrote: "oooh, audio book....!!!"

It's great too! Very good narrator. I started it on my walk at lunch today. Kumquats. I forgot about that. I love that fruit! Now I want to go to the store on the way home and get some.

Elizabeth wrote: "This Rough Magic is one of my favourite Mary Stewart novels, so when I travelled through the Corfu Channel by ferry at the end of March last year, naturally I was up on deck taking pictures and mak..."

Thanks very much for the links Elizabeth! The YouTube one didn’t work for me, it said there were no videos available?

Very interesting reading about that incident in 1946, two British warships damaged and the tensions over the Channel. I can’t see that MS does mention it anywhere, but she would certainly have known of it.

Elizabeth wrote: "Listening to This Rough Magic for the nth time, I'm trying to remember how it first struck me. Max Gale and Godfrey Manning: which of them is to be the hero?"

Your comment made me notice something obvious and humorous. Max and Godfrey share the same initials - just reversed.

How's that for a "junior high school level" observation, eh?

Lol. ;-)

Julie wrote: "Elizabeth wrote: "This Rough Magic is one of my favourite Mary Stewart novels, so when I travelled through the Corfu Channel by ferry at the end of March last year, naturally I was up on deck taking videos..."

Thanks for the heads-up, Julie! Turns out I neglected to click some boxes. Sorry about that! If you'd like to have another go, here's the link again:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLY...

I've managed to save and add one of those videos the robot creates based on photos and feel very pleased with myself – would feel even more pleased if it actually works. Forgive the music, it was the best I could find in the list provided. Of course I wanted Maria Farantouri or Mikis Theodorakis or both!

Galowa wrote: "Elizabeth wrote: Max Gale and Godfrey Manning: which of them is to be the hero?"

Your comment made me notice something obvious and humorous. Max and Godfrey share the same initials - just reversed.

How's that for a "junior high school level" observation, eh?."

Oooh, deep!!
;-)

Elizabeth wrote: Oooh, deep!! ;-)
"Galowa wrote:
Your comment made me notice something obvious and humorous. Max and Godfrey share the same initials ... "

I admit it was a stretch for me - but I did try! . . . ;-) (derp)

Galowa wrote: "I admit it was a stretch for me - but I tried."

Two lovely laugh-out-loud moments, Galowa, thanks! Your comments totally hit the nail. My high school English teacher loved that kind of observation, too, and I would have felt so proud discovering something so meaningful ;-).

Elizabeth wrote: "Galowa wrote: "I admit it was a stretch for me - but I tried."

Two lovely laugh-out-loud moments, Galowa, thanks! Your comments totally hit the nail. My high school English teacher loved that kind..."

My pleasure, Elizabeth!
Fifty-five years since junior high school, and I'm still as off-the-wall as ever...
When, exactly, is this whole "growing up" thing supposed to kick in?
Maybe tomorrow when I wake up I'll find I've been transformed!
Thanks, too, for providing the lovely visuals above. Always appreciated.

;-)

Elizabeth wrote: "Julie wrote: "Elizabeth wrote: "This Rough Magic is one of my favourite Mary Stewart novels, so when I travelled through the Corfu Channel by ferry at the end of March last year, naturally I was up..."

Thanks for sharing the revised link.
We’ve only done the ferry journey from Corfu to Igoumenitsa, and it was lovely to revisit the experience!

I have always thought Barbati was where MS placed the Villa Fiorli since it is located 12 miles north of Corfu town and sits at the foot of Mount Pantokrator. Personally I always thought Koloura must have been the main vista that inspired her as it matches her descriptions of the surroundings perfectly.

I know that sitting on the beach at Kalami and looking across to Albania, I felt exactly like Lucy since, when we first visited Corfu, Albania was still a closed country - exactly as it is in TRM.

I really feel the need to revisit Corfu. It’s been ten years since our last. It was the pandemic stopped our last visit. Perhaps this year!

Susan in Perthshire wrote: "I really feel the need to revisit Corfu. It’s been ten years since our last. It was the pandemic stopped our last visit. Perhaps this year! ."

Last Sunday I woke up with a complete itinerary for the group in my head: foregather in Milan (easy to reach from anywhere) – train to Venice or Ancona – ferry to Igoumenitsa (ca. 30 hrs, book cabins)– ferry to Corfu town – charming residence in the right area. Day trips to the mainland to harry the ibexes, I mean, visit Butrint, Ioannina, Meteora . . . – return same way or continue to Athens and fly from there.

Orthodox Easter Sunday is April 16 this year, so Palm Sunday would be the weekend before that, on April 9. That's when the procession featuring St Spiridion's relics takes place. Might be cutting it a bit fine for this year . . .

I've been listening to the first chapters again, and I think you're right, Susan, about the geography! My placement was too far north.

Elizabeth wrote: "Susan in Perthshire wrote: "I really feel the need to revisit Corfu. It’s been ten years since our last. It was the pandemic stopped our last visit. Perhaps this year! ."

Last Sunday I woke up wit..."

That sounds like an excellent itinerary! I couldn't make it this year as we'll be on a Mediterranean cruise first two weeks in April.