Madam, want to talk about author Mary Stewart? discussion

This is getting to be a nail biter. I'm only guessing at this point, but I suspect the dolphin will come back into play shortly?

When the beginning of Chapter 18, the tension and drama are full on. Chapter 18 is exciting - I'd love to see it on film. (view spoiler)[The way Stewart captures the Lucy's feelings of being trapped on Godfrey's boat, alone with a killer, and having to perform the performance of her life while trying to figure a way out of her predicament, is just brilliantly written. (hide spoiler)]

The last few chapters were just action packed. Loved the (view spoiler)[dolphin bringing her back to land, and all the Greek peasants anxious to help her out. That motorcycle ride with the handsome young man wasn't bad either. (hide spoiler)].

Yep, (view spoiler)[that dolphin had a debt to pay back. Thankfully, he didn't spend vital seconds chattering away with his dolphin friends before coming to Lucy's aid! (hide spoiler)]

Hannah wrote: "Yep, [spoilers removed]"

No lie. I had a hunch he'd come to the rescue.

Wow - a great ending! Loved it!

Really great ending. Just when I thought the story couldnt' get more nail biting, it did.

Yes, from chapter 18 - conclusion, this story was, for me, un-put-downable.

Loved the way Lucy was called 'bitch-eyes'! (Just what does that mean??) You don't hear that much nowadays, do you? :D

And (view spoiler)[Sir Julian (hide spoiler)] came to the rescue!

The last 1/4 of the book was quite exciting, wasn't it? I think MS does (view spoiler)[woman-in-peril/the-end-chase (hide spoiler)] quite well.

Susan wrote: "Loved the way Lucy was called 'bitch-eyes'! (Just what does that mean??) You don't hear that much nowadays, do you? :D

And [spoilers removed] came to the rescue!"



I've never heard of bitch eyes either, but it makes me think of "Mommy Dearest" - lol!

Wasn't it great the way (view spoiler)[Julian pretended to be drunk and fooled Godrey (and all of them). It was a perfect moment. (hide spoiler)]

I was really happy with the way Sir Julian's story turned out.

Jeannette wrote: "I was really happy with the way Sir Julian's story turned out."


Yep, poor man re-captured his integrity. I kept picturing Paul Scofield as Julian.

I was picturing Peter O'Toole, even though his build is nothing like Julian's. I think the movie, My Favorite Year, was my inspiration.

Yes, I wish there was more of Sir Julian in the story! Paul Scofield is a good choice. Or how about Ian McKellen?

Sir Julian certainly stole the scene at the end, didn't he?

I agree, very clever of Stewart (view spoiler)[ to have Sir Julian show up "drunk". I also felt the dolphin was a bit of a hero. (hide spoiler)]

she definitely had a way of tying things together while still managing to surprise you.

I read the last few chapters fairly quickly last night. It was quite fun, if not exactly believeable. However, I have what is no doubt an unreasonable pet peeve. (view spoiler)[ The villain spilling the beans about his plans and motivation when he has absolutely no need to do so. When Godfrey started disclosing all to Lucy when his clear intention was to kill her, my eyes rolled clear to the back of my head. (hide spoiler)] It's a much loved device of crime fiction writers and it makes me a little crazy every time I encounter it in one of its several variations.

Kim wrote: "I read the last few chapters fairly quickly last night. It was quite fun, if not exactly believeable. However, I have what is no doubt an unreasonable pet peeve. [spoilers removed] It's a much love..."

I know what you mean, but I've learned to live with it - they all do it! It's similar to the person in a crime novel who (view spoiler)[mentions that they have an idea about the murderer but they're going to think about it overnight because they're not sure whether or not to tell the detective. Surprise, surprise, they're the next victim! (hide spoiler)]

Susan wrote: "Loved the way Lucy was called 'bitch-eyes'! (Just what does that mean??) You don't hear that much nowadays, do you? :D



I came across that name in another book, by another Mary - this time Mary Renault in the King Must Die. I thought at the time it was unusual, so I remembered it.

Wow, what an exciting end! (view spoiler)[I loved how Lucy pretty much beat the crap out of Godfrey by kicking the tiller, causing the boom to slam into him. Yay! And the part with the dolphin was incredibly satisfying. And I knew Sir Julian had to be acting. It was perfect! (hide spoiler)]

Does anyone else have to put the book down every few pages? All this thrilling excitement packed in a chapter or two is too much for my nerves to take in in one sitting!

I'm the opposite! I stayed up way too late to finish because I couldn't stand to put it down. I love Adoni at the end. And Sir Julian. And Max.

Tadiana wrote: "I'm the opposite! I stayed up way too late to finish because I couldn't stand to put it down. I love Adoni at the end. And Sir Julian. And Max."

Well, I tend to only put it down for a minute or two, and then I'm right back at it. And, it's rather silly, because I've read it a few umpteen times!

I love Miranda at the end, too!

Any girl who channels Shakespeare is all right in my book. :)

STARTING at chapter 18 till the end was very exciting and nerve wrecking. I put it down several times, just to come up for air. I loved the suspense though. It was sooooo goood. I loved every moment of it.

One of these days I'd like to be able to read these chapters objectively and figure out how in the world she made them so suspenseful, but I always end up just galloping and gulping through...

I know Karlyne! I cannot read these slowly. I'm just too tense! I thought it was bad when (view spoiler)[ she was hiding under the blanket. But then! When she realizes her shoe was visible! I squirmed into a ball on my couch, practically writhing with anxiety--it felt so real. (hide spoiler)].

I know! That's a moment I can feel down to the tips of my toes. In fact, my toes are curling right now!

@Anne and @Kim: I know what you mean about villains spilling the beans . . . it happens so often. I loved when Pixar made fun of this in the movie Incredibles, talking about villains monologuing. Tried to find a youtube clip. no luck. Trust me, it's funny.
"I mean, he has be on a platter, and what does Baron von Ruthless do? He starts monologueing . . . (can't remember the intervening dialogue) . . . and how the world will soon be his!"

Jaima wrote: "@Anne and @Kim: I know what you mean about villains spilling the beans . . . it happens so often. I loved when Pixar made fun of this in the movie Incredibles, talking about villains monologuing. T..."

I've often wondered if it's true that villains are such ego-maniacs that they just can't help boasting about their brilliant crimes. I mean, it makes sense, but I think we're giving them more intellectual credit than the usual bad guy deserves. But, then, Godfrey isn't the usual bad guy, is he? Oh, dear, I'm getting muddled: I've never actually known a villain. As far as I know, that is...

Karlyne wrote: "I love Miranda at the end, too!"
Yes, absolutely. Love the fierceness that came out. She was shown as meek and subserviant for most of it until it mattered. Nicely done.

Really enjoyed the ending too. Full of nail-biting action. But I never understood why she waited so long at the window before coming in to confront G. I kept thinking, you can walk in now...any time now...just go. :)

I finished reading this book for the first time last night. I loved it! I loved the castle, the dolphin and I loved Corfu and the ending was great. Good good story!

Katherine, this is one of my favorites too. I love the characters, and the dolphin. :)

Tadiana ✩ Night Owl☽ wrote: "Katherine, this is one of my favorites too. I love the characters, and the dolphin. :)"

:) Oh yes. I'm still in the afterglow! I will be reading this one again and again.:)

Well, finished the book last night. That was one rip roaring finish... slightly reminiscent of the comedic chaos of the conclusion of The Moonspinners!

Cryssa wrote: "Really enjoyed the ending too. Full of nail-biting action. But I never understood why she waited so long at the window before coming in to confront G. I kept thinking, you can walk in now...any tim..."

I had exactly the same thought. I was like "go! Go!" But if Lucy had just burst in early, us as the readers would not have been privy to the information that was being revealed. And I guess as an actress she needed her perfect cue cue line!

Confession: I sniffled when Lucy has the village woman's Greek outfit on and leans down and kisses her. It was such a heart-warming moment!

Just finished my second reading of this. I had given it a 4 star the first time and I just bumped it up to 5 stars. I knew I really liked it and remembered some favorite scenes but now I think this really is my favorite MS. She just puts it all together so flawlessly. I loved it. Also, I think this one is the most romantic one of all.
Also, I loved how the Greeks were so wonderful to her.

I just finished my, I don't know, maybe 4th read of this book. :) Really a wonderful read. The Greek characters are lovely, Godfrey is chilling, Max makes my heart beat faster, I adore Sir Julian, and Lucy's motorcycle ride with the "god in the machine" absolutely cracked me up.

"The tires screeched, the god shouted gaily, the smell of burning rubber filled the night, and down we went ..."

Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ wrote: "I just finished my, I don't know, maybe 4th read of this book. :) Really a wonderful read. The Greek characters are lovely, Godfrey is chilling, Max makes my heart beat faster, I adore Sir Julian, ..."

Wouldn't you think that a novel of this "type", one which relies heavily on both suspense and surprise, couldnt be re-read with much enjoyment? And yet, Stewart's genius keeps me turning pages with almost as much haste as in my original reading. And I think my appreciation and enjoyment levels go up with each read!

Karlyne wrote: "Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ wrote: "I just finished my, I don't know, maybe 4th read of this book. :) Really a wonderful read. The Greek characters are lovely, Godfrey is chilling, Max makes my heart beat ..."

I so agree Karlyne! I have read this one several times and so there are no real surprises - yet every time - I read it with as much excitement as if I had no idea what is coming! One of favourite Mary Stewart’s - escapist, involving, entertaining, thrilling and humorous to boot - with enough romance thrown in to be interesting without overwhelming the mix.

Susan in Perthshire wrote: "Karlyne wrote: "Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ wrote: "I just finished my, I don't know, maybe 4th read of this book. :) Really a wonderful read. The Greek characters are lovely, Godfrey is chilling, Max make..."

And then throw in all the Shakespeare references, and it just sings! Btw, just finished The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, and there's a little passage in it where the magician says he longs for the day when he can rule with wisdom instead of "this rough magic". Smiles.

Karlyne wrote: "Susan in Perthshire wrote: "Karlyne wrote: "Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ wrote: "I just finished my, I don't know, maybe 4th read of this book. :) Really a wonderful read. The Greek characters are lovely, G..."

Isn’t it lovely when that happens! Of course MS makes it all flow so easily but she certainly was a well rounded writer wasn’t she?

I finished TRM and enjoyed reading it again! Love that Max. :)

I have to admit Max warms my heart. I really enjoy him, and Raoul from NCW. They might be my faves for MS heroes.

Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ wrote: "I have to admit Max warms my heart. I really enjoy him, and Raoul from NCW. They might be my faves for MS heroes."

I feel the same way about Max and Raoul too. I think they're swoon worthy MS heroes. :)

Richard and David both stole my heart in Madam, Will You Talk, so I didn't have any left for the other heroes...