Retro Reads discussion

Buddy read starting in early May 2017, whenever everyone has their book in hand and is ready to go. :) Tadiana, Debbicat, Critterbee and Barb in Maryland, and whoever else would like to join.

I'm in. Its on bookshelf waiting to be read.

I 'd love to do this one. One of my favorite author's and I have not read this one.

That would be great, Gita! If you can't find it at the library, I think Abebooks has the cheapest copies, and most of the sellers there don't charge extra for shipping. I've bought a bunch of used books in the last few weeks and I've been checking Amazon, Abebooks and eBay to compare prices. Abebooks wins like 9 times out of 10.

I always buy from there too! It's the best.

Madeleine Brent is one of my favorite authors. I would love to join this Buddy Read.

Great, Julie!

Never heard of title or author. Off checking :0)

Am going to order my copy soon!

Yes, indeedy, I got it from my library! And since they don't care when you return anything - how I love little towns - I can keep it for as long as need be!

I've got my copy in hand so I can read it whenever. :)

Merlin's Keep just arrived! Whoo-hoo! ;-)

May would be good -- so I'll join you all.

I just got mine too!

I just received my copy today.

When is DDAY?

Is anyone not ready to jump in, say, this week sometime?

Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ wrote: "Is anyone not ready to jump in, say, this week sometime?"

I can start Wednesday or thereabouts!

I have book in hand and time--so I can go this week. Wednesday is good for me. Confession time: I've already read the first chapter! I know, I know--I jumped the gun--but I was bored and none of my new books appealed--[sheepish shrug]... I am sure you will all understand!

Well, Wednesday has come and gone in my corner of the world and I'm anxious to start talking about a fabulous book.
Anybody? Maybe by Friday??

I'd say go ahead and start, Barb! I'll try to start tonight.

Okay--here goes with a general-ish comment. The story unfolds in a linear fashion, with very few flashbacks. It doesn't open with a "the first time I saw Merlin's Keep" scene, followed by a recounting of past events.. Rather, the author drops us right into the current time action--a caravan trek in the Himalayas. We quickly meet our narrator, 13 year old Jani, and her companion/guardian, Sember. Immediate questions arise for the reader--why are these two 'Hinglish' speakers living in Nepal? What is their relationship?
At this point I was totally hooked--I remember reading it in one sitting the first time. Even now I keep turning the pages, anxious to find out 'what happens next'. Clever author!

I'm almost done with The Unknown Ajax, so I'll start tomorrow!

I got about 4 chapters into it last night, going back and forth between this one and The Unknown Ajax. :)

Random thoughts:
The beginning, in northern India and Tibet, reminded me a little of The Far Pavilions.

Does anyone know what RSM (as in ahressemburr) means? Reserve Sergeant Major is my guess...
ETA: Okay, Google was easy: it's Regimental Sergeant-Major, a senior officer.

I love Jani's (and Sembur's) Cockney accents.

Unfortunately Google fails me when it comes to braided yak hair boots. I really wanted to see a picture of those.

Also, interesting that the author chose to include a supernatural element in the story with the gazing into the ink scene and foretelling the future.

It reminded me of The Shadow of the Moon, but I've probably got them mixed up. I'm not thinking I want to try the rancid yak butter tsampas...

Karlyne wrote: "It reminded me of The Shadow of the Moon, but I've probably got them mixed up. I'm not thinking I want to try the rancid yak butter tsampas..."

Yes, the butter tea does not seem appealing to this western palate.

Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ wrote: Also, interesting that the author chose to include a supernatural element in the story

As someone who has read the book a number of times, I will just say that the author doesn't put in a scene like that just for the heck of it.

Karlyne wrote: "It reminded me of The Shadow of the Moon, but I've probably got them mixed up. I'm not thinking I want to try the rancid yak butter tsampas..."

Either or both books! And the food ... *shudders*

I don't mind butter in my tea, but both of them have to be fresh. And, trust me, it's better than salt...

Halfway through! and the plot is thickening nicely, if rather alarmingly with the Silver Man that we heard of many years ago...

Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ wrote: "Halfway through! and the plot is thickening nicely, if rather alarmingly with the Silver Man that we heard of many years ago..."

That's about where I am, too, Tadiana, and I would add "creepy" and "menacing". It's almost enough to make me peek at the ending - but not quite!

Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ wrote: "Halfway through! and the plot is thickening nicely, if rather alarmingly with the Silver Man that we heard of many years ago..."

Yes, the plot take a real turn into gothic territory at that point.

Karlyne wrote: "That's about where I am, too, Tadiana, ..."

Oh, yes--creepy, menacing... I'll throw in 'sinister' for good measure.
I liked how everyone remarked on his 'pasty white' face. He's the quintessential villain--no doubt about who the bad guy is in this book.

Barb in Maryland wrote: "Karlyne wrote: "That's about where I am, too, Tadiana, ..."

Oh, yes--creepy, menacing... I'll throw in 'sinister' for good measure.
I liked how everyone remarked on his 'pasty white' face. He's th..."

Definitely no wondering who's lurking behind the jovial, witty, pleasant mask - because he's not remotely human!

Karlyne wrote: "Definitely no wondering who's lurking behind the jovial, witty, pleasant mask - because he's not remotely human!"

open only if you've already read Death in Kashmir ---> (view spoiler)[Not remotely like Hugo, huh, Karlyne? I assume that's who you're comparing him with here. (hide spoiler)] :)

Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ wrote: "Karlyne wrote: "Definitely no wondering who's lurking behind the jovial, witty, pleasant mask - because he's not remotely human!"

open only if you've already read Death in Kashmir ---> [spoilers r..."

Exactly who I was thinking of, Tadiana!

Well, I finished this morning (wiping sweat off of brow).

Karlyne wrote: "Well, I finished this morning (wiping sweat off of brow)."

A real roller coaster ride, wasn't it, Karlyne? I loved all the plot twists and turns as well as the emotional ups and downs.

I finished last night - it WAS a wild ride. I'm a bit on the fence with all the occult stuff; not quite my cuppa tea. It's not my favorite Madeleine Brent book, but it definitely kept me interested. Some of the characters were really wonderful.

Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ wrote: "I finished last night - it WAS a wild ride. I'm a bit on the fence with all the occult stuff...

I thought the author did a good job priming us to accept the occult bits by showing us so much of Jani's early life in Nepal. She grew up believing in actual demons (even though Sembur kept telling her there was no such thing). Then the scene with Rild and the visions...
I was quite willing to go along with the rest of it.

Tadiana--what is your favorite by Brent? Merlin's Keep is my favorite; I'm also very fond of Moonraker's Bride and Golden Urchin.

I'm not a fan of the occult, either, Tadiana, but one of the things I did like about this book was the scientific aspect of the demons and the way that certain things and people could be used in a real way. The book was published in 1978, but it felt as though some of it could have been in recent news. I kept thinking, "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio..."

That same Hamlet quote ran through my mind at least three or four times while I was reading this book, Karlyne! And it was interesting how Mr. Quayle insisted on a very scientific view of his occult practices. That was really creepy toward the end, when Adam talked about (view spoiler)[all of his prior wives and how they'd died (hide spoiler)].

I think that his insistence on science and his scoffing at witchcraft made him credibly creepy. Also his physical description, the loose jawed face instead of a more traditional aspect, enhanced his character.

My library has it, so I will pick it up Monday hopefully and start. I have never read Madeleine Brent before, so I have no idea what to expect!

I'll try to remember that loose lips sink ships and not say too much, Critterbee!

Karlyne wrote: "I think that his insistence on science and his scoffing at witchcraft made him credibly creepy. Also his physical description, the loose jawed face instead of a more traditional aspect, enhanced hi..."
Don't forget that 'pasty white' complexion! The author mentioned that way more than once!

Critterbee wrote: "My library has it, so I will pick it up Monday hopefully and start. I have never read Madeleine Brent before, so I have no idea what to expect!"

I hope you will enjoy this, as it is my all-time favorite of Brent's. As you may have gathered from our earlier conversations, aspects of the occult figure in the story. I say --go with it! I suspect the adventure parts will just suck you in.

I also like Jani's self-deprecating sense of humor. She calls herself Miss Know-All once.

Barb, my favorite Madeleine Brent novel so far is Golden Urchin, followed by Moonraker's Bride. I didn't much care for Stormswift. Tregaron's Daughter was reasonably good, I liked it about as well as this one. Sometime I'll get around to the rest. :)

Just started today and it is quite enjoyable so far. My first Madeleine Brent novel.