Going down. :)

I enjoy Mary Stewart. Let us know how you like this one.

I've never heard of this one, and I thought I'd read all her books except for the YA ones. Do let us know what you think of it!

Rosefolly

I, too, have never heard of it. Was it published under a different title here?

I came late to Mary Stewart, she was one of Mom's favorite writers, so of course I avoided her. Although I did read all of the Elinor Glyn novels I found in the back of Mom's closet.

Why does it take so long to arrive? I am very interested in this book, I have read many of hers but not this one. Have you been searching for all of her books?

She was one of my mom's and my grandmother's favorites. I felt very grown up reading her - the first was Touch Not The Cat.

It's more of a novella than a full novel as far as I've been able to find out. It was only released on the other side of the big pond which is why it's taking so long to get. I ordered it from a bookstore somewhere in Great Britain. I'll let you know what I think of it as soon as I have finished it!

Rouan's and my mother loved Mary Stewart's books, too, starting all the way back with Madam, Will You Talk. A couple of years ago I bought used hardback copies of several of her novels. As an ardent re-reader, I thought it was a good investment. I have since re-read several of them. No doubt I will again in a few years.

Rosefolly

Put me down as a Great Lover of Mary Stewart. I've still got most of her novels, stashed on the landing so that any night-marauding visitors can pick something and take it back to bed to read themselves to sleep. She just has a Way. I particularly like the one set on the Isle of Skye - can't remember the name of it. I went to Skye on holiday, as a result of reading that. Skye was no disappointment, I can tell you. Though it's probably more touristy now than it was then (in the '70s).

I think you mean Wildfire at Midnight? I liked it too. On the whole, I liked all her pre-Merlin books best.

I loved that book! Thanks for reminding me of it.

This thread got me thinking that my mom would like to reread Stewart's books. She is hard to buy for as she is an avid and rapid reader and goes through books like water. But I don't think she has read Stewart for some time, and like me, will have forgotten most everything except that it was a good book.

I've been looking around - Amazon etc. - for a copy of Wind off the Small Isles and discovered they are all very expensive so I'm not going to buy it. I have, however, ordered 'Thornyhold', which I hadn't come across before. A few months ago I read 'Stormy Petrel', but was very disappoiinted. A very bland read indeed. I wouldn't recommend it.

I heard a story on NPR that Agatha Christie's final novel was not well received, a disappointment to her readers. Recently textural analysis has revealed a distinct difference in that book compared to her earlier ones, a much more limited vocabulary and less complex structure. It is assumed that this had to do with declining powers of an aging brain.

Now, I have no idea that this is true of Mary Stewart. For all I know she may be just as sharp as she ever was, with the wisdom of experience on top of that. But she is now in her 90's. If her later books are less rich and satisfying than her early ones, it may indeed not be something under her control.

All this is speculation on my part. I would love to be proved wrong. In fact, I would love to see her produce her finest book yet.

I noticed that her later books are more mellow than the earlier ones. It seems to me that the edge, or bit of suspense and danger, is lacking, or is hinted at but never fully developed. This is most noticeable in the last two books she wrote, The Stormy Petrel and Rose Cottage. I liked both of them okay but I missed that extra something. Dido is right IMO, to describe them as bland.

By the way Dido, it took 3 or 4 years for me to find an affordable copy of The Wind off the Small Isles. I've been looking for one ever since I found out about it!

Dido, they have a copy of Wind off the Small Isles 1968 ed. in Baglan library. Mind you, with the present cost of petrol to would probably be cheaper to buy the book than go and pick it up, but they should send the copy to your nearest library at no extra charge.
What a wide range of information one finds via the internet . . . except when I typed in 'Baglan' I was 'redirected' to Baghlan Afganistan. I think their library service is even less reliable than our own.

Vee, how amazing! How did you find that out? I'll walk across to Pontardawe library then, and they will phone Balgan which is just about 10 miles, if that, down the road. Should be here by suppertime. Thanks.

I enjoyed "Touch Not the Cat" by Mary Stewart. I note her mellow books are getting increasingly hard to find in libraries, as so many older works are being weeded out. Is this the author who wrote a trilogy on King Arthur?

Dido, aren't you supposed to be reading Zola? Maybe you should adapt Mary Stewart instead.

Siobhan, that sounds like excellent advice. ;-)

I stand corrected, Siobhan! But, hm..... not a bad idea of yours about Mary S...... I'll have a look. But, alas, in any case, I have to continue reading the other - and I haven't actualy taken the Stewart out of Baglan library after all, Vee. ThoughI have downloaded Thornbury to my kindle. As I said, I've got several books I want to read but I'm totally transfixed, like a rabbit in headlights, and can't read anything!

This thread popped into my mind this past weekend when I found an anthology of three Mary Stewart novels at a garage sale. The large old book contained This Rough Magic, The Ivy Tree, and Wildfire at Midnight. For fifty cents, I decided to risk buying it.

Mary Stewart's Wikipedia page states that she is still living, which I find incredible. Didn't she die years ago? (Born in 1916, Stewart will apparently turn 96 this year.)

Tim, I too had wondered if Mary Stewart was 'still with us' but could find no obits to her, so presume she must be. Certainly a good age.

I received the book just before I left for the Jane Austen Festival and was surprised to find that it was a hardcover copy after all. The beginning reminded me a little of Touch Not the Cat in that she started with an earlier story, a prequel, that sets the stage for the modern day story. Unlike TNtC, the story doesn't go back and forth between the two times, the prequel sets up the later one and that's it. It is much shorter than her regular novels but I don't see how she could have expanded it in order to make it much longer. I can safely say that it's not my favorite MS, butI am glad that I have it and have read it. (And I will read it again at some time)

I have found that books on the Abe site do not always match the description. One that was supposed to be a slightly damaged paperback was a brand new hardcover and another had a stain on some pages although it was said to be in good condition. I kept it though being a hard to get title.