A couple more (non-Blue-Castle-related) questions:
Does Missy‘s journey ring true for you? Why or why not?
What did you think of the ending, and the reveal about the character of Una?
#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMAdjacent
The main difference between the two books is how the privileged Hurlingfords take advantage of the under-privileged women of the clan. What did you think of this part of the story—as Missy stands up for both herself and the disadvantaged women of the family?
What did you think of The Ladies of Missalonghi in its own right? Does it have merit on its own, apart from Blue Castle?
#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMAdjacent
What *differences* do you see between Ladies of Missalonghi and Blue Castle?
How do those differences impact the narrative?
How do those differences impact your view of each book?
#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMAdjacent
There are MANY similarities between Ladies of Missalonghi and LMM‘s Blue Castle.
Do you find McCullough‘s defense of “subconscious recollection” convincing (the idea that she read Blue Castle when she was young, but any borrowing was unconscious rather than intentional)?
Or are the similarities just too close to be “subconscious”?
#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMAdjacent
Several of us shared LOTS of thoughts early this week, but our scheduled discussion is today! Here are some questions to start, but feel free to add further thoughts, rants, etc.!
First, some general questions (separate from Blue Castle!):
Did you enjoy the book?
Did you find the characters likable—Missy, Drusilla & Octavia, John Smith, Una?
What about the antagonists—cousin Alicia & the other Hurlingfords?
#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMAdjacent
so-soBeing not just guilty of war crimes, but feeling proud, right, strong, and just because of them, is hard to imagine. What people are capable of, what nations go to great lengths to foster turns your blood cold. How pointless it all seems too. How far flung people became involved in conflicts of foreign nations. How over 100,000 people could lose their life over a rail road that is later simply dismantled.
panWow. This book follows along with almost the same plot as The Blue Castle, then in the last third veers off wildly and finally falls off a cliff. Not what I was expecting! #kindredspiritsbuddyread
It's that time of the year again! If you are wanting some bookish festive fun and live in Australia - this is it!
Fill out the form : https://forms.gle/7SEQ42n4MnoKGCnN7
Form closes : 14th November 2025, with matches sent out soon after
Tagging previous #AussieSecretSanta‘s but new Aussie Secret Santas would be very welcome!
MrsMalaprop, LapReader, Jhullie, CarolynM, Lizpixie, LeeRHarry, Teresereading, Rissreadswithcats, Freespirit
While there are a ridiculous number of similarities to The Blue Castle, McCullough definitely did not steal this scene with LEECHES in it. 🤮 #kindredspiritsbuddyread
panWell, this was…. different. I enjoyed the first half. After that, not so much. Almost every character got on my nerves, some parts of the plot were totally predictable, some made me angry, and some were just plain strange. And the ending… what the heck?! Can‘t wait for our #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead discussion. I‘m sure it will be lively. @BarbaraJean
#Pantone2025 #LavenderBlue @Lauredhel
