Cassie’s Comments (group member since Mar 07, 2013)

Cassie’s comments from the L.E.a D.s Book Club group.

It's great reading everyone's updates!

@Bardbooks I really like your set up and plan.

LetterMo didn't happen for me this year. I bought some cards to have on hand for easy mailing, so am determined that postal correspondence will happen sometime this year.

Recently I've become caught up in the TTRPG world and have joined some play-by-post forums. It has been ages since I've done any creative writing and this has been a good outlet.

It's been years since I've participated, but I'm definitely thinking about. Does anyone have a plan of action for how you will participate?

Hi everyone! I'm Cassie and now live in Washington (moved from Missouri about a year ago). I like to read a variety, but suppose I am most interested in readings that provide insight or inspiration into another life or world.

Epistolary-style books were the next step for me after engaging in the world of zines and letter exchanges. I love how readings like that are like stepping into a secret world exchanged between two others. In the current Robin Hobb set I am reading, there is an exchange between two "keepers of the birds" who act as a postal service. These interactions happen throughout the books in small snippets at the beginning of each chapter, but I love the additional awareness and details these bring to the world.

Wondering if "ephemera" could be a good catchall for the ideas people were listing. Definitely the collage-style which generally seems influenced by scrapbooks and boxes. ;)

Ah! I have just reread it and will put the next two on hold to continue this discussion. The tangibility of everything is wonderful. A friend and I held our first Letter Writer's Social a month ago (it doubled as a library program)and I showed some of Bantock's books with the ladies. :)

Ruth, I have put this Jolly Man's book on hold! I had not heard of it before.

I agree with you about the art work as sometimes related and sometimes not (unless we are just missing it).

This round I took many detailed and needless notes, just so that I would be sure to examine everything along the way. (I do not recommend this to anyone who is not an obsessive note-maker.)

Some of the following may be of no interest or importance, but I thought I would list many thoughts here. Please do not feel obligated to respond to everything!

But let's consider, "Drinking Like a Fish." Just something he doodled for the hell of it, symbolic of the fact that his view of the known world has just shattered, he is escaping reality? Why do you think that Sabine says the wine glass has more impact than the cup? More pieces to shatter?

This may mean nothing, but I noticed that Griffin addresses his letters to "P.O. Box 1F" What does the "F" refer to? It was absent from Sabine's initial PC.

Note (from Sabine's second): phenomenon that links them? - Something worth considering along the way (If he's not insane!)

Any thoughts on Griffin's pc with the kangaroo? I feel like the images "falling" into the water could be symbols or code.

So many of Sabine's designs of strange creatures in space. Many of her creatures remind me of hieroglyphs or cave paintings.

Sabine's second features a lizard next to what is probably a shadow. But I couldn't help but imagine it was a small island in the corner and might allude to the planes that seem to separate our two correspondents.

Griffin's third seems has a boy climbing with what appears to be a demon shadow. (Suspicious of her presence, though acknowledges he always "knew" or foreshadowing.)

I really enjoyed seeing the islands on her envelope. Any thoughts on Quepol's description as an Island of water?

Appealing quote: "Pain and beauty, our constant bedfellows."

Sabine's past is so fantastic! What an interesting father!

Sabine's pc with the woman on the front seemed provocative, though this was not clearly suggested until her next letter.

I'm sure this is getting quite long, so I shall be

Awaiting your thoughts,

Cassie

P.S.

Ruth, can you tell that your notes from Guernsey inspired me?

To whoever pops in,

I had completely forgotten about this. Not an excuse, but wanted to admit it. I'm going to set a goal of the first week of July to have reread the first book and start posting here.

It definitely helps me to have a goal in mind. I just purchased a planner to help out with such things!

Hope to see a few of you here!

Cassie

Dearest Ruth,

Have you started this one yet? If so, then I will pick it up this week!

Cassie

Lisa,

Welcome to our little group! We have not been terribly active, but there is always the possibility.

Cassie

Dear Readers,

I discovered more fun in a group list today! Sorcery & Cecelia: or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot looks delightful!

Cassie

Mine just arrived from the library! I am excited to begin the journey again.

Cassie

Ruth wrote: "Dear Epistolary Fans,

I read the G&S trilogy. The third book is dedicated to none other than Annie Barrows, co-author of _The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society_. How serendipitously co..."

That is great! I just put the first on hold and will put some of the others on hold (at the library) as well!

I would love to create some correspondence in that vein as we read if anyone is interested?

(My last message did not save properly. I will return.)

Dearest Ruth,

Without the book in hand it is so hard for me to remember the details for proper answers. I hate to admit this. I tend to get very involved in whatever I am currently reading and it can make it difficult to pull up the emotions and thoughts related to other works. I really should take more notes as I read. If only it didn't slow the process so! Perhaps a reflective journal after reading if I can strap myself down for the ten or twenty extra minutes necessary? I will try!

I too would love to read Elizabeth's story. Do you think that a statue should be resurrected in her honor? It would not surprise me a bit if Juliet suggested? Perhaps Isola and Kit would build one from found materials! (That or Isola might take on a new hobby and teach Kit along the way. Statue carvers! What a fun thought!)

"How does one write for the world the reasons that a mother chooses heroism over staying with her child? Yet someone like Elizabeth probably found her clearest expression of maternal love in trying to rescue that escaped worker, in setting an example for Kit to be brave and true and honorable. We should talk about Elizabeth, I think."

I love what you said here. It's reading this that reminds me why having a book club is so worthwhile.

The German-Islander relationship was interesting to me. It was dramatized in a believable way, observing the grayness of the world rather than striking everyone with a Nazi uniform as a demon from Hades.

If I could visit I would allow Isola to teach me her latest hobby and roll down hills with Kit.

Cassie

Dear Amber and Ruth,

I do like this campaign idea! You can count on me if such a thing happens!

It's hard to say whether my mother will read it or not, but I shall ask again soon.

Cassie

Dear Poetry Advocates,

Today I was perusing information related to National Poetry Month (U.S.) and discovered that they are celebrating epistolary works and letter writing! Check out the Poets' Letters page! Isn't this great?

Cassie

Dear Ruth,

Boo!

Sorry, I still need to take the time to read your thoughts above. It bothers me to skim and give a hurried, thoughtless response.

I will add, that I passed the book on to my mother and encouraged her to read it.

Soon to return with more wit,
Cassie

P.S. Amber, I loved that thought. :)

Ruth,

I have and I do! The world (within G&S is filled with wonder and magic! (Although, I will include a warning, it will be very hard not to read the second once you finish!)

Cassie

We should! I don't have any ideas at the moment, but will see if I can think of any.

I think that Griffin and Sabine had been mentioned to read sometime soon.

Dear Jan,

Yes to the Flannery O'Conner and E.B. White! These led me to discover some others that look interesting, The Letters of Virginia Woolf: Vol. 1 and The Brontës: A Life in Letters. Not sure how easily available these are, but they would be interesting!

I would love to read some of the books about letter writing that you listed too.

Cassie

Dear Young at Heart,

Does anyone else long to get up to mischief with Kit?

a kindred spirit,
Cassie