Retro Reads discussion

"...The citizens of Zanzibar took a casual view of a disease that was always among them...."

Oh I so hate Clay!

Chapter 35
(view spoiler)[ ..." Yes, I guess I see all right! This is your way of getting back at me..." and then later ..."One of Frost's bastards!" said Clayton, spitting the words out as though they were acid in his mouth.

Hero's face was suddenly rigid, but she did not raise her voice and it remained low-pitched and even: 'You forget,' she said quietly, 'that I may bear one of them myself.'" (hide spoiler)]

Finished -- liked the book, love Kaye's research and writing. (view spoiler)[Can't get over that Hero falls in love with her rapist. A woman does not need that kind of a shock to make her sensible -- an unacceptable part of the story. (hide spoiler)]

I cried when Rory's daughter died and Bette Potter suddenly became an old man. He's my favorite character seconded by Frost.

As for Hero's falling in love with Rory, I think it's exactly because she's kind of naive that she did so. After feeling disappointing and disillusioned about people around her, Frost was relatively promising, on the other hand.
It's not entirely sensible, but since Rory is not a vicious person in essence, it wouldn't be too bad a choice I think.

Kathy wrote: "Oh I so hate Clay!

Yup. Me too!

Okay, I finished this sucker up late last night and I am ready to hash it out with y'all! Lol! I can't even decide yet what to rate it because I'm so conflicted. I just don't do anti-heroes as romantic leads, I guess, and yet at the end I was buying into the whole thing, which says something for the power of Kaye's writing. And then I tell myself, but he's a deliberate rapist! And a slaver! And I get conflicted all over again. Definitely a man of his times, and given his life experiences it was understandable, but still. *hair-ripping sound effects*

The whole(view spoiler)[ cholera scene was extremely powerful, and brought out the best in many people. It's interesting how very many characters get a redemption arc: Hero herself, Rory, Clayton, Therese, Olivia . . . I'd say even Colonel Edwards. In fact, just about everyone except Fattuma and her partner in crime, Bofabi. (hide spoiler)]

It definitely brings out a lot of emotions, doesn't it?

This a hard book to recommend, as the things Rory does can be deal breakers for some readers, but at the same time it's a huge spoiler to reveal.

Boy you two, Misfit and Tadiana hit it on the head. Yes I agree. And Kaye's writing is so good that we all had to finish the story.

The (view spoiler)[cholera epidemic (hide spoiler)] was just gripping, despite the gruesome details, even though I'd read this before and knew what the outcome was I couldn't stop reading. And (view spoiler)[ Rory being locked in the Fort (or supposedly locked up) and everyone gone while he's left behind with no food and water. (hide spoiler)] That's what you called damned good writing.

Yes, I have to agree with all of you on the compulsive story-telling and even the character arcs, but when most of the people in the story are unlikable or even despicable for much of the book it's a hard sell for me.

I rather like the turn of the French lady, and how Hero had different view of her after observing her from another perspective. I imagine she might be based on someone Kaye knew, for her personality seems too convincing to be purely fictional.

An interesting point, Amy! I am wondering about the whole involvement of the women in the plot--is that based on fact?

I guess the interference of western ladies was not entirely fictional. Majid did get the help from British Navy after all.

BTW, I'm very curious about how Salme would describe her two brothers as she favored Majid but sided with Bargash. Would like to start reading her memoir.

I would like to read Salme's memoir as well.

It's available free online in a few places, though the quality of the copy is low. Among other places, it's linked from Emily Ruete's Wikipedia article.

Interesting that her elopement actually took place in 1866 in real life (when she got pregnant). And sad that she and Herr Ruete only had three years together before he died.

Clayton is so self-centered. I really detest him.

I found a html version online, and converted it into ePub version for my Kobo ereader.