Gentle SPECTRUMS discussion

With many different influences, personal memories, and associations originating from this 1895 novel; I look forward to experiencing it at last in 2023 and sharing it with my special worldwide friends. Love, Carolyn.

Kerri, I am content to read this anytime you want to. Shirin is still interested but on a lower priority. I understand that means she doesn't mind if she reads it herself in the future. I would like to read it soon because some stupid reviewer spoiled it! I reported them to Goodreads with the "flag" button.

You understand that most of what you hide is not a spoiler according to me, therefore this reader went too far if it is coming from me. I don't suppose it is a question and answer solution novel like a mystery but maybe there is a mission whose outcome we want to read about. Nothing detailed is spoiled but what they find in the future should not have been blurted out. Way too many people think reporting what's in books is a review, a literal "book report", instead of describing how you feel about it and naturally, drawing examples.

The sooner I read a book I have saved without knowing anything about it for 50 years, the sooner I will stop being mad. It will become a story I know and have impressions about. With Shirin opting out of Sophie Kinsella and lowering the priority on this, I am game to read either, when you feel well enough for regular on-line contributing.

No family should miss three loved ones a year or two apart. However, perhaps hanging out with friends and doing joint reading cheers you up; like you, Shirin, and Leeanne did for me. Love, your friend, Carolyn.

Oh no, how frustrating! Especially for a much anticipated book. I am happy to read this (or Sophie Kinsella) anytime. I think it will be nice to have a story to focus on and discuss! Let me know which you prefer.

Also, I am working on my email to you, it's just the writing of everything that happened with Kimmy slowing me down - not the volume of words, as it is probably a normal length describing it all, just the content.

I finished this book because Dad was in the mood to hear reading when I stayed with him last week. We finished about 6 chapters together and then I found time to finish it gradually at night.

I made this discussion heading last year and we can sput it to good use. It wasn't spoiled after all by a review I saw. I just wish she had not said anything about any contents. What is most jarring is a more positive, clearer difference from my small recall of the classic film.

While not quite buddy-reading, I invite you & Shirin to read this at your leisure and then comment afterwards. I will do the same. It occurred to me that this really is a book to talk about, ask questions and opinions of one another, and remark upon together.

If you have it, my copy includes a short story “The Man Who Could Work Miracles” is also conversation inducing. I wound up with three stars apiece for various complaints or omissions. It is not for lack of originality, intrigue, or impressive settings and premises in both stories. Love, Carolyn.

I will read this soon so we can discuss it, Carolyn! It's good that it wasn't ultimately spoiled. I will dig my copy out later today and put it at the top of my to-read pile. 📖

I asked: if your copy has “The Man Who Could Work Miracles”, I would enjoy talking about that original story too. Everyone is welcome to discuss books we have posted, any length of time ago.

I often find that we need ten star grades, which go much farther than halves and are not equal like people imagine. I loved the creativity of both stories but after needing to remove a couple of stars for some justifiable, fair criticisms; there were only three stars to give. That amount does not match how much I admired and appreciated the depths of discovery and inventiveness in both stories, which will make our reviews and conversations important.

One conversation aspect I propose is that I would enjoy drawing comparisons of time and place travel stories. In most of them, no machine was needed. I can only think of "Back To The Future" as an alternative. This vehicle is instantly different for being able to drive and for being in the digital age that could program a return to Doc's & Marty's origins. In most stories I know, a special location or circumstance brought a protagonist into another land, or a different time at the same place. Once characters knew what the threshold or impetus was, it was not spontaneous but all they needed to do was walk or touch that place.

The most recent I read were memorable Canadian novels. I disliked the last two but most of these are lovely and poignant. This is my preferrence order.

“Who Is Frances Rain?” Margaret Buffie 1987
“Ghosts Of James Bay” John Wilson 2006
“The Root Cellar” Janet Lunn 1981
“Tunnels Of Time” Mary Harelkin Bishop 2000
“The Olden Days Coat” Margaret Laurence, Muriel Wood 1979
“Time Ghost” Welwyn Wilton Katz 1994
“Ghosts Of The Titanic” Julie Lawson 2011
“Alison’s Ghosts” Mary Alice & John Downie 1984
“The Stone In The Meadow” Karleen Bradford 1984
“Yesterday’s Doll” Cora Taylor 1987
“The Shadowy Horses” Susanna Kearsley 1997

Time window stories, I will call them, I have read from other countries’ authors are these. I am talking about stories in which a characters sees or strolls in windows; not novels merely including other times.

“Time For Andrew” and “The Doll In The Garden” Mary Downing Hahn
“The Sixty-Eight Rooms” Marianne Malone 2010
“Tom's Midnight Garden” Philippa Pearce 1958
“The Ghost Belonged To Me” and “Ghosts I Have Been” Richard Peck
“House Of Dark Shadows” Robert Liparulo 2008
“Dearest Grandmama” Catherine Brighton 1991

As I look forward to you taking over and giving me ideas to have fun considering, as well as joining in the angles I propose; I will remark on an early part I can guarantee you have passed. This story being published in 1895 makes a difference in programming. There was nothing digital and I don't know if analogue clock alarms could be set yet. I think getting bells to ring when the clock hands reach a certain spot, entails simple mechanics. If that is true, programming is possible.

When the scientist, unnamed and called the "traveller", demonstrated his pretty vehicle model to supper guests, I wondered immediately why he did not program a return, instead of wasting the lovely little model. Did the capacity to program simple clocks not exist, or was this a failure for this to occur to an otherwise broad thinking author? It would be an even more superb demonstration to see the little model reappearing in a minute. It needed only to be fitted with an analogue clock to achieve programming capabilities. On the person-sized machine too, there were only two levers, I think, for the scientist to press forward or pull back.

Another question I would enjoy considering is: are the majority authors who needed no machine, more original and creative? At least those few who work out explanations for their travelling windows, or who build complex purposes and results therein? I make an exception of our favourite film because its machine and travel parameters are explained in memorable detail. Was Mr. Wells thinking inside a box, for believing a scientific vehicle was necessary, instead of a Holy place in nature? He certainly had little control of the vehicle, which stayed in one spot, except the speed of time elapsing.

I suggest that what was most thought provoking about his novel, besides whether or not he was first to publish a story of a window in time, were his musings on how humans developed or declined. My disagreements of them are part of what came down to my three star decision but I liked that he considered the effects of society's decisions. He had a blatent prejudice of the strength and health of vegetarian living, which is not limited to the year 1895. Do I look diminutive to you? I also disagreed with his notion that fighting or dealing with negativity is needed to maintain our intelligence. This author's commentary on what makes or breaks society is where my Dad's delight dropped and I proceeded with the story myself, at night.

Goodness gracious, peace must and will certainly reign, as our healthiest and wisest state of being! It is small minded to suggest that banishing war would dull anyone's mind. There is much to do in our joy, freedom from conflict, and in our places of peace.

My entry is entirely from the early pages of the novel. Anyone who has read a few chapters can chime in.

My copy has has quite a few other stories, but not “The Man Who Could Work Miracles” unfortunately. I have barely read any of this book yet, as the Karen Carpenter one distracted me from anything else, and I have been focusing on the Anne Perry one the last couple of days. This will be my "main read" as soon as that one is finished and I'll add my thoughts in here! 😀

Kerri, I see you dashed through a number of books after Anne's. If you have become uninterested in "The Time Machine", I will stop checking for updates. I was excited about a number of topics for conversation in early pages. We aren't reading in tandem but it is more fun to share thoughts close to my reading.

You planned to read this soon after Anne Perry. Please update me. I tried to read it close to you, a month ago. I wrote great topics while I was enthusiastic and the story was fresh. When you start additional books, I am puzzled. I would love to savour Anne's début with you too, while both stories are fresh for us.

I have read the first four chapters now, and am certainly enjoying the creativity so far! I didn't mean to get distracted with other books after the Anne Perry one - the main ones I got sidetracked with were the novels of two shows I am about to watch (One Day and Ripley) and wanted to read first.
I found the first chapter of "The Time Machine", initially a bit daunting, but then very compelling. I was surprised that the smaller one was just sent away. I looked up clock devices, and it seems that while there were some alarm clock type options in the late 1700s, they weren't patented until mid to late 1800s, and not common for decades more. So I don't know how many people would have been familiar with them at all. I wonder if H. G. Wells was familiar with them or not? It certainly would have been a useful addition!

I like the phrase Time window stories, which works well! I like the idea of a specific place or object or memory being what takes someone to the past, and this probably works for the future too, although the protagonist ending up in the past seems to be what I read more.

It's interesting that I suppose the building of a machine does cut out going deeper into the how and why one is travelling through time. Unless explanations are given later, we don't really know why the machine works, even why it was built, other than perhaps just curiosity to see if he could.
I wonder how many other authors wrote this kind of machine based time travel story? If he was amongst the first, then the idea is brilliant. I've never been great at science, so I don't know how plausible what the Traveller says at the beginning of the book is, but it sounded impressive! I liked this idea of panicking about when to stop. You wouldn't want to choose incorrectly and discover a huge building was now built where the machine stood. The lack of control actually seemed quite frightening, and highly risky! I can see though how in theory you might disregard the risks, then when are actually moving through time, feel very aware of them.
The Vegetarian part was interesting toe because first he said vegetarian, then he said frugivorous. If there are only fruits but no vegetables it's probably less ideal. He does seem dismissive of them, but I also wonder if vegetarian is the correct label for them anyway, as it doesn't seem to be a choice, they are eating what they have. Although perhaps these fruits, been different to ours, are more complex, and vegetables are less vital?
This probably isn't the book for this, but I would expect that an abrupt diet change to an unknown fruit diet would be hard on the digestive system, especially since his body won't have adapted to it. I am not sure if his weakness upon return was food based, adventure based, or the toll of travelling through time - I keep think of how hard space travel is on the body, even though that of course isn't a frame of reference for the author.

I haven't reached his observations on fighting or negativity yet, but am interested to see if I agree or not! It's an interesting thing, because his Wikipedia page (not always reliable I know!) says he had sympathy for pacifist views, although I suppose sympathy is not the same as being one.

Have you been having any issues with Goodreads loading? I can access conversations like this one, but clicking into profiles I only get the About Me part, not the updates or reviews. Or when I clicked into my reading challenge, I get a couple of friends reading challenges, which are usually under my own, but my personal one simply doesn't appear. I'm hoping that is temporary!

Hi Kerri, I am glad you are back so I can begin chatting about this novel. It is 1 1/2 month old in my memory and I wanted to share impressions as fresh as yours. Maybe you could have slipped in a few chapters, then prepared for the TV shows. Not being told what was going on and how long to wait, was the only source of discomfort. Checking every day for 1 1/2 was a drag. ;)

I love your responses and am excited to find many new subject propositions from you! You have literally given us a lot of wonderful FOOD for thought! I will reply soon. First, I put a lot of excitement and research into providing my list of time window books. I especially look forward to you reaction to those.

It is good to talk literature with you. I look forward to reprising our e-mails too. I have a spare "The Root Cellar" to give you, if Janet Lunn's classic interests you.

Yes, my friend, Maureen cited problems with profiles. I replied I was glad it was not an issue of slow-speed, the natural conclusion. I can't uncheck "notify by e-mail", a default Goodreads should never impose on comment communications! I want "notify only" and immediately set my reviews that way. It is a bad arrangement, that it jumps to "notify by e-mail" when the first friend comments on reviews.

I am glad I can post and edit reviews. I am on a roll, finishing my Canadian reading group ones! Our year ends on June 30, before Canada Day. Your friend, Carolyn.

Canadian paranormal mysteries with time windows, enjoyed except the last three.

“Who Is Frances Rain?” Margaret Buffie 1987
“Ghosts Of James Bay” John Wilson 2006
“The Root Cellar” & “Double Spell” Janet Lunn 1981, 1968
“Tunnels Of Time” & “Tunnels Of Terror” Mary Harelkin Bishop
2000, 2001
“The Olden Days Coat” Margaret Laurence & Muriel Wood 1979
“Time Ghost” Welwyn Wilton Katz 1994
“Ghosts Of The Titanic” Julie Lawson 2011
“Alison’s Ghosts” Mary Alice & John Downie 1984
“The Stone In The Meadow” Karleen Bradford 1984
“Yesterday’s Doll” Cora Taylor 1987
“The Shadowy Horses” Susanna Kearsley 1997

Time window stories I have read from other countries’ authors are these.

“Time For Andrew” & “The Doll In The Garden” Mary Downing Hahn 1994, 1989
“The Sixty-Eight Rooms” Marianne Malone 2010
“The Forgotten Door” Alexander Key 1965
“Tom's Midnight Garden” Philippa Pearce 1958
“The Ghost Belonged To Me” & “Ghosts I Have Been” Richard Peck 1975, 1977
“House Of Dark Shadows” Robert Liparulo 2008
“Dearest Grandmama” Catherine Brighton 1991

HI Carolyn,

Just a quick reply to say I have read this. I went through some of your reviews of the books you listed, and will read the rest tomorrow. All sound great so far! I haven't read anymore of this book yet, I ended up spending today organising my Goodreads shelves. 📙📙

I enjoyed reading through your reviews from the lists you included. There is a great selection of books, and it was fun to come across some stories that sound especially unique and poignant.

I have only progressed a few pages with the book, but alot has happened, and the Traveller has realised that the machine is gone, presumably hidden, but by who? He has panicked understandably, but now has reached a kind of calm and resolved to face the world he is in now, which seems sensible!

Hi Kerri! You see what I mean, this kind of novel gives us a lot to talk about. I hope you propose conversations and your impressions, including in our first post. Replies are rewarding but I love being fed new ideas even better. I regularly delay to ensure you have space to lead. I want the fun of being shown new outlooks! I will reply to what is above soon. Add your reactions so far. I hope this book is your first focus, because it was already 1.5 month old to me.

I am happy you have written review comments for me, positive words and conversations that are recorded into m writing pieces for me to treasure too. I am opening goodreads to see 19 notifications and it is a thrill about a quantity I have never had before and I know they will not be mere like button clicks: hooray! Do you have a time window list?

I added Alexander Key to message #12 in preference order, as another time travel novel. An ecstatic review reminds me that I loved it. It is annoying that no one commented as of 2016, on that especially great review of mine either. I was pleasantly surprised to find an elevated vocabulary and images with words that I wove therein!

I have just finished the story, and will add my thoughts soon! I realised I had the wrong version of the book as the one I was reading, so I added the right one and removed the one I originally had, unfortunately deleting our few comments that were under that copy. I think most of our conversation was under this group though. The story was very different from the movie version I remember watching, and I enjoyed it much more. I will check with you whether this a version you have seen or care about spoilers for? It was from 2002 and had Guy Pearce in it. I gather it is different from, and much less liked, than the classic version from the 60s.

I awaited reading in progress reactions but I guess you zoomed through the novel. I am ready for your thoughts! :) I didn't know or care about a 2002 version, so discuss anything you want.

One of many subjects for us is that in Uncle Fred's favourite film, I remember Weena appearing to accompany her friend on the time machine ride home. I was young and that was my sole impression. I like the novel less for her not presumably perishing in a fire the jerk caused, him not verifying she was alive, nor using his time machine to avoid losing her!

The Weena point is interesting, because I was wondering whether the he intended to return to her when he went back - depending on when in history he went to. Or forward to I suppose. Potentially he could have gone back to the exact day he first did and prevented some things from happening, or even saved her from the fire without the other ast version of himself realising.

Weena for me was the reason I liked the book more, because in the version I watched Weena was a strong, beautiful woman who looked entirely like a lady living in the 2000s,and he fell in love with her. I spent much of the novel worrying that he would take a similar interest, despite her being constantly described as childlike. I was relieved when I realised the romance was a Hollywood addition.

My feelings on how he treated her depend on whether he bothered to try and go back or not, which of course we are never told. I like the ending that is unresolved, but without knowing if it is for happy reasons or not. For example he may have saved her, but taken her to a different time than his own. He might have died in the attempt. Or he might not have tried at all.

In the movie I watched I remember (although it's been years) that he had a fiancée who was killed, and he built the machine to go back and save her, but she would just die another way. So he went into the future in the hope that time travel was a studied science by then. They were clearly very loose with the source material, and although I like the lead actor, I dont think this was one of his best movies - however I wouldn't mind seeing it again now just to make comparisons! I just watched the trailer, and one of the characters mentions the book by H. G. Wells, and the movie adaptation too. I suppose the basic concept is one you could have a lot of fun with.

The forest fire made me wince, although I do accept that sleep deprivation affects judgment - they say it is similar to be being drunk, and the longer awake you have been the worse it is. I was surprised that he didn't try to create some kind of torch, although I suppose that wouldnt be much safer!

I have been very keen to chat since April. This is great entry, on my input so far. I am eager for you gush out your impressions from the beginning. Can you write whatever you thought and felt, as if I had not typed the first message? I enjoy being surprised by your creative, intelligent insight and your humour! :) By tomorrow, I will reread your first entry and with pleasure, follow-up on topics that come from you. You write great stuff, which is why I avoid writing first and want it to flow.

The first chapter I somewhat struggled to get into - my heart sank a little because I was worried I'd have to spend the book trying to understand scientific explanations, and I knew I would not manage it! But then to my surprise the storytelling part got underway very quickly. I liked that we didn't spend ages establishing everything about his present day life, just enough to get an idea before we jumped forward in time. I loved the imagery if time whipping past and him trying to make sense of what he was seeing.

The detail of knowing when to stop felt realistic, and when he finally did I was almost as interested as he was to see when he had ended up. I was far more wary about leaving the time Machine though, but did feel some relief when he removed some parts so it couldn't be used by anyone else.

I found the supposed peacefulness of the place slightly eerie, however I don't know how much of that was from the novel itself, and how much was my memory of the movie, so I knew there was more to it, and that there was another species/version of Human somewhere. I also sympathised with all the questions he had, with no way to get answers, especially when he noted their language was simple, without metaphor or abstract thinking - although of course they may have had ways of communicating that he didn't observe.

One thing I found most fascinating about the book is that he would draw thorough conclusions, often well reasoned and compelling, and then disavow them or say he could be wrong. I liked this approach of coming up with theories and thinking about things logically, while still being open to being wrong about it all. Sometimes he was so busy trying to work out the bigger picture that he overlooked important things, like that their fear of the dark wasn't irrational. If he had been paying attention, he probably would have noticed that early on - as a consequence he put himself in danger each night without even realising it.

I understood him using the matches to amuse the people and make them laugh and maybe even trust him, but I also winced each time he wasted a match! Yet like those around him he allowed himself to be lulled into a false sense of security. One of the dangers of being like this always is I think highlighted by what almost happened to Weena - he was the only one who even tried to help her. Did the others not feel strong enough to, or were they just not inclined to try? Yet he underestimated her when he assumed she barely registered it-then she surprises him with a kind of devotion that both pleases and baffles him.

I was waiting for him to make the discovery of the underground world, because I remembered this from the movie, but I thought in the book it was more eerie and disturbing by far, especially as he pondered how the human race had ended up splitting in two and evolving in different directions.

I love it. I am glad you let yourself flow. This is exactly what I hoped for! You flit on different things and when we are near the same scenes, your take is new to me anyway. I have a lot of writing to do and also topics to propose of my own. Thank you for an enjoyable entry and freeing me to get going. :) I have a ton of cleaning house today, especially after April's booksale and GREAT garage sales this week-end. I will pop back in to start writing by tomorrow for sure.

Thank you! I hope the cleaning goes well - I spent today reordering one of my bookshelves to fit on some newer books, which I always find quite relaxing. Great that you've had good luck with garage sales too! 💜

A question I keep asking you, Leeanne, and Shirin is one I wonder if you think about: do authors sometimes not think broadly or thoroughly enough, or do we trust them with the details they painted? I think we can skip the argument that Mr. Wells was first to write of a time machine (that I am familiar with) and say that if he invented this much, TRAVELLING IN TIME with it is a no-brainer.

Mr. Scientist (why was he unnamed?) should have looked for Weena, before he fled to his machine. Yes, torches worked for thousands of years in forestland if handled carefully. Making a fire that would catch trees was stupid. You reminded me the protagonist was tired but did the author forget a scientist knew the working of wood and fire? When he retrieved his machine, he could have planned the best strategy and reversed events straight away. If he felt desperate on his first trip to verify that he returned home, I understand that. Then get Weena. You & I understand time is fluid.

I am using the present tense because I mean it in real life. We do not know how to time travel but I believe members of the afterlife, like an angel or guide, can take us there if they felt it was important or special priviledge to show us something meaningful. We do feel time change based on our perceptions. Positive versus negative moods, such as joy versus fear, are one thing that changes it. When Petal took awhile to come home last night, the minutes felt like hours. Those 3 hours felt like my life that is becoming happy, had suddenly hung in a balance that could turn out dreary instead.

When she was home, the strain left and I stopped crying after I hugged and talked with her. I relaxed with a dose of "The Office" and in no rush, went to bed.

I have felt time pause and be very clear. I know every inch of my last hours with Candy 2, Thumbelina, Love, Mom, Spirit, Marigold, and McCartney. If I could reach out and change what happened, I know exactly where and when events became urgent. Hanging by the phone all day, waiting for news about Spirit in particular made me feel sick. It was the week I learned the first few Donna Eden methods: for him. I used them and was calmer than I would have been. I helped ease Spirit's comfort and health too.

I have felt time freeze. Life is carrying on but a part of my heart, soul, and mind have stopped on July 13, 2017 at 2:35 PM: the last time I saw Conan. I wish I had let him go outside or to the library the day before, after seeing how disappointed his face was. I had to go to my parents' place and he did not get out of bed soon enough to play outside. I should have let him frolic next door at least. The next day, when I let him out, he did not return. It hurts to know when I could reach back and change something but not know how to do it. I am comforted knowing he is alive, that Jesus will bring him back to me, and that time will at last be unstuck from 2017 when he is home. The years we missed won't mattter, next to the many more we live together in good health and happiness.

I have felt time fly fast. Board game and music night with friends, including those not in my circle anymore; nights out on a dance floor with great companions and music, unforgettable concerts in front of legends I admire (you have my concert list on your memory stick)! Sailing Loch Ness, standing in front of Stonehenge, walking through Tintagel and going "Wow, King Arthur's castle is real"? Climbing three Mayan pyramid sites in a week. Seeing the Hollywood sign in person for the first time.

Corey Hart recognizing me from autographs that 1996 morning and reaching his hand out to me from his stage, even though I had not been reaching up at all.... It is one thing if a crowd of people raise hands and a celebrity slaps them as he walks by but I did not! We all have wonderfully good times and feel the energy to dance, sing, play, hug, or talk on and can't believe the sun has set.

Ron & I share the bathroom and he needs a turn, so I had the bath I delayed. I will be sure to reread everything we wrote and answer the rest. Let's both do that, without waiting for turns. It will shorten waiting gaps in our time zones. Popping in whenever something occurs to us, will feel more rewarding and fun. :) It is similar to shortening conversation points by writing as we read a novel, rather than tackling all of it afterwards. Your friend, Carolyn.

With our household happily bathed, I am ready to write more. Our office faces west and there is beautiful pink in the clouds of our blue, fluffy sky. Sunset has begun at 9:34 PM. With the light only dimming, the pink is widening across our horizen and is beautiful. We waited long enough to talk about this conversation rich, science fiction story and I am game to continue!

Like you do, I love that the ending had a lot of room to imagine what happened. The novel did give a firm impression that Mr. Scientist thought Weena was gone and viewed it as set in stone. Was this an author's misstep, or should we believe someone who learned how to traverse time, lacked flexible thinking? Yes, it feels nice that we don't know what travels await the protagonist, so we are realistically alligned with the friend who witnessed his departure. I like that he demonstrated enough preparedness to bring a camera and planned on returning with proof of the places he visited, besides a special flower. Mr. Wells got that wrong though. Rather than write that this souvenir disintegrated, it is well known that pressing leaves or flowers into magazines or books, preserves them and scientists have additional ways!

Yes, the first few pages were a noticeable mouthful. I was entertaining Dad by reading this classic novel aloud! He enjoyed it until Mr. Wells got political. The science was as easy to understand as in "Journey To The Centre Of The Earth" but the story was better when the narrating crammed less detail and was generous with space to picture and ponder a person's fantastic journey. I reread how you phrased it and grinned about you doing it simply: "when the storytelling began"!

Please keep jumping in with your questions and impressions, even if we write a one sentence question to contemplate later. There is so much I look forward to talking about with this novel that, like with our letters, a lot of short musings regularly will be easier and rewarding. :) Do you agree?

Thank you for using faster internet to research alarm setting mechanisms. When were church bells mechanised, or did someone ring the bell every hour for most of human history? I feel sure that it was old hat in Mr. Well's time. I think someone who invented time travel, would find automatic settings an easy thing to add along with it.

I have a lot to say about thinking vegetarians weak and that preyed upon people or animals do not save each other's lives. "Vegetarian" comes from "vegetation", plants generally. Giraffes might primarily eat leaves and grasses unless fruit, vegetables, and grains are availabe. It is hard to picture a place where only fruit grows but things we think of as vegetables are fruits, such as tomatoes. I don't know the author's disposition towards spirituality or nature in health. I do believe God and Mother Earth places us and animals where there is food upon which we will live. Maybe Mr. Science was a meat eater but he was as human as his frugivore (or whatever the word is) hosts!

Every country has unique wildlife and the plants and hydration with which to feed them. I suggest Canada provides the most diverse examples of God ensuring we are sustained wherever we live. Deer are large fellow mammals and I marvel that they all hide in nearby forest in large numbers. If you spent winter with us, where the growth of plants pauses or retires, you would wonder what on Earth deer ate. Any grass, leaves, buds, seeds, twigs, or unfrozen water they can find. I have seen them eat snow for refreshment too. These sweet animals gain much from the salt lick cube and humble piles of oats we give them, as well as leftover birdseed.

Black bears are so much larger, God created a hibernating capacity for them. They feed as much as possible up to the fall, make a good, secure burrow, and plug themselves with grass. They awake a little in mild weather but stay with their den. They give birth while they are semi-dormant and their infants nurse them. They want the sugar of berries that won't flourish until next month but at least the land is rich with green grass and leaves now.

If Mr. Wells understood the natural nutrition of a habitat, he would know they thrive on it at its best, instead of being diminished by it. It is a fallacy of the uneducated today that vegetarians are petite and omnivores rotund. Mr. Wells lived before the obesity of western nations, which has been a common issue for roughly 30 years, hasn't it? We understand better than he seemed to have, that slim people are healthy, with endurance.

Our solid friendship makes me comfortable venturing that I don't think humans were meant to eat meat. If I understand correctly, one part of evolution had a small DNA difference between animals and people. I think of tadpoles I have seen, who have developed legs and are almost finished their acquatic metamorphosis to oxygen breathing, land reptiles. I think of Monarch wings who are not ready to hate but whom I can see through a butterfly's chrysallis. I think of those wonderful butterflies afterwards, whose body is still the white striped one of their caterpillar form.

I think a stage where we were part animal, had leftover killing habits in cavemen. There were vegetarian (vegetation) societies who thrived in good health and long life but we hear little about them. In 300 AD, the gospel book was designed to convince everyone who might have advanced past a killing mentality, that we were supposed to hunt. The words "have dominion over" was mistranslated from the Hebrew word "yorade". It truly means have companionship WITH the animals!

I think H.G. Wells was an 18th century omnivore with prejudice drawn from lacking natural health & wellness education. You said you would decide after you read his sociological ramblings, if you agree or disagree with him that fighting is a purpose that keeps our brains working. I disagree in the utmost. Our souls were moulded in the universal womb of peace. We are meant to be happy, curious, eager, enlightened, inspired, helpful, fair, and loving all at once. Happiness and peace are our birthright. When we no longer need fight for it, our intellect could explore other paths with complete freedom. I know for a fact that stress is a distraction that slows me down and which can make people ill.

I admired many things about Mr. Wells' work, including aspects I knew he was among the first to write about. However, did you feel a lack of creativity that surprised you? I did. When Marty McFly had returned home, in a panic, from his first time travel trip; he immediately reasoned out that he could save Doc Brown by returning to the mall parking lot 10 minutes earlier. It was not early enough to warn him about being shot but thankfully, he had read Marty's warning letter.

You finding the peacefulness of England in 8000 AD errie surprised me. It is an odd reaction to me, so it must derive from a film you saw that played jarring music when that landscape was introduced. We remember feelings more than details. There was danger underground

More than ever when discussing sexual feelings, parenting roles, and parity of careers; our society of 2024 has learned there is a spectrum of colours and categories that are individual to us all. It felt unintelligent for someone of Mr. Wells' repute to dump his characters into utter frugivores and carnivores, sweet and aggressive, good and evil, living in the light versus hunting at night, pretty versus ugly.

I admired the guy for imagining what a year 8000 society might be like but disagreed with his musings. I know cats better than anyone, whose preditory aspects I curb. Mice or birds might stand still to avoid further injury by spurring a cat with movement but they fly off if they get a clear chance to escape. I helped them escape countless times. Some mice or birds fought back. In a few occasions, an animal looked like they were bravely bracing for death and were relieved to receive help they had not expected. Animals in a family will certainly, boldly chase away preditors and save their child, sibling, or relative.

I think they have an understanding to flee a preditor if everyone needs to evacuate rapidly. If there is time to help without much risk to their survival, they will. Not saving a drowning woman, where there was no hunter, was stupid and false, wasn't it! If working in streams was a regular activity, they would teach safety procedures and understand dangers. Water, earth, wood, air, metal, and fire are basic elements and these 8000 year-old peasants lived in a rudimentary environment.

I do not know if they were related or if they had monogomous rituals. They were enough of a close community to eat and sleep in the same room. I do not think there were individual houses, or they would not share a dining and sleeping room as a group.

I will not believe humans lost the basic DNA of emotions. Mr. Wells showed fear in the dainty humans, not only for themselves but in Weena urging Mr. Science to avoid the tunnel. They were also described as laughing and being joyous all day, to counteract staying indoors at night. Yes, I winced at that visitor wasting matches. Anyone knows to save them when we travel in our own time and landscape, including at home!

I knew that Mr. Wells was writing them as prey animals, whom he implied lacked the mentality to lift a finger to help Weena. I caught his nuance. It was not about being weak around a stream they regularly used. It was only Mr. Science's bias that vegetarians were weak. Too many people have been led to believe that it is acceptable to eat some animals as food. I refute this wholly. However, most people know animals do not want to be killed or eaten but tell themselves God approved of a certain amount of sacrifices. Cows would break fences, walls, and get away if they knew what the meat industry planned.

The people who rented the place next to us when we arrived, had chickens briefly. We had nothing to do with them because we did not jive and kept a polite distance. We did not know when those chickens would be murdered and thankfully, could not see that terrible act. I heard their fear and felt it in the air. This author knew diddly squat about animals if he thinks any living creature of God, accepts being killed and would not help others, if he could. I have seen tiny birds race after much larger ones, squawking at them to not bother their nests again. Our dainty Marigold stood up to male cats and a dog and our dear, bold Spirit was impressively brave, as is our Conan.

The same as you did, Kerri, I loved the original idea of Mr. Science being afraid to stop his craft. I think a few steps ahead of a few years would be more interesting as a first trip, to have the answer to questions that are helpful to your life. I would later travel a little ways past my estimated 100 year lifetime, to see what my kids, Grandkids, and homeland did next. 8000 years were too extreme to relate to anyone and this is true of going very far ahead in general. You astutely reminded me that time window stories are usually interested in the past. That is probably because we want to see people and places we have heard of, isn't it? The same goes for the future nearest to our lifetime.

Most notably, the past is set but the future is changeable. How do we know what we see is what will unfold, in the various ways individual life forms choose to do things and in the unmeasurable ways we surprise ourselves? Isn't it true we can't see what happens, unless we are exploring one potential outcome to one path or action? If Mr. Science returned to save Weena and visited after she had met him; it seems like that would have impacted her unmotivated society tremendously well.

Whew, I surpassed a comment limit. If you find it a lot, this is our incentive to discuss books in progress, ha ha!

Among new thoughts you introduced, is how Weena surprised Mr. Science by having a personality. She developed a devotion as you called it, for being saved and appreciated it. For once, the author had the ability to think in a spectrum of colours. I wonder if he stopped there, which we admire as is, or if he had more depth in mind that he hoped readers would glean.

I wonder if he was saying Mr. Science knew little about these people and should not make snap judgements. I wonder if he meant that any change in an old routine would encourage new behaviours. Or, I wonder if he was implying that showing kindness and giving a lifesaving break to people who were treated as a food bank, would elevate their whole disposition. I like this third thought. The first is a surface observation. The second implies relief from sameness. The third is a postive moral of life.

You had me considering that as a Star Trek fan, I have seen future time travel a lot, which differs from the mystery or fantasy novels we have abundantly read. Because their vehicles are moving on a route they choose, as well as changing time, they do not worry about running into anything. However, this smart idea was one of the things I admired about Mr. Wells. This stimulating idea is my sole impression from the 1960s movie: staying in one spot and seeing a body turn into a skelton, then dust.

I loved the idea of being in one spot and that it is times changing around us, not distance and places coming and going. I liked that he did not only stop at a chosen year but that he could choose his speed. It would be fascinating to see the sun and moon rise and rest from their positions. I would prefer this sedate pace to watch the world go by, quite literally. I understood like you did, the fear of a building appearing where there had been none in Mr. Science's time.

"Back To The Future III" shaped this idea into the most humorous part and later, into the most integral, tense access to Marty's return route. Trusting the speculative science that the train tracks would be there in 1985, where there was a cliff in 1885, was nervewracking! His hilarious start, driving into a movie billboard sign of indians and then ending up in a field among them, makes me laugh every time I play it.

Long ago, I made a movie of my trips with Ron, family cats, and other important parts of my life. I liked a stirring effect that I achieved, that Marty in his two-dimensional, empty billboard field reminded me of. I mix a lot of the still photographs you have seen, with some video footage. My switch is unexpected because I started with a still photograph slideshow predominantly. You see Buckingham Palace with those red police in the background. Then all of a sudden, they are moving; marching across the screen. At Stonehenge, I pose in front of this world wonder in a photograph. Then, presumably using our tripod, Ron & I are kissing in front of it in a film clip, with the wind blowing; which viewers can hear.

I am happy you & I have left a lot to enjoy talking about. Whomever returns first can reply and add to it. There are great subjects for me to answer from our first posts I have let my thoughts flow enough for now. There is a lot we could make of each subject, never mind many at once. I love that. :-) If I get as busy continuing my cleaning as I hope to, all my answering at once will tide you over.

A happy note on which to bid you good-night, is to say that Petal came to our front door voluntarily, very early tonight. She did not want to worry us. When I stepped out the front door earlier to see where she was, she was in solid sight at the edge of trees to the north. I waved at her and she smiled at me, seated on a log.

Now both Sisters and Ron are waiting for me to go to sleep with them. Positive, answered prayers are a wonderful feeling. I do not underestimate the power and grace of worrying about where Petal was and of her returning to us, feeling well and ready to sleep. Your friend, Carolyn.

Sorry for the delay here, have had an unexpectedly busy week. I will have use of the laptop tomorrow to catch up on this conversation! 🩵

Having computer difficulties, so am just restarting it to see if that makes a difference. Have you had any issues with Goodreads not displaying properly on your PC at all?

I am glad you are posting. Goodness knows, I gave several subjects my all. I was off for a day. Goodreads works as usual. Remember you can copy our conversation and write in a document off-line. You need only paste it on-line. I hope the newer laptop isn't the problem, although it would be aggravating if you weren't using it as planned.

It's the older laptop, which I will try again tomorrow, as sometimes it works fine after a rest and restart. For now I'm using my phone and just about to start reading through everything here. I will type with my phone too, as the test I sent with the laptop did work, but also then immediately jumped to a different part of the website, which was odd! I haven't bought a newer laptop yet, I am waiting for the newer version, to compare, but I think I should be able to get the old to cooperate. I am working on my replies now, just at a slower pace. 😂

First of all I am happy that Petal returned safely, and then made a point of returning home early the following night - I know that feeling well of waiting up anxiously for a cat to return. Kimmy in particular would sometimes return late, occasionally having been in a fight, two times requiring a trip to the vet, but thankfully only needing a wound tended to and a few stitches. She too would often be on her best behaviour for a while after that, perhaps offering an apology, as I know she would recognise we had been worried. She was always good at pretending not to notice, but then she would act particularly sweet to compensate. Before I get back to the book I just wanted to mention this line you wrote: "I do not underestimate the power and grace of worrying about where Petal was and of her returning to us, feeling well and ready to sleep" - - I've never actually thought about worry from this perspective before, but it makes total sense to me. I copied it into my journal as I really appreciated this interpretation of worry.💜

Back to your point about time changing based on our perceptions, that was a great example, and I immediately recalled that feeling myself, as mentioned, not just the example above, but many instances. I am also in agreement with the time pauses and freezes, often linked with something very sad, although occasionally happy too. Always deeply significant moments. Most recently the deaths of Jimmy, Stevie and then Kimmy. Pauses were things like when Izzy was once grabbed by an enormous dog attacking her, or various moments of important news delivered, good or bad, when things slow or pause.
And yes absolutely time flying fast, which is often happier times, and you can feel almost weightless and in tune with the world (or at least that's how I will often feel, like I've tapped into a positive frequency or wavelength or something like that).
Your examples were especially effective in that they made me realise I didn't get that sense as much from the novel. I didn't notice it so much as I read, but I notice it now.

"Do authors sometimes not think broadly or thoroughly enough, or do we trust them with the details they painted?" - - - this is an interesting one, that I struggle to answer! Sometimes I think it is both, if that works? Sometimes I think it's as simple as the author approaching the writing from a different perspective to how I am reading it or processing it, sometimes I think they have conceived an idea but not really explored it or considered much. I found this story hard to determine which one. One thing I do wonder is whether the author is actually spot on in having his character act dimly and not as he should have, since people often do precisely that. He should have treated Weena far better, but this is true of many people, far more often than I would like.

"But did the author forget a scientist knew the working of wood and fire? When he retrieved his machine, he could have planned the best strategy and reversed events straight away." - - I did wonder with this, especially the fire part, if the traveller was the type of person who is incredibly smart in some areas, rather lacking in others. Funnily enough I thought of Sheldon in TBBT, being so brilliant, yet also unable to manage many practical tasks, like driving. So maybe the Traveller can build this incredible machine, but isn't equipped to actually use it. Even the simple thing of not packing for the first journey, despite knowing ahead of time he will be venturing off, shows a lack of common sense.

I have wondered how much he viewed them as people. I have even wondered if they even were. Not in a callous way, just that he arrived there and assumed they were. What if they were a different kind of primate. I have read about one species of baboon (I think) that hunt monkeys. Perhaps this is similar, two groups similar to people, but not quite. He asked few questions in this regard. The odd docile quality also made me think of what I have read about some cult members, sort of having mostly lost the ability to think for themselves brainwashed out of them. I wondered if the people he meets are typical of ALL people in the future, or if this was just an unusual, awful, isolated part. (The underground part being awful I mean, not the people themselves). He never travelled far enough within this time to establish if this was the norm everywhere or not.

I do think that either the author or the main character, depending on how much the fictional world reflects the authors views, has a prejudice towards vegetarians for sure. I wonder how much is deliberate, and how much was just a quick way of cutting the two sides into opposites in almost all ways.
One of the things I wonder about with this part is how much we are meant to agree with the Traveller. You are right that the author seems to show us the reader more complexity to the people than the traveller himself recognises. Are we supposed to look beyond his worldview and see more of the positive things he mentions - happiness, community, singing, collecting flowers etc? Certainly he shows more than the traveller seems to take on board, which is perhaps to highlight his shortfalls? What you said about him lacking flexible thinking jumped out, because he clearly does doesn't he? He also only observes retrospectively how much he missed, especially with their fear - that would surely imply he missed other details too. Not to mention he assumes their language is simplistic, but how does he actually know, since he doesn't speak it? They could convey much with expressions and tone, that he misses. I think I read that people travel to Japan for example, but it's not enough to just speak some Japanese. There is intonation as well as a knowledge of the culture that you need to truly understand everything. The Traveller assumes a lot about their language, but he didn't really learn it, so who knows what he missed there. Sometimes what seems simple isn't, but he dismissed them very quickly.

Thats a good point about pressing the flower, or drying it, or even they could have put it into one of those specimen jars with some sort of preserving fluid, although perhaps that mights damage it.

I quite enjoyed his thoughts about challenge and conflict etc. I didn't agree with his fully, but I got what he was driving at, and I do think conflict and challenge and hardships are important. That you need a problem to create a solution. I don't think conflict has to be a war or a fist fight or anything either, it could be metal conflict, opposing ideas, trying to improve life in some way. I think people often need something to push against, to develop more or come up with interesting ideas. He mentions that even their creativity is waning, which is a chilling idea, although one I feel is less plausible - creativity, and especially storytelling seem to be something very ingrained in humans, and I find the loss of that somehow harder to buy into than even the human race splitting into two branches, one cannibal, one vegetarian! In the cannibal aspect, I partially find it plausible, except for it seeming to be that they only eat other people - realistically surely they too would require whatever fruits are available, for the nutrients. Although perhaps that contributes to their blindness?
Since he jumps forward again and people seem to be gone, were these two groups the last if the human race? Was this a kind of death throes for an entire species and he stumbled across as they were dying out?

I spent a while looking up when church bells were mechanised and it seems to vary wildly, so I'm really not sure when that became the norm!

"If Mr. Wells understood the natural nutrition of a habitat, he would know they thrive on it at its best, instead of being diminished by it" - this is a good point, and I wonder if this something he simply didn't think about, or if he was portraying something like when the environment no longer supports those that live in it. Like a rainforest that is smaller and smaller, so cannot sustain the animals living in it. I venture that only because we don't know if the environment was left to its own devices, in which case it should be plentiful, or if it the implication is something has gone wrong in terms of what grows. Again, I wish we had more information on their actual diet, how much variety there was, how much they actually ate, as in how much was available to them, and is it constantly available. Do they have seasons, does the produce change, etc.

"18th century omnivore with prejudice drawn from lacking natural health & wellness education. You said you would decide after you read his sociological ramblings, if you agree or disagree with him that fighting is a purpose that keeps our brains working" - - I agree with the first sentence, and think he showed a general lack of curiosity about what their vegetarian way of life would entail. I did however quite enjoy his ramblings. I'm inclined to think that maybe eventually we get away from fighting in a literal, physical sense, but I think the desire to fight can be immensely positive too, especially if it comes from a place of protection or discussion or wrestling with conflicting ideas etc. Whether it's necessary for all people I'm not sure, but many people certainly thrive on it, and if conflict could be channeled through sport, arts, debates, even challenging relationships, it might not have to be a negative force like say a war or a riot or something more extreme. I wonder if what you described could exist alongside a more peaceful kind of conflict?

I was impressed with his creativity on one level, he seems to be a man who is great on the big idea front, but I did think that the details lacked flair, thought, and creativity in a way. It was odd-I lived the overall idea but did think the execution lacked depth. One of the great strengths of the "Back To The Future" series as a while is that they seemed to be having much more fun with their ideas. There was still a seriousness, and high stakes, but also joy and humor and much more human connection.

I too don't believe that humans would lose their emotions, or have them so dulled, at least not truly. It seems too integral a part of being human, and as they were still connected in a community, I think emotions would thrive. Some things he did not consider but that I couldn't help thinking of from our modern perspective, was the idea of gyms, or exercise for no purpose other than fitness. This WAS a thing in his time (fitness, especially for men has pretty much always been a consideration one way or another) but I don't know how many people just went for a run, did sit ups, push ups etc. I think they idea of the people being so weak is unlikely in part because if it wasn't part of their work, they would still exercise in some capacity, and build and maintain muscle. Well, maybe not everyone, but the majority. They are not kept indoors, they have outdoor space to move about it. They have water to swim in. People overall tend to find ways to exert themselves, and in my mind at least it would seem plausible that this is something people maintain, especially with mostly leisure time.

It is true that Weena shows fear for the Traveller too, not just herself. I think this another example of us being shown how he underestimated her. She was the only he half got to know. The others probably had more emotional depth too, he just didn't bother looking for it.

With what you said about the future being changeable, I did wonder if even the act of the Traveller going back home and telling his tale changed the future subtly, because at least one of those men now lives his life with a different perspective than he would have otherwise. Small details potentially making a big difference.

It's past 11pm now, so I will post this and add more tomorrow! 🌛

I think I covered the majority of my thoughts yesterday, although did want to clarify, I don't truly think they weren't actually people, it's just a theory I thought of when wondering about how reliable the Traveller's assumptions were. I think the story implies his theory about the split in the human race is accurate, although there are many aspects of this that I bristle against, although at the same I admire his idea. And it genuinely is a chilling moment when you realise the above ground world isn't the only one.

I enjoy the idea of being in one spot and watching time pass by at your own decided pace. With provisions, I wonder how long it could be tolerated before needing to take a break. It would be fun to explore in gradually spaced out blocks. I think it probably was the "Back To The Future III" scene that made me so worried about what might appear, although of course his journey was less frantic than Marty's!

I loved reading about the movie you made, I can picture it so clearly, and love the idea of mixing the photos with the footage so effectively.

I hope your cleaning has been going well!

Dear Kerri, thank you for caring about Petal as usual. The trees' leaves are full and Conan must be on his way home too. I want to be sure you know what I meant by the quote you appreciated from me. I want you to know that we should always recognized that our prayers are answered positively, the way we prayed for them to be. It is helpful if you interpreted my message as something like "give worry the chance to achieve its positive outcome" but recognizing answered prayers for what they are is important; not merely "everything was okay after all". Hopefully, Petal was all right anyway but prayers are for guanranteeing it.

Secondly, would you confirm you saw all my posts? You used to only notice the last one. I divided my long discussions into messages #23 to 25. There is more we could talk about but I love everything you share so far. As I always hope, you delivered different angles to consider.

What is the date range of automatic church and town square bell ringing and clock chiming? You looked up "clock alarms" but setting chimes to announce time by themselves is an alarm. Did your search factor that in when you began Mr. Well's novel? I can't believe setting chimes and bells only began in his time. Was someone paid or a volunteer to announce time for churches and village clocks all this time? What if they were late, even tripping on gravel along the road and being a tad tardy?

I awoke with a desire to share with you, things I would correct if I could take my knowledge of how my family life goes, to an earlier time. That is more powerful than speeding 8000 years ahead, because the guy in this novel was afraid to stop. I don't think I can change the events that sadden and anger me and don't know how, if there is a Heavenly, sacred way to do it. But I think writing them down and sharing them is a way to get rid of some pain and work out some resolutions or peace. Does something similar work for you, Kerri? I would only do this in e-mail, because it is the most personal matter and we never want anyone even reading our details at any time, even much later.

Our garden planting is finished. What falls to me (since Ron mows lawns and does other house and yard work) is planting the few items that did not fit and herbs, into pots. Next, I have 2 flowerboxes and 19 hangingbaskets to plant with flowers. Finally, I do what I can to improve our grassy and hollyhock laden flowerbeds. Wonderful, life growing and proteting rain has graced us plentifully. With it, mosquito season arrived and I avoid them. I know how to dress for them like I do the cold, however.

With food and flower gardening finished: my pots, tools, and plant packages can be put away. That lets me tidy around our house and library better. A local business will post my book selling ad and one other neighbour has been invited to shop, so I must prioritize cleaning our library more quickly. Summer is the best season to attract local and vacationing customers, who flock to manmade campgrounds close to here.

I know the old laptop is yours and think you were supposed to have use of the newer one that your family shares. Does your Mom also have a laptop or PC, or are the three of you sharing the newer laptop? It sounds like you didn't use it as planned, which is frustrating. Hopefully, your Sister and Mom don't need it all day, or you could emphasize the time of day when you like using the internet. I hope writing off-line helps and might be easier than typing on your virtual cell phone keyboard.

I kept the PC off again yesterday. Ron & I were listening to CDs, enjoying our cats, and having a peaceful day general ~ something to cherish! I see the time I saved when I come on and there is no personal e-mail in that time. I was glad that you wrote a lot in our H.G. Wells conversation, which I have replied to a bit of here. I'd like to make sure you saw all three messages.

When you have time, I'd love your thoughts on my reviews of "The Forgotten Door" Alexander Key https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..., "Before The Gold Rush", Nicholas Jennings https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..., and "Manitoba Winter" Manitoba Department Of Natural Resources. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

One of many things I love about being a Star Trek fan is seeing astonishingly creative stories unfold that give us unusual ideas and resolutions. One of the most poignant "Deep Space 9" stories was of the engineering officer and his wife losing their young Daughter in a time portal, in a cave. They succeeded at getting her out but she was about 18 instead of 8 years-old or so. She was wild and slept in trees. Her parents sadly read that if history were accurate, there were no other humans there at that time. They felt it was better to have their Daughter, changes and all, when she got into trouble for fighting scientists or someone who had scared her. They reasoned, oddly, it was better to return her to the world she knew, than deal with jail or work something here. Not a decision I would make, which worst of all, included being without a loved one!

They snuck her to the cave by shuttle craft, with provisions, utensils, tools for an easier life and knowing she was loved. Fortunately, this teenager saw and recognized the present day Molly crying in a corner, who did not know how to leave the cave. Her elder counterpart (a temporary possibility) showed her the way to go to her parents, who were astonished to have their original Daughter back.

I don't know about what you read and watch. I said I would love a list of your time window favourites. I am aware of numerous time travel shows I was uninterested in. Maybe I would like them but there is enough TV to watch. I have a few videotapes of "Quantum Leap". Scott Bakula became the captain of the ship and series "Star Trek Enterprise", which I am among few who loved. I think this and "Deep Space 9" were the least favourites but the key is starting from the beginning. There are always human and other races' stories to warm our hearts and excite our desire for exploration!

I don't have the desire to try "Dr. Who", which goes too far back for someone who likes chronology. I think is from the 1960s and Graham Norton's guests make it clear there is a new show. I dislike the depressing idea of "The Time Traveller's Wife", where time is short together. I have this one and "Her Fearful Symmetry", with which I am more intrigued. If there is a resolution of the travel coming to an end and the couple being together, I would tolerate some aggravating years, by being finally stopping.

I must have cleared up that "vegetarian" means vegetation; plants. The author was unaware of the societies we hardly know, who thrived on plants and we do not hear about those who continue to. The bias that we need or can acceptably eat lives that were not ended willingly, has lasted a few thousand years. All eras before our time, we only know what records told us. Picking from a tree or ground shrub is much more natural than ending a life who wants to live! H.G. Wells making out vegetarians to be weak is a clear bias.

You certainly give me food for thought by saying that authors might want us to think characters are uninformed instead of themselves. However, because common information is not present at all, I really do think H.G. was lacking a lot of knowledge that was scientists knew well in his time. Anyone who has met a houseplant knows we gain strength, vitality, and growth from water, nutrition, and light. There are animals and insects with busy worlds underground, which delights me differently from how fearful you deemed it. However, they have characteristics like minor vision that we might interpret as a disadvantage. We would travel and be nourished underground with less skill than they do. It is like country and city cousins shining on each other's home turf. They enjoy me being a country cousin nowadays! :)

You are right that the tunnel citizens might have eaten berries too on nightly outings. Thanks to making me wait 1.5 month, I don't recall species names or how Traveller got the time machine back. ;) Please do fill me in!

I'll leave this as my contribution tonight. Ron is home from work and napping off Monday tiredness, with Angel beside him in clean sheets. I have a Dan Fogelberg CD playing, following a Seals & Crofts one I had looked forward to playing for months. Good, easy listening for napping and typing, haha. On the Canadian side, I have so much more to share with you than was on hold. I hope our travelling USB stick comes my way soon, to pack another load, haha. As for my family film, I have meant to fit it on after confirming I had not already. It will be yours and I know you will love it! THAT is another great way to get to know each other. I hope you will give me a video narrated tour of your life soon too. :)

Like you, I admired the author's musings about what 8000 year-old societies might be like, while disagreeing that negativity should never be what challenges us. Not only is it unnecessary in my view but the meaning of life is to deal with it and push it out of our lives, to get as close as we can to spiritual harmony while living on Earth in a physical way. You largely already agree; I am only correcting that there should be no negativity or problems. Being challenged by the desire to explore, invent, discover, improve, learn, repair, heal.... these are all stimulating and inspiring. Then, we help those who want a hand reaching those healing, inspiring, improved, repaired, and stimulating outcomes.

For fun, a topic occurred to me. Where might the traveller return to save Weena? First, even if it is a short entry answering a few questions, would you please remind me how the traveller got the time machine back from inside that statue? Then, I can will contribute with all the facts. Part of my answers rely on how he retrieved his craft from the statue.

He could move his craft into his yard or conceal it farther away, where he knows he will be far from the statue in 8000 AD. I thought of something more effective than that and hope I will think of it again momentarily. The nocturnal threat makes a plan easy to design. He could stay overnight with Weena, concealed well outside the forest and only traverse it by day. He could do something besides set a fire, set it carefully as a torch he takes out of the forest. In any case, he should keep Weena close. Many might say "bring a gun to scare a few away" but our 2024 AD society should know by now that there are numerous other solutions, without resorting to lethal weaponry ever again.

I actually don't remember either, why the heck the protagonist walked far outside the village. Was it only curiousity about the tower he saw in the sky's horizon, or did he think it was a place to hide from hunters? I liked exploring the museum it proved to be. Time travel is meaningful and fun when you are close to your time for the results to matter and be clear, wouldn't you say? Having taken in the museum, he could avoid losing track of Weena and any trees, by not going there. The statue was outside the village.

To not leave the time machine would circumvent visiting the village and acquainting the people, so I think retrieving it without harrassment or avoiding the forest trip are the answers. You bet I am excited to know what you think of instead. I hope my topic got you thinking before you reached the details from me. :)

As for the vegetation and seasons; I think it was London, England; which is southeastern. It can snow but I believe it is rare. I don't know if they go below zero Celsius. I know their garden seasons end similarly to ours but last longer, prior and after ours in Manitoba; where coincidentally I am southeast of our province. If we presume climate change was not thought about in the 1800s, look up southeastern England's wild berries and fruits. Since they are well past civilization, despite their rudimentary environment, they should easily be growing vegetables, grains, pulses, herbs, and domestic fruits.

You wondered if they were the end of humans. A friend whose unique name I don't use on-line, thinks souls will be finished with bodies soon, as you know and might leave Earth or graduate past body confinement. I believe life will continue after me, so I am remembered and appreciated. I hope I can enjoy watching other stories unfold from Heaven and protect and guide them, as I am guided and protected. My present loved-ones will be with me but I love my niece & nephew, who will have descendents for me to love from my second life.

The idea of life petering out 6000 years from now, I do not believe. I believe Earth in this form will finish its goal within 1000 years, which is soon but not scary because we won't be physically dependent on what the changes are like. May it be "peace on Earth" as we have been promised! The idea of years going into nothingness except oceans, wind, and soil and a few animals he ran away from on a beach..... suggests that H.G. had no sense of the spiritual, or of the scientific estimate that life has risen and subsided on our planet before. Time might be infinite, fluid, or pointless but planets have limits.

It sounds like you feel the same as I do, Kerri: that we admire the author stretching his thoughts on subjects like this but that his contemplations were uneducated and immaturely seen as opposites, with no colour spectrums or possibilities.

I seem to consistently return to the feeling, like you do (thanks to "Back To The Future" and whatever else we have read and watched, including non-fiction like the dear Stephen Hawkings') that the future is what we make of it. The protagonist saw one possibility if society pushed nature and civilization one way. As you wisely observed, his ill-prepared trip was cursory in what he learned and interpreted; from the vegetation to their language.

If you didn't see all three of my entries, Kerri, I refer you back to what I wrote about the dear cows of the world and other animals that farms sadly regard as someone to eat. You might be right that the fight or hope of defeating the tunnel hunters dwindled in the bright sky people; the people living in the light of day, who should be taller and bigger like well sunned plants. It must be terrible for cows, turkies, chickens, pigs not to be able to escape barns or fences when they sense that someone wants to kill them. But no living creature wants to be killed, ever! The daylight race did hide and avoid the tunnels and nighttime as much as they could. Weena urged a stranger to avoid the tunnels. It makes sense that they taught their young and one another to avoid the same things. Acting like they didn't care that Weena fell in a river they were used to working and swimming around, made no sense.

The traveller's poor preparedness made no sense either. If he intended to peek and not go far, he should have nonetheless have known to bring a lot of matches, flashlights or oillamps, metal tools for prying open doors if need be, and non leathal defense. In our generation, it is old news indeed to never go diving or caving without telling someone or bringing a companion. Whites were exploring Africa and India for a long time by then. A walk in your own woods is a teaching moment about preparedness and safety. You say exercising was long ago in vogue; so was being in the outdoors.

I measured my admiration and whatever was lacking with three stars. What grade would you give this story? You are keeping open your anthology, so this time I don't know where you land. It is fun to think I am contributing to your feedback, because you have time to ponder what it is! Your friend, Carolyn.

My first answer here will be shorter probably, as I am time limited and will have much more to add I'm sure! I'm still back and forward on my rating for the story, between three and four. There is much I liked about it, the actual idea of course, but also I was pleasantly surprised at how enjoyable it was to read the story. Yet the ill preparedness of the Traveller is an implausibility that bothers me. Some of my other quibbles don't affect my rating, because I enjoyed the creativity of it, but the man not packing a bag feels an oversight. Given the prevalence of exploration, boating expeditions, train journeys, carriage trips etc, someone of that era would know to pack for a journey, especially one that is destination unknown. Interestingly, in the movie I watched, he does smaller jumps forward at first, before 'the big one' into the setting of the novel. I'm leaning towards four, and the same for the overall book so far too.

When the Traveller returned to open the statue, he had taken a crowbar, but it was already opened. The underground people had opened it. Once he was by the machine, it closed again, trapping him in the dark.

When I Googled H. G. Wells, I found this sentence interesting: "As a futurist, he wrote a number of utopian works and foresaw the advent of aircraft, tanks, space travel, nuclear weapons, satellite television and something resembling the World Wide Web" - - I would like to read some of these utopian books to see what his version/s of utopia are, and if they were more hopeful, or deeper, than this one. The Wikipedia page also mentioned that his thinking took place in a Darwinism context. It made me wonder if this book was him riffing on the possibilities of evolution. I liked alot of his ideas in this sense, even though I agree with your comparison to plants, and think the people above ground would have been the ones thriving
Sunlight, water, presumably organic, local vegetation, fresh air etc. Realistically they would be probably be fairly robust. Provided England's food remained similar, they would have a vast array of most fruits and vegetables, excepting tropical ones, unless they had a green house. The Victorian era saw all sorts of plants and fruits brought over. I'm presuming vegetables would be in the mix, I just haven't read as much about them. Technically, unless it is a lost skill, there have long been ways of easily preserving food too, so they would surely be well fed! I also wonder at the likelihood of them not fighting back,which I find doubtful. Also, as you say, they knew fear, and could clearly express it for others too, so them not reacting to Weena almost being swept away doesn't work for me. In the "Clan of the Cave Bear" books (which I dont think you would enjoy as there is a lot of hunting in them) the neanderthals have these net things, which they use for fishing, but also to pull people out of the water. On the off chance that the people in this novel cannot swim well or move strongly in the water, despite living alongside it, they would either avoid it (I'm not a great swimmer so I am very cautious about the sea for instance) or they would have a contingency plan, such as the nets, or a floatation device. In the unlikely event they didn't, I struggle to believe no one would reach out or even call a warning.

Were you clear in how old Weena was? She was childlike, but I wasn't sure if she Was a child or if he just treated her as one?

Out of time now, but I have more to add tomorrow! 🌛

Do clarify you saw my entries in all three message numbers. I covered a lot that wasn't discussed and only ask because you used to only look at the last comment box. I am sure that we are both popping in on whatever we have time to talk about and will skim for more conversation gems. You keep raising great food for thought for me!

The other clarification is to tell me which interpretation you had of the way I expressed something that moved you. I am touched to move a dear friend enough that she quotes it in her journal! It is good to for us to keep in mind that worry ends and positive outcomes embrace us again. What I mean is even more poignant and powerful and I hope got that the first or second time: prayers are answered. I don't want to underestimate Jesus / God by thinking unwanted situation not occuring, mean a route of risky events was not stepped upon. Answered prayers mean things might have gone poorly but Jesus / God did protect us and stop it.

Tomorrow is McCartney's birthday! I hope to e-mail private family and friends so that I receive messages tomorrow. In case I don't, at least you are reminded here - if you needed a refresher. God bless our dear, beautiful boy who would have been 24.

I think Weena is a young adult of marrying age, if the tradition existed. I force myself to think of the two species as English (what are their names?) because darkskinned and dark-haired cavemen come to mind, even though I only remember a few scenes of the 1960s film Uncle Fred enjoys. Weena might be 26 years-old but everyone clearly has a child's glee by day.

I figured you would go for four stars and am glad you are thinking this story through. It isn't the end of the world if you highly grade something with faults but you to hardly object to anything. It would be nice to see you be discerning; then whatever you give four or five stars is praise indeed. I was in disbelief that you gave "Moby Dick" five stars. You are against animal harm as much as I am. Liking the writing and giving cudos to an American classic nonetheless leaves part of our feedback comes for personal pleasure and preference. Unless there was an amazingly positive ending, reading of the terror whaling for whales, doesn't seem like it would earn five stars from an animal lover. It made me wonder how special five stars are from you, if you know what I mean.

I anticipated giving four stars to "The Time Machine" likewise, because it is a classic, which makes no sense. Is is a bias I usually do well at thinking past. I really found this an accessibly told story besides some ranting, which is impressively creative; the same aspects you admire. The same as you, I am unaffected by general quibbles or imperfections if I am loving a story and it is special in other ways. A well written 'non crime mystery' or 'paranormal mystery' are likely to please me! I dismiss any silliness with romance or whatnot.

My beefs match yours and as we converse, we will see whether or not either of us tallied more than the other. There are enough for me to give three stars. Ill preparedness was a big one and you impressed me with serendipity, by echoing me, Kerri. I need to refresh whether or not I wrote the example of the Egypt and Africa travels en vogue in the 1800s but it was in mind! You added even better, commoner examples: train travel, horse coaches and carriages, boating. I would add mountain climbing and camping.

More than that, a smart person does not move an inch without a first aid kit and simple bag. They would do a test run before getting out of the time machine seat. The traveller intended a test but was afraid of stopping. A short view of who gets elected next or better, how our families are doing, is much more profound and useful.

We agree authors don't need to be detailed about everything. I would have been satisfied with a general year and think it is odd the scientist had a way to display one exactly. He had to have had a clockface or digital reader, which means he could set an alarm. Is there any other way to show time? I refute that he could invent a machine for travelling around time and not think of automating it and its model, to return and function without someone in the seat. However, you & I named a large amount of detail he should have given, small and big.

He should have explained how the machine worked generally. This classic is not as impressive as it was credited for being, if he could not think of that. We also discussed that a machine is less creative than other ways to use time windows, especially with our spirits and with nature.

Further to my three star conclusion, we share the biggest criticisms. The scientiest was too dumb to be cautious with fire, he didn't watch Weena carefully enough, and it was clear in the novel that he presumed her missing or dead rather than looking for her, or returning in time for her. It was clumsy on HG's part at least, to make it sound like he only peered left and right and decided he could not find her. He lacked the faith in her people's strength and resourcefulness, for her to return home, no matter how terrible the ordeal was.

We agree that no one would allow their life to be threatened, whether or not being treated like prey was old news. Cows, turkies, chickens, pigs, fish all cry and fight for mercy and escape. How hunters / farming killers who view them as food don't hear and see their voices and faces, revolts me. Not to digress, I am saying no one lays down to die as if it were an acceptable fact of life. Those who might be cornered or stiff in fear do pray for a way out and watch for one. I wrote of many relieved birds and mice on our land.

People in natural, light environments would be strong and tall but don't miss what I said about underground animals and insects thriving where they are supposed to, too. I said they might look pale or whatnot to us but some underground beings are plump, fit, and beautiful. They are experts at making their way under the earth and eating and drinking what they need to and only seem strange to us. It is only when creature who belong in the light, don't get enough of it, that they might weaken, come to think of it. I am a city Cousin who adapted to the country by choosing to live among animals and trees, who are all beloved by me. :)

I need you to remind me of the entire escape details. I remembered a crowbar from the museum I presume but not that a door had already been opened. Did he sit on the seat and leave? Please remind me. I could reread but let's say you owe me for putting me in a 1.5 month position of discussing this without the fresh recall I anticipated enjoying! ;)

Yes, plants were not only grown widely in the Victorian age for food and assisted by greenhouses. Flowers were profuse for pleasure and medicinally and what is more, you likely know food plants and seeds and flowers were transplanted from foreign lands. If there was no concept of the Earth's fertility changing when HG mused about one potential, far future; natural and domestic folliage should be well on its way. The main question that emerges is: did HG view this as a utopia or distopia? Was he exploring a society that was so far ahead we couldn't understand them instantly, or was his exploration portraying intelligence and resourcefulness as falling behind modern advancements? Was he saying modernity sometimes dips back to rudimentary environments and priorities? Was he thinking of (whatever those peoples' names were) as societies like the Mayans, whose pyramid designing awesomeness had retired? Mayans continue to live in Mexico, whom I was proud to meet. However, they seem to live simply instead of resembling their engineers and architects, whose lasting work still baffles us.

Was HG saying natural food sources were lower? I recall amazing flowers being in wondrous profusion, which could not all have been wild or weeds. My favourite question for both of us to work out is: what do you think is the best plan for returning to save or see Weena?

Another criticism that occurs to me is how obvious it seems, to look for written or computer references to the societal changes that evolved. Star Trek frequently looked far back in time to see the history of places, races, and specific people. Their computer was handy, whereas the scientist would need another trip, to a city or place with archives. However, it would have made a better novel I think, if he had found the records and explained a little of the human changes he observed.

I am not keen to read any more of him, knowing his biases and shortcomings; unless we discover this was an early novel, with room to grow and plot better. Perhaps his drafts were as poorly planned as the novel's voyages, which was the cause of explanation scarcity. However, I admired the short story my paperback came with, "The Man Who Could Work Miracles", as much as the main feature. It received three stars for similar reasons: tons to admire, some things to criticize or refute as logical action. Most especially, it needed even at its length, simple detail on its major storylines.

I hope to see you in e-mail soon, Kerri, my friend! Happy birthday to our beloved McCartney tomorrow, with all of our family's hearts! Love, Momma & Dad.

Time Travel novels:
- "The Tides Of Time" by Zana Bell
- "The Time Of The Ghost" by Diana Wynne Jones
- "Charlie Bone And The Time Twister" by Jenny Nimmo
- "A Chase In Time" by Sally Nicholls
- "Night Watch" and "Thief Of Time" by Terry Pratchett
- "Locke & Key" series by Joe Hill (although the overall series is not about time travel)
- "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" by Ransom Riggs
- "11/22/63" and "The Gunslinger" by Stephen King
- "Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban"
- "Can I Get There By Candlelight?" by Jean Slaughter Doty
- "Playing Beatie Bow" by Ruth Park
- "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens

Options I have but still have to read are:
- "Life After Life" by Kate Atkinson
- "The Time Traveller's Wife" by Audrey Niffenegger
- "Kindred" by Octavia Butler
- "Outlander" by Diana Gabaldon

I'm sure there are more, and I will add them if I think of them!

I ran out of time expected for the actual conversation, although I enjoyed making my list!

Yes I read all three messages, and they were all thought provoking and gave me new angles to look at the story from, which was was great! I will have more time to reply properly tomorrow, and look forward to it, both what I didn't cover from the last one, and your newer additions too.

Happy Birthday to beautiful McCartney! 🎂💖

Happy Birthday to beautiful McCartney! 🎂💖

Thank you from our cat family, Kerri. Happy birthday to beautiful McCartney indeed! His, Spirit's, & Marigold's Daughters are sunning side by side against the back door on this bright day in a lustrous green vista. It is a sacred, blessed, amazing day as blue as McCartney's loving, powerful, loyal, expressive eyes.

Petal, Angel, & I sang happy birthday to him and Ron wished the same with me this morning. Now, we just remember him in love, sweetness, harmony, and peace. He is a music and flower lover, our dear boy! He always wanted to spend time exploring flowers, spices, and books he found at home.

We are grateful for the love and joy of this wonderful Son. He might have been 24 on this day, without diabetes complications that looked like arthritis instead. He was tiptop in every other way, never took any medicine in all his years. We appreciate that he was just about 22 years-old, two years ago.

McCartney's Son, Love, is celebrating with him and his other two cat parents in Heaven, as well as with their Grandma, my dear Mom. With all our love, pride, loyalty, joy, and gratitude in return: Momma, Ron, Angel, Petal, and Conan.

It is fun to see names and authors of whom I have not heard. I have heard of Diana Wynne Jones, Jenny Nimmo, and Terry Pratchett but did not know they had time travel stories. Here are the novels I have. They are all neatly shelved for future reading.

P.S. If you ever make lists for me to formally post, I'll ask you to ditch dashes and "by" and for every word to be capatlized. ;)

"Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children" Ransom Riggs
"11/22/63", "The Gunslinger" Stephen King
"Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban" Joanne Rowling
"Playing Beatie Bow" Ruth Park
"A Christmas Carol" Charles Dickens
"Life After Life" Kate Atkinson
"The Time Traveller's Wife" Audrey Niffenegger.

Happy birthday to your precious McCartney! I hope you had a special day remembering and honouring him, and I send you all my love. I have a busy day today, sorting some newer books, hanging door hooks on my wardrobe door and then going through my clothes, a few hours in town during a torrential downpour, a nice walk with Mum and Izzy, and a somewhat productive day of getting through most of my little tasks about the house. I have my actual discussion points to add in the morning, I've got some notes written down!

I read a few more stories by H. G Wells in my collection today while I was waiting in the car. One in particular, "The Door In The Wall" I absolutely loved. Did your edition have that one?

The Traveller took the crowbar from the museum yes. When he discovered the statue was open, he rushed in and examined the machine, checking it over. As he was doing so, the doors closed. When he realised he could light his match, he had to scramble to put the knob back on, get into the saddle, and make it work in the dark. As the hands were reaching for him, he managed to activate the time Machine and move away in time.

The childlike race is called Eloi and the underground one Morlocks.

I especially value e-mail messages I can keep but it was nice that you were first to say nice things about our dear McCartney on his birthday here. You know how much we miss everyone who is not here for us to see.

I said the only other story my paperback has is "The Man Who Could Work Miracles". It is great but for lack of explanation, also received three stars. I'm not eager to read any more of HG but "The Door In The Wall" sounds exciting.

A subject our conversation includes is how ingenius it is realistically, to come up with a great idea if you could not build any detail into how it works or was manufactured, like a time machine. I could name a great plot idea but not put anything into it. We applaud HG for thinking of a time machine but he describes nothing more than its attractive seat. The flux capaciter and 200 gigawats of lightening are utterly made-up, therefore the modern year 1985 cannot be cited as an excuse for filling in its workings. Hand in hand with complete and clearly demonstrated time travel causes and effects, we can picture this made-up world and the logistics are sound to us, even though they are imaginary. I say the same of the amazing detail that goes into the Star Trek world.

HG had a great idea but is not very creative, with a cap on all the inventions and musings of his short story. He tells the simplest basics how the Eloi and Morlocks are: appearance, what they eat, where they sleep, how they behave in urgency and assigns immature black & white opposites that takes no skill. There is no other detail. We can excuse that on his short trip to 8000 England but most authors work out much more observed information than that. We cannot excuse limiting logistics to a seat and a removable lever, on a machine "a scientist" is proud to have built in his home lab, a guy who sounds like he would talk his head off with detail.

I feel that we admired HG for putting a name to a fairytale for the first time, that everyone has. As I wrote earlier, I could say in private exactly what I would improve and prevent in my world, if I knew a way that was approved by God. Whenever I hear people rave about the Beatles, I agree they are classics with some good songs but I disagree that they are "must love" for everyone and I have heard far better. Some academic called HG a classic and that reputation got passed down. It is like annoying readers boasting that they gussed who a villain was, with no concept of who - what - when - where -why. Anyone can name A, B, C in a story that only has a few options, right? The background is what makes a story or a person's clue solving ability, superficial or talented.

I was curious about what you were occupied with this week and am glad it is fun. It will take me awhile to make space for our recent book scoring triumphs.

I look forward to getting back to the conversation. Once or twice, I saved your e-mail as the ultimate treat and finished less exciting things on-line for about an hour. I started peeking, after finding it was only a few lines. ;) I do appreciate a word, if you have things to attend to. In Manitoba, we understand summer is to be savoured and go outside as much as we can.

Maybe my goal has not been clear with you & Shirin, so I will reassure you I don't want to stick to a subject. My hope is we meet when we are free to talk constantly while a book is fresh and finish sooner. When our commitment is short, we will soon do other things afterwards. A relative visiting is special and maybe unexpected, so small updates are understood at that time. When friends are obviously blowing through other books but hardly adding to a conversation, I don't feel like we are focusing and finishing as briefly as we can be.

I respect preferences and always ask "when are you free": is this when you can constantly post for about a week? Once or twice a day, dwindling to fewer posts, is what I aim for. You are the most respectful person, so you must have thought you told me you wanted to switch to TV books, which would be okay. You did not: it was baffling to see 20 books after the Anne Perry one! I tried to sound funny rather than annoyed, by commenting humorous reactions. If we go nuts a few days, I relish talking in real time, while we are enthusiastic. I have a lot to do in the summer especially. Hugs! :)

I definitely have emails to catch up on soon, as well as physical post. My main distraction recently has been cleaning, which turned into a full organise the house project, mostly done now. Most of the books I've read during that period have been audio, I really didn't mean to delay this read for so long. When "One Day" and "The Talented Mr Ripley" arrived, they had been two books I had ordered online, and I was enthusiastic when they arrived that I prioritised them first. I am sorry that I didn't think to send you a note about that, either here or via email. I hope you are relishing your summer so far. We have had a few welcome sunny, somewhat warm days, a nice break from the rain, although today was grey again. Despite that, I appreciated the crisp air, and being able to throw the windows open wide, since it barely rained. This week I was sorting clothes, and was also in town a few times. Nana visited for a nice afternoon, and a few other tasks and distractions popped up.

I'm one of those who ranks The Beatles very highly, however I hate the phrase/expectation of must love, especially if it results in someone being dismissed or undermined if they prefer something else. The boasting of identifying the villain made me laugh! I've thought similar things before, especially when it seems like they are missing everything else the story had to offer. Another consequence of that sometimes is the authors, perhaps in response, who prioritise a twist, or multiple twists, at the expense of everything else in the story. I don't think someone should have to automatically like something just because it is deemed a classic. I can see why "The Time Machine" is often considered a classic, but it is true that he skips over any explanation at all as to how the machine works, or even why it was built. The little I've seen of Star Trek certainly shows more depth in many respects, and "Back To The Future" did an incredible job of providing explanations viewers buy into, in a way Wells avoided.

I think I did interpret your sentence about worry/prayer as you explained, particularly the prayers are answered part, which is sometimes a welcome thing to remember!

I don't think the books I give higher ratings to comes from a lack of discernment, perhaps just that I am measuring in a different way to you. I don't really object to anything in fiction, and don't mind what an author might choose to write about, whether it is unpleasant, brutal, bizarre, or the other extreme of rather serene or uplifting. Moby-Dick was one I really wasn't sure if I would enjoy it or not, it's a classic yes, but certainly a much debated one. Many people find it boring, in part because it's not a straightforward novel - it's much weirder than I had expected, and well worth the length of time it took me to read it. It is quite graphic in some of it's whaling scenes, but ultimately the major of the people fare as badly as the whales.
I respect that some people don't want to read it, and I get it to a point, because I avoid certain things, although more in films/tv, such as medical shows, gore/torture type horror films, and most sporting type films, although that one has some exceptions, depending on the movie/who is in it. However I do appreciate the idea of exploring such things in a fictional context.

Your point about many underground creatures being plump, fit and beaiitisnof course accurate! I suppose I am somewhat wary of the crates in this book because I suddenly remembered what their food source was. The villain aspect does feel too black and white, yet the realisation he comes to is effectively unsettling. There are many underground creatures I find interesting though. I went around yesterday collecting a few worms that had washed onto the concrete during the heavy rain, and were now struggling as it dried out in the burst of sun. I scooped them onto a leaf and put them back by the dirt/grass, so hopefully they ventured back down to their natural environment! 🪱

I don't know if Wells expressed this is, or if it was decided for him, but the Internet deems the book post-apocalyptic distopian fiction. I hope he would agree and that was what he was going for! I certainly read it as distopian, which is why I wonder what his utopian views were. That idea of Modernity dipping back to the more rudimentary is interesting. I hasn't thought of that, but I feel there is a sense to it. The Mayan comparison is not one that would have occurred to me, yet I feel like it could fit for the Eloi. I not sure if he was saying natural food sources are lower or not - he's dismissive of them in a way, yet he is of the Morlocks too. Apparently he has other stories that seem more overtly pro-vegetarian, most notably “The Chronic Argonauts”, which unfortunately isn't in my copy, as it would be interesting to compare. I have found an ebook copy as well as PDF versions online, so I will read it once I finish the book.

I think the best way to save Weena would be to either take her from the forest while his other self is unconscious, which would leave his other self to have the same beliefs as in the story, so as not to make things potentially dangerous. However ideally the would not happen at all. I wonder also if he could talk to himself, during one of his nights alone. This is presuming he would worry about encountering his past self. If that doesn't matter, he could try and prevent himself from many of the myriad of mistakes he made, from saving the matches to taking more notice of the people around him. What would your approach be?

I'm not sure when the automated church bells came in, but Google does say that Sweden began to move over to automated Bell ringing in the late 1940s, but I'm not sure if that is indicative of all countries. Later than I expected though. I believe it used to be job in bigger churches, but perhaps volunteers did it in smaller communities?

Yes, definitely write out "things I would correct if I could take my knowledge of how my family life goes" via email if you wish to. Certainly such personal thoughts would not be suited to sharing here, but I would be honoured to read then if you feel comfortable. I sometimes write about similar things in my journals, or on paper that I later shred and carefully dispose of. I do think writing things down can be tremendously helpful, and sharing provided we feel comfortable with who we are sharing with.

I hope your gardening has been going well. It must be incredibly rewarding as you work through getting everything planted and provided with what it needs to flourish.

I have watched less time travel shows and films, probably some, but it's an idea should seek out more. I do want to watch "Dr. Who" at some point, as I watched a documentary about it, and rather unexpectedly found myself deeply emotionally invested in the brief clips they were showing. This was from the Matt Smith era, although I would probably have to start earlier than that. My Nana says my Uncle used to watch it as a kid, hiding behind the couch during the scarier parts! Star Trek appeals of course. There is both a movie and a TV show of "The Time Travellers Wife" but whether I am interested depends on whether I enjoy the book. I did like "Inception" and "Interstellar".

I am happy to awaken to all the wonderful things you wrote, dear Kerri! Thank you for saying you'll let me know if you feel like reading or doing something else when we had expected to have a book discussion: that is all I wanted.

My morning routine is looking at e-mail and Goodreads, including seeing how you are doing, so the pull to fit it in is strong even though I have a lot to do, similar to what you breezed. I am impressed with all your clothes weeding, book sorting, hook hanging, and general tidying. Add gardening and a packed library building that needs to be suitable for summer customers and I echo your to do list. If Ron saw this, he would wonder why I didn't gallop through our home and loosen our space as quickly as you did. I will get back to it after we are home. Not turning on the PC in the morning has saved a lot of time. If e-mail programs or other things won't load, I will turn to other things that need more attention and which are not time wasters.

Anyway, preferences and moods are welcome to change. I wanted to be sure you didn't think I hoped to pin anyone to discussions. I would rather concentrate in a shorter timeline, which frees us to read something else after a little break, or do things in real life. :)

I am finally going to the city, with a few important errands. There is much Ron & I need to do here in the early summer week-ends especially and we each inwardly sighed about going but I am glad Father's Day pushes me to town. It is time to see my Dad, even though I prefer we visit at home. (You know where in e-mail). I am excited about seeing him, taking care of business, and the drive with Ron generally. I hope your Dad has a great Father's Day with you and all his kids. :)

Everything you have written is so compelling to me, I am going to sit down in my housecoat, with coffee and cereal and enjoy writing back to you, Kerri! At least about the items you discussed herein. Prepareing for our day trip will be easy. Never mind taking turns: don't hesitate to add anything that occurs to you, or to reply to other things. What a treat it is, to come on and enjoy anything you have left for me and I know, vice versa.

We have had a lot of rain too, which protects us from Canada's recent forest fires elsewhere in the last few years. It has our late spring gardens sprouting beautifully as soon as the sun rises. I have gathered the pots, flowerboxes, and soil I need to do the rest: which I do at the kitchen table to avoid mosquitoes. I am in marsh and forest country! I guess New Zealand has none, because you are surrounded by ocean and probably interior lakes and fish eat the larvae. I was surprised when we drove to one of our countless lakes and Ron told me that the fish remove mosquitoes. Windy and sunny days push them away too.

I would probably have no trouble getting into “Dr. Who” but am picky about science fiction and watch so much TV, my digital recordings have become a nightly habit that usurped reading for two weeks. I only read a night! I hoped to pass your 50 books but have read nothing since reaching 45 books. I have not heard of Matt Smith, the character or actor.

I watched “Friends” reruns whenever it appeared, to savour and marvel at Matty Perry's genius and talent. Then you got me into “The Graham Norton Show”, when I learned how to use digital recording. I save “Finding Your Roots” too, which would be hard to catch otherwise. “Family Ties” will be over in a few episodes, which I watch on air on week-days.

What I am head over heels about is “The Office”, often going to bed like I did last night at 3:30 AM. I love John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, Rainn Wilson, and Ed Helms. The new character, Pete, dating Erin is likeable too. I dreamed about it, hard to help if I fall asleep after a binge of it! It conveniently airs four episodes a day and it takes nothing at all to have a lot of them saved up. I have no interest in the British one. I found them dry and uninterested the one time I tuned in, even though I find Ricky Gervais himself absolutely funny.

I know there is a “Time Traveller's Wife” film that is somewhat recent. I hope it has a happy ending where they can live together, as I said. I will read it and if you want to pour over it together, let me know. What I would like to read with you next, when we can harmonize our schedules is the hopefully very fun “Confessions Of A Shopaholic”! I am up for fun and am enjoying this classic.

I guess I wondered if you hardly graded anything lower than three stars because I haven't seen it and visit your space daily. I don't think you were notified of numerous reviews and updates on which I sometimes comment, or you are saving a reply session like for e-mail. You post three stars more often, perhaps due to binging. I affects me, thus I set a thrice annual author limit, unless I can't help myself. We have so many favourites and such a blessed abundance of books, it is easy to read someone else, isn't it?

Grading differently is likely but I wonder, does part of your grade not come from pleasure and comparison? I love uniqueness, like things that are not written as stories, so I understand you being pleasantly surprised to appreciate the way "Moby Dick" was written. I also know you don't object to things in literature and don't penalize authors for whale death in a book on that subject. Fair point about people faring as badly. However, you do object to both in real life and could not deem them favoured reading. So my question turns to comparison. Think of your favourite stories or books in the world, treasured likely because they brought you joy and made your heart leap. Do you equal a grim, evil novel with that? If I love other novels a million times better, they can't receive the same grade. I do often remark that the five star system is unacceptable and forces parody that is untrue, especially since I find half stars nonsense. Am I right in thinking "Moby Dick" would not receive ten stars like your most uplifting favourites, with room on that scale? I definitely use three stars for novels that are not equal.

It is sweet your Uncle loved Star Trek. How long did he follow it? It began in the 1960s, went into films in 1980, and "The Next Generation" débuted in 1987. "Deep Space 9", "Voyager", "Enterprise" followed. Ron & I are sorry "Discovery" ended a few Thursdays ago. I saved all of it on DVR to watch at leisure. It was wonderful! Also wonderful but partially missed was "Picard", a sequel to "The Next Generation". Patrick Steward concludes his autobiography with the announcement of a film.

I appreciate the convenience of the DVR feature of our new account but they are terrible for wanting payment for most movies, which we will not. We would rather pay for blu-rays we keep and rewatch, with bonus content. Movies seem to be several years old before our satellite TV airs them and I seldom notice those channels. I was surprised last week to come upon "Elvis" with Austin Butler! Elvis is who our family and extended relatives loved, Kerri.

We have a passing respect for the Beatles but tired quickly of the hype for them and of their overplayed boppy, typically English sounds. Don't interpret this as a countrywide insult, remembering that tons of other English artists are my favourites: David Bowie, Elton John, Robert Palmer, Duran Duran.... I'll regain ground with you by revealing I appreciate their solo work a lot more. :) I loved many more songs by George Harrison, the Travelling Wilburys, and Ringo Starr! And of course the Beatles lasted a few eras, to produce some wonderful songs in a variety of moods. If you love them, I know it is not because you think they have to be a staple.

We are so much an Elvis household, with Uncle Fred easily being his biggest fan, that I ACTUALLY REMEMBER THE NEWS OF HIS DEATH. And Kerri, please consider that at that time, I was only 4 years-old! I was crushed when Lisa Marie died for so many reasons. I didn't know she had two little kids until I looked them up a few days ago. I do know she was only about 4 years older than me, which is far too young to go. Anyway, the movie shocked me and I am still reeling from the grim variety of things I learned. I thought it was about an unbelievable manager who got promoters used to paying Elvis high prices. I thought he helped heighten his fame, which endures today.

It was as far as possible from that. The manager tricked Elvis and his young parents into an unheard of 50% deal, to pay his gambling debts. And because "Colonel Tom Parker" was an illegal immigrant without a passport, HE PREVENTED ELVIS FROM FULFILLING HIS DREAM OF PERFORMING OVERSEAS! I am stunned to learn the King of rock & roll played nowhere outside his home country, except 3 cities in Canada, where you needed no passport between us; certainly not in 1958. I was very affected by that film, including learning that Elvis died needlessly, when he was only 42; 10 years younger than me! His dearest Mom died of stress and alcohol 10 years earlier, when "Colonel" Parker coaxed him to Germany with the army. What an extreme strategy, to avoid flack for his sexy dancing. The fat, thieving creep (played by Tom Hanks) lived to be 87, until 1997!!!!

He would have found fame without this creep. His songs, performances, and ideas were hits whenever he ignored the guy and used his creative genius. His voice is the smoothest in the world and he is always compelling. I am only heartened that he is with his beloved Mom (and Dad now) and that Lisa Marie is with them as well as her Son. I have two of Lisa's albums and saw compelling interviews with her by Oprah Winfrey. I got a good feel for her personality and beliefs. I liked her very much.

I need to bathe and get my Father's Day card ready, for the hour drive to the city. Seeing Dad is open ended but some business I have to do closes at 4:00 PM. I can happily smell that Ron's week-end vegetarian breakfast is ready. If I don't reply to book conversation posts after I hop into the bath, I covered home and entertainment. :)

I see that it might not rain today but is likelier tomorrow, so Ron & I will do our planting and yard work today. I phoned Dad again, who is just as happy that he will see us on actual Father's Day tomorrow. Thus, I will see what you type right away. :) Also, I will be better organized with Dad's card, picking flowers, and taking digital photographs of Angel & Petal and Mom's favourite wild roses, to show Dad. Dad always wants me to give them pets "on their furry heads" and hugs for him, which is wonderful of him to say and I do it!

Correction, I see your Uncle watched "Dr. Who". Speaking of the ongoing Star Trek shows in past tense made no sense.

I've thought similar things, when it seems like they are missing everything else the story had to offer. The authors prioritise a twist at the expense of everything else in the story.

Wow! Did you see me write this before, Kerri, or are we this much in synch? I don't need surprises to enjoy mysteries and dislike "twists for the sake of keeping readers guessing". If we are instead surprised by a well written, unfathomable story that we can only follow to see how it turns out; that is spectacular.

It is true he skips over any explanation as to how the machine works, or why it was built.

Since your amazement and appreciation of originality, like mine, sometimes trumps weaknesses or plot faults; I am pleasantly surprised three stars are your conclusion. Several stories informed your grade but it is a fun feeling to agree.

I agree about eerie moods that were conveyed successfully. I understand the weight of learning that the Morlock eat the Eloi, if they can be caught at night. It lacks inventiveness for an aggressive people to sound like the word "Warlock". Wicca and other Pagans are not reviled nor should they be but in 1895, the church would have thought blackly of that word. In that respect, I could see this novel generating a spooky feeling, as well as the plan and race to get the machine back. Surely everyone worries about that more than any other story part.

We harmonize the conclusion that there is a lot to admire and attribute to HG for thinking of some ideas first, that we know of. However, we saw that they were facades without any layers or structure. Like pulling back the curtain on a man instead of the wizard of Oz, the ingredients in this food for thought were paltry. He proposed find ideas he, however, did not know how to formuate, likewise in “The Man Who Could Work Miracles”. You have read several more stories than me. What do you make of them?

“Back To The Future” did an incredible job of providing explanations, in a way HG avoided.

Yes! We KNOW how this fiction works thoroughly, enabling me to correct something for you. The scientist took his machine home in one trip, one timeline. His round trip was complete. If the same person returned to get Weena, there would be no duplicate of himself. I think you misunderstood the duality of “Back To The Future II”. Follow this.

Biff Tanner stole “Greys Sport’s Almanac” from Marty in 2015 and drove to 1955 to give it to himself. Biff had a duplicate because he visited from a different timeline. He returned himself to the 2015 where he belonged but young Biff skewed the future. He won sporting bets, ruled a corrupt town, and George McFly died.

The original Marty drove home courtesy of lightening in November 1955. He found 1985 changed and needed to restore it. He noticed the difference, because he had travelled out of it. He had a duplicate because he used the flux capaciter FROM THE SKEWED 1985. His trip met that short duration when the original Marty had not driven home yet in November 1955. That is the only reason he was in duplicate. When he took the almanac back, he returned to the rightful 1985, with both his parents alive. The second Marty and all the negativity of the skewed 1985 were prevented.

It is similar to he & his Siblings not being born and disappearing from a photograph, if his parents did not soon fall in love with one another. After all this, we can't except "the machine had a nice seat and portable lever", as the total sum of available decription, could we! I would love to know who authored the screenplay. The novel I have read was based off of Robert Zumekis' film.

Your rescue of Weena is sound without a duplicate scientist. :) Did you follow? I was 13 when the films came out and had decades to contemplate them. Star Trek also exercises the mind really well. How would I retrieve Weena? Let's think of the main obstacles.

Do we stay in the seat? There would be no expedition, story, or friendship. Might we move it across the yard or street in 1895, knowing where to avoid the statue in 8000? We could. Let's look at other preventative tactics.

Should we avoid the walk to the museum? No. It is the most informative and interesting aspect, for me. If we posit that the machine would likely be snuck into the statue, unless we parked it farther away in 1895, the walk was necessary.

You are right that the scientist needed a complement of lanterns, attire, blankets, crowbar, and whatnot. On his second trip, he would have the foreknowledge to gather whatever he needed. I trust you agree to avoid a gun, with flexible time in which to handle things right. Preserving life is always the point, anywhere.

I think we could do better than prevent a fire and keep Weena close to us. We could not bring Weena to the museum. I would want him to go there for research, if history was available digitally or physically. Remember, this future exceeds the computer age by 6000 years. Was it an error that the protagonist went all the way there, when the statue was beside the village? Was a crowbar really all he got out of the bungled expedition? Besides doing diddly about finding factual archives, he didn't find a sealed building for the Eloi either. I think that was his reason for going: a home they could close against the Morlock, wasn't it? They would have thought of that, even if it was past walking distance. They would have grown up in locked, secure, guarded places.

Now that I think of it, bringing a crowbar might be all that was needed to regain his seat anytime! The scientist feared searching tunnels but knew later, it was aboveground, in the statue. Was it a mistake that the Morlock took it in the daytime, or was it dark enough in the statue for them to be awake?

I recall the biggest error being - besides travelling all that way for a locked home or a crowbar - that the walk took until nighttime. It is easy to avoid a nocturnal being (except by statues). Carry Weena to make the trip faster, or see what vehicles the Eloi had. It was 8000 for goodness sakes. A horse, donkey, burro, bicycle, or something faster than bipedal locomotion ought to be available.

I thought of camping and finishing everything in daylight. The protagonist couldn't guarantee the Morlock might not see their campsite earlier in the route.

I conclude that moving the time machine in the past is best. Leave in the daylight. The guy could test a decade or two to see when the Morlock became a problem. I think there was an explanation of why the Morlock became cannibals. Spend the night at home in 1895 or a little into the past or future. Explore by day, away from statue, or seal it during the duration of your visit.

The futuristic solution HG might not have imagined is the scientist going a little way, to see if he added features. He might develop a cloaking device so his vessel could be invisible, or an armoured shield or some other reason it was too heavy or awkward for a group of humans to move. He could postpone his Eloi visit until that was ready, or bring back the specifications to build in his present day. Most readily and easily, he could fashion something out of steel, similar to chaining a bicycle to prevent theft. It looked like a bicycle with a roof, most recently seen in “The Big Bang Theory”.

How do these options grab you? That is one of Mom's expressions: “How does that grab you”? Perhaps like loosening a pickle jar, you will pour fourth more possibilities now, with which to entertain me, Kerri! :-) Her Dad pictured e-mail in the late 1980s, in a letter I have.

You are just like me, for saving moving worms and insects out of water and other places, to safety for their kinds! I love you for a lot of reasons, my good friend and you made my heart sing even more by your act of kindness, Kerri! Yes, most underground creatures except badger, bear, and snake dens are harmless. They are in their element where they belong and may we long thrive where we belong.

I disagree with the dystopian and post-apocalyptic genres and am surprised to read the second in particular. The scientist and Eloi were only in danger from one hunter and domestic risks like water. It was a joyous, easy life; especially if they moved somewhere with strong walls at night.

It sounds like their homes had no locks, which was stupid if they had generations to prepare, build, guard defensively. Many are forest dwellers and marsh residents. Our walls and windows protect us from insects, bears, rain, heat, and untrustworthy humans. Ineffective, basic habitation 6000 years from now is another story weakness, wouldn't you say?

Would you prioritize seeing a future near enough to be helpful to your family?

I am unfamiliar with “Interstellar” and “Inception”. The lists of television and films with which to entertain ourselves is replete. :)

Yes, we were blessed to walk upon three Mayan marvels in 2004. You have our photographs! Wow, I did not remember that we travelled there four months before our beloved, amazingly unique Spirit was born. Timmy must have babysat McCartney at our apartment, or Mom & Dad had him over. Memories, loved-ones, positive experiences, and real as well as fictional stories: this is a good life! Love, your friend, Carolyn.

Father's Day isn't until 1st of September in New Zealand and Australia, but I hope you and your family enjoy yours! Every year I see some mention of Father's day online around this time, and have a brief panic, thinking I lost track of the date, then relief when I remember! 🤣I'm glad your Dad is looking forward to your visit, and hope you had fun getting your photos ready to show him.

We do have marshes and forests here, but nothing as vast as what Canada has - in pictures I marvel at the sheer size of the landscape in Canada, especially the forests. It is good you have had plenty of rain this year to help with fire risk. I hadn't known about the fish eating the mosquitoes, but that does make sense.

I was pleased to see you are blasting through "The Office", which has become a favourite of mine too. I somehow missed it during it's initial run, and only watched it for the first time in 2021. I first watched in on Netflix, but now it plays on TV as well, and I am always happy to watch again. I especially love Rainn Wilson, Steve Carell, all of them really. I didn't like Andy at first, although I think that was the point, but Ed Helms won me over and he became a favourite. Just hearing the theme songs puts me in a better mood.

Both "The Time Traveller's Wife" and "Confessions Of A Shopaholic" sound good, and the later paticularly fun! 😀

I'm not sure what I would rate "Moby-Dick" on a ten star scale. It has certainly stayed with me, vividly realised. I wouldn't deem it evil, as it was ultimately about obsession and revenge, and fairly strongly highlights the disaster of that pursuit. I would consider it amongst my favourites, although not with the kind of uplifting nostalgia of a book beloved from childhood.

The Elvis movie has just arrived on two of our streaming services here, and I will watch it soon. Elvis was a singer I really loved as a kid, without having any idea of the Iconic, revered status he held. I just loved the music, and later on realised he was famous in a way that very few people ever are.
I was very sad to read of Lisa Marie passing so recently, and so young. I too hadn't realised her younger children were still so young. I knew she had lost an older son to suicide, and never seemed too really recover from that, understandably, but I hadn't known she the younger two.
I've seen a few interviews with Lisa Marie over the years, and thought she seemed smart, funny, and interesting to listen to. I have sympathy for her living family, it must have been awful, but I hope she is at peace reunited with her son and father.

Gosh, I knew the Colonel was shady, but I hadn't realised he prevented him from performing overseas! I had read that the way the deals were set up were terrible, for Elvis anyway, but I hadn't realised it was that drastic! I recently bought two books about Elvis, the first being "Last Train to Memphis: The Rise of Elvis Presley" by Peter Guralnick, however I think I will watch this movie first, as it seems like a good starting point. I'm often taken aback when reading things like that at how shameless some people are about taking advantage of someone like that, having complete control of their life. It seems like a bad marriage, if you know what I mean, but sometimes the contracts are more iron clad!
I'm not sure if you've heard of the author Peter S Beagle, I have some of his books but haven't read them yet. His manager did some shady dealings and when Peter sued him, the manager was found liable for financial elder abuse, fraud, and breach of fiduciary duty, and Peter was awarded a large sum, but the manager had filed for bankruptcy, so he didn't actually get the money. And he had to fight to get the intellectual property for his own books back, which made my blood boil. It's different in may ways, but reading of it a year or so ago, I immediately thought of Elvis.

Did you find Austin Butler good in the role? I can imagine it must have been incredibly daunting for him.

I think I have seen you mention the twist thing somewhere before, and I was pleased someone else was pointing it out! I don't mind a twist, but I'd much rather character depth, and caring about the what, why, how, etc as much as the potentially unexpected who. Sometimes a twist works beautifully, but there is more to a good story than the twist.

Yes, I felt three stars overall seemed right. There were two stories I loved, a couple I liked a lot, then the rest were mostly three and two stars. The ones I liked best were his longer short stories, where he allowed himself more time to build the world, the two shortest I didn't care for much at all. “The Man Who Could Work Miracles” sounds interesting, and I will look for a PDF of that too. One of the stories about a race of entirely blind people was well done I thought, as he thought creatively about a world where all people are blind, and how it would work. The man who literally falls into their community initially thinks he will become a vital figure, as he can see, but they do not understand the concept of sight, nor care about it, as they have their own ways and are not helpless as he assumed. I also found the ant story interesting - it seemed to be a new, more evolved species of ant slowly taking over large parts of the world. They were military like, and some wore little backpacks. I know ants have this military-style trait, so it felt plausible. I remember reading though that ants send their elderly to fight, not their young, as they view the elderly as disposable. H. G. Wells seems to have been interested in evolution, and what might be next. I hope it's not killer ants though!

Ah yes, if the Traveller doesn't have to avoid himself, I think he would have to save Weena again, or keep her from being in the river at all perhaps. There is so much he could do more smoothly, and in particular he would know not to start a damn fire! I would also leave any underground exploring alone, but take far more time in that museum if possible - without Weena, to avoid putting her in danger again. He also might actually learn how to speak to her, and the others, perhaps immerse himself in their culture. Or perhaps he might find out when the race split, then head back to try and prevent it from happening. Although I suppose that would wipe Weena and her people out. I would be tempted to try and locate the machine to be parked within the museum, although getting that right could be tricky. I think a gun would present too much danger, even if he only kept it as a precaution. If someone picked it up, not knowing what it was, that would be disastrous. His best bet to protect in the circumstances he is expecting would be a reliable source of bright light. If possible I would be prefer if he didn't disturb the Morlocks. If he taught Weena about fire, and how to safely contain it, they could build fires at night, like people used to do to help keep wild animals at bay. He could perhaps suggest a watch system too, many simple steps they could take to increase their safety.

I think it was dark enough in the statue for them to wait there, as it was pitch black when shut, and probably dim when partially opened.
I think all animals were dead (although how if the earth is still flourishing and sustaining people?) but a bike or something would be incredibly useful.
I live the idea of travelling forward less far, to gradually improve the time Machine in various ways. Anything to either cloak it, make it invisible, or increase it's mobility, would be great. He doesn't have to immediately leap right back into the same situation, he had vast amounts of time and time periods to figure things out.

One thing I thought was interesting about the story, although he mentioned it briefly, is this: "The ideal of preventative medicine was attained. Diseases had been stamped out. I saw no evidence of any contagious diseases during all my stay." - - it would be a good idea for him to try and figure out when this ideal had been reached, and how. Perhaps he might prefer to stay in time somewhere after this point has been reached.

Yes, I think their lax security seems poorly thought out. Even in particularly dark times in early human history people knew of personal safety, and attempts were made to secure buildings. Guarding against wild animals for centuries implies this is something people figure out quickly enough when it is necessary.

I think I would prioritise seeing a future near enough to actually help my family, and it surprises me that the traveler so happily blasts so far ahead, without even considering this. It would be more appealing to me, especially initially, and especially to feel like I could achieve something useful.

I'm glad you reminded of the BTTF II plot points, yes that would be where my confusion came from! I just looked it up, and the story was by Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale, but Bob Gale write the actual screenplay. I'd happily buy a published version of the screenplays for that series, it would be awesome to read!

It is nice to see some updates from you before my trip to Winnipeg. We are unrushed today and Ron was able to mow the east field for the first time this year. A storm last night has brought rain puddles again, so the timing was good.

A few clarifications. You & I were agreeing we dislike plot twists to follow a fad. I said I don't need them but enjoy surprises as much as you do, if they are well written.

I am not new to “The Office” or “Friends”. I don't know about the latter but am surrpised you just recently saw the former. I got aboard them later than many folks but watched the last few seasons of both as they aired.

I am marvelling that Jim, Pam, Dwight, and Andy are taking hold of my heart more than before. I have become a superfan who watches whatever I catch on air. Next on DVR, I rewind what zipped by quickly, or repeat scenes that are funny and amazing. The originality and cleverness wow me. Steve Carell is great but Michael Scott could get too awkward to take. The stories after he left are wonderful, with exception of Will Ferrell's brief arc. Either he was meant to be a poor fit or got that way and was removed.

Stories I had not seen or saw some of, are sweet treats. Knowing the story in order makes sense of shows I had seen. It is a good thing our recent second-hand shopping yielded Jenna Fischer's and Mindy Kaling's autiobiographies! I care not a whit for Kelly's, Ryan's, and Angela's they are special people who are close in real life. I know Mindy and BJ Novak were perhaps minor on the show because they were writers and producers. I have no interest in BJ's book but Mindy amazes me and I expect to be blown away by the numerous shows and films this young woman produced.

You know I buy Ron “The Jack Ryan” DVDs, sometimes cruel political thrillers I would not read. However, John Krasinski and his colleagues make them jaw dropping action. Ron & I, no matter what the hour, can't help watching several in a row. It is too bad John and all only made one more season but it sure took work. It is funny seeing his strong, sexy physique there and slim, soft spoken John on “The Office”! I can't wait to buy his “Imaginary Friend” film that he wrote for his & Emily Blunt's Daughters. I am not into horror but would watch “A Quiet Place I, II” with Ron if he get it.

Yes, Bob Gale is credited on the movie based novel but those adaptations are seldom great. I have the name in my review. I am impressed if Bob Gale dreamed up most of the astounding content and am sure the movie makers brainstormed more details together to make sure the story and depiction worked.

I would not want the screenplays because I know the films by heart, as you might surmise! I would be interested in more detail but I guess the novelizations are as close as we get to background stories. I learned a little more about the McFly or Tanner family. My review will tell me.

Come to think of it, I have the second film's paperback, which I bought cheaply as a Christmas gift in case one Cousin appeared for Christmas. When Mom was on Earth, we combined Christmas somewhere. Mark & I see Dad on our own time. Mom had bags of general gifts, as I do. Now, I am curious enough to read it. I have zero interest in Star Trek novels, even if they were complete stories written prior to the shows. I do not know. There are many and do not want them. My interest in science fiction is higher onscreen because it is the actors in whom I fall in love.

Mark Twain surprised me for not writing with humour and grace like I thought he would; at least not in his two “Huckelberry Finn” classics. “Family Ties” had a book banning story, one of the few I like featuring the Sister, Jennifer. She is superfluous but it is worse, if a story features Mallory's dim boyfriend, Nick! He is nice, he grows on you but a bit of him is enough. Anyway, “Huckleberry Finn” was banned, I guess for using the “N word” a lot. Even if I would flinch, I do not object to outdated words, which society was uneducated about in their time. I object to behaviour and minimizing ideals that were always wrong.

When I glanced at my copy and found that kids are getting smacked a lot in the novel, I realized I could not get through it without clenched teeth. I also don't care for authors writing whole novels in broken or accented English. They do not need to force that for readers to understand how various people spoke. Scottish settings are terrible for exaggerating "och" and "wee"! Or English settings twanging "Wud ya like a spot 'o tea, luv"? Cringe! So two Mark Twain novels are in my sell pile in the library. I hope the rest of his work has beautiful writing and his supposedly famous humour.

Speaking of differences, oh my gosh, do I ever get a lot out of “The Graham Norton Show”, Kerri! You know I had downloaded one 2002 episode about Morton Harket at least 15 years ago. You got me curious about his format today, which was the same style as James Corden: everyone chatting together, with a little feature time each. I just love it and Graham rocks at it. Thank goodness I can digitally rewind and try hard to know what the heck some of the guests are saying. I don't know what some of the words mean to begin with, haha.

What educates me especially well is that I do not know most of the European guests. You would think that English language films are broadcast everywhere, even if TV shows are more local. Thus, I learn about neat TV shows I would not have encountered but what surprises me, is all the films that do not come our way. I just love it and thank you for getting me into it, Kerri. I often watch talk shows only based on liking certain artists or projects. I watch every “Graham Norton” show to learn about what is unknown to me in all regards: artists, shows, films, and even music! Some musicians are supposedly famous enough to celebrate 25th anniversaries and I do not know who they are. I love making discoveries and everyone is gracious and funny together! :)

I wanted to tell you never to hesitate to share your enthusiasm about shows or whatnot that I do not watch. I was very happy when you wrote that you were excited to see Jann Arden on “Heartland”. I did not know you were playing her music. I last heard that you listened to Corey Hart's second album. The journal book I gave you will be a treat. :)

I am also hearing that you journal, which is fun to know too. I stopped writing a diary when I was a teenager, after an asshole ex-friend stole and read it (never mind that he smugly returned it). He never dicated my life, no one does; it was merely a turn off at the time. Then, I saw that I have such an outpouring personality already, I did not need to do more of it in writing. It is tiring. I write such thorough letters to chosen family & friends, as you know well, that YOU are the legacy of my diaries. :)

Unless I got comfortable with outlines, I think I would find diary or journal entries too brief to explain must for posterity, even if a short memento is the point. I would love your take sometime on how you see its posterity working. I worked with someone who just noted what she did or whom she saw and added a photograph, if there was one from that day. I think it is lovely that people do it and treasure it afterwards. I have my few diairies with my young handwriting.

Austin Butler was amazing: singing, speaking, dancing, acting. The way he said "Daddy" as a famous grown-up to Vernon Presley, as I am sure Elvis actually did, touched my heart. People of the South sure have a way of staying kids to their folks in an endearing way. I find it annoying if grown women say "Daddy", maybe reminding me of entitled snobs at wealthy boarding schools. However, a man keeping childhood endearments to his parents and Grandparents, moves me.

I am annoyed I missed the film's first half hour because the network posted it incorrectly and I would have watched it! I could not tape it because the only “Graham Norton” showing with Leeam Neeson got in the way of the only two film timeslots. Sometime I'll try to catch the beginning. I do not want to watch it again and will take it off my list, however I would love to see the bonus features. I would give it four stars for being very well done and minus one for being an unpleasant subject. Enjoyment has to be a part of the grades I give, if you see what I mean! ;) I felt sad and angry afterwards and am taking awhile shaking it. Tom Parker was worse than the few examples I related.

Kerri, you scare me about how much you know. I wonder if you do anything besides read and house clean? I gave no thought to Elvis having a manager; what child or average person would? I had no inkling the manager was terrible and that Elvis was out of money (while he was alive). I thought he was the wealthiest of the wealthy, with everything velvet and satin. I am shocked in every way. That he was only 42 years-old, that his Mom didn't pass away from a natural ailment years ago.... but that Tom Parker was the catalyst for both their deaths!

When Elvis jiggled his pelvis (ha ha) on one TV broadcast, after being warned to deliver a sedate performance that was not genuine to himself; Tom convinced Elvis that he would go to jail if he didn't join the army and look like a good boy. Elvis might have easily fought the charges, or had someone advise him that he could get no worse than a warning. His Mom was so terrified about him going to jail and being in the army, she drank herself to death as soon as he started basic training!

I thought Elvis dwindled from overusing pills. I missed some of this part but no one knew Tom was threatened by Las Vegas casino owners and that consigning Elvis to play the same hotel for 5 years, was his payment!!!! Elvis was pushed to repeat shows there, without knowing why, despite protesting that his heart was in playing overseas. People got tired of the casino performances and Elvis lost the drive and physical wellness to produce his own fresh ideas. Whenever Elvis tried to fire him, Tom produced an $8 million dollar fee that Elvis had no council about fighting. He & his parents were a poor family who suddenly lived in luxury.

Each time Elvis insisted on going overseas, Tom made an excuse; when actually, it was he who could not leave the United States. He placated Elvis by putting him on a gruelling USA tour. If Elvis collapsed, he was injected with drugs to get him onstage, instead of taking him to a doctor. On each flight, Tom told him to take an injection to make sure he fell asleep. Priscilla left because Elvis was only concious to perform and had no personality or energy outside of it. I have been there. I am disgusted. I would be interested if Lisa Marie or Priscilla spoke their minds.

I am most excited to know your reaction to remembering the August 1977 news, even though I was a toddler. I have retained specific details about my parents exchanging the news. Our thoughts, including mine, went to Uncle Fred, who replied that he was phoned by everyone he knew.

I must get ready for our drive. The entertainment items are my replies meanwhile. :)

Go figure Kerri, you are off the 2.5 days I kept the PC off, after visiting Dad for Father's Day. It would be a nice change for you to go "too bad Carolyn hasn't stopped by lately". ;) It takes time to get through the few webpages I use. Your letters and conversation updates are a treat for me. Here is one I am putting into its own comment box. I had an epifany about something that seemed odd.

I understood when you said Mr. Melville wrote well, even though you are against hunting. Later calling it "one of your favourite novels" baffled me. To a Maori descendent, whales are sacred. For an animal lover, the contents should have been hard to get through and you did say so. After a lot of thought, one angle occurred to me in your perspective that I can grasp. I think you look at literature no matter how appalling, as an encyclopedia. We don't fault encyclopedias for negative contents and only regard them as education. You read so much awful stuff, like war or people's depressing biographies. In an encyclopedia, I would still think anyone calling the whale killing subject "their favourite" was whacko but if I am on the right track to how your mind files horror, I get that we take encyclopedia information as it is.

I hope it is clear that my reading preferences are not about a weakling who automatically waves off anything possibly unpleasant. My spark of insight brought a way for you to understand my thinking too. I am a clairsentient. Do you know what that is? By now, you will search its definition but imagine how it feels to be one. You distance yourself successfully from negative material by appreciating its encyclopaedic value. On my part, I am empathizing with the animals. Even if the story is fictional, we are picturing how the situations feel for the characters, don't we? I choose entertainment carefully because I have a great, wondrous, joyful capacity for getting invested in it. This is why I watch carefully, uninterrupted and easily remember words or scenes afterwards. I am no smarter than anyone else: it is about focus and investment.

Kerri, I picture how the whale would feel, who takes up no space in the human world and for whom there is no excuse in the world to remove. They just want to raise their calves and live, eat, rest, explore, and play in peace. I consider how she or he would define someone chasing after them to kill them. Yes, being bent on killing sure is evil. Laws permitting murder or people viewing animals as inferiors never make it right. I am thinking of how the chickens and cows on farms and deers and rabbits in forests feel. It is a very good reason to avoid for my chosen entertainment, contents that make me feel the fear, sadness, or betrayal of our animal Sisters & Brothers. Even fictionally, I imagine the portrayed feelings overwhelm other clairsentients too.

I wish I could change real life negativity and harm of any kind. I can ensure my entertainment is positive. I suppose I find it strange that more people don't push back against negativity, in what they read (and watch, which you do). I guess you are appreciating the "encyclopedia" information. I am feeling for the animal and wanting to escape bad situations, as they must surely. I seek to understand where we diverge. I am content to leave it, unless you also become inspired with a way to describe it to me. :)

It worked well to copy your input to answer off-line. I have your most recent post and will work on it later. By the way, you did not say whether or not New Zealand has mosquitoes. You confirmed that in that lush, beautiful landscape, you yourselves include marshland and forestland. Yes, ours sure is vast but your homeland is absolutely lovely.

I loved playing with ants and have admired them since I was a child. Since I am not a fan of military things, I have never viewed ants that way. Many intelligent beings work in harmony and organize their families, activities, and jobs.

I would enjoy reading a story about them and the one about the blind people that you liked. I thrive on acknowledging strengths were they are overlooked and rail against closed thinking. I would enjoy receiving PDFs of them and the other two stories that sounded interesting to me, if you come upon them.

Speaking of open thinking, HG had no idea about energy healing and other natural and self-healing, even though it precedes us by millenia. There is no need to eradicate diseases via the closed conceptual weakness of thinking science

rules all possibilities. We heal ourselves and increase our own immunity. THIS is what we need to learn. If HG was looking for a drug or machine that made anything better, he would not find one. Any time periods could learn what we know recently, from wonderful books and teachers. The needs of our animals urged us to discover them.

Checking history to understand when races came down to only two and why the one went underground, is a good idea. However, I do not see why you thought the Eloi would have disappeared if the Morlocks had not split from them;

which I think you mean biologically. Mammals belong in the sun, therefore the dominant race would be those growing under it. HG had it wrong. It is only creatures made to be underground who are at their best there.

Even though I do not agree with my friend about the physical world concluding in a few years, I do not think it will take 1000 before Earth retires or hibernates. There are theories that non plant life worked its way to a

life cycle end and regrew a few times. When we say humans are so many millennia old, we mean in this life cycle on Earth. Call it a spiritual age, call it an ice age; when HG thought people gradually faded 8000 years from now, my instinct said "no".

Hi Carolyn,
I will be back tomorrow, just missed a couple of days due to appointments. I spent most of yesterday in Auckland for a diabetes clinic (all good, happily!) and was so tired by the time we got home that I went straight to bed. Will have time and Internet access tomorrow to catch up again! I hope you enjoyed your trip too! 😀