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• 34-1) I had an overall sense of dread. I sure don't like seeing Jamie powerless! Also don't like it that Pamela keeps taking risks and getting herself hurt. (34-2) Jamie will do anything for Pamela; Casey's counting on that. Even if Casey were never to be released, he knows that Pamela would want for nothing in Jamie's care, and would always be safe. He couldn't ask anyone on the 'inside' to see to Pamela and Lawrence's well-being because they were the ones who set him up. (34-3) Jamie now knows that Casey has been keeping secrets from Pamela in terms of his knowledge of Republican operations. His life has been in danger, and she was clueless. (NT) -- Elaine, 21:02:55 09/22/07 Sat

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• 35-1) The soldier struck the old man because he was weak and vulnerable. It's easy to kick a dog that's already lying down, especially one that's also elderly. The soldier was enraged. Maybe at the enormity of his job, maybe his overall hatred for all things Republican, or Catholic. Rage can make even the best people lose control. (35-2) The helicopter scene is one of the most chilling things I've read, and imho it's one of Cindy's most powerful excerpts. I felt as though I were in free fall right along with Patrick. (NT) -- Elaine, 21:23:07 09/22/07 Sat

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• 36-1) All I can gather is that Joan and Thrawny are relatives of Colleen's as she tells Jamie's he's still family. I haven't figured out the exact connection. Any nun I knew/know would not hesitate to visit a Protestant, especially one she's related to. In this case, the Protestant might be reluctant to let a nun in her house, though. (36-2) Jamie seemed a little awkward with Joan but that is understandable given she sees Colleen with at least some regularity. I loved the little bird he gave her. It shows that he knows her very well, even if he hasn't visited in some time. Jamie is all class; here he is calmly visiting a Protestant household when all of Belfast is falling apart at the seams. Takes guts. (36-3) All of the above. He is a man of integrity, a man who loves Pamela and wishes only to see her happy. He'll spare no expense, and risk everything for her sake. (NT) -- Elaine, 22:00:33 09/22/07 Sat

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• Ch. 35- I agree this chapter was so powerful, like a punch in the stomach. The tale of the poor old man just made me ill. I was shocked that this round up had occurred as I knew so little of the Irish Troubles before. Wonderful writing Cindy. I have noticed twice now that you write a scene about Pat but don't tell us right away who it is so that we (or at least I ) think that I'm reading about Casey. The other was on the train- both horrible events. Are you showing us that the two brothers are very much alike and/or the violence that comes to them is inescapable despite their different paths to the same purpose? Is Pat suffering for being Casey's brother? Or are you just getting a good laugh on tricking the likes of me *g*? Now, either I read too much into the words or didn't read carefully enough but thought Thrawney was Colleen's brother. ???? (NT) -- susiej, 11:18:37 09/23/07 Sun
  • Thrawny and Joan are half brother and sister to Colleen and therefore much older. They are related through the second marriages of Thrawny and Joan's father to Colleen's mother. I think Pat's pieces just tend to start out in a more ambiguous fashion at times. He's quieter and so it's merely that his presence announces itself slowly to me as I write it. I tend to see the major events through his eyes more than any other, Pat has become the pair of eyes through which I see history unfolding, I suppose. (NT) -- celtgirl, 13:16:58 09/23/07 Sun
    • Good to know about Joan, Thrawny & Colleen. I had to go back to EU and verify that Colleen was indeed Catholic because it was obvious this was her family in some way. So, is this a storyline we learn more about in future? A mix race/religious marriage in this time and place?! (NT) -- Marilyn, 14:52:18 09/23/07 Sun
    • Is the relationship between Joan, Thrawny and Colleen something I forgot from Unicorns, or a fact that hasn't been explained yet? (NT) -- Carla, 18:24:40 09/23/07 Sun
      • No ma'am, they weren't mentioned in EU at all. (NT) -- celtgirl, 20:09:21 09/23/07 Sun
        • Glad to know my "old timers" (as my nan called it) hasn't kicked in that badly yet :) (NT) -- Carla, 10:28:27 09/24/07 Mon

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• 34-1) I think there are two sections that really hit me in this chapter – when Jamie is fresh out of the tub and closes his eyes to see & feel everything of the last 24 hours (Purely Awesome writing there, Cindy!) and the last paragraph of the chapter when Jamie says he thinks the government is done and can’t go back. I just felt like this event was an event that might not have gotten as much press like Bloody Sunday or the Famine, but it was the spark that sent things toward the point of no return. I'll put my answers to the other two questions inside>>> -- Lil, 14:03:39 09/23/07 Sun

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• 35-1) I believe a lot of different factors can push people to act a certain way – Genetics, how you are raised, social pressure, etc. I think in this case we are seeing someone who is behaving a certain way because of social conditioning. His behavior is what is expected and is not the exception. Kindness between the two groups seems the exception. I also believe that after he attacked the old man and hit Pat he had a moment – like suddenly his conscience kicked in, something that psychopath’s don’t have. He may not apologize or try to help the man, but something inside of him clicked and he knew he’d gone too far. 35-2) I think we see in this section the long running hate between these two groups. It was sickening to see how they treated these people – the whole helicopter seen was unnerving! (NT) -- Lil, 14:10:24 09/23/07 Sun
  • 35.1) I agree Lil, and I also think that fear plays a part here as well. They have to keep their fear so tightly controlled in order to keep wits about them and survive. When they find themselves in a position of some power, they snap and some of that pent up rage comes out. It's much easier to let that go on someone who's much weaker than yourself. God that was an awful scence :-\ (I mean that in a good way Cindy) (NT) -- Marilyn, 14:48:44 09/23/07 Sun
    • Yes, I also thought fear plays a role in situations like this. Violence can't be far away, in order to seem to maintain the upper hand. It's almost like bravado on steroids. (NT) -- Elaine, 19:12:33 09/23/07 Sun

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• 36-2) I think there are two reasons Jamie helps Casey – Pamela and a need for control. He loves Pamela and doesn’t want to see her suffer even if it means he keeps her in the arms of another man. Jamie has been through so much that has been out of his control – the loss of his father, the loss of his children, the loss of his wife (the connection they lost after the death of the children) and I am sure so much more that we don’t know. His attempts to help Casey for Pamela’s sake gives him some sense of control of a situation – he’s going to do all he can so that Pamela has no more loss, he’s knows that pain, and he’s going to do it no matter what. I also think he feels a sense of responsibility in all that happens to Pamela in regards to Casey. He pushed her away and maybe he feels her suffering now is his fault. (NT) -- Lil, 14:18:27 09/23/07 Sun

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• 34.2) Despite the feelings and history his wife has for Jamie (and vice versa), Casey has respect for the man...grudginly maybe bit I think it's there nonetheless. He knows Jamie is honorable, afterall he's been there to see Pamela safe in other situations when Casey himself was not. Also, Casey knows that Jamie has the means and the power to keep her safe in this situation, though he might not know the full extent of Jamie's dealings, he's aware that the man has connections and knows alot more than he lets on. (NT) -- Marilyn, 14:34:17 09/23/07 Sun

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• I think there are no new thoughts I can add to this discussion without just finding a new way of phrasing it. But the last question there,,,, why does Jamie do it? Well, I have thought about that as I read this book. I think if he did not do all he could to help Casey and Pamela, even if that means he denies himself the one woman he truly loves, he would prevent Pamela from ever being able to give herself to him complete,,, IF something happened to Casey that he couldn't fix, and Pamela was left a widow. He knows Pamela loves him, but he also knows she gave her whole heart to Casey, because he would not accept it when she offered it to him. He shows to Pamela the greatest love that one can show another. (NT) -- bug, 07:27:22 09/24/07 Mon

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• So Carla, I'm curious what struck you about Chapter 34....please :-) (NT) -- Marilyn, 19:16:34 09/24/07 Mon
  • Well, my thoughts and feelings have been covered by the previous responses so I dont have anything to add and I think the above post are more eloquent than mine would be. (NT) -- Tracy, 06:49:50 09/25/07 Tue