<BaldScribe>How many are here for the discussion??

<MerrysPla> 1

<Miles_V> I'm here

<BaldScribe> 3

* BaldScribe pokes at the nicklist

* MerrysPla is hiding in the corner :)

<BaldScribe> so many said they were reading the book

<BaldScribe> did you read it MerrysPla?

<Miles_V> hiya MerrysPla ;)

<MerrysPla> hiyas.

<MerrysPla> no, sorry, didn't manage to read it.

<MerrysPla> I had good intentions though!

<MerrysPla> This months book of the month is:

<MerrysPla> Pastoral - Nevil Shute

<MerrysPla> Pastoral is a war time romance novel by Nevil Shute. Like most of his novels, this too is built around a World War II RAF base.

<MerrysPla> The story might sound like a mushy romance, but Nevil Shute's writing lifts it to an enjoyable fare. His sentences are simple, he doesn't indulge in verbal gymnastics to impress the reader. His characters are real and at no time does the novel become a melodrama. War is the backdrop, and you are made aware of the ruthlessness of the war constantly.

<MerrysPla> Today

<BaldScribe> good intentions leads to evil deeds

<MerrysPla> 08/28 - 20h00 GMT = 4 pm EST in #bookclub

* Miles_V pokes at Quietsilence.... are you here?

-> -#bookclub- Discussion Time: Allow me to introduce our moderator this evening .... AK3D

<Miles_V> lol

<BaldScribe> utho

* Miles_V strains to see AK in the nick list

<BaldScribe> he missed his first curtain call

<BaldScribe> I drilled him on the time too ... so he can't use that as an excuse

<BaldScribe> hehe

<Miles_V> lol :)

<BaldScribe> Well shall we start?

<Miles_V> I must say having never read any books of Nevil Shute - looking at his biography is rather intresting - he has had numerous movies made based on his books

<BaldScribe> British-born Australian novelist, an accomplished storyteller, whose best-known work, ON THE BEACH (1957), was adapted for the screen in 1959. The picture became one of the most celebrated anti-Bomb films, and

<BaldScribe> attracted much attention in Moscow because it was the first full-length American feature to have a premiere in the Soviet Union. Shute was educated as an aeronautical engineer and he used his expertise on technical issues and knowledge of aviation in his books. His novels PIED PIPER (1942) and A

<BaldScribe> TOWN LIKE ALICE (1959) have also been made into major films.

<BaldScribe> I was very surprised to find this book to be the second sequel to Pied Piper

<BaldScribe> I remember the movie

<Miles_V> before my time :)

<BaldScribe> Well it was really as bucolic as Pastorial

<Miles_V> well from my point of view 'Pastoral' was a fair novel - slow and steady romcance

<BaldScribe> besides MerrysPla who else didn't like this book?

<Miles_V> in context I think it must have been a nice counterpoint to the war

<BaldScribe> i found it slow as well ... and yawned a few times ... well more ho-hum

<BaldScribe> but it is will written and the plot was well made

<Miles_V> well the name said it all - and was quite suitable to the story

<BaldScribe> yes it is

<BaldScribe> but i think the book had it's purpose in the time it was written

<MerrysPla> a lazy summer's day in ww2

<MerrysPla> i liked the book

<BaldScribe> What did you like best about the book dpd?

<MerrysPla> i liked it too....i wonder how much it might have been affected by whatever book one read previous to it

<Miles_V> it tried to show the life of people who go out and kill or get killed in a terrible war where no quater was given, and how they dealt with life on a return to the base

<MerrysPla> i think the change of pace from my normal reading nowadays - it kinda took me back many an year

<BaldScribe> LoL ... it did that

<MerrysPla> and it was a pleasant reading

<BaldScribe> That's a good point _really ... I don't think i was ready for that style of writting

<Miles_V> immagine the stress you would be under if you look at the statistics of the bomber crews who didn't make it

<BaldScribe> as i nomally do like that era

<BaldScribe> or those of the gunners

<MerrysPla> Miles_V i agree, the stress angle is brought out quite subtlely

<BaldScribe> sitting out in that bubble making yourself a target

<MerrysPla> i think more than anything it was the story of brave people under stress

<BaldScribe> I don't think the stress seemed genuine to me ... it focused on one aspect of it ... his love life

<Miles_V> indeed - even though Shute didn't concentrate one the bombing runs much (there really was only the one scene at the end) he did make me understand how difficult it must have been for people in that situation

<BaldScribe> and the team work involved

<BaldScribe> Loyalty was a big in this book

<MerrysPla> this may sound silly but i played the very real looking computer game "ms combat flight simulator" and in a sense flew those kind of missions

<MerrysPla> i kept thinking back to that game and i think it gave me quite a feel for the book

<MerrysPla> a lot of time is spent evading and avoiding the enemy planes in that game...avoidance is a big part of it

<MerrysPla> flight simulator was a great game when it was released

<MerrysPla> this wasnt their regular flight simulator

<Miles_V> the 'careful' way that they had to go about meeting each other and how Gervase and Marshall had to pussyfoot around to not create an incident was I suppose true to the time? or not?

<BaldScribe> in a way yes it was true to the time

<BaldScribe> there was a lot of 'hyper morality' but it was for the most part appearance ... but not for all

<MerrysPla> i think those were the rules too - no fraternising

<BaldScribe> Women were expected to be in the home making babies and cooking dinner

<BaldScribe> but after the war that started to change fast

<BaldScribe> I loved the name Gervase

<MerrysPla> yeah me too :)

<Miles_V> it was intresting to see how the women started making inroads into classic men's jobs eg. WAAF

<BaldScribe> Women worked in the factories making bombs and parts

<BaldScribe> running the towns and schools

<Miles_V> in fact I'm quite sure the War must have played a huge role in leveling sexual in equality in the decades afterwards

<BaldScribe> and of course serving in the military

<BaldScribe> here in the states it was women who trained our pilots

<Miles_V> the WASP's ?

<BaldScribe> I believe most were civilian

<MerrysPla> i knew a woman when i was a teen who in ww2 had ferried bombers to england from the usa...very dangerous flying

<MerrysPla> i didn't read the book but my mom was a britch war bride and i got a lot of ... feel for what she went thu during that time from listening to her tell storys

<BaldScribe> What did you guys think of the ending of this book

<MerrysPla> britsh

<MerrysPla> british

<Miles_V> hi Changenick

<MerrysPla> i think it was pretty dramatic

<Miles_V> BaldScribe - intresting way to end it

<BaldScribe> I think they were some very brave people both women and men

<BaldScribe> i really do think the Shute was showing us both the good side and bad side of the morality of that time

<Miles_V> hi Khora!! good to see you again :)

<BaldScribe> and his prose of the countryside was very nice indeed

<Miles_V> reading his biography it's apparent that Nevil Shute was into aviation

<MerrysPla> didn't have time to finish the book, so I'll just lurk here, listening to you

<Miles_V> apparently he worked as an aviation engineer on on hydrogen balloons / dirigeables?

<MerrysPla> im not sure this was a good choice for discussion...the book was very good but there's not much about it that isnt obvious

<BaldScribe> found it interesting too that there wasn't a swear word til very near the end of the book

<Miles_V> what swear word?

<BaldScribe> to me really this is how a romance should be written

<BaldScribe> not like some of the ones out today

<BaldScribe> btw you can tell Aamir i'm giving him credit in the discussion logs but marking him "Absent"

<BaldScribe> (:Þ

<MerrysPla> romance that even men can enjoy

<Miles_V> if this novel was written today I doubt that it would have much to offer

<MerrysPla> from other books by Shute that i've read, ww2 is a constant background, but it seems to me that he's more interested in portraying personal relationships, and how ww2 affected them

<Miles_V> but in context for then I rather enjoyed it - not much thinking required

<BaldScribe> I don't think the young people today would be able to appreciate the work

<MerrysPla> i think men can enjoy romance, but romance doesn't have to mean fluffy writing

<MerrysPla> Aamir seems to be off the net

<BaldScribe> dpd he is hiding

<MerrysPla> he was here a little while ago

<MerrysPla> will ask him when he unhides himself

<Miles_V> lol

<BaldScribe> ask him? I'm going to Whoop on him

<MerrysPla> but after a series of sci-fi books this was a nice change of pace and style

<Miles_V> reminds me of some of the fun time I had while still on dial up during reviews

* BaldScribe is still on dialup

<MerrysPla> Miles_V i was just thinking of that

* Miles_V nods at dpd - yes nice pace change

<Miles_V> oh we notice BaldScribe :DDD

<MerrysPla> i think that Miles_V poit abut the women make in roads hit the nail on the head there in fact i believe the men had a prob with it when they came back and women didn't want to give up there jobs

<BaldScribe> indeed they did QS ... I remember my dad saying his wife wasn't going to work

<MerrysPla> Quietsilence do women ever give up anything easily ?

<MerrysPla> yes we do dpd, washing up certainly

<BaldScribe> and would let her walk from the bus stop to him about 2 miles

<BaldScribe> LoL Khora

<MerrysPla> khora :) i know a few who are most sacrificing in their nature

* Miles_V hands Khora some clothes to iron ;)

<BaldScribe> we can't all have wonderful Indian wives dpd

<MerrysPla> well, don't count me among them:)

<MerrysPla> oh that was wrong Miles_V :)

<MerrysPla> actually i was referrign to my wife

<Miles_V> hehe :D

<MerrysPla> referring*

* Khora stares at the iron ????

<MerrysPla> lol

<Miles_V> Khora - it's like a mouse move it around

<BaldScribe> Ok anyone have anything else to say about this book?

<MerrysPla> it was key to the equal rights movements, since women were holding the nation together they should get the vote to.

<MerrysPla> so how do we bring the topic back to the book under discussion ?

<Miles_V> nope - nice book , easy to read - now how about a more indepth book?

<BaldScribe> beats me dpd

<BaldScribe> well _really suggeste East of Eden

<MerrysPla> so let us vote on this one

<Miles_V> yes lets

<MerrysPla> the reason women got the vote was because they were holding the iron and the men were scared not to give in

<MerrysPla> i suggest east of eden

<Miles_V> what is East of Eden about _really?

<MerrysPla> its about people

<MerrysPla> I haven't read it, so I'm all for it

* Miles_V readies his bfg9000

<MerrysPla> that is a classic

<MerrysPla> it's a retelling of the story of genesis and cain and able...in early 20th century california

<MerrysPla> and worth a second or third read

<BaldScribe> Character = 5; Readability = 9; Originality = 5; plot = 7; TOTAL = 6.5

<MerrysPla> shortly after writing it, steinbeck was given a nobel prize

<MerrysPla> probably because of that book

<MerrysPla> i read it when i was 14 or 15 and its the book that got me interested in taking reading seriously

<BaldScribe> I've read it a couple of times very good writing

<MerrysPla> i recently re-read it after 4 decades and it was better than i remembered

<Miles_V> CROP --> 6,9,6,5 = 6.5

<BaldScribe> Scores please

<MerrysPla> sorry...after 5 decades

<BaldScribe> I read it in the 70's then again in the 80's

<BaldScribe> so it has been awhile

<MerrysPla> I've read others by Steinbeck, but not this one

<BaldScribe> any other nominations??

<MerrysPla> crop 6,9,5,5 = 6.25

<MerrysPla> east of eden is fine and perfect

<Miles_V> I say lets read it

<BaldScribe> I would like to point everyone to a very short and interesting read in the @bookclub Short Story folder

<Miles_V> I nominate Vernor Vinge - A Fire apon the Deep for the next review

<BaldScribe> O Henry's "To Him Who Waits"

<Miles_V> after East of Eden

<BaldScribe> Very good book is "A Fire upon the Deep"

<Miles_V> @bookclub

<Miles_V> Always in motion is the future.

<MerrysPla> where is the @bookclub Short Story Folder?

<BaldScribe> Khora just type @bookclub in channel

<MerrysPla> @bookclub

<Miles_V> !bookclub Henry, O - To Him Who Waits (ss)[html].rar

<BaldScribe> "Intervention" by: Julian May - available in #Bookz

<BaldScribe> Khora the list will be in your mIRC downloads folder

<MerrysPla> got split off :(

<Miles_V> oh yeah Intervention - briliant book

<MerrysPla> !bookclub Henry, O - To Him Who Waits (ss)[html].rar

<BaldScribe> "Life of Pi" by: Yann Martel - available in #Bookz

<Miles_V> bye QS :) see ya

<MerrysPla> bye QS

<MerrysPla> bye quiet

<MerrysPla> i am not going?

<MerrysPla> i was following the crowd when i said bye :)

<Miles_V> oops - sorry QS looked like you were going :)

<Miles_V> ROFL - tried to get rid of QS but he remains ;)

<MerrysPla> :(

<BaldScribe> any others?

<Miles_V> BaldScribe - after East of Eden

<MerrysPla> I'll goe with Vernor Vinge.

<BaldScribe> oh ... Ok

<BaldScribe> so we going with East of Eden

<BaldScribe> ?

<MerrysPla> merrys won't read east of eden because it's famous

<Miles_V> I vote East of Eden

<MerrysPla> Fire Upon the Deep!

<MerrysPla> i vote for east of eden

<BaldScribe> I vote East of Eden

<MerrysPla> East of Eden

<MerrysPla> i read ether :)

<MerrysPla> east of eden next month and Vernor Vinge the month after that

<Miles_V> (might rub some culture off an me - else I'll just raid the next Yogurt bar :)

<MerrysPla> what is vernor vinge about?

<BaldScribe> Ok looks like we have our next book

<MerrysPla> Anybody got East of Eden?

<Miles_V> _really - it's in the forum

<MerrysPla> okay thanks

<MerrysPla> i have the audiobook of east of eden

<MerrysPla> it's a huge download so i can send it overnight to someone

<Miles_V> Khora - sending a rtf

<MerrysPla> it's probably more than half a gig

<BaldScribe> _really will you be our moderator??

<MerrysPla> do i have to?

<MerrysPla> thanks, Miles. I'm not too good at english audiobooks

<MerrysPla> i dont think id be a very good moderator

<Miles_V> yes :)

<BaldScribe> Yes Please

<MerrysPla> i'll do it if no one else will

<Miles_V> then be a moderatly awful moderator

<BaldScribe> Great! Thanks _really

<Miles_V> :)

<MerrysPla> okay i think im well qualified to be an awful narrator :)

<Miles_V> aye indeed

* BaldScribe changes topic to 'Welcome to #bookclub John Steinbeck's "East of Eden"- DD 09/25 - 20h00 GMT = 4 pm EST NO SERVING Please visit http://forums.cjb.net/bookclub.html'

<MerrysPla> thanks for your support miles :)

<MerrysPla> ill be happy to heckle you _really :)

<MerrysPla> thanks quiet

<MerrysPla> np :)

<MerrysPla> _really that's great

<BaldScribe> LoL

<Miles_V> sure _really :P

<MerrysPla> just keep in mind i'll have my 3 cornered ruler handy

<BaldScribe> we are all looking forward to your insight _really

<MerrysPla> ouch

<MerrysPla> ok ill be good :)

<Miles_V> he's going to masacre the book isn't he

<BaldScribe> who else read Pastoral and didn't score it yet? I only have three

<MerrysPla> for quiet it'll be my insole...the rest can have my insight

<MerrysPla> :)

<MerrysPla> i would score pastoral an 8

<BaldScribe> LOL

<MerrysPla> i didn't finish it, so i don't qualify

<MerrysPla> originality 8

<BaldScribe> give show me your numbers _really

<MerrysPla> readability 10

* Ladylyon has quit IRC (*.net *.split)

<MerrysPla> what are the other points?

<BaldScribe> <BaldScribe> Character = 5; Readability = 9; Originality = 5; plot = 7; TOTAL = 6.5

<MerrysPla> character 8

<MerrysPla> got to go now, see ya :)

<MerrysPla> plot 8

<Miles_V> CROP --> 6,9,6,5 = 6.5

<BaldScribe> see ya Khora thanks for stopping by

<MerrysPla> bye Khora :)

<MerrysPla> bye Khora

<MerrysPla> bye khora

<Miles_V> bye Khora

<MerrysPla> ttfn Khora

<MerrysPla> merrys are you planning to read eoe?

<BaldScribe> Thanks everyone

* Miles_V looks at MerrysPla... ?

<BaldScribe> yes she is ... <looks at Jinni meaningfully>

<MerrysPla> um ... I think about it

<MerrysPla> I didn't like steinbeck's other book much

<Miles_V> aaaw come on !

<MerrysPla> don't like gritty type novels - if I wanted that I could watch the news.

<Miles_V> phuleeez MP!

<MerrysPla> what's it about?

<BaldScribe> Yikes! the new?

<Miles_V> A Fire apon the Deep is going to be good too

<BaldScribe> It's a Cain and Able type book

<MerrysPla> read Fire Upon the Deep and its sequal

<MerrysPla> ?? bom

<Miles_V> waht is the date for EoE?

<MerrysPla> merrys im not trying to pressure you. i asked you because i was worried you might be intimidated by it

<MerrysPla> 9/25

<Miles_V> 25th

<MerrysPla> it is intimidating. :P

<MerrysPla> it's not difficult reading at all

<MerrysPla> it's a very long book but it's very readable

<MerrysPla> I'm not reading any depressing books for a while.

<MerrysPla> it has it's depressing parts but overall id say it's pretty positive...in a negative sort of way :)

<Miles_V> BaldScribe - you mentioned a Short Story earlier - when do you want to review it?

<MerrysPla> nice happy fantasies to help me through boaring/depressing job interviews.

<BaldScribe> any time you feel like talking about it Miles_V

<MerrysPla> what will the short story be?

<BaldScribe> _really ... !bookclub Henry, O - To Him Who Waits (ss)[html].rar

<Miles_V> ok - I'll have a quick look at it in the next day or 2

<MerrysPla> did ever 1 read the tear jerker i posted on the forum ?

<MerrysPla> http://forums.cjb.net/bookclub.html'

<BaldScribe> any Classic short stories you would like in the @bookclub SS folder just send them along

<MerrysPla> thanks

<BaldScribe> contemporary short stories i'll put in the @BaldScibe short story folder

<MerrysPla> i see that "house of spirits" is nominated...that is an absolutely wonderful book

<Miles_V> ok since when is a story written between 1862 adn 1910 contemporary?

<BaldScribe> I was wondering about that one but haven't had time to look it up

<BaldScribe> that's the author birth and death date

<Miles_V> exactly BS :)

<BaldScribe> it's not contemporary that's why it's in the @bookclub list

<BaldScribe> <BaldScribe> contemporary short stories i'll put in the @BaldScibe short story folder

<MerrysPla> what book is it?

<MerrysPla> what author?

<BaldScribe> O Henry

<Miles_V> lol -ok

<Miles_V> ok peeps - I'm off to snooze! Have a good night :)

<BaldScribe> gNite Miles_V

=============

AK3D hello!

<BaldScribe> Hi AK3D

AK3D re

<MerrysPla> hi ak3d

* BaldScribe slaps AK3D around with a missed Discussion

AK3D had electricity conk out here :(

<BaldScribe> sure

<BaldScribe> (:Þ

AK3D tsk

<MerrysPla> aww well..it went okay...sorry you missed it

AK3D hey we're supposed to discuss stuff again :p

AK3D grrr and I was so looking forward to it

<MerrysPla> lets here your thought AK3D :)

AK3D thought of the day....

AK3D hmm

AK3D do you really think franck was the backbone of the group?

AK3D crew, even

<BaldScribe> we covered for you Aamir no worries

AK3D thanks then BaldScribe

AK3D strange luck

<MerrysPla> thats a good question...im not sure...he was very solid

<BaldScribe> i think everyone else tried to carry on a normal

AK3D hmm, but personally, they all looked up to peter marshall

<MerrysPla> marshall was certainly the leader

<MerrysPla> good night people - i am off for the night

<MerrysPla> i think the officer meant that he was the model for the others in his stability

<MerrysPla> bye dpd

<BaldScribe> but is a leader a man who is dependent on his love life

<BaldScribe> ?

<BaldScribe> gNite dpd ... Glad you could make it

AK3D bye Dinshaw, take care

AK3D well, if love hits someone who's flying a bomber regularly and just 22?

AK3D they know they might not return the next mission and want to make the most of life

<BaldScribe> good point AK3D at 22 it would be difficult to ignore

* BaldScribe sure wishes AK3D was at the discussion :\

AK3D heck you don't know how much I missed it!

AK3D that is also stated in the book, when peter proposes only after 3 meetings

<BaldScribe> The next discussion is going to be Steinbecks East of Eden

AK3D if it were not a wartime situation, the courtship would take longer

AK3D aha okay

================

AK3D hey there _really

<MerrysPla> hi

<MerrysPla> hi ak3d

AK3D you up for rediscussin Pastoral?

<MerrysPla> okay

AK3D only BaldScrib's left

<MerrysPla> how much is there really to say about it?

AK3D just a little more perhaps :p

<MerrysPla> im for it

<MerrysPla> when? now?

AK3D why not

<MerrysPla> lets do it

AK3D what do Dinshaw and Wynand say?

<Miles_V> sure

AK3D my first point to BaldScrib yesterday was

AK3D what do you think about franck being the backbone of the group

AK3D according to dobbie, that is

<MerrysPla> i think that was realistic

<Miles_V> yes makes sense

AK3D personally I felt that marshall was the backbone

<Miles_V> Marshall was the head ;)

<MerrysPla> i think there's a difference in being the model and the leader

AK3D since even after his being harsh on them (after being 'shot down' by gervase)

AK3D they all wanted to stick to the R for Robert crew

<MerrysPla> i think dobbie meant that franck set the tone for the group

<Miles_V> well they knew the experienced pilot that Marshal was

<Miles_V> stick to the evil you know

AK3D hmm and they'd done 50+ missions together

<Miles_V> exactly - no need to split up a good team

AK3D but then, was wondering, does love really affect a person to such an extent that he'll go harsh those below his rank

AK3D the army is all about rank

<MerrysPla> backbone implies strength to me more than leadership

AK3D but if you see, in the beginning, (and afterwards), marshall would go fishing with them

AK3D the lady who's son died implied the same thing too

AK3D rehi BaldScribe

<MerrysPla> i think also that shute put those words in dobbies mouth not because it was a solid truth but because it was somewhat true

AK3D dobbie as co... does he do a good job?

<MerrysPla> franck was the role model for the rest of them

<MerrysPla> dobbie was the younger one, wasnt he?

<Miles_V> but together they were a well oiled 'team'

AK3D yeah

AK3D yes W, I agree there

<MerrysPla> but yes i think he did within the limits of his youth

AK3D for example, they weren't really willing to talk to GL about her affair with peter

AK3D they wanted her shifted out, but how to go about it?

<MerrysPla> what is that an example of?

AK3D indecision perhaps?

AK3D or an unwillingness to tackle that problem

AK3D OR not finding a way to tackle it?

<MerrysPla> im not sure that was unwillingness

<MerrysPla> they thought the problem was both sensitive and very important

<MerrysPla> they wanted to be right

AK3D after all, GL bringing the crew wasn't the root solution, since they had been at it before

AK3D hmmm

AK3D bringing the crew fishing, even

<MerrysPla> that they had been fishing before was why they thought it might work now

AK3D but _really, they had been on a lot of ops before

AK3D fishing was a common thread sure, but surely the year before that, they wouldn't have got any fishing

<MerrysPla> they fished when they got along well...the problem that got in their way was possibly gone and now maybe fishing could get them back into the old commradarie

* AK3D points above

<MerrysPla> the fishing wasnt seen as a solution...the solution was the improved relationship between gervais and peter

<MerrysPla> the fishing was to kick-start things

AK3D yes, that it is, but they didn't know about it till gervase tells them about it

<MerrysPla> yes...but what point are you making?

AK3D that they didn't really know how to tackle the peter-gervase friction

<MerrysPla> im weak on the spelling of names since i listened to it instead of reading it

AK3D oh okay

AK3D no worries there

AK3D what say you, W

AK3D and DPD?

<Miles_V> the book was basically very clear there really was nothing 'hidden'

<MerrysPla> i agree they didnt know how to tackle the problem but i dont think that makes them weak at their jobs

AK3D no nothing of the sort, no agendas etc

<MerrysPla> who would know how to tackle that kind of problem?

AK3D perhaps they could have consulted with someone

AK3D but then, it IS wartime

<Miles_V> essentially Gervase tackled it

<MerrysPla> when your subbordinates have a problem with their love-life and it affects their work will you know how to fix their problem?

AK3D daym dial ups

AK3D where were we

<Miles_V> lol - rehi

AK3D re :)

AK3D its about them NOT being employees

AK3D they're subordinates in a war situation

<MerrysPla> youre evading the question

AK3D if it was normal life, I would not bother

AK3D no

<MerrysPla> the question was would you know how

<MerrysPla> could anyone possibly know how to fix someone else's love problem

AK3D by advise and couselling

AK3D didn't they have any counselling those days?

<MerrysPla> if they did it wasnt part of the story so i think we have to assume not

AK3D hehe, your turn

AK3D W, you have no inputs?

<Miles_V> oh sorry AK - busy with monthend payments atm

AK3D no worries brudda

AK3D say _really, why do they have to be discreet?

AK3D we cant' really compare to now, of course, but even so?

<MerrysPla> what do you mean by discreet?

<MerrysPla> i dont understand the question

<MerrysPla> oh wait...never mind...i do understand

<MerrysPla> im not sure why. i think because of the customs of that time

AK3D you know, peter and gervase meet secretly for the most part

<MerrysPla> at least i assume that's why

<MerrysPla> custom and non-fraternization policies

AK3D you have any knowledge of the old days in the US? how was it back then?

AK3D oh yes at that

<Miles_V> I'm quite sure that no matter how things were 'presented' (discreet) surely people during war times were under even more pressure to seek romance etc

<MerrysPla> just basing it in war movies ive seen i think the problem might have been similar in the us at that time in the military

<MerrysPla> im not sure of that

<Miles_V> the essential stress is bound to make people push the boundries

<Miles_V> ie. live now for tomorrow you could be dead

<MerrysPla> i think in the military between officers they might not want to push boundaries

AK3D re hello BaldScrib :)

<MerrysPla> in fact that might be a problem today in the military

AK3D hey W, that's what I was thinking

AK3D I mean, if you know you might not return the next mission, all the more hurry to make up for it, in a way

<Miles_V> For more information on how we do things in #bookclub type !RULES

<MerrysPla> i think "on the beach" answer's miles' objection

<MerrysPla> when you think you might be dead tomorrow, carry on with dignity

AK3D hmm he hasn't read it

AK3D but _really, this is different, more fast paced

<Miles_V> I certainly do not compare dignity with romance

AK3D bomber pilots flying daily, they can get caught by flak or fighters

AK3D I mean, I certainly would want to let loose

AK3D anyone would, I guess

<MerrysPla> but that book might tell us that shute didn't think in terms of "i might die so the hell wth it"

AK3D no no, not the hell with it

AK3D they are fulfilling their responsibility

<Miles_V> don't go haywire but say the things you have to say - do the things you have to do before you pass away

AK3D i.e, missions are going on, they're there for the country

AK3D but then, they DO have their own life to take care of

<MerrysPla> the whole point of "on the beach" was that if youre going to die die with dignity...carry on as usual

<Miles_V> it may very well be done in the same fashion as someone who is terminal setting their house in order

AK3D example, even phillips has a girlfriend

<MerrysPla> so from that we can surmise that isn't how shute sees things

AK3D franck does not, but perhaps thats because he doesn't feel comfortable with englishwomen?

<MerrysPla> but his girlfriend isnt someone on the base

AK3D town like alice presents it in a different way too, _really

AK3D well, love happens anywhere

<MerrysPla> how is it presented in a town like alice? i dont recall

<Miles_V> sorry guys - got to go :) have a good night

<MerrysPla> bye miles

<BaldScribe> gNite Miles_V

<Miles_V> bye AK / _really / BaldScribe

AK3D bye W, thanks

AK3D take care

AK3D in town like alice, the soldier likes that girl marching with the japanese

AK3D so he steals rice (was it) for her

AK3D and gets bayoneted in the process

AK3D now, that's out of the ordinary

<MerrysPla> i think it was a chicken

<MerrysPla> but its been years and im not sure

AK3D me neither

<MerrysPla> thats not the same thing at all

<MerrysPla> he helped someone

<MerrysPla> he didn't break his own customs

AK3D did he have to put his life in jeopardy?

AK3D he knew the japs would shoot him likely

<MerrysPla> he didnt have to but that's a different issue

AK3D how so, its the same as peter too

AK3D he falls in love but falls apart when he's rejected

<MerrysPla> because both peter and gervase were part of the group they were in

<MerrysPla> they werent among an enemy

AK3D but for the soldier, he maybe falls in love for that girl, and doesn't have to do anything silly

<MerrysPla> in a town like alice it was a prisoner helping a woman against the enemy

<MerrysPla> i dont think its the same at all

AK3D a woman he starts to like, else he wouldn't help

AK3D there were many other people on the march too

<MerrysPla> the soldier did a good dead that his peers would applaud

AK3D for himself I thought!

<MerrysPla> somewhat but not entirely

<MerrysPla> for her as well

AK3D hehe

AK3D exactly true

AK3D weren't there any other young women on that march?

<MerrysPla> yes

<MerrysPla> i dont see any connection

<MerrysPla> show me

AK3D but since he liked one particular woman

AK3D he helped her

<MerrysPla> yes

AK3D else he would not have helped anyone

<MerrysPla> possibly

<MerrysPla> peter shared his fish with gervase

AK3D it affects him personally, he's bayoneted

AK3D in pastoral though....... LOL

AK3D yes _really

AK3D and the fall out affects the team

<MerrysPla> not the fallout of that

AK3D fallout i.e after he's shot down

<MerrysPla> her rejection later affects the team

AK3D that's what I meant

<MerrysPla> okay so what's the connection?

AK3D I lost track....

* AK3D_ grins

AK3D working too, sorry

<MerrysPla> thats okay :)

<MerrysPla> to me it feels like a victory :)

AK3D yo, what?

<MerrysPla> lol

<MerrysPla> i gotta be afk for a few minutes