Romantic Fiction, Reality Shaping and The Work

[hlat]

I completed Longing by Mary Balogh, and I do not think it should be on the reading list because

Spoiler

the main characters both know that the woman is engaged to be married but they have sex anyways, so of course she feels bad for cheating. If the books are to provide a moral compass for those in need, this book does not belong.

I reached the end of the line for audiobooks of Balogh with the short story Only Love, within the collection It Happened One Season. This could be a good one for someone wanting a short book as an introduction to this project.

 

[Voyageur]

A couple of new books noticed. One is by Anne Gracie (a favourite) who I've not read from in a long while. She has had a new release come out back in June - not yet read:

The Laird's Bride​

Grace Burrowes has also had book 8 of the Mischief in Mayfair series come out:

Miss Dashing​

With Miss Dramatic to follow later this fall. This series was a surprise, and have enjoyed it.

 

[Gwenllian]

(Approaching Infinity) What about an author like Mary Balogh, who imagines seemingly autonomous characters in her mind, and she just records what they do in her imagination? Is there some relation to what we’re talking about?

A: Not exactly. More likely that Mary is recording dynamics that have actually occurred at some place and time. Sort of like a "past life biographer".

Q: (L) So in other words, it's almost like the characters are essences of some people who have lived at some place and time who communicate with her about a certain dynamic. Of course, she adds to it and expands it, makes it fancy and whatever. Is that what we're talking about, that she's basically kind of channeling the lives of long gone people?

A: Yes.

Q: (Joe) Or composite of characters? And is she getting all that from the Akashic Records?

A: Information field.

I couldn't find this bit of the Cs session of 13 May 2023 in this thread and I wanted to post it here, as I found a quote in Mary Balogh's Someone Perfect, the last novel of the Westcott series, which I thought was rather telling. (I don't think it's a spoiler.)

The main character Justin talks about the character in the book that he is writing to his beloved, telling her about his discovery:

"I wanted him to be a serious adventurer, someone who would vanquish all the demons at loose in the world and teach the reader a thing or two about courage and virtue and the truly important things in life. Someone epically heroic. But I have made a disturbing discovery about writing. My characters, especially my hero, are of course my creations. They have not existence outside my imagination. Yet no one seems to have told them that. They will insist upon living their lives their way no matter how often I tap them on the shoulder with a timid sort of 'Excuse me?' They simply stare at me before continuing to carry on as they please."

He also states the following about the imagination which reminds me of the information field:

I really believe the imagination is not even in the brain, you know, but is something far larger and more powerful that the brain has access to when one quiets the mind sufficiently to relinquish control.

The above also reminds me of family constellations therapy where people who are the representatives of family members of the person seeking to resolve issues stemming from their family history have access to the information field. See the thread here. And I understand from FC coaches that one also has to be still when one wants to guide a person using the (family) field and see what information comes up. It's the same principle OSIT.

 

[Voyageur]

I couldn't find this bit of the Cs session of 13 May 2023 in this thread and I wanted to post it here, as I found a quote in Mary Balogh's Someone Perfect, the last novel of the Westcott series, which I thought was rather telling. (I don't think it's a spoiler.)

Your reference to the character Justin, and to what the Cs said of Mary - Mary talking through the character of bringing in stories from the outside:

I really believe the imagination is not even in the brain, you know, but is something far larger and more powerful that the brain has access to when one quiets the mind sufficiently to relinquish control.

Agree, and interesting you quoted this part as I had just reread this last book - the whole series, and noted these very words of Justin's (Mary's) in conjunction with what the Cs and the groups had said and asked.

So yes, Simply Perfect.

Alejo looks to this story here in video (don't view yet if you don't want a spoiler, although do so if not), which is great, and the second time through the series brought up things forgotten and some further nuances to the whole. For instance:

Spoiler: Book 9 continued...

This was book 9 that concluded the series, although it is possible Mary will come back and write Estelle's brothers story. This story, though, as Alejo explained in his video, is a little different - moving away from the Westcott central family to a semi-peripheral. However thinking on this while reading, there were these two female characters in the whole series that were exemplary in helping others, one being Elizabeth and the other, younger and more quietly, was Estelle. In separate sections, each had different approaches and qualities, and yet they were each kind, compassionate, listened, where aware and helpful while dealing with their own wounds. It may be harder to see with Estelle looking back - not as experienced, yet she seemed to have this younger presents and interactions with the whole family that spoke to understanding beyond many others, at least to me with a second read (never a central character either and not in every story).

Concluding; and Alejo sets the story so no need to repeat, was that Estelle was able to help bring out the lies that build darkness, not just with her friend, Marie, but to provide the trust that Justin needed to open up and in turn to reveal her own self more fully. It was not only with the former and herself, she also acted as a bridge to the two sides of the family in a quite unassuming way, as she escorted Marie through the steps of her false thoughts/assumptions/personality, and Justin in discovery to help unite.

 

[cassandra]

There's a new novel just out by Mary Balogh, called Gentle Conquest. I won't post the whole description, because it gives too much of the plot away:

The marriage of Georgiana Burton to Ralph, Earl of Chartleigh, begins with every promise of happiness for both, though they scarcely know each other. She is attracted by his youthful good looks and gentle, courtly demeanor, while he is dazzled by her beauty and vivacity.

 

[Natus Videre]

Here are some "hyperdimensional" quotes from A Secret Affair by Mary Balogh, and their "companion" segments from the C's.

Quote 1

All people—all—were a complex product of their heritage, their environment, their upbringing and education and cumulative experiences of life as well as of a basic character and personality with which they were born. Everyone was a rose but even more complex than a mere flower. Everyone was made up of infinitely layered petals. And everyone had something indescribably precious at their heart of their being.
No one was shallow. Not really.

Q: (T) But I'm just a nobody. Why would they go to all troouble to send somebody in a Camaro to drive up on my lawn...

A: Several answers follow: Number One, Nobody is a "nobody." Number two, it is no trouble at all for aforementioned forces to give seemingly individualized attention to anybody. Number three, Terry has been targeted and so has Jan and others because you are on the right track. Number four, This area is currently a "hot bed" of activity and extremely rapidly expanding awareness. [Talk about the Philadelphia Experiment during break]

Quote 2

"What is it about time, Babs?" Hannah asked form her favorite perch on the window seat of her private sitting room. "When one is enjoying oneself, it flies by like a bird frantic to reach its nesting ground after a long winter, and just as with that bird there is no stopping it. At other times, it crawls by like a tortoise dosed with laudanum."
Barbara worked at her embroidery.
"There is no such thing as time," she said. "There is only our reaction to the inexorable progress of life."
Hannah stared at the top of her head.
"If I pretended to enjoy not knowing what is happening, then," she said,"I would have news of it in a flash, Babs? Could the answer be that simple? Please say yes."
Barbara looked up and smiled.
"I am afraid not," she said. "Because the illusion of time creates time itself. Our reactions are too strong to halt it altogether. We are lamentably human. And wonderfully human too."

Q: (Ark) What should I do to get even closer? Anything?

A: Remember that time does not exist except as a perception.

Q: (L) At one point we were told that time was an illusion that came into being at the "time" of the "Fall" in Eden, and this was said in such a way that I inferred that there were other illusions put into place at that time...

A: Time is an illusion that works for you because of your altered DNA state.

 

[Altair]

There's a new novel just out by Mary Balogh, called Gentle Conquest. I won't post the whole description, because it gives too much of the plot away:

The marriage of Georgiana Burton to Ralph, Earl of Chartleigh, begins with every promise of happiness for both, though they scarcely know each other. She is attracted by his youthful good looks and gentle, courtly demeanor, while he is dazzled by her beauty and vivacity.

It seems to be a reprint of the novel originally published in 1987.

 

[hlat]

I think book 8 of the Bridgertons series, On the Way to the Wedding, does not have the right values. The main character

Spoiler

physically hauled away and tied up the woman that he loved, in violation of her free will, to stop her from agreeing to blackmail.

 

[Gwenllian]

I'm still so happy with reading the romance novels, especially in these times. They are truly an antidote to the demonic actions of Israel (to put it succinctly) and help me process issues at the same time.

I am currently reading Mary Balogh's Deceived and oh, it's not easy to read a story about a man who weaves a whole web of deception, even though he loves the woman. It makes me feel suffocated and trapped. I feel the same when someone that I used to feel close to is in a (financial) mess and only digging bigger holes for him to fall into, so there is definitely something in the novel that allows me to process past experiences.

Anyway, perhaps @Voyageur knows this already, but I thought it was nice to learn the meaning of voyageur in the novel:

The man is French-Canadian, Lizzie. He is the type of man known as voyageur. That is, his job is to man the fur-gathering canoes into the interior wilderness beyond Canada. It is not part of his job to sail on the trading ships

 

[Chu]

I'm still so happy with reading the romance novels, especially in these times. They are truly an antidote to the demonic actions of Israel (to put it succinctly) and help me process issues at the same time.

Ditto! I don't read them as much as before, but I still enjoy them when I need to take a break from non-fiction. Right now I'm on the McKenzie's series, which I had forgotten to read before. It's really nice! I just love the brothers and their wives, and how the author allows the characters to still be very much present volume after volume.

 

[naorma]

I also read her books regularly, not as often as I used to, but whenever I need something to get me away from "everyday life" and relax her books are really wonderful! Thanks a lot for the recommendations - I think I did not say thank you until now!

 

[Laura]

I think book 8 of the Bridgertons series, On the Way to the Wedding, does not have the right values. The main character

Spoiler

physically hauled away and tied up the woman that he loved, in violation of her free will, to stop her from agreeing to blackmail.

Well, in order to make such a judgment one has to take into account the entire context. Otherwise, there would be no justification for saving someone from committing suicide.

 

[hlat]

Well, in order to make such a judgment one has to take into account the entire context. Otherwise, there would be no justification for saving someone from committing suicide.

A hard thing about living in a free will universe is allowing our loved ones to do stupid things. We can advise, but who are we to interfere.

 

[Chu]

A hard thing about living in a free will universe is allowing our loved ones to do stupid things. We can advise, but who are we to interfere.

True, but sometimes it's not very clear-cut. For example, what about the fact that you and that person have incarnated at the same time, have a karmic connection, and you happen to have knowledge that could help? Or that a part of them let you know what they are doing or going to do, so that you could help even if they can't ask explicitly? It's a very common dilemma, I think. But I haven't read the book you're referring to, so FWIW.

 

[Voyageur]

Anyway, perhaps @Voyageur knows this already, but I thought it was nice to learn the meaning of voyageur in the novel:

For sure, weaned on the the old stories. Mary writes on them sometimes (she lives in the west), like her character in The Devil's Web (book III), Purnell, who left England and traveled by canoe out to Athabasca in the fur trade.

Mary wrote:

The Frenchmen who made the canoes, the voyageurs, live lives of unbelievable hardship. They paddle their canoes or portage them past rapids for eighteen hours of every day. And yet a more cheerful breed of men or a louder and more quarrelsome one it would be hard to find.

If not snow, ice, heat and rain, there were the bugs.