Part I, Chapters 7 - 14

[CJINCA]

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DSaff wrote:

I think I dislike Chilton even more than before. His anger towards Connie, and the threat to cut her funding make him a bully. He is not pushing her to excel at her work, but rather to achieve what he wants. He definitely wants her work to prove his ideas. I really want Connie to stand up to him.

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The door - I think the symbol was burned by the blue light she thought was from a meteor (pg. 171). The perfect circle leads me to believe that it was done supernaturally, and the timing is right. I looked up the words and they seem to denote a helper of God. So, I wonder if this is a sign of protection rather than something bad. I could be way off base, but think there are forces on both sides of finding The Physick Book!

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Great observations!

My first thought on the door was that ALGA, with its links to alchemy, meant that it was Chilton.  But, I like the idea of the symbol as protection, and I really like the idea of the blue light marking the door, perhaps sent by Grace or one of Connie's other forebearers and forces-for-good.  (And it was one of several blue lights, as other posters have pointed out.)

I am struck again this week with the idea of two forces at work -- I wonder if there is something male vs female to it.  The forces surrounding the women of Connie's family seem to overpower their men, don't they?  The husbands disappear under Mysterious Circumstances and no male children are ever mentioned!

...I can hardly wait to read what happens next!

[lmpmn]

My feelings for Chilton only changed a little.  I disliked him and didn't trust him pretty much from the beginning.  He's just making me dislike him even more!

I think the burned circle is someone's (Chilton is my guess) way of trying to glean some information from Connie.  She was spending most of her time in like 3 areas of the house where she felt more safe.  She was feeling uncomfortable in other open areas.  Maybe the circle is some witchy way of Chilton or whoever seeing inside the house?

As I read these chapters, I had more of a feeling like Connie is probably related to Deliverance.  All the names of the women in the line are similar: Deliverance, Mercy, Prudence, Patience, Sophia (this is a little different but Liz tells us it means wisdom), and Grace.  I'm assuming Connie is short for Constance which fits in as well.

I'm also wondering if the dates that these things happen on mean anything.  I believe Peter Petford died on Halloween.  Connie and Sam visit that shop on the summer solstice.  Just wondering if anybody thinks some of these dates are significant?

I'm really a believer that the things written in books mean something or they wouldn't be there.  Like the corn doll and other little things that seem like clues--if they're not mentioned again, I'll be disappointed.

Does anyone think there's some kind of significance in the names of the hall where Connie and Liz live--Saltonstall--and the lawyer from the past Saltonstall?

One thing that aggravated me was when Connie went into the Salem private library.  She only looked for something that would've been catalogued as an almanac when she knew it had been described as a recipe/receipt book.  For a person that's supposed to be as smart as she's supposed to be, that wasn't very good research at all.

[DSaff]

Yes, I think the dates are significant. I can't wait to start Part 2 to find how how significant.

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lmpmn wrote:

I'm also wondering if the dates that these things happen on mean anything.  I believe Peter Petford died on Halloween.  Connie and Sam visit that shop on the summer solstice.  Just wondering if anybody thinks some of these dates are significant?

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[DSaff]

It is really odd that no male children seem to be born to these households. With the deaths of their husbands, these women had to forge on alone in a society that wasn't very female friendly.

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CJINCA wrote:

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Great observations!

My first thought on the door was that ALGA, with its links to alchemy, meant that it was Chilton.  But, I like the idea of the symbol as protection, and I really like the idea of the blue light marking the door, perhaps sent by Grace or one of Connie's other forebearers and forces-for-good.  (And it was one of several blue lights, as other posters have pointed out.)

I am struck again this week with the idea of two forces at work -- I wonder if there is something male vs female to it.  The forces surrounding the women of Connie's family seem to overpower their men, don't they?  The husbands disappear under Mysterious Circumstances and no male children are ever mentioned!

...I can hardly wait to read what happens next!

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Message Edited by DSaff on 04-07-2009 07:54 AM

[artist4nature]

As I am reading along I am getting the feeling that all of the women through out the book has a special sense.  Not only the knowlege of herbs and healing but a supernatural side to them. 

The women in the 1690's are afraid that their talent will be interpreted as witchcraft.

Grace in her old hippy ways of looking at auras.

Connie's ability to visualize what Grace is doing when she is talking to her on the phone.

I think that there is something magical about Granna's old house too.  The garden although tangled with weeds contains the old herbs and some vegetables.

Things I am wondering about:

  The significance of the corncob doll.

  The burned symbol on the door.

  What evil Chilton is up to.

[Popper19]

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bibanon1 wrote:

Good catch DSaff!  I didn't think about that but I think you are right!!!

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DSaff wrote:

The door - I think the symbol was burned by the blue light she thought was from a meteor (pg. 171). The perfect circle leads me to believe that it was done supernaturally, and the timing is right. I looked up the words and they seem to denote a helper of God. So, I wonder if this is a sign of protection rather than something bad. I could be way off base, but think there are forces on both sides of finding The Physick Book!

I

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I think it's a sign of protection too.  Grace mentioned the word blue on page 167 and then Connie sees blue at the end of the meteor.  Arlo is acting more content than normal and didn't seem scared at all the night of the "vandal."  Maybe Grace put the protection on because of how Chilton was treating Connie?  I haven't read all the posts yet, so I apologize if this repeats.

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[Popper19]

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Danimal79 wrote:

I posted about this earlier but the more I think about it, the more I think the burned symbol is meant to help Connie rather than harm her (and the more I think Grace is connected to the symbol).  

I also think, in general, Grace is a lot more aware of things (in Connie's life) than she appears to be...  

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I agree with you that Grace is more aware of things - I think she is helping steer Connie in the right direction, but Connie needs to learn these things about herself by herself.

[Popper19]

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artist4nature wrote:

As I am reading along I am getting the feeling that all of the women through out the book has a special sense.  Not only the knowlege of herbs and healing but a supernatural side to them. 

The women in the 1690's are afraid that their talent will be interpreted as witchcraft.

Grace in her old hippy ways of looking at auras.

Connie's ability to visualize what Grace is doing when she is talking to her on the phone.

I think that there is something magical about Granna's old house too.  The garden although tangled with weeds contains the old herbs and some vegetables.

Things I am wondering about:

  The significance of the corncob doll.

  The burned symbol on the door.

  What evil Chilton is up to.

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OH yeah - I forgot about the corncob doll.

[Popper19]

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DSaff wrote:

It is really odd that no male children seem to be born to these households. With the deaths of their husbands, these women had to forge on alone in a society that wasn't very female friendly.

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CJINCA wrote:

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Great observations!

My first thought on the door was that ALGA, with its links to alchemy, meant that it was Chilton.  But, I like the idea of the symbol as protection, and I really like the idea of the blue light marking the door, perhaps sent by Grace or one of Connie's other forebearers and forces-for-good.  (And it was one of several blue lights, as other posters have pointed out.)

I am struck again this week with the idea of two forces at work -- I wonder if there is something male vs female to it.  The forces surrounding the women of Connie's family seem to overpower their men, don't they?  The husbands disappear under Mysterious Circumstances and no male children are ever mentioned!

...I can hardly wait to read what happens next!

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Message Edited by DSaff on 04-07-2009 07:54 AM

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Not only no male children, but only one child per woman.  Not a coincidence in my mind.

[maude40]

After Connie's lunch with Prof Chilton in chapter 8, I have been thinking somewhat different about him. I still dislike him, but I'm not so sure I didn't jump to conclusions about him that maybe aren't true. He could be just the interested advisor he should be. I guess I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt for now. Yvonne

[maude40]

On page162 there is more evidence of Connie having powers that tie her to the past. As she is investigating Prudence's journals, she takes off the protective gloves so she can feel the page. "Prudence's own hand had moved over the same page, pressed into the paper. The ink carried little ancient flecks of her skin where she had licked her quill tip, or had rubbed out a word. Connie tried to reach into the realm that Prudence and Mercy occupied, tried to conjure the sensation that would illuminate Prudence's vanished self."This seems a strange thing to do to eke out more information than the journal can give her. The sections she reads move her to tears. Yvonne

[blkeyesuzi]

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rkubie wrote:

This section opens with Connie telling Chilton of her source, and by the end of it, we know that Chilton is furious with Connie for not finding the "receipt" book. Have your feelings for Chilton changed?

What is the symbol on the front door, and how do you believe it got there? (This question is for those who haven't read past chapter 14!)

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Well, Chilton just keeps getting creepier and creepier.  I just want to tell Connie to stay away from that crazy man!  My feelings for him have only changed in the fact that I feel even more certain that he's bad news for Connie.

 Perhaps the symbol on the door may have been created by the house, itself. Based on what I know so far about the house and the garden, it certainly seems that they are magical enough to make this possible.  Everything around Connie from this point seems to be trying to speak to her and give her clues.  One of the first clues was the "magical" garden and its mysteries.  Maybe the house is warning Connie about something.  Another possibility could be that the symbol on the house is similar to the horseshoe above the door, only more powerful...a form of protection...now that Connie is "home" and opening herself to the past, the house intends to protect her.

[blkeyesuzi]

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fordmg wrote:

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rkubie wrote:

Connie's research turns up Prudence's journal to give us another glimpse into the lives of Mercy, Prudence, and Patty. Do you have a sense of what Prudence was like?

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I have been waiting for the second week's discussion to mention the unique names of the characters.  In the first section, readers mentioned the name sequence of Deliverance, Mercy and Grace.  Now we can add Prudence, Patience to that. 

MG

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Yes! When I read the name I thought the same thing!  Add one more name to the list!

[blkeyesuzi]

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fordmg wrote:

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I don't think Connie understands the lives from the past as well as I would expect someone who studies history should.  She seems to miss things that I see as obvious.  Like the fact that Prudence is a midwife and sometimes was paid in trade not money.  The main info that we have that Connie doesn't is what happened to the receipt book (almanac).  But if Connie knew that, then that would take some of the suspense from the story that requires Connie to do real research to find it.

MG

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I think I missed that part.  How did Connie miss the information about Prudence being paid in trade?  I definitely agree that a historian should know that sort of information.  I'll go back to that part and read again.  I must have skimmed over it somehow.  Thanks for bringing it up.

[blkeyesuzi]

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gl wrote:
<snip>

Question - What was the corn doll that Connie found on p. 109?

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I have the same question.  Hopefully more will come up about the corn doll and the needle that was hidden in the skirt.  I can't imagine why the doll would have been mentioned, otherwise.  I'm just anxious to know more.  Also, is there a significance to the fact that the needle pricked her? or was that just a way to show that she had discovered the needle?

So many mysteries...I want to read on! 

[blkeyesuzi]

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GnANorman wrote:

<snip>

What is the "receipt" book? How has it been used by this line of women? What does it mean to Prudence? 

I believe the "receipt" book is a combination of recipes and spells passed down through the generations.  I think Prudence doesn't understand the true value of the book.  I believe I have more of an understanding of Mercy than of Prudence.

How close is Connie's understanding of these women's lives, compared to our own? How does it feel to have more information than Connie does?

Aren't the flashbacks Connie's dreams?  Do we really have more information than she does?

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I tend to agree with you about Prudence not understanding the significance of the book. I'd definitely like to have more information about Prudence, perhaps a flashback that includes her would help us get to know her.  Something similar to the way we've gotten to know Mercy and Deliverance.

I think we do have more information than Connie does.  We have the benefit of the flashbacks to the 1690's that give us a great deal of information and Connie doesn't have that...at least not yet..perhaps she'll start getting those sorts of visions as time goes by, but right now her "visions/daydreams" are limited.

[fordmg]

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maude40 wrote:
At the end of chapter 9 Connie is talking to Grace again. Grace says,"All I'm saying is that it couldn't hurt to spend a little time looking into yourself and see what's going on in there. You are a special, remarkable person, Connie, whether you find the book or not." Grace negates Connie's academic achievements  and seems to be pushing her in some other direction. Most mothers would be delighted to have their daughter working on her dissertation at Harvard but Grace knows something that we don't about the house and it's past. I think she's much more astute than we give credit for. Yvonne

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I don't see Grace as being so negative.  In the first section, Grace did not seem to be aware of Connie's orals, but in this reference, I see a mother caring about the whole person of her child.  She is saying that there is life outside of acadamia.  I think Grace is worried that Connie is ignoring her inner feelings and just reacting to the demands of her studies.  It is sort of like - "Stop and smell the roses."  I think better of Grace after this exchange.

MG

[blkeyesuzi]

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DSaff wrote:
<snip>

The door - I think the symbol was burned by the blue light she thought was from a meteor (pg. 171). The perfect circle leads me to believe that it was done supernaturally, and the timing is right. I looked up the words and they seem to denote a helper of God. So, I wonder if this is a sign of protection rather than something bad. I could be way off base, but think there are forces on both sides of finding The Physick Book!

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Oh my goodness! How did I miss the meteor/blue light information? Thanks so much for calling that to my attention! You're probably right! I'm going to re-read p. 171 right now.  I must have missed a major clue.  I'd be a terrible investigator. 

[fordmg]

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DSaff wrote:

Did anyone else find significance in Connie's fixing the horseshoe on pgs. 196-197? I loved the way she picked up the nail, clenched her jaw and pushed the horseshoe into alignment. Then she stepped back to admire it and uttered "Blessed be" to Arlo. Salem and some of its people are growing on her and this seems like a step to bring better luck.

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Yes I took note of that too.  Connie seems to not believe in witchcraft, but fixing the horseshoe shows that she is acting "just in case".  Not acknowledging but it doesn't hurt to have the horseshoe aligned.

MG

[blkeyesuzi]

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maude40 wrote:
At the end of chapter 9 Connie is talking to Grace again. Grace says,"All I'm saying is that it couldn't hurt to spend a little time looking into yourself and see what's going on in there. You are a special, remarkable person, Connie, whether you find the book or not." Grace negates Connie's academic achievements  and seems to be pushing her in some other direction. Most mothers would be delighted to have their daughter working on her dissertation at Harvard but Grace knows something that we don't about the house and it's past. I think she's much more astute than we give credit for. Yvonne

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I completely agree that Grace is more astute than she gets credit for.  However, I don't think she's negating Connie's academic achievements.  I saw her comments as a sincere discussion with her daughter that she needs to take care of herself, her WHOLE self.  Connie has spent so much time studying and reasearching that she may have forgotten that there is more to her and life than just research.  Grace is telling her daughter to slow down and take care of herself for a change and recharge.  This would be the perfect time to take the time necessary to get to know who she is on some other levels.