Cornflower Book Group - Touch Not The Cat

 

    Judging by all the comments on the post announcing that a Mary Stewart book was to be the group's October title, Lady Stewart seems to have a special place on many readers' shelves, often as a feature of our teenage years but still enjoyed decades on. I found all the remarks very heartening, not having read Mary Stewart since my teens but remembering her books as being very enjoyable and looking forward to a pleasant rediscovery.

    Touch Not the Cat was first published in 1976 and set around then, too, and some scenes or details wear their date less well than others (mink eyelashes, anyone?), but it's focus is of course a very old house and its garden, its history, artefacts, and the family which has always lived there, and this gives a solid centre to the book.

    I needn't go into the plot here but I was swept along by its twists and turns, though always secure in the knowledge that all would be well in the end, the baddies would be thwarted, the heroine would find happiness, justice of a sort would be done - that, to me, is satisfying, and my sense from the outset was that Mary Stewart could be trusted to deliver in that way. Some readers may find the reliance on telepathy stretched their credulity or tried their patience, though for my part, that was fine; there are some rather melodramatic moments too, and a slight leaning towards the 'rude mechanicals' stereotype (e.g. Mrs. Henderson), but for me it amounted to lovely romantic, escapist stuff, intelligent, very pleasant to read because the voice is right in tone and timbre, and the rhythm and pace are similarly regular and easy to fall in step with. It would certainly be a candidate for our "enchanted armchair", and would have me seeking out other Mary Stewart novels for moments when her blend of well-crafted romance and suspense is just what is needed (and there's a bargain to be had on them here, by the way).

    What did you think? Was this a welcome return to an author you hadn't read for years? Was Mary Stewart a happy discovery, and if so are you keen to read more? If you're a Stewart aficionado, where would you rank this book in terms of her others? Did the male readers among us feel she was not for them? Was the supernatural element not to your taste or did it add savour to the tale? Did you feel the plot and its references were unduly tortuous - in keeping with the maze at the garden's heart - or was that relative complexity welcome grist to the mental mill? Do give us your thoughts; and by the way, should this book have had little appeal for you, next month's promises to be very different.

                                                ~~~~~

    The 'Books and Cakes' post for Touch Not the Cat is here.

Comments

[Ruthiella]

Ah, who doesn’t like an old fashioned gothic romance set in the swinging 70’s with telepathic lovers? I have only previously read Mary Stewart’s Arthurian trilogy, and that was quite a long time ago, so I really can’t make any comparison. I thought Touch Not the Cat was pretty silly. I didn’t find the plot too twisty and I did like the build up of the atmosphere, but I also found particularly the way Byrony (there was actually someone on goodreads who was named Byrony, after our heroine) blithely absolves her dear cousins again and again pretty incredible. It seemed to border on parody at times, “oh, he tried to kill me, but that’s ok…he’s family and he might be my secret lover!” I would, however, read more from Mary Stewart. I just don’t think this was her very best effort.

Fun fact: on the back of my library hard cover was a picture of Ms. Stewart with a cat; her finger’s just a hairsbreadth away from touching the cat!

[Martina]

"Written in the 70's "seems to be crucial for this month's choice. That is just what the librarian warned me as she emerged with the hardcover from the depths of Stack. Her comment seemed to be a code for, you may not like this one! I can remember the seventies and I suppose the proviso is worth making.

the telepathy trope was fairly irritating. I groaned when it appeared. Nevertheless, I persevered wondering how it would all end! And I was reminded of the culture of the day, although hardly of the class conscious society of the novel, living as I do and did then on the other side of the world!

I was pleased to have been introduced to Ms Stewart, but I think the Librarian got it right after all. Perhaps not for me.

[Susie Vereker]

I enjoyed it, especially the gothic atmosphere. Apart from e.g. the mention of 25 pence instead of a shilling, it seemed to me to read like a novel from earlier decades though. I loved Mary Stewart during my schooldays, but am not sure if I'll be rereading any more of her books - 'we said we'd never look back' and all that. If I do, maybe I'll try an earlier one.

Thanks, Cornflower, for reminding us about this writer. Loved her vivid descriptions of the house and countryside. Have you met her?

[jodi]

I enjoyed the reread and remembered why I liked reading her in my late teens. The telepathy seems a little corny at my age but when you are 16 and 17 things like that seem romantic and just right (Stephenie Meyer trilogy? :-)

Would I read her again? Maybe. I like that her writing style stays consistent through the entire book and is easy to read. Perfect for right now as I'm taking a German class at the local college and have to use my brain cells elsewhere.

[Sandy]

I have enjoyed many of Mary Stewart's books, especially the Merlin series and her early escapist novels. Their sad appearance on our shelves testifies to re-reading.

'Touch not the Cat' did not seem so successful for me. The King in Lewis Carroll's Alice says Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end: then stop
. I think that the story started at the wrong time. Perhaps opening with the awareness of the telepathy would have been a better start point. It would have made plausible the doubt about the identity of the friend and would have been better than arriving with this unknown person as 'lover' (cringe...). In addition, some of the problems faced by Bryony's father could have been part of the early story.

Mary Stewart is one of my favourite authors, but 'Touch not the Cat' will remain in good condition on the bookshelf!

[Susan in TX]

I think that if I had come across this book in my teens, it would have had more appeal. It was a little too predictable, and like Ruthiella, I found Bryony's continual absolution of her cousins a little hard to accept. All the way through the book, I kept hearing echoes of another author, but I never could place who it was that it reminded me of?? Anybody have some ideas? It was the mental telepathy thing that kept making me think I'd read something else like this. Connie Willis? (I've only read one book by her - for another book club years ago - and my memory is a little vague.) It did hold my attention and I found it a very quick read so I won't give it a complete "thumbs down," but I don't think this is one I will ever reread. Like Cornflower, I'll be very interested to hear the males chime in with their opinions. :)

[catharina]

Although I reread Touch Not the Cat few times before it is not one of my favourites. My favourite Mary Stewart being The Moon - Spinners (1962) one of the few novels I read which first line ('It was the egret, flying out of the lemon grove, that started it') I do remember. I would place Touch Not the Cat in the lower regions of her works. One reason being that what works very well in other novels - the choice of quotes f.i. -somehow here for me doesn't add to the story.

[michi]

I didn't know Mary Stewart and her books at all but I was looking forward to reading this book as many of the Cornflower Book Group members seemed to have read and enjoyed Mary Stewart's books in their teens. I enjoyed the book very much, yes, it was a delightful discovery. I'm even thinking of picking up other books by M Stewart for Christmas reads. It'd be a perfect treat to pamper myself (with a mug of hot chocolate! ) around the hectic time (what should I read next?).

As for the telepathy thing, I had assumed this novel would be for Young Adult readers, so it didn't bother me so much.

Thank you for introducing me to another marvellous author and book as always.

[MelD]

One of few I have abandoned... I just couldn't get on with it.
I adored the Merlin trilogy so was quite disappointed; I'll have to try a different one!

[Rosie]

Still reading this, but am lapping it up. Wonderfully escapist and I'm enjoying the suspense and Stewart's descriptive passages. Seems like a forerunner to to some of my other (guilty) favourite authors: Kate Morton and Rachel Hoare.

[Julie Fredericksen]

I can't believe that I, a die hard Mary Stewart fan, did not like this book either. As much as Ms. Stewart pooh poohs the Gothic novel (she mentions that Jane Austen made fun of them in Northanger Abbey), there's more than a whiff of the Gothic here.

At first I thought I didn't care for it because I am so much older than I was when I first read it. I kNOW I read it, because I tracked down all her books. But I remembered neither the plot nor the characters. I have concluded that this must be the only novel of hers I did not re-read, and it's because I didn't like it then either.

I too cringed at the word lover, and at the thought of her having a relationship with a first cousin. It used to be, maybe still is, against the law around these parts.

I hope those who were put off by MS do not give up on her. So many of her books are first rate, with smart and sensible heroines and plenty of mystery and suspense, but no supernatural/paranormal or Gothic overtones. Try The Moon-Spinners for starters.

[litlove]

I always think that Mary Stewart's stellar descriptive powers save her books from the sickly tweeness that sometimes threatens them. This was a VERY pink outing for her, what with the Romeo and Juliet themes, and the mystery life partner, and the telepathy saving our heroine from the floods unleashed by the evil twins, etc. So you had to be in the mood for it, I think. I didn't have many brain cells functioning the week before last when I read it, so I did enjoy it, just for what it was - a charming bit of fluff. And I appreciated the way that Mary Stewart turned out to be an Equal Opportunities Romance Writer, with our lower class farmhand turning out to be the mystery man in question. I would have quite liked him myself, had it not been for the gleam of a medallion chain nestled in his chest hair. Ahh.... the 70s! The land that style forgot. But I did enjoy the escapism, and any time Mary Stewart describes a natural scene, I thoroughly respect her.

[Anji]

I thought the book was charming and of it's era, I didn't have a problem with the telepathy but Bryony's attitude towards her family-cousins Emory and James to be generous to a fault.

It was not one of her books that I read in my teens. Not her best perhaps, an easy read with all of the ends tied up neatly. I would re-read some of her other titles.

[Mr Cornflower]

"Very Pink" (Litlove) just about sums it up - I really struggled with this one in the early stages. But eventually a vigorous story comes hacking its way through the twee mimsy-whimsy undergrowth, and towards the end, rather to my surprise I actually found myself enjoying it.
Incidentally, why is a book set in the 1970s (with flashbacks to the 1930s) illustrated on the cover with a woman in very obviously 1940s dress and hairstyle?

[Dark Puss]

I found this easy to read and rather irritating too. The telepathy was OK I guess but the ending far too melodramatic and what a "pat" way of resolving it all! Far too predicatable sadly. Some good writing emerges and some unbelievable areas too - many readers have mentioned the endless absolution of the cousins and I agree with them totally. Ruthiella says "I thought Touch Not the Cat was pretty silly." and I can't improve upon that summing up.

[Julie Fredericksen]

I wondered the same thing myself the first time I saw the new book cover. The original 70s paperback covers were much better.

[Teresa]

I haven't read this particular Mary Stewart tale but I had Wildfire at Midnight on my kindle so I read that as it is one of her earlier books. It is set on the Isle of Skye and it is a mystery murder story with clever twists and turns but most of all it was her ability to describe the landscape that had me enthralled. I was expecting some sort of soppy romance from the cover but was pleasantly surprised by the intelligent writing and sense of time and place. There are some beautiful photographs on the net if you look up the places she writes about taken by modern photographers and her descriptions perfectly match them. I am looking forward to more of her work and thank you for the nudge to get on and read it by choosing her as your read-along - even if it wasn't the story you chose.

[Barbara MacLeod]

I had never read any of her books but did know her name as an author based in Scotland.

The book wasn’t quite what I had hoped but am glad to have at least read one of her many that she has written. I think I know what “sixth sense” is but (I think) she talked about “seventh sense”. I could not find any definition of what that is.

However, what really interested me (and why I am so glad I was directed to her writing) was the fact that it was a book by Mary Stewart!

I have never met this lady however I knew her name. For many years (starting late 60s onward) we visited my husband’s lovely (Highland) relatives in Argyllshire … usually to climb Ben Cruachan. Mary Stewart and her husband lived next door to these people in what, I recall, was a large cream coloured house with a turret on it. Over the years a newly published book of hers, a gift from the author, would be shown to us when we dropped in for a bowl of soup and treacle scones. The verdict “Well … not really my type of reading” .

A phone call today has given me the following information which I am delighted to share with you: I have it on the very best authority that Lady Mary still is alive and still lives “next door”. She has recently had a “90-something” birthday! (Sir Fred died “roughly 10 years ago”.)

[Barbara MacLeod]

I had never read any of her books but did know her name as an author based in Scotland.

The book wasn’t quite what I had hoped but am glad to have at least read one of her many that she has written. I think I know what “sixth sense” is but (I think) she talked about “seventh sense”. I could not find any definition of what that is.

However, what really interested me (and why I am so glad I was directed to her writing) was the fact that it was a book by Mary Stewart!

I have never met this lady however I knew her name. For many years (starting late 60s onward) we visited my husband’s lovely (Highland) relatives in Argyllshire … usually to climb Ben Cruachan. Mary Stewart and her husband lived next door to these people in what, I recall, was a large cream coloured house with a turret on it. Over the years a newly published book of hers, a gift from the author, would be shown to us when we dropped in for a bowl of soup and treacle scones. The verdict “Well … not really my type of reading” .

A phone call today has given me the following information which I am delighted to share with you: I have it on the very best authority that Lady Mary still is alive and still lives “next door”. She has recently had a “90-something” birthday! (Sir Fred died “roughly 10 years ago”.)

[LizF]

I am a devoted fan of Mary Stewart but Touch Not the Cat is not one of her best. I thought it was silly when I read it at 18 in 1977 and I suspect that I would find it even sillier if I re-read it now thirty-five years later so it was probably a good job that I couldn't find my original copy!
I re-read Wildfire at Midnight instead, am happy to say that it was just as good as the first time I read it in the early 70's and would urge those who are new to Mary Stewart to read one of the early ones before deciding she is not for them.
Have to confess that despite being a teenager in the 70's, I have no memory of mink eyelashes!

[Dark Puss]

I cannot comment on the 1970's and the wearing of mink eyelashes (I didn't use them - I still don't!) but they are most certainly available today.

[LizF]

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I will bow to your superior knowledge Dark
Puss.
 
Not something I have ever come across or
have any desire to seek out as the thought of glueing bits of dead animal to my
eyelids is not a nice one!
 
 I’ll stick to a couple of
coats of good mascara thanks!
 

From: TypePad

[Dark Puss]

Much, much more use of modern synthetics and human hair these days in this application I'm pleased to say!

[Rebecca]

I was away at a family weekend so didn't get to post, but I was delighted to get the book (had to use interlibrary loan to get it!) as I remembered reading all the MS books (except the Arthurian ones) when I was younger. I am quite in accordance with most of the other entries: not one of her best. I loved Nine Coaches Waiting, Moonspinners, Madam, Will You Talk?, This Rough Magic, The Ivy Tree. . . have often found them at booksales and enjoyed rereading them. Stewart's skilled, controlled writing sets even this somewhat silly (Litlove's "very pink" is perfect!) outing apart, however, and I loved the chance to revisit a pleasure read from long ago. I wish I could get the bargain pack sent to the US!

[Karoline]

I'd only read the Arthurian books before so this was my first experience of her romances. I agree with the most of the other comments about it but as the last month has been especially busy for me a light easy read like this just hit the spot.