Hump Day Happy–Late Edition

I have “comfort books.” These are books I first read at a young age that became such favorites that I’ve reread them many times over the years. Several of those comfort books were written by Mary Stewart. I love Stewart’s romantic suspense heroines because they’re never shrinking, simpering females in need of rescue from strapping, arrogant heroes. Her females are smart and spirited, and though prone to getting themselves into difficult situations, are just as capable of getting themselves out. Her males are also smart, wry, and understated, sometimes even bookish, and as likely to be geologists and musicians as secret agents. Though her bad guys can be sinister, a vein of humor runs through her novels that often allows the villains’ accomplices to be more entertaining than tragic.

I well remember the first Mary Stewart novel I read that hooked me: Airs Above the Ground. It was my mother’s book. The dust jacket had been lost, and the book itself was a pale blue-gray. I hope my sister has it, because my own copy is this often-read paperback.

In addition to the story of a husband and his (possibly) wronged wife, there’s another romantic tale within the novel, an old tragedy connected to the famous, 400-year old Spanish Riding School of Vienna. The book’s title comes from a series of dressage movements of the school’s fantastic Lipizzan stallions.

One of the novel’s most poignant moments involving an old circus horse brings tears to my eyes no matter how many times I read it. In honor of good storytelling and one of my favorite novels, today’s Hump Day Happy is brought to you by the pictured horses that I’m calling my white Lipizzans. If you comment with a page number between 1 and 611, and another number between 1 and 25, the horses will dance through the pages and find your own little bit of magic.

 

32 thoughts on “Hump Day Happy–Late Edition”

  1. I LOVE Mary Stewart – her books were among the first ‘grown up’ books I ever read and I still like to go back and re-read her once in a while.

    Could I please have no 25, 8? (And yay – FIRST!)

    Reply

    1. You ARE first! How unusual is that for this late posting?

      From the book, the stallions bring you:

      “the greatest truths being the simplest”

      Reply

    1. I always remember that you’re a fan of The Ivy Tree. Whenever I try to pick a favorite, I think of all the ones I cherish: Madam, Will You Talk?, Nine Coaches Waiting, The Moon-Spinners, This Rough Magic, My Brother Michael–all of them jewels. I think my sister’s favorite may be Touch Not the Cat.

      Reply

      1. And Thunder on the Right and Wildfire at Midnight.

        Ironically, up until this morning Airs Above the Ground (hardcover) was sitting on my desk. And its pale blue-gray under the dust jacket.

        Reply

  9. comforting verbage

    Hmmm… Iff books, Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. If I expand that to include Doctor Who, which I watch far more than I read in general, well… 184 and 6

    (But nothing replaces a good album)

    Reply

  10. Lipizzans! Oh how I loved this book! Also the film “Miracle
    of the White Stallions”! Marguerette Henry also had a Lipizzan
    book that I loved.

    True story —

    When I was about 10 I took riding lessons at a “riding academy”
    that was kind of broken down, but I loved it and it was run
    by people who didn’t have a lot of money, but loved their
    horses. They also boarded horses, too.

    One day one of the girls said, “There’s a new boarder. He’s
    in the far stall. Go take a look at him.” So I went down and
    saw this white head poking out. He looked Arabian, but he
    also looked really old. I rubbed his face — and saw the
    brand on his cheek. So I went into the stall and saw
    the other brands, too. He was a Lipizzan from the Riding
    School farm. And he was almost 30 years old. It was like
    seeing a unicorn alive in front of me! I couldn’t believe it.

    Thanks for bringing back that memory.

    500 and 14.

    Reply

    1. Thank YOU, for sharing that story. I would be awed to meet a Lipizzan! What an experience.

      And my Lipizzans give you:

      “wondering why things look the way they look, feel the way they feel; how they’re used and why”

      Reply

    1. There are many videos out there, but I like the ones from the Spanish Riding School best.

      The horses are truly majestic, and their history is fascinating. Some people say dressage is cruel, but if the horses are trained slowly and correctly, life as a ballet horse seems a vast improvement over life as a battle horse.

      Reply

  12. Yes to this

    I love Mary Stewart’s books.

    “The Ivy Tree”‘s my favourite. My Mum gave me my paperback version years and years ago, and it’s falling to pieces.

    Surprisingly, “Airs Above the Ground” is about the only Mary Stewart book I don’t own.

    I really need to re-read them. Until I discovered gay fiction, they were my favourite books.

    Reply

    1. Re: Yes to this

      I suppose in some ways the books are dated, but I find I still enjoy them as much as ever–a tribute to Stewart’s skill as a storyteller, I think.

      Reply

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