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Good Evening everyone!

I decided to go with just two threads. No spoilers in this one or please use spoiler tags. :)

This is my first read of this book. I have this edition & it is falling apart.

I have only just started, but so far I really like Dany's character.

I'll be picking my copy up today!

I first read this back in 1983 when it was republished. And I don't believe I've re-read it since. The original writing date (1959) comes through in the descriptions of the flight route and the fashions.
I'm up to page 40 or so--
Anyway, I had forgotten just how young Dany is.

This will be my first read of the book too. Still waiting to get hold of a copy.

& Mary Stewart fans will be happy to know Kaye heroines also love nylon nighties! :)

eeeep! I left the book on my desk at the library, so the earliest I can start is tomorrow. Must make note to self.

I have about 40 books on my desk... it might be time to clean everything up. There is a tall stack of old Heyer paperbacks in horrid condition that were donated and I cannot bear to get rid off, another stack of middle readers for our tween girls book club (we let them choose from a selection of pre-read titles, so I have to read a bunch or choose from books that I have previously read, in order to offer them a nice selection) AND a third stack of books that I want to read.

Carol ♔Type, Oh Queen!�� wrote: "& Mary Stewart fans will be happy to know Kaye heroines also love nylon nighties! :)"

I loved that!

�� Critterbee wrote: "eeeep! I left the book on my desk at the library, so the earliest I can start is tomorrow. Must make note to self.

I have about 40 books on my desk... it might be time to clean everything up. The..."

Back when I was a library clerk I had a locker full of books.

I've ended up keeping my old GH paperbacks (in spite of their poor condition) because of all the typos in the more modern copies.

Tadiana ✩Night Owl�� wrote: "
I loved that!"

I'll admit in the sixties & seventies I loved my nylon nighties & baby doll pyjamas too!

I tried to find the Zanzibar song, both on You Tube & on lyric sites last night. No luck. Is it a real song?

Carol ♔Type, Oh Queen!�� wrote: "I tried to find the Zanzibar song, both on You Tube & on lyric sites last night. No luck. Is it a real song?"

The song is 'Stowaway' the singer is Barbara Lyon, came out in 1955. It is up on YouTube. It is a rather dreamy, slow tempo song, lots of violins.

Barb in Maryland wrote: "
The song is 'Stowaway' the singer is Barbara Lyon, cam..."

Thank you Barb that was lovely. Surprising that my copy doesn't acknowledge the useage.

Here is the link

Carol ♔Type, Oh Queen!�� wrote: "Barb in Maryland wrote: "
The song is 'Stowaway' the singer is Barbara Lyon, cam..."

Thank you Barb that was lovely. Surprising that my copy doesn't acknowledge the useage..."

Neither does mine. I found it by putting Google to work. Once I had the title and artist it was easy to find on YouTube.

Thanks, I'll be listening to it as soon as I have a quiet moment!

Oh! do I remember smoking on airplanes! Tiny ashtrays built into the armrests!! ((cough, cough, choke, choke)) 1957--San Francisco to Honolulu--8 hours plus. Pan Am (sob). Wide seats and lots of leg room--but you had to put up with the cigarette smoke fog! Those were the days. Sigh...cough...
For all that this book has problems (which will come to light over in the spoiler thread), for me it succeeded in evoking a tropical paradise that can no longer be experienced without a time-machine. (I will always treasure my earliest memories of a Honolulu that no longer exists).

I loved "Stowaway", and I kept thinking what a beautiful lyrical Pointe dance it would make, all soft lighting and flowing skirts. I might have to suggest it to my resident ballet teacher!

There are some beautiful descriptions of scenery but sometimes the story does wobble a bit off track. I'm reading as fast as I can as my book is disintegrating!

Haha! I've got books like that where I'm continually worried the tape will explode before I finish and the last three pages will disappear.

Frankly I don't think Kaye was served well by her publishers. When her books turn up at "my" op shop they are usually falling apart.

Nigel is reminding me of Moon-spinner's Tony...

Oh dear, Lash is such an unfortunate nickname. I spend some time thinking of him as 'Lash La Rue' (star of B grade westerns of the 1940s and '50s.)

Barb in Maryland wrote: "Oh dear, Lash is such an unfortunate nickname. I spend some time thinking of him as 'Lash La Rue' (star of B grade westerns of the 1940s and '50s.)"

Ha! I kind of like the names... Lash, Dany, Amalfi...

My husband loves Lash LaRue, so i kept thinking of him, too!

Barb in Maryland wrote: "Oh! do I remember smoking on airplanes! Tiny ashtrays built into the armrests!! ((cough, cough, choke, choke)) 1957--San Francisco to Honolulu--8 hours plus. Pan Am (sob). Wide seats and lots of le..." Haha! I remember it as well. All the smokers (myself included in those days) waiting for the No Smoking sign to go off and then everyone lit up simultaneously.

I'm dashing through this one. Up to chapter 9. It's my considered opinion that Aunt Harriet was right--Dany shouldn't be let out without an adult guardian, preferably one of fierce rectitude and chilling common sense. (view spoiler)[I don't trust Lash at all. His 'plan' for smuggling Dany off to Zanzibar in disguise with a false passport is just preposterous and seems calculated to make her look totally guilty. He had plenty of opportunity to toss her room both times and seems altogether too glib. Very fishy. (hide spoiler)]

You know, being young and naive and head-strong is just fine - as long as it doesn't result in death and/or pain and agony. Being catapulted into adulthood is a trope that I actually appreciate, although in real life I agree with Aunt Harriet. Actually, if Dany had just had a bit more people experience, she might have been a bit more wary. But then again, lots of people believe everything they're told, quite indiscriminately...

That's true, Karlyne. Dany seems quite naive even for her time but I do understand why she might react the way she does in the early chapters. She's watched her mother's adventures from afar and she's old enough to remember the war years when women were plunged into all sorts dangerous situations. Her apparently sheltered life with Aunt Harriet must have seemed terribly confining. It's understandable that the prospect of the Zanzibar trip made her wild with excitement and determined to get on that airplane no matter what.

Right! She did have her mother's example to follow, and, really, she's not lacking in courage, just discernment. Which trait also apparently came late to her mother...

I've been watching (and enjoying) My Mother and Other Strangers (on PBS). It's striking how the war threw all sorts of people together and started breaking down old barriers and community norms.

I wondered what that was about! I'll have to see if I can find it.

Hana! Nice to see you! :)

I'm nearly finished. The book sort of drifted off pace a bit for me in the middle but I'm looking forward to how it plays out.

Apparently Photobucket is going subscription only :(

Edit; as a small photobucket user, I still seem to be ok.

Airport in Zanzibar 1950s.

Lovely photo, Carol!

I'm late joining the party, but it's so much fun so far. Very Mary Stewart-ish, right down to the nylon nightie! 😄

Carol ♔Type, Oh Queen!�� wrote: "Apparently Photobucket is going subscription only :(

Edit; as a small photobucket user, I still seem to be ok.

Airport in Zanzibar 1950s.

Oh lookie!! It's a DC-3 airplane. I cannot begin to tally how many miles I've flown in such an aircraft! (Yes, I am that old).
Thanks Carol, for tracking down this photo. A real 'blast from the past'.

My book is here!

Katy wrote: "My book is here!"

Enjoy the adventure, Katy!

Thank you

Im up to 46%

I don't trust (view spoiler)[Larry Dowling. I don't trust Danny's judgement that this reporter is what he seems.

Also, I don't trust Dany's judgement about much of anything after she goes about town showing herself all over the place under her assumed identity. It seems to me she should have stayed in her room and ordered room service! (hide spoiler)]

Excellent point on sticking to her room, Andrea! Yes another mark against the hapless Dany.

Dany is a nice mix of bravery and stupidity. Or, I guess we could call it ignorance and hope for experience being an excellent teacher?

You know, I just cannot seem to get into this book! Dany seems to be in need of rescue from the start, and I dislike the book beginning with a dream.

And why is she so accepting of strange men? Not giving up yet! I will try for a few more chapters.

Just think of it as a light murder mystery...

�� Critterbee wrote: "You know, I just cannot seem to get into this book! Dany seems to be in need of rescue from the start, and I dislike the book beginning with a dream.

And why is she so accepting of strange men? ..."

Well, I guess the kindest explanation is that Dany is young, naive and very sheltered. She didn't want Aunt Harriet's suggested chaperones as she was determined to do this trip on her own. And then Problems Occurred.

I just listened to "Stowaway."

When I saw part of the lyrics in MMKs introduction, I had an idea of a peppier song.

Andrea (Catsos Person) is a Compulsive eBook Hoarder wrote: "I just listened to "Stowaway."

When I saw part of the lyrics in MMKs introduction, I had an idea of a peppier song."

I'm with you! I was expecting Reggae, not Mantovani!

Actually, the catchy song that comes to mind when I hear the word Zanzibar is the theme from "The Patty Duke Show." 😄

And I keep singing, "Somewhere beyond the sea, someone's waiting for me. My lover stands on golden sands and watches the ships that go sailing..." I'm singing it in a Bobby Darrin style, so I presume his was the version I remember!

Peggy wrote: "Actually, the catchy song that comes to mind when I hear the word Zanzibar is the theme from "The Patty Duke Show." 😄"

I had to go listen to it on youtube, and now I'm chuckling, too. I had completely forgotten all of the lyrics except "They're cousins, two of a kind." Definitely a blast from the past!

Well I suddenly find myself really enjoying this book! Dany is not stupid, she is just young and sheltered. I think I may have read that somewhere on here before... ;)

And my initial dislike of Lash has abated. Lash and Dany and Amalfi - what memorable names.

So far, I imagine Audrey Hepburn playing Dany, and Cary Grant as Lash! Let's see where this goes.