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This is a discussion topic for the August 2024 Book of the Month, "Deceptive Calm" by Patricia Skipper.


What’s your favorite quote from Deceptive Calm by Patricia Skipper?

Page 13. Sister Rosalie: Who in the name of Pope Pius IX is in charge here?" "I am talking to you Mister. I expect you to listen. It's blowing up a storm, but this is not a police state yet! These children have been traumatized enough today without you carting them off in squad cars with wire mesh. I'm madder than a wet hen." "Who are you?" asks the policeman. Sister Rosalie: Pope Pius IX.

"“Where did you go to medical school?” Gordy asked, worried about his credentials.“I didn’t! I always loved my mother’s sewing kit, so I thought what the hell? I’ll come down here, hang out, and see if I could stitch anyone up.”"

My favorite quote in the book is in chapter 18, while Vanessa was on her honeymoon in Switzerland. “These locals say that you are incredibly lucky since the weather is clear today for your arrival. During the winter, months go by without seeing the top of the Matterhorn. They hope this deceptive calm will endure for your entire visit so your memories will last a lifetime.” This pulled in the title of the book as well as portraying Vanessa’s life as a deceptive calm.

Faith Katherine Daniels wrote: ↑29 Aug 2024, 06:26 "“Where did you go to medical school?” Gordy asked, worried about his credentials.“I didn’t! I always loved my mother’s sewing kit, so I thought what the hell? I’ll come down here, hang out, and see if I could stitch anyone up.”"

Wow! I haven't read the book. This single quote has made me like this character.
I am looking forward to reading it.

Detective Cliff traveled from San Francisco to meet with Barry in Charleston to gather more info about Vanessa and her background. Barry told Cliff "This town is like any other place in this country. Educated, tolerant people exist beside uneducated, intolerant people. The South is no different than the rest of this country. Got it?"

“Well, now you know all about blood and where it comes from. There is truly no such thing as Black blood,” Doctor Davies advised

In as much as this sounds funny, it’s the reality of life. There shouldn’t be prejudice between humans, because asides skin tone, we’re all the same.

La Dunar wrote: ↑14 Sep 2024, 21:57 “Well, now you know all about blood and where it comes from. There is truly no such thing as Black blood,” Doctor Davies advised

In as much as this sounds funny, it’s the reality of life. There shouldn’t be prejudice between humans, because asides skin tone, we’re all the same.

Yeah I really like that he said that. I guess the young man had never thought about whether blood can be transfused between races. It's understandable because black and white people were treated as different species, he had to wonder.

One of my favorite quotes is:

"Well now you know all about Blood and where it comes from. There is truly no such thing as Black blood,"

cindyk56 wrote: ↑28 Aug 2024, 20:13 Page 13. Sister Rosalie: Who in the name of Pope Pius IX is in charge here?" "I am talking to you Mister. I expect you to listen. It's blowing up a storm, but this is not a police state yet! These children have been traumatized enough today without you carting them off in squad cars with wire mesh. I'm madder than a wet hen." "Who are you?" asks the policeman. Sister Rosalie: Pope Pius IX.

I liked when she went berserk for a moment there too. That policeman sure got it when she said "I'm madder that a wet hen." I still don't know what that means, but I am sure it is something really crazy. Sister Rosalie was one of my favorites.

Sandra Jackson 9 wrote: ↑18 Sep 2024, 10:05 One of my favorite quotes is:

"Well now you know all about Blood and where it comes from. There is truly no such thing as Black blood,"

Haha, yeah. Doctor Davies had a smart mouth and I liked that from his character. Giving the naive Gordy a little sarcasm sure answered his question. He was satisfied after that.

Faith Katherine Daniels wrote: ↑29 Aug 2024, 06:26 "“Where did you go to medical school?” Gordy asked, worried about his credentials.“I didn’t! I always loved my mother’s sewing kit, so I thought what the hell? I’ll come down here, hang out, and see if I could stitch anyone up.”"

This is morbidly funny to me! What a way to introduce and hook readers into a character.

On page 143 during the salary negotiations and benefits offers, Mr Collins said to Vanessa “I am prepared to quadruple your salary”

...and as he continued, he added this as much “ Now, Vanessa I will throw in a brand-new car, which we can trade out and a clothing allowance too”

"She decided to do the most expedient thing and took the only transportation offered. Despite the two hours' wait to move up from a squad car to a police van, she felt it would be less traumatic to keep everyone together" (page 16).

My favorite quote is:

“Money never buys happiness. It only comes from inside your heart. Sister Rosalie never cared about money, while her mother worked her whole life to save it for her only child. Now it is all yours.” (p. 102) Kindle Edition.

In hindsight, this quote felt like some foreshadowing for the Von Westerkamps. They were incredibly wealthy but such miserable people with rotten hearts. I think Vanessa definitely learned that lesson the hard way.