Georgette Heyer Fans discussion

I know this is a little early, but I do have a good reason for bringing this up now. :)

So far we have

January - The Black Sheep
February - Lady of Quality

For March, as many of you know, Random House is releasing next month. Isn't that a gorgeous cover? This is with four (I think) extra stories. I did request a review copy from Random House/Penguin, but was most cruelly spurned by their NZ branch & only had an auto reply from the Australian office. Couldn't hurt for those of you who live in the UK to try Head Office though!

So for March I'd like to suggest Pistols for Two/Snowdrift.

I'd also like to suggest both July & December as catch up months.

& I would like to open the 2014 group reads for nomination. Those books are;

Cotillion
Frederica
Sylvester
Footsteps in the Dark (mystery)
The Nonesuch
The Unknown Ajax
Death in the Stocks (mystery)
The Foundling.

I'm certainly happy to read Cotillion again. Other than Footsteps I own a copy of all these books & know them well enough to lead the discussion without rereading. & we do have a lot of new members who may like the chance to have a group read.

The other thing is that Kim had the great idea of reading the books in order. The thing is we read The Black Moth & Powder & Patch this year. I would be happy to reread TBM this soon - but I doubt if the rest of you would be! & a lot of GH's weaker titles are at the start (& end) of her career.

But no reason why we can't do in 2018!

What do the rest of you think? :)

I would like to put Frederica forward :D

Hilary wrote: "I would like to put Frederica forward :D"

So I will take that as one vote for opening up our 2014 group reads for a reread. ;)

& I forgot - do you want to set aside specific months for GH's mysteries again?

I'll re-read the first three on that list as often as you like ;) I don't remember taking part in a Cotillion discussion, so that would be my preference.

I must admit I don't want to re-read The Black Moth or Powder & Patch so soon.

I've suggested in other Heyer groups that sometime we read her books in internal-chronological order. I do realize that clumps a lot of the historicals at one end (starting with The Conqueror, I suppose) and the mysteries and contemporaries at the other, but we could trim those ends if we wanted to. 2017 may be too soon, though.

I would love to reread:

Cotillion
Frederica
Sylvester
The Nonesuch
The Unknown Ajax
The Foundling.

I guess that's basically anything except for the mysteries. :)

Louise Sparrow wrote: "I'll re-read the first three on that list as often as you like ;) I don't remember taking part in a Cotillion discussion, so that would be my preference.

I must admit I don't want to re-read The B..."

I joined after the Cotillion group reads but just added my thoughts at the time.

Edit; I would love a parallel read with the group!

Margaret wrote: "I've suggested in other Heyer groups that sometime we read her books in internal-chronological order. I do realize that clumps a lot of the historicals at one end (starting with [book:The Conqueror..."

Some good thoughts there Margaret. :)

I have given it some thought & if we do this in 2018 I thought maybe the suppressed by GH ones could be paralleled with another title. Say;

Jan The Black Moth/ The Great Roxhythe
Feb Powder & Patch/ Instead of the Thorn
Mar Simon the Coldheart/ These Old Shades
Apr Helen/ The Masqueraders
May Beauvallet/ Pastel
Jun Barren Corn/ The Conqueror
Jul (or Aug if we had a gap month) Devil's Cub/ Footsteps

I'm going to use a bit of understatement here & say some of those months look a little bleak!!! I think we would have to have a show of hands & if no one is intending to read a particular title, not offer that one.

& there may be no copy of Pastel in NZ, so we would have to have a volunteer to lead that one. & I'll add unless a copy turns up at work, I don't want to go to the expense of interloaning Helen!

Edit; Missed my favourite (Devil's Cub) out!

As for 2017, The Unknown Ajax! The Unknown Ajax! The Unknown Ajax!

I have been keeping away from my darling Hugo ever since I joined this group, in hopes that we would come back to it.

The more I look at the 2018 lineup, the more depressed I get!

More in line with what Margaret suggested would be;

Jan The Black Moth
Feb Powder & Patch
Mar These Old Shades
Apr The Masqueraders
May Beauvallet
Jun Devil's Cub
Jul Gap month
Aug The Convenient Marriage
Sept The Unfinished Clue (mystery)
Oct Regency Buck
Nov The Talisman Ring
Dec Gap month

I would keep An Infamous Army (2019!) in as there is a significant romantic element, but none of the other historicals.

That is rather depressing, maybe we should wait and see how we feel at the end of 2017?

Did I miss the discussion on what we are reading in 2017? (That's possible. Sometimes I'm not so good at keeping track of these discussions.)

I'm a bit sad about 2018. Some of my least favorite books are in there and none of my favorites except Talisman Ring.

Louise Sparrow wrote: "That is rather depressing, maybe we should wait and see how we feel at the end of 2017?"

Totally agree.! When you look at my list in message 11 that would only give us one Regency & only 4 (counting The Unfinished Clue) that we haven't read as a group read already! :(

I know there is an Agatha Christie group reading Christie's titles in order, but although I loathe Tommy & Tuppence, Christie did start stronger.

I've missed out on participating in this group for well over a year now, but I would love to get back on board and it's great to see planning well in advance. (The last book I participated in was Devil's Cub at the beginning of 2015, I think)

I actually just read The Grand Sophy with another group last month, and I picked up Footsteps in the Dark and Why Shoot a Butler at the used bookstore a few days ago. I've only read a handful of Heyer's books so far, so I'll probably be up for whatever it scheduled.

Amy wrote: "Did I miss the discussion on what we are reading in 2017? (That's possible. Sometimes I'm not so good at keeping track of these discussions.)

I'm a bit sad about 2018. Some of my least favorite bo..."

Amy - don't worry - 2018 will still be decided by consensus. So if most members don't like this idea we won't do either of those line ups.

So back to 2017! :)

In the 2016 thread we agreed on

Jan The Black Sheep
Feb Lady of Quality

For March I have suggested Pistols For Two/Snowdrift. Snowdrift is being released in October of the year & is Pistols For Two + 4 other GH stories.

I've also suggested 2 gap (or catch up) months July & December.

& I was wondering if people would still like a month (or 2) set aside for her mysteries.

Clear as mud? :D

Edit; I don't want to block in specific titles for the rest of 2017 - just in case The Grand Sophy film or a TV programme is is released.

I hope I haven't made this all too complicated! :/

Linda wrote: "I've missed out on participating in this group for well over a year now, but I would love to get back on board and it's great to see planning well in advance. (The last book I participated in was D..."

Welcome back Linda! We crossed over as I'm a very slow typist! (feel free to put your thoughts about The Grand Sophy in our group read if you want to. :)

To clarify my earlier rant, I am happy with your suggestions so far for 2017, just as long as we get to read The Unknown Ajax sometime during the year!

Abigail wrote: "To clarify my earlier rant, I am happy with your suggestions so far for 2017, just as long as we get to read The Unknown Ajax sometime during the year!"

All will be decided by consensus - but given most of us adore Hugo I would say TUA would stand a good chance! :)

I have another thought for 2018- we could read GH's Regencies in order & watch her progression as a Regency romance writer.

Carol ♛ Type, Oh Queen! ♛ wrote: "I have another thought for 2018- we could read GH's Regencies in order & watch her progression as a Regency romance writer."

YES! Let's do that. Maybe we could also add in two mysteries also.

Yes, that would work. My thought when I suggested reading them from beginning to end was that way every book would get read at some point. We could do a batch of Regencies and slot in a mystery or history also in order, spread them out a bit.

Carol ♛ Type, Oh Queen! ♛ wrote: "I have another thought for 2018- we could read GH's Regencies in order & watch her progression as a Regency romance writer."

I like that idea too. Also, Amy's thought of adding in a couple of her mysteries. I've only read Death in the Stocks so far and I thought it was a lot of fun.

Carol ♛ Type, Oh Queen! ♛ wrote: "Welcome back Linda! We crossed over as I'm a very slow typist! (feel free to put your thoughts about The Grand Sophy in our group read if you want to. :)"

Thanks Carol! I'll have to check out the Grand Sophy thread. :)

I saw that Friday's Child was this month's group read and it was the very first Heyer I read, and it completely pulled me into her world. I got the audio book from the library, so I'm hoping to get to it before the end of the month.

I'm easy! I'll go along with anything you suggest. I just love reading her books and there are a couple I wouldn't mind reading over and over again. But please put poor Abigail our of her misery. It sounds like she's pining :):)

Teresa wrote, “But please put poor Abigail out of her misery . . .”

LOL!! You got that right.

The Unknown Ajax was the very first Heyer I ever read, when I was about 13--it is long overdue for a reread!

I like the idea of reading the romances in order, with a mystery or two thrown in. But I am willing and delighted to go along with any program.

Sheila wrote: "The Unknown Ajax was the very first Heyer I ever read, when I was about 13--it is long overdue for a reread!

I like the idea of reading the romances in order, with a mystery or two thrown in. But..."

Hi there Sheila!

I love GH's Georgians but quite a few of our members don't. I am now quite enamoured of the Regency reads idea. :)

Out of interest, is anyone intending to buy Snowdrift? If you are, do you already own Pistols for Two?

I am. And I do.

If we're going to do an all-Regencies read (which I'm definitely in favor of, though I like her Georgians as well), might we do those in internal-chronological order? There is certainly something to be said for publication order, but I've done that before -- in a different group, admittedly.

Margaret wrote: "If we're going to do an all-Regencies read (which I'm definitely in favor of, though I like her Georgians as well), might we do those in internal-chronological order? There is certainly something t..."

Is internal chronlogical the date the book was set in? Interesting idea if so.

I'd still rather do date written , but it's up to the group. :)

Teresa wrote: "I am. And I do."

I probably won't buy Snowdrift. I do own Pistols.

Is internal chronological the date the book was set in?

Yes. There's a table online:

http://www.georgette-heyer.com/chron....

I own Pistols so I'm not likely to get Snowdrift either.

Happy to make our way through the regencies in any order ;)

I own "Pistols."

I'm going to try to get my library to buy "Snowdrift."

Andrea (Catsos Person) is a Compulsive eBook Hoarder wrote: "I own "Pistols."

I'm going to try to get my library to buy "Snowdrift.""

I like your thinking! One of the young librarians at my "local" is a massive Heyer fan! I'll have a word with her when I put in my request.

Ye're all so lucky. There is no way my library would have anything like that and if I requested it I'd probably have to wait six months to get it. Our local bookshop is worse. They never have any of the books I read. Thank God for the internet!!

Teresa wrote: "Ye're all so lucky. There is no way my library would have anything like that and if I requested it I'd probably have to wait six months to get it. Our local bookshop is worse. They never have any o..."

If the book is in NZ it takes around 3 months. But they are very responsive to reader requests.

Carol ♛ Type, Oh Queen! ♛ wrote: "Sheila wrote: "The Unknown Ajax was the very first Heyer I ever read, when I was about 13--it is long overdue for a reread!

I like the idea of reading the romances in order, with a mystery or two..."

I was planning to buy Snowdrift. I have Pistols for Two in hard copy. If I had it on kindle I probably wouldn't be buying the new one.

I'm up for reading anything by Ms. Heyer, but I confess to date I've not made it through any of her non-romance titles. The regencies, of course, are my favorites. I re-read those over and over.

I own Pistols, and will buy Snowdrift, because GH. There is one story in Pistols that is quite terrifying, though, but I should not talk about it, I know!

Critterbee wrote: "I own Pistols, and will buy Snowdrift, because GH. There is one story in Pistols that is quite terrifying, though, but I should not talk about it, I know!"

Is that one 'A Night at the Inn'?

Yessssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss!

Hi Everyone,

Any monthly Heyer read in any order is fine with me! A monthly group read here will be a perfect way to read more of one of my favorite authors.

For Jan., I've read The Black Sheep, but will happily reread it.

JF Behold, Here's Poison, #2 in her Inspector Hannasyde series (a reread). I read #1 Death in the Stocks last month.

I purchased #3 and #4 to finish a challenge by 12/31, They Found Him Dead, and A Blunt Instrument.

Sorry, just saw this whole thread - with the redesign I don't get email notices of discussions anymore, grumble, grumble...anyway, I'm in for the suggestions above for 2017 per Carol's message 16. I have January and February titles and I think I can get Pistols for Two through my Scribd subscription.

I try not to buy any more physical books as we are now empty-nesters and contemplating a move in the next few years and I don't want to move any more books!

I agree, wait til the end of 2017 before we finalize 2018 - but I'm flexible. I would love to put in a vote for Cotillion and Foundling - I recently reread Cotillion but love it, and have only read Foundling once but was absolutely charmed by it! Curious to see if it still has that magic for me. All of the 2014 list intrigues me, actually - I've read them all but only once and long ago, so I'd love to see how they hold up!

Since I am new to this group all the discussions will be new to me. I am happy to reread the ones I have read. I do like the mysteries on the 2017 list recomended. I don't know if this is the place to ask about how to participate. I am reading Spring Muslin in order to be ready for that discussion. I hope it is obvious because I am a bit social media dense. I am also a listener most of the time, whenever I can be, and I know that can make the "reading" experience a bit different. I actually started out by reading Spring Muslin and then when I saw you would be talking about it I thought I better get it done on my walks so now I am listening. I will watch for the discussion place.

Hi, Lauren, I can relate to your struggles with navigating social media! I had a terrible time when I first joined Goodreads, my first social media experience.

The good news is that Goodreads will make it pretty easy for you. Each month, as the moderator of the group sets up new threads for discussing that month’s book, you will receive an e-mail notice of the new threads. If you click on the link in the e-mail that says "Read the comment on Goodreads," you will be connected to that thread and can join the conversation!

There are a number of fans of audio books in this group, so you won’t be alone. I always like seeing the comments about which audiobooks have good narrators.

Hi Lauren

How we usually organise is;

We start on the first of each month. The read has three separate threads - 1st half of the book, 2nd half of the book and then a thread where you can post open spoilers. The other 2 threads I ask that you use spoiler tags.

We choose books by consensus usually.

Let me know if you have any other questions!

Great Thanks! I will watch for those emails.

Lauren wrote: "Great Thanks! I will watch for those emails."

Just saw this sorry!

Lauren, I generally don't send out messages/emails anymore as half the time they didn't work properly - & that was before the GR redesign!

Sometime in Dec I will put up a Group Reads 2017 thread. Just select instant email (although that no longer works for me) or notification (which does) :)

Abigail wrote: "Teresa wrote, “But please put poor Abigail out of her misery . . .”

LOL!! You got that right."

The Unknown Ajax and Fredericka: I have a copy of each at home TBR.

Abigal, hang in there, LOL.

Of course, I could always go ahead and read The Unknown Ajax on my own, thus keeping Hugo to myself . . . ;-)