Georgette Heyer Fans discussion

My husband is a huge reader but has never read any GH. I want to suggest a book to him but I'm not sure which one to have him start with. He and I normally have different taste in books and I'm not sure Cotillion or Civil Contract would be favorites for him. I'm thinking Grand Sophy because there is some adventure in there.

Does anyone have a husband that reads GH with them? What books do they like?

Howard - what was your first GH?

How about "The Toll-Gate" since since the story is from Capt. Staple's viewpoint!

I would say The Unknown Ajax, not only because it’s my favorite but also because action among the men plays a large role; there’s adventure and skullduggery. If he likes reading about war (what a cliché! but you never know) An Infamous Army has an extraordinary account of the Battle of Waterloo.

I'd second The Unknown Ajax, for pretty much the same reasons as Abigail. Another one with mystery and skulduggery (as well as a lot of humor) is The Talisman Ring.

My husband is (other than cookbooks!) a non reader, but my dad was a huge reader who loved GH. He would have loved this group!

He particularly loved These Old Shades & Devil's Cub.

I'm thinking Beauvallet as well, but hesitant to recommend as it is so long since I read it.

The Tollgate is a good idea but there is a lot of "cant" in it.

& The Foundling is an adventure more than a romance.

Ooh, yes, if your husband likes history, if he likes Dickens, he’d love The Foundling.

The only GH book my husband has read is The Spanish Bride, because he's interested in the Peninsular War. Well, particularly after we went to Vera to see the bridge, and the grave, with me reading excerpts from the book as we visited various places.

He enjoyed it, but I haven't tried to persuade him to read any other Heyers, not even An Infamous Army, because romance isn't his thing (and even I dislike the romance in An Infamous Army!)

I got my husband started on GH last summer when I was in the hospital. I passed on my rereads as he ran out of book while he was sitting with me, and he started to chuckle. He just finished Friday's Child, he adored it.

Howard - what was your first GH? "

My first Heyer was "These Old Shades", because it was recommended by someone in a Lois McMaster Bujold group. I wouldn't recommend it for a first time reader. Instead I'd pick a book that had some Laugh-Out-Loud humor and/or a better romance.

I got my husband hooked on GH years ago by lying in bed at night reading The Grand Sophy before going to sleep and giggling madly. He was curious enough that he started reading it too--and now he's hooked. He's actually read more GH than I have, since he's read most of the mysteries as well and I have not, having been put off by A Blunt Instrument.

The Toll-Gate!

My mom reads Heyer books aloud to my stepdad before bed and got him hooked. I think his favorites ranked are: The Toll Gate, The Unknown Ajax, and A Quiet Gentleman and Venetia. Those are the ones I've heard him mention.

Amy wrote: "My husband is a huge reader but has never read any GH. I want to suggest a book to him but I'm not sure which one to have him start with. He and I normally have different taste in books and I'm not..."

i can't imagine my husband wanting to read heyer, but if he did i would recommoned one of the ones with a more exciting plot, like my own favourite, The Talisman Ring. The Reluctant Widow might also be a possibility, but I'd be inclined to go with the Talisman Ring.

Thank you for all the suggestions. Kevin just started to read The Foundling. I will report back once he's finished.

that one starts slow, but I always enjoy it. I'll be interested to hear if he does too.

I look forward to hearing his feedback!

Update. My husband finished the book and really enjoyed it. He actually mentioned that he was going to give it five stars and didn't know why I only gave it four stars. He will definitely read more GH in the future.

Thank you for the suggestions.

Amy wrote: "Update. My husband finished the book and really enjoyed it. He actually mentioned that he was going to give it five stars and didn't know why I only gave it four stars. He will definitely read more..."

I'm glad he enjoyed it. The other adventure/romance novels will be good choices for him then.

That’s great, Amy! Delighted that you’ve produced another GH convert.

Hee hee--this thread should be named, "What's the best GH gateway drug?" Hurrah for another GH reader in the fold!

Amy wrote: "Update. My husband finished the book and really enjoyed it. He actually mentioned that he was going to give it five stars and didn't know why I only gave it four stars. He will definitely read more..."


do you think he might post here? and/or post a review?

The thread has somewhat already 'run it's course' since the specific husband in question has read Heyer now, so I'm late to the thread.

I would have responded with a 'I do not have a husband.' I'm confused by the assumption that I would have a husband.

I, myself, entered Heyer by reading her mysteries first - and I'd suggest that as a good way to entice a man to read Heyer. As long as they like mysteries.

The mysteries lead to the romances which lead to me realizing that several of the romances were/are much more historical fictions than romances (like that The Spanish Bride one), which lead to the historicals which lead me to trying then not being able to read the books specifically tagged 'historicals'.

I've read everything but for the contemporary romances and those books specifically tagged historicals without the modifier of 'romance'.

He posted a review for anyone interested!

Hope this works:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

He also started listening to The Grand Sophy as an audiobook. :)

Thanks for sharing the review Amy!

That's great that he wrote a review! I think he should like The Grand Sophy too.
Any chance he wants to do book reads / discussions with the group?

"some secret underground Georgette Heyer fan club." :D

Kevin wrote a great review! I hope he continues on. And if he wants to join the Underground, we’ll be reading The Unknown Ajax sometime in 2017, and I’m pretty sure he’d enjoy it.

I'm super duper late, but I was going to start my brother off with a historical GH: Simon the Coldheart. I appreciate gleaning from the other suggestions as well :)