Georgette Heyer Fans discussion

And we are going with

Jan - The Black Sheep
Feb - Lady of Quality
Mar - Pistols for Two, Snowdrift
Apr - Sylvester
May -The Unknown Ajax
June -Penhallow (Mystery)
July - The Convenient Marriage
Aug - The Masqueraders
Sept -Behold Here's Poison (mystery) - now reading
Oct - Frederica
Nov - Beauvallet
Dec - month off

Even though we haven't made up our minds yet I thought I would put up the 2 possible formats for 2018.

GH Group Read 2018

Order Written (Carol's Suggestion)

January Regency Buck
February An Infamous Army
March The Corinthian
April Friday's Child
May The Reluctant Widow
June The Foundling
July Arabella
August The Grand Sophy
September The Quiet Gentleman
October Cotillion
November Catch up month!
December Envious Casca aka A Christmas Story (mystery)

Order of Year Took Place (Margaret's Suggestion)

January Regency Buck
February The Corinthian
March The Reluctant Widow
April Sprig Muslin
May April Lady
June A Civil Contract
July An Infamous Army
August The Grand Sophy
September Bath Tangle
October Cotillion
November Catch up month!
December Envious Casca aka A Christmas Story (mystery)

Hi I thought it might be an idea to decide the 2018 order of reading now, especially for members who have trouble getting the books & also because I'd like to read a Regency in October 17 - we haven't done one since May.

Although I would prefer to read them in written order, to trace GH's development as a writer, I am happy to do it the way Margaret suggests, as there are advantages to this as well.

➤ Getting a sense of how the history unfolds.
➤ My way, the only title we haven't read as a group is The Corinthian. Margaret's way, there is also April Lady & Bath Tangle.

If we can get a decision by consensus, that would be awesome. Otherwise I'll put a poll up in a couple of days. :)

Carol, maybe we can do it one way...yours or Margaret's...then the other next time through. I was thinking development of her as writer would be enlightening, as I have found it with Agatha Christie, but Margaret's way could be interesting as well.

Thanks for your input Kim! :)

& I forgot - I added Envious Casca for December 2018 so we can do a Xmas (GH style!) story & made November the month off. If everyone could comment on that as well. :)

I'm happy with either choice. The only one I'll struggle with is Infamous Army. Read it once, don't know if I can do it again.

I think we all have books we may not want to re-read, that is true of nearly every book group. On such months, I use the space/time to read something else, I can still participate in discussion if I so desire, it's not a deal breaker.

Kim wrote: "I think we all have books we may not want to re-read, that is true of nearly every book group. On such months, I use the space/time to read something else, I can still participate in discussion if ..."

Kim makes great points, I agree I'm up for either Carol's or Margaret's suggestion - and if I don't have or can't get a book, or don't think I can concentrate enough to read the book of the month, I'll enjoy following the discussion anyway - I always learn so much!

Kim wrote: "I think we all have books we may not want to re-read, that is true of nearly every book group. On such months, I use the space/time to read something else, I can still participate in discussion if ..."

That's how I see it. The one I'll struggle with is Charity Girl. I will still read it, but I reread it 2 or 3 years ago & still didn't care for it.

& I haven't included The Spanish Bride as there are no fictional characters & there was so little interest when we had a book discussion a couple of years ago.

If we haven’t read The Corinthian, then I feel that should be top of the list—even though Pen Creed and Horry virtually back to back is a lot of young heroines! But I have a soft spot for Pen.

This is for 2018 Abigail. We are going to do it in either order written (my suggestion) or order events took place. (Margaret's suggestion) Either way The Corinthian will be read early in 2018. It is actually the last one of GH's romances that was a 5* read for me.:) (that we are going to read as a group)

Carol

I like your 'order written' the best. I do notice that both lists have only the one modern mystery. May I suggest starting with 'The Unfinished Clue' (1934) and dropping either 'An Infamous Army' (I'm a fan, a lot of readers aren't) or 'The Reluctant Widow' ?

Recently I found copies of 'An Infamous Army' and 'The Corinthian' free for the taking (and of course, I snatched them up!) I started reading 'The Corinthian', but decided to save it for later, thinking this group would read it eventually. Anyway, I'm pleased to see I'll be getting around to these books sooner than later (maybe not An Infamous Army, but that's okay).

I have a slight preference for reading the books in order written, for the same reasons cited by others, to trace her development as a writer. I like the idea of reading Envious Casca in December, too.

Barb in Maryland wrote: "Carol

I like your 'order written' the best. I do notice that both lists have only the one modern mystery. May I suggest starting with 'The Unfinished Clue' (1934) and dropping either 'An Infamous ..."

If enough people want to I can add another mystery - or we could offer An Unfinished Clue the same month as An Infamous Army & give people a choice.

Or I could Insert Clue, but that means we wouldn't get to Cotillion till 2019. (I'd be a bit sad, as it's is my favourite of GH's Regencies)

We would need someone to lead the discussion of "Clue" as I don't have a copy.

I'm keen to reread An Infamous Army again for (view spoiler)[ GH's most flawed heroine (hide spoiler)] & pro tip for the history haters - skim it! Thats what I did in my younger years! :D

Sheila wrote: "Recently I found copies of 'An Infamous Army' and 'The Corinthian' free for the taking (and of course, I snatched them up!) I started reading 'The Corinthian', but decided to save it for later, thi..."

I love both books but give The Corinthian the edge - I think. It has been a very long time since I read it.

I'd be more inclined towards The Corinthian too. Like Carol it's been a long time.

Hi I may be going up to Auckland for a few days later in the week, (convalescent friend) so I would like to wrap this up soon. I have messaged Margaret a couple of days ago & am hoping she is available to state her case ;) but I'm going to make the deadline Tuesday my time, Monday for Northern America.

& could everyone (even those who have already voted) say if they would like to read both An Unfinished Clue & Envious Casca or just Envious Casca.

My vote is for just Envious Casca as I don't have a copy of Clue & would need to find someone to lead. :)

I'll put Barb in Maryland down as a vote for both.

Envious Casaca alone for me

Either for me.

I don't have a preference for these mysteries.

I'd be surprised if my library had them

I didn't care for Envious Casca so I vote for Clue and Casca. Envious Casca has been renamed and reprintedA Christmas Party. My favorite bookseller-by-post sells it. (Bas Bleu. (This catalog is a must have for Georgette Heyer fans, Jane Austen fans and bluestockings).

I've just looked into this Bas Bleu crowd and I gather they're for America only? Couldn't find anything out on their site.

I have used copies of both Clue and Casca so I'm set for either.

If I count Andrea as voting for just Casca, votes are neck and neck.

& don't forget you still have your say on which order we read the Regencies. :)

I like Margaret's list for the Regencies and both Clue & Casca for the mysteries.

One of the libraries I use has A Christmas Party, so I'll vote for that one.

What a stupid title they've given this book! Very generic.

I tend to prefer books in order of being written, but I'm easy either way. I haven't read Envious Casca so I'm for that, but I would also like to re-read Unfinished Clue. Guess I'm not much help. :)

Casca.

Just Envious Casca. I do hope to read all the mysteries eventually though.

In terms of reading order- I rather like the idea of 'as written' to see the development.

& there seems to be a clear preference for order written, so there will have to be a big surge in the next 24 hours for order of events to be our reading order.

As far as mysteries go, I make it that there is a slight preference for reading Casca only. If there is a surge for both I need a volunteer to lead Clue as it is one of the titles I don't own.

I'm going to vote for the Written order just because the other one gives me three books I don't like back to back.

I usually skip the mysteries but I like the idea of reading a Christmas one in December so I vote for Casca too.

Cotillion is one of my favourites too and I'm feeling very protective of Freddy at the moment because the Georgette Heyer account on Twitter dubbed him, 'not sexy' LOL

& I'm going to call it now. It will be written order, catch up month November, one mystery Envious Casca (A Christmas Story)

thanks to everyone who voted & gave suggestions.

I'll re-post the reading list here;

January Regency Buck
February An Infamous Army
March The Corinthian
April Friday's Child
May The Reluctant Widow
June The Foundling
July Arabella
August The Grand Sophy
September The Quiet Gentleman
October Cotillion
November Catch up month!
December Envious Casca aka A Christmas Story (mystery)

Thanks Carol, for all you do - looking forward to reading these books with the group!

Thanks! :)

Carol ♔Type, Oh Queen!♕ wrote: "& I'm going to call it now. It will be written order, catch up month November, one mystery Envious Casca (A Christmas Story)

thanks to everyone who voted & gave suggestions.

I'll re-post the read..."

Carol
Looks good to me! Nice to know what I'll need to borrow from the library and when!