Retro Reads discussion

Abigail wrote: "I'll be there, Karlyne! Especially if you serve those cracklins you mentioned in the other thread . . ."

You got it!

Barbara Cartland intverview where you can see the framed covers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3Q50...

Carol ꧁꧂ wrote: "Barbara Cartland intverview where you can see the framed covers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3Q50..."

Wow! What a rare old babbler she was! There's a character in The Rosemary Tree who reminds me of her: because she was once pretty and charming (and completely selfish), she thinks she still is...

Carol ꧁꧂ wrote: "Barbara Cartland intverview where you can see the framed covers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3Q50..."

Man, I'm dying to know what became of all that art.

I was wondering if I was just prejudiced against her from my Heyer readings and our discussions, or if she was just plain fake and annoying in reality...

Well, I am in awe of all of you who watched that interview--I got about 30 seconds in and had to bail... I could not take it! I've read my fair share of Cartland's books over the years (and, ahem, even have one on my keeper shelf), but seeing and listening to the aged author was just too much. I know--I'm such a wimp...

Barb in Maryland wrote: "Well, I am in awe of all of you who watched that interview--I got about 30 seconds in and had to bail... I could not take it! I've read my fair share of Cartland's books over the years (and, ahem, ..."

It took me two tries! 🤣

Karlyne wrote: "It took me two tries! 🤣 "

hahaha!!!


I could not make it through.

I watched less than a minute and then fast forwarded to where I could see all the pictures on the walls.

What on earth does she have on her face? Or is it just the poor quality of the video? I can only assume she did her own makeup for the interview. But yes, the framed covers were very interesting. Thanks for sharing this link, @Carol.

Yes, the makeup was... interesting!

Elinor wrote: "What on earth does she have on her face? Or is it just the poor quality of the video? I can only assume she did her own makeup for the interview..."

I would guess it was pancake makeup.

It was almost waffle makeup...

Good one, Karlyne!

Karlyne wrote: "It was almost waffle makeup..."

*snorting*

Karlyne wrote: "It was almost waffle makeup..."

Wahahahaha!!!!!!!!!

I can remember Cartland having her own column in one of the British magazines. in her pictures she would always be pink - hair, makeup encrusted face, jewels, clothes - & I think some of her dogs! She was considered a figure of fun in the end, even though her books still sold.

Carol ꧁꧂ wrote: "I can remember Cartland having her own column in one of the British magazines. in her pictures she would always be pink - hair, makeup encrusted face, jewels, clothes - & I think some of her dogs! ..."

In the interview, she comes across as someone who was selfish and self-centered as a child and never grew up.

I would bet there was some serious mental projection going on with the heroines in her books.

Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ wrote: "I would bet there was some serious mental projection going on with the heroines in her books."

Well, she readily admitted that all of her heroines were her.

The Wikipedia entry on her is a bit eye-opening:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara...

She led a most interesting life, that's for sure!

Barb in Maryland wrote: "Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ wrote: "I would bet there was some serious mental projection going on with the heroines in her books."

Well, she readily admitted that all of her heroines were her."

REALLY?? Hah, I guess I started fast-forwarding through the video before she made that admission. I am totally laughing out loud right now!

Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ wrote: "Barb in Maryland wrote: "Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ wrote: "I would bet there was some serious mental projection going on with the heroines in her books."

Well, she readily admitted that all of her heroi..."

I don't know if it was this interview or something I read a while back. Anyway, when I read/heard it my reaction was "well, duh..."

Her comment was "I was always the virgin, of course". Brrrrrrr.

equals


???
The mind, it boggles. But get this:



Her long-suffering cover artist, Francis Marshall, was far kinder to her than she deserved.

And just for fun:



I wonder if Francis did this one too? The picture looks more like Eva Gabor than Barbara.

Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ wrote: "
equals


???
The mind, it boggles. But get this:



Her long-suffering cover artist, Francis Marshall, was far kinder to her than she deserved."

"Beauty and Health" translates to " How to Take Care of Oneself First and Foremost ".

Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ wrote: "And just for fun:



I wonder if Francis did this one too? The picture looks more like Eva Gabor than Barbara."
That does look like Eva Gabor. Or Jean Harlow

Gotta love the title! That's Eva, c 1954.

Barb in Maryland wrote: "

Gotta love the title! That's Eva, c 1954."

Wait a minute! So, Cartland used Eva Gabor's face as her trademark face, which is why she had to pile the makeup on. Because, underneath it all she looked like Clark Gable!

Karlyne wrote: "Barb in Maryland wrote: "

Gotta love the title! That's Eva, c 1954."

Wait a minute! So, Cartland used Eva Gabor's face as her trademark face, which is why s..."

😅😅😅

Did someone say Clark Gable?

Critterbee❇ wrote: "Did someone say Clark Gable?"

Hubba hubba!

Anyone who writes 23 novels in one year (let's see, at 100,000 words each, that's 6,000 words every day for 365 days -- just has to be driven beyond belief. It's almost immaterial how ludicrous she looks. One just has to admire her determination. And they couldn't have been truly terrible books since she had so many fans. Do you think she had ghostwriters in the background?

BC freely admitted to dictating her later books, which usually ran 200 pages--so 75k or 80k words per book. Factor in all those pauses in the heroines dialogue--maybe down to 70k words. But still a prodigious output, in terms of physical effort, even if she heavily recycled plots, etc. One could imagine ghostwriters, working from plot outlines and style guidelines, but I've never read a definitive answer to that question.

The ellipses alone had to account for a couple of thousand words...

Karlyne wrote: "The ellipses alone had to account for a couple of thousand words..."

HA!

my Mom used to read her and I tried out a few. I remember one where the heroine was "chubby" but then took up swimming laps (in the nude, for some reason) and became lovely and svelte the way women are supposed to be. BAH.

I will never read her again; life is too short.

Jackie wrote: "Karlyne wrote: "The ellipses alone had to account for a couple of thousand words..."

HA!

my Mom used to read her and I tried out a few. I remember one where the heroine was "chubby" but then took..."

That description alone of the chubby nude swimmer makes me want to try reading one of her books! Maybe we should do a group read -- the snide comments alone would be worth it!

I am ashamed to admit that I read that one.

Wishing everyone in this group the happiest of holiday seasons!

It has been a pleasure discovering new authors & reading old favourites with you all!

A Blessed Solstice (belatedly) and Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all.

Happy Holidays, fellow retro readers!

Happy holidays for all, however you choose to construe them!

Wishing you all happy holidays, and a new year filled with books (and time to read them! :) )

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas... No, wait! That's reality!

Here's hoping your holidays are filled with beauty, books, and gooood food!

Yes, Happy Holidays to everyone! Let us hope for a wonderful new year!

Have a wonderful Retro Christmas, everyone, in the best sense of the word. Happy holiday reading as well.

Happy Holidays to all! And Happy Reading, too.

Wasn’t sure where to put this, I haven’t read the whole article but in light of our recent discussions about author copyright, thought some might be interested in this New York Times article (sorry, Tadiana, I know it’s the weekend and I hope you’re not working, so this is kind of a Busman’s Honeymoon situation for you...)😊:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/29/bo...

Sounds like it could be a bit of a boon to us readers, though - cheaper books, more editions available! (It’s hard to see a downside to more books being available, but I’m probably missing something or being overly optimistic, I usually am...🥴)

I don't see a downside, excepting maybe that because any publisher can publish the book, there might be less elegant editions, or perhaps shoddily made copies that are not accurate/have typos, etc.

For example, Dover thrift editions are usually cheap and accurate, but not so prettily/securely bound. Other "1 dollar" editions might not proof read so closely or publish in such a frenzied fashion that mistakes are made. And maybe more gloriously bound special editions will be available of classics or beloved books.

Optimism is a good thing, Susan. I wish I had more myself! :)