Georgette Heyer Fans discussion

So our first group read of 2017! Up a little early as I'm going away.

Although nothing about the pictured cover says Black Sheep to me, at least its not as ugly as my cover. No wonder GH hated the Pan covers.

This is my favourite of GH's post 1960 books. It is the first book I part read. (it was serialised in a magazine my aunt subscribed to, but I had to go home before the final parts arrived!) I've read it at least 20 times, the last time 2 years ago.

So... is it anyone's first read?
How many times have you read it?
What format are you reading this book in?

& remember - all spoilers in spoilers thread or use spoiler tags. We don't want to spoil a first time read for anyone!

I have a sourcebook hard copy and the kindle edition that I bought during the markdown.

Aaahh black sheep, my favourite of all Heyers. It's like a long cool tall drink that I must have at least annually to enjoy it's wonderful humour that makes me laugh out loud. I'm reading a 1991 arrow print with the lovely historical artwork on the front. I've read it at least once since I bought this copy in 2004 but read my grandmothers copy before that.

I have the Arrow paperback from 2004. I think I've already read it twice, but I'm not sure. Since I remember quite a bit of it, I'd say this will be the second re-read :)

I have a hard time remembering names and titles. Reading the first chapter, I didn't remember which book it was until it described the male protagonist. Oh yes, this is one of my favorites!

Also in the first chapter, I saw one of her very long paragraphs, consisting of small talk. Those can be fun.

I remember the 2nd time I read this book, I looked for sequencing of some actions which I wasn't sure about. In particular when the male protagonist was in London. (I *do* remember his name, as I am a Bujold fan as well).

My cover doesn't give a clue (I don't know how to insert it here). A reclining woman in green with a smile.

My copy was issued by Bantam in 1967, cover price $.75!

I'm going to try and be more active with the Heyer group reads in 2017, and I have my copy of Black Sheep ready to pick up at the library, I'll post the cover when I get it. This will be my first time reading it. Looking forward to it!

I’m reading from a 2004 Arrow paperback, with some excessively sentimental-looking women in satin on the cover: Black Sheep

It’s a replacement for whatever my original copy was. I’m fond of this story though it’s not in my first rank of favorites. I like the heroine—am always fond of the sensible, more mature heroines of GH.

The protagonists both enjoyed each others' humor, maturity, and competence.

Abigail wrote: "I’m reading from a 2004 Arrow paperback, with some excessively sentimental-looking women in satin on the cover: Black Sheep

It’s a replacement for whatever my original copy was. I’m ..."

Though sentimental, it's very pretty, at least the gowns are!

I'd love it if I could put cover art out and guess which pictures belonged to which novels.

This is the cover for my Sourcebooks edition that I have: .

The woman in the image has strange expression on her face as if she's about to get up to mischief or planning something diabolical.

I bought the Kindle edition a little while ago so I'm going to try that one.

I've read it before and though I wouldn't say it's at the the top of my list it's certainly one I like to re-read so I'm looking forward to what everyone has to say about it.

This is one of my favorite Heyers and one of the first I read. I've read it 2 or 3 times. I don't own a copy but the library has the first hardcover American edition readily available and I am sure they have the Sourcebooks version too.

I plan to start reading this on the 1st :D

I have read this many times, I have the same book as in post #15. I don't like that hairstyle pictured, though, what do you think of the top?

I've got the exact copy pictured in Carol's first message. A 1966 Pan copy courtesy of my mother. This is one of my all time favorite Heyer's.

However, I'm having an interesting experience with this one. I've just finished Thaddeus of Warsaw by Jane Porter which was written in the 1830s. (In fact, Abby goes in search of a book by Jane Porter for Selina when she meets Miles the first time, although I suspect it refers to her earlier book, The Scottish Chiefs).

The difference in language between Porter and Heyer is actually quite interesting and one realizes how much Heyer developed her own slang and vocabulary for her books.

How do you add a picture to a post here? Andrea has the cover I have.

I'm up to chapter five and two thoughts strike me. Firstly Abby is a 'black sheep' in her family as most of her siblings seem uniformly silly -Selina, James and Jane. Mary shows some signs of normality with her placid good sense and marrying George. I think fanny shows signs of growing up to have more humour and intelligence (as she likes her aunt for being a 'jokester' and being corky). The classic confrontation scene where Abby first meets miles in chapter 3, mistaking him for Stacy is worth the cover price of the book. My second thought is lady weave than is yet another classic comic creation with her attribution of her damming thoughts and actions to sir Joshua. This book is so rich with humour and great characters on every page! Love it, live it, love it!

Howard wrote: "How do you add a picture to a post here? Andrea has the cover I have."

Howard,

If you are using the app, you cannot post bookcovers.

I am using the desktop view that you get on a pc or mac, but rather than Fire up my computer, I'm using desktop on my smart phone.

Directions for posting book cover:

From desktop screen, above the box where you type in your comment, in green writing you'll see "add book/author." Click on it, search for the book you want by title, then click on "edition" to find the book cover you want, the at the bottom select "cover," then click "add."

Howard, since you have the book with the same cover that I have, don't you think the expression on the woman's face is a little strange?

I don't use the app. Black Sheep. She's smiling, which is what she does in the book. But in the book I don't see her reclining that way.

Hmm, that didn't work, let me try again: (I didn't read all of your directions)

Howard wrote: "Hmm, that didn't work, let me try again: (I didn't read all of your directions)"

You've got it!

Andrea (Catsos Person) is a Compulsive eBook Hoarder wrote: "This is the cover for my Sourcebooks edition that I have: .

The woman in the image has strange expression on her face as if she's about to get up to mischief or pla..."

I agree, she has a weird expression on her face. But the girls on my edition also look like they're up to something:

Andrea,

The women on your edition look as if they are telling secrets or comforting each other.

Or not-so-secretly looking at a man :D Ha! I was right :D I googled it and voila: http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/e...

That sheds light on the matter!

They are enraptured by the man!

How did you google that picture?

I'd like to google the picture on my book and see what that woman is up to!

On the back of my paperback it says "cover image: detail from..." and then the name of the painting and the painter.
(My Sourcebook edition of Venetia has that information on the page with the copyright details at the very beginning if that helps)

Oh thanks!

I'll look into it!

This will be my third or fourth reading. Not one of my all time favorites but still one that I love and enjoy.

I will be listening to the audiobook.

I've read this one before but not recently--about all I remember is that I liked it. I'm looking forward to reacquainting myself with it.

I have the Sourcebooks edition, too (see message 25).

This book has my favorite meet cute in all Heyer. It's just SO funny!

Interesting thought @Belinda. Abby is the only normal one in her family so I guess that does make her a black sheep. She's more black than Miles, I think. They seems to share the same wicked sense of humor.

]

That's the very odd cover of the audiobook I'm listening to.

I picked up my library book today - it's the Sourcebooks edition too, same as message 25.

This is proving to be one of the more difficult of the GH titles to get! Even Open Library didn't have an e-copy to borrow, let alone my local library. I've finally managed to track down a copy but won't get it until my work colleague returns from holiday, so a little over a week before I can start reading it.

One of my favourites. I love that Miles isn't a traditional GH regency hero. (Disheveled and tanned!) I have audio so will listen for the first time. My well worn paperback is one of the newer white covers, but isn't listed on GR. Published by arrow with an historic minature overlapping a painting.

Loriidae wrote: "One of my favourites. I love that Miles isn't a traditional GH regency hero. (Disheveled and tanned!) I have audio so will listen for the first time. My well worn paperback is one of the newer whit..."

I suspect he won't stay tanned.

Howard wrote: "Loriidae wrote: "One of my favourites. I love that Miles isn't a traditional GH regency hero. (Disheveled and tanned!) I have audio so will listen for the first time. My well worn paperback is one ..."

true lol

This one of my favourite Heyer's and I've read it many times. I actually read it about three months ago but I'm looking forward to delving in for the challenge.
My copy is a reissue from 1991 when they brought them out in batches. The cover is very bland. Can't find a pic of it here.

This is the cover I have now, after upgrading to hardcover from my old paperback, which looked like this:

I wanted to wait until today to start this, one of my first and favorite Heyer's! I have the same Sourcebooks paperback as Howard and Andrea. I've only read it once but really enjoyed the humor and scenes between Miles and Abigail.

Upgrading to hardcover, Margaret? That’s hardcore! You go!

Abigail wrote: "Upgrading to hardcover, Margaret? That’s hardcore! You go!"

I've always loved the cover Margaret has upgraded to! :)

When I first read 'Black Sheep', it had just been published and my library's copy looked like Margaret's hardcover. When it first became available as a paperback, I shelled out poor student money to get it and it looked like Margaret's paperback. My current paper edition, the one I took down from the bookcase for this read, is the Sourcebook trade paperback, with the lovely, laughing, lounging young woman on the cover. (Though I am sure Miss Abigail Wendover's posture was much more upright than that!)
I have lost track of how many times I've read this, as I rank it in my GH Top 5.

I just finished chapter 9 and I'm really enjoying my first read of Black Sheep! Every time I read a Heyer, it's so comforting. Definitely a good book to start 2017 with! :)

It's been awhile since I've participated in a group read here, so I would like some clarification on the threads and spoilers. From the moderator post, I take it that open spoilers are only allowed in the final Spoilers thread, and that tags are to be used in the first and second half of the book threads, even if the spoiler pertains to that part of the book. Is that correct? I'm asking because when I go back to some of the previous group reads, it appears that there have been spoilers posted that pertain to that section of the book without tags.

I just want to make sure I am posting correctly. Thanks! :)