Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion

As promised in the Wedding theme challenge...

For 2011, I dare you to read one Georgette Heyer book a month. Including, if you're doing the Random Booklist Challenge - The Private World of Georgette Heyer.

The 'rules' are... read a Georgette a month, and post your thoughts in this thread.

Update: if you don't feel up to reading one a month - drop in and 'chat' if you read a Heyer during 2011.
The Heyer fans will probably try and convert you. The more the merrier!

Any of her books count - historical romance, historical novels, crime...

The challenge will run for the whole year. And, I'm pretty sure you can find a book a month that will probably fit into other challenges.

For an idea of what's available, check out Georgette Heyer on Fantasticfiction.

Completely coincidentally, my mother is also in a Heyer-reading phase - and is reading them chronologically by publication, so I'll follow her lead. I'll have to own up that the reason she can't find her copy of The Black Moth is because I have it...

I've gone with a mix of old favourites, re-reads, and never reads - and some I've tried reading before. Even your favourite authors sometimes don't work for you.

So, my tentative plans for this year's Year of Heyer reading are:
January: The Private World of Georgette Heyer.
January: The Black Moth - haven't read recently. Pub 1921.
February: Powder and Patch - haven't read recently. Pub 1923.
March: The Masqueraders - re-read. Pub 1928.
April: The Conqueror - never read. Pub 1931.
May: Why Shoot a Butler? - never read. Pub 1933.
June: Death in the Stocks - never read. Pub 1935.
July: The Talisman Ring - never finished. Pub 1936.
August: Royal Escape - never read. Pub 1938.
September: The Corinthian - haven't read recently. Pub 1940.
October: The Grand Sophy - never finished. Pub 1950.
November: Frederica - never finished. Pub 1965.
December: My Lord John - never read. Pub 1975.

PS guys - feel free to suggest changes to the 'rules' such as they are... :)
I'm open for suggestions...

i'm not sure if i'l up for signing up for a year since i've never read her, but i have one on the TBR pile

Delicious Dee Challenge Addict wrote: "i'm not sure if i'l up for signing up for a year since i've never read her, but i have one on the TBR pile"

Hey Delicious Dee! Feel free to drop in once you've read her - you never know, you could end up an addict!

OK - I'm in. But I don't have The Private World of Georgette Heyer and I'm not sure of its availability. Does this one have to be read in January? Or can I leave it for later in the year?

I'll give this some thought and post my likely list later.

Thanks for setting this up Annie :)

Annie good idea!

As you know I've just finished re-reading The Private World of Georgette Heyer and I'm certainly up for some re-reading of her novels.

I'm surprised you never finished The Grand Sophy or Frederica cause they are 2 of my favourites.

I've got 47 Heyer's according to my GR list but I haven't read her crime novels in some time, so I might start there. I'll post a list closer to Jan.

Oh and Jane (PS) I got The Private World from my local library, so you never know.

i just might...trying to think of the one I picked up by her...i'll look tonight

Annie (a mad hamster) wrote: "Delicious Dee Challenge Addict wrote: "i'm not sure if i'l up for signing up for a year since i've never read her, but i have one on the TBR pile"

Hey Delicious Dee! Feel free to drop in once yo..."

Welcome guys!

You can read any Heyer any time... Private world is one of the books on the random lists for January, so that's why I picked then.
But - if you're not doing that challenge - then, over to you. And you don't have to read it at all.

Can't wait for it to start! I'm so looking forward to it that I went through my shelves at home, piling up the ones I own that I said I'd read.

I'll probably end up re-reading others during the year. Oddly enough, I tend to read A Civil Contract and The Toll-Gate every year, The Unknown Ajax and These Old Shades every couple of years.

It will be interesting to compare our favourites at the end of the year.

Sandra wrote: "Annie good idea!

As you know I've just finished re-reading The Private World of Georgette Heyer and I'm certainly up for some re-reading of her novels.

I'm surprised you never fini..."

The Grand Sophy and Frederica are two I love as well, but haven't read The Toll Gate or A Civil Contract in over 20 years!!

It will be interesting to see what the revised favourites are at year end!!

I tried my local library for The Private World - they only had it on audio cassette. I don't think I have an operational cassette player - it's hard to believe that ANYONE has one that is regularly used! - so I'm out of luck there...

Oh bother, Jane!

I was talking to my mum last night, and it clarified why I love some of the books more than others - it's the H&H... If they approximate the 'traditional' historical romance H&H - heroine usually a bit dim, young, debutante, vapid (so cruel - must be those years of reading Barbara Cartland, gasp!)... the less I like the book.

My favourite Heyers don't have this traditional feel to them.

Enough already - it hasn't even started yet. Oh, well...

It'll be clarified even more for you when you read the biography, Annie. JAH details the Mark I & Mark II heroes also.

Grand Sophy & Frederica are the absolute opposite of the young vapid heroine - I think that's why I like them so much.

I've thought of some of this before: The Unknown Ajax is my favourite and I think this is because I LOVE the underdog triumphing over the establishment with a really big 'howzat' (and a couple of fingers - hehehe)!! ...Hugo fools them all with humour and then turns around and saves the day... Pure feelgood!!

A Year of Georgette Heyer
1 January - 31 December 2011

Completed: 0/13

1. Bath Tangle (1955)
2. Black Sheep (1966)
3. The Corinthian (1940)
4. The Foundling (1948)
5. The Grand Sophy (1950)
6. Lady of Quality (1972)
7. The Quiet Gentleman (1951)
8. Sylvester (1957)
9. The Talisman Ring (1936)
10. The Toll-Gate (1954)
11. The Unknown Ajax (1959)
12. Venetia (1958)
13. The Private World of Georgette Heyer
Bonus: Powder and Patch (1923)('cos it is so short!!)

Except for The Unknown Ajax and maybe Black Sheep, I haven't read these books for between several years and thirty years. I haven't ever read the Private World of Georgette Heyer.

If I really feel the need for some historical battle lessons, I'll also read An Infamous Army (1937). I haven't ever read this one because I've have been put off by the commentary on the war...

I've given away all my GH's mystery books (eg Behold Here's Poison) so haven't selected any of them...

Jane (PS) wrote: "I've thought of some of this before: The Unknown Ajax is my favourite and I think this is because I LOVE the underdog triumphing over the establishment with a really big 'howzat' (and a couple of ..."

Ditto!

Yay Jane(PS)! Nice list.

I have The Black Moth sitting at home, taunting me. My mother has just finished it. Sigh.

i have Regency Buck at home as the one I grabbed when i was looking through all her various ones that borders had

Delicious Dee Challenge Addict wrote: "i have Regency Buck at home as the one I grabbed when i was looking through all her various ones that borders had"

It's been a while since I read that one. It could end up being an extra read!

Delicious Dee Challenge Addict wrote: "i have Regency Buck at home as the one I grabbed when i was looking through all her various ones that borders had"

I loved Regency Buck - I've read it heaps! I had to buy a second copy eventually (about 10 years ago) 'cos the binding started to go on my MMPB!!

It has a very spirited h who some think is spoilt in the GR reviews. I enjoyed her!! :)

Annie (a mad hamster) wrote: "Yay Jane(PS)! Nice list.

I have The Black Moth sitting at home, taunting me. My mother has just finished it. Sigh."

I haven't ever read The Black Moth - it was out of print when I went through my 'buy every available GH book' between the age of 15 anf 17!! Perhaps I should investigate it now?? Let me know your thoughts...

Jane (PS) wrote:
"I haven't ever read The Black Moth - it was out of print when I went through my 'buy every available GH book' between the age of 15 anf 17!! Perhaps I should investigate it now?? Let me know your thoughts...
..."

Will do - probably around 5 January, when I'm back at work.

Annie (a mad hamster) wrote: "Jane (PS) wrote:
"I haven't ever read The Black Moth - it was out of print when I went through my 'buy every available GH book' between the age of 15 anf 17!! Perhaps I should investigate it now?..."

Great - whenever is fine :)

RRRC A Year of Georgette Heyer 2011
0/12 Completed

January - Behold, Here's Poison (1936)
February - These Old Shades (1926)
March - Devil's Cub (1932)
April - The Grand Sophy (1950)
May - The Quiet Gentleman (1951)
June - Sylvester(1957)
July - Simon the Coldheart (1925)
August - Envious Casca (1941)
September - Pistols for Two (1960)
October - Powder and Patch (1923)
November - tbd
December - tbd

Sandra wrote: "RRRC A Year of Georgette Heyer 2011
0/12 Completed

January - Behold, Here's Poison
February - These Old Shades
March - Devil's Cub
April - [book:The G..."

Welcome Sandra!

Thanks Annie :)

Thought it would be fun to put up some of my old covers!

They're glorious! I have a few at home that look exactly like that: Simon the Coldheart and Pistols for Two from memory.

I think of that lot - Simon is the youngest at 1979. LOL. These Old Shades is 1956 and The Quiet Gentleman is 1960 but Envious Casca is 1952.

I've managed to score my own copy of Royal Escape because my mother hates the cover, and has kept her older, shabbier, edition - but with the nicer cover.
The rejected cover


The preferred cover

Mine's from 1976 so the same pic just recycled. LOL.

All of mine have covers from era except for the two I had to replace through over-reading! LOL. They are and .

I only have one, The Black Moth, in a bag of books someone gave me off freecycle two months ago. So I'll try to read that next year sometime and see if I can remember to post about it.

As I recall (and no doubt someone will correct me if I'm wrong) The Black Moth was Heyer's first book - she wrote it to entertain her brother whilst he was sick (or something like that...).

Yep, I think she was about 17 or so. It is a nice swashbuckler.

And Jane my is the same as yours; for some reason I never had one of those, just kept borrowing it from the library I guess.

OK, I'm in, even tho I just reread 3 Heyers: - - . I think I loved TUA even more now than I did eons ago, and The Toll-Gate is always a wonderfully enjoyable read! I have 7 already planned for this year in my Lifetime of Books challenge, I picked up a copy of A Blunt Instrument recently, and I just grabbed a used copy of The Private World of Georgette Heyer, so I'm sure I can find 3 more - a reread of Sylvester or The Wicked Uncle is always good, and I just slotted Venetia into my A-Z character challenge.

I'll probably start with Venetia or Black Sheep. Will post list later - thanks for this, Annie!

Any time BJ Rose!

Glad there are some other fans out there willing to take part.

BriansGirl - I'll nag you if you want :)

LOL!

OK, here's my list of 12 plus the bonus book - I'm not assigning books to a month because I may read 3 one month and none the next, but I will post date when read.

Georgette Heyer
0/13

Read an average of one a month (the year in ( ) means it fulfills that year in my Lifetime of Books challenge)

A Blunt Instrument (1938)
Black Sheep (1966)
Venetia (1958)
The Corinthian (1940)
√ Faro's Daughter (1941) -
Frederica (1965)
√ The Nonesuch (1962) - Jan 17
The Quiet Gentleman (1951)
Sylvester or The Wicked Uncle (1957)
Friday's Child (1944)
The Reluctant Widow (1946)
Cousin Kate (1968)

The Private World of Georgette Heyer

Annie (a mad hamster) wrote: "BriansGirl - I'll nag you if you want :)"

lol I might need the reminder. I've never read GH before and only heard of her because of following what BJ Rose is reading. :)

BJ - does the year mean the first year the book was published?

It would be interesting to see how you feel GH's writing developed over the 3 decades that you will be covering... I haven't noticed a decernible difference in her writing - but then I've never taken notice of when each book was written...

Jane (PS) wrote: "BJ - does the year mean the first year the book was published?

It would be interesting to see how you feel GH's writing developed over the 3 decades that you will be covering... I haven't noticed..."

Yes, according to FantasticFiction.
I'll try to remember to cover the topic of her writing development when I post.

Now I'm curious - I'm going back to my list and adding years for all of them, so it'll be easier to see.

ETA: I put dates on all the GH books in post #37

I'll add the years to my book selection as well (sometime soon) and try to see if I note any development. DONE in post #14.

I found Christine Feehan's developement in plot and grammar quite significant. I doubt we'll see much grammatical variation with GH, but the storyline might alter...

Ooooh. This is going to be quite interesting!! :) (??Do I need to develop my own life??)

I'll add the dates to my list too, soon.

OK - I've added the dates. My reading is spanning from 1923 (Powder and Patch) through to 1972 (Lady of Quality): 49 years. Most of the books I plan to read are solidly in the late 1940s and the 1950s.

From my brief perusal of GR, The Black Moth (1921) is her first book and My Lord John (1975) is her last book (barring some random single edition books that I doubt are finished works). I'm almost tempted to read The Black Moth just to start at the start - but I'm afraid the reviews for My Lord John don't tempt me in the other direction!! :) I'll rely on Annie ('cos its in her list) and Sandra ('cos she has rated it)!!

I'll also probably be reading The Nonesuch (1962) to cover my 2011 A-Z female character: Mrs Underwood. (Those Us are so awkward!!) :)

Tempting challenge, but since I'm having difficulties finishing The Convenient Marriage (it's been on hold for a month or two), I'm not sure I will be up to reading one book a month.

My favorite would be False Colors. I also really enjoyed The Foundling and Black Sheep. I will have to reread These Old Shades, Lady of Quality, Cotillion, Masqueraders, Venetia, and Devil's Cub at some point. I don't remember them.

I have plans to read Frederica, The Grand Sophy, Friday's Child, and Sprig Muslin some time soon. I may end up buying at least (at most?) 2 Georgette Heyer books this year. I hope to limit how many books I purchase in Year 2011 so you could say Heyer gets at least one or two slots in my book budget. :)

Hey Niquae - why don't you drop by when you read whatever takes your fancy and give us your thoughts!?

Sprig Muslin wasn't a favourite of mine and I should reread The Convenient Marriage and Friday's Child, but I love the rest of the books on your list. I recently reread Cotillion - it is an absolute hoot! And the Masqueraders is a close second as my favourite Heyer book. (The Unknown Ajax is my favourite.) :)

Great Judy! Welcome! It's great to add a few more 'voices' to our discussions.

Thanks for the freebie tip - will see if I can access The Black Moth in pdf...

Welcome all!

It would be interesting to see how she develops over time. I've just started reading The Private World of Georgette Heyer.

This is getting better and betterer!

I've just started reading Private world - the biography. It's making me think about what I want to read now :(. Oh well... it's all a learning experience! I may learn that I should stick to the romances, rather than crime and history.

I'm also thinking I might have to squeeze Friday's Child into my list - as it will fulfill the maried couple category on the wedding theme challenge.

Good point Annie re Friday's Child! Not sure where I am at with the Wedding Theme challenge... Heaps of time though, fortunately.

i'm about half way through Regency Buck right now...enjoying it, but Lord Worth (who i'm assuming is going to be the hero) is a bit dastardly, haven't decided if I like him yet or not...