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False Colours
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False Colours Sept 2015 Group Read Chapters 1-11
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I’ve probably read it between five and ten times; it’s high up in my second rank of GH faves. Reading the Arrow edition—pencil in hand to make corrections.
This is my first time reading False Colours. I am reading a Kindle edition. I liked this story at first, but it has slowed down in the middle. My first thought was what a tangled web we weave, when we practice to deceive.
Only read it once about 30 years ago, and did not enjoy it then. However, I am really enjoying it this time round. I had actually forgotten what it was about and slit feels like reading it for the first time!
I've read it several times before so I'm going for the audio version :)
The one thing I keep thinking in regard to False Colours is that Glynis Johns would be perfect as the mother.
this is my first GH discussion post to the group. I have not read GH before but have chosen to go for audio version of FC as I spend 3 hours a day commuting to work.
Yes FC grows on you I think. Perhaps because the second/subsequent times you read it , you learn to suspend your disbelief. I found that much easier to do, and to really enjoy ( as well as being utterly exasperated by ) the ditsy Lady Denville. I like too, the notion that it all had to be done so as not to make poor Cressida a humiliated spectacle. I don't even like it when horrible people get humiliated in public ! Well, not much anyway.
MaryC wrote: "The one thing I keep thinking in regard to False Colours is that Glynis Johns would be perfect as the mother."Oh I so agree - Glynis would have been perfect!
I've always enjoyed False Colours,partly for the unusually sensible hero and heroine and for the beautifully idiotic Aurora and the delightfully named Sir Bonamy Ripple Bonamy=bon ami (Good friend)! The descriptions of food are rather mouth watering too ...
I'm so excited for this group read!! I've got a few books to finish first, then I'll get to it as soon as I can. I've never read it, but I own the 2009 Sourcebooks paperback version. :)
Kit is one of my favorite heroes—the strong moral compass; the ready civility! And Lady Denham is hilarious, with her notions of economy!
I liked Kit a lot too. He has a great sense of humor and proportion. He's definitely proof that nice, reliable guys don't have to be boring. He really turned out amazingly well, considering his parents.
I wonder if Lady Denham was right on her ideas of economy. She said the more you think about economy the more you spend. She is hilarious but not very responsible. Complains about debts but has to buy extravagant things.
I thought I had read this book before, but I could not remember any of it, so it really was like reading it for the first time. I really enjoyed it, but certainly not as much as some of my favourites (including recent reads:- The Grand Sophy, The Reluctant Widow, These Old Shades, Devil's Cub, Infamous Army etc. ) I loved the introduction - what a luxury GH had that she could take so long to set the scene. I don't think she'd get away with it in a modern novel today, when folk look for instant everything! However the essentials of the plot are swiftly introduced and already we can anticipate what problems might present themselves as Kit embarks on his impersonation. I put to one side my reservations about a clever, career minded man like Kit getting involved in something quite so ridiculously risky and just suspended disbelief for the duration! Once I had done that, I thoroughly enjoyed the developments. Cressy's character was immediately interesting as she questioned whether to actually pursue the possible marriage with Evelyn and the easy rapport she developed with Kit showed the way this romance will develop! A range of stock characters are well-written and enjoyable - even though a little predictable. Looking forward to the resolution of the fix that Kit has got himself into.
I'm up to around Chapter 14 & I'm really impressed with the planning & plotting so far. A couple of reservations - but I'll wait till I've finished my read!
☆ Ｃａｒｏｌ ☆ wrote: "Is this anyone's first read?How many times have you read it?
What format are you using."
This is the first time I am reading False colours. Its a paperback, Arrow edition. But here in India I do not find any issues with the Arrow books as many of you seem to face. All my GH books are Arrow ones for that matter.
That's great Seema - I have found a few typos - including quite a bad one. False Colours is one of the ones where I don't have an old copy to compare to though.
First time joining in on a group read. I've never read, False Colours before but have read a handful of Georgette Heyer books and I'm in love with her writing.
I actually ordered False Colours along with The Masqueraders from EBay just to join in on this group read.
Looking forward to the discussions.
welcome Lynn!& I should say one thing I thought of as a typo (brooch) I've been spelling wrong all these years!
If I get to the library tomorrow I'm going to check their NZ usage dictionaries (i don't go down without a fight!)
The way I remember which is which (brooch and broach) is that they are akin to breech and breach! Brooch and breech(es) being nouns—though of course that falls apart because breach is both a verb and a noun.
Lynn wrote: "First time joining in on a group read. I've never read, False Colours before but have read a handful of Georgette Heyer books and I'm in love with her writing.
I actually ordered False Colours ..."
Welcome & enjoy!!
Jacquie wrote: "I've always enjoyed False Colours,partly for the unusually sensible hero and heroine and for the beautifully idiotic Aurora and the delightfully named Sir Bonamy Ripple Bonamy=bon ami (Good friend..."I hadn't picked that up about Ripple's name.
A small correction - it's Amabel not Aurora. :)
Progress - Chapter 14 and my first GH read. I'm loving the characters for their quirkiness. As mentioned by many here, the characters probably wouldn't translate to modern times but all the more fun and farce and escapism.I am trying to find out what a Lilyhammer is? Can anyone enlighten me please? I'm not sure of the spelling as I am listening to an audio version. TIA
Greeting Chel & welcome! Could you have heard ninnyhammer? GH used that one in a few of her books.
http://dictionary.reference.com/brows...
☆ Ｃａｒｏｌ ☆ wrote: "Greeting Chel & welcome! Could you have heard ninnyhammer? GH used that one in a few of her books.
http://dictionary.reference.com/brows..."
Oh! thanks Carol. Makes more sense now.
The wording and form of slang cracks me up. Chapter 5 page 75 (for my book at least):
"That's all right, sir: you'll never be bum squabbled!' Replied Challow cheerfully. 'Not but what things are in a rare hubble-bubble, which I don't deny. But don't you fall into the hips!"
I didn't chime in on the last few group reads since they were books I had read fairly recently. This one, however, has been quite a long time so I'm enjoying getting back into it. Love the idea of Glynis Johns as their Mama! I'm going to picture her that way from now on.
How old of a Glynis Johns? (From what movie is she the right age?)
Mary Poppins, IMDB says she was born in 1923 and that was made in '64.
I was thinking of her as she appeared in Papa's Delicate Condition, which I saw in 1963. So we have pretty much the same image.
Lynn wrote: "The wording and form of slang cracks me up. Chapter 5 page 75 (for my book at least):
"That's all right, sir: you'll never be bum squabbled!' Replied Challow cheerfully. 'Not but what things are ..."
Yes! It is hard to keep up with all the slang. Means nothing to me. I do think I'm at a disadvantage listening to an audio version.
I like the fashion note in which Kit is recognized as not being Evelyn by his continental style hat.
Chel wrote: "Lynn wrote: "The wording and form of slang cracks me up. Chapter 5 page 75 (for my book at least):
"That's all right, sir: you'll never be bum squabbled!' Replied Challow cheerfully. 'Not but wha..."
This may help with some of the lower class terms.
http://pascalbonenfant.com/18c/cant/ (thanks to QnPB) I'm going to be going through threads & putting useful links in the Really Useful Stuff folder. Not sure when I'll get to it, but I have started.
Thanks Carol. Very helpful!
Okay I have finally started it today! So far I'm enjoying myself a lot, Lady Denville is hilarious with her conceptions of economy. :P
☆ Ｃａｒｏｌ ☆ wrote: "Is this anyone's first read?How many times have you read it?
What format are you using.
I've read this book many,many times - last time probably 15 years ago.
I've just got my present book to fi..."
I am reading the original U.S. Hardcover library edition for the second time. I'm not crazy about stories based on deception. I don't know if I really like Kit. He's quick to impersonate his brother and he indulges his mother a lot. Lady Denville is so flighty. She's caused all these problems with her inability to understand how she always ends up in serious debt.
I like the slang but it comes on suddenly as soon as Kit starts speaking to the servants so it's kind of awkwardly placed in this novel.
I really like Cressy. She seems sensible and I bet she wouldn't be happy married to Evelyn. Her Grandmama is so funny. I love the old dowagers in these Regency novels.
The house party sounds like it's going to be interesting with all those crazy people. I wonder when Evelyn will show up? I'm sure he will at some point. It's no wonder he ran away with all these problems following him.
It's definitely not a serious novel, that's for sure, but if taken lightly, I find it extremely enjoyable. Lady Denville is priceless, and the Grandmama is hilarious. I really like Kit and Cressy too, and can't wait to see how it will all turn out. I'm also really enjoying Lady Denville's many admirers! Sir Bonamy made me laugh so much with his idea of a small dinner. :P
Anne wrote: "It's definitely not a serious novel, that's for sure, but if taken lightly, I find it extremely enjoyable. Lady Denville is priceless, and the Grandmama is hilarious. I really like Kit and Cressy t..."I'm not sure how sparkling his conversation would be, but count me in for one of his small suppers!
I loved Bonamy but his raptures on food were too much. Only Heyer the comic genius could make him such a fun and likable character though.I also like Grandmama. If this makes it to TV or film soon, you know she would be played by Maggie Smith. She's so much like Lady Violet in Downton Abbey.
I'm currently reading this one, but I unintentionally read a review with spoilers, and I just want to box my ears!
RaiRaiKen wrote: "I'm currently reading this one, but I unintentionally read a review with spoilers, and I just want to box my ears!"That made me laugh out loud! I know I hate it if I accidentally do that!!
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How many times have you read it?
What format are you using.
I've read this book many,many times - last time probably 15 years ago.
I've just got my present book to finish & then I'll be ready to start!
Edit; I remember this book as a 4 star read.