Georgette Heyer Fans discussion
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Friday's Child
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Friday's Child Group Read September 2016 Chapters 1-12
This was my very first Heyer, so it holds a special place in my heart. I only began reading her works in the last 4-5 years. I was thoroughly captivated and entertained throughout the entire story. The situational comedy in this novel is genius.
What I didn't know then was that this is an author who consistently delivers. She's amazing.
I've always found one of the greatest charms of this book to be its secondary characters, especially Sherry's friends (who, let's face it, get all the best lines!).
Yes—that pesky Nemesis fellow! I reread this one last year so I may go from memory unless more time than I expect opens up in my September. My current edition is an Arrow one.
Margaret wrote: "I've always found one of the greatest charms of this book to be its secondary characters, especially Sherry's friends (who, let's face it, get all the best lines!)."I haven't read it in a long time, but I completely agree, Margaret. Sherry's friends are simply lovely!
I read it once several years ago and gave it four stars but didn't review, so I look forward to reading it again! I am reading the Kindle version this time, thanks to Tadiana telling us all about the Heyer kindle sale on her birthday (Heyer's, not Tadiana's - and thanks again!)
I've never really been a fan of Sherry and Hero, but this time as I started reading this morning, I'm finding both of them likeable - young and silly, but more likeable than I remembered.
I won't be able to start until at least tonight, but I'm looking forward to seeing if I remember anything. I often "binge" on favorite authors, so when I return to them years later, I'm afraid the plots and characters often blend together, so,it's like a fresh read every time!
Susan in NC wrote: "I won't be able to start until at least tonight, but I'm looking forward to seeing if I remember anything. I often "binge" on favorite authors, so when I return to them years later, I'm afraid the ..."I do, too, Susan. I just love starting at the beginning and going to the end of my favorite authors...
Me too! It really is like visiting old friends!
I love this one! Not sure how many times I have read it, as it is one that I re-read all the time. I have the sourcebook paperback, but this time I am going to read it on my kindle. I love Gil and Ferdy and George and Isabella.
I read this years ago, I may have read it again but as it wasn't one of my favourites I can't be sure, I haven't read it more than twice.I'm listening to the audiobook and enjoying it, but then I think it's difficult not to enjoy a Georgette Heyer, even when they aren't one of your favourites because they're very captivating.
I find it hard to like Sherry very much, he keeps telling Hero that she's too young to know what she's doing but it seems to me that it's him that needs to grow up. I do love his friends and their muddling through by committee though.
Louise Sparrow wrote: "I read this years ago, I may have read it again but as it wasn't one of my favourites I can't be sure, I haven't read it more than twice.I'm listening to the audiobook and enjoying it, but then I..."
She is about, what? six years younger than he is, but, although she's completely inexperienced and naïve, I agree that she's much more mature in the emotions department. He's still locked into the complete selfishness of a small boy, but she outgrew that behavior long ago - probably not long after birth!
I think it’s very deft the way GH sets up their disparate learning curves—Sherry has one set of knowledges and ignorances, Hero has another (opposite) set. Both have a lot to learn, and we can only hope ;-) that they grow together as they go through their separate processes.I don’t think we’re supposed to like Sherry at this stage; our distaste for some of his behaviors makes us more sympathetic with Hero. If he were perfect and they were already married, where would the tension or suspense of the story come from?
Abigail wrote: "I think it’s very deft the way GH sets up their disparate learning curves—Sherry has one set of knowledges and ignorances, Hero has another (opposite) set. Both have a lot to learn, and we can only..."If Sherry weren't so immature there wouldn't be any opportunity for him to grow, and the story really would be flat! It reminds me a lot of Austen's Emma, which a lot of people hate (because Emma is such a snob), but, again, it's her growth that drives the story.
I just read Ferdy's comment about Monty after they meet him at the theater: "Shouldn't have invited him. He's a Bad Man." I love that he speaks in simple words, with capital letters!
I've listened to this book at least half a dozen times and love it. So much humor. For something different I think this time I'll read it. I haven't ever done that.
Amy wrote: "I've listened to this book at least half a dozen times and love it. So much humor. For something different I think this time I'll read it. I haven't ever done that."Should be fun! I can't wait to hear what the differences are, in your mind.
Susan in NC wrote: "Me too! It really is like visiting old friends!"Yes! This. And that's exactly the mood I'm in right now. What a comfort it is to be with old book friends and (not so) old Goodreads friends.
PS. Starting Friday's Child tonight. I've read it before but I always find Heyer improves with multiple readings. One mystery I want to clear up is the meaning of the title.
The title is from a Mother Goose rhyme: Monday's child is fair of face,
Tuesday's child is full of grace;
Wednesday's child is full of woe,
Thursday's child has far to go;
Friday's child is loving and giving,
Saturday's child works hard for its living;
But the child that is born on the Sabbath day
Is bonny and blithe, and good and gay.
Thank you, Abigail!!!
Does everyone know what day of the week they were born on? I was born on a Saturday, and I while I love working at the library, and would not want to be any other place, it can be hard work sometimes!
At the beginning of my copy, "the child who is born on the Sabbath day" is changed to "Christmas Day", which I've never heard before. I've actually embroidered parts of the rhyme on baby quilts, matching the day of the week to the birth day. I was born on a Friday, by the way, but I've always thought Thursday's "far to go" was more appropriate because I've moved so much!
Interestingly, both my husband and I are Tuesday's children. My second daughter and child, and my third child and son, are both Monday's children. My first child and daughter is--tah dah--Friday's child.
& my Pan didn't even last one day! Completely disintegrated, so I'm reading the Arrow.
Very pretty,but doesn't really look like Hero.
i quite like this one, though it does get a bit monotmous after a while, the same thing happens over and over again - hero makes a mistake, sherry is angry with her, then he forives her etc, then it happens again.
Sherry's proposal to Bella in Chapter 1 really sets the stage well. He's so young, foolish and self-centered! It's obvious he had no business getting married at all.
I see what you mean by “the same thing happens over and over again,” but the repetition of the patterns of behavior serves to forge a dynamic in their relationship that becomes harder and harder to break/overcome, so in that sense it moves the story forward.
Yep, Hana, Sherry is so self-centered and casual about all of his relationships that he really is just a big baby. I think a large part of that is because he's never had any responsibility at all, and, besides, he's spent most of his life avoiding his relatives. Not that I blame him for that...
I agree, Abigail! The repetition, although it can become annoying for us reading about it, shows just how hard it is to break a habit. A lot of the time it takes something big to do it.
By the way, is Goodreads having problems or is it me? I keep getting misdirected, and when I try to reply to a specific comment, it jumps to the original one and then the cursor disappears.
I haven’t had that problem this morning, so it might be something in the way your computer is talking to Goodreads. Don’t you wish everything on the Internet would learn how to play well together?
Yes, I do! I have absolutely no inclination to spend time "fixing" technical things! When they work, I enjoy it, but when they don't, I tend to wander off...
Oh boy, on this read Sherry is reminding me of the selfish behaviour of a younger relation of mine! I'm trying to not let it colour my feelings about the book!
Just take comfort in that your relative can improve?
I started with the audible version and, strangely, I didn't enjoy it. I went back to my old, worn paperback.I've read it many times and it's one of my favorites.
The last time I read Friday's Child was more than three years ago. I love revisiting old friends, which is how most of Heyer's characters are to me. I've laughed and sniffled and sighed and highlighted favorite sections as I read the kindle edition.
I'm just starting it tonight! I read it maybe 15 years ago and didn't care for it all that much at the time, but I'm very hopeful that it will improve on second read.
About half-way through chapter six and have a few observations - first, Sherry and his friends and their planning skills at first reminded me of not terribly bright third-graders; then I thought it was rather sweet how each young man's personality began to emerge as they try to figure out how to plan for Hero's comfort. First inklings of growing up, having to think of someone else first! Totally agree with Hana and Karlyne about the self-centered immaturity. I'm enjoying it very much so far.
I've only read it once - in e-book form. But I really don't remember it.
Louise wrote: "i quite like this one, though it does get a bit monotmous after a while, the same thing happens over and over again - hero makes a mistake, sherry is angry with her, then he forives her etc, then i..."But they both learn from their mistakes - Hero faster than Sherry does. Someone - I think Ferdy - points out that Hero doesn't make the same mistake twice. Of course, she's starting from a position of complete ignorance about fashionable life.
I'll just mention that *preen!* I'm Monday's Child!I wonder what kind of relationship Sherry had with his father?
Started this last night as my farewell to holiday, need a treat read. Am a 1/3 of the way through already. This is at least my sixth time through, and I am finding myself more out of patience with Sherry and his cavalier ways with Hero than ever before. Probably because my daughters have had experiences with self-centered young men and I would not want them to ever have to go through what Hero has. I did not even notice his immature behavior as an adolescent, it was so common then. But I am loving being back with Gil, Ferdy, George and the gang. Such a lovely set of supporting characters, rich roles for some lucky actors if anyone had the good sense to make this with the light touch it requires.
When Sherry and Hero arrive at Half Moon Street, and are checking out the house and the new furnishings, is he showing his selfishness, or being considerate towards Hero while in the drawing room, with the 'straw-coloured chairs' ?When he sits down in a chair and declares it uncomfortable, he blames Ferdy, even though it was his choice in chairs.
When Hero suggests that he is sitting in the wrong one, and swaps chairs with him, Sherry pronounces the new chair comfortable.
Is Sherry selfishly taking the comfortable chair for himself, and regulating Hero to the uncomfortable chair without care for her comfort? Or, is he reassuring Hero that the chairs are tolerable after all? Aren't they the same chairs?
Also, I love when GH writes about Hero, newly clothed in the latest fashions, tripping beside Mr Ringwood on the London streets 'with the sophisticated sun-shade which she carried to the imminent danger of the passers-by.' That perfectly plants an image in my mind of good-natured Hero's naive, hopeful, happiness, as she is unknowingly on the edge of a social solecism!
They might be chairs of different styles, just covered in the same fabric. I think GH is showing us the emerging dynamic of their relationship—Hero sacrificing herself for the sake of her idol and Sherry heedlessly accepting the sacrifice. Unlike GH, I feel that such a dynamic, once established, would never change, which always detracts a bit from my enjoyment of this book. (But then I take refuge in the minor characters and enjoy myself anyway!)
Abigail wrote: "They might be chairs of different styles, just covered in the same fabric. I think GH is showing us the emerging dynamic of their relationship—Hero sacrificing herself for the sake of her idol and ..."Hear, hear - I agree with both your points, about the relationship dynamic and finding joy in the supporting characters! That's exactly how I'm feeling, looking for the time to finish the book as I've enjoyed it but getting a bit restless, and feeling the drag in the middle...
I find it interesting to note that Heyer appears to decide to make her regency romances with different character types in different books. Maybe she said to herself - I hadn't yet made a Nonesuch the hero, or a worthless rich guy or a manipulative Tory... So let's see what I can do here.
Howard wrote: "I find it interesting to note that Heyer appears to decide to make her regency romances with different character types in different books. Maybe she said to herself - I hadn't yet made a Nonesuch t..."Very true Howard, good point!
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I've always really loved this cover, from the old Heineman hardbacks.
So... is it anyone's first read?
How many times have you read it?
What format are you reading it in?
& everyone please remember no spoilers! We don't want to spoil a first read for anyone!