Friday's Child Group Read September 2016 Chapters 1-12

[Susan in NC]

Karlyne wrote: "Howard wrote: "I'm thinking Heyer used this example to show that he was thinking of her as though she was one of the guys."

And, if so, he actually showed quite a bit of restraint in not planting ..."

LOL!

[Susan in NC]

Amy wrote: "I thought it was a very juvenile punishment. Which led strength to the theory that he just thought of her as an annoying little kid."

Me too, I would think it'd be demeaning to a teenaged girl, but she'd expect it from Sherry of that's how he always treated her - as appalling as we find it nowadays.

[Louise]

Amy wrote: "Howard, I believe he was thinking of her as one of the guys or just an annoying kid.. It's always been one of the parts the bothered me the most about the book."

Howard wrote: "He has to react without thinking, so Jackson's won't work. And boxing one's ears is what guys did back then."

Howard wrote: "I'm thinking Heyer used this example to show that he was thinking of her as though she was one of the guys."

in the talisman Ring Sir trirstram asks Sarah Thane if anyone has ever boxed her ears, and when she says not he replies "you have been undeservedly fortunate". and richard boxes Pen's ears in the Corinthian when he is arranging her cravat and she doesn't keep still. i think boxing the ears would be seen as a suitably mild treatment for a woman, as opposed to another man who you might punch on the nose or something.

[Linda]

I just started this book this morning! I read it for the first time many years ago, it was the very first Heyer I read at the insistence of a good friend as it was one of her favorites.

I'm listening to the audio book of this on my commute to take the kids to school and then to work and back. My 10 year old son was rolling his eyes at the "old fashioned" way of speaking, and my 5 year old daughter was repeating passages, which was too cute. I'll have them on board yet, asking what they missed after I dropped them off. :)

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

Linda wrote: " I'll have them on board yet, asking what they missed after I dropped them off. :)

That's it,get them young! :p

[Karlyne]

Linda wrote: "I just started this book this morning! I read it for the first time many years ago, it was the very first Heyer I read at the insistence of a good friend as it was one of her favorites.

I'm liste..."

I love it! This reminds me of our Shakespeare experiences. We'd read the play first in our book club (adults and kids) and then go watch a production. Oh, the sighing at first! But they ended up loving it and remembering it as "good times".

[Linda]

Up to chapter seven now, I think.

So, I know the kids are actually listening, or trying to. Yesterday Sherry was talking about possibly traveling to Bath. My daughter then asked me why they kept talking about "barf". lol. Not hearing quite right due to the accent and all. :)

My son loves Hero, and thinks she sounds so young and then said "it sounds like she's never been to town!". He also mentioned how "Hero" doesn't sound like a girl's name, and I had to recap the part he missed where Ferdy (I think?) brought up in conversation the same questions about Hero's name. :)

[Rosina]

Howard wrote: His marriage could be annulled if it is not consummated. And a judge could claim it was a fiction designed to get around the will.."

I don't think that just anyone can waltz up to a court and get someone else's marriage annulled on the grounds of non-comsummation, or cast doubts about the intentions of the couple! Uncle Horace would have no status in law - only Sherry (or possibly Hero) could try to get an annulment of their marriage on the grounds of non-consummation.

Grounds of lack of consent and an underage bride might be a better tack to take - but that would be up to Hero's guardians, not the awful uncle!

[Susan in Perthshire]

Rosina wrote: "Howard wrote: His marriage could be annulled if it is not consummated. And a judge could claim it was a fiction designed to get around the will.."

I don't think that just anyone can waltz up to a ..."

Agreed Rosina - at that time, it was the Church which handled annulments and they were not easy to obtain even if the marriage was not consummated! It was much much later in the UK that the Justice system took over Divorce and Annulment procedures and again - they were not easy to obtain. Of course a foolish character in a novel might well have believed they had the power to make it happen!!

[Susan in Perthshire]

Louise wrote: "Amy wrote: "Howard, I believe he was thinking of her as one of the guys or just an annoying kid.. It's always been one of the parts the bothered me the most about the book."

Howard wrote: "He has ..."

Boxing someone's ears was never trivial - children could be made deaf by such blows. They ranged from a 'mere' slap to a real thump by a closed fist. Not everyone would use the same amount of force so the damage from different individuals would vary. The very idea of a man using violence against a woman is such an anathema today - it really does draw you up short when you read it (even if the mores of the time would see nothing strange in it!)

[Louise]

Susan in Perthshire wrote: "Louise wrote: "Amy wrote: "Howard, I believe he was thinking of her as one of the guys or just an annoying kid.. It's always been one of the parts the bothered me the most about the book."

Howard ..."

i doubt Sherry or Richard used their fists. PErsonally, i don't think it's any worse for a man to hit a woman than a Woman to hit a man - women slapping or even punching men is often seen in tv shows nowadays. It's a curious double standard.

[Susan in Perthshire]

Louise wrote: "Susan in Perthshire wrote: "Louise wrote: "Amy wrote: "Howard, I believe he was thinking of her as one of the guys or just an annoying kid.. It's always been one of the parts the bothered me the mo..."

I certainly was not suggesting that it was okay for a woman to hit a man either; I would disapprove of anyone resorting to physical violence be they male or female!