Austenesque Lovers TBR Pile Reading Challenge 2017 discussion

76 views
Assorted & Sundry Matters > It's Not Jane Austen, But It's Really Good

Comments Showing 101-150 of 225 (225 new)    post a comment »

message 101: by Maria (new)

Maria | 50 comments Marlene wrote: "Heyer books are set in a variety of periods, I believe."

Yes, Marlene. She wrote Georgian and Regency novels. I was hoping I could add my current read (a Regency story) without cheating. :)


message 102: by Abigail (new)

Abigail Bok (regency_reader) I just wish the author would learn the difference between “like” and “as if” (and I don’t mean “as if” in the Val-speak sense, the way Cher uses it in Clueless). Jerks me out of the story every time!


message 103: by Marlene (new)

Marlene | 364 comments Maria, yes you can! I certainly did that and Sophia okayed it. :-)


message 104: by Marlene (new)

Marlene | 364 comments Abagail, do you mean as if this:

"She looked confused, like she didn't know where to go."

As if that?

:-)


message 105: by Abigail (new)

Abigail Bok (regency_reader) LOL, got it in one, Marlene! And forget about using the subjunctive in such constructions—the author didn’t even try.

I admit that I’m an elderly copy editor and am irrationally irritated by such things, though. And overall I am really enjoying the book.


message 106: by Maria (new)

Maria | 50 comments Marlene wrote: "Maria, yes you can! I certainly did that and Sophia okayed it. :-)"

Great! Thank you, Marlene!


message 107: by Marlene (new)

Marlene | 364 comments Abagail, I have to look this up later:

"And forget about using the subjunctive in such constructions—the author didn’t even try. "

:-D


message 108: by J. W. (new)

J. W. Garrett (jeannewallacegarrett) | 1166 comments Excellent catch Abigail. That's why we love you.


message 109: by Debbie (new)

Debbie (dmbrown) | 734 comments I can relate, Abigail! I've got three triggers that jerk me out of a story every time.

My biggie is "Alright." Drives me nuts when I see that anywhere, but particularly in Regency novels.

Next is "hung." Somehow people are always being "hung" rather than "hanged." ("Hung" is what you have done to a picture on a wall; "hanged" is when you have executed someone. It's one of those dumb English language idiosyncrasies that's been burned in my brain somewhere along the way in my education, and now I always notice it. Always.)

And the other is when author uses words along the lines of "She felt like she was in a novel." It immediately reminds me that the character IS in a novel!! Why remind the reader of this and take one out of his/her happy immersion in the story??


message 110: by wosedwew (new)

wosedwew | 414 comments I agree about the "hung."
When I read a man was "hung" my mind goes to the slightly smuttier meaning.


message 111: by Debbie (new)

Debbie (dmbrown) | 734 comments wosedwew wrote: "I agree about the "hung."
When I read a man was "hung" my mind goes to the slightly smuttier meaning."


Oh, Wose!! LOL! Mine has never done that, but I have the feeling it will from now on after reading your comment!


message 112: by J. W. (last edited Aug 31, 2017 07:36AM) (new)

J. W. Garrett (jeannewallacegarrett) | 1166 comments Wose!!! OMG!!! I needed that laugh!!! I nearly snorted my coffee. Girl, you should post a warning before you say something like that.


message 113: by wosedwew (new)

wosedwew | 414 comments I offer apologies to one and all!


message 114: by Debbie (new)

Debbie (dmbrown) | 734 comments And yet, somehow, I don't really believe your apology is sincere....


message 115: by wosedwew (new)

wosedwew | 414 comments I don't think you want too much sincerity in society. It would be like an iron girder in a house of cards. ~W. Somerset Maugham


message 116: by Abigail (new)

Abigail Bok (regency_reader) I’m with you on all three, Debbie! Another one for me is “Looks can be deceiving.” No, they can’t; looks are passive. They can only be deceptive. People can be deceiving.

Marlene, here’s an example of the subjunctive used with “as if”: “I felt as if I were about to explode,” versus the incorrect “I felt as if I was about to explode” or the right-beyond-the-pale “I felt like I was about to explode.” Knowing too much about grammar and syntax can be very hard on one’s blood pressure!


message 117: by Abigail (new)

Abigail Bok (regency_reader) Great quote, Wose!


message 118: by wosedwew (new)

wosedwew | 414 comments Love that QuoteGarden!


message 119: by Marlene (new)

Marlene | 364 comments Abagail, I just looked it up and have only a shaky understanding of subjunctive. That is a really tough example you gave! I can see the first one is correct. I FEEL that the second one is incorrect, though I couldn't tell you why. And the third one FEELS right to me. :-( That is annoying me, because I generally do very well grammatically!! And I do understand your POV that knowing too much......


message 120: by Sheila (new)

Sheila Majczan (sheilalmajczan) | 1301 comments I read The Silent Governess and liked it. Some day I want to read more of Klassen's books.


message 121: by J. W. (new)

J. W. Garrett (jeannewallacegarrett) | 1166 comments Sheila... welcome back. We have missed your comments. Love you lady... :-)


message 122: by Mary (new)

Mary | 709 comments Sheila-you're back!!! Delighted to see your post and thrilled that 'normal' service is resumed!
You've been missed!! ☺️


message 123: by Debbie (last edited Sep 07, 2017 01:17PM) (new)

Debbie (dmbrown) | 734 comments Sheila wrote: "I read The Silent Governess and liked it. Some day I want to read more of Klassen's books."

SHEILA!!! Dang, it's great to see you posting again!! Hope you're feeling better than ever. Lots of love and prayers poured your way from everyone here while you were recuperating.


message 124: by Carmen8094 (new)

Carmen8094 | 30 comments Welcome back, Sheila!!!


message 125: by Debbie (new)

Debbie (dmbrown) | 734 comments FYI, all, I posted my recent reads elsewhere but did not include one that is not JAFF but has been mentioned here several times: The Princess Bride: An Illustrated Edition of S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure. What a hoot!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


message 126: by Sheila (new)

Sheila Majczan (sheilalmajczan) | 1301 comments Debbie wrote: "FYI, all, I posted my recent reads elsewhere but did not include one that is not JAFF but has been mentioned here several times: [book:The Princess Bride: An Illustrated Edition of S. Morgenstern's..."

Debbie, I have read the book also.


message 127: by Sheila (new)

Sheila Majczan (sheilalmajczan) | 1301 comments Thank you to all for your thoughts and prayers. I am now a person who takes naps in the afternoon.


message 128: by Teresa (new)

Teresa | 313 comments Great to see you back Sheila!!! You had us a bit worried there for a while. Onwards and upwards!!!


message 129: by Sheila (new)

Sheila Majczan (sheilalmajczan) | 1301 comments My brain was not able to concentrate and the connections at the hospital were not good. I didn't pick up a book to read until Aug. 31st.


message 130: by Debbie (new)

Debbie (dmbrown) | 734 comments Easy does it, girl. Nap when you must, rest when you want, read when you can.


message 131: by wosedwew (new)

wosedwew | 414 comments A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor's book. ~Irish Proverb

All those cats can't be wrong.


message 132: by Sheila (new)

Sheila Majczan (sheilalmajczan) | 1301 comments Yes, sleep is much in demand. They woke me up at about 6:15 daily to draw blood from my pic line!


message 133: by Debbie (new)

Debbie (dmbrown) | 734 comments Those rotten nurses!! Da nerve!!


message 134: by Sophia (new)

Sophia (sophiarose) | 911 comments Mod
Sheila wrote: "Thank you to all for your thoughts and prayers. I am now a person who takes naps in the afternoon."

Joy let us know how you were doing, but we did indeed miss your lovely, warm presence here. Glad you are able to drop by again and visit. :)


message 135: by Marlene (new)

Marlene | 364 comments Sheila, Julie Klassen! Yay! Do you have an opinion on this- I loved the book but wondered why she wouldn't be able to whisper.


message 136: by Sheila (new)

Sheila Majczan (sheilalmajczan) | 1301 comments It has been so long since I read this I would have to go back and review it again. My brain is not yet up to speed since the operation...plus just getting old...LOL I do remember that there is a reason for it but just why...can't remember.


message 137: by Marlene (new)

Marlene | 364 comments OK. I guess I just have to read it again! 😁


message 138: by Patricia (new)

Patricia | 62 comments Elizabeth Camden book is very good. halfway through Into the WHirlwind which takes place during the Chicago fire. rated it 5 stars


message 139: by Marlene (new)

Marlene | 364 comments Elizabeth Camden is my very favorite author. I would definitely recommend!


message 140: by Marlene (new)

Marlene | 364 comments I HAD TO SHARE - I'm in shock....... Beth whined, "I want to practice piano!!!!!!"🤩I am letting her do it by herself because I'm busy... and she's ACTUALLY practicing her lesson without help!!! 😮. Beth is my 4 yo.


message 141: by Chelsea (new)

Chelsea (crystal_dark) | 72 comments I just read The Duchess Deal and thought it was really good. It has a Beauty and the Beast aspect to it and is set in the Regency time period.


message 142: by wosedwew (new)

wosedwew | 414 comments Marlene wrote: "I HAD TO SHARE - I'm in shock....... Beth whined, "I want to practice piano!!!!!!"🤩I am letting her do it by herself because I'm busy... and she's ACTUALLY practicing her lesson without help!!! 😮. ..."

The prime purpose of being four is to enjoy being four — of secondary importance is to prepare for being five. ~Jim Trelease, The Read-Aloud Handbook, 1985

Enjoyed your story about your little Beth!


message 143: by Marlene (new)

Marlene | 364 comments I like that quote! And we could apply it to any age!!


message 144: by Marlene (new)

Marlene | 364 comments I am noticing many Beauty and the Beast and Cinderella stories, and I think that's awesome! Does anyone know of a good story based on other fairy tales?


message 145: by Chelsea (last edited Sep 22, 2017 03:33PM) (new)

Chelsea (crystal_dark) | 72 comments Marlene wrote: "I am noticing many Beauty and the Beast and Cinderella stories, and I think that's awesome! Does anyone know of a good story based on other fairy tales?"

I haven't read some of these in awhile but I remember really enjoying them.

Little Red Riding Hood
Scarlet Moon: A Retelling of Little Red Riding Hood
Princess of the Silver Woods - Also "The Twelve Dancing Princesses" & "Robin Hood"

The Princess and the Pea
Violet Eyes: A Retelling of The Princess and the Pea

Rumpelstiltskin
The Crimson Thread: A Retelling of Rumpelstiltskin

Cinderella
Cinderella: Ninja Warrior - Allows reader to choose different choices the character makes throughout story.


message 146: by Abigail (new)

Abigail Bok (regency_reader) I am currently enjoying some almost-Austenish moments while reading the first novel in Anthony Trollope’s Palliser series, Can You Forgive Her? Trollope has some very deft and clever phrasings when describing characters and their foibles. Samples: “When a man marries an heiress for her money, if that money be within her own control, . . . it is generally well for the speculating lover that the lady’s friends should quarrel with him and with her.” Or, about a recent widow who was preparing to enjoy a party of pleasure, “She had not mitigated her weeds [mourning clothes] by half an inch. She had scorned to make any compromise between the world of pleasure and the world of woe. There she was, a widow, declared by herself to be of four months’ standing, with a buried heart, making ready a dainty banquet with skill and liberality.”


message 147: by Teresa (new)

Teresa | 313 comments That's certainly very lyrical Abigail. I watched the Pallisers series on tv many years ago but I've never read the books.


message 148: by Marlene (new)

Marlene | 364 comments Chelsea - thanks!


message 149: by Chelsea (new)

Chelsea (crystal_dark) | 72 comments Marlene wrote: "Chelsea - thanks!"

No problem. I have gone on several Fairy Tale reading kicks in the past and hope you find at least one of those that interests you. Several of those books were by authors who have written other fairy tale books as well.


message 150: by Marlene (new)

Marlene | 364 comments in-law has some of them on her list, too!


back to top