The Masqueraders August 2017 Group Read Chapters 1-16

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

Hi GR is acting very oddly tonight. Very odd. So I hope this sticks.

I've had a couple of messages from group members worried that spoilers could spoil the read of this particular title for first time readers. So could everyone take extra care & if unsure use the spoiler thread.

I have to say some edition's book descriptions are very spoilery. I'm a GR librarian, so I might look at editing some of them tomorrow.

Thank you

So..... any first time readers?

What format are you using this time?

How many times have you read it?

I have an old Pan paperback I've probably read it over a dozen times, the last time over 30 years ago.

I've finished this half of the book - just galloped through it & Have enjoyed so far more than I ever have before.

[Andrea AKA Catsos Person]

I've never read this book.

I have whispersync so I'll be listening to this rather than read, but my kindle edition is from Sourcebooks.

[Jay-me (Janet)]

I have a battered old paperback that I have read and re-read many times.
I'm not sure which edition I have.

[Barb in Maryland]

I'm reading the Arrow trade paperback this time. I wore out the 1970 Bantam edition that I had bought brand new. I replaced that with a Heineman hardback (bought second hand in the early '80s) and, when it fell apart, I bought the Arrow edition I have now. It is holding up pretty well.
This is one of my top 5 GH books.

[Rosina]

Although I have The Masqueraders as an audio book (read by Ruth Sillers) I will be following it in my old hardback - the 1949 edition!

I find the audio version very poorly narrated, poorly characterised

[Pamela]

I haven't read this one before. I just ordered the Sourcebooks edition from amazon and it should arrive on Thursday.

[Susan in NC]

I've never read this one - reading the Kindle version through Scribd. I for one am grateful for the spoilers I've seen or I would've been very confused!

[Abigail]

I’m afraid I destroyed my Pan paperback of this one years ago, so I have a Harlequin edition (at least it has a less embarrassing cover than many of theirs) from 2004. That date roughly coincides with when I tired of this book, so it’s pretty clean. Looking forward to trying it again!

I see the novel was published in 1928—so it’s one of her early books. Maybe we should cut Heyer some slack over the writing style considering her age (25–26).

[Kim]

I have not read in a while. I loved it when I was a teen-ager.

[Elliot]

Hi, all! I was in a terrible mood yestere'en because of a bad interaction with a customer during the day, and still in a funk at bedtime, when it suddenly occured to me that the GH list was embarking on a group read of my *favorite* GH novel (still my favorite after all these years, possibly because it was my first!). So I grabbed my (incredibly battered) paperback edition off the shelf (it's the Harlequin 2004 reprint with the foreword by Anne Stuart) and started in on it. Thank you, friends and GH!

I first read this one when I was 15, at my grandmother's house (she had an entire GH collection in hardback, I could weep with vexation to think I didn't keep my paws on them after she died!). I've easily read it at least a dozen times since then.

[Andrea AKA Catsos Person]

Rosina wrote: "Although I have The Masqueraders as an audio book (read by Ruth Sillers) I will be following it in my old hardback - the 1949 edition!

I find the audio version very poorly narrated, poorly charact..."

Rosina,

I've just finished listening to ch 2.

I'm not crazy about Ruth Stiller's narration. I see what you mean. Ms Stillers seems adept at reading, but I care for her voices.

I'm pretty sure I didn't pay much and than heaves I didn't

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

Elliot wrote: "Hi, all! I was in a terrible mood yestere'en because of a bad interaction with a customer during the day, and still in a funk at bedtime, when it suddenly occured to me that the GH list was embarki..."

Hi Elliott - I've missed you! :)

[Andrea AKA Catsos Person]

I just finished ch. 2:

Letty reminds me of Eustacia from The Talisman Ring because both (view spoiler)[are being menaced by a parent or guardian with marriage to a sober fellow! (hide spoiler)]

[Jacquie]

I have the same Pan edition as Carol -- at least the cover is the same -- and I have read it many times. The book is in almost as bad shape as my copy pf The Grand Sophie which has fallen apart! That should tell you how much I enjoy this one. Looking forward to the comments, esp from first time readers.

[Louise Sparrow]

I am listening to the audiobook too this time.

I've read it half a dozen times or less, I've always liked it but it's never been a huge favourite of mine.

[Sheila (in LA)]

I'm waiting for a copy to be sent to my local branch of the LA Public Library, where I'll pick it up. It's a first-time read for me and I'm hoping for the best. So far, the only dud for me has been The Conqueror.

[Margaret]

This is a favorite Heyer of mine, mainly because (view spoiler)[I'm a sucker for a cross-dressing plot, and this one's a double-header (hide spoiler)]! I also think the old gentleman is a hoot.

[Karlyne]

I think this is the second time I've read this. It's not one of my favorites, but I do like Prue!

[Karlyne]

And it looks like the old gentleman is supposed to be about forty-eight, which is, I suppose, old (ha!) but I really think he ought to be older, so I'm going to think of him as fifty-eight.

[Kim]

Found whole book dee-lightful!

[Andrea AKA Catsos Person]

I just finished listening to ch 9 and I don't like anyone excerpt Pompey-the-page.

[Susan in NC]

Thank you, I was afraid it was just me!

[Andrea AKA Catsos Person]

Susan,

I am very happy that I did not pay the full price for the kindle or whispersync editions. Whew!

[Karlyne]

Chuckle! And Pompey doesn't even talk!

[Andrea AKA Catsos Person]

Pompey doesn't talk or "do" anything so that's a good reason to like him!

[Karlyne]

I was thinking about him earlier before your comment and wondering why I was so sure he was happy.

[Susan in NC]

That's why I checked Scribd first before buying a copy - plus e-books allow me to blow up the font size! Definitely a relief for my tired, healing brain - getting stronger every day, but the smallest things can tire me out.

[Susan in NC]

In the middle of chapter 7 - enjoying it a bit more, but not really keeping my attention.

[Susan in NC]

Don't know if it's me or the book - apologies to those who love this one!

[Barb in Maryland]

Susan in NC wrote: "Don't know if it's me or the book - apologies to those who love this one!"

Susan--speaking as one who ranks this in her top 5 GH reads--it is all in the mind set (and past reading experiences!!). I love the language style (so not modern), the plot, the characters-- especially Sir Anthony. It helps that I read way too much Sabatini and Orczy in my teens--this was already familiar territory by the time I read it in college.

[Elliot]

Carol ♔Type, Oh Queen!♕ wrote: "Elliot wrote: "Hi, all! I was in a terrible mood yestere'en because of a bad interaction with a customer during the day, and still in a funk at bedtime, when it suddenly occured to me that the GH l..."

Hi, Carol! I've missed you too! But I'm back in black! Errr...puce! : )

[Elliot]

Susan--speaking as one who ranks this in her top 5 GH reads--it is all in the mind set (and past read..."

In reading it this time round, I'm struck by the fact that the language, tho' rather fey in its Georgian aspect, in some ways strikes me as simpler than in later GH's. There's a straightforwardness to it - less of the sort of sly characterizations as part of the narrative - and more simplicity in its sentence structure. Which doesn't in any way detract from the story for me. I have to say I think that The Old Gentleman is one of GH's most brilliant, bombastic roles. Oh, how I'd love to see this made into a movie! By a really good director. : )

[Margaret]

I have to say I think that The Old Gentleman is one of GH's most brilliant, bombastic roles. Oh, how I'd love to see this made into a movie! By a really good director. : )

And with one of the really good character actors in the role. Yes!

[Susan in NC]

Barb in Maryland wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Don't know if it's me or the book - apologies to those who love this one!"

Susan--speaking as one who ranks this in her top 5 GH reads--it is all in the mind set (and past read..."

I think you're right - I'll keep plugging away!

[Abigail]

@17 Margaret: That’s what I’ve always loved about it, too!

[Susan in Perthshire]

Elliot wrote: "Hi, all! I was in a terrible mood yestere'en because of a bad interaction with a customer during the day, and still in a funk at bedtime, when it suddenly occured to me that the GH list was embarki..."

I could weep with you too Elliot! All the hardbacks! What a treasure trove that would be!

[Barb in Maryland]

Elliot wrote: "In reading it this time round, I'm struck by the fact that the language, tho' rather fey in its Georgian aspect, in some ways strikes me as simpler than in later GH's. There's a ..."

Elliot--great point! No paragraphs that run on forever, no vast descriptions, etc. All very straight-forward storytelling. ( Well, the Old Gentleman is twisty as all get out, but the story runs straight...)

[Elliot]

Karlyne wrote: "And it looks like the old gentleman is supposed to be about forty-eight, which is, I suppose, old (ha!) but I really think he ought to be older, so I'm going to think of him as fifty-eight."

You know, the age of The Old Gentleman has always puzzled me, as well. It always seems like he should be at least in his 60s, to judge by the way his children refer to him, but then when you work out how old his kids are, versus how old he was when he got married, etc (really trying hard not to have to resort to spoiler alerts here), you're right, he can't be older than 50! (I guess having passed that threshold myself, suddenly "the old gentleman" doesn't seem so old to me!)

[Elliot]

Margaret wrote: "I have to say I think that The Old Gentleman is one of GH's most brilliant, bombastic roles. Oh, how I'd love to see this made into a movie! By a really good director. : )

And with one of the rea..."

We may have to start a separate thread for "who would you cast?"! I'm going to reveal my age by saying that I think a young Russell Crowe might have made an excellent Sir Anthony! At least, based on his performance as Jack Aubrey in "Master and Commander", he strikes me as having a sufficently "mountain-like" presence!

[Susan in Perthshire]

Reading this on my iPad as I don't own the book;- I've only read it once and that was almost 50 years ago. I agree with some of the earlier comments here. It's written in a much more direct, fast-flowing style than her later books; but her storytelling and descriptive powers are well to the fore already at only 26. However, I have real problems with the plot and I am finding it hard to engage as I normally do. I'm going to leave my comments for the spoiler section as I don't want to ruin it for anyone who has not read it before and sadly, I still haven't worked out how to do spoilers! I think I'd better make that my study goal for the month of August!

[Barb in Maryland]

Susan in Perthshire wrote: "Reading this on my iPad as I don't own the book;- I've only read it once and that was almost 50 years ago... However, I have real problems with the plot and I am finding it hard to engage as I normally do."

Susan--well, the plot does have holes big enough to drive a tank through, especially concerning the Old Gentleman. But I love all the main characters; Sir Anthony is a favorite of mine.

[Susan in NC]

I like Anthony too! Haven't gotten to the old gentleman yet, but very intrigued by other characters' comments about him.

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

Hi I tried to post last night in this thread but GR was super buggy yesterday & wouldn't let me!

So hahaha to Elliott's comment about puce!

The old gentleman's age (view spoiler)[ 48! But Heyer herself was only 26 when she wrote this & I can certainly remember thinking anyone over 35 might as well be dead. (hide spoiler)]

I want to google life expectancy in Britain during both 18th century & the late 1920s.

[Jenny]

Does the 'Old Gentleman' remind anyone else of Wilfred Steane (Charity Girl)?

[Jenny]

Chapter 2: How long did it take everybody to cotton on to what the Merriots were up to? When I first read this, years ago, I was utterly baffled and couldn't for the life of me work out where these two new characters had suddenly come from and what they were talking about. I had to go back and read the first couple of pages of Chapter 2 again and I don't think I twigged until it was actually stated in so many words that (view spoiler)[ they were cross-dressing and that Robin, Kate, Prue and Peter only had two bodies between them (hide spoiler)]!
Was I being unusually dim, or did anyone else have trouble?

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

Jenny wrote: "Chapter 2: How long did it take everybody to cotton on to what the Merriots were up to? When I first read this, years ago, I was utterly baffled and couldn't for the life of me work out where these..."

I don't think you were being dim. I was completely confused the first few times I read it.

[Susan in NC]

Jenny wrote: "Chapter 2: How long did it take everybody to cotton on to what the Merriots were up to? When I first read this, years ago, I was utterly baffled and couldn't for the life of me work out where these..."

This is my first read and I was very confused - but I just had brain surgery and thought it was just me! But some of the comments posted when we were voting on whether to read this book told me what to expect, thank goodness, or I think I wouldn't have carried on reading.

[Elliot]

I think I twigged it right away my first read - the Big Reveal about the Merriotts - but this time reading thru' it I couldn't help but notice how abrupt the transition is between GH's referring to them first one way and then another - there wasn't any sort of organic lead-in - it was more of an "oh, hey, now's the time for the Big Reveal, because now we're talking about Peter's attraction to a man they've just met!" LOL! : )

[Abigail]

There’s a little hint in Chapter Two that makes no sense until you pick up on what the masquerade is. It’s when Sir Anthony appears and Miss Merriot says, “Lud, it’s a mammoth!” and her “brother” replies, “Oh, are you jealous?”

[AnimElysium]

First time reading 😅
I told my sister that I don't even know what this is about and the group's ahead of me and I haven't even finished the Convenient Marriage! Then I read the book description and oh boy! I want to start this book right now!