Introduction and Welcome Thread

[Bookworman]

Thanks Critterbee! 😊

[Teresa]

Hi Bookworman. Great to see so many new people joining this group this year. You'll have fun!!!

[Bookworman]

Thanks Teresa!

[Jemima]

Hi I'm Jemima. I started reading Georgette Heyer when I was 11 and had read every other single book available on my parent's bookshelves that weren't forbidden to me. In desperation, I asked my Mum for help. She handed me 'Cotillion' which will always be her favorite, but I couldn't understand the humor in the book at that age. Instead I discovered a book with an evil looking, threatening villain and a frightened, cinderella type heroine, clearly in need of rescuing. The cover of the book had nothing whatsoever to do with the main story or its spunky, quirky characters, but it was certainly a page turner for me from the first. It was The Corinthian.
My love affair with Georgette Heyer began. Eventually I discovered her more serious histories and then also fell in love with her crime novels.
My favorite book of all time is The Grand Sophy and this is the actual cover of my well worn copy. Along with my favorite copy of 'Pride and Prejudice' it goes with me whenever I travel...in the nature of comfort food.
I have owned three beautiful standard poodles that are my constant companions. Nobody could ever understand why the beautiful white male (sadly no longer with me) was called "Camille" nod to the irresistible but slightly helpless character in Cotillion......isn't that a girl's name?
My black girl's name is "Arabella" after one of my all time favourite heroines. So of course the big white handsome boy puppy I bought soon after Camille passed (when she and I were breaking our hearts over our loss)...his name of course is "Beaumaris".

[Critterbee❇]

Welcome, Jemima, and welcome! So happy to have you join us, and your pups, too.

What a wonderful thing to be introduced to GH through your Mother. I raided my parents' shelves when I was young, too, often with negative results - Clausweitz's On War and History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides - hey, I became desperate between trips to the library... Oh, well.

We are reading the regencies in order, and are currently discussing The Toll-Gate, feel free to share your thoughts on the book over here.

[Jemima]

Thanks Critterbee, I laughed when you said about some interesting choices. I think Mum ended up having to lock some stuff up...they wanted me to enjoy my innocence as long as possible I guess. They sort of forgot about the library card though. I read Irving Stonés ‘Immortal Wife’ at age 11 out of sheer desperation at one point. I was sick a lot as a kid. It made quite an impression. Although I have never reread it, I still rate it as the hardest book I’ve ever read. I do remember feeling very sorry for the woman.

[Karlyne]

I read anything I could get my hands on, too, including the dictionary and encyclopedia and "adult" novels (which would be considered mighty tame these days), but the reference works probably stuck more than the adult themes did, which is the way kids work, right?

I don't think I've ever read Stone (or maybe I did as a kid and blocked it out of my mind...😁).

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

Welcome Jemima!

[Teresa]

Welcome to you Jemima. Hope you enjoy the group.

[QNPoohBear]

Welcome Jemima! I LOVE how you named your pups after Georgette Heyer characters. I vote for Lufra for the next one, after the Balichustan Hound in Frederica.

[Jemima]

Ohh Lufra f’was a definite possibility. The Baluchistan hound😂 I looove Frederica. I think I personally identify with her most out of all the characters.

[Susan in NC]

Hi, Jemima, and welcome!

[Jackie]

welcome to the new people! I just noticed I don't have this thread set to notify me when there are new posts, duh.
now it's fixed.

[Katie]

Hello! My first book was Cousin Kate (given to me by my gran - she got me started on GH!) and my favourite is probably Arabella...although I do also love Faro’s Daughter.

[Critterbee❇]

Hi Katie, Welcome!
What a lovely gift for your Grandmother to give to you, passing it down like an heirloom!

There are discussion threads from previous reads of Cousin Kate, Arabella and Faro's Daughter, and we have just started discussing Bath Tangle this month, if you would like to join in, we would love to hear your thoughts. :-)

[Susan in NC]

Hi, Katie! Welcome to this lovely group - I’ve learned so much and enjoyed discussing so many great Heyer novels with them! Enjoy!

[Mary]

Hello All, so nice to meet everyone, looking forward to hearing your thoughts on GH works. I cut my teeth a few years ago in The Corinthian, thanks to a recommendation from my book buddy, Connie. QUESTION - where can I find directions for responding to comments, so that the comment retains
the reference snippet ? Regards to you all!

[Susan in NC]

Mary wrote: "Hello All, so nice to meet everyone, looking forward to hearing your thoughts on GH works. I cut my teeth a few years ago in The Corinthian, thanks to a recommendation from my book buddy, Connie. Q..."

Hi, Mary! I think you’re referring to the above snippet in italics, your comment. If that’s what you mean, you just hit the green “reply” under the comment you want to reference, and type your answer (that’s how it looks on an iPad, apologies if it is different on other devices).

[Critterbee❇]

Hi Mary, welcome!

I use a chromebook and windows machine mainly, and the option is as Susan said for me, too - 'reply' under the comment that you wish to reply to, except it is blue instead of green for me.

[Jenny]

Mary wrote: "...where can I find directions for responding to comments, so that the comment retains
the reference snippet ?

If you want the actual words you're referring to to appear at the top of your reply (as I have caused to happen here), rather than just the first words from the post, then you can copy and paste them into your reply and put them into italics using html.
To do that, put <i> at the beginning and then </i> at the end of the words you want to quote.

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

Welcome, Jane!

[Critterbee❇]

Hello Jane, and welcome.
Rotating favorites is a common happening among Heyer fans!

We are reading Sprig Muslin this month, and the biography Georgette Heyer over the next three months. Would love to hear your thoughts on both in the threads under Group Reads.

[Jackie]

Welcome Jane, I envy you that you have so many yet unread 😊

[Susan in NC]

Jane wrote: "Hi everyone, I'm Jane from Nottingham.

I've known about Heyer for years since my great aunt had a shelf full of them, but somehow I didn't get around to reading any until recently.

I started wi..."

Hi, Jane! You sound just like me when I started reading Heyer - I binged on everything my library had to offer, then hit the used book store - my favorite became each new book as I read it! Now I’m enjoying more leisurely rereads with the group, savoring the brilliant characters and writing- welcome and enjoy!

[Critterbee❇]

Jane wrote: "...Thanks for the welcome. I am joining in the Sprig Muslin read. But I'm putting off reading any biographies until I've read more of the canon to avoid spoilers. "

That is a great idea - the book does contain spoilers.

[Sandy]

I read most of Heyer's books years ago and have reread several now and again. I enjoyed my most recent reread, Friday's Child, so much that I'm eager to pick her up on a more regular basis. I had forgotten just how funny Heyer can be. Looking forward to Sylvester as I don't remember the plot at all.

[Teresa]

Welcome Sandy. Isn't she just marvelous? The comedy is fantastic. I love this group. Reading Heyer on a regular basis is always a good thing.

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

Sandy wrote: "I read most of Heyer's books years ago and have reread several now and again. I enjoyed my most recent reread, Friday's Child, so much that I'm eager to pick her up on a more regular basis. I had f..."

I know that avatar! Welcome Sandy!

[Susan in NC]

Teresa wrote: "Welcome Sandy. Isn't she just marvelous? The comedy is fantastic. I love this group. Reading Heyer on a regular basis is always a good thing."

Hey Sandy, good to see you over here! *waves* .

So true, Teresa! I’m in other groups where I try new-to-me authors, some I enjoy, some are more “meh”. It’s always nice to come back to Heyer and this group, where I know I’ll enjoy the book, even if it’s not a personal favorite, I’ll still have an entertaining read or listen (audiobook), and of course, the discussions are fun!

[Teresa]

I'd love to join some other groups Susan but I just don't have the time. I find it hard enough to keep up with the ones I'm in. I've seen one that you're in to do with old detective stories. Would love to give that one a shot. Oh well. My daughter could be off to college in September and if she is I'll definitely have a bit more time to myself.

[Critterbee❇]

Sandy wrote: "I read most of Heyer's books years ago and have reread several now and again. I enjoyed my most recent reread, Friday's Child, so much that I'm eager to pick her up on a more regular basis. I had f..."

Hi Sandy, welcome!

[Susan in NC]

Teresa wrote: "I'd love to join some other groups Susan but I just don't have the time. I find it hard enough to keep up with the ones I'm in. I've seen one that you're in to do with old detective stories. Would ..."

Oh, that’s great if she’s heading off to college! Yes, the Reading the Detectives group is great, I love mysteries and I’ve learned about several new authors.

[Julie]

Hi, I’m Julie.

I discovered Georgette Heyer a few years ago, through the Richard Armitage audiobooks. I’ve recently reacquainted myself with these, and now I’m working my way through her other books. But have yet to come across anything that beats Venetia.

That’s not to say that others don’t appeal....the few I’ve read I’m enjoying hugely (Frederica, Arabella, These Old Shades and Devil’s Cub, to name a few).

And I’ve never participated in a group read before, so delighted to see that I can start in June with my favourite Heyer!

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

Julie wrote: "Hi, I’m Julie.

I discovered Georgette Heyer a few years ago, through the Richard Armitage audiobooks. I’ve recently reacquainted myself with these, and now I’m working my way through her other boo..."

Welcome Julie!

[Julie]

Thanks Carol!

[Jackie]

Hi, Julie and welcome to the group!

[Teresa]

You're very welcome Julie. It's great group.

[Critterbee❇]

Hi Julie, Welcome!
Venetia is quite a favourite read among Heyer fans! Looking forward to hearing your thoughts during the discussion next month.

[Susan in NC]

Hi, Julie, welcome! I look forward to discussing Venetia (and other great Heyers) with you!

[Julie]

Jackie wrote: "Hi, Julie and welcome to the group!"

Thanks Jackie, glad to be here!

[Julie]

Teresa wrote: "You're very welcome Julie. It's great group."

Hi Teresa, thanks for the warm welcome, look forward to being here!

[Julie]

Susan in NC wrote: "Hi, Julie, welcome! I look forward to discussing Venetia (and other great Heyers) with you!"

Hi Susan, thank you....and likewise!

[Julie]

Critterbee❇ wrote: "Hi Julie, Welcome!
Venetia is quite a favourite read among Heyer fans! Looking forward to hearing your thoughts during the discussion next month."

Hi Critterbee, thanks for the welcome! With the Venetia read next month it was certainly a good time to discover the group. Look forward to participating. :)

[Lou]

I read G.H. when I was in high school. My Mom had a whole stack of them on the bookshelf. I read them all several times. Years later I was visiting the parents, I reread one ( sorry to say I don't recall the title at this time). Loved it, realized Heyer was a better writer than I realized in high school. Wish I had all those little paperbacks now. Will have to start a new collection. Looking forward to the ones I never knew about!

[Critterbee❇]

Hi Lou, welcome!
I met Georgette much later than high school, and I envy you your early introduction. :D

[JodieO]

Jodie here. I came to GH through the Richard Armitage narrated books on audible, so I'm unsure which of the three I read first, but I'm pretty sure it was The Convenient Marriage. I'm still new to her and have so far read fewer than 10 of her books, but I'm looking forward to diving into more!

[Jackie]

Hi Jodie!
are you reading Venentia now? That is the current group read.

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

Welcome to all our new members! :)

[Critterbee❇]

JodieO wrote: "Jodie here. I came to GH through the Richard Armitage narrated books on audible, so I'm unsure which of the three I read first, but I'm pretty sure it was The Convenient Marriage. I'm still new to ..."

Welcome Jodie!

[JodieO]

I had actually just started Arabella, but I have no problem picking up Venetia. They are both included in my audible package. =)

Jackie wrote: "Hi Jodie!
are you reading Venentia now? That is the current group read."

JodieO wrote: "Jodie here. I came to GH through the Richard Armitage narrated books on audible, so I'm unsure which of the three I read first, but I'm pretty sure it was The Convenient Marriage. I'm still new to ..."