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Cotillion October 2018 Group Read Chapters 1-10
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Critterbee❇
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rated it 5 stars
Oct 05, 2018 07:45AM
Jodi, I can certainly see some of the heroes turning into Lord Legerwood!
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he's my favorite supporting character in the book. Freddy takes the top spot though, of course.
So far I'm finding this extremely funny. If I had to take it seriously I think some parts would get on my wick so I've decided to read it as a comedy.
Last night I read the scene where Kitty meets Freddy at The Blue Boar and gets her inspiration from the punch. I find it very funny but it really shows you (view spoiler)
One of my all time favorites. I love Kitty and Freddy sightseeing in London. I sent my Mom a postcard from London quoting Freddy: "Dash it, they've got no heads!"
Diane wrote: "One of my all time favorites. I love Kitty and Freddy sightseeing in London. I sent my Mom a postcard from London quoting Freddy: "Dash it, they've got no heads!""Oh that is funny! And just like Freddy to exclaim about that!
I learned a new word, when Freddy goes to Almacks and there is "a bedizened matron" - how many times have I read this book and never really saw that word? that's one reason I love group reads, I force myself to slow down.also, when Lady Legerwood in chapter six says "my Benjamin so ill" - she must be talking about Edmund; doesn't that sound like a mistake? there are just six children: Meg, Freddy, Charlie, Edmund, Fanny and Caroline.
as long as I am nit-picking (because, really, it's the best book ever I don't care what nits I come across) Freddy plans to ask Kitty if she's had the measles but never actually does. it must happen "off camera"!
When Lady Legerwood refers to Edmund as "my Benjamin", she's actually making a Biblical allusion. Benjamin was the youngest, beloved child of Jacob.
I never heard of that! thank you, Margaret!
Teresa wrote: "So far I'm finding this extremely funny. If I had to take it seriously I think some parts would get on my wick so I've decided to read it as a comedy."Last night I laughed all the way through the part where Freddy meets Fish. I think you are right to read it as a comedy!
Gilly in The Foundling is a 7 months child too and perfectly normal, confirming my suspicion that there's nothing wrong with Dolph except.... (view spoiler)Ferdy is amusing but I prefer Dolph.
QNPoohBear wrote: "Gilly in The Foundling is a 7 months child too and perfectly normal, confirming my suspicion that there's nothing wrong with Dolph except.... [spoilers removed]Ferdy is amusing but I..."
I didn't remember that about Gilly!
Jackie wrote: "QNPoohBear wrote: "Gilly in The Foundling is a 7 months child too and perfectly normal, confirming my suspicion that there's nothing wrong with Dolph except.... [spoilers removed]Fer..."
Oh, that’s right - that’s why his uncle and servants were so protective- he had been a sickly child.
Gilly was probably a true '7 months child', i.e., a 'preemie', given his childhood heath problems. The societal use of the phrase was usually a wink, wink, nudge, nudge acknowledgement that the parents had anticipated their vows.Dolph may or may not have been a preemie. However, to me he is obviously intellectually challenged and somewhere on the autism spectrum. His hideous mother sure isn't helping him any. But her behavior is not the sole cause of his differences. Loving parents can do only so much...
I'm going to start my re-reading tonight: I really need a sweet, comforting and uplifting read right now!This is the first Heyer book I read (in Dec 2012): I had no idea who she was back then. It was a pleasant discovery and I rated it 3.5 stars (3 here because we don't have half stars).
I am a bit "strict" in my ratings and I rarely give 5 stars: they have to be books I consider real masterpieces and/or books I literally cannot put down. To be honest, I don't think Heyer wrote masterpieces of literature (no offence meant, I don't even think that was her aim), so I was rating according to my scale (a "good" book).
But "Cotillion" ranks so far above all her other books I've read so far, and I have such fond memories of it (that I hope to relive now rereading), that I think it's only fair that I up my vote to 4 stars now.
Moloch wrote: "I am a bit "strict" in my ratings and I rarely give 5 stars: they have to be books I consider real masterpieces and/or books I literally cannot put down."I find myself giving books categories in my mind and then rating them within that category. So some trashy e-book-only erotica will get 5 stars, because it's a perfect example of the trashy erotica genre. Meanwhile I'm giving Margaret Atwood's early work 2 stars because it's only quite good literary fiction!
Heyer is in a category all of her own. The best Heyer's get 5 stars. The worst get 2 or 3 (because they're never bad). Even though a 2 star Heyer is better than a 5 star generic regency romance!
I'm glad the subject of how many stars people give a book came up as I've wondered about it. It can't be anything but subjective, of course, but I think it is wildly subjective in my case. I am closer to what Nick describes: have given 4 or 5 stars to a book that is good for what it is.
I am more in line with Moloch regarding star ratings. I don't give 5 stars here on Goodreads as to my scale that would be a book that could never be surpassed. I would give 4 stars here as equivalent to 5 stars on Amazon.I just finished my re-read of Cotillion last night. This is one that I have read many times as it is a paperback that I own. This reading was a kindle copy as my paperbacks are old and well read. Cotillion is one of my favourite re-reads, and Freddy one of my favourite heroes.
Of course I reserve to myself "the right" to rate a book based on my personal enjoyment, pure and simple. There's a thriller that obviously will never make one of those "masterpieces to read before you die" lists, but that kept me awake till 4am because I had to read it all in one sitting, and that got 5 stars from me! :-)
Moloch wrote: "There's a thriller that obviously will never make one of those "masterpieces to read before you die" lists, but that kept me awake till 4am because I had to read it all in one sitting, and that got 5 stars from me! :-)"That sounds like a book that falls into the "does what it sets out to do and does it well" category. Isn't it the main goal of a thriller writer to keep you up until 4 a.m.? :)
Finished chapter 6, with Kitty meeting Lord and Lady Legerwood.One thing that struck in this rereading, I didn't remember there was all this talk of Hugh. His name comes up a lot in the conversations for a character (view spoiler). He's so well fleshed out it makes me regret we don't have the stories of ALL the lovely characters in this book even more.
Someone will have to write the Hugh fanfiction where he finally gets the serious, pliable girl who just wants to be educated.
Nick wrote: "Someone will have to write the Hugh fanfiction where he finally gets the serious, pliable girl who just wants to be educated."Mary Bennet! Naw, she just wants to show off... The rest of the possibles have already found someone. But would Charlotte have traded in her Mr. Collins for Hugh, I wonder.
Karlyne wrote: "Nick wrote: "Someone will have to write the Hugh fanfiction where he finally gets the serious, pliable girl who just wants to be educated."Mary Bennet! Naw, she just wants to show off... The rest..."
I think Charlotte would def trade in Mr. Collins for Hugh! I think Hugh is a much more agreeable match myself.
Critterbee❇ wrote: "Karlyne wrote: "Nick wrote: "Someone will have to write the Hugh fanfiction where he finally gets the serious, pliable girl who just wants to be educated."Mary Bennet! Naw, she just wants to show..."
Hugh, for all his pomposity, is intelligent and even kind - and he doesn't come with a proud and condescending patroness! 😁
Hugh gets points from me for his compassionate treatment of Dolph. In fact, throughout the book Dolph acts as a kind of walking litmus test of who is a genuinely admirable character and who isn't. Naming no names, so as not to commit spoilers in this thread... ;)
that's a good point, you can tell the Good Guys by how they treat DolphI ran into the word "bedizened" in Anne of Green Gables! I had just looked it up from reading it in Cotillion!
Jackie wrote: "that's a good point, you can tell the Good Guys by how they treat DolphI just ran into the word "bedizened" in Anne of Green Gables! I just looked it up from reading it in Cotillion!"
I just ran into the word bedizened in Death in the Dentist's Chair I'm just going to have to fit it into conversations now! :D
It is one of those high-value words!
I don't think I get bedizened very often (read that "never"). Wait! I have a frilly dilly Christmas apron I could pin some brooches on, add some gauds for my hair and dangling earbobs! Can't wait for December...
Operation bedizened December!
Karlyne wrote: "I don't think I get bedizened very often (read that "never"). Wait! I have a frilly dilly Christmas apron I could pin some brooches on, add some gauds for my hair and dangling earbobs! Can't wait f..."Well, 'bedizen' seems to have the same general meaning (and pronunciation) as 'bedazzle'. So, Karlyne, pile on the Christmas theme brooches, add those sparkling earbobs and flaunt it to the max!
Nick wrote: "Someone will have to write the Hugh fanfiction where he finally gets the serious, pliable girl who just wants to be educated."I would read Hugh's story! :-) I don't know, it's weird, it's almost like she's setting up the path for a spinoff/sequel, that was never written.
But also, of course, Hugh has to be more than "stiff and preachy Rector" to explain the (view spoiler).
Karlyne wrote: "Hugh, for all his pomposity, is intelligent and even kind"
One of my top moments in the book is at the end (view spoiler)
Moloch wrote: "But also, of course, Hugh has to be more than "stiff and preachy Rector" to explain the (view spoiler)."Come to think of it, what Hugh really needs is a Lizzy Bennet to tease him out of his stiff formality and pop his formality. I bet he'd be a lot less stiff and preachy if he had a wife to mock him every time he got on his high horse.
He needs what everybody needs: someone to love him without wearing blinders and someone for him to love back. He'd be positively human then!
Karlyne wrote: "He needs what everybody needs: someone to love him without wearing blinders and someone for him to love back. He'd be positively human then!"A beautiful phrase, Karlyne!
Moloch wrote: "Karlyne wrote: "He needs what everybody needs: someone to love him without wearing blinders and someone for him to love back. He'd be positively human then!"A beautiful phrase, Karlyne!"
Thanks!
I had to laugh today when reading the very first conversation that Freddy's parents have about his engagement. Lady Legerwood : "But one is forced to consider whether she has not induced poor Freddy to offer for her only to escape from Arnside." Nailed it, Mama Legerwood!And Freddy and his father, on (view spoiler):
"These unsuspected depths, Frederick -- ! I have wronged you!"
"Oh, I don't know that, sir! ... I ain't clever ... but I ain't such a sapskull as you think!"
"I have always known you could not be, my dear boy."
LOL!
Lord Legerwood is so funny!
Karlyne wrote: "I don't think I get bedizened very often (read that "never"). Wait! I have a frilly dilly Christmas apron I could pin some brooches on, add some gauds for my hair and dangling earbobs! Can't wait f..."Deck the halls - and Karlyne! 🤣
Elza wrote: "I had to laugh today when reading the very first conversation that Freddy's parents have [spoilers removed] Lady Legerwood : "But one is forced to consider whether she has not induced poor Freddy t..."I love that exchange!
Susan in NC wrote: "Karlyne wrote: "I don't think I get bedizened very often (read that "never"). Wait! I have a frilly dilly Christmas apron I could pin some brooches on, add some gauds for my hair and dangling earbo..."I think I'll have to make a video...😁
Mod
Yes, he's a very unusual Heyer character, isn't he? We very rarely see a male protagonist's father, because usually he himself is the holder of the title, so his father has to be out of the way.
There's Charity Girl where the old boy is the typical crusty gout-ridden patriarch, The Grand Sophy where he's a typical hard-drinking, hard-gambling Georgian waster, and of course Devil's Cub and The Masqueraders where the fathers are also unique characters. It's nice to see for once an obviously kind and loving father, with intelligence and a sense of humour. I'd have married him myself!
Uh oh, Lady Legerwood would be devastated!I agree, though, he is a keeper.
Critterbee❇ wrote: "Uh oh, Lady Legerwood would be devastated!I agree, though, he is a keeper."
Hands off, ladies, Lord Legerwood is mine! ; )
Dang, you're the first to claim him, so I guess you have 'dibs'!
Mod
Excuse me! I saw him first!
Jenny wrote: "Jackie wrote: "Lord Legerwood is so funny!" Yes, he's a very unusual Heyer character, isn't he? We very rarely see a male protagonist's father, because usually he himself is the holder of the titl..."
Agree - it's like the Childrens book convention where parents have to be absent for adventures to occur!
That said, having set the standard with Avon, I'm glad she only had Lord Legerwood as an other good example :) (Nothing displaces Avon my my mind!) She does use parenting-as-a-humanizer as a plot device for some of her male protags though - Alverstoke, Sylvester, Charles, Dameral - all perform various levels of parental roles.
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Georgette Heyer Fans
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Death in the Dentist's Chair (other topics)The Foundling (other topics)
The Foundling (other topics)
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