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The Talisman Ring Group Read Jan 2021 SPOILERS Thread
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This is my third time reading this book. I'm sure I knew whodunit right away but I certainly remembered this time around. It was pretty obvious. This read I found the first half a little slow. They were too quick to realize the identity of the true villain. The second half was a lot funnier. It's very Wodehousian! P.G. Wodehouse was the master of screwball comedy and writing at the same time as Heyer. I believe that sort of thing was popular to lift people's spirits during the Depression just as we are reading it now to lift our spirits after the awful year and first month of the new year.I loved the break-in at the Dower House and every scene Sarah was in, especially her scenes with Tristram. Eustacie is too silly for me. I think a stay in Bath would have been good for her. Even if Tristram's Mama doesn't go out, there are finishing schools in Bath. Enroll Eustacie in one. She needs it. She needs to meet other young girls although I fear she will lead the younger ones astray with her youthful romantic ideals. Surely Lady Shield has friends with children Eustacie's age to socialize with? I thought Ludovic was just as bad. He's rash, headstrong and stupid. They'll make a terrible couple because neither has any sense. Perhaps after this adventure he'll mature a bit and Eustacie will too.
As others have said, the real standout is the more mature relationship between Tristram and Sarah. They balance each other out. She's a bit romantic but she's quick thinking and practical. She accepts his plans with good humor and adjusts when she thinks is necessary. Their banter is so funny! Sarah will make a great mother because she'll be sympathetic to their scrapes, even helping the children get into and out of them while Tristram will roll his eyes and smile then proceed to tell them all what to do. I wouldn't have given him a past heartbreak and just made him sober because he's older and the head of his family.
Basil is really a weak villain. I'm betting he paid someone to shoot Mr. Plunkett and didn't actually do the dirty work himself. I was surprised he was the one who broke into the inn and tried to kill Ludovic. I expected him to have minions for that sort of thing.
I'm bumping my rating up a bit. I don't think this is a favorite or least favorite but I would have to really be in the right mood for a reread and it would have to be several more years.
Moved from non-spoilers thread because of second paragraphJenny Wrote
QNPoohBear wrote: "It's sort of a mashup of the hero from The Black Moth, the fiery Frenchwoman from These Old Shades and the mystery from The Reluctant Widow.
It started sl..."
I don't think this is a book one reads so much for the plot, as for the humour. I've read it many times before, but not recently because I think of it as 'that one with the irritating heroine and not much of a mystery' so don't return to it often. But re-reading it for this discussion, and then going back over it to look for a particular quotation I have found myself often laughing out loud, which is very unusual for a book I've known for so long.
It's all down to the contrast between Sir Tristram's stern sobriety and Ludovic's and Eustacie's madcap romanticism and irresponsibility, mediated by Sarah's straight-faced mickey-taking out of both parties: Sir Hugh's phlegmatic obtuseness and single-minded pursuit of good wine and brandy, which Sarah so skilfully exploits, are the icing on the cake.
I do agree that Sarah is what holds the book together: it is really her story.
(view spoiler)
Critterbee❇ wrote: "Jenny Wrote QNPoohBear wrote: "It's sort of a mashup of the hero from The Black Moth, the fiery Frenchwoman from These Old Shades and the mystery from The Reluctant Widow.
It started sl..."
I do..."
You’ve summed up the book’s appeal beautifully, Critterbee!
Actually Jenny. I’m always amazed at your attention to detail, Jenny—imagine noting the horse’s name!
More information about what constitutes a spoiler:In the non-spoiler thread, discussing the villain as a villain is a spoiler, and comparisons to villains in other books should be under spoiler tags, even in the spoiler thread. If a villain is not revealed positively until the end of the book, discussions about the villain should be in the spoilers thread.
hello! Late to the party but... thought I'd join in.First read. Its quite funny and easier to read than I expected. Binge read 2/3 of the book last night :)
I wonder who Heyer meant as main characters cause all the covers I saw have Ludovic and Eustacie on them and... I'm really a big fan of Sally and Tristram :D They kinda steal the show from the other two, I thought.
I think if you have to pick the main characters, they are Sarah and Sir Tristram.
I'm with Jackie - Tristram and Sarah are definitely the main characters.
Ludovic and Eustacie probably just make better subjects for your typical romance cover artist!
I agree! Sarah and Tristam are the main couple, but it is not put very forward initially. It works out that you don't suspect Sarah and Tristam at first - and it would be difficult to find two characters more attention-demanding than Eustacie and Ludovic.
My opinion is that The Talisman Ring has four main characters in two couples. Is there anything wrong with that?
Margaret wrote: "My opinion is that The Talisman Ring has four main characters in two couples. Is there anything wrong with that?"There's nothing wrong with it - and I agee! :)
Critterbee❇ wrote: "I agree! Sarah and Tristam are the main couple, but it is not put very forward initially. It works out that you don't suspect Sarah and Tristam at first - and it would be difficult to find two characters more attention-demanding than Eustacie and Ludovic..."
Hahahaha!
Margaret wrote: "My opinion is that The Talisman Ring has four main characters in two couples. Is there anything wrong with that?"& this double romance makes this novel a unique Heyer.
The nearest to this would be (spoiler for a different GH novel) (view spoiler)
Yes Ludovic and Eustice are acting very immature but I feel that while yes they are making these crazy decisions , they have been left to their own devices way too much and being rich and connected gave them too many opportunities to get into trouble no one tried to engage them in projects they were just considered a nuisance to be dealt with which is too bad they have good qualities.I did like the pairing of the different couples Miss Thane with Tristraim. Glad he was there when she got into scrapes the poor thing! And Ludovic and Eustice are a good match.
And of course I am always glad of a hapoy ending.
Overall I liked the book!
Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "Margaret wrote: "My opinion is that The Talisman Ring has four main characters in two couples. Is there anything wrong with that?"& this double romance makes this novel a unique Heyer.
The neare..."
Carol, I thought your spoiler would be referring to (view spoiler)
I like how there are two couples: one young and silly and the other mature with a more subtle sense of humor. It makes the book appeal to a wider variety of readers. When I was younger I would have identified more with Eustacie. Cue Marianne Dashwood : "EWW marry an old man over 30? Gross! Where's the romance? The passion? The drama?" I didn't read Heyer until I was in my 30s and I identify more with older heroines and heroes. Sarah's sense of humor is great and even Tristram proves he DOES have a sense of humor and a taste for adventure. I like how he doesn't bat an eyelash at anything Sarah comes up with on the fly. They will have lots of fun together and probably continue to clean up after Eustacie and Ludovic.
I finished the audiobook today, and loved not only the performance, but also the story, esp. Sarah. Want to read the book too, as it´s my first read of this novel, and I didn´t catch everything in the audio.
So glad you enjoyed it Michaela. It was such fun. I always think Heyer's books are more enjoyable on a second read.
Oh that is a pain, Abigail.
Welcome back to the discussion!