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Friday's Child
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Group Read Fridays Child June 2023 SPOILERS Thread
Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "Sherry's friends are people you would just love to hang out with - & it contains some of Gh's funniest lines..."that is so true ... it's not one of my favourites, but it has some unforgettable lines - like that Greek who creeps up on you from behind ...
Mod
When I read this, I found it boring and tedious. I wasn't a huge fan of the characters. My favorite was actually Tarleton and if he wasn't too old for Hero, I think she should have been with him.
I've read it many times - it's one of my favourites. Not THE favourite (I can never really decide which one that is), but well up there. It's just so funny I can forget about the improbability of such an impromptu marriage actually working!
I remember that it's not one of my favourites. But I admit there are some good lines in it. Like‘If I could but see you married to Isabella, I could go in peace!’
Her son looked at her in a bewildered way. ‘Go where?’
Even though is many ways Sherry makes a poor hero for a romance, we first get to know him telling off his Uncle who apparently lives off him and is probably "feathering his nest" at Sherry's expense so that help me to like him. and since I know that, by the end, Kitten still loves him and is glad she married him it helps me laugh at the scene where they are on the wall and he decides he'll marry her so he can get control of his fortune.
he's SO selfish it's funny! won't even sit down if it means getting his pants dirty while she offers her cloak because she never thinks of herself first.
and he thinks it's going to be a marriage of convenience, HA. He turns out to be so inconvenienced!
I can't help wondering if any first time readers assume he's going to end up with Isabella eventually?
Not a favourite and I’ve read it a few times so I won’t be rereading it this time. I do enjoy reading people’s thoughts though.
Mod
But how could he do that without divorcing Hero - for which he would need serious grounds - and subjecting her to utter social ruin?
I wrote that before they had actually been married, which is a very tiny sliver of the book.
Not a favourite at all- so I doubt I’ll re-read. But I always enjoy the comments, so I’ll be following them.
With Sherry - his mother was selfish. Did anyone get a sense of what the father was like?
Mod
But how could he do that without divorcing Hero - for which he would need ser..."
I don't remember how long (while reading it the first time) I assumed that Isabella was main heroine, but I remember that I did it. No idea how I thought it would work out - simply believing in Heyer's genius. ;-)
Mod
“Know what I think, Gil?” Ferdy asked portentously.
“No,” replied Mr Ringwood. “Damned if I know what I think!”
“Just what I was going to say!” said Ferdy. “Damned if I know what I think!”
Pleased to find themselves in such harmonious agreement, they linked arms in a friendly fashion, and proceeded down the road in the direction of Conduit Street.
I also liked Sherry's evolution (it wasn't finished at the end of the story, but I believe in him ;-) )
And the between-lines topics, like how hard and absurd was to adjust to social rules.
Link to my review if someone is interested ;-)
Mela wrote: "Just finished. Pure fun.“Know what I think, Gil?” Ferdy asked portentously.
“No,” replied Mr Ringwood. “Damned if I know what I think!”
“Just what I was going to say!” said Ferdy. “Damned if I..."
Fabulous review Mela although I am sorry to say that I don't share your love for the book.
I don't like it (nor others with similar juvenile characters), probably because I don't find them particularly funny or even slightly amusing. I don't like farce too much. A little goes a long, long way for me.
However I thought your review was excellent. Thanks for the link.
Mod
Thank you, Susan!
I can understand that you can find this kind of humour not much fun. One likes it, one does not ;-)
Mela wrote: "Jenny wrote: "Jackie wrote: "I can't help wondering if any first time readers assume he's going to end up with Isabella eventually?"But how could he do that without divorcing Hero - for which he ..."
I don't think I ever really assumed that Isabella was the heroine - that passage near the beginning where she first expresses her opinion made that clear to me. I was surprised by her ultimate choice, though - I think that was a poor one.
Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "With Sherry - his mother was selfish. Did anyone get a sense of what the father was like?"There was only one brief passage: when Sherry was remembering "better" times at his estate before Uncle came. Something about going out with his father hunting.
Sherry didn't have a very good male role model in his uncle, so no wonder he was a frippery selfish young man.
I'm up to chapter 10 and just finished where the couple has their first fight. Since Sherry actually slaps his wife I can understand why people don't like him as a character. I do like that Kitten, who had been a complete doormat, gets angry back at him and points out how unfair he is being. The fact that I know he eventually comes around to growing up helps.
and I am finding every single scene funny. they make up after the fight:
A reluctant grin stole across the Viscount's face. "Lord, I'd have given a money to have seen Gil's phiz when you asked him if he had an opera-dancer" he said.
all of the humor comes from the mix of these wonderful characters, the more 3 dimentional like Gil (who deserves his own book!) but also the more chartoonish "Tiger " Jason and the fat, lazy uncle.
Mela, a wonderful review and I agree completely. Sherry and Kitten grow up and I find it all completely believable. and it's non-stop funny.I've always liked this book but hadn't considered it to be in my very top favorites. but it seems to be moving up on this re-read!
Yes thanks for the review, Mela & your insight MaryL.We never get a picture of what Sherry's father was like, but obviously he was concerned about Sherry's character.
I am surprised he chose those two uncles as guardians. I would think Prosper was always selfish & indolent, but why Horace Paulett? Was dad completely hoodwinked?
I am surprised he chose those two uncles as guardians.He may not have had much of a choice. There's no mention of him or Sherry's mother having any other brothers.
Margaret wrote: "He may not have had much of a choice. There's no mention of him or Sherry's mother having any other brothers."
I'd be picturing a trusted neighbour who was also a friend with Prosper - but I guess this is a reach outside the boundaries of the book.
Some of the funniest passages come from the three friends helping Heroafter being accepted by Sherry's "family" (in this case a found family). They rally around HER when she goes to them in distress, leaving HIM to stew in ignorance. Much humor comes from the characters of those three friends during this exercise.
The acceptance here of the woman by the man's family, is used in several books (view spoiler) for story and character development.
Another device (view spoiler) is the use of an alliance between the hero's family and the new/putative member of the family, nicely giving a better view of relationships within the groups.
I wasn't sure I liked this one either but I enjoyed the comedy a lot! The three friends were definitely the funniest although George got on my nerves at times. Wasn't keen on Sherry at all. Yes I think he'll become a better person because of his marriage to Hero but she needs to grow up! That tiresome naivety would get on anyone's nerves eventually.
I've started to re-read this one, and usually I get into the story of GHs books easily even on re-read - it does not seem to work with this one. I do remember it, and that seems to be enough. Beside the characters that don't hook me particularly, I remember there is one BIG implausibility that slaps me in the face every time. And that is something I don't like in books.
I put it in spoiler tags even here, in case it never occurred to you. (view spoiler)
sabagrey wrote: "I've started to re-read this one, and usually I get into the story of GHs books easily even on re-read - it does not seem to work with this one. I do remember it, and that seems to be enough. Bes..."
I agree totally!
sabagrey wrote: "I've started to re-read this one, and usually I get into the story of GHs books easily even on re-read - it does not seem to work with this one. I do remember it, and that seems to be enough. Bes..."
Good point!!
I think the point about Bath is that it's kind of a backwater at this time. The group of "well-connected" people who live or sojourn in Bath and environs don't overlap very much with the group that hang out in London.
sabagrey wrote: "I've started to re-read this one, and usually I get into the story of GHs books easily even on re-read - it does not seem to work with this one. I do remember it, and that seems to be enough. Bes..." I didn't think of that, but that's a good point!
Teresa wrote: "I wasn't sure I liked this one either but I enjoyed the comedy a lot! The three friends were definitely the funniest although George got on my nerves at times. Wasn't keen on Sherry at all. Yes I think he'll become a better person because of his marriage to Hero but she needs to grow up! That tiresome naivety would get on anyone's nerves eventually."I liked this one better on my second read. I agree about Hero's "tiresome naivety" but this time it struck me more strongly how many of her ridiculous "scrapes" would have been avoided if Sherry didn't leave her on her own all the time.
I realised saba's point, but didn't worry about it. However, it is noticeable that she is still making the (view spoiler)
AngeLivesToRead wroteit struck me more strongly how many of her ridiculous "scrapes" would have been avoided if Sherry didn't leave her on her own all the time.
yes, and he even actively gave her bad advice, like when you are in debt from gambling keep gambling!
I don't find her naivety tiresome, however.
Gil - " Going to say, she don't make the same mistake twice. " There are many stories, even real-world, of doubling down on gambling losses trying to recover.
Hero was introduced in London as married Lady Sheringham. She had not been brought "out" in the usual way and had not been courted or the target of flirting. She had not learned the signs Jaspers thought he was sending. [Re mistake (?) in msg 33]
In Bath she went as Miss Wantage. There could be an argument that her circles in the few months in London had little overlap with the more elder Bath residents. In any case, a range of community acquaintance was presented in the various GH books. That seems to be something customized to fit the story being told.
... and Tarleton, older (though also inexperienced), was receiving signals she didn't think she was sending ...
Mod
Yes, because she knows she doesn't have to watch her tongue so closely when she's with a male friend - it's only other women who are likely to be shocked
It wasn't my favourite, but I did laugh a lot.Gil is my favourite character for sure. I also found Ferdy and George hilarious. They made the story for me because I didn't like Sherry or Hero. And even though I didn't like Sherry, I still felt sorry for him because I found Hero so annoying. She acted more like a tiresome little sister than wife. I also did feel sorry for her because Sherry wasn't nice, either!
But I'm glad it got sorted out in the end and thought it was cute when Hero asks for a baby haha.
Random thing, I thought it was interesting that Sherry's last name is Verelst. I have a friend who has the same last name; I think it's maybe Belgian. And there were some funny comments about Verelsts being stiff-necked and stubborn which I kept sending to her :P
Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "With Sherry - his mother was selfish. Did anyone get a sense of what the father was like?"He was obviously constantly unfaithful to his wife (Sherry mentions that his mother never broke her heart over 'any of father's fancies') and I suspect not very considerate of his wife in any respect; but Sherry does have some pleasant memories of his father (going out occasionally shooting with him etc) so perhaps he wasn't a total loss. Probably a typical nobleman of his age; maybe if he, like Sherry, had been forced to properly examine his feelings he might have realised he loved his wife and family and behaved better. Or maybe not.
The very first time I read Friday's Child I thought the book would be more about Sherry trying to persuade some random woman of his acquaintance to marry him - based this idea on his statement at the beginning that he would marry the first woman he saw! As it turned out he didn't need to persuade her at all...I am fond of this story; I like the characters and I like the way they develop.
sabagrey wrote: "I've started to re-read this one, and usually I get into the story of GHs books easily even on re-read - it does not seem to work with this one. I do remember it, and that seems to be enough. Bes..."
Good point, but she is supposed to have not gone out in Society at all. Can't say any more cos I don't know how to hide a potential spoiler!
I love Friday's Child. It's silliness is part and parcel of its charm!
GreyGirl wrote: "Can't say any more cos I don't know how to hide a potential spoiler!"You don't have to hide spoilers in this thread GG, as long as they are for Friday's Child. If the spoilers are for another GH book you do need to use spoiler tags.
For directions on how to make spoiler tags yourself you can click on (some html is ok) at the top of your comment box.
Otherwise see this post https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Kit wrote: "I love Friday's Child. It's silliness is part and parcel of its charm!"Exactly.
& like another one of GH's lighthearted romances (Faro's Daughter) this novel was written during WW2 when people would have been wanting lighthearted escapism!
Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "Kit wrote: "I love Friday's Child. It's silliness is part and parcel of its charm!"Exactly.
& like another one of GH's lighthearted romances (Faro's Daughter) this novel was written during WW2 wh..."
Her farces are some of my favourites of hers.
Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "& like another one of GH's lighthearted romances (Faro's Daughter) this novel was written during WW2 when people would have been wanting lighthearted escapism! ."Faro's Daughter is certainly farcical, but I have found it much less light-hearted than most of GH's other romances (view spoiler)
Mod
is Verelst..."
I suspect it's Dutch - there is a scattering of Dutch surnames in the British aristocracy (eg Keppel) due to William III's Dutch friends having been given British titles.
Which doesn't mean, of course, that it's not also a surname in what is now Belgium.
Jenny wrote: "Julia wrote: "I thought it was interesting that Sherry's last name is Verelst..."
I suspect it's Dutch - there is a scattering of Dutch surnames in the British aristocracy (eg Keppel)."
Dutch ancestry would also go along with Sherry's being a blond.
Learn something new all the time in this group!
Jenny wrote: "Julia wrote: "I thought it was interesting that Sherry's last name is Verelst..."
I suspect it's Dutch - there is a scattering of Dutch surnames in the British aristocracy (eg Keppel) due to Wil..."
Okay, that makes sense to me as my friend's family is Dutch (but from near the border with Belgium). When I looked up the last name the quick results told me Belgian. I wasn't sure why a Dutch last name would be used but now I understand because of William III! Thanks!
Georgette Heyer Fans
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The Talisman Ring (other topics)The Talisman Ring (other topics)
I know this book isn't a favourite for many of you but I still love it!
Sherry's friends are people you would just love to hang out with - & it contains some of Gh's funniest lines.
For example;