Smart Bitches, Trashy Books

I’ll see how far I can get in Faro’s Daughter by then!

Oh geesh, I only just started reading Cotillion which is my first Heyer. Yeah, I know, I suck. I still want to be there though, I want to hear people’s recommendations.

I’m partial to orgeat.  Can I drink that instead?

These days you can use commercial almond milk with a touch of orange flower and bitter almond flavor added.  Very refreshing.

And remember that ratifia is very sweet, bitter almond brandy and not at all suitable for teens.

“A Civil Contract”  “Frederica”  “Slyvester”  I am happy just remembering them. ( And I never understood why you used “An Infamous Army” as the definitive historical Heyer.  It has a crappy romance shoved into an overly detailed battle descrpition.  “A Civil Contract” is a much, much better book.)

As a complete Heyer freak, I think I ought to try to stay up till the small hours of the morning for this discussion.  8.30 pm EDT is 1.30 am here…  ;-)

Wish I could be in on this but I’ll be chauffering my son back to college at the time. Too bad, as I’m a Heyer addict from way back.

Per Gwynnyd and SBSarah, one of the interesting things about A Civil Contract is that you do see Heyer adjust her classism a bit in that book, showing a lot of sympathy for the Cit bride (although her father is a rather cartoonish stereotype) and what she puts up with from the Haut Ton into which she is thrust.

My personal favorite is The Talisman Ring.

I also have a number of her mysteries; Penhallow is perhaps one of the oddest mysteries I’ve ever read and almost doesn’t even qualify as one, since the readers know who the murderer is from the beginning, and watch while the police totally bungle the case.

Thanks for the orgeat recipe, Gwynnyd!  I wonder if I can get some macaroons to go with that?

...I really don’t get why people like Heyer. I tried one (over-priced) book about four years ago. Still haven’t finished it.
Have a happy chat, people! :)

I am with Colleen and scratch my head re: the allure of Heyer.  Unfortunately, i read the Grand Sophy years ago as my intro to Heyer and couldn’t finish it b/c of her blatant anti-semitism.  i couldn’t read any of her other novels for fear i would turn rabid with anger.  Sure i get that she was writing in her time/class, etc (which clearly was anti-semitic) but wouldn’t her clumsy descriptions , obvious prejudice and stereotypes of a race make her writing dated and less influential?  Why is she so praised and talked about?  Am I missing something?  Anyhoo, if there are any novels of Heyer that can redeem her, please list them and I will give them a good college try.  thanks.

“A Civil Contract”  “Frederica”  “Slyvester”  I am happy just remembering them. ( And I never understood why you used “An Infamous Army” as the definitive historical Heyer.  It has a crappy romance shoved into an overly detailed battle descrpition.  “A Civil Contract” is a much, much better book.)

@Gwynnyd,
Those three are my favorites, too, and I completely agree with your assessment of An Infamous Army vs. A Civil Contract. I detested the heroine of Army, and I loved… pretty much everything about Contract. I’m looking forward to the chat, so I hope my schedule doesn’t conflict with it.

I’ve never read a Heyer.  Didn’t know where to start.  I’m not certain I’ll make the chat.  Will access to it be available afterwards?

I’ve never read a Heyer.  Didn’t know where to start.  I’m not certain I’ll make the chat.  Will access to it be available afterwards?

I haven’t entered a chat here before but with Heyer as the topic, I really want to visit.  If I just show up here at the given time, will it be obvious how it works or is there something I should do to prepare ahead of time?  (Hoping I don’t look too dumb for asking)

@Terrie: when you show up you’ll see a live window. You sign in and start typing : )

Thanks, karenmc!  I look forward to this.