Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Genteel Your Cup of Tea?

Is genteel your cup of tea? Then you'd probably enjoy novels by Georgette Heyer. Heyer wrote over fifty novels, including Regency romances, mysteries and historical fiction. She was known as the Queen of Regency romance, and was legendary for her research, historical accuracy and her extraordinary plots and characterizations. She also had a wry and well-developed sense of humor. Her books are being reissued.


Spending so much time at M. D. Anderson, we are getting a lot of reading done. The Talisman Ring was the first Heyer that I read. "When spirited Eustacie stumbles into a band of smugglers, she is delighted to be having an adventure at last. Their leader, young heir Ludovic Lavenham, is in hiding falsely accused of murder. Pursued by the law, Eustacie and Ludovic find refuge at an unassuming country inn. And the delightfully sensible couple who try to keep them out of trouble -- the resourceful Miss Sarah Thane and the clear-thinking Sir Tristram Shield, gamely endeavor to prevent Ludovic's arrest and Eustacie's ruin as the four conspire to recover the missing talisman ring that will clear Ludovic's name."

Totally entertaining in a very *old-fashioned* way -- "a story in the manner of Jane Austen, of domestic comedy and love affairs."



Why Shoot a Butler is one of Heyer's detective novels. Her barrister husband, Ronald Rougier, provided many of the plots for her detective novels, which are classic English country-house mysteries reminiscent of Agatha Christie. "On a dark night, along a lonely country road, barrister Frank Amberley stops to help a young lady in distress and discovers a sports car with a corpse behind the wheel. The girl protests her innocence, and Amberley believes her - at least until he gets drawn into the mystery and the clues incriminating Shirley Brown begin to add up."

"In an English country-house murder mystery with a twist, it's the butler who's the victim, every clue complicates the puzzle, and the bumbling police are well-meaning but completely baffled. Fortunately in ferreting out a desperate killer, amateur sleuth Amberley is as brilliant as he is arrogant, but this time he's not sure he wants to know the truth."

I read 108 pages of Why Shoot a Butler and wondered why I was continuing to read. And then, suddenly, on page 109 -- the book took off and was a race to the end. I guess it just took 108 pages to get all the characters and background in place!

***

I have a couple of Blog Shout Outs for you. First, visit with Calamity Kim. She is celebrating the Twelve Days of Christmas with a crafty pattern a day. Fun! I also found, thanks to Calamity Kim, Freebies for Crafters -- a blog full of free craft patterns and blog links. That should keep you crafters busy for awhile!

***

A big THANK YOU to all of you who are sending good thoughts, prayers, vibes, juju et al, to Mr. Dragon. We spend every day at M. D. Anderson, some days much longer than others, and I'm happy to report that he is handling his chemo and radiation very well. Thank you for your emails, telephone calls. Know we appreciate all of you. I don't have much computer time (or crafty time) right now, but try to at least check in with all of you and read what you are up to. I may not comment, but I've been by to visit. Keep blogging. I love visiting! It is fun therapy for me!


9 comments:

Sherry said...

First of all, I'm so pleased to hear how well Mr. Dragon is coping with and handing his chemo and radiation!! I know how long those treatment days are...I was in the chair, reading and dozing...but I know how very long they were for those who came to spend the time with me. And I know that you wouldn't be anywhere else than by his side.

Interesting that you are talking about this today Snap...I've been thinking about books like this and authors like Georgette Heyer and Jane Austen since Sunday night. I'm trying to think if I've ever read any of Heyer's work and I don't believe that I have. Adding to the list!! :)

Janet said...

Thanks for even more books to add to my ever-growing list!

I'm so glad to hear that everything is going along for Mr. Dragon. I keep you both in my thoughts and send you lots of positive energy.

I'm off now to check out those links.

Barb said...

Catching up with you, Snap, and sending you many good wishes for Mr Dragon.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

I think about you often, Snap-- you and Mr. Snap... You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Glad you are getting lots of good reading done...

Keep us posted.
Hugs and Prayers,
Betsy

Janie said...

I'm glad Mr. Dragon is doing well with his treatments. Thank goodness you have good novels to read during those long, trying hospital days. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on Georgette Heyer. I've read some of her books, but not for a long time.

Rosa said...

I was SO happy to read the last paragraph. I know this is such a difficult time for you all. You are an amazing woman. Big hugs.

Kim Mailhot said...

Glad to have news of Dr. Dragon and know that he is handling things okay. I will keep up my good mojo prayers always...
Big loving hugs to you, wonderful and generous Snap !

LissaL said...

Tell Mr. Dragon I am sending him healing hugs & maybe a smooch or 2:)

Thanks for sharing these books-I think my mom & sil will definitely enjoy:)

Pat - Arkansas said...

My thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Dragon, and with you, Snap.

Hugs, RIF