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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
Loved it!!! Its almost two in the morning - I started reading it at 10pm last night. I really need to sleep so I can go study for Constitution, Tort, and Property - but somehow that prospect pales when the I think that there are other glorious books by this author. I think I tried to read it once before, the incessant use of "duke" instead of "your grace" as an honorific turned me off. It still did annoy me, but the quirkiness of the characters let me overcome this prejudice. I particularly liked Edmund and all his funny outbursts that were inspired by the stable, and/or the kitchen. Ridicklus gudgeon. And the grinding of bones to make bread - I honestly cried. One thing I did not like - I felt there needed to be more positive interactions between Sylvester and Phoebe - their relationship was just a bit too antagonistic. Overall it was good - especially considering this is only like the second review I have written on Goodreads, despite having been using it for over 5 years!! I will definitely read - or more likely listen it to it the next time - Richard Armitage as narrator is my idea of aural heaven.
3.5 stars, quite funny and in the true Heyer style.
A classic Heyer, telling the story of Sylvester (duke in search of a wife bc reasons) and Phoebe (just got a book manuscript sold, ready to set up house on her own income, unfortunately lacking in decorum).
The plot twist is this: Sylvester's mother recommends he consider Phoebe for a future wife (as she's the daughter of a family friend). Unfortunately, the aforementioned book published by Phoebe has a villain characterized after Sylvester (the fault of his rather evil looking eyebrows). And it's not a subtle parallel either.
Hijinks ensue.
I was not disappointed.
The plot twist is this: Sylvester's mother recommends he consider Phoebe for a future wife (as she's the daughter of a family friend). Unfortunately, the aforementioned book published by Phoebe has a villain characterized after Sylvester (the fault of his rather evil looking eyebrows). And it's not a subtle parallel either.
Hijinks ensue.
I was not disappointed.
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Duke's eyebrows are a main driving plot point in this book.
I enjoyed this nearly so much as I enjoyed Pride and Prejudice - but, of course, no author can quite match Austen's wit and style. But if you're looking for something along those lines, this is an excellent choice! The characters were engaging, and the plotline excellently adventurous. It starts out a bit slow, but if you give it about 50 pages the plot really gets moving. The writing was very well done; stylistically Regent without being overdone. Definitely better than all the "romances" that are coming out right now and than the Darcy/Lizzy knock-offs that are glorified fan-fiction. I look forward to reading Heyer again!
The cover of this book is so very pink, so aggressively pink – pinker than bubblegum, pinker than a room full of cotton candy – so pink I didn't want to read it in public. And what in the name of heaven does that woman have on her head?
Do I have the wrong idea about 50's morality? I wasn't there, I only have hearsay to go by, but I thought the 50's – in the US, at least – were a period of extreme uprightness. Uptightness. On the surface, at any rate. Yet here is Sylvester, the dashing hero of his eponymous book published in and wildly popular in the 50's, known to everyone including his mother as a "dangerous flirt", possessed of at least two well-kept mistresses. And this is the hero all the girls are supposed to fall in love with as they read Heyer's novel? (I hit the exact same speedbump in the only other Heyer I've read. Do they all have mistresses?)
I feel I have either been reading the wrong Georgette Heyers, or I am missing the specific gland or neuron type that creates enjoyment of her books. Because I've read … three? and I just haven't enjoyed them. At all. Maybe it's me. Anyway, I disliked all of the characters, disliked how they were treated by the author and by each other, disliked the story and … yes, everything. I keep feeling like I need to keep trying Heyers, but it isn't going terribly well so far.
Do I have the wrong idea about 50's morality? I wasn't there, I only have hearsay to go by, but I thought the 50's – in the US, at least – were a period of extreme uprightness. Uptightness. On the surface, at any rate. Yet here is Sylvester, the dashing hero of his eponymous book published in and wildly popular in the 50's, known to everyone including his mother as a "dangerous flirt", possessed of at least two well-kept mistresses. And this is the hero all the girls are supposed to fall in love with as they read Heyer's novel? (I hit the exact same speedbump in the only other Heyer I've read. Do they all have mistresses?)
I feel I have either been reading the wrong Georgette Heyers, or I am missing the specific gland or neuron type that creates enjoyment of her books. Because I've read … three? and I just haven't enjoyed them. At all. Maybe it's me. Anyway, I disliked all of the characters, disliked how they were treated by the author and by each other, disliked the story and … yes, everything. I keep feeling like I need to keep trying Heyers, but it isn't going terribly well so far.
Sylvester, the Duke of Salford, is endowed with rank, wealth and elegance; he’s good looking enough to be described as handsome, although he has rather distinctive black eyebrows which make him look like a “satyr” when he frowns.
Having lost his twin brother a few years previously, Sylvester needs to get married and start his own family whilst his nephew and heir Edmund is still relatively young, so that he doesn’t feel cut out. Sylvester has no illusions about his own worth, and after listing the desirable qualities he requires from a wife, comments to his mother that he will pick whomever she prefers from 5 or 6 of the most favoured debutantes, who he considers to have met the said criteria( a degree of beauty, accomplished, good dowries, agreeable manners etc. ). The Dowager Duchess is shocked and horrified that her son may be becoming arrogant, and tells him to only propose to a woman he loves. She tells him about an arranged married that was tentatively discussed when he was a child, and her late best friend gave birth to a daughter. Sylvester is amused by the idea and unbeknownst to his mother( who is arthritic and a bit of a recluse) asks his godmother to set up a meeting with the girl he was almost betrothed to, and just happens to be her granddaughter.
Phoebe is rather plain, has no accomplishments, lives for her horses and spends a lot of time running her fathers stables. She has no plans to get married, especially considering her rather unsuccessful London season the previous year, but instead wants to be an author and set up house with her old governess. Rather unfortunately Phoebe took quite a dislike to Sylvester and modelled the villain in her soon to be published book on his appearance.
Sylvester, invited to spend a week at Austell by Phoebe’s father doesn’t realise that rather than welcoming his advances, they will lead the object of his attention to flee from her home and his proposals.
This is my second favourite novel in the series; Phoebe is blunt, graceless and falls from one scrape into another. The secondary characters on this book are very amusing, particularly 6 year old Edmund.
Having lost his twin brother a few years previously, Sylvester needs to get married and start his own family whilst his nephew and heir Edmund is still relatively young, so that he doesn’t feel cut out. Sylvester has no illusions about his own worth, and after listing the desirable qualities he requires from a wife, comments to his mother that he will pick whomever she prefers from 5 or 6 of the most favoured debutantes, who he considers to have met the said criteria( a degree of beauty, accomplished, good dowries, agreeable manners etc. ). The Dowager Duchess is shocked and horrified that her son may be becoming arrogant, and tells him to only propose to a woman he loves. She tells him about an arranged married that was tentatively discussed when he was a child, and her late best friend gave birth to a daughter. Sylvester is amused by the idea and unbeknownst to his mother( who is arthritic and a bit of a recluse) asks his godmother to set up a meeting with the girl he was almost betrothed to, and just happens to be her granddaughter.
Phoebe is rather plain, has no accomplishments, lives for her horses and spends a lot of time running her fathers stables. She has no plans to get married, especially considering her rather unsuccessful London season the previous year, but instead wants to be an author and set up house with her old governess. Rather unfortunately Phoebe took quite a dislike to Sylvester and modelled the villain in her soon to be published book on his appearance.
Sylvester, invited to spend a week at Austell by Phoebe’s father doesn’t realise that rather than welcoming his advances, they will lead the object of his attention to flee from her home and his proposals.
This is my second favourite novel in the series; Phoebe is blunt, graceless and falls from one scrape into another. The secondary characters on this book are very amusing, particularly 6 year old Edmund.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes