Cotillion by Georgette Heyer

Title: Cotillion

Author: Georgette Heyer

Genre: Regency Fiction

Pages: 482

Rating:  3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Jane Austen; Mount TBR; Dusty Bookshelf

How I Got It: I own it

A sham betrothal isn't the only thing that gets Kitty and Freddy into trouble, but it's definitely the beginning ..

A most unusual hero Freddy is immensely rich, of course, and not bad-looking, but he's mild-mannered, a bit hapless-not anything like his virile, handsome, rakish cousin Jack ...

A heroine in a difficult situation Young Kitty Charing stands to inherit a vast fortune from her irascible and eccentric guardian-provided she marries one of his great-nephews ...

A sham betrothal No sooner does Kitty arrive in London then the race for her hand begins, but between confirmed rakes and bumbling affections, Kitty needs a daring scheme ...

I've read that Georgette Heyer is the successor to Jane Austen herself.  So I thought i would give her another chance (previously read The Black Moth), but I am a bit disappointed.  That isn't to say that Heyer is a bad writer.  I think overall the books is well written and interesting.  It's just not Jane Austen to me.  Heyer doesn't have the wit or the social awareness of Austen.  I predicted the plot line, but that's not the main problem.  I could predict Austen's plot lines before I got 30 pages into her novels.  The issue is that unlike Austen, Heyer's characters are caricatures to me.  I just can't seem to get behind any of them.  They seem so one dimensional.  I want to be surprised or at least enchanted with the main characters.  Yet, I felt none of that here.  Overall, many people may love this book, it just wasn't for me.

The Black Moth by Georgette Heyer

Title: The Black Moth

Author: Georgette Heyer

Publisher: Harlequin 1929

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 410

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Georgette Heyer; Support Your Local Library; 2011 - Way Back When

It tells the story of Jack Carstares, oldest son of the Earl Wyncham, disgraced six years earlier, who returns home and becomes a highwayman so that he is able to live in the land he loves without detection.

One day while out riding he foils an abduction plot mastered by the infamous Duke of Andover. Injured while rescuing the damsel in distress, he is taken home by the thankful Diana Beauleigh and her Aunt Betty, to recover. Mystery and intrigue continue to the melodrama's end...

My love for Jane Austen convinced me that I needed to read Georgette Heyer.  Heyer began writing in the 1920s and continued up until the 1950s.  Her works focused mostly on the Regency period with historical romances and mysteries.  Some of her books are set in adjacent times, but mostly it's the beginning of the 1800s.  So I picked up one of her first books (maybe her first book?  the dates get a little confusing)and dived in.  Side note: According to the introduction, this story as one made up for her brother, who was ill at the time.

The Good

I really liked this book.  It had the right amount of action/adventure and romance to suit my tastes.  I like a combination in my books.  The main male character, Jack, was likable, even when he was robbing the rich or putting on the Sir Anthony Ferndale persona.  The villain, Duke of Andover, was full of venom.  The right amount to hate him want to see him lose the girl.  The various side characters were interesting: Jim, Miles, Molly (my favorite!).  They added a depth to the book.

The Bad

At times, Diana felt a little flat.  She wasn't as much of a character as I hoped she would be.  Maybe that's the Jane Austen in me talking.  I'm so used to her complex female characters that I think I'm a bit spoiled.

The Ugly

This is more of a historical commentary than specific to the book, but it did affect my experience.  I have never been able to find men dressed in the late 1700s French style of powdered wigs, makeup, satin clothing, and high heels attractive.  They look very close to clowns for me (and I have a huge phobia of clowns).  Every time Jack was described in this style, I pictured the clockwork robots from Doctor Who.  Definitely not attractive in my book.  According to the various Heyer websites, her late books are set squarely in the Regency period, so hopefully no more clown men.

2011 Georgette Heyer Reading Challenge

I cannot believe that I haven't read Georgette Heyer before now.  An early to mid twentieth century author writing historical fiction primarily set in the Regency era is right up my alley.  A Heyer reading challenge seemed perfect for what I already wanted to read this year. Thus the Georgette Heyer Reading Challenge 2011:

I've decided to host some of my own reading challenges for the 2011 year and the first challenge I've decided to host is a Georgette Heyer Reading Challenge. This is going to be a laid back challenge with not very many rules because it's just for fun. A while ago I set a goal for myself and that was to try and read all Georgette Heyer's Historical Fiction novels in two years. So I thought this challenge would motivate and help me complete my personal goal. So if you want to join in with me please feel free to do so! This challenge is open to EVERYONE you don't have to have a blog to participate. Have fun!

Rules:

• The book must be by Georgette Heyer obviously and it must be HF. It can't be one of her mystery novels.
• You must read at least 3 books and they can't be one's that you've already read because that sort of defeats the purpose.
• This is a year long challenge so you have until January 1st of 2012 to finish your personal goal.
• It's not mandatory to post a review but it would be nice so other people can read them but Non-bloggers please include your information in the comments below.
• When you sign up under Mr. Linky, put the direct link to the post about the the Georgette Heyer Challenge. Include the URL so that other participants can find join in and read your reviews and post.

Since I never read any Heyer before, I decided to start my challenge at the beginning of her bibliography.  I've also decided to challenge myself to reading 5 of her books this year.  My choices are (with any cross listings with other reading challenges):

1. The Black Moth (TwentyEleven: Show It Who Is Boss)
2. These Old Shades (TwentyEleven: Way Back When)
3. The Transformation of Philip Jettan aka Powder and Patch
4. The Great Roxhythe
5. Instead of the Thorn

I picked her first five books.  I will have to look them later and make sure they are part of her historical fiction.  If one is a mystery, I will replace it in the future so all are historical fiction.  After reading, I will post reviews of each book.  Anyone else want to join the challenge?