I'm going to let you all in on a dirty little secret: Librarians love reprints. Honestly, we're a slave for them. I know many readers get annoyed with reprints, especially when there is trickery involved like changing titles or "updating" the book by including rewritten/added chapters. Yeah, I do understand that frustration. But librarians? We love them. Why? Because even though we'd like them to, books don't last forever. Bindings go, pages become brittle/yellow, dust bunnies happen, and years of grubby hands handling them means we occasional have to ::gasp:: throw books away. Even when they're by insanely popular authors. We do our best, but hey - we're librarians, not miracle workers.My latest case of Reprint Euphoria is thanks to the lovely folks at Sourcebooks. They're reprinting a mess of Georgette Heyer! Titles I haven't seen in existence in years. And let me tell you, I'm positively giddy. In many cases the Heyer collection in my library system is from the 1960s, and many of those books have circulated hundreds (if not thousands, our computer software doesn't go that far back) of times. I shudder to think what they look like sitting on the shelf, and I'm sure they haven't been discarded by our branch staff because, hello?! It's Georgette Heyer!
I was already buying several copies of these trade paperback reprint editions for work when I got an e-mail from Sourcebooks. What does this mean for you? That's right, another contest! The lovely folks at Sourcebooks have agreed to send five winners, one randomly selected title, from their current batch of Heyer reprints. Think of this as a chance to get reacquainted with a classic author, the mother of the Regency romance genre, and the fun surprise of winning a random book. What could you win? Will it be Black Sheep? Lady of Quality? Friday's Child? The suspense! The anticipation! The fun to be had!So how do you win? Comment on this post and either 1) Tell me your favorite Heyer title and why you think I should read it or 2) Tell me why you want to win one of these free books. 1) I've never read Heyer (I know, I know!) and figure a librarian should try at least one and 2) Any reason at all! Funny, serious, because you have a sense of entitlement - anything goes!
Winners will be drawn at random on Sunday, April 20. Books will be getting shipped directly from Sourcebooks and they have graciously agreed to ship internationally! So c'mon all you wacky foreigners, join in on the fun.
And just because I'm a librarian and I have to - here's the scoop on Soucebooks reprints for your browsing pleasure:
Current Heyer reprints available:
An Infamous Army
Cotillion
False Colours
Friday's Child
The Spanish Bride
Coming soon:
Lady of Quality
Black Sheep
Royal Escape
Faro's Daughter
Regency Buck
Conqueror
Charity Girl
Simon the Coldheart
Reluctant Widow
22 comments:
I have never read Georgette Heyer, I think it would be fun. Please enter me in the contest
Just like lysrian, I have never read Georgette Heyer but I've really wanted to pick some up, mostly because EVERYONE seems to be in love with her, if that's not a good enough reason for both of us to try one of her books, I don't know what is!
I have never read Heyer either. I am just as bad as you not reading Lightning That Lingers! LOL
Unlike lysrian and andrea, I HAVE read all of Heyer's Georgian and Regency books, as well as the mysteries and most of the other historicals. My first was "False Colours," about twin brothers; I was in 8th or 9th grade in the mid-1960s. After devouring that one, I glommed her works--from school and public LIBRARIES.
My all-time favorite is "The Unknown Ajax." Hugo Darracott, a retired army major, is the son of a mill owner's (former weaver) daughter and a younger son (also an officer) of a "Lord," who disowned his son for marrying beneath him. Through a series of unfortunate deaths, Hugo is now next in line to inherit his paternal grandfather's title and estates. Petty tyrant that he is, Lord Darracott summons Hugo to the family seat to whip the "weaver's brat" into shape and marry him off to his cousin Althea. Through episodes that are hysterically funny to those that are simply hysterical, Hugo establishes himself creditably with his newly met relatives and works out his own Happily Ever After. I checked this book out of the library over and over to reread it and experience its gloriousness again and again.
Kay
Yet another non-Heyer reader. Of the books out there, I liked the description of Cotillion the best if that helps! Ha.
Oooh, pick me, pick me! I luuurve Heyer. I've been working my way through her (huge) list of books for the last couple of years. My favorites so far are Venetia, Devil's Cub, and The Nonesuch. Wendy, I think you should read Venetia -- smart, sensible heroine, hero who's just a bit of a cad, friends to lovers. YAY! It's great.
But to the people at Sourcebooks (are you listening?), why aren't you reprinting Devil's Cub???!! It's been out of print for ages. :( Get those rights now and put a pretty cover on it. I'd be snapping one up.
O, Divine SuperLibrarian, I spent my sophomore year in high school giddy with delight and awe and love for Georgette Heyer! My favorite is AN INFAMOUS ARMY because it's about the Battle of Waterloo...my sentimental favorite is THESE OLD SHADES because way back then I loved the alpha older man-younger woman theme...I'd love to win a freebie new Heyer because
I think Heyer in trade-size is soooo cool! Do I need to grovel, O Divine One?! Just kidding! I really adore the new covers!
Glad to hear you're feeling better!
Debora
I'm another librarian who is thrilled by these reprints. I've been buying all of them as they come out, and I'm finally able to weed the extremely bedraggled copies that we currently own. I've read quite a few Heyer titles, and I agree with an earlier poster about The Unknown Ajax. Hugo is a wonderfully different and eccentric hero.
I love Heyer! My Mom's Aunt used to have a complete collection in India when I was little. After she dies, my Mom's Uncle wouldn't give even one away, since they were things she loved to much. I desperately longed to get my hands on them.
I love These Old Shades and Devil's Cub and Frederica. And I have a very soft spot for The Grand Sophy as well. Who doesn't love a good meddler?
You don't have to enter me in the contest. I've got copies and they should go to someone who hasn't had the pleasure of a Heyer.
ONE! I have to pick just one Heyer I love! That would be like choosing between my children. In my mind Heyer created regency romance...at least she was our first taste of romantic books set in that period. Now which should I choose. I liked the banter about novels in Sprig Muslin but Devil's Cub was sexy in a restrained way. Sigh. So many choices. If you haven't read Heyer you're missing the original source of a lot of Regency Romance "business". I also loved A Civil Contract where the heiress "in trade" is married for her money but....
Since I won your first ever contest, please don't enter me on this one--but this is cool news indeed! I haven't read many Heyers, but I enjoyed The Grand Sophie very much, and The Toll Gate made me smile the entire time.
(Hope you are feeling much better)
I've never read Georgette Heyer but I really want to! And I'm currently not supposed to be buying books.
Two good reasons! LOL I like reprints too, because I usually like the new covers.
Ooh fabulous! I've never read Georgette Heyer either, but with all the buzz they sound like they could be good! Sign me up please :)
I've never read Heyer, but have heard many good things about her books. I'd love to win a copy and see what the hoopla is all about.
Denise P.
Wendy...
I went to the Tiger's game on Monday and it looks like they just needed me there to cheer them on. They are definitely looking more like the Tigers we know and love!
Kristie: You were the lucky charm! The Tigers are starting to look respectable!
Thanks for all the Heyer suggestions so far everybody. They sound fantastic!
My favourite Heyer book is Arabella. I know, I know, the heroine is 16, but to my defense, when I first read this book I didn't "know" I was reading such a dreadful thing as a romance novel. I discovered the genre about five years later and fell hard, and to this day Arabella is one of the few Heyers that I truly enjoy, talk about guilty pleasure. Ermm, if I win I'll take what I get, as I always wanted to try out more of her :)
I've read two of Heyer's books, and I have a couple more in my TBR pile that I picked up at the used book store.
The Grand Sophy and The Reluctant Widow are great. The characters are amazing. Both heroines end up being really strong women, though in such different ways. Also, Heyer's use of language is amazingly smooth enough to allow me to read words and concepts (of society and custom of the time) that are completely unfamiliar to me, but I can just get exactly what she means anyway. Such a talented writer!
I have never read Georgette Heyer, but I'm always up for some new reading material :)
I remember being lent some Heyer by a classmate in 7th grade. I took them home and intended to read them. But my mom found them and didn't want me reading evol romance. yeah, i know. hah!
the sad thing is, i never did read heyer although i sure do read a lot of romance these days, so I guess my mom lost that one.
I've been reading romance for quite some time and for some reason, I've never read a book by Georette Heyer. I'd love to win so I can take her story with me on vacation and escape away.
I would love to win a Heyer book, she is on my wish list, but have not found a book yet. I have read many great reviews and looking forward to reading her work.
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