There is but one cure for the (thank god I got this at the dollar store" Thoroughly Modern Woman wearing an Empire-style gown) Regency Romance. And that is, simply, Jane herself.

Obviously, there are hundreds of published authors who deserve to be beaten stoutly about the head and shoulders with an omnibus edition.

There is but one cure for the (thank god I got this at the dollar store" Thoroughly Modern Woman wearing an Empire-style gown) Regency Romance. And that is, simply, Jane herself.

Unless you are a freak like me, and find Jane herself a fabulous cure for insomnia.

Do you read Susan Wiggs? She's not Regency (American Victorian when she's not doing stuff set in modern times), but I think she's managed to strike that balance fairly well (because American Victorian has its own theme park), and is one of the few writers of the last decade (as opposed to those who were writing Back in the Day) to do so.

I've read one or two of her books, but it's been awhile. I should try her again, especially given how much time I spend wondering if the similarity in our names is a good or a bad thing, since I'd be shelved right beside her if I use my real name.

No need to say it twice. Silly laptop.

Firefly thread name voting in Bureaucracy is minimal. So sad.

Unless you are a freak like me, and find Jane herself a fabulous cure for insomnia.

Sits in the freak corner with Plei. I like Emma but I can't read Austen anymore other than that. Much yawning ensues.

the one where I think she's on a swing, wearing a Union Jack shirt, are my mental pics of juliana.

That one (I feel) is a very good picture because (I think) it precisely captures my best attitude. So, thank you.

he didn't believe that something that looked kinda bleah on the rack would look really good with some curves underneath it

It's a skill, being able to picture clothing on someone who isn't there. I'm notsogood at picking out proper clothing from hangers myself. I need to try them on. So yay you on the dress!!

I dimly recall (it's been ~20 years or so) reading a historical novel set in 1067, with a Norman knight and a Saxon lady. She was named Rosemonde, or something equally French-sounding. I would have been happier if she'd been named Bertha or Dagmar. Heck, even Isabelle has its Germanic variants.

Calli, did it have roses on the cover? I think I'm thinking of the same book....

I love Austen. But my book group is pretty much evenly divided on her stuff, and it's all either true love or wrenching eye-rolls with the members. Not much middle ground.

I liked them in high school, mos def, but now I think I'd be like "Where's the urban pain and carnage?" I'm just really fickle, though. Jane, it's not you, it's me. And that evil seducer, Dennis Lehane.(I've changed a lot since high school.)

Austen would actually slightly nose out Shakespeare and CS Lewis if I could take the complete works of just one author to a desert island. My Regency heresy is that I'm fairly "meh" about Heyer. I enjoy her books as an occasional snack, but don't have any urge to read them over and over again.