tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931981138747432610.post2039578515841065240..comments2024-03-25T09:03:39.020-07:00Comments on The Uncrushable Jersey Dress: The Hasty Marriage - RepriseBetty Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446092401692468002noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931981138747432610.post-26263881814682426642014-09-25T12:17:49.024-07:002014-09-25T12:17:49.024-07:00Another case of SPAM ON THE BLOG!
from
Holbrook Ho...Another case of SPAM ON THE BLOG!<br />from<br />Holbrook House<br />Wincanton, Somerset<br />England, BA9 8BS<br /><br />Holbrook House is 2 hours from Central London,<br />1 hour from Bristol and 1 hour from Bournemouth.<br /><br />This is funny! Because they chose the wrong novel! Betty mentioned Holbrook House in <a href="http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=NRhOmr9dIBEC&pg=PT51&dq=%22holbrook+house%22+inauthor:neels+inauthor:betty&hl=de&sa=X&ei=O2YkVI79Eav_ygPUvICIAw&ved=0CDAQuwUwAA#v=onepage&q=%22holbrook%20house%22%20inauthor%3Aneels%20inauthor%3Abetty&f=false" rel="nofollow"><b>When May Follows</b></a><br /><br /><i>But before she could think about it he said in an ordinary voice: 'I wondered if we might dine out this evening—all of us; Ruth's fiancé and J ane's current boy-friend and your mother, naturally.' <br />'That would be fun. Where?'<br />'Sir Benjamin told me of a good place at Wincanton—<b>Holbrook House</b>.' 'Oh, lovely! We've been there once or twice—birthdays and that sort of thing.'</i>Betty Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15517346001348814015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931981138747432610.post-80260765291039885092014-08-28T10:03:38.714-07:002014-08-28T10:03:38.714-07:00Gosh, this was one hell of a read! Gosh, this was one hell of a read! Somerset Wedding Galhttp://www.holbrookhouse.co.uk/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931981138747432610.post-37199561117270365652013-07-27T18:20:06.104-07:002013-07-27T18:20:06.104-07:00Yes, Florina is who I was thinking of, thanks. Sh...Yes, Florina is who I was thinking of, thanks. She even has a Dutch (or at least to me, Dutch-sounding ??) name too -- another reversal.<br /><br />You know, an electric nail gun will whip that fabric back on to the chair toot sweet, and then you can test it out by settling into it and re-reading <i>The Hasty Marriage</i> or one of the other 134 tales...<br /><br />-Betty Sue<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931981138747432610.post-13513156520819676302013-07-27T13:37:03.140-07:002013-07-27T13:37:03.140-07:00Oh, Betty van den Betsy, tacking an armchair back ...Oh, Betty van den Betsy, tacking an armchair back together, that sounds like a <a href="http://books.google.de/books?id=6g_XQgVtmnkC&pg=PT61&dq=hammer+chair+tacks+cover+inauthor:neels+inauthor:betty&hl=de&sa=X&ei=kCP0UbagDY3Aswb6iYDACg&ved=0CEQQuwUwAA#v=onepage&q=hammer%20chair%20tacks%20cover%20inauthor%3Aneels%20inauthor%3Abetty&f=false" rel="nofollow">Betty Heroine Project</a>.<br /><br />How about a new <i>Betty by the Numbers</i>? "Reversed roles", where she knows first that she loves him, as opposed to the stories where he knows first that she's the one for him.Betty Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15517346001348814015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931981138747432610.post-84513893428704587962013-07-27T11:37:04.888-07:002013-07-27T11:37:04.888-07:00Betty Sue, the half-Dutch heroine is Florina of A ...Betty Sue, the half-Dutch heroine is Florina of <i>A Gentle Awakening</i> (one of my favorites). You've inspired me to toddle off and re-read <i>The Hasty Marriage</i>. Hence you are to blame for that second-hand armchair never getting tacked back together, which was supposed to be this afternoon's project. Humph.Betty van den Betsyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05462647734423787992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931981138747432610.post-82081657131446948172013-07-26T19:00:08.453-07:002013-07-26T19:00:08.453-07:00I always considered The Hasty Marriage as one of B...I always considered <i>The Hasty Marriage</i> as one of Betty's first "reversal" stories -- in this one, the roles are reversed. <b>She</b> falls in love with <b>him</b> at first sight, and <b>he's</b> the one who falls for the obviously unsuitable person.<br /><br />A lot of the situations as well as comments and behavior from Reilof sound suspiciously like many of other Neels' novels where it's the heroine who falls for the obnoxious jerk and it's the hero who falls in love at first sight. Similar stories as many BN novels are, only the characters are flipped around. I assume this was deliberate on the part of the Venerable Betty.<br /><br />There's some other stories with "reversal" aspects, although the only one I can think of now is the one where the heroine is half Dutch and can speak and write fluently in Dutch, whereas the hero (an Englishman, probably Sir Someone) may or may not even be able to cobble together a few words in Dutch. Not exactly in the same category as <i>The Hasty Marriage</i>, but the roles are reversed somewhat as compared to most BN novels.<br /><br />-Betty SueAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931981138747432610.post-82170477525960672232011-08-05T17:26:23.446-07:002011-08-05T17:26:23.446-07:00Betty Barbara here--
Yay!!!(picture Kermit waving...Betty Barbara here--<br /><br />Yay!!!(picture Kermit waving his arms). The Recent Comments are back! Grandmother Betty Hellen is back!! All is well at TUJD.<br />Thank you, Betty Debbie.Barb in Marylandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11374278685536530837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931981138747432610.post-53243024149201781532011-08-05T10:28:14.309-07:002011-08-05T10:28:14.309-07:00I just thought my lousy internet connection was re...I just thought my lousy internet connection was responsible for the absence of "Recent Comments." Plus, I'm not sure that we will behave ourselves without Grandmother Nurse Hellen keeping an eye on us.Betty JoDeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00552570070311742671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931981138747432610.post-80693246585032398492011-08-05T09:47:24.142-07:002011-08-05T09:47:24.142-07:00Betty Barbara here--
With another vote for bringin...Betty Barbara here--<br />With another vote for bringing back the "Recent Comments". How are we to know who talking about what?<br />Pretty Please with Lardy CakesBarb in Marylandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11374278685536530837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931981138747432610.post-57093115998963070272011-08-05T06:43:32.852-07:002011-08-05T06:43:32.852-07:00Betty Debbie -- I admit, I had missed that I wasn&...Betty Debbie -- I admit, I had missed that I wasn't seeing Betty Hellen regularly. Bring her back, please? She's our guiding spirit -- and I'm sure she's chatting with The Great Betty in a celestial hospital canteen somewhere!<br /><br />What I really really really miss is the Recent Comments widget, which is there but empty. Please fill it back up? I rely on it to tell me where people have been chatting about older posts.Magdalenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11551590278859598110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931981138747432610.post-54605902592716064472011-08-03T19:07:27.227-07:002011-08-03T19:07:27.227-07:00Dear Betty JoDee,
I streamlined the process a bit ...Dear Betty JoDee,<br />I streamlined the process a bit by taking out the funky security words...so far we haven't been hit by spam comments, so I think I'll leave it. <br /><br />As far as Grandma Hellen - you're the first to notice her gone(it's been at least a couple of months). <br /><br />You probably deserve a reward for your keen observational skills...but it sounds like you've got all the reward you can handle!<br /><br />Love and lardy cakes,<br />Betty Debbie<br /><br />p.s. I too am suffering from a surfiet of guests right now - 10 extra people in my modest size home. In the words of Fredric(Pirates of Penzance): <i>Individually, I love you all with affection unspeakable; but, collectively, I look upon you with a disgust that amounts to absolute detestation.</i>Debbiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11874794760534995461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931981138747432610.post-13710478867532241662011-08-03T18:38:28.924-07:002011-08-03T18:38:28.924-07:00Betty Illana, the ghost on the cover is the least ...Betty Illana, the ghost on the cover is the least of the book's problems....(You do think it is the ghost of the first wife, don't ya?--'cause <i>I</i> would certainly come back to haunt Nasty Reilof if I had had to put up with him in a marriage!)<br /><br />Plus, my second reading last night (under the sheets with a booklight--I kid you not--unexpected extended stay guests meant three children in the room with me--but not Prof. van der Hertenzoon who is desperate enough to escape the chaos by tenting in the scout woods with The Spare this week) yielded even more reasons to deem Nasty Reilof as Unworthy of Neelsdom.<br /><br />When I can shake free of laundry and dishes I'll start enumerating.<br /><br />(Hey, anyone notice that we don't have to type in weird words anymore? And, what happened to Grandmother Nurse Hellen?)Betty JoDeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00552570070311742671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931981138747432610.post-76937056405109669432011-08-03T16:07:41.484-07:002011-08-03T16:07:41.484-07:00...and I just want to know who that other woman is......and I just want to know who that other woman is on the cover... JOYCE???Ilanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03300942046140361809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931981138747432610.post-64079108608435299522011-08-02T20:39:55.069-07:002011-08-02T20:39:55.069-07:00Betty Barbara --
It's not the degree of effor...Betty Barbara --<br /><br />It's not the degree of effort that Hugo puts in that earns my respect (although he *is* absolutely exhausted when he gets to the croft -- points for determination and desperation) it's that he wins the award (if I'm the only one voting) for most devoted Neels hero ever. He has earned his happy ending (and implied conjugal relations) six ways to Sunday.<br /><br />Reilof, not so much.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931981138747432610.post-67508751740898942332011-08-02T18:30:42.838-07:002011-08-02T18:30:42.838-07:00Betty Barbara here--
Aha!! I knew this post would ...Betty Barbara here--<br />Aha!! I knew this post would bring Betty JoDee out of hiding(*g*). Glad to hear from you!!<br />I re-read this for this outing and found it, once again, full of angsty goodness. Reilof is a rat, but he's the rat that Laura wants and she goes after him and gets him. <br />However, I did notice this time around, that Reilof seemed to be stuck in a rut. He fell for his first wife because she was young, pretty and flighty. Marriage was failing when Wife#1 developed leukemia(which no one told her about!!! typical Neels)--but he indulges her last months by taking her dancing etc etc etc!!<br />So who does he fall for(multiple years later) but clone of Wife#1!!! The man learned <b>NOTHING</b> in those approx 15 years. <b>NOTHING</b>!!!<br />Now Betty Magdalen may feel cheated that Reilof did not have to drive through a raging blizzard(and hitch a ride on a snow plow) to track down Laura, but I am happy with the level of effort he had to put out to track her down.<br />This one is on my keeper shelf.Barb in Marylandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11374278685536530837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931981138747432610.post-73277940046608849262011-08-02T10:21:38.193-07:002011-08-02T10:21:38.193-07:00Betty AnHK - Unfortunately, if you're reading ...Betty AnHK - Unfortunately, if you're reading a digital copy of The Hasty Marriage, you're reading a pirated copy of The Hasty Marriage. Harlequin is doing a good job of releasing her books, but there are still only 40 or so that are available as ebooks, and The Hasty Marriage isn't among them.<br /><br />Now, everyone is entitled to his/her own opinion about downloading pirated material, but you speculate on whether "true bettys" prefer to read the books in print. I actually intend to own them all in print and in ebook, but I won't just download in violation of Betty Neels' estate's copyright.<br /><br />Betty Lulu: I love your comment "He starts out being an idiot and then falls in love with the good girl, thus becoming a hero," because it raises the fascinating question of whether the quality of a Neels hero can be learned or adopted. I don't like Reilof because he's not even being a good Neels hero when he falls, rather shallowly, for Joyce (which is "one of those names" rather the way Larry is). I have more sympathy for those Neels heroes who fall for the superficial appeal of a woman who then cheats, leaves & dies (or goes to South America - same diff.) and has years to distrust women. Reilof seems not to care about women one way or the other. I still think Laura could have done better.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931981138747432610.post-11734103734152038972011-08-02T06:52:44.150-07:002011-08-02T06:52:44.150-07:00The first time I read this book I cringed on nearl...The first time I read this book I cringed on nearley every single page on laura's behalf! <br /><br />But after...yeah about 10 years between reads I actually enjoed it. Laura gets what she wants most! something she went all guns out to get! Reilofs love. Yes he is a complete fool but he suffers for that in the end. <br /><br />Laura didnt just run away - she left her husband and that must have taken alot! <br /><br />I thought the ending was awesome (dont think scottish people can pull of saying awesome!). I now love it. But....I will have to be in a certain type of mood to read it!<br /><br />Caroline<br /><br />p.s. - not getting the brown bread hovis refrence lol!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931981138747432610.post-5497987416343977382011-08-02T01:02:07.245-07:002011-08-02T01:02:07.245-07:00Betty AnHK
Mixed feelings about this book, but tho...Betty AnHK<br />Mixed feelings about this book, but thoroughly enjoyed the second half when Laura got gumption and gave Reilof well-deserved payback. Just wish he made him pay with 4 months of searching, about the same time as his courtship of the sisterblister.<br />Betty van Betsy - yes, agree<br />Betty Cyndi - Probably have missed this discussion post, and I realise books are special and to be treasured, but obviously you can download any book of Betty as most file share programs have them up all over the net. (betty's online united) But perhaps true betty's prefer to read actual print, to honour Betty Neels and, er, the support of the book industry...<br />Alternatively if any one is really desperate I could just email them a pdf or word doc of any book, I was totally giddy to get them so easily online. Best thing ever for a e-reader, to take on a holiday.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931981138747432610.post-43071823450924540892011-08-01T21:59:43.924-07:002011-08-01T21:59:43.924-07:00Betty Mary and Betty van den Betsy, I think both y...Betty Mary and Betty van den Betsy, I think both your points of view can be congruent. He starts out being an idiot and then falls in love with the good girl, thus becoming a hero.Betty Luluhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17634519999898307583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931981138747432610.post-22984472468984338422011-08-01T21:40:39.155-07:002011-08-01T21:40:39.155-07:00I've enjoyed reading the discussion thread fro...I've enjoyed reading the discussion thread from last year. I belong in the "love it" camp, not because I adore Laura (because I don't) but mainly because this book evokes so many strong emotions and contains characters we love to hate or, at least, have little sympathy for: the (goody-two-shoes) Good, the (blonde-haired, blue-eyed) Bad, the (American) Ugly, and the (should've-gotten-his-just-deserts) Clueless. Let's talk about Laura. Yes, I agree she's annoyingly doormaty and martyrly when it comes to Joyce. But with Reilof, she's plucky and passive-aggressive. She vowed that he would eat his words (I loved that illustration of Reilof eating his words!) She rebels against his order not to drive her blue Fiat (which she wanted to pick up and fling at him when she discovered it wasn't really a gift of love). One of my favorite fight scenes in Neelsdom occurs in this book. Loosely quoting: "Talking about the pot calling the kettle black! If I had a pot, I'd throw it at you this minute!" I give it boeuf en croute.Betty Luluhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17634519999898307583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931981138747432610.post-5795424230563273912011-08-01T21:23:16.904-07:002011-08-01T21:23:16.904-07:00Welcome back Betty JoDee! We missed you too. So gl...Welcome back Betty JoDee! We missed you too. So glad you're back in time for this one. <br />I'm almost done reading it. Would have been tonight, but Streetcar named Desire was on Robert Osborne and I've never watched it. So now I have. <br /><br />Was anyone else (probably all the Americans) lost with the reference to brown bread and the dog's name, Hovis? Now that I've googled it, I get it. <br /><br />Well, Betty van den Betsy, why can't he be both. Don't you know those wonderfully nice guys that fall for the most awful harridans. I can name 3 I know personally off the top of my head. I just want to knock the guys in the head and say "What can she possibly do that makes living with this shrew worthwhile?" Unfortunately for these guys, their zombie brides never found their Larrys. But they seem to survive and almost need the protection these women provide. <br />I'm always impressed on how wise Betty was about people and relationships. She saved Reilof, but in real life, guys often marry the nasty Joyces, and stay with them.BettyMaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12676458096380002508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931981138747432610.post-67095455939261905772011-08-01T21:12:36.063-07:002011-08-01T21:12:36.063-07:00Oh goody! The controversy returns. Sadly, I STIL...Oh goody! The controversy returns. Sadly, I STILL have not read this book because I haven't got a copy and can't decide whether to lay out the big bucks for it. Depends on who I'm channeling. :-) Welcome back, Betty JoDee. I missed you, too!Cyndihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02736698086203251238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931981138747432610.post-72526750919723576532011-08-01T19:44:20.739-07:002011-08-01T19:44:20.739-07:00I understand that substantial Suspension of Disbel...I understand that substantial Suspension of Disbelief is a necessity for a happy visit in Neelsland, but I find it much easier with amazing coincidence ("Gracious, the handsome stranger with whom I rescued an old man, urchin and lame dog in a Cotswolds village last week just happens to be visiting my London hospital from his home in the Netherlands -- and he specializes in whatever I do!") than with outright stupidity ("Despite my impressive degrees and wonderful family role models of happy marriage, I think I'll propose to a nasty, bone-idle, vapid twit who hates my servants, furniture, family, pets and profession."). Either he's a hero, or he's an idiot; it's a bit much to ask me to believe he's both.Betty van den Betsynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931981138747432610.post-13439692355920038362011-08-01T18:11:21.963-07:002011-08-01T18:11:21.963-07:00Yeah, yeah, yeah! I'm back just in time for Na...Yeah, yeah, yeah! I'm back just in time for Nasty Reilof! I'll hurry and re-read it (somehow between unexpected family invaders oops guests and summer chaos).<br /><br />The Van der Hertenzoons have been out-of-town for weeks on end only to find the internet down for our otherwise charming village since early June! We have been out-of-town or hosting people since early May and then NO INTERNET! AAAHHH! I'm SOOO far behind I'll never catch up--I missed all the Bettys so much.<br /><br />The village internet is still spotty, but I'll be rid of housepests/guests in a few days (how ungracious of me--y'all Bettys are still always welcome). Can you tell I'm giddy to be back (if somewhat off-and-on)? Too bad Betty Keira is not available for a few rounds on Nasty Reilof!Betty JoDeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00552570070311742671noreply@blogger.com