tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931981138747432610.post8091317409310399310..comments2024-03-25T09:03:39.020-07:00Comments on The Uncrushable Jersey Dress: The Silver Thaw - RepriseBetty Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446092401692468002noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931981138747432610.post-51073323839794301102013-02-17T19:50:09.924-08:002013-02-17T19:50:09.924-08:00Rich people usually guard their children from the ...Rich people usually guard their children from the "ugly" side of life. We have all seen how unsympathetic the Veronicas were to sick people.<br />I think that's what "different anon" was getting<br />at.<br /><br />B von SAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931981138747432610.post-16143954257930136062013-02-17T18:26:06.485-08:002013-02-17T18:26:06.485-08:00I think it was once very common -- In the 19th and...I think it was once very common -- In the 19th and into the early 20th century only girls from well-off families got decent educations, and you needed one to get into a nursing program. Not too many daughters of the nobility (cf: Sister in I think it's <i>Hannah</i>) joined the working world, but for upper-class women who didn't want to marry right away, it was a respectable way to get out of the family home for a bit.Betty van den Betsyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05462647734423787992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931981138747432610.post-5075630478883701972013-02-17T16:14:14.078-08:002013-02-17T16:14:14.078-08:00Why shouldn't someone well off join nursing as...Why shouldn't someone well off join nursing as a profession? I wasn't aware there were income checks before you could train...Betty Janet AOhnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931981138747432610.post-59877659279681807692013-02-17T14:34:33.765-08:002013-02-17T14:34:33.765-08:00Surely Amelia is simply too rich and too well born...Surely Amelia is simply too rich and too well born for it to be credible that she became a nurse? And there is no attempt to make it credible . . .<br /><br />I'm a different anonymous!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931981138747432610.post-3416929445477993922012-01-12T12:26:09.810-08:002012-01-12T12:26:09.810-08:00One of the remarkable things about this book is th...One of the remarkable things about this book is that Amelia does'nt need to help out in the running of the "rambling old house" when she is home. No conferring about menus. No help planning parties. No washing the Royal Worcester.<br />Well!<br />Betty AnonymousAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931981138747432610.post-44363459918538012482012-01-09T21:07:18.943-08:002012-01-09T21:07:18.943-08:00Other than the Norwegian backdrop (did I mention I...Other than the Norwegian backdrop (did I mention I love Norwegian settings?), I did not like this book due to the type of plot, annoying protagonists, and (mostly) not being able to relate to the herione. It takes a lot for me to give a Neels a low rating because I heart Betty Neels.<br /><br />Idea for Betty Van den Betsy's Betty by the numbers: categorize the Other Man types. There were quite a few worthy men like Tom Crouch (Hilltop Tryst, Independent Woman,...?).Betty Luluhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17634519999898307583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931981138747432610.post-50383685004611268922012-01-09T18:06:09.170-08:002012-01-09T18:06:09.170-08:00"the most awful punch ('like watered-down...<i>"the most awful punch ('like watered-down raspberry jam with bits of apple and cucumber in it.')"</i> This sounds very much like my diet 7up after my granddaughter backwashed into it. After eating apple slices, nuggets, and fruit punch.<br /><br />And not to make this a dog pile but...<br />I kinda liked it. I admit I couldn't keep my mind on all the sailing, fishing, traveling, fishing. Nodded off, planned the day... But she caught my attention with dancing a couple of times and the two kisses. Finally, Amelia dumps Tom and the story begins. And it's with Father Crosby(ie), who I don't think was totally Cod-brained. Quite a plotter actually.<br />Dear Mr. Crosby(ie) - <i>picture <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jA2ODPoh9_E/ToCJdyJ5pFI/AAAAAAAACbo/fWHBW6Mp4Ug/s1600/Bing-Crosby-drums-400.jpg" rel="nofollow">Bing in </a> The Country Girl </i> - gives some awesome advice:<br />"You did quite right Amelia. Five years is a hazard in such circumstances. There aren't many men who would be prepared..." "No that's not quite true, once in a lifetime one meets a man and a woman who are willing to wait for the whole of their lives, but that's because they love each other so deeply that nothing else really counts. But that's not you and Tom, my dear." <br />Boo-Yah, go for the gut shot Dad!!! <br />And then Dad brings it home with how he went through 3 years in the war w/o seeing her mom after only being married a few weeks. <b>Implied total abstinence</b>. Do I get a Huzzah and Hip Hip Hooray!!!<br /><br />Yeah, I kinda liked it. I'd give it a 7 which I won't call mince pies, how about short bread? Yup, shortbread. Yum!BettyMaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12676458096380002508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931981138747432610.post-8516368313331796842012-01-09T16:38:59.895-08:002012-01-09T16:38:59.895-08:00I concede the point (How could I have missed this?...I concede the point (How could I have missed this?)but I maintain that the only reason she is written as 'going to America' is to signify her poor taste and classlessness.Keirahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10802633046486840052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931981138747432610.post-56599252782347047482012-01-09T13:14:43.915-08:002012-01-09T13:14:43.915-08:00I have always loved this book. And re-reading it I...I have always loved this book. And re-reading it I loved it even better.<br />Of course it is annoying that they don't do any plain speaking until the very end. But if they had the story would have been over almost at the beginning. And one cannot really fault Amelia for not fessing up while in Norway: she was engaged to be married to another man and she believed herself to be in love with that man. She felt disloyal just thinking about Gideon.<br />Amelia knew she was spoilt and thought she was perhaps asking too much. - But being expected not to spend her very own money on clothes? ( There was another fiancé in Neeldom who did that.) And being called "old girl" all the time!!! And then he expects her to wait for him FOR FIVE YEARS!!! I would not have stood for it.<br />And as for Gideon, he did propose, he made several moves that she might have interpreted as genuine interest. But she was insecure, she thought he wasn't serious. And Gideon showed signs of insecurity as well: Whenever he made a move to win her, and she gave no sign that she favoured him, he retreated right away.<br /><br />Oh, and by the by,<br />Re.: And who is that stunning redhead he's with? (Yet another well-loved American.)<br /><br />Fiona is NOT an American.<br /><br />„Father, you didn’t say anything about Tom and me?“<br /> „Certainly not, my dear. Didn’t think he’d be interested, anyway. Very wrapped up in that pretty girl – old Boucher’s youngest daughter, wasn’t she? – got a funny name; F something...“<br /> „Fiona – yes, he was....“<br /><br />...had made it her business to find out that the pretty readhead had gone to America...<br /><br />She poured the coffee and refilled her own cup. 'I'm so sorry,' she said gently, and then wished she hadn't when he said cheerfully, 'Oh, she'll be back.' So it was the redhaired girl, old Boucher's daughter. 'She's only gone for a couple of weeks, Barbara told me.' His voice was bland although his eyes were gleaming. 'Surely we know each other well enough to use names?' he asked. 'Of course—sorry. It's Fiona, isn't it? She's the daughter of an old friend of Father’s. ...<br /><br />Betty AnonymousAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931981138747432610.post-22103424090933822952012-01-09T09:24:47.305-08:002012-01-09T09:24:47.305-08:00I like this one for being less formula-driven and ...I like this one for being less formula-driven and a bit more character-driven than most Bettys/Harlequins. Mr. Reeves, the registrar, shares his thoughts on Amelia during scrubbing up: "A nice girl and very pretty. Plenty of money too -- and a good theatre Sister; he'd never seen her hesitate or falter or lose her temper for that matter, although he fancied that she could do that on occasion. A little cool for his taste, though -- no, cool wasn't quite the word; reserved was better. He wondered if she was like that with Tom Crouch; it seemed to him that the pair of them hardly struck sparks..."<br /><br />Four sentences and more character exposition than we get in entire books usually. And she's very consistent with that description of a reserve that covers something more ardent.<br /><br />I really, really dislike Gideon for demanding that Amelia be the one to break. He says he's holding out for a 'silver thaw,' but I see a man insisting that the woman he claims to love abandon her dignity and beg for him. Boo!!<br /><br />I don't mind Tom too much -- he's perfectly clear about what he wants and what matters to him, and Amelia should have taken him at his word and gotten out as soon as he said, "Please marry me about three or four years from now, and agree not to spend your trust fund on nice dresses. Don't kiss me!"<br /><br />I am 100% in accord with Betty Keira's desire for the Plain-Speaking Fairy to thump Gideon upside the head. "I love you and hope you'll marry me. I am not joking." Amelia's not the only one in need of a bit of thawing...Betty van den Betsynoreply@blogger.com