I have another cheesy post for you this Wednesday. At the day and night job we have begun transitioning onto the new severs. This means that although I will actually be heinously busy over the next two weeks, after that, this crisis will be behind me. And none too soon. Did I mention that I have revisions due? Yes. I should be doing that, not blogging.
Then again, this blog gives me an excuse to tell you that you may now join the Arjun Rampal Fan Club for Romance Authors and Readers. Leave a comment over at my blog and you’re in.
Also, I can post this from a really wonderful review of Indiscreet over at Goassmer Obessions.
Some books, some blessed books, grab you with the first page, with language so lyrical and hooked you’re excited to keep reading even before you’re entirely sure what you’re reading, with settings so vivid and intricately described, yet never so vivid and intricately described as the characters.
Indiscreet is one of them. It has the plot of an Italian opera, the theme of a fairy tale, and a writing style as rich, textured and gorgeous as only romances can be.
So, that was a highlight of my week.
Man Stuff or is it Girl Stuff?
Here’s another hightlight:
Reference Books
In other miscellaneous news, I have two favorite research books to share with you.
The first is The Oxford Companion to the Law by David M. Walker. What I LOVE about this book, besides the explanations of the state of British law with almost uniform reference to WHEN the laws were like what (awesome!) there are also lists of the names of every person ever to have held office in Britain from 975 (NO, I did not miss a digit) forward. Kings, Queens, Regents, Judges, Chancellors, Vice-Chancellors, Cabinet members etc AND THE YEARS THEY HELD THE OFFICE.
I often refer to this book. I bought it way back when I lived in the used book store heaven of Berkeley, California. Naturally, the Univ. of California Press had a bookstore, and they also had a good used section.
The other is new. Roget’s International Thesaurus, Seventh Edition. It’s fun and useful to just flip idly through the pages. Interestingly enough, this book has a cover blurb. Seriously. “A sterling reference tool.” — Time
Who the heck was in charge of lining up blurbs for this book?
“Thumb-Indexed for Easier Browsing!” with a graphic of a thumb. That’s totally cheesy but I love this new and updated thesaurus. It IS easier to use.
My previous Roget’s is from 1965 and was published by St. Martin’s Press. The cover blurb is unattributed: “The best thesaurus in the world”
Somehow I missed the news that the NEW Roget’s jumped ship to Collins, though I did hear the news of the updated edition and pre-ordered it about a year in advance (it was late).
And there’s all the news that matters for Wednesday.
What are you favorite reference books?
Congratulations on that wonderful review, Carolyn!
I have to admit I don’t have any favorite reference books, if you mean the general sort.
If it’s Regency research books, well, the list is very long! A few of my faves (just looking up at my bookshelf) are In the Family Way, by Judith Schneid Lewis, English Country Life, by Bovill, Jane Austen’s Town and Country Style, hosts of others. I also love published letters and memoirs, like Adventures in the Rifle Brigade by John Kincaid.
Fabulous review, Carolyn! Can’t wait to read the book! And now you’ve done it. Another book to add to my list of MUST HAVES! The law book sounds amazing!
I have WAY too many favorite research books to mention.
Regency Design by Morley comes to mind.
The A to Z of Regency London.
Hibbert’s London Encyclopedia
I could go on and on!
Awesome review, Carolyn!
I love the Regency Design book, like Louisa. I still turn to The Regency Companion and Emily Hendrickson’s Regency Reference Book and the Regency Thesaurus.
I ordered The Oxford Companion to the Law from ABEbooks.com!
I have a Regency dictionary of the vulgar tongue that was an actual dictionary of Regency slang written in the very early 19th C. Of course, I’m at the office and don’t have it with me so I’ve forgotten the author. It’s great fun to thumb through, as the definitions are colorful and bring the era to life. I’ve found a lot of the cant that Heyer uses, but there are also terms she uses that I can’t find — don’t know if she just made them up or if they were not in the dictionary for other reasons.
Meant to add my congratulations to Carolyn on the lovely review. I’ve not yet read “Indiscreet” but I lust after the male model — don’t know why a back should make me weak in the knees, but I definitely get a little lightheaded when I see that cover.
I have several of the books you-all mention. Some I will shortly go track down.
FYI: the male model the cover of Indiscreet is the hunky and incomparable John Marron.
The Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue is by Grose. Fun and amusing book to read!