tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13774780.post7507832091067162973..comments2024-03-27T02:00:49.152-04:00Comments on Kate's Book Blog: Yesterday's Dime Novels TodayKate S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16897618197257393697noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13774780.post-24236223033406715132007-07-27T13:25:00.000-04:002007-07-27T13:25:00.000-04:00Dorothy,I find that the Betsy-Tacy books hold up v...Dorothy,<BR/>I find that the Betsy-Tacy books hold up very well to adult rereading, especially the high school books and beyond. I think that you'll enjoy revisiting them!<BR/><BR/>Karen and Danielle,<BR/>I know quite a few people who didn't discover the Betsy-Tacy books until adulthood and they've thoroughly enjoyed them all the same (as Julie attests in her comment). The writing in the series progresses along with the characters, so that the first three books which take Betsy et al from ages 5-10 are fantastic first chapter books for very young readers, while BATGD and the high school books that follow have a depth and richness that can be appreciated by older readers. For that reason, for anyone first reading the books as adults, I'd recommend beginning with <I>Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown</I> (the one I've quoted from in this post) or <I>Heaven to Betsy</I> (the first of the high school books) rather than with the very beginning of the series. Though if you really fall for them, you'll likely want to go back later to find out how it all begins...Kate S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16897618197257393697noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13774780.post-50385291435149035522007-07-27T13:22:00.000-04:002007-07-27T13:22:00.000-04:00It's great to see so much interest in Lady Audley'...It's great to see so much interest in <I>Lady Audley's Secret</I>. I look forward to comparing notes with you all when the book makes it to the top of our respective TBR piles!<BR/><BR/>Heather,<BR/>Given the "dime novel" designation, I sought out the most lurid cover I could find online to illustrate the post!<BR/><BR/>Eva,<BR/>It's funny to think of this book which was presented as being in dramatic contrast with the classics of the day a century ago now being considered a classic itself! Literary values certainly change with the times...<BR/><BR/>Melanie,<BR/>I didn't know that there was a BBC film adaption. I'll have to track it down and watch after I've read the book.<BR/><BR/>Julie,<BR/>Excellent point about the connection with Jo March's early literary efforts. And just as Louisa May Alcott continued to write and published such potboilers even while seeming to condemn them in <I>Little Women</I>, Maud Hart Lovelace published more than a few melodramatic tales worthy of <I>Lady Audley's Secret</I> in her time! <BR/><BR/>Thanks for tagging me. The meme questions are very intriguing (as are your answers to them!) and I will enjoy having a go at them.Kate S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16897618197257393697noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13774780.post-46867400883882618582007-07-25T22:32:00.000-04:002007-07-25T22:32:00.000-04:00Thanks for the comment re. my Frida Kahlo piece. I...Thanks for the comment re. my Frida Kahlo piece. It brought me here to what looks like a very interesting blog! I'll be reading.Maaja Wentzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13376333360633118312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13774780.post-56508379678052694842007-07-23T20:49:00.000-04:002007-07-23T20:49:00.000-04:00Makes me think of Louisa May Alcott, who wrote dim...Makes me think of Louisa May Alcott, who wrote dime novels AND the episode in Little Women where Jo gets in trouble for writing them.<BR/><BR/>I only discovered the Betsy-Tacy novels as an adult. I have read several and liked them. I think I'd have liked them even more if I'd read them as a kid.<BR/><BR/>Kate, I took the liberty of <A HREF="http://bookworm.pilcrow.biz/2007/07/23/another-literary-meme/#more-316" REL="nofollow">tagging you</A> for a meme. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13774780.post-13254090971708500062007-07-21T11:06:00.000-04:002007-07-21T11:06:00.000-04:00I didn't read the Betsy-Tacy books when I was youn...I didn't read the Betsy-Tacy books when I was young--I should go back and read them now--they look good. I hate to admit though I love the classics, I sort of love those melodramatic sorts of dime story novels as well. I'm looking forward to reading Lady Audley's Secret--hopefully before the end of the year.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13774780.post-26736401636198921512007-07-20T11:24:00.000-04:002007-07-20T11:24:00.000-04:00Fabulous post!! I want to read it now!! Love the b...Fabulous post!! I want to read it now!! Love the book cover!Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13979896448183348883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13774780.post-52961689595722855582007-07-19T20:45:00.000-04:002007-07-19T20:45:00.000-04:00I've never read the Betsy-Tacy books. But now I re...I've never read the Betsy-Tacy books. But now I really want to, in fact, I may need to!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13774780.post-2364506924582564632007-07-19T15:53:00.000-04:002007-07-19T15:53:00.000-04:00Great post! I have Lady Audley's Secret on my she...Great post! I have Lady Audley's Secret on my shelf from when I went on a Victorian novel jag, but I never got to it. I think I'll have to pull it out again--thanks!Gentle Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09102364083044797155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13774780.post-21598821059613186922007-07-19T01:42:00.000-04:002007-07-19T01:42:00.000-04:00I read Lady Audley's Secret for the Classics Chall...I read Lady Audley's Secret for the Classics Challenge earlier this year, and I loved it (http://astripedarmchair.blogspot.com/2007/02/lady-audleys-secret-thoughts.html)! In fact, I read it all in one night. :) Thanks for talking about another book that sounds great!Evahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06703372903532502944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13774780.post-51854803770197427682007-07-18T14:37:00.000-04:002007-07-18T14:37:00.000-04:00I enjoyed Lady Audley's Secret; and I liked the BB...I enjoyed Lady Audley's Secret; and I liked the BBC film adaptation, mostly because Stephen Mackintosh is in it...I like him. :)Melwykhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04885378201188978664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13774780.post-28273180090678875742007-07-18T13:34:00.000-04:002007-07-18T13:34:00.000-04:00Oh what a great post. I'm curious about Lady Aude...Oh what a great post. I'm curious about Lady Audeley's Secret too, and I think I should re-read the Betsy-Tacy books because I used to love them but haven't looked at them in a long time.Rebecca H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10825532162727473112noreply@blogger.com