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Reading With Betty Rebecca

February 5, 2019, 7:00 am
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Introduce yourself (Be as vague or as specific as you like.)
My name is Rebecca.  I am 50 years old. I reside in Columbus, Ohio, USA for the last 20 years.
I’m a long-time paralegal, now working on the life and annuity side of a major insurer based in
Columbus after years in a law firm.  I’m married to a university professor, although not one of the
RBD/RDD variety, unfortunately! We’ve been married for 23 years, we have no children but an
abundance of felines, fish and a single dog who the cats absolutely adore.
We see how it is.
I like to travel (preferably warm beaches and Europe), read and write although all three have
suffered due to changes in family members’ health.
I found this group entirely by accident.  I’ve been the caregiver for my MIL and FIL in Florida and
California.  I have been “flying the triangle” once a month for the last three years.  I usually work
on the flight using the in-flight internet. One trip had bad internet. I wasn’t interested in the in-flight
movies, but had a couple Betty Neels books on my iPad purchased back in 2012.  I re-read both on
the flight and when I landed and had internet, I searched for a list of her books and found The
Uncrushable Jersey Dress blog. I was almost devastated to see no recent comments on the entries,
but I found “my people” had moved to Facebook and immediately asked to join the group.  
Thanks to the website’s reviews and comments, the FB group, and Amazon, I’ve read 114 Betty
Neels books since June 23, 2018 – the day the internet went out on Delta.  Now I’ll always say
“The Nasty Marriage” and giggle if I hear about Brighton, no matter how innocent the reference.
We are all adults here.
I’ve always thought I should introduce myself on the FB group, but as an introvert, I never found the right time for me.  Betty Keira’s suggestion to do these interviews was my opening to “come out” to you all.
Thanks!


When did you start reading Betty Neels?
I was in my early 20s, to the best of my recollection.  I may have read a couple in my teens, but I
just don’t remember.  My mother liked Betty Neels, and I remember visiting her at her home in my
20s, and she had a few in the guest room, which I read and can’t forget.  I know my first books were
“The Doubtful Marriage”, “The Promise of Happiness” and “Esmerelda”.
What is your favorite book(s) and why?
Oh, to be able to narrow it down to a single book!
“The Doubtful Marriage” and “The Promise of Happiness” are favorites because they were my first.  
Luckily, “The Promise of Happiness” is a great BN book! Knowing its alternate name of “Becky and
the Hot, Hot Baron” cemented it at the top of my favorite list.  Since picking up Betty again, I must
add Caroline’s Waterloo to the list, as well. “The Secret Pool” and “The Hasty Marriage” would
round out my absolute favorites list, I think.
For some reason, I’m quite partial to the Marriage of Convenience theme.
Shout out to the Greatest Marriage of Convenience that almost was...
Least favorite and why?
I disliked Victory of Victoria immensely.  Apparently, I don’t care for the mostly straightforward
romance (by Betty standards).  Apparently, I need an arranged marriage, or a faux-courtship
punctuated by snippiness and misunderstandings!


I dislike Winter Wedding for many reasons, but the top reason was the Seconal Twins event.  
The Right Kind of Girl is a bottom-feeder too just for the “Diana is worth a dozen of you” comment,
with no apology.  
What appeals to you about Betty Neels novels and why do you find yourself attached to them?
Even if I’ve never read the book, there’s a predictability in her work that is immensely comforting to
me.  I don’t have a life – or at least I haven’t accepted quite yet that this is my new life - due to
caregiving while working full time and trying to manage the house.  These books are a welcome
escape that I simply can’t explain.
Also, I watch Midsommer Murders.  I’m not sure if any of Betty’s books are set in Midsommer
Murder’s filming areas, but it never fails to amaze me what little Betty Neels things are still
referenced in a more modern TV show – tea (high and cream), elevens, village fetes, the vicar,
the local Lord/Lady, the Veronica-like wives (many of whom are annoying and rude), the kids with
the nanny all day, and so on.  I’m always saying to my not-rich psychology professor that some
little reference is always in my “old-fashioned romances”. Midsommer even went to Brighton for
an episode!
Is Betty Keira going to deny you John Nettles? No she will not.


What is your favorite genre(s) to read?
Probably contemporary fiction, although I like some non-fiction.
Do you have a favorite book in any of these genres?
Children's/Picture book
The Madeline series of books
Classics
The Great Gatsby
Most anything of Jane Austen
Mystery
Most of the Patricia Cornwell mysteries involving Dr./ME Kay Scarpetta.
Sci-fi/Fantasy
Atlas Shrugged
Brave New World
Fahrenheit 451
1984
No, You Guys. Not that 1984.


Biography/Autobiography
Being Mortal
The Last Lecture
Eat Pray Love
Wild
Anne Frank: A Diary of a Young Girl
Anything by Bill Bryson
Non-fiction
Too many to list…I like WWII history, documentaries and related autobiographies and biographies.  
I used to be a regular consumer of the self-help genre. If it involved organization and simplification,
I was willing to read it!
And the Band Played On – one that stuck with me for a long time for many reasons
YA
Between
Harry Potter series
Anne of Green Gables series
Oh, Anne. We love you so.


What are the five books you would take if you were stranded on a deserted island?
The Godfather
Brave New World
Caroline’s Waterloo (yes, a Betty is going!)
Gone with the Wind
Atlas Shrugged
Where do you do most of your reading?
Until October 2018, airplanes – I started picking weekend flights so I didn’t feel obligated to work
and would just read for 6 hours.  
Now that I’ve moved my mother-in-law to Ohio, I usually read in bed for an hour or so.  If I am
slacking on housework, I read in the family room.
What books are in your to-be-read pile?
Far too many, but at the top of the Kindle download list:
Rock Needs River
The Forgotten Hours
Feast: True Love In and Out of the Kitchen
The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen
Of course, I want to finish the rest of the BN collection, but I do tend to pick these up when they go
on sale at Amazon and the last handful hasn’t dropped in price lately.
Do you listen to books? Any favorites on Audible?
I don’t typically listen to books but I did listen to Under the Banner of Heaven, Me Before You and
its sequel during my drives from LAX to Orange County.
Betty Rebecca had yet to be sold on audio books.
Do you have any memories of being read to or reading with others?
I don’t, other than one teacher reading in the 4th grade.  I’m not sure why I became a reader, other
than watching my mother read romances any chance she had.  Or perhaps it was due to my severe
introversion. My sister, as an adult, became a prolific reader and we often shared books as adults.
What book was the first one to ignite your interest in reading?
The Witch of Blackbird Pond… my fourth grade teacher read it out loud to the class.  I grew impatient
waiting for the next chapter, and just checked it out from the school library myself and finished it.  
I became a regular library patron at that point. I also liked to read the encyclopedias, one of the few
things my father bought of use to us kids.
What's a book you find yourself constantly recommending?
The Gift of Fear
Atlas Shrugged
Anything else?
I think I’ve already typed too much.  Anyway, thank you for putting this together and creating the
Facebook Group and the book review site.  My life lately, thanks to my rekindled love for all things
Betty, has had far more joy than Kon-Mari’ing my drawers ever could.
Aw. That makes us feel as happy as a precisely folded shirt.
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Reading with Betty Melissa

February 12, 2019, 7:00 am
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Introduce yourself (Be as vague or as specific as you like.)
I’m a librarian living in the Midwest of the United States.  I’m a lifelong reader, a trait I think I inherited from my mother.  I’m also an avid amasser of books. If I find a topic that interests me even a little, it isn’t odd for me to buy a book (or five) on the topic to learn more.  I have no idea how many books I currently own, but it’s a lot.
Betty Melissa likes books the way some people like breathing.
When did you start reading Betty Neels?
Not too long ago, less than ten years ago.  I was going through a bad patch with a lot of trauma and stress in
my life.  My father was ill and my job at the time was toxic. I found a refuge in reading “comfort reads”,
which I really hadn’t done before.  I’d seen Betty’s name mentioned in various lists of recommended authors
but was very smug and thought a Harlequin writer could never be any good.  I was wrong. Very, very wrong.
The story I love to tell:  I was at a library book sale and somebody had apparently donated their Betty Neels
collection.  I hesitantly picked up one book and bought it, thinking that if I didn’t like it no harm no foul.  
And if I did, I would go back and buy a few more. I read the book—it was The Vicar’s Daughter—and went
back and bought every other Betty Neels book there.  Roughly 65 total. It was a great start to my collection!
Sixty-five books, sir. Sixty-five. It IS all flowers and fairytales.
What is your favorite book(s) and why?
Favorite Betty Neels: The Promise of Happiness.  And it snuck up on me. I read it, moved on, didn’t think
much about it.  Then I ran across the Jersey Dress blog and was struck by how much the book was loved in
the review and the comments.  So I read it again and found that the heroine had to be the strongest, most
resilient of all of Betty’s gals, the vast majority of which are incredibly strong.  Plus I loved the hero, the plot,
the pets, and slimy Basil.

Other Betty Neels books I love: Dearest Love, The Magic of Living, Caroline’s Waterloo, Winter Wedding,
The Gemel Ring, Damsel in Green, Tabitha in Moonlight, Pineapple Girl, and one of Betty’s oddities without
a doctor hero, A Girl To Love.


Other books…far too many to list.  My favorite authors are D.E. Stevenson, Anne Hepple, Elizabeth Cadell,
Raymond Jacberns, Mrs. Alfred Sidgwick, and Mable Barnes-Grundy…most of which will have people saying
“who”?  I love authors who wrote in the first half of the last century, from 1900 to about 1950. The home
front of both wars is a special fascination for me. Stevenson, Hepple, and Cadell all write lovely family
stories with a romantic element.  For strong heroines, you don’t get better than Jacberns, Sidgwick, and
Barnes-Grundy, and considering they are all writing around of the turn of the last century, that’s pretty
amazing. I don’t usually like male authors but love Nevil Shute and Nigel Balchin.  
Least favorite and why?
I hate to say it, but any time a book has awards it won listed on it is an immediate turn off for me.  I read
largely for entertainment, and the authors I love aren’t the sorts to win awards. Nothing against those
books, but they just aren’t for me.
Life is too short to be bored to tears.
What appeals to you about Betty Neels novels and why do you find yourself attached to them?
The heroines.  Nearly every Betty heroine is a strong, resilient, intelligent woman who gets things done.  
Even if they seem “weak” they aren’t. They tend to know exactly what they want, and aren’t afraid to stand
up for themselves.  Romance novel heroines are often dismissed as weak or silly. I think anybody who reads
Betty Neels will know this is nonsense. From what I’ve read of Betty’s real life, she herself was a strong,
resilient, intelligent woman who got things done…so it isn’t surprising that is the kind of woman she wrote
about.
On top of that, Betty had a brilliant way with a descriptive phrase.  “She swung around in a whirl of pink
dressing gown” from The Magic of Living is one of my favorite examples.  Just lovely.
Top all that off with wonderful travelogues of England and the Netherlands, fascinating descriptions of food,
and great descriptions of clothes!
What is your favorite genre(s) to read?
What is generally referred to as either middlebrow fiction or comfort reads from roughly 1900 to 1950.  I
view these as books that give a modern reader an insight into what life was really like for “normal” people
back in those years.  The books I most enjoy generally feature ordinary people, not celebrities or artists or
politicians, etc. Not famous people. Just women going about their daily lives.  I think it really gives you a
glimpse into what life was like back then. I tend to read more British books than American.
I’ve also recently become fascinated with “Girls Own” stories.  These are stories aimed at British schoolgirls,
again written largely from 1900 to 1950.  Many are set at boarding schools but others are stories of family
life. Like the books written for adults I talk about above, I think they give modern readers an idea of what it
was like to live back in that era.
Do you have a favorite book in any of these genres?
Children's/Picture book
Probably thousands.  Picture books-- I love Curious George and The Grinch Who Stole Christmas.  As I said
above I’ve recently become interested in “Girls Own” stories, and one of my favorite authors in that genre is
Raymond Jacberns, who wrote about independent young girls and women way back in the late 1800s.  She
died in 1911, but her books have some incredibly tough little girls in them, which for the era just fascinates
me. I also like a series called Milly Molly Mandy by Joyce Lankester Brisley, which are gentle little stories of
a little girl living in a small English village with her loving extended family.  Very sweet, and quite funny too.
I also love the Ramona books by Beverly Cleary.
Classics
I was a literature major in college and pretty much exhausted my interest in classics back then.  I used to
love John Steinbeck. No idea what I’d think of him now.
'Tolkien' is my safety word.
Mystery
I used to be a hardcore mystery fan, and that was all I read for years.  Then the genre just started getting too
repetitive and the same themes seemed to be used again and again, and I lost interest.  Every once in awhile
I’ll pick up a new mystery but I’m usually disappointed. I do still like some of the older authors. Craig Rice
is one of my favorites.
Sci-fi/Fantasy
Not my thing.
Biography/Autobiography
I really enjoy reading books about authors.  If I like an author I try to learn as much as I can about them, but
most of the ones I like are so obscure I can only find a tiny bit of information online.  But I do have
biographies of Nevil Shute, Elizabeth von Arnim, and Nigel Balchin that I’ve enjoyed.
Non-fiction
I do enjoy a lot of non-fiction.  Generally if I’m interested in a topic, I’ll wander onto Abebooks and try to
find a book or two or five on the topic.  Which often means I’ve moved on to another interest, and then I’ll
find yet another book in my TBR pile on Land Girls that I bought a year before (this actually just happened).  
Some of the topics I enjoy: I like old movies and am always buying biographies of the classic movie stars.
Pretty much anything to do with the home front, especially of England during World War II, like the Land
Girls, rationing, or just everyday life in general.  There are also some historical true crime cases I’m fascinated
by, like Lizzie Borden and Madeline Smith.
YA
Not really my thing.
The Hunger Games was way offended.
What are the five books you would take if you were stranded on a deserted island?
Five books, or five pallets of books?  Gosh, just five…I don’t really know. Probably The Promise of Happiness
by Betty Neels, Miss Buncle’s Book by D.E. Stevenson, The Corner Shop by Elizabeth Cadell, A Family of Girls
by Raymond Jacberns, Trustee from the Toolroom by Nevil Shute, The North Wind Blows by Anne Hepple,
Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons, Cynthia’s Way by Mrs. Alfred Sidgwick, Two in a Tent and Jane by
Mabel Barnes Grundy, Sally’s Family by Gwendolyn Courtney, and Mr. Skeffington by Elizabeth von Arnim.  
Hmm, that seems to be more than five. But math was never my strong suit.
Where do you do most of your reading?
Either in bed or the bathtub.
What books are in your to-be-read pile?
Not enough room to list.  If I can manage it I’ll include a picture of a portion of my To Be Read pile. If the
picture goes through okay, <part> of my TBR pile is on top of the bookcases.  There are other parts of my
TBR scattered throughout the house, though they are organized, as befits a librarian. No idea how many
total—I’m certainly never going to count because I then might be compelled to stop buying books and I
can’t have that.
The books on the shelves are my fiction books.  I have other bookcases for other interests.  The books on the top are part of my To Be Read pile.  A small part of it.  Books on the top left are "Girls Own" books.  Books on the top right are fiction.  You can see some storage boxes on the bottom shelves.  Those are my unread vintage Harlequins.  
As to what I’m currently reading now, I’m reading a lovely story by Mabel Barnes-Grundy, one by Mrs. Alfred Sidgwick, a girls’ spy story by Gwendolyn Courtney, and a few others.  I’m generally reading anywhere from five to ten books at a time. I think right now I’m reading about seven.
Do you listen to books? Any favorites on Audible?
I do.  I have a half hour commute each way every day and having something to listen to keeps me from
insanity and road rage during that time.  One of my favorites is the Audible of The Corner Shop by Elizabeth
Cadell. The narrator is brilliant, and does an amazing job bringing the book to life.  I’m also fond of Agatha
Christie stories narrated by Hugh Fraser. He does a very good job with the Poirot stories. I like the ones he
does better than the ones narrated by David Suchet.
Do you have any memories of being read to or reading with others?
I taught myself to read before I was in school, and family lore says I was reading at the age of three.  No
idea if it’s true but it certainly wouldn’t surprise me. So I don’t really remember being read to. And a small
humblebrag—I won a prize for the most books read in my kindergarten class.  I think I read something like
120 books. The nearest other person read about twenty. I won a little plaster bank. It’s pretty much the
only thing I ever won so I’m quite proud of it.
Betty Melissa knew when her mother skipped pages.
What book was the first one to ignite your interest in reading?
I sometimes think I was born reading, so nothing really ignited it.  Just always loved to read. I’m one of
those people who, if they don’t have a book, is reading the cereal box.  Just need to be reading all the time.
What's a book you find yourself constantly recommending?
I know people bash Facebook but I love being on the various groups for book lovers on there.  Usually great
groups of kindred spirits who don’t mind me rambling on about my love for Elizabeth Cadell or Raymond
Jacberns.  Some of them even know the author! I’ve tried to recommend Betty Neels to “real” people, but
generally just get a blank stare.  I’ve never even tried with most of the authors I read.
Despite knowing that Amal would have loved Caroline's Waterloo,
the Clooneys refused to join the book club.
So it is wonderful to be able to write an enthusiastic post on Raymond Jacberns on the Facebook page for girls’ stories and have people not only knowing who she was, but saying they love her too.  I talk about Raymond Jacberns a lot on Facebook!
Ditto Elizabeth Cadell, who wrote such fun books. Romance, but usually with a hint of a mystery.  The
Corner Shop and Mixed Marriage are my favorites. The Corner Shop is about a woman who runs a
secretarial agency and goes to a remote house in the wilds of England to find out why three of her best
secretaries refused to work for a professor.  She ends up organizing his life for him, and falling in love
with him to boot. Mixed Marriage is laugh out loud funny, about a British girl who marries a Portuguese
man and ends up in serious culture shock.
Anything else?
I love being part of the Uncrushable Jersey Dress group on Facebook!  Such a great group of women!

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Reading with Betty Lucina

February 19, 2019, 7:00 am
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Introduce yourself (Be as vague or as specific as you like.)
Hello, I am Betty Lucina. 
When did you start reading Betty Neels?
I stumbled on one book I fell in love with about 15 years ago.
What is your favorite book(s) and why?
I cannot say for certain, maybe The Secret Pool

I love it too!
Least favorite and why? 
Cannot say for certain
What appeals to you about Betty Neels novels and why do you find yourself attached to them?
They are cozy, and the detail is breath taking and the women are really nice. 

What is your favorite genre(s) to read?
Usually Non-Fiction

Do you have a favorite book in any of these genres?
  • Children's/Picture book  Velveteen Rabbit
  • Classics To kill a mocking bird
  • Mystery An then there were none
  • Sci-fi/Fantasy Through The looking glass
  • Biography/Autobiography Mindy Kahlings books and Augusten Burroughs 
  • Non-fiction  Holy-Blood Holy Grail
  • YA Twilight lol 
    Is Betty Lucina Team Edward or Team Jacob?
    What are the five books you would take if you were stranded on a deserted island? 
    ( see above) 
    Where do you do most of your reading?
    On couch
    What books are in your to-be-read pile?
    Mostley stuff on Aliens TBH
    Do you listen to books? Any favorites on Audible?
    No. 
    Do you have any memories of being read to or reading with others? No, although my mom read to me a lot. Sometimes even her Harlequins
    "She sat back against the leather seats as his great, socking Bentley ate up the miles..."

    What book was the first one to ignite your interest in reading? 
    Babysitters Club

    What's a book you find yourself constantly recommending?
    Celestine Prophecy 
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    Reading with Betty Sutapa

    February 26, 2019, 7:00 am
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    Reading Habits of a Betty


    Image result for the road goes ever on and on


    1. Introduce yourself (Be as vague or as specific as you like).
    Hello everyone! Betty Sutapa here! I am a mom, wife, and homemaker. I grew up in India and received
    my B.A. from Delhi University. I was a high school teacher in India for five and a half years. Thereafter, I
    moved to the U.S. as a graduate student, received my M.A. in Economics, and taught undergraduate and
    associate degree students in the U.S. for nearly six and a half years. I have loved being a teacher. My
    students in both countries were simply awesome! I am still in touch with many of them on Facebook.
    Betty Sutapa was the kind of teacher you wouldn't forget.
    I got married to my Professor, and after my daughter was born, decided to stay home to raise her. I felt
    blessed that I was able to make this choice. Once we decided to settle down in the U.S., we moved to
    Middle Georgia with my husband’s job. We have lived here for almost nineteen years! I love small towns
    and we have enjoyed raising our daughter here, among wonderful friends. She is now a junior in college
    (speaks three languages, reads everything under the sun, is a really gifted writer, and is a huge Jane Austen
    fan).


    I have managed to nurture the passion for reading through all the busy years of my life. I was thrilled to
    discover all you wonderful and smart Bettys on TUJD. It’s been such a joy to discuss so many interesting
    topics every day! Thank you, Betty Keira, for giving us this opportunity to introduce ourselves on TUJD
    and share our reading habits with kindred spirits. I love to travel, have tea with my friends, bargain shop
    like a true Araminta, cook, and decorate my home. I am also a germaphobe and a neat freak. (The
    Professor’s favorite mode of addressing me: “YOU’RE CRAZY!!!)
    Working Theory:
    Betty Sutapa is Ferris Bueller.
    1. When did you start reading Betty Neels?
    My first TGB book was Cobweb Morning (high school, grade forgotten). I really liked it, but I was reading
    so many genres at that time, that I did not read her entire work in quick succession. I read a lot of Mills
    and Boon too, but it was a mix of authors. A few were bought from local bookshops, but the rest were
    mostly borrowed from our school library. It should come as no surprise that I resumed my journey with
    Betty after joining TUJD. Most of my books were bought after that date. So far, I have collected 109 Betty
    books on Kindle and in paperback. I have not read all of them yet.


    1. What is your favorite book (s) and why?  
    Tough question. The Promise of Happiness and A Gentle Awakening run very close. Strong heroines who
    win against the heaviest odds, gentle giant heroes (when not in a towering rage) who love family and
    children, rich descriptions of England and Holland, tons of yummy food, lovely FFRs, jugs of lemonade
    (the decline and fall of Wanda the Witch), and delightful HEAs - classic Betty recipes for coziness make
    these books my favorites. I also like A Girl to Love, Damsel in Green, and Only by Chance. Same reasons.


    1. Least favorite and why?
    So far, Sun and Candlelight is my least favorite. I find the cruel behavior of the children very disturbing.
    And their nanny is very scary too! I did not care much for All Else Confusion either -heroine too doormatty
    and hero too pompous. He comes across as a, “I did you a favor by marrying you,” kind of guy. Not my
    cup of cozy tea, I am afraid.
    Coziness will always play in BettyLand


    1. What appeals to you about Betty Neels novels and why do you find yourself
    attached to them?
    They are books for lazy weekends. Or for bedtime reading in a quiet house. They are daydreamy books
    you enjoy with hot tea. There’s dignity, chivalry, kindness, and love in Betty’s novels which soothe and
    delight us. They show privileged and ordinary people’s lives in juxtaposition. And yet, the rich hero and
    the often-poor heroine, share similar values in what really matters for lasting happiness. It’s not the
    woman coming from the hero’s world who wins his love. It’s the woman from a very different world that
    he decides to spend his life with. How fabulous that good folks end up happy in the end! (The Nigels,
    Veronicas, and horrible family members just fade away from the scene…yay!!!). Add to this vivid travel
    diaries, clothes shopping, the comforts of home and family, FFRs, and the often humorous and accurate
    descriptions of the lives of doctors and nurses-what a perfect recipe for a delightful, clean book! No one
    does it quite like Betty Neels.


    1. What is your favorite genre (s) to read?
    Classics, mystery, historical romance, and humorous fiction are my favorites. I like poetry and short stories
    too.


    1. Do you have a favorite book (s) in any of these genres?
    • Children’s/Picture Book– Asterix, Tintin, Winnie the Pooh, Grimm’s Fairy Tales, and 1,001 Arabian
    Nights

    • Classics – All of Jane Austen, The Mill on the Floss, Far from the Madding Crowd, Jane Eyre, Little
    Women, Gone with the Wind, and most of Shakespeare  

    • Mystery – All of Agatha Christie and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
    • Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Dystopian– All of Ayn Rand, and Brave New World
    (I am also a huge Star Trek and Star Wars fan)

    • Biography/Autobiography– The Diary of Anne Frank, The Footsteps of Anne Frank
    • Non-Fiction – Travel books (love Rick Steves’ Europe on PBS)
    • YA – Anne of Green Gables, The Hunger Games Trilogy, and The Giver
    • Poetry – W. de la Mare, W. Wordsworth, R. Frost, R. W. Emerson, Rumi, and R. Tagore
    • Short Stories– Guy de Maupassant, Anton Chekov, and F. Scott Fitzgerald
    • Other – The Prophet (Kahlil Gibran), The Alchemist (Paulo Coelho), The Thorn Birds
    (Colleen McCullough), all of Victoria Holt, Georgette Heyer, P.G. Wodehouse, and Leon Uris


      1. What are the five books you would take if you were stranded on a deserted
      island?
      1. P.G. Wodehouse boxed set – (when the airline restricts luggage, I get devious…hope Betty Keira
      won’t mind ☺)
      I love Book-Babies too.

      1. Emma – Jane Austen
      2. The Promise of Happiness/A Gentle Awakening – Betty Neels
      3. Exodus – Leon Uris
      4. The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho/The Prophet - Kahlil Gibran


      1. Where do you do most of your reading?
      At the breakfast bar, with a cup of cardamom tea and tea biscuits. Also, at night in bed.  Strangely,
      reading on flights and in cars gives me a headache. I watch light movies instead, when available.


      1. What books are in your TBR pile? (Too many to list, but here’s some of them)
      Middlemarch – George Eliot, The Age of Innocence – Edith Wharton, My Cousin Rachel – Daphne du
      Maurier, The Good Earth – Pearl S. Buck, And Quiet Flows the Don – Mikhail Sholokhov, and A Thousand
      Splendid Suns – Khaled Hosseini. Also, anything by John Grisham, and maybe other modern authors
      recommended by the Bettys here.  


      1. Do you listen to books? Any favorites on Audible?
      I read reviews about them often, but have not tried any yet. Not sure whether I would like them.


      1. Do you have any memories of being read to or reading with others?
      My family had a great tradition of reading to children and storytelling by elders in my childhood.
      My mom would read to us a lot, and to a lesser extent, my dad. But the most spectacular of them all
      was a favorite uncle who had also been a freedom fighter under the British colonization. He was a big
      fan of Jim Corbett’s stories. Summer vacations found us all (cousins etc.) in our grandparents’ home,
      sitting on the floor in a semi-circle, mesmerized by his narration of how the great hunter, Jim Corbett,
      had delivered men and livestock in remote Indian villages from ferocious tigers.
      Tigers! I know I would be mesmerized.
      I have such fond memories of those family story times! It was also the stage of my life when I began to
      read the works of famous Indian authors in Bengali and Hindi.


      1. What book was the first one to ignite your interest in reading?
      As far back as I can remember, first Grimm’s Fairy Tales, and then the journey with Enid Blyton. Her first
      book that I read was The Mystery of the Tally-Ho Cottage. I never looked back. I had finished 90% of her
      work by 5th or 6th grade, and moved on to Nancy Drew, and the Classics. After that, I just read whatever
      caught my fancy, and I do the same even to this day.


      1. What’s a book (s) you find yourself constantly recommending?
      The Razor’s Edge (W. Somerset Maugham), The Alchemist (Paulo Coelho), Trinity, Exodus (Leon Uris),
      Sense and Sensibility (Jane Austen), and The Mill on the Floss (George Eliot).


      “So often, in the past as well, a visit to a bookshop has cheered me up and reminded me that there
      are good things in the world.” Vincent van Gogh




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      Reading with Betty Lauri

      March 5, 2019, 7:00 am
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      Introduce yourself-
      I am almost 61 years old, I currently work as a NP in a Urology practice, however that may change soon.  Before that I worked as a NP for Reproductive Endocrinologist who specialized in Infertility. Before that I was a Labor & Delivery nurse on a High Risk OB unit for 13 years and before that I was in the Air Force for 14 years as a military linguist (Russian).
      Betty Keira has some Russian questions when you get a second.

      I am married for 38 years, have 2 sons, one in the USAF and one going to Army BCT the end of this month.  The one in the AF is married to a lovely Japanese woman and they have a son who will be 8 in July.  I miss seeing them but now I get to go to England every year to visit.  

      When did you start reading Betty Neels-
      I don't know, I read Harlequins in High School but don't remember any specific Betty books.  I may have picked some up at the BX when we were in Japan.  I know I got some when we moved back to Indiana at 1/2 price books, that was in 1991.

      What is your favorite book(s) and why?-
      Fate is Remarkable, because I love the story and the hero & heroine. That he went to the ends of the earth to find her.
      Hugo van Elven was not going to let a little thing
      like an impassable mountain stand in his way.

      Least favorite and why?-
      The one with the alcholic sister, because of her and her brother. I did love the descriptions of Norway though.  

      What appeals to you about Betty Neels novels and why do you find yourself attached to them?- I
       like them because they remind me of a gentler pace of life and that there are happy ever afters. I also love her descriptions of settings, clothes and foods.  She makes things come alive.  I got my interest in the Netherlands and parts of England from her books.

      What is your favorite genre(s) to read?- 
      Fiction, I will read anything. I have very eclectic reading tastes. I love Jan Karon's Mitford Series. I have all the books and I go back to them often. I like books with Asian characters, WWII stories, spy novels, etc.

      Do you have a favorite book in any of these genres?
      • Children's/Picture book- Ferdinand, Angus series, Goodnight Moon, Mike Mulligan's Steamshovel, Blueberries for Sal, Make Way for Ducklings, Frog and Toad series.  The old fashioned books.

      Betty Keira approves.
      • Classics- Steinbeck
      • Mystery- Alexander McCall Smith and The Number One Ladies Detective Agency series.  These remind me of an African Betty story.  There is a delightful Veronical that reappears a lot.
      • Sci-fi/Fantasy- Not into this however I did read the Dune series and C.S. Lewis's Out of the Silent Planet group when I was dating my now husband.
      • Biography/Autobiography- Billy Graham's Autobiography
      • Non-fiction- Mostly travel books
      • YA- I read the Hunger Games and a series that had a group called Abnegation and other groups, heck maybe they were part of the Hunger Games. Didn't make a big impression on me.
      What are the five books you would you take if you stranded on a desert island? - 
      Bible, A Betty book, Jan Karon's Bedside Companion, one of the books with Father Tim's favorite sayings and a huge Rick Steves travel book on Europe.
      Where do you do most of your reading?-
      Bed or the downstairs sofa.

      What books are in your to-be-read pile?- 
      Empress Dowager CiXi, the latest Alexander McCall Book

      Do you listen to books? No, I tried listening to The Book Thief and could not get into it. I thought the characters would be different voices and not just one person reading the book.

      Do you have any memories of being read to or reading with others?-
      Not of being read to but reading to my boys and grandson.

      What book was the first one to ignite your interest in reading? 
      Dont rememenber but probably the Dick and Jane books in school. And I had a wonderful first grade teacher who really ignited the interest, parents who let me read anything the libray had. I read Leon Uris and Michener in High School.

      What's a book you find yourself constantly recommending?
      None really because the people that I work with now don't care about reading. But at my prior job the MD and I shared an interest in the Alexander McCall books.
      Betty Keira doesn't understand people who don't care about reading.

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      Reading with Betty Suse

      March 12, 2019, 7:00 am
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      Well, hello there.


      My name is …… well it depends who you are and when in my life you met me!  I have answered to: Susan,
      Sue, Susie, SueSue and Betty Suse, with a few cheeky variations during my early adulthood. My current
      preference is Suse, but as my father always said “You can call me anything you like, as long as you don’t call
      me late for my dinner.”
      The Betties were desperately seeking Susan.
      I began reading Mills and Boon – I’m British, can you tell? – when I “borrowed” my mum’s when I was about
      14. I progressed to visiting the local library and borrowing 10 Mills and Boon books at a time, mainly in
      secret, I didn’t want my friends to find out that I actually read anything, never mind the fact that they were
      romances.


      I can’t remember my first Betty Neels, in fact I don’t think it actually registered due to the volume of books I
      got through. I just knew that anytime I picked up a Betty Book I knew it was her about 2 pages in.

      They just seemed from another era – and believe me, I started reading them in the late 80s, and that is now
      considered to be another era, according to the kids I teach! They harked back to “better days”, days with
      characters who weren’t stripping their clothes off and getting married because “they had to”. I personally
      have nothing against those books, but falling into a Neels book felt like a cushioning from the real world- if
      romance books can be considered the real world.
      Betty Keira, too, liked to relax.
      Yes, the heroines are, in the majority, almost pure innocents, and the heroes are just too good to be true. The
      fact that on more than one occasion the heroine called her true love by his surname or title until the very last
      page amused me. I must have a healthy dose of cynicism because the books are, and to be honest I suspect
      always were, too good to be true. Today they write about billionaires, industrial and financial tycoons and
      princes of fictional lands, at least Betty rooted her heroes firmly in real life, albeit a privileged, hard working
      real life that she had some knowledge of.


      I know that Mills and Boon brought out their anthology of Betty Neels before I turned 30, and monthly I
      would buy the two that were published- this took quite some time.


      During this time I can remember visiting Amsterdam, and whilst not knowing where exactly I got my
      references from, I would spot places, signs and buildings and just know them- the Begijnhof was a particular
      case where I was on Spui and spotted the sign. I almost ran down the passageway, knowing there was a
      hidden treasure to find. It was just as peaceful as Betty described.


      My favourite book is Esmeralda. I know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but I love the fact she doesn’t recognise
      his feelings; he does anything, including trying to reignite the feelings of the man she was absorbed in, to
      make her happy. But I also enjoy the marriage of convenience stories, including The Little Dragon and The
      Secret Pool (boo hiss from many!)
      Betty Keira appreciates any Little Dragon boosterism.
      My favourite books in the suggested genres are:
      The children's/picture books I recommend are:  Friend or Foe by Michael Morpurgo or any Harry Potter.
      Michael Morpurgo’s Friend or Foe is a little known book about two evacuated boys being rescued by a German airman whose plane had crashed, and how they helped him and began to realise that people who fight wars are still human. It questions the idea of who is your enemy?.
      As for HP – I prefer The Order of the Phoenix, mainly due to the fact that I read it in 36 hours as I knew that on the Monday morning at least one of the children in my class would tell me which character died at the end. I was right- a child ran in screaming “It was Serious Black, it was Serious Black”. When asked if they’d enjoyed the book the response was “No, I got my brother to look at the back of his and find out who died so I could tell you”!
      Just as an extra I love “When I grow up” by Tim Minchin. Basically the lyrics of the song from “Matilda”- but they are very perceptive and make children think about the realities of growing up.
      See the source image
      My favourite classic is Pride and Prejudice.
      I was 12 years old when I fell in love with the David Rintoul/ Elizabeth Garvie BBC production. It was on at 6pm every Sunday. Unfortunately, the final episode was on the “Sunday School Sermons” day, when I had to go to chapel at 6pm. SO……. I missed the last instalment. I was beside myself and my mum promised to buy me the book. She took a bus to the local town the next day, after work and purchased a Penguin paperback copy, which, as a 12 year old, I read in 3 days. Only then was I happy! I have loved it ever since.
      See the source image
      The future is so much cooler without scheduled television.
      I have since watched the tv version I missed and loved it, I still have it on video, but no video player! I was very upset when they made the Colin Firth/ Jennifer Ehle version, but it grew on me (to say the least).
      My favourite mystery is, basically, any Agatha Christie
      I love Murder on the Orient Express.
      See the source image
      The Sci-fi/Fantasy books that have stuck with me are The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams and Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman.
      Hitch Hikers was the book of my teenage years, funny, weird and always put me to sleep when I was unable to– but amusing and hilarious! I was once on a cruise round the Norwegian fjords and when asked why I had come, by a fellow passenger as we took photos of Geiranger fjord I replied “To see if Slartibartfast really did leave his signature in the fjords”. The poor guy looked confused, but the bloke a few metres away started to laugh and leaned forward to wink at me over the rail.
      See the source image  See the source image
      Good Omens, well, what can I say? A demon and an angel try to stop Armageddon. I love it. Buy it for god-children, friends, colleagues and have even been known to stop and walk back to people sitting on benches reading it to have discussions about it’s awesomeness! Plus, Amazon/BBC have just made it into a series with David Tennant as the demon and Michael Sheen as the angel. Bring on the summer.
      See the source image
      I enjoy biographies and autobiographies of musicians, royalty and historical figures. But, to be honest, it’s not my favourite genre.
      When reading non-fiction I like travel books and anything by Bill Bryson- Neither Here Nor There and The Lost Continent are still my favourites, early and fresher.
      • See the source imageSee the source image
      The book I would take if I was stranded on a deserted island apart from the books above are:


      Winnie the Pooh- it’s not just for children.


      Most of my reading is done in bed, my Betty books are now on my ipad and I love to feel relaxed when reading. I can of course cope with sun loungers by the pool on holiday and a reclining armchair!


      The books in my to-be-read pile include a biography of Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and American Gods by
      Neil Gaiman.

      I find Neil Gaiman to be so wonderful and wanted to link to this wonderful story 
      about Impostor Syndrome he shared on his blog.
      I don’t listen to audible books any more as they stopped putting CD players in cars and I’m awful at
      downloading stuff. Plus, my commute is ten minutes and I like the time to listen to music. I enjoyed thrillers
      when I did listen, because they kept me alert.


      My memories of being read to include a 1971 reel to reel tape recording of my dad and I reading an alphabet
      book, where I can be heard reading “U is for underwella”.  It’s amusing to listen to 47 years later.


      Pride and Prejudice ignited my adult reading, as you can see above. However, I enjoy a lot of comedy/
      compilations of newspaper columns by a variety of writers- nothing too serious mainly a cynical/ amusing
      take on the news/ issues of the day.


      But, Betty is my go to stress reliever. I’ve read them all, quite a few times. Just to immerse yourself in
      BettyWorld is to put the day right. Happy Reading fellow Betties.
      Betty Keira does not withhold her winks when the occasion warrants it.

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      Reading with Betty Pam

      March 19, 2019, 7:00 am
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      I’m 52 years old. I’m currently a paralegal, after having been through a couple of previous careers. I am married to Professor Arthur Shropshire. We have two Pledges of Affection, Stephen and Jonathan, ages 32 and 25. Stephen has a daughter, Irelyn, age 8 and the LIGHT OF MY LIFE! and a son, Mase, age 6. Pledge #2 has two sons, Oakley who is 2 and Stetson who is almost 1. 
      Add caption

      The Professor and I share our home with 3 dogs, 6 cats and 6 outdoor cats. We have been caring for a colony of feral cats for several years. Some of the younger cats had always lived around the house, so last fall, after several disappeared within a week, we built a catio for them to keep them safe from critters and vehicles on the highway. We are serious about our animals! 

      I feel like I share the same story with so many romance readers. I loved prowling through my grandmother’s house (now that I’m a grandmother, I know that all grandkids do this), and I found a box of books in her closet. I was probably about 9 and already was an avid reader. The box contained Harlequins and Harlequin Presents. I sneaked one home and read it; returned it to the box with no one the wiser. Eventually, I read the entire box in that way. At least one of them was a Betty Neels - The Magic of Living - and I began looking for her books at every library sale, book store, etc. 
      I think nearly all the Bettys know my favorite Betty book is The Promise of Happiness, aka Becky and the Hot Hot Baron. I wrote an impassioned argument in favor of it during the 2017 Best of the Betties Tournament. It’s a quintessential Cinderella story: this desperate and destitute young woman, running away to save her pets from the evil step-brother; and then a knight (well, a Baron) in shining Rolls riding to her rescue; and then watching the cold, haughty Baron fall in love with this mousy girl - it’s just classic.
      We like classic.
      My least favorite Betty? Oh, boy. There are only 3 of Betty’s books that I actively dislike. I’ve raved enough about Sir Paul in The Right Kind of Girl, but other than THAT LINE, it’s really a charming book. I think my least favorite is one that we never seem to talk about - Paradise for Two. Prudence is ill-tempered and constantly snips at Haso; Haso is an arrogant jerk most of the time; the aunts are spoiled, selfish and thoughtless. The ending is nice, but very abrupt and just not enough to redeem the earliest unpleasantness for me, although there is one line that is a gem. Prudence and Christabel (the Veronica) are taking verbal shots at each other and Haso murmurs “something that sounds like ‘Fifteen all.’” 
      I love many aspects of Betty’s books, but I think the main thing boils down to the fact that I’m old fashioned, and I’ve finally reached an age where I feel like I’ve earned the right to own it. Betty’s world is one of good manners and decorum; one where virtue and honesty and honor and modesty are celebrated and rewarded. 
      I don’t really have a favorite genre; I’ll read just about anything except horror. Here are a few(!) of my favorite books: 
      ● Children's/Picture book: Anything by Beatrix Potter; the Winnie the Pooh stories. Charlotte’s Web - I have a vivid memory of lying on the sofa and sobbing when Charlotte is saying goodbye to Wilbur; I must have been about 7 or 8. 
      ● Classics: A Tale of Two Cities - actually, just about anything by Dickens. I have a love for 19th century literature; those Victorians knew how to use the English language. Persuasion is my favorite JA novel. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is a fabulous coming of age story and quintessentially American, I think. To Kill A Mockingbird - obvious, I know. Watership Down – I was shocked at how much I loved it. 
      ● Mystery: Both of Anne Perry’s Victorian series. I adore the Lord Peter Wimsey stories, especially the ones with Harriet Vane. Anything by Agatha Christie - I really love the Golden Age authors - Josephine Tey, S.S. Van Dine, Rex Stout, Earle Stanley Gardner (I see myself as Della - lol!). The Mrs. Pollifax series by Dorothy Gilman is about a widow of a Certain Age who is feeling a bit lost and contemplates stepping off a roof, feeling that no one would miss her. Instead, she drives to CIA headquarters and through a comedy of errors, becomes a spy, traveling the world, meeting new and *interesting* people and perhaps even a new love-of-her-life.
      We love Second Chance romance, too.
      ● Sci-fi/Fantasy: This is a fairly new genre to me, with the exception of Tolkien, that I only began exploring a few years ago. Fahrenheit 451. Swan Song by Robert McCammon; the Miles Vorkosigan series by Lois McMaster Bujold. The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. the Rivers of London series by Ben Aaronovitch. I recently found the Murderbot series by Martha Wells about an AI; most of them are longish novellas with some short stories thrown in, and I have devoured all of them. 
      ● Biography/Autobiography: the Diary of Anne Frank, the Night trilogy by Elie Wiesel - very dark but so REAL, The Story of My Life by Helen Keller; Helen Keller’s Teacher by Margaret Davidson; Hiroshima Diary by Dr. Michihiko Hachiya. You may notice most of these are WW2 related. 
      ● Non-fiction: C.S. Lewis’s books on Christianity (I’m rereading Mere Christianity right now); The “Time-Traveler’s Guide” books by Ian Mortimer; anything on WW2. Notes from a Small Island by Bill Bryson, who is, IMO, America’s best gift to Britain. 
      ● YA: The Witch of Blackbird Pond - I loved that book so hard. Any of Madeleine L’Engle’s books; I’ve read all of Louisa May Alcott’s books umpteen times. 
      ● Other: I’ve been a huge Ken Follett fan since I read “Key to Rebecca” in high school, and Pillars of the Earth may be my favorite all-time novel. I’m not-so-secretly addicted to spy stories. P.G. Wodehouse is a favorite by lots of Bettys, including me (and thanks to Betty Melissa Hudak for sending me several titles). My favorite book so far this year is, hands down, The Dean’s Watch by Elizabeth Goudge. 
      ● Poetry speaks to my soul. A few of my favorites include Shakespeare’s sonnets, Emily Dickinson, Robert Herrick, Rupert Brooke and of course, Betty’s favorite John Donne. I was thrilled to see his effigy at St. Paul’s! 
      My five Desert Island books would be The Bible, the Oxford Book of English Verse, The Pickwick Papers (it’s very long and very entertaining!), The Count of Monte Cristo (ditto), and a Betty. 
      In winter, I do most of my reading in my library. In summer, I read outside a lot on the patio. 
      My TBR pile. Bwahahaha. I own between 2000 to 3000 books, at least half of which I’ve not yet read. Nevertheless my “immediate” TBR includes the rest of the Thrush Green series which I’m rereading through; Donne: A Reformed Soul by John Stubbs; A Natural History of the Hedgerow by John Wright; Lark Rise to Candleford; and The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir.
      Betty Pam's TBR pile was getting out of control.
      I cannot do audiobooks because I fall asleep or get distracted by my own thoughts. I don’t really have memories of being read to, except later on at school. I know my mom read to me from the time I was born, but I soon learned to read and insisted on reading to myself. My mom says I started reading at age 3 but I have no memories of not knowing how to read. 
      Second grade was a big year for me, book-wise. I remember a book called Sabotage, an adventure/spy story that I have looked for for years. My school library also had a lot of the woodland stories by Thornton Burgess and I read them all several times. I remember I got a little trophy because I read 256 books that year, and come to think of it, I suppose I’ve consistently read about 200 books every year since then. That’s a lot of books (about 8,800). 
      I hate recommending books, especially for people I don’t know well, however, the ones that I recommend the most, and with the most positive feedback are: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn; The Mrs. Pollifax series; and The Miss Julia series by Ann B. Ross (it’s about a Southern Lady (capital “L” on purpose) who has just been widowed and is introduced, by her husband’s mistress, to her husband’s love child. What happens next is equally hilarious and touching.)
      Thanks for letting us rock out to your jams today, Betty Pam!

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      Reading with Betty Bridget

      April 2, 2019, 7:00 am
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      Introduce yourself (Be as vague or as specific as you like.)
      Hi, I’m Bridget. I’m a lifelong reader and work as a youth services librarian. I was born and raised in East Tennessee, but now I live and work in Western North Carolina.
      Betty Bridget aced the "Shushing With My Eyes" test.

      When did you start reading Betty Neels?
      I first read Betty in high school. My local library had some of the gold three-in-one omnibus Harlequin Treasuries and I remember only liking the ones Betty wrote. I started collecting Betty books in college via eBay lots.

      What is your favorite book(s) and why?
      Do I have to pick? I really like almost all of them for various reasons, but the ones I reread often are Dearest Mary Jane, Cassandra by Chance, Henrietta’s Own Castle, Damsel in Green, and Tabitha in Moonlight. I could go on but by then I’d have listed all the books Betty ever wrote.

      Least favorite and why?
      I don’t recall specific titles, but any where there are particularly nasty Veronicas or children.
      Veronica had popped in
      for a spot of tea...

      What appeals to you about Betty Neels novels and why do you find yourself attached to them?
      The details—the food, the clothes, the pets, the quiet lives the heroines lead. Plus I’ve always enjoyed anything British since I was in middle school and high school and watched British comedies on PBS on Saturday night. Betty’s books are comfortable. When I don’t have the mental capacity to start anything new, I pick up a Betty.

      What is your favorite genre(s) to read?
      I enjoy cozy mysteries, literary fiction, historical mysteries, and inspirational historical fiction. To be honest, I’ll try anything once although I don’t really care for horror, science fiction, or high fantasy.

      Do you have a favorite book in any of these genres?
      ●     Children's/Picture book: As a children’s librarian who is responsible for ordering new books this is an impossible question to answer. Some of my favorite classic picture books are The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle, The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats, and Rosie’s Walk by Pat Hutchins. More recent favorites include the Bruce books by Ryan T. Higgins and the Mr. Panda books by Steve Antony.
      ●     Classics: For adults or kids? I read a lot of classic books in college as an English Lit major. Favorites include The Sketch Book and other stories by Washington Irving, The Robber Bridegroom by Eudora Welty, Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton, Fair and Tender Ladies by Lee Smith, and most of Shakespeare. My favorite children’s classics are The Borrowers series by Mary Norton, The Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder... 
      Betty Keira loved the 'Little House' books
      and found the series so educational.

            Daddy Long Legs by Jean Webster, The Pippi Longstocking books by Astrid Lindgren , and almost anything written by Louisa May Alcott or L. M. Montgomery.
      ●     Mystery: My favorite historical mystery authors are Tasha Alexander, Anna Lee Huber, Laurie R. King, Deanna Raybourn, Charles Todd, and Lauren Willig. My favorite cozy mystery authors are Susan Wittig Albert (Beatrix Potter), Laura Childs, Joanne Fluke, ,and Jenn McKinlay.
      ●     Sci-fi/Fantasy: I don’t really do science fiction, but one of my favorite fantasy series is The Enchanted Forest Chronicle by Patricia C. Wrede.
      ●     Biography/Autobiography: Beatrix Potter: A Life in Nature by Linda Lear
      ●     Non-fiction: anything by Bill Bryson—he’s hilarious.
      ●     YA: It’s easier to mention a few favorite authors—Joan Bauer, Jessica Day George, Frank Beddor, A. G. Howard, Maggie Stiefvater, Y. S. Lee, Nancy Springer,  and Kenneth Oppel.
      ●     What are the five books you would take if you were stranded on a deserted island?
      ●     A book by Betty Neels, a book by Diana Palmer, Anne of Green Gables, Emily Dickinson’s Complete Poems, and Grimm’s Fairy Tales

      Where do you do most of your reading?
      In my apartment either in bed or on the couch.
      What books are in your to-be-read pile?
      Belleweather by Susanna Kearsley, The Clockmaker’s Daughter by Kate Morton, Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield, Last Christmas in Paris by Hazel Gaynor & Heather Webb, The Taster by V. S. Alexander

      Do you listen to books? Any favorites on Audible?
      Yes, but I only listen to bboks I’ve already read because I don’t want to run the risk of disliking the book just because I don’t care for the narrator. I haven’t tried Audible yet. I have favorite narrators: Jennifer Ikeda, Kate Reading, and Caroline Lee.

      Do you have any memories of being read to or reading with others?
      Mom read to my siblings and me at bedtime when we were kids. My brother is four years younger than me and two years younger than my sister is. Mom was still reading to him as my sister and I got older, but we would go to his room and listen to mom read to him long after we were too old for bedtime stories. My cousin read The Fairy Rebel by Lynne Reid Banks to me when I was eight. It’s still one my favorite books. My 4th grade teacher Mrs. Sewell read us My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George in the afternoons. Again, it’s still one of my favorite books.

      What book was the first one to ignite your interest in reading?
      I’ve always been a reader. I don’t remember learning to read, but my 2ndgrade I was reading chapter books. Little Women has been a favorite since I received an abridged copy when I turned nine. By 5th grade, I was reading the original version along with Anne of Green Gables.
      Some come to reading early.
      Some come late.
      What's a book you find yourself constantly recommending?
      I actually make most of my recommendations to kids, their parents, or their grandparents. It goes with the job. My favorites to recommend are The Penderwicks series by Jeanne Birdsall and The Sisters Grimm series by Michael Buckley. I’m always recommending Betty to my friends, but no takers yet.

      Anything else?
      Thank you, Betty Kiera, for this opportunity to talk about one of my favorite things!


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      A Spreadsheet!

      February 7, 2020, 4:36 pm
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      Oh World Citizens, I am SUCH a fan of emails that treat my Betty-obsession like a study written up for the Lancet. Our dear Betty Anonymous had a question and then dug into it like a treacle tart. Here are her conclusions:


      We're ready to learn, Professor.


      What are the Ratios in the Canon: RDD+Nurse, RBD+Nurse, RDD+Non-Nurse,
      RBD+Non-Nurse?


      Over on our Facebook page, Betty Sutapa said it seemed to her "that the RDDs mostly encounter
      heroines from the nursing profession whereas RBDs mostly encounter heroines from non-nursing
      professions/stay-at-home heroines". And she wanted to know if her perception was correct.


      Taking a leaf out of Betty van den Betsy’s book, I’ve made my business to find out the exact numbers,
      which I couldn’t have done without her awesome spreadsheet: 
      This spreadsheet will leave you breathless. I really will.


      RESULTS:


      Nurse/RDD — 70 couples


      Nurse/RBD — 5 couples  
      Heidelberg Wedding
      Never Say Goodbye
      Once for All Time
      Romantic Encounter
      Summer Idyll


      Nurse/Non-Medical Hero — 2 couples
      Heaven around the Corner
      Judith
      Judith willed herself to find competency in a man who didn't know how to suture.


      Non-Nurse/RDD — 22 couples


      Non-Nurse/RBD — 32 couples


      Non-Nurse/ Non-Medical Hero — 4 couples
      All Else Confusion
      A Girl to Love
      Roses and Champagne
      Year’s Happy Ending


      135 STORIES, in total:
      She totted up the sums on the underside of her crisp apron.


      Of the heroines 77 are nurses, 58 are not.
      On the heroes‘ side, we have 92 RDDs, 37 RBDs, and 6 Non-Medical men.


      NURSES
      In 70 novels, or ~52% of the Canon, Nurses are paired with RDDs.
      That means 76% of the RDDs marry Nurses.


      Nurses paired with RBDs are to be found in 5 novels only, or ~4%. 
      That’s only 13.5% of the RBDs.


      NON-NURSES
      22 of the couples, or ~16%, are pairings of RDDs and Non-Nurses.
      That’s 24% of the RDDs.


      In 32 stories, or ~24% of The Great Betty’s oeuvre, RBDs end up marrying Non-Nurses. 
      That’s 86.5% of the RBDs!


      NON-MEDICAL HEROES
      Not every man is a doctor.

      In 2 stories only, or ~1.5%, do we have Nurses marrying Non-Medical Heroes.
      And in 4 stories, almost 3% of the Canon, Non-Nurses marry Non-Medical Heroes.


      That means exactly ⅓ of the Non-Medical Heroes marry nurses, ⅔ of the Non-Medical Heroes end up married to Non-Nurses.


      I counted student nurses as nurses.


      Nanny by Chance: non-nurse/short stint as student nurse/non-nurse — I counted her as a non-nurse.


      Among the non-nurses, we have a physiotherapist, a heroine who spent part of the novel working as
      an orderly at a hospital, one who jobbed on a geriatric ward, and a couple of nurse’s aids.

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