This week I had SO many things I was determined to get through – the least of these being that I would finish the 6th (!) part of Middlemarch and finally post about it.
Alas.
Twas not meant to be.
There I was, grouching over the vacuuming (yet again) when hunkering down to extinguish the ever present (and LARGE) dust bunnies under a bookcase – what did I discover? Just a sad, slip of a paperback, lying spine down and corners dog-eared, smooshed up against the wall.
I sighed deeply, muttered unmentionable curses and pulled it out – only to find resting in my ungrateful hands was – brace yourselves:
An unread, (I repeat, UNREAD (!!!!)) Betty Neels.
STOP THE PRESSES.
The Actual Book…
My cats came running, convinced I had been prematurely crushed beneath a large pile of books, but no, it was just me, squeeing like a 9yr old at a My Little Pony Convention.
I am not sure how it came to be lying there, all sad and disconsolate, but I am hazarding one of the following completely plausible theories:
1) The tiny clean-and-tidy deities were rewarding me for my (grudging) attempt at housework
2) There was a bookcase squirmish and one of the heftier, posher tomes (I’m looking at you Becky Sharp) took exception to it, thus leading to its recumbent position
or
3) I have a secret book faerie that is rewarding me with snowflake speshul books because reasons.
It is important to note that an unread Neels is triune in amazing-ness because:
1) There are a finite amount of Neels in the world, and every time you read one? That is one less you can discover.
2) They are REALLY hard to find anywhere. My local libraries combined have 5. Out of 135 (ish). And I only find one every few months at the second hand books stores and op-shops in the area.
3) A never-before-read Neels is a delicious treat, like an upside-down pineapple cake: It is ALWAYS good (a not-that-great Neels is still leagues ahead of any other romance) and goes perfectly with lashings of cream.
Plus has the added benefit of making you want to take up dress-making and bicycle-riding and other hyphenated things…Hence my heretofore mentioned excitement.
An Independent Woman. (only a little spoiler-ish)
The much prettier cover…
Meet Julia. One of three sisters, she has always stood by the irrefutable premise that women should stand on their own two feet.
She comes across like a combination of:
and
She shares a house with her two (much prettier) sisters, and when we (and Professor Gerard van der Maes) first encounter her, she is making a new dress out of a set of curtains that were hanging in the spare room.
They strike sparks off one another immediately.
‘Do sit down,’ said Julia, being sociable.
Instead he crossed the room to stand beside her and look down at the stuff spread out on the carpet.
‘It looks like a curtain,’ he observed.
‘It is a curtain,’ said Julia snappishly…
‘You are a skilled needlewoman?’
***
She picked up the coffee pot. ‘More coffee, Professor?’
Her tone dared him to say yes and delay his departure.
He had a second cup, and she hated him. And she thought he would never go.
***
Their next encounter is at the very dance Julia was making her dress for.
It goes even less well…
***
He looked amused. ‘I can’t say that I agree with Oscar about your dress, but then I know it’s a curtain, don’t I?’
He was sorry the moment he had said it; for a moment she had the look of a small girl who had been slapped for no reason at all. But only for a moment. Julia stared up into his handsome face. ‘Go away, Professor. I don’t like you and I hope I never see you again.’
***
And thus the scene is set. For reasons best known to Providence, Julia keeps ending up in the Professor’s sphere of influence. They meet again at a dinner; he bails her out of trouble, he feeds her. And slowly they begin to see each other in a different light.
The Professor originally thinks Julia is sharp-tongued and difficult, but when he sees her naive treatment of an extremely expensive glass of champagne he is stabbed with unexpected feelings of tenderness.
On Julia’s part, she starts to feel like she mis-judged him, wishing their encounters weren’t quite so antagonistic.
For a relatively short book, A LOT happens.
- Ruth & Monica (the sisters) both get married.
- Ruth gets sick, and Gerard offers her and Julia a stay in his country cottage in Holland, so Ruth can recoup.
- Julia loses her job.
- Then gains a job.
- Then travels through Holland with the Professor.
- She finishes a job and then picks up yet another.
- Gets a wardrobe update (it’s not a Neels unless there is a wardrobe makeover (!).
- Travels to Carlisle.
- Ends up in a FIRE.
- Sets up her own shop.
And all the way through, Gerard is there, in and out of her life; calm, resolute and gentle.
It’s not really a spoiler to say that Gerard discovers he has fallen in love with Julia much earlier in the story, because in reality, this story isn’t about Gerard.
It’s about Julia. Her bid for independence; her reluctance to settle for second best; her intrepid spirit of adventure as she tries to carve out a space for herself in a cold and inhospitable world.
***
‘I wasn’t going to tell you—I’m going away—tomorrow morning…I’ve got a most interesting job. I want to get away from London…’
‘You were not going to tell me?’ His voice was as quiet as his face.
‘No—no, I wasn’t.’ She had spoken too loudly, and now added recklessly, ‘Why should I?’
‘Indeed, why should you?’ He smiled gently. ‘I hope that you will be very happy.’
‘Of course I shall be happy,’ said Julia in a cross voice, wishing that he would go so that she might burst into tears in peace.
Which was exactly what he did do, blandly wishing her goodbye, telling her cheerfully that he would see himself out.
She wept into the eggs.
***
Julia is a rather isolated character, which manifests in a number of ways: she has no close friends, apart from her sisters; and with no real qualifications, no traditional workplace either. It means she is free to travel at the drop of a hat, but lacks the resources to do so.
And whilst it would be easy for Neels to make Gerard the Prince Charming to sweep Julia off her work-worn feet, she resists (for the most part) the urge to do so, and the story is definitely the better for it.
***
Though a man of no conceit, he was aware that he could make her fall in love with him—but he had no intention of doing that; she must learn to love him of her own free will…He didn’t think that she was happy; she liked her work and the surroundings in which she lived but she was sad about something. There was nothing he could do for the moment only have patience.
***
Neel’s Professor is blunt and to the point, ruthlessly honest and never prevaricates, yet he is also gentle and compassionate, particularly with Julia.
***
‘I have waited patiently for you to make a career for yourself, for it seemed to me that that was what you wanted more than anything else. But there is a limit to a man’s patience and I am at the end of mine. But you have only to say, Go away, and I will go.’
***
Is it perfect? No. But it IS Betty Neels, and it is one of the last books she wrote.
It was first published in MAY 2001, but there is very little sign of anything remotely modern. No mobile phones, ipods, or anything that smacks of life beyond the 1970s. More than anything, there is a slight melancholy sense of loneliness that seems to permeate the story. Julia ends up fairly solitary, until Gerard comes along and declares his love.
It’s easy to write that off as Neels making Julia relapse on her earlier self reliant stance – but I think that is rather erroneous. It’s not that her autonomy was wrong, but rather that she tried to show it through a variety of ill-though-out mechanisms and she tried to use the idea of independence to resist her feelings for Gerard.
- She ran away from Gerard (and her love for him) and wouldn’t tell him where she was going.
- She decided to set up a shop – and run it by herself, not because she REALLY wanted to, but only because ‘there wasn’t anything else’
Using this theory, it then makes sense (in the logic of Romancelandia, at least) that nothing ever quite works out for Julia in the long run. Fate has decreed her a partner, and a partner she shall have.
It doesn’t feel like Neels is against singleness and the evidence of independence, but rather, for Julia, she decided it was not to be.
And whilst I might not let that pass for another author – for Neels?
Added bonus: SO MUCH food in this book:
- Dinners with watercress soup, duckling in an orange sauce andpofferjes light as air and smothered with cream.
- Teas with eggs and ham, several kinds of bread, butter, pots of jam, a splendid cake and a great pot of tea.
- Suppers with game soup, roast beef with Yorkshire pudding to dream of, roasted parsnips, crisp and golden brown, and a crême brulée
I wavered between feeling ravenously hungry and slightly unwell…
And side note:
I notice a lot of Neel’s heroines (including Julia) seem to have ‘tip-tilted noses’ I am not exactly sure what that looks like, (although it does sound delightful) but I am thinking something in the spectrum Cindy Lou of The Grinch:
and the impossibly adorable Sailor Moon noses…
But where ever it falls?
I am totally wishing I had one.
Sincerely,
Valancy: now vaccuming MUCH more regularly and checking behind ALL bookcases. What? I’m just covering all bases is all…
🙂
Header Image: Bridge of Sighs, John Singer Sargent,c.1903-04; watercolor with body color over pencil on paper, Brooklyn Museum, New York, NY, USA
Blue Castle Considerations 
Your review was as refreshing as reading the Neels! She is sublime and loveable. And such a good writer. I am in the midst of shelf (shelve?) cleaning purgatory … with at least 60 Neels laid out on the floor in the process of organizing by year of publication. I only have one item in my bucket list: like you, to possess all Neels in paper!
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Ok – well, now it is official: I am wracked with book envy – you have 60 NEELS???!!! I, sadly, don’t have enough paperback versions to even fill a whole shelf, let alone organise pub-year (!) But one day…. 😉
I will admit though – to having a entire bookcase dedicated to Heyer — I’ve collected them since I was about 15, and have doubles and first editions and hardcovers, different cover versions – and I LOVE reorganising them. Especially on rainy days – nothing like a good purge!
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Sighs. WHOLE LOTFUL OF HEYERS? DEEP SIGHS! Last year, I REALLY REALLY wanted to buy as many Heyers as I could. Someone must have heard my wish ‘cus within a few days a whole slew of them went on sale for about $2.00. Only, they were the Kindle edition. I would still buy the paper version! My favorite so far has been Frederica. I’ll probably write about it once I’ve re-read it at some point!
I’d love to buy paper version of the Neels that I have REALLY LOVED so far! If only!
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Ooh – I love it when there is a serendipitous sale !! And Frederica definitely has to be near the top of my Heyer Favs – I LOVE Frederica and Alverstoke’s oh-so subtle romance, it is gorgeous – plus you add in Endymion & Charis (most boring couple alive) and Felix ??? It is dang near perfection!
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Oh, no! I’m sorry I caused book envy, esp. the wracky kind. I’ve always imagined you with like the entire Neels collection, cheesy covers and pretty watercoloured ones that came later from Harlequin.
I have a lot of new Heyers. I love the covers. And I have them in e when Sourcebooks did the big Heyer-birthday sale many moons ago.
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Oh – in an ideal world with unlimited funds – I would have ALL of the Neels (*maniacal laugh*) sadly, my bank balance is less than ideal and even cheesy covered Neels start about $9 – not including postage. Which adds up FAST.
There was a sale a few yrs back on Neels e-books – like $1.50-$2 each and I bought up BIG. It’s really not the same though. I want the books in my handy-pandys… Still hope springs eternal for a little old dear in the area to pop off the mortal coil and leave behind her collection ( or is that too crass??)
I love the new Heyer covers though – with classical artwork details?? SOO pretty !! ^_^
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Alright, clearly my reading life heretofore has been a sham. I’ve never read Betty Neels. I’ve clearly got a lot of work to do.
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Okay, I already feel lots better! (Yeah, I’ve never read her either–what can I say?)
Lovely review, m’lady Valancy!
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LOL! I like to think of myself as a small, but vital part of the Neels Proselytising Army; we may not number that many…but we make up for it in passion! 😛
If you ever come across one – grab it!
Because one day, you’ll pick it up, read it, and there is no going back from there! And you will still be in the enviable position of having 135 to go (!)
Side Note: super-glad to see you back in these neck of the woods – I missed you! 🙂
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They ARE lovely! Such sweet romances – and with sparky heroines, tall dark doctors who drive silent silver rolls royces…
The food, the clothes, Holland & HEAs? The best of comfort-reads!
🙂
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Do you have a particular one or two that you would recommend for a Neels newbie?
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Oooh, well… I always think the most quintessential Neels books, (or at least the ones I end up liking the best) tend to be the ones with the heroine’s name in the title.
It’s odd, and I’m not sure why exactly – but there you go!
If you are after a range of Neels (not just the doctor/nurse romances, try:
– Discovering Daisy
– Henrietta’s Own Castle
– Dearest Mary Jane
– A Girl Named Rose
– Cassandra by Chance
Also:
– Pineapple Girl
– Damsel in Green
I am going to stop, before I just end up listing them all! lol
If you are an OpenLibrary aficionado, there are a few of them there that are available to borrow – so if you’re not sure about them, it may be a good way to go…!
Either way – I’d love to know what your thoughts on them are! 🙂
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Thank you so much for the suggestions!
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Guess what? Guess what? I started reading Neels only about a year or so ago and so I HAVE A WHOLE LOTFUL (yes, that’s not a word :p) OF NEELS TO READ! I hoard them and pull them out ONLY IN DIRE NEED! (ok, sometimes not so dire needs too!)
I think my favorite Neels so far is A Girl to Love but really, I love the comfort of the food, furniture and jerseys that I’m sure to find in her books! 😀
Will have to look up this one as well!
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I am definitely prepared to accept LOTFUL as a word. It covers all those instances with another descriptor just won’t do!
I too, squirrel them away until it is an EMERGENCY, when-no-other-book-will-do. Except for those other times, when I just can’t resist (like now!)
And I adore A Girl to Love – the Jaded Playwright and the Country Girl??? (*gushy sigh*)
😛
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also, those cleaning faeries MUST REALLY LOVE YOU!!!! 😀 😀 😀 😀
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LOL!
I like to think they appreciate my attempt to lower the current dust bunny population – however sporadic it may be! 😀
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Wah! It looks like my Overdrive *used* to have it, but no more.
On the bright side, I think I have that kind of nose! Also, dimples.
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LOL! Can you make a dress out of a curtain? …Or ride a bicycle with a French Stick in its basket without falling into a ditch?
If so, I am now 98% positive you are a reincarnate of a Neels heroine.
When you get to the wardrobe-makeover portion of your life – let me know…I am willing to take all cast offs 😉
(It was totally the dimples that sold me on this theory. 😀 )
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There’s a used book store near me that has a whole pile of Neels books. My problem is we don’t have much space for books and I prefer ebooks. I went on a Neels binge when Scribd came along (they had so many) and then I had the idea I should ration them, so I didn’t run out. And then Scribd discovered that romances were losing them money and no more Neels.
Mills and boon have been reissuing them in themed three book editions. But I haven’t read this one.
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It is such a conundrum isn’t? I LOVE the ease of access and cheapness and portability of e-books – and the fact that they release so many backlisters that you mightn’t be able to buy normally…BUT physical books are friendly – and pretty – and I love seeing them all lined up on my bookshelves…
If you do come across this one (e-book or otherwise) it is definitely worth a read. Even just because it (along with The Doctor’s Girl) was the last of hers to be published…
btw: persnickety – my new favourite word of the week. ☺️
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Just heard about your blog on a Facebook group called, “The Uncrushable Jersey Dress,” which is an off-shoot from a blog of the same name run by a couple of sisters who are Betty nuts. We are dedicated Betty fans, and we share our love for all things Betty, Heyer, et al. Our list of favorites comes very close, plus or minus, to yours!
I’ve been reading Neels since I was a young girl and I’m now an ancient grandmother of nearly 61 years. I’m not bragging at all, but incredibly blessed to say I own the entire Canon (as we call it on TUJD) after years of collecting. My best friend snagged the one I just couldn’t find for me, paying an astonishing $35 for it. 15 years ago!!
Many of us have had meet-ups over the years. I hosted a tea here with two other Bettys (we call ourselves by Betty Mary, Betty Cindy, etc.) We enjoyed tea and lemonade and scones with clotted cream and jam and other less specifically Betty treats, but certainly in the spirit of “lashings of cream.”
I invite and encourage you to check us out, if you haven’t already.
Cindy<
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OMG – thank you so much for the invitation to the TUJD facebook group! I am SO THERE! (I actually requested to join yesterday and was granted access today – and I am TRES excited…. I followed the blog-page by the same name years ago, but I’m not a huge facebook person, so I didn’t realise that group was a thing!
I also realised it has been SO long since I read a Neels, (as evidenced by the last time I posted here and the date of this particular post) that I am going to have to start them all over again. I am not sorry at all … time lapses between Neels only makes the re-reads better! Thank you so much for commenting and reminding me of the GOOD THINGS in life… 🙂
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