Weird---Rance Nelius, a character in Grace Livingston Hill's book Stranger Within the Gates, name so

[bobbieinok]

Close to Rrince Priebus!?

Hill was a conservative Christian author of romance novels presenting a conservative Christian message.

I like some of them, eg, The Enchanted Barn and Cloudy Jewel.

In both these and others there are long descriptions of the main characters decorating their homes. They offer interesting info about what was viewed as good decorating among some circles at the beginning of the 20th century

[catrose]

1. I vaguely remember that

I gobbled up her books when I was a teenager, though even then balking at "I read the Bible cover to cover, and there's not one contradiction in it, not one." Because, you see, I also read the Bible from cover to cover when I was 13, and it left me with...questions.

Things have changed in my mind and in the world in fifty years, but I do remember those books fondly for the companions they were to me. (Other people have friends. I have books.) And I remember thinking Rance Nelius was a weird name. Rince Priebus? Weirder.

[bobbieinok]

4. Yrs ago I read many but didn't catch most of the theology. Rereading some, finding --

In Street of the City, which has a spy story framework, there's a Bible study group that expounds on 'the rapture' and the importance of careful study of the Schofield study Bible. Check out the disastrous influence that Bible has had on conservative Christianity. Note--it's still being read and closely studied today.

[Igel]

2. Hill died in 1947. Priebus was born in '72.

His first name is Reinhold. "Reince" is his nickname.

[robbob]

3. Just goes to show...

A dorky name is a dorky name, no matter the era...

[50 Shades Of Blue]

5. Grace Livingston Hill is a name I never expected to see here, LOL!

This old heathen just adores her books, which I first discovered in high school, and I'm pretty sure I've read them all (including the two you mentioned). I can do without the Christian stuff, but she had a real way with a word. I love the '20's, '30's, and '40's settings too. I think she had some even older than that.

[bobbieinok]

6. Many free online at archive.bookfrom.net. Also several pages of titles at gutenberg

So you can maybe reread some

[50 Shades Of Blue]

7. Good to know - thanks!

[bobbieinok]

8. Also many free at 100vampirenovels.net

Lots of Agatha Christie there too, I think

Here and at the other site type in at appropriate place the name of author you're looking for

At one or other I've found Carla Kelly books, Patricia Veryan, dragon riders of Pern books, Marion Zimmer Bradley books, Diana Wynne Jones books.

Older authors like Rex Stout and recent ones like the shifter series by Shelly Laurenston

And Anne Perry, Anne Bishop 'Others' series. If you haven't discovered them, try one

[50 Shades Of Blue]

11. Thanks! I was really into MZB's Darkover novels, I'll have to see if they're available.

[bobbieinok]

12. Some are at bookfrom or whatever it's called. I find it hard to wrap my head around that name!

[Hortensis]

9. I'm hooked and just downloaded "Stranger" for free.

In good part to check out the notions of good decorating in her society of that era, but also on just being a person.

I find Edith Wharton's novels depressing, but her book instructing on appropriate decorating for her society very interesting. Halls within a home analogous to public streets, and decorated appropriately impersonally, due to all the servants and visitors. What a rigidly conservative, conforming snoot, though. She didn't allow many choices at all.

Thanks, Bobbieinok.

[bobbieinok]

10. Have you read Gene Stratton Porter's Girl of the Limberlost and The Harvester? Decorating seems v m

Decorating seems very in today, sort of Shaker style.

Mom (1913-2005) read Freckles and Girl as a kid and introduced them to me.

Harvester has lots of info about raising herbs. The culture is very conservative early 20th century

I like most of her books, but Her Father's Daughter really freaked me out. Set in CA, in the 20s if I remember correctly, it is EXTREMELY anti-oriental/anti-Japanese

Also father tells her HS boyfriend he's not to think of marriage until he's finished college and has spent several yrs earning to support a family. The father introduces her to an OK man who is already there