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Original poster

The hiuse at riverton....this is a pile of crap isn't it...and are all richard and judy reads awful?

104 replies

zippitippitoes · 28/08/2007 08:22

...bouhgt it in tesco as i wanted to read something and a few pages in it is not my kind of book at all, can't stand the faux way it is written and just seems a horrible big house illiterate cliche...does it get any better or should i just bin it?

and are all books with richard and judy recommends on rubbish?

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Original poster
zippitippitoes · 28/08/2007 14:48

or titanic

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Original poster
zippitippitoes · 28/08/2007 14:48

can't believe any writer would actually admit they were influenced by upstairs downstairs

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expatinscotland · 28/08/2007 14:46

She appears to also be influenced by the film 'Titanic'.

wheresthehamster · 28/08/2007 14:43

So totally predictable but I read it all hoping for a surprise twist at the end. No such luck. Agree about lifted from Upstairs Downstairs and no mention of the suffragettes even though Hannah was a raging feminist.

Also hated it because it was described as "edwardian" when the main action took place during the war years.

expatinscotland · 28/08/2007 14:42

Or 'Makes satisfying thud when hurled to the floor'? Or 'I use it to kill spiders'? 'Satisfying addition to your patio chiminea fire on a chilly evening.'

expatinscotland · 28/08/2007 14:41

I wonder if 'This book was a bucket of wank' would be acceptable to them as a review?

Original poster
zippitippitoes · 28/08/2007 14:31

and on riverton they seem to like it!

but there is this one

My husband bought me The House At Riverton because it was cheap! I therefore felt I had to read it. In the end I speed read it. It was totally predictable and stereotypical. I felt the author had watched the boxed sets of Upstairs Downstairs DVD's. among the servants we had the lot from U D, Hudson, Mrs. Bridges, even drippy Ruby in the character of Kate. Who wants to read a book with the vision of Gordon Jackson in their head? Therefore I wasn't surprised to read that U D was one of her influential sources.

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BecauseImWorthIt · 28/08/2007 14:29

It depends on your expectations of a book really. I read it on a blazing hot day on holiday by the swimming pool - and it sufficed perfectly well!

Original poster
zippitippitoes · 28/08/2007 14:28

pmsl I just looked at them

like the autor is fantasising about himself one..

and the don't know why this is one of richard and judy's summer reads it wouldn't last a whole holiday

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UnquietDad · 28/08/2007 14:24

Have just read the Amazon reviews for "Relentless". It sounds a laugh, doesn't it?

Original poster
zippitippitoes · 28/08/2007 14:02

I should think these books would put people off reading..god if riverton was my introduction I'd never try again

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expatinscotland · 28/08/2007 14:00

Yes, well, there is a first time and a last time for everything, and that was the first and last time I buy a R&J book club recommendation.

At the end, I was hoping Rob would fire at Emily and then the bullet would pass through her and kill Hannah, too .

docket · 28/08/2007 13:52

Ugh. I foolishly bought the Richard and Judy recommended 'Relentless' as I was in the mood for some light crime tripe. It's quite possibly the worst book I've ever attempted to read, the author makes Dan Brown look like a literary genius. Avoid, avoid...

Original poster
zippitippitoes · 28/08/2007 13:49

hallam

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Original poster
zippitippitoes · 28/08/2007 13:49

I actually once applied to do a creative writing ma at sheffield, was interviewed but ahem rejected....that was poetry

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UnquietDad · 28/08/2007 13:29

Oh, there are many good creative writing classes and many poor ones! Not everyone who can write can teach.

Original poster
zippitippitoes · 28/08/2007 13:27

ah any implied criticism of creative writing classes is withdrawn

I have actually been on a creative writing course at hebden bridge..well improvised play writing type thing with debbie does stuff with that bloke in the royle family islitt (isitt?) and it was good

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UnquietDad · 28/08/2007 13:22

zippi - yes I am, and yes I do.

robinpud · 28/08/2007 13:21

Oh god- I have just finished the Memory Keeper's daughter and did enjoy it and was soooo looking forward to arrival of bf from London with lovely lovely books for me to read. ( books are very big and very expensive here in OZ) Anyway when she unpacked she said " I couldn't choose so I picked up 4 with the R&J recommendation "
How could she squander her choices thus.. am now stuck with reading crappy chick lit book with a Galaxy sticker on it. What does that mean?

robinpud · 28/08/2007 13:21

Oh god- I have just finished the Memory Keeper's daughter and did enjoy it and was soooo looking forward to arrival of bf from London with lovely lovely books for me to read. ( books are very big and very expensive here in OZ) Anyway when she unpacked she said " I couldn't choose so I picked up 4 with the R&J recommendation "
How could she squander her choices thus.. am now stuck with reading crappy chick lit book with a Galaxy sticker on it. What does that mean?

Pollyanna · 28/08/2007 13:10

oops that last post was me - forgot to change my name back.

Pukeyandfat · 28/08/2007 13:08

I totally agree - I read this on holiday as it had been left by the previous inhabitant of the villa. ds informed me (after a particularly educational week at granny's ) that this had been a R&J recommendation. Load of rubbish imo

(having said that, I also read Memory Keeper's daughter and quite enjoyed it )

Original poster
zippitippitoes · 28/08/2007 13:03

oh just looked at your profile..you don't teach creative writing do you?

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Original poster
zippitippitoes · 28/08/2007 13:01

unquietdad are you a writer..and have i asked you this before?

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FioFio · 28/08/2007 12:58

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