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Original poster

Jolly Cooper - Riders

24 replies

tropicbloom · 21/10/2022 19:56

Currently listening to this on audible, I'm just over halfway through and there is still 11 hours left! So much has happened and yet not much has happened at all. Lots of mentions of bushes and shaving of bushes and diets and women's weight and Rupert seemingly making women swoon yet having zero charm whatsoever. I think a low point was when cooper describes an aroused woman having snail trails on her thigh 🤮

SPOILER

Was so annoyed when the feminist breast feeding best friend also couldn't resist Rupert's oafish charms and turns out to be a raging sweaty nympho 😂

I'm currently at the bit where billy has just broken up with Jamie and Jake has busted his leg so no spoilers from there one please 😬

OP posts:
Original poster
tropicbloom · 21/10/2022 20:01

Lol jolly cooper, sorry about that.

OP posts:
BasilParsley · 21/10/2022 20:01

Typical mid-1980s 'chick lit" before chick lit was invented... Totally not relating to the real world at all. The author struck lucky though with the royalties ... :)

Gindrinker43 · 21/10/2022 20:05

Just finished Jump on Audible, I was both horrified and enthralled at the same time.

Arcticlife · 21/10/2022 20:05

I love the references to characters washing hair or not washing their hair.

Original poster
tropicbloom · 21/10/2022 20:21

Gindrinker43 · 21/10/2022 20:05

Just finished Jump on Audible, I was both horrified and enthralled at the same time.

Ha yes this is exactly it!

OP posts:
Original poster
tropicbloom · 21/10/2022 20:24

Arcticlife · 21/10/2022 20:05

I love the references to characters washing hair or not washing their hair.

Yes that is definitely a recurring theme 😂

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AnApparitionQuipped · 21/10/2022 20:26

Rupert gets better in Rivals, which is my favourite of the novels. Are you going to listen to them all in order?

Original poster
tropicbloom · 21/10/2022 20:33

AnApparitionQuipped · 21/10/2022 20:26

Rupert gets better in Rivals, which is my favourite of the novels. Are you going to listen to them all in order?

Probably! I'm hideously gripped tbh despite all the times I find myself cringing.

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AnApparitionQuipped · 21/10/2022 20:38

Wait till you meet Rannaldini 😂

decisionsdecisions22 · 21/10/2022 20:53

Started reading Polo on holiday this week but felt a bit like i do when I read Enid Blyton - it's from a completely different time with entirely different social norms and actually not a place I want to go back to!

lmnabc · 21/10/2022 20:59

I've read the whole series snd loved them all .

Original poster
tropicbloom · 22/10/2022 10:55

Also she keeps making out that these horseriders are super famous household names, I can't name a single show jumper! Except maybe princess Zara.

Is it an 80s thing?

OP posts:
StrychnineInTheSandwiches · 22/10/2022 10:58

tropicbloom · 22/10/2022 10:55

Also she keeps making out that these horseriders are super famous household names, I can't name a single show jumper! Except maybe princess Zara.

Is it an 80s thing?

I seem to remember a showjumper called Harvey Smith being quite famous. I was never interested in horses so if I can remember his name from my 1980s childhood he must have been a celeb of sorts.

WellErrr · 22/10/2022 11:00

In those days, showjumpers were definitely household names.

I LOVE Riders, even though it’s so dated. It reminds me of a better time before social media and instant messaging existed.

Also having worked in the equine industry for many years I can confirm that it is still fairly accurate in many ways. Jilly must have had a very good knowledge of life as a competition groom in the Cotswolds is all I can say!

wifeofaclosefriend · 22/10/2022 11:02

There is supposedly a new book due to come out anytime. I cannot wait, I love Jilly Cooper books and have re-read them all several times.

Tallisker · 22/10/2022 11:07

Victoria Coren Mitchell mentioned Imogen on Only Connect, I now have to dig it out and read it again.

Can anyone remember which one it was? Was it the tennis player and the South of France one?

Original poster
tropicbloom · 22/10/2022 11:07

WellErrr · 22/10/2022 11:00

In those days, showjumpers were definitely household names.

I LOVE Riders, even though it’s so dated. It reminds me of a better time before social media and instant messaging existed.

Also having worked in the equine industry for many years I can confirm that it is still fairly accurate in many ways. Jilly must have had a very good knowledge of life as a competition groom in the Cotswolds is all I can say!

Yes I quite like the fact the characters are still sending telegrams!

The descriptions of the women's bodies are quite gross though, she just describes one woman's boobs as "half filled bean bags" Confused

OP posts:
SydneyCarton · 22/10/2022 11:09

Tallisker · 22/10/2022 11:07

Victoria Coren Mitchell mentioned Imogen on Only Connect, I now have to dig it out and read it again.

Can anyone remember which one it was? Was it the tennis player and the South of France one?

Yes, innocent Imogen goes on holiday with Nicky the dashing tennis ace and his smart London friends. I loved the model called Cable 🤣. Her real name turned out to be Enid Sugden!

CharlotteStreet · 22/10/2022 11:17

I read them all at the time and loved them all - Rivals was my favourite too. Missed out most of the orchestra ones. Quite liked the school one and Jump. Bought "Mount" at an airport when it came out (nearly doubled my carry on weight!). Even with a five hour delay I only got to page 54 (I just checked as it's still on my bedside table years later). Suffice to say it seems I've grown out of Jilly Cooper but I'm grateful to her for getting me through some lonely times when I first left home.

And "Jolly Cooper" is a great typo!

CharlotteStreet · 22/10/2022 11:24

SydneyCarton · 22/10/2022 11:09

Yes, innocent Imogen goes on holiday with Nicky the dashing tennis ace and his smart London friends. I loved the model called Cable 🤣. Her real name turned out to be Enid Sugden!

Show quote history

My best friend at the time was called Imogen - I must have read the "name" books half a dozen times.

There was also a book of short stories and there was one where a girl hated her ankles until her paramour bought her a pair of fishnets and hey presto! Lovely ankles! (They don't work by the way unless you have the legs of a dancer or a racehorse.)

Ifailed · 22/10/2022 11:25

In those days, showjumpers were definitely household names.

Can't say I agree, showjumping is something I'm only aware of during the Olympics, along with the 'dancing' horses.

AnApparitionQuipped · 22/10/2022 11:27

It's a slightly different universe, where not only show-jumpers and polo players but also many classical musicians are household names across all demographics.

WellErrr · 22/10/2022 11:28

Can't say I agree, showjumping is something I'm only aware of during the Olympics, along with the 'dancing' horses.

I’m talking about the 70s - not the present day.

Tallisker · 22/10/2022 11:44

Ah yes, Imogen with her jumble sale swimsuit with a bit of moth in the seat.

I could never understand that at school she was ragged for weighing 11 stone, but had since lost over 3 stone. So she was under 8 stone but everyone thought she was fat? And if someone 'ran a leisurely hand over my midriff' they'd get a punch in the chops.

Perhaps I don't need to re-read it after all Grin

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