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Jilly Cooper recommendations please

89 replies

Asterales · 29/06/2023 18:39

I'm going on holiday in a few weeks and am planning 10 days on a sun lounger with a cocktail and a book. I really want some easy escapism, and Jilly Cooper (or similar) fits the bill perfectly. I've read all of the Rutshire chronicles, and whilst I'm not averse to re-reading them I'm wondering whether it's worth branching out into her other work. I know there are lots of books with women's names as the titles (Octavia etc) but I've never read any and I'm hesitant to order loads and take them at the expense of tried and tested options if I won't like them! Can anyone advise or offer reviews please?

OP posts:
CatherineMaitland · 30/06/2023 22:33

Love Imogen. The bitchiness and tawdry glamour. Re-read it every year, sometimes more than once. Great ending, too.

But yes, they are of their time.

JaneJeffer · 30/06/2023 22:38

I didn't like the Bagshaw books at all and felt like they were written by a man pretending to be a woman!

Trixibella · 30/06/2023 22:42

Prudence Harriet and Imogen are lovely - noooo to Octavia. But the Riders group bonk is much worse.

I didn’t find Fiona Walker held a candle to her but she’s ok as an immediately forgotten plot on holiday.

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Shinyandnew1 · 30/06/2023 22:51

Trixibella · 30/06/2023 22:42

Prudence Harriet and Imogen are lovely - noooo to Octavia. But the Riders group bonk is much worse.

I didn’t find Fiona Walker held a candle to her but she’s ok as an immediately forgotten plot on holiday.

Which one was Octavia-is that where she was a nanny? Or was that Emily?

Bella was the one with Lazlo and the kidnap, I think?!

I have a vague recollection that one of the short stories in Lisa and co was used to make one of the longer name books?

Much as I liked Janna in Wicked, a lot of the stuff with the teens was just wrong!

CatherineMaitland · 01/07/2023 12:09

Harriet was the one where she was a nanny - another favourite of mine.

LaMarschallin · 01/07/2023 12:10

"Octavia" is the one where a socialite goes on a river cruise, intending to bag her old school friend's fiance.
"Emily" is the one where the heroine marries an artist and goes to live in Scotland with him and his family.
"Harriet" is the one where she's a nanny.

Just been reading an article about Aidan Turner in the Saturday Times magazine. He's been cast as Declan in "Rivals". Alex Hassell is playing Rupert (looked him up - not my idea of Rupert, but who could really be "the handsomest man in England"?).
AT says he's really enjoying making the show ("Never wanted a season two of anything more in my life") and there's so much sex in the show, they had to have two intimacy coaches.
Oooh-er...

LaMarschallin · 01/07/2023 12:11

X-posted, CatherineMaitland Smile

Peverellshire · 01/07/2023 13:17

LaMarschallin · 01/07/2023 12:10

"Octavia" is the one where a socialite goes on a river cruise, intending to bag her old school friend's fiance.
"Emily" is the one where the heroine marries an artist and goes to live in Scotland with him and his family.
"Harriet" is the one where she's a nanny.

Just been reading an article about Aidan Turner in the Saturday Times magazine. He's been cast as Declan in "Rivals". Alex Hassell is playing Rupert (looked him up - not my idea of Rupert, but who could really be "the handsomest man in England"?).
AT says he's really enjoying making the show ("Never wanted a season two of anything more in my life") and there's so much sex in the show, they had to have two intimacy coaches.
Oooh-er...

Was Andrew PB who was apparently meant to be the inspirational? I don’t see that APB was ever handsome, is it me?

I had heard the real inspiration was a man with similar name IRL, army etc & incredibly handsome IRL & polo linked. Etc. Except, he must have been around 20 when book written…

Peverellshire · 01/07/2023 13:18

’inspiration’ for RCB I mean…

JaneJeffer · 01/07/2023 13:41

I don’t see that APB was ever handsome, is it me?
No I think there is general bewilderment about that. Maybe he's very sexy in real life Grin

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 01/07/2023 14:03

The "name" books (Emily/Harriet etc) originallly had photos of Jilly made up to look like the title . Years ago ( late 80s) my DH bought them all for me Grin
The RCB ones (Riders etc) I read (and re-read) up to TMWMHJ .
Didn't finish Appasionata, Score, Wicked .
I haven't bothered with Jump or Mount
Finally got through Pandora on a long journey.

They can be very samey with the same phrases repeared . But if you suspend belief then they're fun and non-taxing.

LaMarschallin · 01/07/2023 16:31

Wiki says:
"Cooper has acknowledged that the character of Campbell-Black was inspired by David Somerset, 11th Duke of Beaufort, Andrew Parker Bowles, the former husband of Queen Camilla, and Michael Howard, 21st Earl of Suffolk"

I remember reading the interview where she said it. None of them really stand up to the "Rupert hype" looks-wise (I mean, who could?), so maybe it's a meld of their personalities...?!
I think APB used to be quite the "ladies' man" in his youth.

70isaLimitNotaTarget

The "name" books (Emily/Harriet etc) originallly had photos of Jilly made up to look like the title . Years ago ( late 80s) my DH bought them all for me

Very jealous, 70iaLNaT Envy
I used to have the full Jilly set too but lost them in a house move.
The new ones haven't the same feel but are definitely better than nothing.
At least they haven't been made more acceptable for the 21st century yet, afaict.

They can be very samey with the same phrases repeared

Oh, dear me, yes: people always "rock up" in their cars; someone being sick always "throws up and up and up"; the nouveaux riches always say things "May hubby and Ay" and have "serried ranks" of clashing bright flowers and as for Pearl and her "boxer dad" in "Wicked", in case we couldn't remember from one page to the next...
And why is Taggie always "shifting shyly from one leg to another"? It sounds like she's desperate for a pee.

Obviously hasn't put me off, mind - I appreciate I'm totally over-invested Blush

Shinyandnew1 · 01/07/2023 17:12

They can be very samey with the same phrases repeared

Absolutely! You need to drench yourself in Fracas, go on a grapefruit diet for 10 days, and then ‘write like mad’ so you can finish your book, and then you’re set for anything!

HarpyValley · 01/07/2023 17:54

Any woman over 40 or in a position of minor domestic authority is an “old boot”, there’ll be a hippy-type who “whips out a greyish tit” to breastfeed, there’ll be a “larky” minor character, and some couple will have sex that makes them act “joyous as otters”.

BestIsWest · 01/07/2023 17:59

Yes to all the cliches!
Imogen is my favourite too, I read it every summer as well and have probably done so since I was 15. I have a book called Cinderella in Sunlight that dates from the 1950s that Imogen reminds me of (Doctors daughter falls in love with unsuitable man and goes on holiday to the South of France with a group of his friends, one of whom is very ‘sardonic’ but takes her shopping for clothes etc, she then falls for him) and I often wonder did Jilly read it too? Jilly’s version is much funnier though (intentionally funny that is).

LittleBearPad · 01/07/2023 18:01

Harriet, Imogen and Prudence are good and I love some of the stories in Lisa & Co - particularly A Pressing Engagement.

I hope Tackle’s better than the last one. I didn’t finish it - sodding Gala.

Early Fiona Walker is good - very Jilly.

Custardonthehob · 01/07/2023 18:04

How about Penny Vincenza? All glamorous people but without the dodgy attitudes about sex. I was shocked at the later JC ones where I thought she might have caught up, but there was pupils having sex with teachers. Not talked about in context of abuse. Uncomfortable reading.

Custardonthehob · 01/07/2023 18:07

Sorry... Penny Vincenzi

Cakencookieobsessed · 01/07/2023 18:10

Custardonthehob · 01/07/2023 18:04

How about Penny Vincenza? All glamorous people but without the dodgy attitudes about sex. I was shocked at the later JC ones where I thought she might have caught up, but there was pupils having sex with teachers. Not talked about in context of abuse. Uncomfortable reading.

I agree, I'm rereading Wicked after finding it at my local train station and I'm wondering how the hell she got away with that going to print. There's some really disgusting parts.

Custardonthehob · 01/07/2023 18:21

Yes, it was Wicked. I'd forgotten the name. That's the last JC book I read - I decided she wasn't for me. I'm sure she's not bothered 😁

LittleBearPad · 01/07/2023 18:22

Custardonthehob · 01/07/2023 18:21

Yes, it was Wicked. I'd forgotten the name. That's the last JC book I read - I decided she wasn't for me. I'm sure she's not bothered 😁

Was Wicked the one with the underage sex and the boarding school. That was grim

Custardonthehob · 01/07/2023 18:23

That's the one

BestIsWest · 01/07/2023 18:29

Is A Pressing Engagement the one with Nico?

Peverellshire · 01/07/2023 18:30

Shinyandnew1 · 01/07/2023 17:12

They can be very samey with the same phrases repeared

Absolutely! You need to drench yourself in Fracas, go on a grapefruit diet for 10 days, and then ‘write like mad’ so you can finish your book, and then you’re set for anything!

& God help you if you have a ten stone bulk to heave about.

LittleBearPad · 01/07/2023 18:32

BestIsWest · 01/07/2023 18:29

Is A Pressing Engagement the one with Nico?

Yes Wink