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Original poster

Riders by Jilly Cooper - prequel to Rivals

157 replies

RedRobyn2021 · 13/11/2024 08:01

Decided to start listening to Riders by Jilly Cooper after watching Rivals

Quite shocked it's been written by a woman, the women are objectified, the men are rapey

Is it just me? Have you read it?

I looked it up and apparently Jilly Cooper wrote it in 1970, does this go some way to explaining why it's written like this?

I'm preserving with it, I'm on Chapter 13 but I think Rupert is a repulsive creep and can't understand why everyone is so obsessed with him

OP posts:
LizzieVeraker · 15/11/2024 18:36

I also hadn't read any JC, and decided to read Rivals before watching the TV series. Nearly everyone in the book was dreadful, but it seemed to be toned down a bit for the TV series. I found it readable / watchable nonsense.

I then bought Polo on my kindle, but it was so rubbish that I asked for a refund.

Original poster
RedRobyn2021 · 15/11/2024 19:59

Good idea @AgathaMystery I will 😊

OP posts:
Original poster
RedRobyn2021 · 15/11/2024 20:03

Thesebloominhorses · 14/11/2024 22:09

@RedRobyn2021 hes not exactly redeemed. More that he gets his comeuppance and is humbled. For a bit anyway 😂

Yes of course his mum is blamed. Mums are always blamed, even now. Even more so back then.

And how far are you in? Up to chapter 14 it’s just an intro to the characters really. Whenever I read it now I start at chapter 15. That’s when the story really gets going.

Are you reading or listening? I think reading allows the charter to form more closely in your mind. But appreciate that’s not for everyone.

And I agree, I am probably very nostalgic for those books. As a teenager I wanted to be Fenella Maxwell more than anything in the world.

Listening, I have audible and it's "free" as part of the plan so that's why I started listening

I'm on chapter 20 I haven't listened to any today

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woffley · 15/11/2024 20:22

I read and loved all her books as they were published. I was in my early 20s and I can't emphasise how popular they were. It never once crossed my mind they were inappropriate other than the sex. There was no internet and films and TV didn't show anything explicit like they do now.
Of course I see it differently now, but it was a realistic version of life at the time albeit posh.

GertrudeOHara · 15/11/2024 22:37

I am slightly staggered that 50 Shades is mentioned in the same breath as Jilly Cooper. Talk about not getting it.

AgathaMystery · 15/11/2024 23:41

GertrudeOHara · 15/11/2024 22:37

I am slightly staggered that 50 Shades is mentioned in the same breath as Jilly Cooper. Talk about not getting it.

Amen.

TammyJones · 16/11/2024 08:41

GertrudeOHara · 15/11/2024 22:37

I am slightly staggered that 50 Shades is mentioned in the same breath as Jilly Cooper. Talk about not getting it.

Yep.

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