To think that Dino Ferranti was a manipulative ass?

[bumbleymummy]

Just re-reading Riders and its struck me that he was being a complete ass to Fen - telling her that he wasn't going to wait around for her and if she wouldn't sleep with him he'd just go elsewhere.

But everyone still fancies him!!!

I always preferred Billy. And Dino. And Luke. And Declan. And the Carlisle twins. Rupert is an arse, and I say that as someone who read Rivals first, so didn't know how bad Rupert was until I caught up with Riders a few years later, and was SHOCKED AND APPALLED AND THRILLED

Well he is thrilling. And exciting. And the handsomest man in England. Why wouldn't you be enthralled? And you've been rude about Taggie which is more unforgivable .

Luke's the one for me

I've only ever read Polo. Am I going to have to read Riders and Rivals now? (They're on offer as a package on the kindle store...)

I wasn't rude about Taggie, I think she's lovely in the books. I find it rather uncomfortable that throughout Rivals everyone keeps talking about how 'dim' she is.
Her siblings, her father.... They constantly go on about 'poor Taggie' on and on while taking advantage of her kindness.

Aside from the age difference and the sexual history I thought it added a layer of ick to the Rupert/Taggie relationship.

Ultimately the only thing she brings to the table (according to Jilly) are her looks and her innocence/sweetness/virginity.
I wished she could have fucked off with someone her age and broken Rupert's heart. He would have deserved it.

And yes, you HAVE to read Riders and Rivals. The unholy trilogy.

Funny isn't it how some of Jilly's characters are so perfect, and others don't quite come off?

I think Taggie is great as a kind, domestic, submissive character, because you see when she does all the canvassing for Venturer that she's actually very competent and determined - and also a few times she does actually shout at her awful exploiting family. Whereas Daisy on the other hand is meant to be so sweet but all that boozing and shagging doesn't go with it! Perhaps I shouldn't compare them, bearing in mind Daisy's difficulties with the washing up machine (thanks 70 :) ) I guess washing up machines were what the posh had, before cheap ones called dishwashers were invented...

Rupert is great as a difficult character who's awful to everyone, but Perdita is vile (although it probably works better on a man). Also Perdita is still a child at home whereas we first meet Rupert when he's living independently, so she comes across as a spoilt brat whereas he is more of an adult making his own way. Although Luke is great, he's pretty crap to all those women he strings along while he's waiting for Perdita to make her mind up....

Janey is a great character in Riders, I think Jilly was trying to show a woman with a strong sex drive and challenging career, but in later books she couldn't sustain it. In fact all the characters in Riders are real people, and in Rivals too pretty much, it's only when you get to the ones with millions of characters some of them go a bit cardboard.

I would say read them in order: Riders, Rivals, Polo, then TMWMHJ which I love, Appassionata, and after that probably don't bother. Saying that I have Score in my Amazon basket even though I know it's crap! (read it before and lost it)

Audrina thanks, of course it was Arden, the drip. Do you think we need a Virginia Andrews thread? or can we just say "slept with her uncle" and leave it at that, seeing as about 4 of her characters did?! Not in Jilly's league, and I would be embarrassed if someone read them now, but I would love to chew them all over with someone else who read them first time round!

Was Virginia Andrews Flowers in the Attic?

bumbley yes, and My Sweet Audrina, which due to it only being one book rather than about 6 is relatively sensible (although still bonkers). She also did a series about Heaven but that was a bit crap IMHO.
I loved Flowers in the Attic! Read the second one first though. My friend in secondary school lent them all out from her mum, it took ages for Flowers in the Attic to go round!

My mum kept Flowers in the Attic and Audrina hidden in a cupboard. I read them in forbidden installments aged eleven

:)
I read them in what would now be year 12. Internet porn, whatever - I would be horrified if DD read them at that age!

Sorry, not year 12, age 12. Year 8.

I think I only managed to comprehend half of it hence re-reading every couple of years and many light-bulb moments

My name is from a Viginia Andrews in Chat last year which has reminded me - if it's been that long I really need a new one. I gabble on about far too much stuff here!

Haven't read the Audrina one...might see if I can get it on my iPhone! I"m curious now.

Just bought Riders, Rivals and TMWMHJ on my Kindle.

:)

I bought the Audrina book off amazon. More trashy summer reading! :)

Hope you enjoy it bumbleymummy. It is bonkers but very entertaining.

Cameron tells Patrick that she slept with Declan; right at the end of the book. Sorry, but true.

Declan definitely DOES sleep with Cameron in Ireland. It's left hanging at the time but later Patrick tells Cameron he knows that's why his Dad didn't make it back from Ireland.

I think Cameron and Declan did it too. After years of Maud bonking all and sundry, it was Declan's turn...

they really, really don't, you know.

......we need to re-read then supply a few quotes to prove one way or the other.....

A ha - I have the proof - Declan and Cameron DID sleep together.....

'Yes, we will, I love you.'
'You can't any more. I've been such a bitch,' said Cameron, going very pale. 'Anyway, I love Rupert.'
'No you don't, or you wouldn't have gone to bed with my father in Ireland.'
'I didn't,' stammered Cameron.
'Yes, you did on the last night, and he felt so guilty about it afterwards, that's why he didn't get back for Mum's play.'
'Don't you mind?' said Cameron, appalled. 'It's practically incest.'

Tra la!!

Jilly Cooper said Rupert was based on Andrew Parker-Bowles, who in my opinion, is far from being the handsomest man in England.

It does make me wonder what secret talents Camilla has, bagging the real life Rupert Campbell-Black and then the future King!

I loved Rivals and Polo when I was young - still do really.

The remainder were never so good and I hated Wicked.

I love JC's belief that polo players exploits etc are front page news and a Uk/US polo match would naturally be shown in prime time .

PomBearArmy I think it's generally acknowledged that jilly has terrible ideas about what makes someone handsome so you just have to ignore anything she says in RL and think of the images you have made up in your own head. My Rupert is absolutely nothing like Andrew Parker Bowles.