If you have read Wicked by Jilly Cooper, come and talk to me

[MamaG]

I've just finished it

First three definately the best. I enjoyed Score and Pandora because they were set in a world that is far removed from mine and were still a joyous romp. I work with young people in care and just found the whole thing utterly tasteless and disturbing. Either write a romp or address social issues. You can't do both IMHO.

Ooooh am enjoying dissecting JC in manner of Melvyn Bragg.

I am finding it difficult to get into. Usually romp through them! I hate names like 'feral' in a working class area, too posh.

Think the name 'Feral' is more about him being feral, than being a posh name though.

She is subtle, I grant you

Stuggled to finish to be honest and with the others especially first 3 was a complete billy no mates as just sat and read. Very disappointed

couldn't finish it. utter drivel and I am a HUGE Jilly fan. Bring back Rupert and Taggie, Billy and Janey, Declan and Maud, Patrick and the short haired spiky but vulnerable one...what was she called? I want to know what they are doing now!!!! Hopefully not wasting away in an old people's home, smelling of wee and telling people how racy and fun and glamorous they used to be

Cameron! Now didn't she end up with Declan's son - Patrick? Oh I miss the good old JC days. What happened, Jilly? But Joliegirl, if we try to work out how old RCB should be by now, we'll scare ourselves - he must be ready for that old people's home by now

Hmm, I've been given this, and picked it up the other day and was completely put off by the humongous list of characters! Too much for my pregnancy addled brain! Not recommended then?

Bumperlicious - have a look for Riders,Rivals or Polo in a charity shop and read them instead. I even thought Appassionata and Score! were ok. Avoid this one though, it's quite dire.

Agree with mcnoodle - found the whole sex and kids thing awful especially being a teacher. Actually found it unreadable at times.
As Jollygirl says, bring back Rupert and Declan!!

I agree that it was a bit odd. I mean it wasn't terrible but I was glad to finish it and put it away. I found the bits about 14 yr olds having sex and knowing what to do a bit too much and the cosmo-grown-woman thing was plain wrong (although wasn't he 16 by that time?. I accept that some kids do have sex but didn't need to read about it.

OK, but would others call him Feral? Teachers maybe but friends? (Will ask ds if he knows meaning of feral as research!)

I think it's meant to be a cool 'street' name, so surely it would be the other way around.

Agree totally, I am a huge JC fan, but couldn't be bothered to even finish thus one. What happens in the end anyway?

Is that the one about schools? She did a lot of research into a rough state school and the contrasting boarding school. When I heard her interviewed on the radio about it she sounded drunk for some reason.

She always sounds drunk. I like old Jilly.

Um, (thinking hard) the big fat gay man trying to close larks down is part of some awful child abuse thing along with a smug teacher (posh school deputy?) and the bloke who's trying to build everywhere. They are exposed and the heroes get what they wanted (grades, love and place in local footie team)

I am ploughing through, it is so much harder going than others.

Absolute crap of the highest order. The worst of her books so far.
I loved Rivals and The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous because at least you felt some empathy for the characters. Not so this book. Jilly hasn't written anything halfway decent in a long time sad to say. I keep waiting for another Rivals and she produces Wicked.

Trudge, trudge ...

Have to agree - pile o' shite. Jilly's publisher should have burnt the manuscript and told her they'd lost it rather than inflict this on the world.

I hope she takes a nice long break and then comes back with a real corker like Rivals because I love her books so Wicked was more than just a disappointment. Tabitha appears to have become a famous showjumper like daddy, perhaps another book with her in? (Although she was godawful in Score, which I principally remember for the fact virtually everyone in it was bisexual - and Jilly messed with the legend that Tab and Isa end up together).

I hated it - and I was so looking forward to it! I love (and re-read. Oh the shame!) Rivals, which I actually think isn't a bad book in any context, but this one with all the school child sex is just dull and unpleasant. A definite one to miss. Get the others fro a charity shop, but ignore this one!

absolutely horrendous - was one of the few books I haven't bothered to finish

Aw, I used to love Jilly. Prudence was my favourite of the 'girls names' books! I've read it loads of times Also loved the man who made husbands jealous. Agree Score and Pandora were a bit pants, didn't even bother with wicked after reading some reviews on here at the time!