Octavia - Jilly Cooper

[Riverlee]

I know we all like a Jilly Cooper, and I know we all like a bargain. Saw that ‘Octavia’ by Jilly Cooper is 99p on kindle. Not read it yet, but they’re usually quite good.

I thought I was alone in secretly liking Jilly Copper! Have just reread Riders and Rivals and have Octavia ready to go on the Kindle. I have read it before but decades back and have a shocking memory so it will be all new to me.

Reread it a couple of years ago. It has dated very badly though I still think Octavia herself is a great character

I think they have all dated very badly - particularly the male-female relationships/encounters. They still read well though.

They're horribly dated but still a great read. I've found her latest offerings to be unreadable, too many details and characters. Riders is still one of my all time favourites.

Octavia was one of the better ones, and Harriet.

I remember these coming out, and reading them all. I imagine that they don't read as well now though...

I love a good Jilly Cooper for a fun, easy read. So sexist & dated, but still a guilty pleasure. I must have read Bella about 50 times!

I used to love JC until, in one of the Riders novels, one of the female characters ran away because she didn't want to take part in a threesome. Which was presented as her being a prudish killjoy.
That was me done with JC.

Now finished Octavia. Was an easy, quick read. Surprised at the amount of fat-shaming that went on. Predictable story. Not as good as Riders et al, but okay for a bit of chick lit.

Didn’t actually like the character, Octavia and found her a self-indulgent spoilt brat.

Ooh, I haven't read that for about 40 years! I do remember it quite well - of all the "girls' names" series, it was the one with the most actual plot and not just a romance. I didn't like either of the main characters though.

Haven’t read that one but try Prudence!

Is Octavia the one where she’s an actress? If so that was my least favourite of that series. I LOVED Harriet and Imogen!

Oh yes and Prudence! Wasn’t so keen on Emily

Surprised at the amount of fat-shaming that went on
This is one of Jilly Cooper's hallmarks! It's alright to be a bit 'blousy' if you're a former great beauty, like Maud or Daisy, but god forbid you weigh more than a lettuce leaf otherwise.

@PlinkPlankPlunk Bella was the actress. Octavia lived from gifts from wealthy boyfriends and a private trust fund.

@Snoopsnoggysnog

Haven’t read that one but try Prudence!

I loved Prudence! Pendle, Ace, Maggie and her husband …. can’t remember his name. That was a great book! I bloody love JC. 🐴🐴🐴🐴

I quite liked Octavia (I read all the "names" books incessantly out of the library when I was about 14) but I just didn't fancy Gareth much.

Top Cooper heros from those books for me:

1. Matt from Imogen (my favourite)
2. Cory from Harriet (clise second)
3. Ace from Prudence (but I ignore that he has a moustache).

Best heroines:

1. Prudence
2. Bella
3. Harriet

Actually, Hester and Nico from the first story in Lisa & co are the perfect Cooper couple.

The only decent story in the book.

Imogen was my favourite too. A comfort read. I too read them from about the age of 14.

Agree that the fat shaming is awful and Gareth was completely obnoxious as a hero. Doesn’t he hit her? I think I remember being upset by that.
I love Jilly’s descriptions of clothes and gardens and the countryside though.

[quote Philandbill]@PlinkPlankPlunk Bella was the actress. Octavia lived from gifts from wealthy boyfriends and a private trust fund.[/quote]
Oh yes! On the narrow boat where the toilet smelt of asparagus wee

@BestIsWest

Imogen was my favourite too. A comfort read. I too read them from about the age of 14.

Agree that the fat shaming is awful and Gareth was completely obnoxious as a hero. Doesn’t he hit her? I think I remember being upset by that.
I love Jilly’s descriptions of clothes and gardens and the countryside though.

He literally puts her over his knee and "beats the living daylights out of her" 😳

How weird

I’ve just started reading the jilly Cooper riders stuff

I’m on polo right now! Rivals is my favourite. Octavian was ok. I liked pandora strangely.

Doesn’t Emily’s husband (Rory?) hit her as well? I’m sure there’s a bit where she has a black eye. Gareth was awful, crude and sexist, but Octavian’s brother was quite funny.

Agree about Hester and Nico. I loved the description of her boyfriend Julian wearing a flashy suit and “several pints of Aramis” 🤣

Octavia’s brother! Not Octavian!

Yes he slaps her I think amd then the next morning she's disappointed its not obvious so she uses his oil paints to paint herself a black eye.

So many red flags Emily! Run away!!