3 stars - while I did race through this book, I actually had a lot of issues with it. All the main characters were awful, with the exception of Tori. And I just don’t see the appeal of Rupert that other readers loved. Also I found the fixation on women’s weight to be tedious. Not tempted to read further in the series. ( )

Light, slightly trashy from the 1980's, over 900 pages is a bit much for a popcorn book. I don't think I'll be reading the series. ( )

Great escapism, although I did put my lippy on before I drove past the local stables just incase of any passing Rupert Campbell-Blacks! ( )

Great escapism, although I did put my lippy on before I drove past the local stables just incase of any passing Rupert Campbell-Blacks! ( )

Oh, Jilly Cooper. Remembered so fondly from when I was a teenager. Big fat page turning books stuffed full of ponies and sex. And indeed, they are still big fat page turning books full of ponies and sex. But oh, I am older now, and read more critically, and they are not as comfortable as they once were. Or that's a lie, they are _just_ as comfortable as they once were, but that causes its own guilt. All the debates around 50 Shades, of what it says that women are enjoying reading romance where the relationship is so clearly Evil Bad and Wrong could all have been had just as much with this book, if not more so.

It is a book with a host of colourful characters, but it is primarily about Rupert Campbell Black. Rupert Campbell Black is, by any objective standards, unbelievably awful in this book. He beats a man unconscious and leaves him tied up and naked, because he was letting down the tires on his car. It is hard to find a reading of the foursome scene that does not conclude it's rape - Helen says 'no' and is crying. He picks up teenage girls for one night stands knowing full well many of them are underage. He cheats on his wife, and when he gives her an STD, lies and says she must have given it to him. He bullies Jake outrageously, not just when they are school children, but also when he joins the team. He whips his horse to a pulp until the animal has to be sold because he doesn't win and is angry. He arranges to be away show jumping when his wife gives birth to their first child, and is a horrifically unfair father, showering attention on his youngest daughter and having no interest in his elder son. He drives a wedge between Helen and the only friend she has when she has her first child, and then sleeps with the friend just because he can. He beats Helen up when he finds out she has slept with Jake. And so it goes on.

But, oh! The mind bending, worrying and disturbing thing about this book is how much, in the skilful hands of Jilly Cooper, the reader ends up adoring Rupert. He does horrifically cruel things - but he's so beautiful! He's so rich! His stately home glows in the evening summer sun! He's so witty! He's kind to Billy and he loves his dogs! He couldn't really help it, and the person he was cruel to was annoying/stupid/frigid/had hairy legs, delete as appropriate. The story is about lots of people, but the Grand Finale is Rupert, his wife has run away, he's dislocated his shoulder, he is under impossible strain and pain, and he shows that Good English Stiff Upper Lip that built the Empire, and he rides out and wins the Olympic Gold Medal, for himself and for the Whole British Team. And the crowd goes wild, and everyone adores him. Including me.

Which is awful, if you think about it too much. Or at least a bit... complicated.

Interesting as a slice of another time as well. Lots of views on marriage which I think have subtly shifted now. Billy drops Fen like hot cakes to go and make things work when his wife comes back, even though it was her that cheated on him, and they get the baby and a happy ending. Helen runs off with Jake and it Doesn't Work, their fantasy romance doesn't survive the real world with no money and nowhere to live. Jake goes back to Tory and realises it was Her He Loved All Along.

(And they all seem so Young now! I am 33, when I first read it they were Impossibly Grown Up, and now they are my age or younger. Awfully young, Jilly writes sexually active teenagers in a way you could probably do more easily in the 70s than you can now)

Jilly definitely seems through my eyes to write with more sympathy for her male characters than her female characters. Yes, Helen is highly strung and needy, and incredibly stupid for her timing of telling Rupert about Jake. But Jake is a stupid idiot for drunkenly proposing to her and then leaving everything hanging. Yes, Janey is a bit of a slob, and not great at supporting Billy. But Billy is a bit of a slob and no more use at supporting Janey.

Still, everyone bounces around and shakes down into their happy ending. Jake gets his Olympic medal, Tory doesn't die and they live happily ever after with the kids. Fen gets the consolation prize of someone to who isn't Billy to love, who will put a wedding ring on her finger, as Billy and Janey have a baby and none of their problems are mentioned again. Helen gets a consolation prize of someone to love who is finally clever enough to understand her. And Rupert - Rupert gets his gold medal, the adoration of the entire country, a nomination for parliament, and to seduce both another attractive woman and their attractive teenage daughter. Ah, Rupert.

Lots of fun. Deeply problematic. But still a big fat page turner full of sex and horses ( )