Joined in 2023 
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63 About this deal
It is unlike me to spend half a year reading one of her books but time has been limited for doing anything recently although I have read the final 25% in little more than a week. Luckily, the fort at home is held by Rupert’s assistant Gav, a genius with horses, fancied by every stable lass, but damaged by alcoholism and a vile wife. Just when you start to like her though she turns into this horrible person who is sleeping with Rupert while still professing to adore Taggie.
Lots and lots of horses and racing and intrigue and adrenalin, and even though I'm not a horsey person, I really became fond of some of the equine characters like Master Quickly. A difficult mixture of barbed and hilarious class observations, a naturally warm writing style and a massive soppy heart that always sides with the underdog makes Cooper frankly irresistible, and Mount is no different. If you, like me, find horses a little dull and bamboozling, simply skip the horsey bits like Linus van Pelt skips the Russian names in the Brothers Karamazov, and instead settle down with the good bits where Rupert stalks about shouting at people who haven’t had time to wash their hair and have gone all red in the face. This might have been something JC could get away with in the early 90s but not now, it’s not a funny ‘look what you used to be able to get away with saying’ when it’s published in 2016. For example a couple of hundred pages in we hear from Shaheed ‘a Pakistani stable lad’ who is then never referred to again.We are meant to be worried about the (negligible) risks he took, boo and hiss at the evilness of his enemies, and shout "hoorah for Rupert" when he wins at life. Rupert still struts around like he is cock of the walk, but heir apparent is his downright filthy grandson, Young Eddie, and my sights are firmly set of the "well rode and will read" shy trainer, Gavin Tatton! The Taggie we knew in Rivals was principled - telling Rupert Declan was right to refuse to read the Corinium application and standing up for animal rights etc. I have loved Jilly Cooper's writing since reading Riders way back when and have read most of the Rutshire Chronicles, the ones I haven't read was because I hadn't seen they'd been released. In my late teens/early twenties I made a point of finding all the other books in the Rutshire Chronicles and reading them.
Rupert Campbell-Black takes centre stage once more, this time in the cut-throat world of flat racing. This is the first time I have read Jilly Cooper - I have been aware of her books but just never got around to reading any, which is surprising because she has a massive back catalogue.I'm hoping the old boy is retired now, and will likely only revisit the original trilogy in the future. The national /racial /xenophobic stereotypes are getting ever more cringe worthy and if you're female you've still got to loose weight to get your man.
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