This week I’m picking up on the bookshelf feature I started at the end of April, when I talked about Ruby Ferguson, one of my very favourite authors and showed off my prized collection of first editions. Next up on this feature, I’d like to talk about Jilly Cooper, who rocked my world when in 1985 she published her blockbuster ‘Riders’.
At the time, I lived in
That year, Riders went straight into the bestsellers chart at number one. I loved the book and so it seemed did everyone else. So it became my number one favourite book in the world and as you can see from the photo below, I have a beautiful first edition copy on my bookshelves.
Jilly’s novels are characterised by her intricate plots, multiple storylines, characters to fall in love with, dogs and horses, glamour, wealth, sex, and her clever and unsurpassable wit. And that’s just the fiction. As you will note, I’m a big Jilly Cooper fan!
A teary-eyed moment for me on Bagpipes & Bullshot launch day....
What is your favourite book in the whole world? Please tell me - leave a comment!
If you have a moment, please pop over to Pauline Barclay's Blog where I'm talking about life here in Scotland and how it inspires my writing!
If you have a moment, please pop over to Pauline Barclay's Blog where I'm talking about life here in Scotland and how it inspires my writing!
Next Friday, I’m interviewing Lanzarote writer Pauline Barclay. Not to be missed!
22 comments:
I love Jilly Cooper too but think my all time favourite book just has to be Lady of Hay by Barbara Erskine.She combines history, timeslip, ghosts and suspense in all her books. Unputdownable, but I think she excelled in Lady of Hay.
Hi Kit - I just checked Amazon and LOH is now available for Kindle as a 25th Anniversary edition - how fantastic is that? Thank you for telling me about your favorite book in the world. I'm going to treat myself - even though my TBR pile is crazy both in paper and e-format!
I hate to admit it, Janice, but I've never read Riders or any other J.C. book - sorry!
I do, however, like Barbara Erskine. My favourite all time book is Jane Eyre.
Well, Rosemary, you are missing a treat not having read JC. I have read Jane Eyre - although not recently - but it's there on the shelf!
I'm another one who can honestly say they've never read Jilly Cooper. But I can say I did do a lot of horseback riding when I was a teenager.
Wonderful post as always.
Janice - I'm right there with you over JC. The first one of hers I ever read was Harriet, swiftly followed by Prudence (my favourite) etc. It's because of JC that I started to write - because she wrote romance with HUMOUR and that's what I wanted to do! Loved Riders too and agree with Kitdomino - Lady of Hay is a FAB read.
Well, I've never read her but I sure will now. I love horses and glamour, dogs and all that great stuff. Thanks for the tip.
And congrats on the #26 slot. Not bad!
Oh, wow, I love that screen shot! Can you believe I've never read any Jilly Cooper? I know, I know.
I adore 'The Time Traveller's Wife'.
Great to see your book next to JC...whow, no wonder a tear moment! x
Hi Melanie - I think that JC is very much a 'British Institution' and hasn't travelled the Atlantic too well. Great to know you were a horsy type of girl too!
Jan - me too! Humour goes really well with romance - it heightens the tension or breaks it. It's a perfect union!
Your'e welcome Anne - I'm glad to introduce you to JC. I tried to leave a comment on your blog - but Blogger wouldn't let me . Grrr!
Hi Talli - YES- The Time Travellers Wife was so clever and hauntingly so...
Pauline, yes, you can see why after all these years it meant sooooo much to be next to JC in the rankings. I eventually got to #19 that day but #26 next to Jilly was the highlight for me!
Fond memories of Cheshire, my son got married there in 2009. Anyway, I love Little Women and have a copy my grandfather gave my mother. I also love The Time Traveller's Wife. (Disliked the film--did not do justice to the book imho).
Hi Janice!
I grew up reading Jilly Cooper's books... in fact I credit her with my learning all about life! I guess I was probably around 11 when I started reading them! Great stuff. I can imagine how tearful you must have felt at that moment on amazon... fantastic!
I've just bought your book and I'm looking forward to reading it!
Good luck & best wishes
Suzy Turner
http://suzyturner.blogspot.com
I am half way through Riders, I was only 1 in 1985 when it was published but being from Gloucestershire and having a horsey curiosity I thought it was high time I got stuck into Jilly's books. I have also purchased Rival's, Polo, The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous and Jump! I cannot wait to get through them all; Jilly's writing is truly wonderful!
Glynis - I still have lots of family in Cheshire. How lovely to have an old family copy of Little Women.
Suzi - I'm glad you enjoy Jilly too - yes, her books are a bit of an education lol! Thank you so very much for downloading Bagpipes & BUllshot - I hope you enjoy it. x
Jo - you were one year old in 1985? Now I feel old! Great that the JC books span the years tho'. After Riders it's a dead heat between Rivals and Polo for me. Enjoy! x
Firstly, a very late congratulations on celebrating your wedding anniversary the other week. Hope you had a lovely time.
I've just downloaded Bagpipes and Bullshot onto my Kindle after reading about in on loveahappyending.com - it's sounds fantastic! I live in Northumberland and we visit the Highlands every year. Also, I based my own novel in the Scottish Borders, not far from where I live, a most beautiful part of the world.
Nice to meet you.
Kathryn (aka Crystal Jigsaw)
Hi Kathryn - I'm soooo thrilled you downloaded Bagpipes & Bullshot - thank you very much. I hope you enjoy it. Of course Northumberland, like Scotland, has a wild beauty but I'm intrigued to know more about your Borders book - so please let me know more. You can always email me at janice.horton@btinternet.com
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