Literary Crushes

[Deleted]

Glitterbug, I didn't care for The Well of Lost Plots, but the last one in the series, Something Rotten, is quite good (and finally resolves Landon's situation). There's supposed to be another one on the way, " War of the Words", I think.

[Deleted]

First Among Sequels according to Fforde's website..

Excuse me while I go do a happy dance - I like the Nursery Crime novels too, but I've missed Thursday.

[starskin]

I used to have a crush on Kit Fielding from Dick Francis' novels about the seamy underbelly of the horseracing world. Did anyone ever read them? Apparently he's written like 38 novels, and Kit only featured in a few of them. Oh those dreamy steeplechase boys.

[chonies]

I'm obviously very shallow but the most recent Masterpiece Theatre version of Jane Eyre made me want to, once again, accost Edward Rochester and shag him retarded.

[bossyboots]

starskin said:

I used to have a crush on Kit Fielding from Dick Francis' novels about the seamy underbelly of the horseracing world. Did anyone ever read them? Apparently he's written like 38 novels, and Kit only featured in a few of them. Oh those dreamy steeplechase boys.

Dickie Boy Francis is one of my favourites. He doesn't often repeat heroes. Sid Halley appears in two books and I am pretty sure Kit has only been in one. All of his protagonists are quite interesting and often the "reluctant hero" type. They're attractive to me more so now than when I read the books as a teenager -- they seemed way old then. Now, I'm pretty sure I'm older than all of them.

His more recent books weren't up to his usual standard, but boy was that a good run for a while there. Go back and read his early stuff. High Stakes and Smokescreen are two of my all-time faves.

[Dharma]

Jasper Fforde's list of future engagements (scroll down) has made develop a wee bit of crush on him. He's one funny dude!

[kanding]

bossyboots said:

starskin said:

I used to have a crush on Kit Fielding from Dick Francis' novels about the seamy underbelly of the horseracing world. Did anyone ever read them? Apparently he's written like 38 novels, and Kit only featured in a few of them. Oh those dreamy steeplechase boys.

Dickie Boy Francis is one of my favourites. He doesn't often repeat heroes. Sid Halley appears in two books and I am pretty sure Kit has only been in one. All of his protagonists are quite interesting and often the "reluctant hero" type. They're attractive to me more so now than when I read the books as a teenager -- they seemed way old then. Now, I'm pretty sure I'm older than all of them.

His more recent books weren't up to his usual standard, but boy was that a good run for a while there. Go back and read his early stuff. High Stakes and Smokescreen are two of my all-time faves.

Chiming in here to say that I used to put away a lot of Dick Francis' work a few years ago. I loved Smokescreen. Unfortunately, he can't seem to write love scenes. Very awkward.

[Auroranorth]

There are two Kit Fieldings- Break-In and Bolt.

[bossyboots]

I stand corrected, Auroranorth! I thought Sid was the only dude to make a repeat appearance (Whip Hand is a classic).

And you're right about the love scenes, kanding. I read an interview (or a report of an interview) with Dick where he said that he knew the Queen Mum enjoyed his books, so he tried to "keep it clean" for her. Or maybe he just sucked at writing love scenes. Or his wife Mary did, if you ascribe to that theory....

[harrietvane]

chonies said:

I'm obviously very shallow but the most recent Masterpiece Theatre version of Jane Eyre made me want to, once again, accost Edward Rochester and shag him retarded.

I'll totally agree with you there. While the feminist in me knows I should be upset with the character and his shoddy treatment of just about all the women he encounters, the shallower part of my brain just thinks he's hot and brooding. Especially in that miniseries.

Also, I know this isn't an "Embarassing Literary Crushes" thread per se, but I've been rereading my collection of Bill Bryson's travel books, and he's such a good writer and seems like such a nice and funny guy.