Polo

Rating:
Summary: As good as "Riders"? I think so!
Review: "Riders" was my first introduction to Jilly Cooper as a horse-crazed teenager, but since then I've enjoyed most of her books, not just the horsey ones. That said, "Riders" and "Polo" are my favorites! Coming from the show-jumping world myself, where "Riders" centers, I didn't know (or care) much about the upper-crust world of polo. That all changed once I entered the world of Perdita, Luke, and Ricky! Sure, Perdita's often an extremely unsympathetic character -- but aren't we all? Her all-too-human tendencies are what make her such an engrossing character, and even though she doesn't seem to deserve a saint like Luke -- isn't that what we all hope for? A person who can look past our failings. While another reader calls her characters one-dimensional, I strongly disagree. Jilly has created characters that readers such as myself absolutely PRAY will show up again in future books -- it's that hard to put them away at the end. You don't create that kind of interest in one-dimensional characters. Please, Jilly, keep writing about these people we love! And while you're at it, write another horsey book!

Rating:
Summary: I See a Pattern
Review: "Riders" was my first introduction to Jilly Cooper as a horse-crazed teenager, but since then I've enjoyed most of her books, not just the horsey ones. That said, "Riders" and "Polo" are my favorites! Coming from the show-jumping world myself, where "Riders" centers, I didn't know (or care) much about the upper-crust world of polo. That all changed once I entered the world of Perdita, Luke, and Ricky! Sure, Perdita's often an extremely unsympathetic character -- but aren't we all? Her all-too-human tendencies are what make her such an engrossing character, and even though she doesn't seem to deserve a saint like Luke -- isn't that what we all hope for? A person who can look past our failings. While another reader calls her characters one-dimensional, I strongly disagree. Jilly has created characters that readers such as myself absolutely PRAY will show up again in future books -- it's that hard to put them away at the end. You don't create that kind of interest in one-dimensional characters. Please, Jilly, keep writing about these people we love! And while you're at it, write another horsey book!

Rating:
Summary: As good as "Riders"? I think so!
Review: "Riders" was my first introduction to Jilly Cooper as a horse-crazed teenager, but since then I've enjoyed most of her books, not just the horsey ones. That said, "Riders" and "Polo" are my favorites! Coming from the show-jumping world myself, where "Riders" centers, I didn't know (or care) much about the upper-crust world of polo. That all changed once I entered the world of Perdita, Luke, and Ricky! Sure, Perdita's often an extremely unsympathetic character -- but aren't we all? Her all-too-human tendencies are what make her such an engrossing character, and even though she doesn't seem to deserve a saint like Luke -- isn't that what we all hope for? A person who can look past our failings. While another reader calls her characters one-dimensional, I strongly disagree. Jilly has created characters that readers such as myself absolutely PRAY will show up again in future books -- it's that hard to put them away at the end. You don't create that kind of interest in one-dimensional characters. Please, Jilly, keep writing about these people we love! And while you're at it, write another horsey book!

Rating:
Summary: Another bonk-fest. Gorgeous people, fast cars, loadsa-money
Review: Another ripping good yarn from Jilly. Although not as rivetting as some of her others, Polo has the familiar themes of sex and money, horses and fast cars, adultery, gorgeous lookers and poking fun at the aristocracy. Rupert Campbell-Black, hero of Cooper's other mega-novels, makes a cameo appearance in this one, along with some other truly tragic characters. Curl up in your aeroplane seat, sofa or beach towel and get set for an un-put-downable read.

Rating:
Summary: Smart, sexy, fun. "Jenius" Jilly instead of Super Cooper!
Review: Anyone with a passion for rags-I-wish-I-was-riches, love and lust, passion and betrayal, or friendship and deception will adore this book.....scratch that. Anyone who ever read a book will adore this one!!

Rating:
Summary: A "10 goal" story!
Review: Enjoyable and thoroughly entertaining! Cooper's characters are colorful and fresh, and stay that way until the very end. I also applaud her ability to weave her story from a sport that very few know much about. For those that are new to the game, polo (the sport) is a true drama; not only of egoes and money, but more importantly of horse lovers(wealthy or not). It is a drama that Cooper manages to credibly capture; not only from the sidelines, but from those involved on the field as well(players, grooms and patrons). Jilly you most certainly did your homework! As warm weather comes, Polo is one of those books you may find yourself reading each summer again and again. Humor, romance, tradgedy, and action. There is something in it for everyone.

Rating:
Summary: Still my favourite
Review: Even better than Riders. Luke is the man we all dream of.

Rating:
Summary: One shouldn't expect much from a "guilty pleasure" novel.
Review: Even in the context of trash wallow, beach books, guilty pleasures, or glitz and glamor novels, _Polo_ stands out as much worse than the average of its type. The one dimensional characters will be familiar to readers of _Riders_ or _Rivals_. Our heroine is an impossibly nasty adolescent, our hero is an impossibly saintly nice guy, whom our heroine tramples over until... Cooper's repeated expressions of contempt for characters who aren't young, rich, shapely, beautiful or members of the British upper crust are more than a little tedious. Actually, for American readers the book does have entertainment value. Cooper, an Englishwoman has little knowledge of American speech patterns or geography. One can have a great deal of fun reading the howlers--to wit: his face was as craggy as a face carved on Mt. Vernon??? If you want a good trashy novel to take on vacation, try Cooper's earlier novels noted above, or try Judith Krantz, or Jackie Collins but avoid this tiresome novel.

Rating:
Summary: too good to put down
Review: i had heard of jilly cooper before i read this book but i didnt think that her books were for me, boy was i wrong. i couldent put it down i even went to the extent of bringing it into college so that i could find out what perdita was up in between my classes. it was absolutly spellbinding stuff. and as a result i have gone on to read many more of her books and loved them all. she describes everything so brilliantly that you get a perfect image of these people in your head. she brings you to a world that we all think we would love to live in.

Rating:
Summary: mad cap hilarity!!!
Review: I have never come across a book which makes me laugh out loud; so much so, that my neighbours had their fingers poised to dial the emergency services! The story tells of Perdita McCleod who dreams of making it into the international world of polo playing. Within that is the separate stories of Ricky France Lynch and a host of other characters which I wish I knew personally. Their antics are hilarious (if sometimes unbelievable) but that is what good fiction is supposed to deliver. If you want LAUGH OUT LOUD comedy fun (albeit with a cast of shady characters) then this book is for you. I loved the fact that every character is flawed (unlike other books where everyone is perfect)and that they don't always deal with life situations in a rational way. I also love how Jilly combines English aristocracy with the humble labourer as well. It works so well in these times! I recommend this book to anyone who needs a laugh in their life.