I think that Dick Frances was doing a autiobiograthy of sorts with this book!  He was born in the lower crusts...but do to his postion with his job as the Queens Jockey he was Around the upper crust & was able to see first hand [and feel] the differences.   Hope you understand what I mean lol  Yes titles in other countries have more to do with it than money.   That why the USA is supose to be "equail"  No Titles LOL

Starting Blood Sport tonight .... it's funny ... I seem to recall that I enjoy this one, but I couldn't tell you a darn thing about it!  We'll have to see how long it takes to jog my memory ... 8-0

I'm probably going to be late on Blood Sport, but I've got it next after I finish the Brother Cadfael I'm reading.

Oh, everyone remember to write a review and rate these books when you're done! I notice that a lot of the DF books have no written reviews. :)

Oh, and be sure to tag them, too!

Geez, Jane!!  You're awfully demanding!   LOL!!

Gee am I 1st !! But I dont want to be 1st...nudge nudge

Ack!  I totally spaced that today is the first!  Hang on ... let me go collect my thoughts and get us started ...

hehehehehe  yep tis the 1st !!!

Well ... I was right ... I do like this one ... I think, partly, because so much of it is set in the US.

I find Gene's depression a little disquieting, but not too overwhelming ... I slip into similar (though not so drastic) depression on occasion, so I can put myself in his shoes and follow his thoughts (not to worry .... I'm not suicidal ...)

The scene where Gene and Dave go under the weir is one of the Dick Francis scenes that is seared in my memory ... I might not be able to remember anything else about this book, but I always recognize that scene!

Was Gene right in his decision to "steal" the horses back?

How do you feel about his setting the scene and leaving Walt behind?

How believable is it that the quarrelling truck drivers remembered the station wagon and rental van?

What are the chances that Gene was able to track down the Yogi kerchief?

Do you think Gene and Lynnie have a future?

To answer a couple of my own questions:

I have to remind myself that this story takes place 40 years ago .... maybe traffic from NYC to KY was not as crazy as it is now ... but I don't see remembering those cars weeks after the fact ... I've been on similar drives, and the cars don't make an impression unless they do something crazy (like wreck)

I hope Gene hooks up with Lynnie, as she seems able to break through the depression he feels ... I really like the fact that he thinks in terms of his life is a gift given to him by Walt ... It gives me hope that he'll make it for the long haul ...

Although I shudder at the thought of leaving Walt behind ... I think it's for the best in the end .... By completing the "mission," Gene  assures that Walt's sacrifice is not for nothing ... It's a hard decision, but the alternative would be diminishing to Walt ... thoughts?

As you said there was less traffic back then...so maybe watching a fellow traveller was possible.   Yep I loved the Stealling of the horses back!!  Whats the cops going to do after 10 yrs??  Nothing!  Even after 7yrs bank robbers get away with it & even spend the money!  Too bad back then they had no idea about depression...you just had to "wait it out" & hope the person snapped out of it.  Well either way they did "snap" so to speak.   

One thing about this book ... do we ever get a physical description of Gene?  I can't picture him in my mind ... But that may be in keeping with his character as being non-descript ....

And I wish we got a little more "backstory" ... he refers to violence in his past, but leaves us hanging as to what makes him so security-conscious ....

Thinking on the books time frame...007 James Bond was popular then.  I get the impression he an agent..spy LOL  And there is a general discription of him.  When he comes out of the water & needs dry clothes!  Reread that part I think you will get an idea of his height & weight.  Then in America when the drunken bored lady tries to get him in bed LOL 

Ok, I've not finished, but I have to drop in and say that I'm picturing Clive Owen as Gene. Seems a good match to me.

Three weeks until Even Money!

Would you think less of me if I admit that I've absolutely no idea who Clive Owen is?

Clive Owen. I first saw him in the PBS series Mystery! in the series Second Sight. I thought, "This guy is going to go places!" I was hoping he'd be the pick for the current James Bond, but no luck.

And yes, I do think less of you! ;)

<hanging head in shame>

Still working on Blood Sport, but I think I have a new favorite quote:

"To be respected was the best cover in the world for fraud. Fraud, in fact, could rarely exist without it."

Anyone else think "Bernie Madoff" when they read this?

Haha!!

8 days until Even Money! :)

HAHAHA cute count down!!  

OK, the group slacker finally finished Blood Sport. It's been crazy with the start of school last week and my son's transfer to the next room in daycare. Really nuts!

I really liked this book. I confess that I shed tears when Gene realized it was Walt who had been hit by the car. His comment about Walt's having taken what he wanted... I really felt his frustration and intense guilt. And his keeping the picture of him and his family to remind him that his life really is a gift. Very powerful.

It is hard to imagine this book being written today. Depression is viewed so differently now than it was in the 1960's.  A whole "tough-it-out" attitude must have been horrible for people who truly did have thoughts of suicide. His decision to walk to the desert... how the desert made him feel even more insignificant... how he found somthing, anything to keep him alive through another night alone. It's so effectively written that I almost wonder whether DF himself experienced a period of depression like this one.

OK, Karen's questions:

Was Gene right in his decision to "steal" the horses back?

Yes. It was the best solution to the problem in all cases. All they wanted was the return of the horses soon enough that a reasonable income could still be had. Legal proceedings were iffy at best, and would take far too long. The thiefs won't report the fact that the stolen goods were stolen from them. (Any of you seen those few times it does happen? Like in those oddball news segments?)

How do you feel about his setting the scene and leaving Walt behind?

Really gut-wrenching, but he couldn't realistically take Walt with him. What was he going to do? Dump Walt in a ditch? He couldn't take him for medical care since he was dead on the scene. It looks like Walt was simply doing his job and was the victim of an accident and not involved in any nefarious doings. Definitely best for Walt and his family, and I think that's what is most important.

How believable is it that the quarrelling truck drivers remembered the station wagon and rental van?

I'm surprised at some of the things I remember and don't remember. But I will say that when it comes to remember mundane things, the mudane things that I argue about are the ones I most often remember. A certain fight with my DH over leftover pizza 10 years ago comes to mind...

What are the chances that Gene was able to track down the Yogi kerchief?

I thought this was kind of silly, but then I often see in the news that it's a bit of fluke stumbling upon clues that often strikes gold. The stopping of Timothy McVeigh comes to mind. He just happened to be pulled over for a routine traffic violation. I often wonder if he would have been found otherwise. And then there's a convenience store robber who was caught just the other day about 3 weeks after the incident. Robber went to the fridge, brought two sodas to the counter, then held up the place. One of the sodas had a clear print on it. He had a previous record and was caught.

Do you think Gene and Lynnie have a future?

I don't think so. But I do think that it's a little more likely than other cases, given that she's the daughter of his boss. But it's far more likely that they'll go their separate ways, even if I'd love to think otherwise.

It is hard to imagine this book being written today.

Unfortunately, I read this book, and Charlaine Harris' Shakespeare's Landlord back-to-back ... Her character was also dealing with a deep depression ... maybe not as suicidal as Gene, but still pretty heavy stuff .... knowing that I sometimes suffer from depression too, it was a particularly tough week for me ...

What's that countdown at, Jane?  ;-)

As for Forfeit, I won't be ready to go with that one until mid-way through September (I'm in a reading challenge through the 6th for which it does not qualify, and then I'm in Vegas for my stepsister's wedding) .... so you guys can feel free to start without me .... sorry for the delay, but I'm getting my butt kicked in the challenge, and I'm gonna need to step it up .....

I'm going to be delayed on Forfeit because of Even Money. Maybe I'll get it started this weekend, but I've got 3 other books plus a church study book to start. But I will get it read! :)

4 days until Even Money! I can't wait! :)

LOL!  I'm not even letting myself BUY Even Money until after this challenge, because I know I won't be able to resist it ... ;-)

Besides --- I'm #3 on the WL here .. hopefully, I'll get it posted before my self-imposed wait is over!!!!