Robin Pilcher

The story of a blended family growing up although I don’t believe any step-children could be as dreadful as Leo’s children. I enjoyed the book but wish authors would not jump back and forward in time unless it’s essential to the plot. In this case, it was not only unnecessary but it interrupted the fluidity of the story.

This is Robin Pilcher's third novel. I thoroughly enjoyed his first two; he's Rosamunde Pilcher's son, and while his writing is sometimes cruder than hers, and the endings tend to be left rather open, I still find the style eminently readable and his characters likeable. Perhaps it's typical of a male author that the men seem mostly real and the women rather caricatured.

It's the story of a marriage with problems that aren't likely to be resolved. I didn't like it as much as the others to show more start with, partly because there were no female characters I could empathise with and partly because there seemed to be a lot of digs (at the church, for instance) and assumptions (eg that private schools are better than state ones) that weren't explored. There was also a fair amount of business talk in the middle of the book, which I skimmed.

But still, I got drawn into the main character's life and those of people he met in the second half of the book, and by the last few chapters could hardly put it down. Enjoyed again 18 years after first reading, but found the ending rather unsatisfactory.

Longer review here: https://suesbookreviews.blogspot.com/2023/01/a-risk-worth-taking-by-robin-pilche... show less

Warm, Interesting Tale: This latest from Robin Pilcher is certainly his best; it lacks some of the stiffness and self-consciousness that occasionally marked his earlier works.

Set against the very interesting backdrop of the annual Edinburgh Festival, the plot revolves against several key figures, each of whom in some way is involved with the festivities, either on or off the stage. Having been to Edinburgh during this fabulous time of every type of cultural and folk activity you can show more imagine, I was fascinated by the behind-the-scenes information, which was woven effortlessly into the story rather than just being presented as specious information.

I found the characters believable and for the most part likeable (there is at least one villain), and the plot lines quick and easy to read. The book held my interest throughout, and I finished it with a smile on my face.

Highly recommended! show less

This was the debut novel for Robin Pilcher, son of the better-known writer Rosamunde Pilcher.

David, a businessman who has been grieving and depressed, flies to America for an important meeting. Then he realises he has to start moving on for the sake of his children in Scotland...

Clever plotting as a business thread alternates with David's personal story. While some of the scenes relating to the business went a little over my head, it didn’t matter. David, who is an extremely likeable show more person, discovers that he can make a difference in the lives of some lonely people. The bulk of the story takes place over about a month, and the pace works well.

The writing is excellent, particularly the characterisation; the author evidently inherited his mother's gift in that respect. There's believable dialogue and some strong emotion, with one particularly moving scene, towards the end. The romance, inevitable from fairly early on, is low-key, only coming to resolution in the final chapter.

I enjoyed this very much both on first reading, on re-reading nearly sixteen years later, and again another five years after that. Highly recommended.

Latest review here: https://suesbookreviews.blogspot.com/2022/09/an-ocean-apart-by-robin-pilcher.htm... show less