A Risk Worth Taking

A Risk Worth Taking was recommended to me by my mother. The author is the son of the famous author Rosamunde Pilcher. Synopsis: Dan has recently been downsized from his job. He has moved his family to the suburbs of London. His wife Jackie picks up the slack by getting a job with Rebecca Towelworth Designs. Is there more going on with her job than meets the eye? They have three children Josh, Nina, and Millie. The girls hate their school and constantly complain to their father. Meanwhile Josh spends most of his nights out at clubs and a low paying job. All of the sudden Dan sees an article about a company looking for assistance in Womens Weekly. What happens when Dan decides to check out the company? And how will this affect the family? My Thoughts: I wish I could tell you that the sons writing is as good as the mothers. I was not impressed. I had a hard time getting started with this novel. I did not love the character of Dan. The story did take a turn for the better but it took half way through for me to be interested. When Dan made the conclusion of what needed to happen with his family I was ready for this moment! This story takes place in 2001 to 2002 time period. I think the book was a originally published at this time. Jane Green has one that takes place during the same time period which is better.

I have never read a dreadful Pilcher book by either mother or son but some are better than others. Robin does not write as well as his mother but his books stand on their own. This is a nice read I would recommend to others. It is not the best of the bunch but I am glad I bought and read it.

Many changes in life take time, they are slow and the person involved usually does not realize what is happening until it has been going on for a while. This book faces changes in a few lives, including Dans, at a slow real time pace. This novel does not have a quick, to- the-point plot, but instead it is a story of daily normal domestic (some very humorous) situations lived by interesting characters going through changes in their lives and lifestyles and how these changes are molded by the decisions made in the course of the story. I did like this book a lot, I believe all of the characters are interesting and all of the secondary characters could have been a tad more enticing if their personalities had been developed a touch more. Nevertheless, what I loved the most is that while reading this book, I was permanently reminded of Fort William and I was amazed of how well the author has caught the daily rhythm of life of a Scottish highlands town. For me, it was like being there.

This book was awful. First of all, it took just about half the book to get to the real plot. (It followed a couple other potential plot threads first before the author settled on one.) Once the plot was settled on, the ending was easy to determine. No need to read the rest of the book. I wont be reading another one by this author.

Superb writer---my favorite author!!! Another great book by Robin. Good story, theme---everything. One of the best in language use. Just terrific.

I really enjoyed this book of second chances. First the father got reinvigorated by a change of scene, then the son and finally the daughters got to see that things other than material things mattered. And maybe Im mistaken, but I seem to recall reading the story of the young couple who bought the clothing business. Id appreciate any help locating it.

Interesting, zippy story about an area I have never visited. Great characters, believeable, and it is about true friendship and how you may find it in the least expected places.. Pilchers style of writing is smooth and interesting. This is the kind of book you want to have on a day when you really want to relax and be self-absorbed if only for a short while.

Well, I struggled through this one, putting it down several times for a week or more at a time. The biggest problem with this book? The characters engage in pages-long soliloquies in order to fill in the story. I know it worked for Shakespeare, but it just isnt working here. If I ever engaged in a conversation where the other person was giving me five-minute speeches like this I would go to sleep, or go hang myself. The next biggest problem? Very sterotypical & flat characters. The wife is your stereotypical angry witch-wife. The protagonist is your stereotypical good-guy-trying-to-deal-with-angry-witch-wife. No story or relationship is that simple. It would have been much more interesting to read if these main characters had been realistic, or had realistic interactions. Neither one of the main characters inspires your pity or your interest. What is interesting about reading about a dysfunctional family & crumbling marriage -- all of which is failing because of two completely selfish & self-serving people? They cant even be bothered to take proper care of their children. This sort of family tragedy is all too common & isnt appealing when it is glorified as just a life choice & portrayed so unrealistically in its affects on the people involved. I was also appalled that the character was so moved by the events of 9/11 that he felt inspired to abandon his marriage & family, and that this is portrayed as perfectly reasonable & good behavior--all while remaining extremely critical of his wife for doing the same thing. This book was hard to read because of its long, unrealistic character speeches, its unrealistic characters acting like stereotypes. And the ending is just disappointing & makes me feel a bit pessimistic about the whole human condition.

Rosamunde Pilcher is one of my favorite authors. Sadly, her son, Robin Pilcher, cannot pull off a writing coup such as his mothers immortal Shell Seekers or Winter Soltice, books guaranteed to give you a long, cozy read, full of well-crafted characters, meticulous descriptions and highly enjoyable narrative. Robin Pilchers work provides nothing but doom and gloom, with stiffly written characters, forced plot lines, inconclusive and feeble endings, and a boring storyline. I read this entire book because I kept hoping it would get better, but unfortunately it did not improve. I find Pilchers writing stilted and his characters shallow. His plot is obvious, the conclusion even more so. For more enjoyable reading, check out the wonderful writings of Rosamunde Pilcher, acclaimed British novelist.

wonderful, understanding ,beautiful lives .I want more