A Risk Worth Taking

I read the book, but was disappointed. The characters were not well developed and the movement was choppy. It would probably make a great TV movie, though. So far none of Robins books I have read are as good as his mothers. But Ill keep on reading and hoping.

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.

NOT very believable. The problems Dan and family faced do not fix themselves just by wishful thinking as Pilcher would have us believe. A lay-about Dad goes to remote Scotland and finds himself within days; his lay-about son follows Dad and finds himself within days; two spoiled-brat teenage daughters go to visit Dad and brother and find themselves within HOURS. Poor wifie-Jackie--stays home and loses herself. Only a total misogynist could create a woman as shallow and unredeeming as that. The best and only redeeming feature of the book was listening to the audio-CD versions wonderful Scottish accent of the narrator.

I took a risk on reading a new book by a new Author I have not had the pleasure of reading and let me say; it was a risk worth taking. I will be purshasing more Robin Pilcher books. It doesnt hurt that his Mum is one of my favorites.

A Risk worth Taking follows the adventures of Dan Porter, unemployed, unsuccessful house husband of career-driven wife, and father of three. Dan impulsively goes to Scotland, gets himself involved with a woman running a mail-order business, and changes his life completely. Trouble is that Dan and the other characters are entirely two-dimensional, the plot dreadfully contrived, and the whole tale boringly predictable. All Robin Pilchers male characters are somewhat similar - selfish, irresponsible and foolish. The women are all sex objects, with the occasional career thrown in to make it PC. The kids are cardboard cut-outs from a choose your own problem child handbook. Throw in the odd Type A, B, or C businessman/politician, etc., and there you have it. This level of writing and story-telling is acceptable if you want something like a Womans Own story. If you want something a little more creative and challenging, more of a meal than a gooey doughnut with your cup of tea, look elsewhere.

I enjoyed this book, as I do all of Robin Pilchers books. However, the ending was not a surprise. I knew what was coming, even before I read it.

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.

very fine

Like many of Robin Pilchers readers, I tried a second book by him (the first was Starting Over) in a vain attempt to find something similar to the books written by the authors far more talented mother, Rosamunde Pilcher, who, sadly, has stopped writing. Again -- a complete disappointment. Robin Pilcher has learned some of his mothers narrative skills but has never managed to make any of his characters into someone most of us actually want to read about: Dan Porter is another obtuse, unlikeable man, whose wife I wholeheartedly symphathize with -- Id leave him too. Pilchers characters are shallow and uninteresting, with ridiculous motivations (for example, why would Dan Porter decide to stay home for his family, turning down all job offers and knowingly causing chaos in the process; but neglect to tell his family about his reasons for doing so?). I have trudged through two Robin Pilcher novels and I wont try another one. For those who think they might like to read this book, I strongly urge them to start with the Rosamunde Pilcher novels instead.

Like others, I have read many Rosamunde Pilcher books and that certainly brought me to Robin Pilcher. But, no need to compare ... This is my second after An Ocean Apart and I loved both. I love the characters and the dogs!! The characters all have their stories as do we all and I enjoy that there is some background on all that comes through the telling of the main story. The thing that I think IS in common with both Pilchers writing is that even the characters that are bad have some likeable qualities and we are given enough info to have some understanding of their flaws. This book - like Oceans Apart - I was not ready for it to end. Oh, I also love the Scotland setting. And I guess the other commonality is that I will re-read these as I re-read Rosamundes books.