Journal 1 - Three by Dick Francis

 

Dick Francis

7/30/2000

Flying Finish by Dick Francis

               A rather up in the air ending.  Reader doesn’t really know if Gabriella actually survives.  One wonders why Henry didn’t simply tell the Italian cops about what he found out, esp. since he knew who shot her.  Or at least suspected.

               This one seems to take class as its point, much in the same way that one of the other books took taxes as its point.

               Gabriella is one of the better DF heroines.  She has spunk and smarts.  The ending was one of the more violent DF comes with he shooting of the plane’s crew and the remorseless killing of Billy., but even the killing did not surprise the reader.  Patrick’s survival seems like a coup de grace.  But one can see the disconnection of Henry change over the course of the book – from his friendless at the beginning of the book to his friendship with Patrick and relationship with Gabriella.  Could the killing of Billy had been an emotional response to the shooting of Gabriella, a connection that Henry did not see himself?

7/30/2000

Banker by Dick Francis

               Not one of my favorite DF books.  The death of Henry, when it follows the conversation between Pam and Tom seems coincidental.

               Plot wise it is good and the scenes between Tom and Judith are well written.  But for some reason Tom Isn’t one of DF’s most likable protagonists.  Unsure as to why, perhaps because he doesn’t try to make changes

               The book itself does have some very funny scenes especially when discussing caffeine.

               “And now in America I ask you, they’re casting caffeine as a villain and are busy taking it out of everything it’s naturally in.” (104)

               Perhaps Tom isn’t that likable because to some extant he does seem like a cardboard cut out.  Parts of the book seem to be graft on from others.  The book seems to lack originality.  It doesn’t feel as fresh as the others.

 

7/31/2000

Decider by Dick Francis

               I like the idea of a protagonist with kids.

               Lee’s love is for his children, not his wife.  His feelings for Penelope are based up an idea or a symbol.

               The characterization of Lee’s children is well done.  There are similarities between the Sattons and the Pembroke’s from Hot Money.

               It is interesting to note that the one protagonist who has kids does not have ae good relationship with his wife.  Why?  Is it because he felt the need to show the love at first sight?  Is that the reason for Penelope?  She seems to be a non-entity.  The thunderbolt occurs to Amanda.  Amanda herself seems to be a non-entity.  Staying away when one of her children was almost crushed?  That does not make sense.  She seems to be like a Disney mother, not in existence or complacent or invalid.  One wonders why she is there.  And why make Lee married only to show how dissatisfied he is?  Is it to show him as self-sacrificing?  Is the situation, in fact, good for the kids.  Is Francis making a comment on divorce>  It seems like he is, that people should stay together for the sake of the children.

               Also minor attack on anti-race [Note: horse racing] protests. 

               What make all the children male?  Perhaps cause he finds it easier to write male children  Was the book an experiment in a family based protagonist?  Perhaps seeing how it would work in case he wasn’t to take that step with Kit? [Note:  one of Francis’ heroes who has more than one book]

               Characters were kept in character.

 

Philadelphia Park


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