Customer Reviews

10-lb. Penalty

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

Over the years, I have thoroughly enjoyed reading Francis' books. 10 lb penalty seemed like two separate books. I very much enjoyed the first half of the book which took place over a period of a few months. However, the second half almost seemed like the outline of a story. Francis has always done a great job of describing the little details of ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances. In the first half of this book, he again succeeds in this regard. The second half, which takes place over an extended period of time is missing the rich characterization which is the hallmark of a Francis book. The conclusion to the story was far too simple and convenient. In the end, this book was a disappointment to me.

I skipped this book because of the reviews, but it bothered me that there was a Francis book that I hadn't read. IMHO the reviews were overly harsh. The story was good, the characters were likeable and the depictions of British politics were fascinating. While I always enjoyed Francis' racing stories, the glimpses into various other occupations that have appeared in many of his later books have always taught me something I didn't know before - never to the detriment of the story. In fact my two favorite Francis books are only peripherally about horses and racing, "Straight," about a gem dealer and "Longshot," about a survivalist travel writer. I like the horses but it is Dick Francis' writing that brings me back every time. This book was no exception. Highly recommended.

A few days ago my father told me that I should try out "10 lb. Penalty", saying that I might like it. And I surely did enjoy it! Totally hooked, I finished the book in about three days, each page an excitement and pleasure to read.

Here's the main plot: Young soon-to-be eighteen-year-old Benedict Juliar's hopes of becoming a steeplechase jockey are all dashed when he is fired for reason he can't understand. But things become clear as he realizes the whole idea was his father's. George Juliard is a businessman battling a Dorset by-election for a street level entry into politics. And he now needs his son to help him in his campaign. Benedict has no choice and agrees. Unfortunately, things get bad as many strange and dangerous incidents occur. Can Benedict protect his father from a mysterious attacker?

Dick Francis has a style all his own, with a plot which is believable and realistic. But one of the best things I liked about "10 lb. Penalty" is the wonderful array of characters. Each individual has his or her own personality, flaws, and characteristics put on paper so well that you can't help but feel that you know each person. There's characters like Benedict Juliard, George Juliard, Orinda Nagle, Mervyn Teck, Polly, A. L. Wyvern, Usher Rudd, and others. In the story also there is a quality of humor to it, making me chuckle at times. But still this book is ONLY for older people, NOT for younger children, due to language and innuendos.

Most of the reviewers have given less than 5 stars for this book, saying it was very different and not as good as Dick Francis' other books. I cannot agree or disagree with that since this is my first book of his to read and I think 5 stars is very much indeed accurate. I'm now also reading "To the Hilt" which I'm finding VERY interesting and exciting to read!

Another exciting thrill ride from one of my favorite authors. In this book, "the turf" takes a supporting role behind a much nastier arena, the world of elective politics. The narrator, Benedict , is the teenage son of George Juliard, a charismatic upstart parliamentary candidate. The father-son relationship forms the centerpiece of the story with some very dirty politicking to keep things interesting. The typical Francis "voice" sounds just a bit out of place coming from a 17-year-old, but as everyone around him learns very quickly, Ben is no ordinary teenager. The villains are predictably nasty: a local codger with a wandering eye and a taste for arson, and a slimy corporate type who wants to be the power, if not behind the throne, then at least behind the movers and shakers in Parliament. There's also an absolutely poisonous journalist/papparazzo who pops up with the odd character assassination every once in awhile Their cumulative efforts to get revenge on Ben and his increasingly prominent father get lamer as they go along. But at the same time, the father-son story becomes more and more compelling. Francis' grasp of the minutiae of the political process is dead on. Even if you've never experienced an election in the UK, many of the activities and characters have their equals on this side of "the pond" as well. This has joined my top list of Francis books, along with Wild Horses and Straight. I only hope that Mr. Francis' health stays robust so he can keep entertaining us for many a year!

Okay, So francis continues to wander farther and farther from the horse races, this one puts the races on the back burner, is that what all the crying is about? Francis's 10lb penalty was actually quite intruiging, maybe a little less gore and action that used to be associated with him, but still a nice easy read as always, this lates book deals with politics, and revolves around the son of a political candidate, it was quite interesting and taught me some things to. i recomend it to anybody

Why is it people only find a review helpful if they hear something positive? Anyway, there are plenty of positives in this book. I have read several Dick Francis novels, and I must say it is interesting when he tackles subjects other than horse racing, which he does quite admirably. The main characters are interesting and very likable. The book moves along at a great pace, just like in horse racing.

So what goes wrong? Well, for one, in plotting the book in my head, I imagined the election coming at the end of the book. I was quite surprised when it did not happen this way. The winner is announced halfway into the book. And then things wander aimlessly, just as another reviewer mentions. In fact, it reads like one LONG epilogue. It is as if Francis's publisher called him up one day and said, "Psst. Wrap it up." It seemed like there was so much more that could have been done with the campaigning aspect in the book.

For what it's worth, the last half of the book is not totally meritless. It's just that for a mystery book, there is really nothing mysterious or dangerous going on in the last half. The climax happens so quickly and leaves about ONE page for the true epilogue. The thing with some Francis books is there usually is not much of a mystery to solve. We know who the "bad guy" is. The same thing applies here. Aren't villains sometimes the best part of a movie or a book? The problem is we never really get to KNOW much about the "bad guy".

So three stars - 4 for the first part of the book and 2 for the last part. Hey, one can do worse. At least he didn't carry it on for 500+ pages.

This novel is tangentially about horses, and it is a mystery, but I think it is also an attempt by Francis to try something a little bit different. It is a coming-of-age novel, with a promising by very young hero, and it also has some elements of the long tradition of the British comedy of manners.

While it will nver be in my top ten percent of Francis' novels, it has a sunniness and good cheer that makes it a good light read.

This time Mr Francis mixes in politics with horses, anddevelops characters you care for, all this without four-letter wordsand steamy sex, pretty unique in this day. Well worth the time and money, I can only hope Dick Francis writes many more.

This book starts out rather interesting, but after that it is all downhill... By the end of the book you are left wondering what happened to the plot. This book completely lacks a climax. I would definitely recommend not reading this book, unless you're very interested in horse racing and politics. I was told it was supposed to be a mystery about the main character, Ben, abusing drugs, but the majority of the book was about Ben's father running for Parliament. I am not a political person so this did not interest me at all.

Dick Francis is one of my favourite writers - but this is NOT one of his best. He has a typical Francis hero - underestimated, honourable, tenacious - the only difference this time being that this hero, Benedict, is a teenager in the shadow of an energetic, charismatic father, George Juliard.

When writing one of his books Francis often decides to explore a particular profession or occupation- for example film direction in "Wild Horses" or aviation in "Rat Race".

In "10lb Penalty" he tackles politics,and Benedict's father is standing for parliament. I was looking forward to seeing whether Francis got the details right about elections and campaigning.

He was fairly accurate with his details, but he didn't convey the flavour of campaigning- to political activists, elections can be just as exciting as the Grand National, but you wouldn't guess that from this book.

What bothered me more was that I didn't really care who won the election. George Juliard is just too flawless to be interesting. Although politics are supposed to be his whole life, we never get a clue as to what his beliefs are. In fact we don't even get told which party he belongs to - although he almost certainly is a Conservative , and his main opponent Paul Bethune probably a Liberal Democrat.

Actually, the Bethune family are more interesting that the Juliards. The unfaithful but witty husband, the wife who hates being dragged into politics and the grunting teenager sons make up a more realistic political family .

Oh yes, there's a murder plot. But it wasn't very believable.