The Stockmen

[Stormy]

Ok because Mrs Bookworm is eager to get a go on with things :hehe:

What did you think about The Stockmen???

Good points, bad points.....the plot, character development....anything. :D

[kezabelle]

Hi Stomy - just wanted to post LMAO

I'll let everyone else get started and then have an opinion I think :hehe:

[Stormy]

Cripes....okay then, I'll get the ball rolling :hehe:

I felt that it was an easy enough read, it wasn't as incredibly sappy as I expected it would be which was great. I liked the Australiana feel of it...probably because my dad's family owned a property up north and I could really appreciate the struggles that Rosie was facing. :yes:

I thought it was great that she grew a spine so quickly....felt like slapping her in the first couple of chapters. :P

[kezabelle]

well, now i can have an opinion :hehe:

i enjoyed learning a few things about the kelpie origin and training dogs.

i agree with the easy read and the growing a spine - but actually felt the characters were a bit underdeveloped. loved the token gay couple that every modern book has to have...

[Stormy]

Yes but I thought that was a bit of a predictable development :hehe:

What did you think of the ending? A bit cliche??

[kezabelle]

all nice and neat - very mills and boon :)

[Stormy]

Yes, too Mills & Boon :P

Come on Patric where's your :2c:? :hehe:

[kezabelle]

we'll just have our own discussion Kay... :)

what did you think of the historical element?

[Stormy]

It was an interesting sideline....I think without Jack's story, the book wouldn't have been much chop. I think she could have expanded a bit more on his story though and although I knew he would be long dead, I was surprised to find out he died so young. But like John pointed out to me, death in your 30s wasn't entirely unusual pre-penicillin days. :yes:

[zen]

yes.. i agree, without the other story line re Jack and the dogs, it would have been even less worth while reading it.. it was a very easy read.. too easy! did not have enough meat to it, both story lines could have been expanded somewhat.. the characters were very flat, there was not much in the way of character development..

i was very glad Sam died straight up. Rosie's spinal growth was appreciated! :D i've not read any Mills and Boon, but i know the reputation, and this book would surely fit that genre...

all in all, a waste of $22 to my mind.. altho i did like the Australian feel to it..

[Stormy]

Zen that means it is a perfect bookcrossing book :P

I think I would have liked it better if it was just about Jack and the dogs really and had that story fleshed out a lot more. :hehe:

[zen]

i'm a little surprised that this author is well known and sells lots of books, has written lots more... when i went to buy it, i had forgotten the author, and just asked the girl at the counter if she knew where i could find the Stockman.. well, she not only corrected the book title, but knew the author straight up.. i wonder if her other books are any better? or is it just me? i'm really not into romantic fiction...

and.. in case i have offended anyone.. you can all tell me my favourite genre, SciFi/Fantasy, is a load of crap too if you like! lol.....

[Stormy]

Zen when I bought it, it was in a bargain bin - 4 for $20. I got it to make up my four because it's not my usual thing either :hehe:

There were a few others of hers in there but The Stockmen seemed the most palatable of them. :)

From crashtestwoman (sorry Debby, I don't know why it won't let you post :dk:)


Review of The Stockman.
Well I thought that really it was just a written from of Mcleods Daughters. The only shock in the book was that Sam died in the first coupla chapters, every thing else was so bloody predictable I was cringing at times. The writing was somewhat dull and the characters were too one dimensional and hardly fleshed out so you didn't get to bond with any off them. No one but the main character was really given a voice, the mothers and fathers story should definately have been fleshed out and the biological fathers story would have added a much needed boost to the mood by really entwinging the Kelpie theme through the tale. I liked Jacks story and how it was weaved through the book but it too was a bit too twee at times and would have been better as a stand alone story at the beginning or a book just on it's own.
I have a lot of difficulty with books that have a nice neatly tied bow at the end and was seriously disgruntled when I got to the end to find it all neatly tied up and everyone happy as larry and "in love".
I took me about 6 hours to read and I must say although I never find reading a waste of time, It really is not a book I would recommend for any of my friends. Would make a good book to give to someone who is in hospital and just needs something lite and moderately entertaining.
I am reading For the Term of His Natural Life at the moment and compared to that, The Stockman was a walk in the park.
ONE THUMB DOWN.

Gosh didn't know I didn't like it that much untill I started typing. .Debby
__________________
EARTH IS THE INSANE ASLYUM FOR THE UNIVERSE

[crashtestwoman]

Okay I've just joined the group. Stoopid me didn't even think to do that the first time around hey. :)

[zen]

glad i wasn't the only one crashtest! :) i was feeling like i may have been a little too harsh in my criticism, but now i feel fine about voicing my opinion! :D

so what are we reading next? a nice thick classic we can all rip to shreds too? lol...

are we all who read this book?

[crashtestwoman]

I must say that I felt a little bad about ripping it apart so much but it really wasn't my kind of book and then again that is exactly what book clubs are all about isn't it. Reading something that you wouldn't ordinarily read. I'm on the hunt now for suggestions for our next book. Wish me luck.:)

[kezabelle]

Agree very much with what you both said Zan and Deb. I didn't want to be too harsh to start in case people thought I was too critical LMAO Obviously not the case! The story had so much potential, but it just didn't really happen. The Kelpie story was the only bit that really interested me - I too would have loved a stand alone story about Jack and the dogs - with the training tips thrwon in :hehe: (hubby used to do the dog trials).

[zen]

so none of us liked it? LMAO aren't we all good girls for actually reading it?

[susiq]

Well done you girls who read it. I am putting my hand up for being a big slacker and NOT!

Sorry Stormy, it turned into a horrid week at work for me. Basically, that throws me out at home as I'm on email at home too speaking to the UK and finishing off stuff.

I'll keep a eye for the next book and get in quick!

[zen]

let's play a little game here... let's all try hard to find just one thing we actually liked about this book, besides the Aussie 'flavour' it seems to have...

let's see.... i liked the utes at the show.. i liked there was an 'old clunkers' section.. sounds uniquely australian!

[crashtestwoman]

Ummmm...........I liked the fact that it was fairly fast paced, so there wasn't alot of descriptions of stuff, which just bores me stoopid sometimes.
There, that's at least 2 positives in the book.

[kezabelle]

i liked the fact i finished it quickly LMAO sorry :hehe: i found the info on training dogs interesting and the history of the Kelpie.

[Stormy]

I already said I liked the background story....I liked that she had done some research on the history of Kelpie breeding and blended it into the story, rather than just making it up as she went along. :yes:

[miss kiki]

i enjoyed the book. :) read it as fast as i can so i don't slack behind! :hehe:
thought it was an easy read and wasn't the type of book i'd normally read. i felt at times that i could relate when it came to rosie's family-my grandmother married her sister's ex husband, haha, so yeah..i felt like there were people in the book that they didn't describe or talk about enough. even rosie's father was mentioned and he was there in and out of the book, but i think that they should have spoke about their relationship a bit more.
as for the ending-too perfect, lol. every book nowadays seems like it has to have a happy ending, or then again it might just be the books i read.