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Wizard
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Flashman by George MacDonald Fraser (Discussion)
Here's the voting thread.
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People who want to read unspoiled should stay away from this thread until they have finished the book. If others prefer hidden spoilers, say so, and we can change that. |
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#2 |
the rook, bossing Never.
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But presumably totally unappealing to people that hate stories around cads, bullys and anti-heroes. I read the blurbs years ago and I can't see how it's like Clive Cussler, James Bond, and The Three Musketeers. I've read some Cussler & Fleming: The only commonality is Bond and Pitt are womanisers. The Three Musketeers is a different thing again. Anyone else struck by how infrequently they use a musket?
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Grand Sorcerer
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o saeclum infacetum
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This is one of my all-time favorite series; so much so that I only rarely allow myself the privilege and great enjoyment of reading the next one. |
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#5 |
cacoethes scribendi
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Anyone that's read the first Dirk Pitt book from Clive Cussler (The Mediterranean Caper, aka Mayday!) knows that Pitt, too, started out as a self-involved cad. He improves considerably after that ... which, if you've read later books, you may wonder about, but the first book really is quite appalling.
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Wizard
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I've just started it, and like it a lot better than I expected so far. The introduction about how the first edition of the book was received had me laughing out loud more than once. I have no idea whether that intro is true or not -- MacDonald talks about reviewers who took his first introduction at face value and thought the book was a real memoir, but I wouldn't put it past him to write a joking intro to the new edition.
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Starting the book, this passage struck me: Quote:
There's absolutely no doubt that Harry Flashman is a terrible person, and I'd dislike and condemn him if he was real, but I think I'm going to enjoy reading about him. He's an interesting contrast to the protagonist of East Lynne, who's no doubt a far better person, but when we first meet her in the the book she's so bland and devoid of personality that I haven't mustered the interest to read beyond the second chapter. |
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#7 | |
Wizard
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Absolutely!
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#8 |
Wizard
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I'm struggling with this book. Flashman is worse than a cad. When he almost raped his dad's misttress I nearly pulled the rip cord. Mostly I like books, tv shows, movies etc. where the main character is likable or someone you are pulling for. Flashman is not that. In an hour or so, I'll be on my back porch for my morning reading session, I'm not sure I'll open Flashman. I also feel really ripped off having paid 12.99 for this at Amazon. Never again, if I finish this book, I won't buy any subsequent books in the series.
I'm glad I got my recent fill of classics with David Copperfield and The Time Machine. Last edited by drofgnal; 08-21-2021 at 05:45 AM. |
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#9 |
Grand Sorcerer
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I enjoyed the Afganistan part. The rest: meh. I won't be continuing the series.
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#10 | |
o saeclum infacetum
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Still grateful to you for recommending it! |
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Wizard
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When we got to Scotland, this passage had me laughing out loud: Quote:
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I'm thinking again of that "left-wing journal which hailed it as a scathing attack on British imperialism". It's hard to believe that this wasn't the intention. Flashman is such a terrible person, as are most of the English people we meet. I'm taking a break from it, not sure if I'll continue. It's well written, and the story is interesting. I want to see what happens next. I find it hard when the protagonist is so extremely unsympathetic, but it helps (somewhat) that he makes no attempt to justify himself to the reader. That sounds interesting! I might keep reading for that. |
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#12 |
Home Guard
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Royal Flash was made into a 1975 Richard Lester movie with Malcolm McDowell and Oliver Reed. Fraser adapted his book for the screen, as he did for Lester's Musketeer movies.
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