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Post by ripper on Jan 10, 2019 14:23:17 GMT
I have read around 15 of the Timmy Lea/Jonathan May/Oliver Grape books, but only a single Rosie Dixon adventure. The one I read, Confessions from an Escort Agency, had a scene in which Rosie and some other girls are hunted down by a group of men in a parody of fox-hunting. Rosie was there in error and an unwilling participent, and I felt so uncomfortable reading it that it has put me off trying any further in the Rosie Dixon series. Has anyone else had problems with the series in feeling uncomfortable about the protagonist being female? I suppose I really should try another, so I wondered if other members had read other entries and any recommendations?
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Post by dem bones on Jan 10, 2019 16:24:19 GMT
Where's Franklin when we need him? Have had Night Nurse hanging around for ages, and recently picked up Lady Courier, not gotten around to either just yet. Mr. Wood's Confessions from a Haunted House kind of put me off. Had been after a copy for ages, but two chapters in, I lost the will to live. |
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Post by ripper on Jan 10, 2019 17:52:59 GMT
I have yet to read Haunted House. I imagine it is a bawdy version of an old dark house comedy from the 30s/40s. I believe it was the last of the Timmy Lea series and came out after quite a break from the penultimate entry.
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Post by dem bones on Jan 10, 2019 19:34:55 GMT
I have yet to read Haunted House. I imagine it is a bawdy version of an old dark house comedy from the 30s/40s. I believe it was the last of the Timmy Lea series and came out after quite a break from the penultimate entry. It does seem to have that after-the-event feel to it, or did when I tried it. Could be a simple case of being in the wrong mood and one rematch later I'll be raving about "a lost masterpiece of supernatural fiction" as usual. |
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Post by ripper on Jan 11, 2019 8:58:20 GMT
Yes, I agree that mood can affect how much a book is enjoyed. Also, I have a tendency to binge on authors and genres. For instance, I may read a few Shaun Hutsons, war titles etc on the trot, and as a result get sick of them for a while. One of my new year's resolutions is to break that bingeing and read no more than one book genre or author before moving on to a different one.
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Post by andydecker on Jan 11, 2019 18:18:48 GMT
I bought a few of the genre. One Lea, two Dixon, one Wood and four Jonothan White, which I erroneously attributed to John Harvey. I wonder who did them. I mostly just browsed a few pages. They were amusing, but after a while I thought the "clever" puns and euphemism heavy writing tiresome. Must have been hell to write them, though. On the other hand, compared to today's mostly badly written wanna-be porn like "50 Shades" those novels have a charm and a wit which current writers just don't possess.
I like the female perspective, I guess it forces males writers to put a bit more thought into his work and it gives a broader range for satire. But I know what you mean with uncomfortable; there are a few topics of the erotica-genre I avoid as I just don't get the fantasy.
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Post by ripper on Jan 12, 2019 11:08:36 GMT
I bought a few of the genre. One Lea, two Dixon, one Wood and four Jonothan White, which I erroneously attributed to John Harvey. I wonder who did them. I mostly just browsed a few pages. They were amusing, but after a while I thought the "clever" puns and euphemism heavy writing tiresome. Must have been hell to write them, though. On the other hand, compared to today's mostly badly written wanna-be porn like "50 Shades" those novels have a charm and a wit which current writers just don't possess.
I like the female perspective, I guess it forces males writers to put a bit more thought into his work and it gives a broader range for satire. But I know what you mean with uncomfortable; there are a few topics of the erotica-genre I avoid as I just don't get the fantasy.
Hi Andy, what were the White books please? The name is familiar, but can't put my finger on which series he wrote. Yep, compared to today's semi-porn, the Confessions do have a kind of charm, wit, and dare I say it, a certain amount of innocence. They are of their time and British to their core. I've no idea if they were translated into other languages. Wood said that each Confessions book took around five weeks to write, which doesn't sound long, but I can believe that those five weeks were a very hard slog. Humour, and in particular novel-length humour, is very difficult to write. Only the masters like Wodehouse can make it seem effortless. The Confessions books bring out a feeling of nostalgia in me. I grew up in the 70s and remember what it was like then. I was too young to actually buy a Confessions book when they were at their zenith circa 1974, or actually I didn't have the nerve--no idea what would have happened if I had tried to buy one. I don't recall them being on high shelves out of the reach of young hands, and I would think a sizeable proportion of their readership were teenage boys, so probably no-one would have batted an eyelid, but they did have an aura of being 'forbidden'. |
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Post by andydecker on Jan 12, 2019 14:50:28 GMT
Double Trouble (1976 Coronet) MEET THE SEXIEST, FASTEST HEROES AROUND
As Nick und Barrie patch swing into action, the laughs, the loving – and the fists – come quicker than ever. Whether it's the beautiful black photographer's assistant, the midget managing director of a rival concern, the female designer who makes the biggest boobs imaginable, the gang of hoods from Soho or the two sensual models who enjoy a 'special relationship' – no one is a match for the twins. Not a patch on them!
When Barrie Patch clicks his camera the most gorgeous models in London expose their all!
When Nick Patch sings he really gets 'em going!
The twin world of fashion photography and pop music explode with skullduggery and kidnapping – and with beautiful birds.
IT CERTAINLY IS DOUBLE TROUBE!
Double Bed (1978 Coronet) 
NOTHING COVERS A BED FASTER THAN PATCHWORK
Not every man gets the chance to have his bed filled with nubile nymphets, but then Barrie Patch always did have that little something special. Not so little either. The big brass bed was the main prop in Barrie's photographic studio and he put it to good use snapping lithe and lovely limbs for the girlie mags.
When international movie producer Ethan J. Byrd saw some of his pics he decided Barrie was just the man to direct his newest skin-flick – set in London and Paris during the French Revolution and based loosely (very) on the work of Charles Dickens: REVOLUTION IN THE RAW or A TALE OF TWO TITTIES. And when he found out that Barrie and his star, Kerry-Jane White, were no strangers, that made everything perfect. Or did it …?
Barrie was going to find himself being given a hard time. Almost as hard as twin brother Nick whose beautiful black chick had decided to really take him in hand.
Then there were two models who …
Well, don't just stand there – BUY IT!
Seems there were at least five books in the series. I stumbled upon them because I read somewhere that Harvey was the writer. As he doesn't acknowledge them in his bibliography I guess this is wrong. I got four, but only read the first one. The style is a bit of an acquired taste. As the narrator always barges in the story. Chapter 5
Right now! After that little surprise we had better stop for a few minutes and have a look around at what exactly might be going on.
Another chance for the most astute amongst you to earn a few more of those valuable points. I hope you haven't lost count of them in making the journey from chapter one to here.
So – out of the fading blue of a late afternoon sky one of our twin heroes have been kidnapped. The questions are: why? And who by? (Or, if you are stickler for regularity in these little matters – by whom?)
Here is the beginning of Double Bed. 'Great party, isn't it?'
Barrie nodded, mumbled agreement. From where he was sitting, there could be no denying it. In fact, if she moved her bottom even slightly to either side …
'Barrie! Barrie Patch!'
A firm hand clapped down on his shoulder and he jerked backwards, almost unseating the nubile young thing who was using him for a cushion. Albeit a bumpy one.
'Glad you could make it! I see you youv'e met Stephanie.'
Stephanie was his secretary. He was Nigel Taylor-Jones. Managing editor of Rocket Books. One of the most promising men of his generation, was Nigel. Whichever generation that was. One thing, though, it had been the generation that all went to Cambridge. Now they were all in publishing. Taking one another out to lunch to boost their expense accounts. Outbidding each other for the rights to the latest film about the Devil manifesting himself in the bosom of the upper middle class American family – or the biggest and best plantation romance between a muscular slave aware of his roots and the soft and virginal daughter of the local gentry. First in Eng.Lit., every one of them.
Apart from Stephanie. She hadn't been to Cambridge. She had other assets. If Barrie played his cards right he might get them stripped.I guess the writer's tongue must have bore right through his cheek. 'Innocence' is exactly right. This is fun, a bit of satire, a bit of erotic, a bit of word-play. Nothing wrong with that. |
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Post by helrunar on Jan 12, 2019 19:27:37 GMT
Is it wrong that I find this thread hilarious? Especially references to pert little Fanny, the cheeky under-housemaid.
There will always be an England.
cheers, H.
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Post by Durtal1963 on Jan 12, 2019 20:13:46 GMT
A while ago I discovered that the complete series of both the ‘Confessions’ and ‘Rosie Dixon’ books were available as single volume, omnibus edition e-books on Amazon. A little expensive, but not over much for what after all are the entire series. Not checked whether still available, though.
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Post by ripper on Jan 13, 2019 10:06:30 GMT
Double Trouble (1976 Coronet) MEET THE SEXIEST, FASTEST HEROES AROUND
As Nick und Barrie patch swing into action, the laughs, the loving – and the fists – come quicker than ever. Whether it's the beautiful black photographer's assistant, the midget managing director of a rival concern, the female designer who makes the biggest boobs imaginable, the gang of hoods from Soho or the two sensual models who enjoy a 'special relationship' – no one is a match for the twins. Not a patch on them!
When Barrie Patch clicks his camera the most gorgeous models in London expose their all!
When Nick Patch sings he really gets 'em going!
The twin world of fashion photography and pop music explode with skullduggery and kidnapping – and with beautiful birds.
IT CERTAINLY IS DOUBLE TROUBE!
Double Bed (1978 Coronet)
NOTHING COVERS A BED FASTER THAN PATCHWORK
Not every man gets the chance to have his bed filled with nubile nymphets, but then Barrie Patch always did have that little something special. Not so little either. The big brass bed was the main prop in Barrie's photographic studio and he put it to good use snapping lithe and lovely limbs for the girlie mags.
When international movie producer Ethan J. Byrd saw some of his pics he decided Barrie was just the man to direct his newest skin-flick – set in London and Paris during the French Revolution and based loosely (very) on the work of Charles Dickens: REVOLUTION IN THE RAW or A TALE OF TWO TITTIES. And when he found out that Barrie and his star, Kerry-Jane White, were no strangers, that made everything perfect. Or did it …?
Barrie was going to find himself being given a hard time. Almost as hard as twin brother Nick whose beautiful black chick had decided to really take him in hand.
Then there were two models who …
Well, don't just stand there – BUY IT!
Seems there were at least five books in the series. I stumbled upon them because I read somewhere that Harvey was the writer. As he doesn't acknowledge them in his bibliography I guess this is wrong. I got four, but only read the first one. The style is a bit of an acquired taste. As the narrator always barges in the story. Chapter 5
Right now! After that little surprise we had better stop for a few minutes and have a look around at what exactly might be going on.
Another chance for the most astute amongst you to earn a few more of those valuable points. I hope you haven't lost count of them in making the journey from chapter one to here.
So – out of the fading blue of a late afternoon sky one of our twin heroes have been kidnapped. The questions are: why? And who by? (Or, if you are stickler for regularity in these little matters – by whom?)
Here is the beginning of Double Bed. 'Great party, isn't it?'
Barrie nodded, mumbled agreement. From where he was sitting, there could be no denying it. In fact, if she moved her bottom even slightly to either side …
'Barrie! Barrie Patch!'
A firm hand clapped down on his shoulder and he jerked backwards, almost unseating the nubile young thing who was using him for a cushion. Albeit a bumpy one.
'Glad you could make it! I see you youv'e met Stephanie.'
Stephanie was his secretary. He was Nigel Taylor-Jones. Managing editor of Rocket Books. One of the most promising men of his generation, was Nigel. Whichever generation that was. One thing, though, it had been the generation that all went to Cambridge. Now they were all in publishing. Taking one another out to lunch to boost their expense accounts. Outbidding each other for the rights to the latest film about the Devil manifesting himself in the bosom of the upper middle class American family – or the biggest and best plantation romance between a muscular slave aware of his roots and the soft and virginal daughter of the local gentry. First in Eng.Lit., every one of them.
Apart from Stephanie. She hadn't been to Cambridge. She had other assets. If Barrie played his cards right he might get them stripped.I guess the writer's tongue must have bore right through his cheek. 'Innocence' is exactly right. This is fun, a bit of satire, a bit of erotic, a bit of word-play. Nothing wrong with that. Thanks, Andy. I am sure I have not read any of the 'Double' series, but I will probably give one a go at some time. I have been meaning to try the 'Sexy Confessions' series for quite a while as it was written by Guy N. Smith under various names, but few copies seem to be around. Maybe it will come out on Kindle at some time as I would love to see how GNS handles smutty humour. |
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Post by ripper on Jan 13, 2019 10:20:55 GMT
Is it wrong that I find this thread hilarious? Especially references to pert little Fanny, the cheeky under-housemaid. There will always be an England. cheers, H. That's the Confessions series for you....lots of terrible puns, double entendres and euphamisms, particularly in the earlier books, which weren't quite so explicit as the later ones, though they all pale next to today's mostly serious and straight-faced erotic fiction. |
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Post by ripper on Jan 13, 2019 10:25:46 GMT
A while ago I discovered that the complete series of both the ‘Confessions’ and ‘Rosie Dixon’ books were available as single volume, omnibus edition e-books on Amazon. A little expensive, but not over much for what after all are the entire series. Not checked whether still available, though. They are still available. Compilations of the Timothy Lea, Rosie Dixon series, plus the two series combined. Single volumes in both series can also be purchased. I'd like to see the Jonathan May series on Kindle, but so far there is no sign of it. |
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Post by ripper on Jun 7, 2023 14:24:19 GMT
I thought I would give the Rosie Dixon series another go, so I am reading the first volume, Confessions of a Night Nurse.
Rosie is inspired to become a nurse after being an avid fan of a TV medical drama series. As a probationer she is given the worst jobs in the hospital and subject to the leering of some of the doctors. Rosie shares a room in the nurses' home with Penny Green, a character who, I believe, turns up in later books. Penny is always getting into scrapes, often with a reluctant Rosie in tow. So far, I have enjoyed Rosie's interactions with her parents and younger sister, Natalie, the most, but they have only appeared in the early chapters. As with the first RD adventure I read, Escort Agency, there are several scenes I found uncomfortable. At a party held in the parental home when said parents are away, Natalie invites three motorcycle greasers, and Rosie barges into her parents bedroom to find a naked Natalie with the greasers. Rosie submits to the men in order to save her sister, though it is clear that Natalie doesn't want to be rescued--she's supposed to be a 15-year old schoolgirl in this entry. Next morning Rosie uses the R word in connection with her submission to the greasers, though Natalie is sceptical that Rosie was quite so unwilling, but Rosie makes reference to be unwilling several times later in the book. Taking a taxi to the hospital to start her career, Rosie is almost assaulted by the driver, and only a jab to his sensitive area saves our heroine. There is also an episode when a doctor takes Rosie out to dinner, and it is clear that Rosie has been taken advantage of after being plied with drink. It appears that the doctor is someone who picks out the probationer nurses for his advances. Again, I didn't like this scene. There is a very odd chapter in which a patient appears to be visited at night by a voodoo priest who aids her recovery with chicken bones. This comes out of nowhere and just doesn't fit the tone of the rest of the book.
I have a couple more chapters to finish off, and it will be interesting to see how Rosie leaves the nursing profession. I hope that Natalie and Rosie's parents make an appearance again.
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