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Lädt ... Reflex (1981)von Dick Francis
   Keine aktuelle Diskussion zu diesem Buch.  kmartin802 | Jan 20, 2024 |   RCornell | Oct 30, 2023 |  ) Luziadovalongo | Jul 14, 2022 | ritaer | May 1, 2020 |  ) AliceAnna | Sep 7, 2019 |
 One hesitates to criticize a Francis novel, but Reflex displays in a less extreme form a defect of its predecessor Whip Hand, in which three themes proved in the end to have nothing to do with each other. Francis usually observes Chekhov’s dictum that if there is a pistol hanging on the wall, sooner or later someone in the story must fire it, but in fact the sister search is irrelevant to the photography problem, and when she is found in unhappy circumstances the hero does nothing to rescue her. Although this outcome is supposed to change Philip Nore’s attitude to life (‘I had roots’) his final resolution (one can’t give the game away) is not altogether convincing. ''Reflex'' contains more interesting characterizations than most of Mr. Francis's books, particularly in Philip's poignant recollections of his shadowy butterfly mother, who used her charm to dump her small boy on one friend after another over the years. But there are limits to Mr. Francis's talent. His heroines are present simply to fill a few pages and sometimes to share a bed, and the characters who lie outside the racing world he knows so well are often drawn perfunctorily. Mr. Francis might reply that a writer of his kind of thriller cannot afford psychological intricacies, and very likely he would be right. In the end, action is the name of the Dick Francis game. In writing scenes of action, not all of them violent, and blending them into a mystery adventure, he is now a long way ahead of the rest of the field. Ist enthalten inBearbeitet/umgesetzt inIst gekürzt inAuszeichnungenPrestigeträchtige Auswahlen
Fiction.
Literature.
Mystery.
HTML: Well-plotted and full of atmospheric charm, Reflex demonstrates the fine style that earned Dick Francis the title of Grand Master of the Mystery Writers of America. This fast-paced story of a jockey's courageous murder investigation exposes the politics and corruption at the heart of the British racing world. Philip Nore has no greater ambition than to successfully complete the last years of his career as a jockey, even if it means bending the rules a bit. But when pushed, Philip discovers that there really are a few other things that matter to him. One is finding the truth about the death of a much hated track photographer. Reflex showcases the author's gift for creating heroes out of ordinary men. Simon Prebble's distinctive voice, deep and mildly accented, is perfect for Francis' work. His performance highlights the psychological drama and intrigue to deliver a positively exhilarating listening experience. .Keine Bibliotheksbeschreibungen gefunden. |
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 Google Books — Lädt ...GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)823.914Literature English & Old English literatures English fiction Modern Period 1901-1999 1945-1999Klassifikation der Library of Congress [LCC] (USA)BewertungDurchschnitt: (3.91)
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3
Philip Nore is the hero of this story. He's an aging jockey and amateur photographer. He is coming to the end of his racing career which he fell into as a teen. Born to a drug-addicted seventeen-year-old mother who was thrown out of her home, Philip was raised by a succession of her friends making him helpful and resourceful and unable to form deep relationships.
Philip has two main problems in this story. First of all, he is given a set of photographic puzzles when a successful race photographer whose work Philip admired but whom he personally disliked died in a car accident. Philip rode with the man's son and got involved when that man's parents' house was burgled during the funeral anad again later when the photographer's wife is beaten in a home invasion and when her house is burned down.
Philip's curiosity is what starts his involvement. When he manages to solve some of the photgraphic puzzles, he learns that the photographer was blackmailing members of the racing world into good behavior. Philip is also attacked and badly beaten once it is learned that he has the photos.
Philip's second problem begins when a lawyer comes to see him to ask him to visit the grandmother who through his mother out because she is dying and wants his help. He is surprised to learn that his mother had another child, and that the grandmother wishes to leave her whole estate to the girl if he can manage to find her. Philip feels no obligation to help the hateful dying woman but he is curious to find the sister he never knew he had.
All in all, I really enjoyed this story. I liked watching Philip go from a drifting unconnected man to one who has plans for his future after racing and a woman who loves and understands him. I liked Francis's spare prose and appreciate Simon Prebble's deft narration of the story. (