RIP Dick Francis

[LJ]

I am very sad to read of the death of Dick Francis. I have every one of his books in hardcover, many of them signed. I've always said that even if I had to get rid of all of my books--and I have nearly 8,000 books--I'd keep my Dick Francis.

Even so, there are favorites. Mine are Decider and To the Hilt. What are your favorite Dick Francis books?

[Alison]

Dick has left us, everyone.

[Jan-paul]

Thank you Dick Francis for your wonderful legacy.
You will always be the best author I have ever known. Say hi to my mum for me. She was the one who got me started on your books.

Oh, LJ, my favorite is Straight.

[Jenna]

I adore Dick Francis and am so sad to hear of his passing. Thank you for sharing your gift with us all. You will be missed!

[Bonnie]

Even so, there are favorites. Mine are Decider and To the Hilt. What are your favorite Dick Francis books?
---- I like those too, and Proof and The Danger. The one about photography, Shattered, well I sort of like them all, a much shorter list would be the ones I was not as thrilled with. But that is for another day.

I am re reading some as a sort of tribute!
Bonnie
http://homemadehorses.com

[Camille]

I was actually reading one of his books when my sister sent me a text to tell me he had passed. He will be missed and I look forward to reading his last book when it comes out later this year.

[Luann]

Sad, sad, sad. I knew it had to happen eventually, but I just hoped this time would never come. :( Such a loss.

My favorites by Dick Francis: Break In, The Danger, Proof, Smokescreen, Wild Horses . . .

(I added the link so that this topic would show up on his GR page.)

[Krista]

What a great life to celebrate. Mr. Francis will forever be immortal. He shared so many clever, strong and sensitive guys with us, it's somehow fitting that he died on Valentine's day.

Loved his earliest stuff the best.

[Clark]

We should all celebrate the life of Dick Francis, who followed his great career as a champion steeplechase jockey with another, more spectacular career, as the author we all loved. What made his novels special to me was his unique ability to introduce a new protagonist in each book and, through his talented wording, create a bond between the reader and that protagonist during the course of the story. Notable exceptions were, of course, Kit Fielding and Sid Halley, who were in multiple novels and with whom we became even closer.
Dick Francis mysteries were short books and could be read very quickly. My theory is that this was because he had the ability to express himself using very few words. It is my feeling that Dick Francis could say in one or two sentences what would require a page or two for most authors. An example is the quote from "Odds Against" - "I was never particularly keen on my job before the day I got shot and nearly lost it, along with my life." For insight into his sensitivity for the world of the steeplechase, read the incredible first paragraph of "Dead Cert", which is too long to repeat here.
Greville Franklin, in "Straight" expressed a creed that, to me, exemplified the life of Dick Francis: "May I deal with honour. May I act with courage. May I achieve humility."

[Bonnie]

I have always thought Dick Francis had a very high standard of conduct. He wrote that way and although most of us strive to reach the "May I deal with honour. May I act with courage. May I achieve humility." we have all been blessed by his sustaining of our efforts.

By the way I gooogled this quote, it comes up on an artists web site, that she has "copyrighted" all writing on her site, but no credit is given to D.F. for the statement. What a nerve!

I wrote her and "expalined" that she was not giving credit where it was due, was quoting another persons work!

Humility where art thou! (I try :).
Bonnie

[Julie]

LJ wrote: "I am very sad to read of the death of Dick Francis. I have every one of his books in hardcover, many of them signed. I've always said that even if I had to get rid of all of my books--and I have n..."hi i also am saddened by the news and would like to attend the memorial in london when it takes place. my first read was "whip hand" which i read in detention cos it was the only book in the library that i could find that was about horses! from then my mum bought me his new book every year for my birthday. i also have collected many,most from charity shops. but remain eternally grateful to dick&mary for giving me such pleasure, RIP.

[Luann]

Julie wrote: "...i also am saddened by the news and would like to attend the memorial in london when it takes place...."

Wow, Julie. I hope you do get a chance to attend the memorial.

[Paresh]

RIP DF, you have been an inspiration.

The books talk to me all the time about the way each character leads his life, and inspires me to do better, try harder, and keep going no matter what. And they are not super human, each has those doubts that every person feels, and DF has always touched a cord there with the way "self-talk" of each character is written.

I have read all his books and twice again, and again. And will probably read then all over again frequently.