Meh. Here's the story in a nutshell: Lucinda is a blithering idiot, the offspring of a mother who is mostly a lush most of the time, and a father who is a bishop in the Church of England, despite his oddly irreligious views. Lucinda graduates from college, blithering idiotness notwithstanding, and decides she should give back, do some good in the world. An annoying friend suggests she join a group who helps newly-released prisoners get re-established in the real world. Lucinda is assigned to Terry, a reasonably handsome man who was born into crime and eventually went to jail for theft.Of course, Lucinda falls for Terry, and in an attempt to really understand him, she starts pilfering things from her friends when she's at house parties. Because she's an IDIOT. Terry, concerned about her future, tries to convince her to stop. She, being dumber than a load of bricks, thinks he's just not impressed with the small things she's taken so far, so she plans a bigger heist. Of course she gets caught, and the upshot of this colossal waste of time is that she goes to prison, and Terry goes straight. When she gets out, he will try to reform her. See that clever turnaround? If only I cared.Quite honestly, John Mortimer should have stuck with Rumpole. Because "Quite Honestly" is a pointless story filled with unsympathetic characters and predictable plot turns, and while it does have a few laugh-out-loud moments, it's mostly lacking in the dry British humor I was expecting. Don't bother.
Bishop's daughter Lucinda Purefoy has decided she wants to give something back to society, and takes up as a volunteer with SCRAP, an organisation set up to keep offenders on the straight and narrow when they finally come out of prison. Her first case is Terry, a petty thief who doesn't' seem remotely interested in anything Lucinda can offer. But, in alternating chapters told by Lucinda and Terry in turn, the story develops. Sadly, this book is a disappointment; the characters don't seem real, the environment they live in seems anachronistic and unbelievable, and while there are odd moments of humour, much of the tale is forced and unlikely. 'Rumpole' was a great series of stories - but this latest work is that of an author who gave his best some time ago.
What do You think about Quite Honestly (2006)?
This is a wonderful little book. Many have said that it lacks substance, or is simply "airplane reading" but au contraire. It was short, witty, and the ending was, quite honestly, very amusing. I am very much in love with John Mortimer's writing style, and it is refreshing to see something published that seems to be just a little something that the author jotted down while in a pleasant mood. I highly recommend reading this, albeit with and open mind, and don't put it down without finishing the story!
—Claire
Life couldn't be better for Lucinda Purefoy: she's college educated with a steady boyfriend and a job offer in advertising. With all this good fortune, isn't it appropriate for her to give something back to society? Armed with only good intentions and her newly minted membership in Social Carers, Reformers and Praeceptors (SCARP, for short)--a misguided organization that recruits women to become guides, philosophers, and friends to ex-convicts coming out of prison--Lucy finds herself standing outside the gates of a jail, waiting to greet a career burglar named Terry Keegan. What happens next--after a short and hostile trip to Burger King--produces a signature Mortimer tale, full of wit and surprise.~~from the back coverQuite honestly, I was disappointed. It wasn't at all what I expected: neither the wonderful humor of P.G. Wodehouse, nor very sly parody of do-gooders and their blindfolds. I truly expected better of John Mortimer -- definitely not up to the standard of Rumpole.
—Kate
