When I was reading this chapter a few days ago I actually smiled at the bit about Doyle’s knees turning to water as I knew it would irritate people (and quite rightly so)! And what’s with all the vomiting that goes on in some stories? Do people really vomit *that* easily? In front of other people? But I did enjoy this chapter, apart from the occasional (and puzzling) dodgy characterisations, there’s just something about the writer’s style that I really like - the general tone? Or maybe it’s the use of the present tense which seems to add a sense of immediacy and intimacy to the scene? Including me and enabling me to feel I’m observing them at close quarters, if not actually participating? I don’t know… I seem to find it more difficult to work out why I like a story rather than why I don’t.
Yes, he redeems himself afterwards and is more the Doyle that I know - but why in the world set him up like that? It makes no sense to me
I agree. I think the author’s characterisation of Doyle is strange… why - what is the point - does she persist in making him look such a wimp? And, as you say, denying him his experience of 70s London (in particular) under prolonged IRA threat? Is it just to make Bodie look better? She obviously *does* know the lads well because at other times in the same chapter she gets it spot on, e.g. with the choosing which wires bit, it’s so Doyle and so them that Doyle would do the opposite of what Bodie suggests!
But aside from what I've nitpicked, I really did enjoy this chapter (especially Bodie's hands tangled in Doyle's hair) for the tension, action, Bodie being Bodie and I welcomed the return of Gabriel, not just because it gave more point to the Prologue, but because I'm looking forward to Bodie's response!
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Yes, he redeems himself afterwards and is more the Doyle that I know - but why in the world set him up like that? It makes no sense to me
I agree. I think the author’s characterisation of Doyle is strange… why - what is the point - does she persist in making him look such a wimp? And, as you say, denying him his experience of 70s London (in particular) under prolonged IRA threat? Is it just to make Bodie look better? She obviously *does* know the lads well because at other times in the same chapter she gets it spot on, e.g. with the choosing which wires bit, it’s so Doyle and so them that Doyle would do the opposite of what Bodie suggests!
But aside from what I've nitpicked, I really did enjoy this chapter (especially Bodie's hands tangled in Doyle's hair) for the tension, action, Bodie being Bodie and I welcomed the return of Gabriel, not just because it gave more point to the Prologue, but because I'm looking forward to Bodie's response!