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 Author | Topic: Jinny Series confused what are they about? (Read 367 times) |
happy
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Karma: 2 |  | Jinny Series confused what are they about?
« Thread Started on Dec 29, 2008, 1:19pm » | ![[Quote]](http://s2.images.proboards.com/buttons/quote.gif "[Quote]") |
Hi
I have started to read the Jinny series again. I read it as a child and thought it was ok. But reading it again as an adult I am just confused!!
I saw in another thread about the jinny series think it was susanb about the summer riders and the girl with the bad leg getting on shanith. Like Susan I am just confused that the mother would let the child on the horse and also why they let her ride around bareback without a saddle. I know that it is fictional but it all seems like it is not really real.
Is the whole book is a figment of Jinny's imagination or if Shanith is real?
There was one comment in it that threw me when she said shanith has grown horns and that sue with the skewbald would wonder what had happened to her. I was thinking horns???
I havent read the entire series so I can comment but can anyone else shread any light. I love Patricia Leitch books but are there more to the Jinny series than is obvious?
xxxxx 
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kunuma
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Karma: 19 | | Re: Jinny Series confused what are they about?
« Reply #1 on Dec 29, 2008, 5:46pm » | |
Well, the whole series is a bit of a dream come true idea, as she 'finds' and gets to keep a purebred Arab mare - but it is a good read, although certainly Jinny was in need of some help and advice regarding her relationship with Shantih, even before she started letting friends ride her!!
I have to say though, as someone who grew up with non horsy parents, they would not and did not, take any notice of whether I had a saddle, bridle, hat or anything else when I rode, it was my mad passion, so I could just get on with it!! I'm quite sure they would not have recognised a saddle if they fell over it!!
Read the series in order if you can Happy!
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snowfilly
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« Reply #2 on Dec 29, 2008, 8:50pm » | |
Quite right - my Mum rides, but she used to leave me to get on with it. I only forgot to check my girth once.
Regarding the books, I assumed as a kid that one of the spirits - maybe the Red Horse itself - was watching over Jinny and Shantih, and that's why everything worked out alright for them. I recall one bit where they got caught in the sea and found the one spot where they could break free from the current and someone else remarked on them having the devil's luck. I think it was all 'real' but involved a fair bit of magic.
Oh, and horns...I think Jinny meant that she was acting up and had grown metaphorical 'devil horns' . Certainly, that's how I've always understood the phrase.
I want to re-read them now...
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Claire
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« Reply #3 on Dec 29, 2008, 9:09pm » | |
I am due a re-read of them too. Didnt really get them as a child but loved them when I re-read as an adult. There was definitely a mystical element in them which was supposed to be there. Shantih was real but there was the Epona horse goddess spirit and The Watcher I think he was called who added the supernatural aspect. I actually think the realistic and mystical elements blended together well, better than in some modern books which try to do the same. But I know that the books are not everyone's cup of tea and some people hate them.
Like you kunuma my parents certainly didnt watch over me. In fact I dont think many parents did in those days. I was just left to get on with it. when I was about 14 I was in charge of about 5 or 6 horses and had a following of younger kids none of whose parents seemed to care what we got up to! Which is probably just as well!
Re. the Summer Riders I think the point of it was that Jinny was jealous and resentful of the girl and half hoped she would get bucked off...for which she felt guilty about afterwards. But to me it was realistic as kids can be horrid at times and do some dreadful things. I still shudder to think of some of the awful things I did.
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happy
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Karma: 2 | | Re: Jinny Series confused what are they about?
« Reply #4 on Dec 30, 2008, 8:52am » | |
Hi All
Thanks for all your responses. I think I just need to read the entire series from start. I thought "Oh ill remember them" I didnt have the first one so I started at the 3rd one thinking I would be ok.
They are very well written I just didnt realise the mystical eliment when I was a child I took everything literally. Now as an adult I question it. Isnt it funny I guess it goes back to the "what do we get from pony books thread". We all said we want to return to a time when anything was possible and now as an adult we are just more cynical  it is such a shame!!!!
xx
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fizz
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« Reply #5 on Dec 30, 2008, 5:35pm » | |
I wonder if I would have enjoyed them as a child? As an adult I am unable to suspend disbelief and I have never enjoyed any science fiction or fantasy books. I have an inkling I would have enjoyed them age 12.
I do wonder if Shantih is in her mind? Probably not, but Jinny seems a rather disturbed young person to me,
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Claire
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Karma: 22 | | Re: Jinny Series confused what are they about?
« Reply #6 on Dec 30, 2008, 6:17pm » | |
The series definitely divides people. Personally I prefer characters who are interesting or even plain awful! The pony book world is populated with characters who are smug, clever clogs types who never do a thing wrong and quite frankly they sometimes get up my nose. Flaws are what make characters interesting. Yes sometimes you want to kick Jinny up the back of the front but you never want to smother her to death through pure boredom
I think it would be boring if we all liked the same books. It would turn into some sort of pony book mutual admiration society which would be tres dull! So please feel free to criticise anything on the forum (except me of course )
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zoe
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« Reply #7 on Dec 30, 2008, 8:36pm » | |
we would never criticise you, Claire.(said with wicked glint in eye)
I haven't read the Jinny books for years but I enjoyed them and never questioned any of the goings on in them - maybe I lack the brains? - but I just read and enjoyed them.
I thought Miss Tuke was great and quite often shrill "Trek forward" to the kids when riding,although saying that her treking centre wasn't the most professional of places and I'm not sure if I'd want to ride there.
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kunuma
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« Reply #8 on Dec 30, 2008, 10:07pm » | |
Dec 30, 2008, 8:36pm, zoe wrote:we would never criticise you, Claire.(said with wicked glint in eye)
I haven't read the Jinny books for years but I enjoyed them and never questioned any of the goings on in them - maybe I lack the brains? - but I just read and enjoyed them.
I thought Miss Tuke was great and quite often shrill "Trek forward" to the kids when riding,although saying that her treking centre wasn't the most professional of places and I'm not sure if I'd want to ride there. |
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She'll eat your pets if you do!
You do need to suspend disbelief in a lot of pony books, but then, there is no reality, only perception! 
I've worked in a couple of centres just like that, in fact, one of them was (and I think still is) owned by Mrs Tuke's Southern counterpart!! 
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zoe
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Karma: 10 | | Re: Jinny Series confused what are they about?
« Reply #9 on Dec 30, 2008, 10:19pm » | |
Dec 30, 2008, 10:07pm, kunuma wrote:| there is no reality, only perception! |
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Wow I like it!
PS have got all pets in hiding!
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zoe
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« Reply #10 on Jan 2, 2009, 7:03pm » | |
Surely the whole idea of fiction is just that - it doesn't have to be be hugely believable.
I think the Jinny books give us "lesser mortals" the inspiration to keep plodding on even though we are far from perfect. Inspiration is probably too strong a word but I'm too full of cold to think of a better one. I think the character of Jinny makes a refreshing change from a lot of other pony book characters and I love the setting of the book.
I don't think I've read Jacky Jumps to the Top or Janet Young Rider I'll have to get hold of copies but skint at the mo due to christmas.
LSD? Konstanze? Tell us all you know haha
l
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haffyfan
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« Reply #11 on Jan 2, 2009, 7:31pm » | |
I never liked Jinny much, the fantasy stuff was too much for me I liked real pony books about real ponies and gymkhanas etc but saying that The Horse From Black Loch is one of my childhood faves but he wasn't just a normal horse and it wasn't your average pony book. Also Treasure To The East is mind blowingly good, she does Fantasy really well, but it just dosen't mix with the average pony book for me. The Jinny books I did enjoy were the 'normaler' (is this a word?) ones Devil To Ride, Horse In A Million and the jumping one with Nick and Brandon.
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konstanze
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« Reply #12 on Jan 10, 2009, 12:46pm » | |
Haffy, you have nailed it as usual. Of course fiction is fiction, Zoe, but there are many kinds. Jinny, I think, belongs in the fantasy section, but there are many other areas that fiction covers and like Haffy, I like real people with real ponies who I can identify with. There are good fantasy ones about, and I DO love Patricia Leitch's Horse From Black Loch as well, which is probably why the Jinny series disappoints me so much. 
But as a rule, I'm not into fantasy. Real life is complicated and multi-toned enough without me requiring an added fantasy theme to contend with. And wouldn't it be boring, if we were all the same!!!
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Claire
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Karma: 22 | | Re: Jinny Series confused what are they about?
« Reply #13 on Jan 14, 2009, 5:51pm » | |
Have just been updating/expanding the Pat Leitch page on my website and am now itching to read the Jinny books again. I find it hard to believe how some people hate them as I don't dare read a sentence or I'd be sucked into them and have to read the lot!
But i thought it might be interesting to put up a little poll to see how many people love/hate Jinny. Won't le me put it on this thread as happy started it so I will do a separate one here:
http://ponybooks.proboards78.com/index.c....play&thread=563
Please vote folks!
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lily
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Karma: 3 | | Re: Jinny Series confused what are they about?
« Reply #14 on Jan 23, 2009, 7:42pm » | |
And the worst thing is she takes herslf and her horse so seriously. The books lack the humour of Pat Leitch's other books. Prefer one of Ms. Tuke's Highland's myself...
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