|
Post by fizz on Oct 12, 2011 7:35:24 GMT 1
Yes Claire I agree that is awful in the Francis book. I think it was frowned on at the time & I remember there was a copycat incident somewhere. It just reminds me.... did any one mention Ginnie's death in Banker? That was really shocking, but I suppose Francis isn't a pony writer, but if we are letting Susan Millward in?
|
|
|
Post by Claire on Oct 12, 2011 11:22:51 GMT 1
It was a very controversial book wasnt it, not just for that but I seem to remember a woman complaining that he had taken the story of the ill little girl and her mother from her and her daughter's real life ordeal.
I think we can allow stuff from adult horse books as well as pony books tho in a way the stuff in the kids books is more shocking as you dont expect it so much.
|
|
|
Post by Claire on Oct 20, 2011 13:34:22 GMT 1
Couple more before I add poll - the incident in Freelance the Pony where the pony's tongue is pulled out and tied to her mouth with wire and she is left overnight like that is pretty shocking. Also when you read the first edition of Six Ponies (its not in later edited eds) the lecture the major gives to Richard at the end is quite shocking and chilling.
Poll now added. Wasn't sure whether tintin meant the treatment of ponies in the pit in Black Ebony or the coal horses in Blossom - so have added both. Don't forget to vote folks.
I actually found it quite hard to pick out 10.
BTW have added an 'other' category so if anything has been missed out you can still vote for it, just mention in the thread what it is you are voting for!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 20, 2011 14:54:33 GMT 1
|
|
|
Post by susanb on Oct 20, 2011 16:59:30 GMT 1
somewhat easier for me, but only because I haven't read too many of these....have Against the Odds, Pony to School, Grey Arrow, the Swallow books and Blue Rosette in the tbr pile...may have to revise vote someday!
|
|
|
Post by Claire on Oct 20, 2011 19:29:49 GMT 1
Hope we haven't given too many spoilers away susan! I tried to keep most of the incidents fairly generalised except for when people had already mentioned names, so as not to give too much away.
|
|
|
Post by Claire on Oct 22, 2011 17:43:40 GMT 1
Just a reminder that there is a now a poll up and to vote if you haven't already.
|
|
|
Post by darkhorse on Oct 24, 2011 20:17:30 GMT 1
It's interesting that we are just as shocked, or maybe more so, by Jill's feeble giving up of her horsey dreams than by the many violent moments. it must be the biggest cop-out in pony fiction!
|
|
|
Post by Claire on Oct 25, 2011 12:17:25 GMT 1
Ginger's death is still no. 1 tho. Not surprising, as I suspect it's probably the first time a lot of children encounter the harsh realities of life in fiction and its stays with you. Its always thought of as a bit of a fluffy children's classic but its still hard hitting even now. Just speed-read it again to think of some questions for mysteryarab's mastermind specialist subject and I still find it heart-rending.
|
|
|
Post by fizz on Oct 25, 2011 20:57:42 GMT 1
Of course Black Beauty wasn't written as a children's book & this seems to have been forgotten over the years. A lot of the historical detail is lost on you as a child. It is still one of my absolute favourite books & it is a wonderful historical document as well as a heart rending story. I didn't vote for Ginger myself as I always felt you could see it coming & it wasn't a terrible unexpected shock. Captain's death is also shocking in the book, I can still remember reading those descriptions of Crimea for the first time.
|
|
|
Post by Claire on Oct 26, 2011 11:30:40 GMT 1
Yes its odd how the book was conscripted as a children's story, perhaps because of the talking horses aspect. I think what was really shocking about Ginger's death was that it was actually shown as a release, emphasising how bad her life must have been. I think the bits about the bearing rein are pretty awful too with horses suffering just so people can look smart.
|
|
|
Post by fizz on Oct 26, 2011 21:54:34 GMT 1
Those deaths (Ginger & Captain) as well as the terrible injuries to other horses in the book would have been common place then just like car crashes & written off cars; written off horses. Horses like cars today were expendable & not thought of as living sentient beings by many of the populace. Remember the man saying "Oh I had no idea a horse could pick up a stone, how odd". I think Black Beauty had something of a narrow escape as judged on Skinner's past reputation I would have thought he would have gone to the knackers, they wouldn't have wanted to pay to feed him up for the sale. The happy ending for me, is the saddest bit, the last sentence still brings a lump in my throat.
|
|
|
Post by Claire on Oct 31, 2011 11:26:28 GMT 1
Forgot all about the 'hoof incident' in one of the Follyfoot books - forget which one. Would definitely have added it to the list if I'd remembered it in time!
|
|
|
Post by tintin on Nov 1, 2011 18:12:45 GMT 1
It was the coal horses in blossom
|
|
|
Post by fizz on Nov 1, 2011 20:49:16 GMT 1
The hoof is in Follyfoot I think when they are trying to rescue the mare Miss America from the dodgy hotel/trekking centre. Someone gives it to Cally wrapped in newspaper saying "Present!"
|
|
|
Post by Claire on Nov 2, 2011 1:56:27 GMT 1
Yes I think your right fizz. It was Lewis the Louse who gave her it. What a horror he was. Extremely good portrayal of bullying by the author.
|
|
|
Post by fizz on Nov 2, 2011 8:43:21 GMT 1
Wish I'd remembered it as well. The bullying was well portrayed, I had a horrendous time in a similar sort of school to Cally & I related a lot to her when I read the books.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 3, 2011 7:33:26 GMT 1
Wish I'd remembered it as well. The bullying was well portrayed, I had a horrendous time in a similar sort of school to Cally & I related a lot to her when I read the books. Lewis was a disgusting character and I agree he was well portrayed. Wish I'd remembered him too.
|
|
|
Post by Claire on Nov 3, 2011 13:44:32 GMT 1
Well there's 3 votes for the hoof incident anyhow. Anyone else who wants to nominate it post on the thread and I'll add it as a 'vote'.
|
|