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Post by Claire on May 28, 2014 18:27:54 GMT 1
I'm having yet another epic fail. I did read the first chapter but it wasn't inspiring enough to pick it up again since i'm afraid. Is there Any better story of hers for me to try? Haffy not sure if you've said before but have you read Wish for a Pony, No Mistaking Corker and Black Hunting Whip. These are more like 'normal' pony stories for want of a better word. And Black Hunting Whip has been voted the best Monica Edwards story in the poll so far. The first 2 are not really in the same style as the other books so you may get away with them, but I think on the whole ME's style is just not your cup of tea. I like the boat bits in the book/the Romney Marsh series in general as I like the boats and see generally. I also love the character of Old Jim.
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Post by haffyfan on May 29, 2014 18:01:11 GMT 1
Rosie you may well be right, i'm home alone again this weekend so maybe i'll have another try with it. Claire i read wish for a pony several years ago (with a lot of encouragement) and it did nothing for me.
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Post by susanb on May 29, 2014 20:16:47 GMT 1
I read Wish for a Pony a few years back and found it gag-making...all that baby talk around Diccon!
It took years, but I did finally tackle another...No Mistaking Corker, as part of the summer challenge last year and definitely enjoyed it.
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Post by Deleted on May 30, 2014 6:47:51 GMT 1
Good luck Haffy! LOL Susan I remember you hate baby talk in books.
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Post by tintin on May 31, 2014 23:09:25 GMT 1
I am now ready to start this one having read the previous four. Word of warning to Susan, Diccon is even more irritating in "Midnight Horse". Of the four I enjoyed "Midnight Horse" the most closely followed by "Wish for a Pony", I liked "White Riders" least. Despite the fact that it is, in the nicest possible way, basically about behaviour that is dancing on the knife edge between boyish pranks and amateur terrorism it is quite a slow book. I do not live far from the site of the action in these books and know the holiday camp - Pontins, Camber - quite well. We have a walkers group at work and I hope to persuade them to do at least one of the walks from the Romney Marsh companion this summer.
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Post by Claire on Jun 2, 2014 22:26:30 GMT 1
Haffy hope you manage to persevere. I think you will find the bits where they are looking after the horses and finding homes for them easier to read than the boat bits. The dialect of the marshmen can be a bit offputting. Even tho I like boats I prefer the landlubbing side of this one to the actual rescues which seem a bit messy and confusing, especially the first.
Tintin lucky you living nearby. I'd love to visit that part of the world and see Rye. Do you have a copy of Cargo Tintin, if not I can ask rosie to pass my spare copy on to you?
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Post by tintin on Jun 2, 2014 23:23:52 GMT 1
Thanks Claire - I have the Book Club edition and have just started. Hopefully will get a walk out there this summer and will be able to post some pictures
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Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2014 7:04:36 GMT 1
It's a lovely part of the world. I visited the area before I'd read some of the Romney marsh books so was delighted when I realised I'd actually been where Monica lived
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Post by Claire on Jun 5, 2014 13:12:56 GMT 1
Hi folks I've finally got round to reading my copy. Has anyone apart from Rosie finished so we can discuss?
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cloud
Pony Trekker
Highland Dale
Posts: 56
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Post by cloud on Jun 5, 2014 17:17:49 GMT 1
Yes I have - well don't have to read it again actually as pretty much know it off by heart! Last rereading found me getting stuck between amazed and jealous at anyone finding land where they could keep as many horses as they like - nowhere round here for one tiny pony!! However will get over that and discuss book sensibly!
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Post by tintin on Jun 5, 2014 17:18:02 GMT 1
I am about half way - and unless it takes a dramatic and totally unexpected nose dive it's on target for a "very good" 5 score. In my opinion the best of the series yet.
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Post by susanb on Jun 5, 2014 18:15:31 GMT 1
Thanks for the Diccon warning, tintin....it might be better if I stuck to Punchbowl series....the kids in No Mistaking Corker were sooo much less irritating than the Diccon horror.
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Post by Claire on Jun 5, 2014 19:01:29 GMT 1
Glad everyone is getting on well. I will start discussion shortly.
Susan - its safe to read there is no 'babytalk' in this one. In fact I was a bit shocked at how grown up Diccon is sounding, he's only about 5 but sounds more like 12!
Cloud - well they didnt have endless room did they cos that the main problem was finding homes for the rescued horses to make room for new batches. But even so they were lucky to have a farmer friend with plenty of spare land.
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Post by brumby on Jun 5, 2014 23:41:41 GMT 1
Just over halfway through, Read 'Wish for a pony' and 'Summer of the great secret', first so that put me behind in the reading challenge. Am really enjoying it so far. Looking forward to the discussion.
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Post by Charlotte on Jun 6, 2014 16:42:05 GMT 1
There's currently an interesting thread about Monica on the girlsown group I mentioned. If anyone here does have gmail, then you just request to join to read messages (it's a closed group). Anyway, I liked rereading Cargo of Horses. Was able to buy an ex-library hardback of the 1st edition for a reasonable price considering how much Cargo can go for. The uncut text with all illustrations is good, though I'd completely forgotten the plot anyway. Glad that all my other ME books are unabridged. I think the dialect is presented well, unlike some other writers.
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Post by Claire on Jun 6, 2014 22:32:10 GMT 1
Thanks Charlotte I have gmail so I may go and hve a look at that.
OK so discussion on the book itself. Just a couple of discussion points which you may want to consider when you give your views on the book:
The level of violence - which is far more than your average pony book lol. What did you think of this? DId you find it a bit shocking or not? Any other comments on it?
Realism - did you think the plot was realistic or not. If not did it really matter?
Dialect - some people find the dialect of the Romney Marshmen hard to get to grips with. What do you think of it?
I really enjoyed this book and its also one of the more horsy of the Romney Marsh series. I did find the level of violence in the book quite shocking. I don't think I've read it since a child and can't remember if I felt the same then. Well maybe shocked is not the right word but I was certainly surprised by it. The children all arm themselves with spanners and the like to cosh the baddies, Tamzin actually shoots at a truck and there is an attempted murder (of Jonah) by drowning! Not to mention two of them end up with broken limbs. As I said earlier, not your typical pony book fare! In some ways tho it shows that the children are very hands on in their rescue endeavours and not afraid to show courage and make sacrifices to help the horses. In particular was impressed by Rissa dragging herself on a broken leg and re-breaking it in an attempt to get to the phone to warn the others about the horse smugglers. I think its one of the author's strengths that there is this refusal to sugar coat her children's stories.
Although I really liked the book I did find the plot pretty unrealistic to be honest. The violence was perhaps a bit over the top. Also would a load of working men give up a night's rest to rescue horses which they didn't really care about? (Was discussing this point with John Allsup the other day and he suggested it was because they were spoiling for a fight and it was a night of fun to them - which is I think a valid argument). What I find most unrealistic however is that the girls didn't first try and find out if there were any societies or bodies which could prevent the horse smuggling. I think that is what most people would have done - and indeed at the end of the story they do end up getting involved with a rescue society after all. But of course if they had done that straight away there would have been no story! Also I don't think the unrealistic plot really mattered. It was also balanced out by the way the characters and life in the town were portrayed, which was extremely realistic and well-observed.
Like charlotte I found the dialect well done and it didn't distract from the story. I do like Old Jim's phrase 'old young 'un' !
Another point to make is that far from being a 'girly' pony book this would really appeal to boys, not just because of the violence and danger lol, but there are also quite a lot of important male characters.
I like the fact that there was a lot of humour mixed in the excitement and dangerous bits, such as the fat farmer stuck in a ditch and the bloke called Tom Catt. Also some warm fuzzy moments such as Mrs Merrow taking in Jonah (aka Joseph). For me the book has something for everyone and I can't imagine anyone (except haffy !) not enjoying it.
Be interested to hear other people's views. And don't forget to vote folks.
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vera
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Post by vera on Jun 7, 2014 1:10:20 GMT 1
i found the dialect amusing. Jim the ferryman has always been an odd sort of character, defying being put in a box. I know the whole business of horses being sold for slaughter on the continent has come up in a few pony books of the time but I found it strange that people would go to the bother of doing it illegally when it could be done legally. The realism or otherwise of plots never bother me; I love science fiction. I enjoy watching characters develop. I voted very good for this one but not amongst my all time favourites.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 7, 2014 12:39:40 GMT 1
Didn't they actually suggest this in the book? Either Tamzin or Rissa said something like that? Sorry I read it a few weeks ago now and can't remember! The plot was unrealistic but would have been totally boring if they'd gone down the legal route. Monica makes the unrealistic plot work really well though and is quite believable when you get immersed in the story. Now the dialect thing. It got on my nerves when I first read one of the Romney Marsh books but now I don't mind it at all. The violence is a bit shocking compared to most pony books but it shows just how much the children really cared about the horses to put themselves in such danger. I found myself getting so angry at the way the horses were being treated I think I'd have joined them and coshed a few baddies over the head as well! I liked Jonah's character and Mrs Merrow taking him in. I still prefer the Punchbowl series but I've voted very good as I enjoyed it very much.
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cloud
Pony Trekker
Highland Dale
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Post by cloud on Jun 7, 2014 13:13:07 GMT 1
LOL It just shows how differently people perceive books - I hadn't even noticed any dialect!! Perhaps because I grew up surrounded by the local dialect and miss it terribly now I never hear it and born and bred locals appear to be extinct! I did think that since the men were all smugglers it was a fairly normal night's work for them - also I have lived in some fairly back woods places and so find it all too realistic! At least they got involved, unlike a certain Jill who knew something similar was going on, and let a much younger girl rescue three horses and didn't bother to get involved apart from donating some bread and apples!!! The part that really dates the book and does appear unrealistic nowadays is their being able to find working homes for the horses. It would have been quite true when the book was written. I have to say, that I do know a Hookey in real life!
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Post by Claire on Jun 7, 2014 19:41:23 GMT 1
At least they got involved, unlike a certain Jill who knew something similar was going on, and let a much younger girl rescue three horses and didn't bother to get involved apart from donating some bread and apples!!! Yeah I agree that was when I started going off Jill! I really admire the courage and self-sacrificing attitude of the characters in ME's books. A lot of her stories deal with that theme. Going back to realism, I also enjoy fantasy type plots in books I just felt that compared to most non fantasy pony books this was quite OTT. It doesn't go as far as the Famous Five books in being way out unrealistic but its a long way from Noel and Henry mucking out stables and lungeing themselves lol. Like rosie, even tho I found it a tad unrealistic, don't get me wrong, it didn't spoil the story for me and I voted very good. I agree with Cloud in that nowadays the children couldn't have attempted their plan as it would be totally impossible to find homes for them. Its sad that the subject of illegal slaughter/horsemeat is still topical today especially after last year's horse meat scandal.
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Post by Charlotte on Jun 8, 2014 10:19:30 GMT 1
I think the level of violence is quite startling for any kind of childrens' book. But as Cloud said, it's perhaps realistic enough considering they were smugglers. Knocking enemies over the head with a spanner just seems pretty normal behaviour for people like Hookey. Though I think real horse traffickers might have been a bit more aggressive when using their gun.
Rosie's right that the plot is unrealistic, but a legal route would have been dull so it does'nt really matter. The treatment of the horses is quite shocking, do understand the childrens' anger. ME always makes them courageous, like others said. I don't like Mrs Merrow much though. She's very kind, but IMO an odd figure with her fruit hat and so on. Also, in a Wind is Blowing, the criminals are ultimately handed to the police. Could the large area of the marsh really be cordoned off, does the end suggest they were caught?
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Post by Claire on Jun 9, 2014 22:31:22 GMT 1
We're doing well - on the last 2 books we've done everyone has voted very good! I'm looking forward to hearing the male perspective on the book from Tintin
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Post by Claire on Jun 9, 2014 22:39:47 GMT 1
Also, in a Wind is Blowing, the criminals are ultimately handed to the police. Could the large area of the marsh really be cordoned off, does the end suggest they were caught? Forgot to say I can't remember that very well from a Wind is Blowing. Must re-read. At the end of Cargo the horse smugglers are all caught except for Taffy, but its hinted that he too will be caught as it says "[the moon] shone upon a man who lay listening in a dried out ditch knowing that his hours of freedom were as many as the hours of darkness" in other words he will be nabbed the next day. I found the violence of the men quite normal but it was the children grabbing spanners and the like and Tamzin with a gun which seemed a little shocking!
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Post by darkhorse on Jun 10, 2014 20:38:47 GMT 1
Another very good vote here! I did find it quite hard to get into at first. The dialect took a little getting used to and there seemed to be a lot of confusing things going on at once. But once I got into the story I couldn't put it down. So haffy I would try and give it a bit longer. I especially liked the rescue near the end which was very exciting. I didn't find it too unrealistic. As Claire said, compared to the Famous Five books it was almost tame lol. The violence did take a bit of getting used to but I think that is just because you don't often see it in pony books. But actually no-one got really badly injured or died. When I think about the NArnia books I read as a child, there was far more violence and quite a lot of deaths in them.
I do have one question. Did the later books mention any of the horses rescued in this one. I'd like to know what happened to them?
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Post by tintin on Jun 10, 2014 22:17:24 GMT 1
Sorry did that twice
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Post by tintin on Jun 10, 2014 22:19:40 GMT 1
Well I'm not sure I'm best placed to take on the role of being a representative male.
I will say I think this is a very good author - mixing several quite different genres. Sea story, pony story and homely rustic slice of life. I think that is the most distinctive thing about all this series its great homeliness with the lovingly and meticulously described domestic scenes. I have read all of them up to this one and enjoyed this the most. Saving the horses very much engaged my emotions which helped make it more gripping.
Other aspect of it being well written is having believable characters so the plot can be stretched just that bit beyond reality.
My take on things others have mentioned. Why did the men join in? Partly love of adventure, but I think also the feeling they owed the children, especially the two girls (specifically for not informing on their smuggling and also for saving them from the holiday camp development)
As to the violence. These books seem a half way house between specifically adult and specifically childrens books and I think it possibly is to show that this sort of thing is really dangerous - the characters get quite seriously hurt even though on the periphery. The abuse of the young sailor is also sadly true to the period.
I liked the crusading spirit of the book - so easy to be dismal, understandably so, in a rescue story (see Horsehaven...)
Can you seal off the Marsh - yes large chunks of it are pretty flat and featureless so any daylight movement will be quickly spotted unless you use the drainage channels ("dikes" to he author)and these have identifiable points of convergence.
Mrs Merrow is very real - my father was a Pastor for 40 years and, at least up to the eighties, every church had one, ours was Mrs Murphy (right down to the scarily large use of butter, although our Mrs M was principally noteworthy for heroic amounts of dried fruit)
Enjoyable book, I, like I suspect many, was most fond of homing the horses.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 11, 2014 11:54:56 GMT 1
Agree totally Darkhorse. I did wonder at first if this was going to be an ME book I wasn't going to like, haven't had that happen with her yet, but once I got into it, really enjoyed it.
Yep me too tintin
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Post by Claire on Jun 12, 2014 14:10:14 GMT 1
Well I'm not sure I'm best placed to take on the role of being a representative male. Lol I won't ask Talking of males i think this book is a good cross over from the usually female orientated pony book to the adventure type which were usually designed to appeal to both sexes or possibly slightly more to males. I'd suggest this as a good read for a boy who liked horses but was put off by all the pink and frilly and even worse glam teen stuff thats around in the pony book world at the mo. You couldn't find anything more exciting and dangerous in specific 'boys adventures' ! Still on the subject of gender - In the story there is one of the few instances in Monica's books of the traditional gender roles being highlighted when Tamzin and Rissa are treated differently to the boys and are made to stay in the ship and keep out of the fighting. Of course we know they eventually get into the thick of it in the end! I think ME does a good job of avoiding sexism and gender stereotyping in her books when compared to a lot of stuff written at the same time (and most especially Enid Blyton and Lorna Hill). With the possible exception of Meryon who is rather irritatingly masculine (sorry Cloud!) the characters have both typical 'male' and 'female' characteristics. For example, Tamzin is caring but courageous and not averse to violence. Roger is good at a lot of 'boyish' pursuits but is also quiet and thoughtful. Most of the time in the stories the children are all given equal status. Meryon is often the leader but he is not high-handed about it (compare to the awful Guy in Lorna Hill's pony series) and it is usually Tamzin who comes up with the plans for their adventures. Oh btw darkhorse will ask the 'expert' your question. I'm interested in knowing the answer to that too.
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cloud
Pony Trekker
Highland Dale
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Post by cloud on Jun 13, 2014 11:35:24 GMT 1
Crumbs, 8 very goods - well done Monica! Darkhorse I don't think the actual horses were ever mentioned again, although of course that adventure is referred to again and again as it was how Jonah got to be adopted by the Merrows, and he appears in the following books. I'm always annoyed when animals just disappear between one book and the next - although to be fair in the Punchbowl books it does say what happened to Moonstone and Clover (they were sold!! ) and Glen the Golden Retriever died of distemper. Never said what happened to the polo pony though! lol
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Post by Deleted on Jun 15, 2014 12:02:51 GMT 1
That is good! But what about Haffy? Coooee! Haffy did you ever manage to finish it?
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