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Post by susanb on Jul 22, 2014 13:22:31 GMT 1
Finished Black Storm Comin' by Diane Lee Wilson....smiley please! It's what I'd call "not-quite-a-pony-book": the horse is important, but not central to the story. A well done tale of the difficulties of being mixed race in mid 19th century America, the uneasy time just before the Civil War and Emancipation, the danger of moving west across harsh territory and, not least, the dangerous conditions faced by Pony Express riders and their tough as nails horses...there was a reason the employment ads read "Orphans Preferred"
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Post by garej on Jul 22, 2014 16:46:02 GMT 1
Finished A Pony for Jean last night. I would give it a smiley as I enjoyed it. I thought I was reading a PT book - you can see where the PTs got their literary talent from. Not sure what I am going to read next though. Probably either Joe and the Lightning Pony or Dream Pony or A Place with Two Faces.
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Post by Claire on Jul 22, 2014 20:09:20 GMT 1
Susan you've reminded me I keep meaning to read something by Diane Lee Wilson. One day.... Wasn't there a pony book about the pony express with 'Orphans Preferred' in the title?
Took advantage of sun to read about half of Save the Ponies. Quite enjoying it so far so probably a smiley unless it really tails off badly. I'll give a fuller review (without spoilers) when I've finished it.
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Post by susanb on Jul 22, 2014 21:41:38 GMT 1
You're thinking of Don Stanford's (of Horsemasters) fame, "Must be Good Riders: Orphans Preferred". It was ok, but nothing to Horsemasters.
Of the Diane Lee Wilson books I've read, I'd go for I Rode a Horse of Milk White Jade or Firehorse first. I haven't yet read To Ride the Gods Own Stallion or Ravenspeak...one of these days!
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Post by garej on Jul 23, 2014 12:48:33 GMT 1
Finished Dream Pony last night and I would give it a smiley. Enjoyed it in general.
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Post by Claire on Jul 23, 2014 18:10:52 GMT 1
Well Save the Horses gets a smiley - just. It was pretty cliched, all the usual suspects, rescuing cart pony from a nasty man, horses getting loose, valuable stallion stolen etc. This was actually written in the 1980s but reads more like a 1960s story. (I'm sure there weren't ponies still pulling carts about in the 1980s!) Good points - very traditional, a nice horse rescue backdrop and the characters are likeable. But nothing to get too excited about. Good for an easy unchallenging read. There's a sequel but does anyone know if there was a book before this with the same characters. It reads as if there were but it could just be the author doesn't give a good enough back history. I've certainly never seen another pony book by her than the 2 I have listed on the website.
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Post by haffyfan on Jul 23, 2014 19:05:19 GMT 1
I've only seen the one with the bucking horse/side saddle rider on, which i had as a child and keep meaning to buy again.
Finished Come Show jumping with me and would like a smiley for it please.
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Post by Claire on Jul 23, 2014 19:41:24 GMT 1
I've only seen the one with the bucking horse/side saddle rider on, which i had as a child and keep meaning to buy again. Is that The Gift Horse? You must think it was a good read then haffy. I never got round to reading Come Showjumping before I sold my copy. I've read Come Trekking With Me, in same series, but found it a bit dull.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 23, 2014 20:28:08 GMT 1
You sold Come Trekking to me Claire lol I like all three in that series
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Post by Claire on Jul 23, 2014 22:23:24 GMT 1
You sold Come Trekking to me Claire lol I like all three in that series Oh yeah forgot about that. I wonder who bought the Showjumping one. I dont think it was anyone on here.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2014 18:04:11 GMT 1
I found your blog about Dark Horse of Woodfield Claire. I've copied a few lines from it (hope you don't mind) as you sum up just how I felt about it! "I was recommended to read the book Dark Horse of Woodfield by Florence Hightower. Not a book I had heard of before ( I hadn't even heard of the author).... Apart from a few exceptions I prefer English pony books to American ones, but I was very pleasantly surprised by this one. ...the family reminded me of the rather eccentric family in Enid Bagnold's National Velvet.
On the whole though, the eccentric family is more of a British institution, which is possibly why I so liked the book, which despite being set in the USA, somehow feels more British than American to me!"
This book gets a HUGE smiley from me, I thoroughly enjoyed it. The grandmother reminded me of Dowager Countess of Grantham in TV series Downton Abbey. Thanks for lending me this book Claire
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Post by susanb on Jul 24, 2014 18:57:33 GMT 1
Yes! Another fan of Dark Horse of Woodfield! If you enjoy her style, she did a few other books, though none with ponies. Fayerweather Forecast is probably the easiest to find in the UK, as it had a British printing....another delightfully eccentric family.
Another American author that specialized in eccentric families is Elizabeth Enright....I think you'd like her The Saturdays or Gone Away Lake....oddly enough, the first book of hers I picked up was a British edition that I happened across in the US...the blurb in back endorsing it was by Noel Streatfeild!
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Post by Claire on Jul 24, 2014 19:41:09 GMT 1
I think it was susan who recommended 'Woodfield' to me and I have recommended it to a few people. I think everyone has enjoyed it which you can't often say about a book. Sorry rosie for not getting round to providing the link to the blog but you found it anyhow! I must try and read some more Florence Hightower sometime.
Adding a book to my list to take it up to 9 - Nightmare by Piers Anthony. Its a horse themed fantasy and a re-read. As its one of my old favourites I need it for emotional support as going thru a stressful time at mo.
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Post by haffyfan on Jul 25, 2014 10:34:25 GMT 1
Can i have a neutral for Bobbie's sponsored ride please. I think it was written for quite a young audience, no depth or substance and the catastrophe after catastrophe on the ride was a bit too much i'm afraid.
I've now got side tracked and am reading Ozzie, the story of a young horse (which is currently free on kindle download - i'll post a link in relevant section)
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Post by Claire on Jul 25, 2014 17:31:12 GMT 1
Yeah I know what you mean haffy about Bobbies Sponsored Ride. Very similar to her mother's weaker Blackbirds books. As far as I can remember the other book in the Bobbie series (B Takes the Reins) is a bit better. But again nothing startling. In general preferred the Blackbirds series. Will try and update smilies tonight sometime. Hope everyone is enjoying the reading challenge so far
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cloud
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Post by cloud on Jul 25, 2014 19:08:18 GMT 1
Well now finished my third doggie one - Sabre of Storm Valley - best illustrations of the lot, absolutely beautiful pencil drawings done by C Gifford Ambler. Joseph Chipperfield knows his dogs and has so obviously lived with Shepherds that this book gets the vote for best doggie one so far. Someone recently said on here (was it Vera?) about the differences between a book read by or written by those who own horses compared to those who dream of horses. I guess that's why I always liked the PT books although there were parts of them I disliked greatly, they at least knew their horses! It's why although I soon went off authors like Jack London - the guy didn't know a dog from a cat, never mind a wolf!! So a Smiley for Sabre to go with the ones for Bran and Renni. However another epic fail coming up - am I allowed to give up after two chapters or do I have to plough on? ?
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Post by garej on Jul 25, 2014 19:31:20 GMT 1
I am currently reading Mona the Welsh Pony and so far I am undecided. I am finding it a bit rambly, and the story isnt really grabbing me. I think I prefer the illustrations to the story.
I chose it because I havent read it before and I am semi familiar with the area. I go once a year to Abermaw (or to give it's English name Barmouth). There's a direct bus service to Abermaw from my local town. I wonder why Seaby decided to use the Welsh name for Barmouth, whereas he uses the English for the Cadaer range.
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Post by Claire on Jul 25, 2014 20:31:18 GMT 1
I am currently reading Mona the Welsh Pony and so far I am undecided. I am finding it a bit rambly, and the story isnt really grabbing me. I think I prefer the illustrations to the story. I chose it because I havent read it before and I am semi familiar with the area. I go once a year to Abermaw (or to give it's English name Barmouth). There's a direct bus service to Abermaw from my local town. I wonder why Seaby decided to use the Welsh name for Barmouth, whereas he uses the English for the Cadaer range. When did the place start being known as Barmouth? Maybe it only had the Welsh name when Seaby was writing? I find Seaby's books a bit dull and rambling too altho as you say Garej, lovely illustrations. BTW congrats to Garej who wins the first blue rosette for reading at least 5 books from her list. Very good going!
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Post by Claire on Jul 25, 2014 20:35:17 GMT 1
However another epic fail coming up - am I allowed to give up after two chapters or do I have to plough on? ? Haha tempted to say you have to finish it all lol. But no if you don't want to finish a book you just give it a frowny face. I also love C. Gifford Ambler's illustrations. I haven't read any of Mr Chipperfields dog books as yet. Latest update on the smilies and rosettes done. As usual please check and make sure I haven't missed anything out! Summer Reading Challenge 2014
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Post by garej on Jul 25, 2014 21:30:30 GMT 1
I am currently reading Mona the Welsh Pony and so far I am undecided. I am finding it a bit rambly, and the story isnt really grabbing me. I think I prefer the illustrations to the story. I chose it because I havent read it before and I am semi familiar with the area. I go once a year to Abermaw (or to give it's English name Barmouth). There's a direct bus service to Abermaw from my local town. I wonder why Seaby decided to use the Welsh name for Barmouth, whereas he uses the English for the Cadaer range. When did the place start being known as Barmouth? Maybe it only had the Welsh name when Seaby was writing? I find Seaby's books a bit dull and rambling too altho as you say Garej, lovely illustrations. BTW congrats to Garej who wins the first blue rosette for reading at least 5 books from her list. Very good going! I think it's been always known as Barmouth from at least the Victorian times, so perhaps Seaby wanted to be traditional. According to Wikipedia, it was known as Barmouth in the 19th Century, but we know Wikipedia can be inaccurate, so you can take that with a pinch of salt. Thanks for the congrats. I am trying to remember how many books I managed last year. The hot weather is helping - I cant get to sleep because of being too hot so as a consequence I am doing most of my reading late at night. I remember last year being hot too - I remember not getting much sleep because of being too hot and doing my reading late at night last year. I picked the same book both years though (Horse in the house) because I didnt get it read last year either.
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Post by garej on Jul 25, 2014 21:56:22 GMT 1
Having found the thread which detailed last year's challenge, I think I managed 8 if I have counted correctly. I tried keeping tabs, but it was hard been as it is a lengthly thread. So far I am on my sixth book, so hopefully I shall finish because hopefully I shall not have any relatives dying. However saying that I read a lot quite early on last year and ran out of steam in the end.
I plan to read Silver Eagle Carries On next as it's quite a hefty book as it's a first edition. After that I dont know, but I think I will probably leave Horse in the House last because I am not too keen on foreign books.
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Post by brumby on Jul 25, 2014 22:49:41 GMT 1
Finished 'A horse for X.Y.Z'. by Louise Moeri a short book at 99 pages, not a word was wasted, The beginning captures you straight away, I enjoyed it and will give it a smiley.
Have also finished 'Dark Horse' - Jean Slaughter Doty, this is this third book of hers I have read and I really enjoyed it (as I did with the others). So its a rather large smiley for this one.
Have just realised I seem to have chosen quite a few books from the USA which is quite a change, most of the pony books I have read are British. Postage is the killer for books from the states when you live in Australia, anyway its a nice change.
Off to decide what to read next?
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Post by brumby on Jul 25, 2014 23:10:59 GMT 1
Claire can I be a pest and change my last book A new horse for Marny (realised I have read it) to Pony from Tarella - Mavis Thorpe Clark?
that would be great have too many books to read at the moment so no time for rereads, even though it was a great book!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 26, 2014 6:43:31 GMT 1
Yep Although I'm not enjoying the next book so far. Brumby I'll be interested to know what you think of Pony from Tarella by Mavis Thorpe Clark if you read it. I'm struggling!
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Cloud forgot to log in
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Post by Cloud forgot to log in on Jul 26, 2014 11:51:11 GMT 1
PS Bran should get a smiley - it was the one with the googlie eyed dogs!
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Post by Claire on Jul 26, 2014 20:54:07 GMT 1
Hi all, no probs Brumby and will rectify any I've missed out.
Yes also be interested to hear what you think of Pony From Tarella as I love the book and recommended it to Rosie (still a 50% strike rate for my recommendations lol).
Garej I have the finished 2013 list on my computer will try and put it up somewhere just in case anyone else is interested in seeing how they did last year.
A huge smiley for Night Mare by Piers Anthony. Its a read comfort blanket read for me. I'd recommend it to anyone except those who really don't like fantasy at all. It is a full-blown fantasy story and not a traditional pony story by any means. On the other hand the main character is a horse and its told from the horse's viewpoint so plenty of horsy action. Its actually part of a fairly light hearted series set in an imaginary world where animals are often main characters. The horse is actually a 'night mare' who has been relieved from her duty of sending bad dreams to people as she has become too soft and she is sent by the Night Stallion to the daytime as an invasion threatens the land of Xanth and a mysterious Horseman is casting evil spells. The book is a page turning adventure and also something of a mystery/whodunnit. The author obviously understands horses also. I recommended this book to Cloud a while ago and I think she enjoyed it and as I said would recommend to anyone except die-hard anti-fantasy readers.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 27, 2014 17:40:26 GMT 1
Susan apologies for not saying earlier thanks for the recommendations re Florence Hightower etc. I've finished Pony from Tarella by Mavis Thorpe Clark and it gets a frowny smiley I'm afraid. I would give it a neutral as it's well written and I did finish it but I just didn't like it! I couldn't get any sympathy up for the main character Sandy and I just didn't care what happened to the others. I felt sorry for the pony Sunflower who was bashed over jumps and worked until she was fit to drop. She wasn't well treated by either boys who were trying to lay claim on her. This would be a good one for a group read as I'm sure others will disagree with me and we could have a good old row lol Well Claire out of all the books you lent me, 3 had smileys, one had a neutral and one a frown so not bad recommendations over all They'll be winging their way back to you soon, thank you.
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Post by susanb on Jul 27, 2014 17:44:29 GMT 1
Finished Pretty as a Princess by Frances Priddy....a few days ago, in fact....just can't make my mind up on the smiley to give it....can I get the question mark/conflicted smiley, at least temporarily? Hopefully I'll sort out impressions by end of summer!
I'm into Silver Saddles now....enjoying it so far!
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cloud
Pony Trekker
Highland Dale
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Post by cloud on Jul 27, 2014 18:07:44 GMT 1
Right, my epic fail is Clarissa Eden Memoir - three chapters of 'well we were so rich we went out to tea with so and so" Don't care, not interested, frownie face!
Flax gets a neutral, too much unnecessary violence.
I borrowed a job lot from a friend for this, so that's why some are failing!
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Post by garej on Jul 29, 2014 19:12:06 GMT 1
I am still ploughing through Mona the Welsh Pony. It's not impressing me much and I haven't got to the bit where a yearling is ridden. I can't see me awarding it a smiley face. Depending on how it finishes I may award it a frowny face.
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