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Post by Claire on Oct 28, 2016 11:41:03 GMT 1
Our Halloween/Autumn themed read is The Great Pumpkin Ride by Laura Hesse. If you can cast your minds back to last Christmas, we read One Frosty Christmas by Laura Hesse then. This is a sequel to it. So if you enjoyed that one then hopefully this one will also to be to your liking. Some of us bought the whole of Laura Hesse's 'Holiday' series as a 3 in 1 book on Kindle last year, so will already have this. If you don't have it, there is a cheap (£2ish) Kindle version available. Unfortunately the 3 in 1 does not seem to be available any more. I have it and can try and send the file via email to anyone who would like it, although it may not open in certain e-book readers. If you want to remind yourself/find out more about One Frosty Christmas the link for the reading circle thread can be found hereAs this one's a late starter feel free to begin the discussion whenever you like. Hope you enjoy the book.
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Post by darkhorse on Oct 29, 2016 21:16:28 GMT 1
For once I am not last! I've started it and enjoying it so far.
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Post by Claire on Nov 1, 2016 17:09:29 GMT 1
Well for some strange reason it won't open on my laptop or in the Kindle Cloud reader but thankfully got it opened on my tablet.
I like the fact that it straight away contrasted the fake commercial 'city' Halloween with the country Halloween where they have old traditions going back years. Also like the idea of them all riding down a pumkin alley lit with loads of carved pumpkins. Sounds better than trick or treating. And they all believe in ghosts! It really evokes a spirit of Halloween that the commercialised celebrations don't. Haven't read much but I know I'm going to enjoy it.
If you are wondering whether or not to bother with this I would really recommend that you do. The books are far better than most of the modern stuff around and very well written.
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Post by Jill on Nov 8, 2016 14:54:46 GMT 1
I have the Kindle edition with all 3 books in it. I have read them all and thoroughly enjoyed them. I would like to vote for the book but I don't think it will allow guests to vote.
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Post by Claire on Nov 21, 2016 22:28:58 GMT 1
Darkhorse, Brumby or anyone else - have you read the book yet - any comments to add?
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Post by darkhorse on Nov 23, 2016 20:42:43 GMT 1
Yes, I have finished it. I thought it was very good. Maybe not quite as good as the first one which had more of a firm story line where as this one has more bits and pieces thrown in it. It had spooky bits but also was good at setting the Autumn scene with a Harvest festival type feel as well as Halloween. The question is now whether I shall read the next book which is set in Easter now or wait until then...
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Post by trixiepony on Nov 24, 2016 11:05:16 GMT 1
Oh I missed this one. Are you planing to do sum thing for Christmas Clare?. Sorry I haven't been on much just now, no real excuse just haven't been on my computer much, and my app on my tablet wont open. Tecnolagy so good when it works, and pan in the but wen playing up.
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Post by Claire on Nov 25, 2016 20:21:25 GMT 1
Haha Trixie I sooo agree re. technology. If you aren't bothered about being behind a tad I'd defo recommend these books if you can get them where you are.
Yes I am hoping to set up a Christmas read. I'll post on the 'next book' thread for recommendations.
Going back to the Pumpkin Ride, what really struck me is that in a way it reminded me of a book some of us read back in the Summer Reading Challenge - Boys Don't Ride by K. Marcus - that book has a lot of what can be considered 'PC content' and so does Pumpkin Ride (handicapped/traumatised girl, Native American Indian boy, etc) but the difference in how the two authors handle these themes is telling. With Laura Hesse's books you never feel like it's being shoved in your face as it was in Boys Dont Ride. It also seems to be integral to the story and the characters, rather than appearing as something of a sop to modern society's preoccupation with all things PC.
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Post by tintin on Nov 25, 2016 22:43:30 GMT 1
Just got the book yesterday and started tonight
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Post by Claire on Nov 26, 2016 15:56:52 GMT 1
Hope you enjoy it Tintin. Did you read the first in series?
Going back to the Harvest Festival theme that Darkhorse mentioned it got me thinking that there doesn't seem to be much of a celebration of that nowadays compared to when I was a child. There was a lot of church and school stuff with a Harvest Festival theme going on back then, but it seems to have been taken over by Halloween now. What do other folk find? Any of our USA members care to comment? Is it still more popular over there than in the UK do you think?
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Post by tintin on Dec 8, 2016 22:18:00 GMT 1
Well I finished the book on Monday and have just been able to sit down and do a right up. I liked it, not in my all time greats,but a likeable competent book and original, particularly in the hallow e'een/ghost aspects
This is the second modern pony book I have read recently which I thought would make a much better tv programme/film than book
I have n't read the earlier book, which I think I should as I sort of feel there is more about Frosty I ought to know as to why he is a pony verging towards the awkward side of characterful
One of the (few) problems of reading a lot of pony books is you start comparing them. The style of a lot of bantering youngsters reminded me of the Amy and Clown series, the Surprise Riding Club and one of the PT sisters books (Plenty of Ponies?) I also liked the Western setting which was a lovingly imagined and distinctive community - echoes of the Gypsy series? (although it would be very hard to beat, or even match their gentle charm)
I suppose the acid test is do I want to read the others? Yes I do
I sense there is a lot more to bring out in future stories
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