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Post by Claire on May 14, 2008 19:58:45 GMT 1
After a bit of a battle we have finally arrived at the next reading circle book. RIDING WITH THE LYNTONS by DIANA PULLEIN-THOMPSON As per usual discussion and poll in around 2 weeks time. Enjoy (except for haffyfan perhaps... ;D )
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Post by exmoorfan on May 16, 2008 20:32:24 GMT 1
Hi all, I am halfway through this book....Does anyone know where it is in the country.. I have guessed devon /cornwall by description..!!! Any ideas /guesses...?
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Post by kunuma on May 17, 2008 9:24:22 GMT 1
Yes, have always thought so too! For some reason I always thought that Pynemouth was Plymouth. It would be the right distance - as she says it was 5 hours from London. I've read it again, tried really hard to avoid the you know what bit, but in my copy the artist has drawn a picture of it I should like to have words with them about that! I love some bits, the snappy yappy Scottie - lots of Scotties in the PT books, I reckon they had one or two themselves. And the strangles bit - has just happened for real in very similiar circumstances to a friend of mine!
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Post by exmoorfan on May 17, 2008 20:15:18 GMT 1
kunuma, What copy do you have.? Mine doesn't have The event in .! I also thought that pynemouth resembled Plymouth.. Yes strangles is quite a problem this year i've heard.,,,
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Post by kunuma on May 17, 2008 20:58:08 GMT 1
It's the Armada paper back - illus by Sheila Rose - WHY she had to draw 'the event' I cannot imagine!
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Post by fizz on May 19, 2008 11:10:55 GMT 1
I didn't read this until I was in my early twenties so my reaction might have been different as a child. I would be interested to hear what you thought of the book if you did read it as a child; I am sure it would be different. Although DPT has previous deaths, Seagull of tetanus in A Pony to School being the one that springs to mind, this is an altogether more shocking one. It is violent and raw, there is a gruesome description of the injury and Sheila Rose's illustration. This most probably results from DPT feeling a need to emphasise the safety of ponies to young people; as with the need to vaccinate/search for wounds in A Pony to School. As the story unfolds we realise the importance of pony proof catches as well as closing gates. On another level the book deals with friendships and how, as I am aware myself having had a pony at a similar age to Lesley, a pony can cause elevated feelings and tensions between young people. There is also a sense of one against the big family who close ranks when something goes wrong; they have had to do it before when their Father was accused of murder. I get the feeling Lesley would have been in a different position if she had had a sibling to support her, as an only child I can empathise with her a lot. The adults are again well developed, though I would have preferred Mr Lynton to be more fleshed out. I love Lesley's comment that he seemed a "disappointed man"though I suspect it's a bit old for her years and that I wouldn't have noticed it had I read the book aged 11. Leslie and her parents are in the mould of many PTS characters: Lottie in A Pony for Sale, Augusta in I Wanted A Pony, A Pony to School & Three Ponies & Shannon. Piers & Tilly in the for mentioned series as well as Nigel in A Pony to School, someone you are most unlikely to bump into at your local comprehensive! Some readers might consider the PTS earlier books to be elitist, but I think the variety of unusual characters are their great strengths and I suspect why some of us in our 40s still enjoy reading them. One thing that doesn't ring that true is the fact that her parents never socialised with the Lyntons or the new family in the neighbouring cottage.
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Post by Claire on May 19, 2008 12:17:28 GMT 1
Ooh fizz has jumped the gun a bit I havent even started reading the book yet! But feel free to start the discussion early evryone and I will catch up. Will add poll shortly too.
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Post by fizz on May 19, 2008 16:52:24 GMT 1
Sorry I thought it was time to do the reviews. Apologise if I've spoiled it for anyone. Just since I've got over Ofsted & completed my PGCE I've had a bit more time in the evenings to read!
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Post by sarah on May 19, 2008 19:13:19 GMT 1
COngratulations for surviving OFSTED and finishing PGCE - pretty busy time. I'm busy writing reports at the moment and planning for next term so I can go away in holidays. Planning to take book to read on the train.
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Post by Claire on May 19, 2008 20:20:20 GMT 1
No probs fizz, we usually allow about 2 weeks from the post date to start discussion but as I think everyone has already read Lyntons before I dont think yuou are giving away any plot secrets. But anyone can start discussing when they like and the others can catch up. I second sarahs congrats on completing your PGCE you must be relieved! BTW thought I might as well as add poll now as some have already finished the book
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Post by Claire on May 21, 2008 20:44:35 GMT 1
Finally got round to reading this, about half way thru. Forgot how intense it was!
BTW I wonder who voted dreadful ;D I hope you will substantiate your opinion!!! ;D
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Post by kunuma on May 21, 2008 21:22:04 GMT 1
I'm sort of sitting on the fence here! Should I base my opinion on the book including the bit I hate - in which case whoever said dreadful is about to get company! OR - should I review the rest of the book and pretend that bit wasn't there?? Answers on a postcard please .............................
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Post by Claire on May 21, 2008 21:42:35 GMT 1
The book as a whole I would say. The 'incident' however unpleasant does not actually reflect upon whether the book as a whole is well-written, has good characters, etc, etc, but you cant completely discount it. I voted very good even tho I don't like that bit either but the book IMHO is great in evry other way so it would be a shame to bring it down too far on account of one incident. On the other hand I couldnt give it excellent as I thought that part of the plot was perhaps too upsetting and too graphic for a child.
you've got to admit tho it is certainly a controversial book to discuss!
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Post by kunuma on May 21, 2008 22:08:58 GMT 1
But - it brings the whole tone of the book down, there isn't an upbeat happy ending for me like there is meant to be, as all I can think of is that it isn't happy for the pony who was killed and how much her companion must be missing her.
A similar happening in the beginning of Horse in the House, which I do love - happens before the story begins, and to a pony we didn't know - so it wasn't so bad.
I hadn't read this book for years because of it - and so for me, it is not a good book, because it doesn't fulfil what I look for in a pony book which I read and reread. Going to have to vote taking that into account I think.
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Post by Claire on May 25, 2008 20:32:40 GMT 1
I think just about evryone who is going to read this will have done so by now so I reckon we can continue from where fizz started!
I dont think we can discuss the book without 'the incident' so thought I'd get it out of the way first. Why do people think it was put in the book? It was obviously a plot device to sever the ties between Lesley and the Lyntons but why did it have to be such a serious incident? Was DPT going for drama? It does make Lesley's plight more dramatic than if say Jingle had been lamed. It seems almost as if DPT wanted Lesley to experience the depths of despair. If this happened in reality it could emotional damage a child for life! DId Diana think that the story wouldn't be so powerful if the pony had not been killed? Personally I think it probably would have been slightly less powerful if say Jingle had been permanantly lamed and was unable to be ridden, but the plot would have still worked and it wouldnt have alienated a lot of readers who felt DPT was being too cruel.
If we compare this to Friends Must Part which is in a way a similar story in which friends part and then make up again, the girls split is caused by something far more trivial but the story still works really well, in fact it is one of my favs by the author.
I must say that Christine and Diana do tend to wallow in unpleasant events with some quite graphic descriptions of them in some of their books. As Fizz says there is the death of Seagull in A Pony To School, also Candy's sufferings in The Ponyseekers and the most horrific of all, the animals which are attacked by thugs (I think) in Ponies in the Forest by CPT. As you will prob know I have talked about this book in other threads and consider it the most horrible childrens book I have read. The incident in Lyntons pales in comparison! I dont know why the two PTs have this attitude. Are they trying to point out to potential pony owners the sometimes harsh realities of pony ownership? Are they as fizz suggests trying to educate readers of possible dangers?
I suppose that how you view this book may depend on how you see pony books in general. If you see them as a type of comfort read then no doubt you will hate this book which isn't comfortable at all.
The reason I like the book despite its flaws is the character of Lesley and Diana's courage in examining the emotional impact of such events on a child, and the unpleasant parts of childhood. The character of Lesley is very well done. You can really empathise with her on so many things, the fear of meeting new people, of being the outsider, the way that small things can become obsessions to a child such as her constantly thinking up ways to meet the Lyntons. The fear of scornfulness, seen in Lesley's dislike of Annette. All these things are much more extreme in childhood (and by my advanced age have almost disappeared!) but Diana captures them perfectly. The way Lesley feels after the 'incident' and the way she keeps trying to remember if she heard the click of the gate or not is just brilliantly realistic. Childhood is not all sweetness and light and it is Diana's portrayal of the dark shadows as well as the high lights which appeals to me. I probably liked the book better as a child than I do now because of the closer empathy I would have felt with Lesley. As fizz felt an empathy with her thru being an only child, I remember feeling the same when the rather scruffy riding school I learned to ride at closed down and i had to venture into the unfamiliar territory of the posh riding school which was the only other one around.
So despite the fact I dont like the incident I still think the good points of the book outweigh my dislike of that particular incident.
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Post by darkhorse on May 28, 2008 18:58:23 GMT 1
I haven't read this for years and like Claire I think I preferred it as a child. Maybe you're right and its because you can identify better with Lesley as a child. Also I think the incident seems more shocking to the adult reader, perhpas because as a child tragedy goes over your head a bit. Another thing I noticed that I did't as a child is that the Lyntons are not really very nice people and I found mysef wondering why Lesley wanted to be friends with them so much. Annette in particular was horrible, but the others weren't very attractive characters either. It seemed as if Diana PT had to make the little boy who Lesley befriends later....forgot his name.... extra obnoxious in order to make the Lyntons seem more attractive. Lesley and her family seem the only really nice chracters in the story. Lesley's mum says something to the effect that if the Lyntons were good friends they would forgive her becuase they would know she was feeling terrible but they don't really forgive her. They only become friends again becuase they find out Jangle can open the gate. So maybe Lesley would actually be better off without them!
Still enjoyed it but not as good as I remembered so voted good.
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Post by Claire on Jun 1, 2008 19:25:27 GMT 1
Has anyone got any more comments to make on the book. Kunuma? Exmoorfan? Haffy - why do you not like it, is it because of 'the incident' or other reasons?
Unlike the other books we've looked at it seems to have a much more divided opinion. The poll is all over the place!
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Post by haffyfan on Jun 1, 2008 20:03:06 GMT 1
Not I feel one of Diana's best books (this honour is firmly reserved for Janet Must Ride). As ever it is well written and could in parts be described as almost enjoyable, although at times I did wonder if parts of the story were really necessary as they had no real impact on the story such as the mystery around the Lyntons and the changing of their name and even the pony developing strangles.
The incident was just not necessary at all, it was very much in the doom and gloom style of Christine, and didn't have to be quite so shocking. Escaping and running amock a little would have had the same effect and caused the same rift in the friendship. The Lyntons were awful kids, okay you would be 'upset' at what happened but they were shocking before that if your honest!
Not as bad as I remember maybe but I just don't like it as much as the others and would vote the same again ;D.
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Post by kunuma on Jun 1, 2008 20:08:39 GMT 1
Well I finally put my vote in, and even though I am in a mellow mood 'cos I just went to play with a litter of pups - I still know I won't reread the book, so it doesn't fulfil what I want from a pony book - my vote has made it even more all over the place ;D
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Post by Claire on Jun 1, 2008 20:23:20 GMT 1
Its certainly divded opinion. I don't know if we could have had a book with so many different ratings. Wondered how I'll work out the average
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Post by exmoorfan on Jun 1, 2008 21:55:21 GMT 1
Sorry Claire. I was sitting on the fence with my reasons i guess. (but have been busy with a new arrival also) I like because I have an affinity with in my childhood. I wasn't an only child but felt it because no one understood my passion for horses.. I felt a lot of what lesley went through.. BUT as I read it when I was her age i guess as someone else said the tragedy didn't have the same impact except as being a lesson and very sad..I think I voted as a child and not as a grown up. I cannot pull books to bits like others do. if its a good read I like it, if its boring i don't. I have a feeling that when I read the hunting and show jumping ones i will find it a boring read in my adult life because my views have changed..
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Post by fizz on Jun 2, 2008 9:03:32 GMT 1
I agree with Haffyfan & Darkhorse that the Lyntons weren't that nice really. However I do think that they might have stuck together and been cold with Lesley after the accident. The whole atmosphere of this reminds me of my early teens and the fall outs and upsets I had with friends and families who had ponies in the village I lived in. Although there was never a tragedy on the scale of the book's i remember lots of incidents that made me desperately unhappy, when people who I thought were my friends picked on me, turned against me and ignored me. At 13 it seems your whole world has fallen in and I was never blamed for a pony's death like Lesley.
I initially thought that it was unusual that Lesley's parents hadn't got involved and supported her by going to the Lynton's themselves, but then I remember that my parents didn't do that either and they left me to sort out my unhappiness myself; perhaps that was the best way.
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Post by Buster on Aug 5, 2008 11:11:29 GMT 1
I realy enjoyed this book but I was left a bit confused at why Anette hated Lesley, I thought there would be a story there. And also it says 'The Lyntons had 7 horses in total' but I recounted and it only listed 6... is that right or can I not count?
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Post by Claire on Aug 5, 2008 12:06:00 GMT 1
I think Annette is just one of those irritating brats which seem to pop up in a lot of the PTs books. Think Jane in Prince Among Ponies, Marga in the Noel and Henry series or those awful twins in The Trick Jumpers. Apparantly the sisters got a lot of their material from the children who used to ride at their riding school so possibly there were some bratty little girls who they thought would make good characters.
Not sure about the horses tho as I never counted them!
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Post by zoe on Jan 30, 2009 13:21:41 GMT 1
This is yet another book I didn't read as a kid. I enjoyed it and thought it portrayed Leslies' thoughts and emotions really well but I really wasn't keen on the Lyntons and felt they should have been nicer characters to balance Leslies' desperation to be their friend, although I'm sure even the nicest of children would have been hostile for a while after the incident. Although it was horrid, I didn't have a problem with the incident being included in the book although it could have been less graphic but that could be because, as a kid, I witnessed a similar thing. In fact after stirring these memories I realise why my first question when an animal is hurt is whether it should be put down as when my friends pony got hit by a landrover it felt like days past before the vet arrived and the waiting seemed the worse part(although it was all horrendous). I've voted good, would have rated it higher if the Lyntons were a bit more likable.
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Post by fizz on Jan 30, 2009 21:08:41 GMT 1
Well put Konstanze. Somehow I don't think this book would get published today. I like the way Diana combines tragedy and humour. I found The Hermit's Horse quite a challenging book and I wish I had read it as a child. Gillian Baxter has a lot of tragedy in her books.....remember all the horses killed when the plane crashes on the stables. You are right animals do get killed and maimed, I can remember quite a few tragic incidents and deaths through horrible illnesses like grass sickness and how it affected everyone concerned when I was growing up.
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Post by tintin on Jan 11, 2013 16:59:42 GMT 1
Now I have to say I liked “Riding with the Lyntons” despite the distressing incident.
Yes it is sad, but not, to me, as sad as the death in “Pony to School” or one line in “The Horse Sale” relating to the potential deaths of perfectly healthy, and unsuspecting, heavy draught horses. It is odd how this reflects real life as I always find deaths from disease the more emotionally distressing. Also from the time we know the horse has escaped you feel sure something bad is going to happen, just not how bad it is going to be.
The book is interesting on a range of issues. I think it is intended to teach lessons both in respect of horses and in respect of life in general (I think all the sisters books do this more or less intentionally). The lesson of taking pains that your horse’s accommodation is secure is obvious and pretty much rammed home. The lessons for life are that people who are initially attractive might have shortcomings and that people who are initially repellent might not be wholly bad.
I have a theory, completely unsupported by any real evidence, that this book was written some time before it was published. Possibly fished out by the author due to pressure from a publisher, or revisited by the publishers when they realised the others were selling well? Two things push me towards this. Firstly the very harsh winter, very likely to have been inspired by that of 1947, which yields us the wonderfully flamboyant character of the ski-ing doctor. Secondly, the interesting depictation of demobilised officers. This seems to be more typical of the more immediate post-war period. The resentments amongst officers in the contracting post war forces were quite capable of producing the kind of incident that happened to Mr Lynton (two fine films, “Carrington VC” and “Tunes of Glory” deal with this kind of thing). Also the resentments between families as to whose man had had the better war. It is also interesting that the Lynton children do exactly what they hate having been done to their father in that they rush to judgement and presume guilt. These are pretty mature themes for the target age range.
I thought the heroine was excellent in that she showed the anxieties of someone who is bright, intelligent and mature for their years, but lacks the experience and therefore confidence to deal with people, especially awkward people. Alienated by the crassness and pettiness of the world of children yet not yet able to join the adult world - a horse can be a great comrade and teacher for someone like that. I think the author described how that can feel very well, also being of an age where you are not entirely free to choose your own friends. I think most of us can probably remember disastrous childhood social encounters engineered by our parents.
A thoughtful well written believable story, but with difficult themes and not really one for a warm fuzzy feeling.
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Post by Claire on Jan 11, 2013 23:34:24 GMT 1
Thanks for adding your comments on the book tintin. Thoughtful review and interesting theory about it being written earlier. This book has divided opinion the most of all the books we have ever done in the reading circle - just look at the poll: from trophies to horse droppings! (And everything in between)
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