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Post by Claire on Jun 5, 2019 13:18:24 GMT 1
Welcome to the official 2019 Reading Club Challenge thread !CHALLENGE WILL BEGIN ON 18TH JUNE 2019 AND WILL RUN UNTIL END OF SEPTEMBERVISIT THE SUMMER READING CHALLENGE 2019 FORUM MEMBERS WEB PAGE HEREFor newbies, the aim of the Challenge is for those taking part to pick a number of books and then challenge themselves to read them all by the end of Summer. We use this thread to discuss the books, how we are getting on with the challenge and give each other encouragement. I also set up a dedicated web page listing allthe forum members taking part and their book lists. Link to the web page will be provided as soon as we have all the lists in. We rate books with smiley, frownie or neutral faces and can win 'virtual' rosettes and of course the coveted Challenge Trophy for completing our lists by the end of Summer!
Our fab forum member Garej has also kindly offered to send real rosettes to everyone who completes the challenge! NON-FORUM MEMBERS - Also welome to join in. If you don't want to join the forum please feel free to join in, pick your books and discuss and rate them on this thread. However if you would like to be featured on the webpage too then please join the forum. GUIDELINES* You can pick up to 10 books, these can be from the suggested categories list below or completely of your own choice - it's up to you. * Please can you post your full lists here by the starting date if possible. SUGGESTED CATEGORIES 1. MODERN PONY BOOK WRITTEN 2017 - 2019 2. BOOK FEATURING A NON-HORSE OR PONY EQUINE (DONKEY/MULE/UNICORN/PEGASUS ETC) 3. BOOK FROM AN AUTHOR WHO HAS WRITTEN UNDER A DIFFERENT NAME(Some suggestions include Gillian Baxter, CPT, Patsey Gray, Stephen Mogridge, Wendy Douthwaite) 4. NON-PONY BOOK FEATURING A PONY(Some suggestions include some books by Enid Blyton, the Taff and Skipper series by Judith Berrisford, many of the Punchbowl Farm/Romney Marsh series by Monica Edwards, the New Forest series by Stephen Mogridge) 5. BOOK RECOMMENDED BY A FORUM MEMBERChoose from one or more of the following: A PONY FOR FREE BY JACQUI BRODERICK - suggestion for modern pony book THE DONKEY SMUGGLERS BY GERALD DURRELL - suggestion for category 2 above. SUE ELAINE DRAWS A HORSE BY GILLIAN HIRST (AKA GILLIAN BAXTER) - suggestion for category 3 above. THE WICKEDEST WITCH IN THE WORLD BY BEVERLEY NICHOLS - suggestion for categoory 4 above WHITE GHOST SUMMER BY SHIRLEY ROUSSEAU MURPHY THE AMERICAN GIRL BOOK OF HORSE STORIES PONIES AT WESTWAYS BY CONSTANCE M. WHITE THE SILVER EAGLE RIDING SCHOOL BY PRIMROSE CUMMING THE WILDER SISTERS BY JO-ANN MAPSON - suggestion for category 4 above SCRATCH BY SUE MILLARD - suggestion for modern pony book THE HORSE IS NEVER WRONG BY MARY PAGONES Please can you post your finalised lists on this thread. I will set up the web page and provide a link to it a few days after the start date. Have fun everyone!
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Post by garej on Jun 5, 2019 14:30:10 GMT 1
My books are (so far)
Full Steam Ahead Felix (second autobiography of Felix the Railway cat) Rivals to Silver Eagle - Primrose Cumming A Stallion Called Midnight - Victoria Eveleigh Scratch - Susan Millard (recommended book) The Horse Sale - CPT (author under a different name)
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Post by kunuma is here on Jun 5, 2019 14:35:41 GMT 1
Oh dear I had better get thinking, I am currently in a real quandary with a book - any advice welcome, I took it on as a reviewer, promised to read it, check it, review it, etc, and I am struggling to read it. It isn't so bad that I want to throw it out of the window, just too much far fetched fantasy for me. What on earth do i do!! I can read most things but I'm really struggling to get through this, and if I love a book I'll read it at a sitting!
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Post by susanb on Jun 5, 2019 15:38:39 GMT 1
1.) New and Recommended - The Horse is Never Wrong by Mary Pagones (2018) - 2.) Donkey - Lost Birthday Present by Lee Wyndham - 3.) writer published under another name (Stephen Mogridge) - Ice on the Lawn by "Jill Stevens" - 4.) non-pony book with pony - Sawdust in His Shoes by Eloise Jarvis McGraw - - STAR READ
5.) Race the Wind/Lauren St. John - 6.) Belladonna/Mary Finn - 7.) Circus Shoes/Noel Streatfeild - 8.) High Stepper/Helen Orr Watson - 9.) Amigo, Circus Horse/Page Cooper - 10.) Dapples of the Circus/Clarence Hawkes - ?
Here's the list.....I've been reliably informed that there actually isn't a horse in Circus Shoes, so I've moved Sawdust in His Shoes into my non-pony with pony book slot (there is definitely a horse in there! ) and Race the Wind by Lauren St. John, though it just came out on kindle in the US, doesn't fall within the date parameters for "new" book, which means The Horse is Never Wrong will be doing double duty as New and Recommended.
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Post by tintin on Jun 5, 2019 16:58:48 GMT 1
New Pony Book - Triple Bar (Kate Lattey) Non-Horse - Operation Sippacik (Rumer Godden) Published under another name - The Impossible Horse (Christine Pullein-Thompson/Christine Keir) Pony in Non-Pony Book - The Boy Who Came to Stay (Diana Pullein-Thompson) Recommended - The American Girl Book of Horse Stories
6) The Edge (Dick Francis) 7) Cobblers Dream (Monica Dickens) 8) Jumping Jan (Kathleen MacKenzie) 9) Hounds of Heaven (RWF Poole)
and from completely left field, because my late mother loved it (and loved Penguins)...
10) The Penguin Lessons (Tom Michel)
As soon as I saw the horse on the American Girl book my mind was made up for the "recommended"
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Post by susanb on Jun 5, 2019 18:54:02 GMT 1
LOL, Sam Savitt did have a knack for doing those breedy horses. The hardcover/picture cover can be had pretty cheaply, I'd recommend going for that over the paperback (which is, oddly, actually more rare)
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Post by trixiepony on Jun 6, 2019 9:54:54 GMT 1
sorry I have been slack off late, I have been having a hard time as after my dad had his operation he has been rather moody and gets me down a bit.So we are spending a lot off time at my brothers house. So he can help me cope.so fare I have decided on some new books I have just gotten.
Dream Riders Frankie by Laura Bloom and Jesse Blackadder 2019 KatWolfe Takes the Case by Lauren St John 2019 so both those are new books but this second one is a mystery with a horse in it, and the author has written pony books. Stable Stereotypes Equestrian Eccentrics from Horse & Hound. I Rode A Winner CPT. The Prize Pony JPT Horses At Home DPT I will try to think of a few others Im so felling at sea right now this will be a good destratshion for me.
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Post by garej on Jun 6, 2019 18:56:44 GMT 1
tintin you will have to lmk what you think of The Boy Who Came to Stay. I thought it was a good book apart from the ending.
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Post by Claire on Jun 7, 2019 16:12:56 GMT 1
Oh dear I had better get thinking, I am currently in a real quandary with a book - any advice welcome, I took it on as a reviewer, promised to read it, check it, review it, etc, and I am struggling to read it. It isn't so bad that I want to throw it out of the window, just too much far fetched fantasy for me. What on earth do i do!! I can read most things but I'm really struggling to get through this, and if I love a book I'll read it at a sitting! I've reviewed quite a few books and it's quite a problem when you don't particularly like a book. My advice to you is, if you possibly can, try to finish it and then try and pick out some positive points from the book, don't be too critical but at the same time try to explain what you don't like so much about the book in a tactful way - not that easy! If you really can't find anything positive to say or can't finish it either explain to the author who you are reviewing it for that you couldn't finish it or just tell them you didnt have time. It's quite a hard job as a reviewer to try not to hurt people's feelings but at the same time be honest. There's nothing worse than sycophantic or completely dishonest reviews as they are misleading to the readers. Well enough of my sermonizing ! Thanks everyone so far for providing lists. I must get cracking with mine. I know a few I'm going to do but haven't a full list yet.
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Post by haffyfan on Jun 8, 2019 19:27:55 GMT 1
Finally got logged in!
I have a list of all but 1 kindle unlimited titles, problem is there are more than 10, haha as if i'd actually read them all anyhow given my previous record! Some have sequels or follow up's too, so if they are good i'm bound to get side tracked...
I think i'll go with these
The Horse is never wrong - Mary Pagones (recommended) Incapability Brown - Cressida Ellen Schofield Horse and Challenges At Bracken (modren, Author under different name and i think it has a donkey in it if that counts too?) My Lucky day - Alexandra Griffith Darius The Eventer (Gay Darius) by Hazel Peel Bareback - Tim Truelan Chances - Ruth Saberton Road To Regalia - Rachael Eliker (read the first one of these a short while back) A Horse Called Ambition - Rachel Gillian North Fools Gold - Sarah Madison (print book, if it arrives!)
If the print book doesn't arrive - bought from Music magpie for peanuts so highly likely! - i'll add one of the ones that didn't make the above list:
Wildwood horse - tamsin miles Born in the saddle - Samantha Walker Changing Rein - sara Frances Unbroken - Ally sayer
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Post by trixiepony on Jun 10, 2019 10:57:44 GMT 1
Now with all the ebooks I have why did I not think to ad some off these? Id even got 17 I think not all would be classed as horse books but have them in it. maybe as Im so all over the place Claire I should make up my list from them though I do prefer a good paper book to the sreen, but because off that I have books on my iPad I have downloaded then have not read.
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Post by Claire on Jun 11, 2019 14:12:04 GMT 1
Trixie I'm sorry to hear you're going through a tough patch at the moment and hope the Challenge will help - I know it has helped me before when I've been going through hard times. Yes by all means add e-books. Still a while to get your full list in so no rush.
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Post by rallycairn on Jun 12, 2019 20:38:45 GMT 1
Rallycairn’s 2019 Summer Reading Challenge List
1. The Wilder Sisters, Jo-Ann Mapson (non-pony book featuring horses). 2-4. Three titles in the Morgan horse series by Ellen Feld: Frosty, Rusty, and Robin. 5. The Lost Birthday Present by Lee Wyndham (non-horse equine) 6. Snowfall by K.M. Peyton, writing under that name, but she also wrote as Kathleen Herald (author who wrote under different names) 7. Give and Hazard All (Fortune’s Fool #5) by Mary Pagones (modern book published 2018) 8. 9. Jonty and Irish Luck by Kate Lattey
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Post by trixiepony on Jun 15, 2019 12:02:41 GMT 1
sorry I have been slack off late, I have been having a hard time as after my dad had his operation he has been rather moody and gets me down a bit.So we are spending a lot off time at my brothers house. So he can help me cope.so fare I have decided on some new books I have just gotten. 1 Dream Riders Frankie by Laura Bloom and Jesse Blackadder 2019 2 KatWolfe Takes the Case by Lauren St John 2019 so both those are new books but this second one is a mystery with a horse in it, and the author has written pony books. 3 Stable Stereotypes Equestrian Eccentrics from Horse & Hound. 4 I Rode A Winner CPT. 5 The Prize Pony JPT 6 Horses At Home DPT I will try to think of a few others Im so felling at sea right now this will be a good destratshion for me. OK, I will add some more now 7 Crystals Solid Gold Discovery by Stephen and Janet Bly 8 Calling on Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede there is meant to be a flying enchanted donkey in it. 8 seems anuph as Im not getting to read much, if Im quietly reading that's when Dad gets all moody, Its understandable off corse he has all ways been on the move was never one to sit and read.
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Post by Claire on Jun 16, 2019 18:24:23 GMT 1
I hope you can manage to get some reading in Trixie, can't be an easy situation for you at the moment. I'm certainly intrigued by your book choice containing an enchanted flying donkey!
MURDER AT THE PONY SHOW BY DAVID PEARSON - Modern, not sure how much horse content as it's an adult crime novel.
JANE'S LONELY DONKEY BY JANE STEVENS (AKA STEPHEN MOGRIDGE) - Qualifies for both a non-horse equine and author writing under another name!
THE MR GALLIANO CIRCUS TRILOGY BY ENID BLYTON - Non pony book featuring a pony.
THE HORSE IS NEVER WRONG BY MARY PAGONES - Recommended.
TO FIND A GOLDEN PONY BY AMANDA GAVIN
PONY MADNESS BY RITA LYTTLE
DARK HORSE BY PATIENCE McELWEE
NUTMEG AT WESTWAYS BY CONSTANCE WHITE
TWENTIETH CENTURY GHOSTS BY JOE HILL - Non-pony
Susan - you talking about circus stories inspired me to read the Galliano circus series. I loved it as a child even though I actually hate circuses in real life! I'm quite interested in comparing my views of the books as a child to reading them almost forty years later!
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Post by trixiepony on Jun 17, 2019 10:51:19 GMT 1
well Let the fun begin, books up and go.
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Post by Claire on Jun 18, 2019 23:00:50 GMT 1
Hi all the Challenge is now up and running. As Trixie says...let the fun begin! If you haven't got your lists sorted yet don't worry, just post them some time in the next few days. I will be getting the dedicated web page up and running in the next couple of days, and if anyone joins after I've finished it I can just add you onto the bottom of the webpage. For those with completed lists, if you would like to make any changes can you please do so as soon as possible. I'd prefer not to make changes later on in the challenge as I feel it kind of defeats the purpose of the challenge in some ways. Adding a book or two is fine though. Please let us all know what you think of each book, don't forget to rate them with a smiley, frownie, neutral (or question mark if you are completely at a loss of how to rate any). Hope everyone enjoys the Challenge and reads some great books!
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Post by rallycairn on Jun 19, 2019 19:26:27 GMT 1
I'd like to add Emily of Deep Valley by Maud Hart Lovelace to my list, please! Gives me 10.
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Post by brumby on Jun 19, 2019 23:51:54 GMT 1
Sorry for the delay Claire, here is my list (which keeps growing)
1 Scratch - Sue Millard (recommended)
2. Brown sunshine of Sawdust valley - Marguerite Henry (noon pony equine)
3. The Mandrake - Kathleen Herald (author different name)
4. Skipper and the headland four - Judith M Berrisford (pony in non pony book)
5.Love and horses at Bracken - Gillian Baxter
As some of the above books are part of a series and I like to read things in order I have chosen some rereads etc, so I am reading in sequence.
6. Jump to the stars - Gillian Baxter
7. The difficult summer - Gillian Baxter
8. The perfect horse - Gillian Baxter
9. Horses and challenges at Bracken - Gillian Baxter
10. Skipper the dog from the sea - Judith M Berrisford
11. Against the odds - Sue Millard
12. Pony at Westways - Constance M White
13. Nutmeg comes to Westways - Constance M White
14. National Velvet - Enid Bagnold
Off to get started!
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Post by kunuma is here on Jun 20, 2019 13:57:46 GMT 1
Now I've scrolled down to post I can't remember the headings!! I will do
Ponies at Westways as I know I have it somewhere
CJ Cherryh Enemy at the Gate, Cloud's Rider for non ponybook with horse in
A Saddleclub book for author under a different name, as they were written by a multitude of folk¬
New One The Thirteenth Horse Wills
We met our cousins J Cannan
Summer on Wild Horse Island patchett
The Horse of My Heart (which I have a feeling might be stories)
A Pony for Free Broderick
plus I will see if I can find some freebie kindle ones
If I can have a totally non horse one, then I just got Planets for my birthday - from the TV show and the adorable Brian Cox of course.
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Post by kunuma is here on Jun 20, 2019 14:07:31 GMT 1
Dark Horse Angela Dorsey is a freebie one I just found
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Post by darkhorse on Jun 20, 2019 14:48:51 GMT 1
Hi Claire sorry I'm a bit late with my list. I've decided to keep it short to make sure I complete it.
Recommended book: The Ponies at Westways by Constance M. White Modern book (also recommneded): The Horse is Never Wrong by Mary Pagones Donkey story (also recommended): The Donkey Smugglers by Gerald Durrell Ponies in a non pony book: Five on Mystery Moor by Enid Blyton Author who writes under a different name: Rebel Pony by Patricia Leitch (she also writes as Jane Eliot)
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Post by Claire on Jun 20, 2019 22:42:04 GMT 1
Thanks for all the lists/updates and additions. Have now set up the web page for us all so we can start adding smilies, etc. As usual can everyone check their list on the web page and make sure I have everything correct (it will be a miracle if I haven't made some mistake somewhere haha). Garej, I left a couple of blank spaces as you usually add a book or two later on - if you don't want to add any more I'll delete them. Link to the web page below and also on the opening post of this thread. summerreadingchallenge.ponymadbooklovers.co.uk/
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Post by tintin on Jun 21, 2019 13:02:25 GMT 1
Hello Claire - Many Thanks for organising this - I think Hounds of Heaven I would class as Pony - Household Cavalry then hunting in Eastern Europe
Could I have a big smiley face for "American Girl Book of Horse Stories" - such beautiful horses and such beautiful young ladies (and exciting too - one lassooes a bear!) and such charming stories tole with verve, style and economy (one author has made an exciting and moving story basically about boxing a horse). Only a couple of false notes, all the heroines are highly appealing except the one in "Palomino Cupid" who is on the edges of stalkerish behaviour, and I'm not sure one author has a great idea of what a side saddle is like. Interesting to see quite a bit from a Spanish-American background.
On an odd note my book arrived with the bar code across the horses eyes like one of those old photos of prisoners in "Picture Post" fortunately I have been able to gently un mask him with no damage
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Post by Claire on Jun 22, 2019 18:47:30 GMT 1
I'll change that for you and add your smiley Tintin. I like short stories (and US horse stories) so I may give that book a go myself at some point in the future.
Well a conflicted question mark for my first book (and the only book on my list with no equine content at all), Twentieth Century Ghosts by Joe Hill. Firstly a bit of a disappointment as most of these weren't, as the title suggested, actually ghost stories, but mainly because some were just too weird to finish. Now I don't mind weird but this was weirdness off the chart. And some were pretty gruesome too - if you think his father is gruesome (his dad is Stephen King) he has nothing on the son! On the other hand some of the stories I read I really enjoyed and he is technically a very good writer.
I'm also about half way through The Horse is Never Wrong, more on that when I finish. There seems to be a few of us reading that one so it will be interesting to compare notes.
Just to add, could everyone please highlight the books they are rating either in bold, capitals or another colour as this really helps me when I'm looking over a few posts to find them all, and makes it less likely I'll miss any out.
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Post by trixiepony on Jun 23, 2019 9:21:55 GMT 1
Thanks Claire I just cheeked and you got my list right. I will have to start reading soon Im back and forth to my dad in hospital.
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Post by tintin on Jun 24, 2019 13:52:20 GMT 1
Please could I have smiley faces for:-
The Penguin Lessons
and
The Boy Who Came to Stay
Both books which do not shy away from the harsher side of life. The Penguin lessons is a book of great charm and positivity
I think this year's selection is going to give me more than enough of the darker side of life, "Hounds of Heaven" has started off with a typical Jugoslav atrocity
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Post by rallycairn on Jun 24, 2019 20:33:06 GMT 1
Strong out of the gate as usual -- will likely fade on the first turn, though, as I am very busy this week:
SMILEY please for THE WILDER SISTERS and SNOWFALL.
NEUTRAL please for FROSTY.
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Post by trixiepony on Jun 26, 2019 10:52:11 GMT 1
I'm abut harf way trew my first book Dream Riders Frankie really enjoying it.
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Post by garej on Jun 26, 2019 12:46:24 GMT 1
I have started my first book: A Stallion Called Midnight. Not got very far but it's good so far.
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