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Post by rallycairn on Aug 2, 2019 20:18:47 GMT 1
I've read all the Simon focused books, Susan, except the last one, which is on my challenge list, and I'm saving it for last. They are all excellent imo.
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Post by Claire on Aug 3, 2019 0:24:30 GMT 1
Hi all, update your web page today so can everyone check I haven't missed anything out. Well done to Kunuma for winning the first cup!
I'm having a break from Galliano Circus before the last book in the trilogy and going to start on Miss Pym...
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Post by haffyfan on Aug 3, 2019 11:13:53 GMT 1
Unless my browser is pulling up old data it doesn't look you updated mine Claire? I'll clear everything in a bit and have another look later x
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Post by rallycairn on Aug 4, 2019 6:50:30 GMT 1
Every year I'm struck by books others are reading and commenting on. Would the group be interested in having a WINTER reading challenge in, say, January, in which each of us picks just one book from someone else's Summer Reading Challenge list and reads it? Or one unread book from their own list if they didn't quite finish the challenge, if they prefer?
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Post by Claire on Aug 4, 2019 18:31:15 GMT 1
Haffy I double checked and I defo updated the page and there were no technical probs. I have you down as completing 4 books. If you are still not seeing all your completed books maybe I’ve missed one or two of yours out - if so let me know.
Rally - great minds think alike lol, I have mulled over doing a winter version but thought it would have to be on a much smaller scale as there’s quite a lot of work involved in it. Your idea certainly fits the bill and it would add some interest to a pretty boring month.
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Post by haffyfan on Aug 4, 2019 20:15:35 GMT 1
Haffy I double checked and I defo updated the page and there were no technical probs. I have you down as completing 4 books. If you are still not seeing all your completed books maybe I’ve missed one or two of yours out - if so let me know. I see it now, think it was a browser issue, it lets me log in currently so i'll forgive it! There is one missing, but to be fair i didn't bold the text so it's not surprising. Can i have a sad for MY Lucky day reason why is on second page i think and a big smiley for Chances The latter was really good, a bit spoilt by lack of a good proof reader and a few typos/grammatical errors, like the use of style instead of stile throughout but overall a really decent modern read! It's free on kindle unlimited too. Just reading The Road to the Regalia currently, i read the first one some time ago now and it's a horse/human switching book but was very well done so hopefully this one will be too. I'm not sure why but i'm putting Darius off, maybe scared it will be a let down since it was so hard previously to track down?!
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Post by susanb on Aug 6, 2019 11:16:08 GMT 1
Winter reading challenge sounds good to me....something to look forward to after the rush of Christmas is over It would be fun to pick from others "Star" reads!
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Post by brumby on Aug 7, 2019 7:37:21 GMT 1
I would love to do a Winter reading challenge, I usually end up buying more books after the Summer reading challenge based on people's recommendations.
Smiley for Horses and challenges at Bracken Hoping Gillian Baxter writes another Bracken book.
Have started reading National Velvet, interesting first 20 pages seemed to be dedicated to getting to know the family through their eating habits!! Not quite my cup of tea as Mr Brown is a butcher and the slaughter house is next to the kitchen!!!!!
Am getting to the horsey part now...
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Post by haffyfan on Aug 8, 2019 14:40:20 GMT 1
I love International Velvet but was never keen on National velvet, i don't think i've actually ever read the book! Can i have a smiley for Road To The Regalia Please. Bit samey to initial book but the switch as before is nicely done, the ending suggest another book maybe. And at least the author clearly knows her subject after bareback. Read the first few pages of The Horse is Never Wrong, interesting to see the Heathers reference, love that film but hardly anyone else ever seems to have heard of it! It's much better to be a veronica imo
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Post by Claire on Aug 9, 2019 20:00:37 GMT 1
Started Miss Pym Proposes but it hasn’t struck me so far. But it’s early days yet.
Haffy I quite like Darius. I think the later ones in the series are actually the best. I also get the Heathers reference so you’re not the only one lol.
I actually enjoyed both National and International Velvet though they are very different reads.
I’m away for a few days will update web page when I return.
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Post by brumby on Aug 11, 2019 7:56:22 GMT 1
I have finished National Velvet and it will scrape in with a Smiley but only just was very close to a neutral. There were some great parts but also lots of dull parts which seemed irrelevant to the story. Possibly my favourite part was when the reporter tried to interview Donald it was hilarious. So thats the challenge finished for me, my Star read is Jump to the StarsLove the idea of a Winter reading challenge, looking forward to it all ready
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Post by haffyfan on Aug 11, 2019 13:21:06 GMT 1
Can i have a smiley for The Horse Is Never Wrong, really good read, i've had fortunes Fool for ages (Freebie) and never read it but feeling inspired now! 2 more challenge books to go first...
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Post by susanb on Aug 11, 2019 17:57:40 GMT 1
smiley, please for High Stepper. It just scrapes in...a bit uneven, and bits are dated, but overall boy and his horse make good. It's so funny that National Velvet doesn't seem to be a huge hit among UK readers....it's one of my favorites from childhood, I've got an American first and the tatty paperback of my youth, one of the few books I've kept more than one edition (which says a lot, as shelf space is at a premium these days )
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Post by brumby on Aug 12, 2019 0:00:10 GMT 1
susan wrote I really wanted to love National Velvet, loved the television series when I was a kid and loved the film. Not only UK readers I'm an aussie I think I will watch the film now and possibly think about reading International Velvet.
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Post by trixiepony on Aug 12, 2019 11:09:51 GMT 1
I am about 1/4th though The prize pony and loving the walk though memory lane, this book is one I borrowed lots off times form my local Librey, and now I have my own copy.
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Post by trixiepony on Aug 15, 2019 7:15:50 GMT 1
A smily Face for The Prize Pony please Claire Its my favourite so fare.
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Post by darkhorse on Aug 16, 2019 19:32:17 GMT 1
Claire, can I also have a smiley for The Horse is Never Wrong. Quite different from the usual teenage horse story which was what I expected.
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Post by haffyfan on Aug 16, 2019 20:45:06 GMT 1
Just reading Gay Darius - so pleased i never spent a small fortune on it so far! My one attempt to buy it ended up with it 'lost' and then relisted (at a vastly inflated price) a short while later, clearly they realised their mistake.
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Post by Claire on Aug 17, 2019 19:01:01 GMT 1
Just reading Gay Darius - so pleased i never spent a small fortune on it so far! My one attempt to buy it ended up with it 'lost' and then relisted (at a vastly inflated price) a short while later, clearly they realised their mistake. I've had that happen to me a few times too and it's very annoying! I'm hitting 'the wall' with the challenge. Distracted by re-reading the Grant county crime series by Karin Slaughter. Keep picking up Miss Pym Disposes but though I find it well written and witty and humourous, it is very slow and doesn't hold my attention for more than a few pages at a time. Have now updated the web page - as usual please can everyone check I haven't missed anything out. Well done to Brumby for winning the trophy for finishing the challenge and to everyone else who has rosettes.
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Post by trixiepony on Aug 18, 2019 10:24:13 GMT 1
Prize Pony was meant to have a smily, Im doing better than I thought a would, things are not easy here, but at lest I have here as a escape , thank you Pumbles.
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Post by rallycairn on Aug 19, 2019 20:40:00 GMT 1
Just reading Gay Darius - so pleased i never spent a small fortune on it so far! My one attempt to buy it ended up with it 'lost' and then relisted (at a vastly inflated price) a short while later, clearly they realised their mistake. I've had that happen to me a few times too and it's very annoying! I'm hitting 'the wall' with the challenge. Distracted by re-reading the Grant county crime series by Karin Slaughter. Keep picking up Miss Pym Disposes but though I find it well written and witty and humourous, it is very slow and doesn't hold my attention for more than a few pages at a time. I've veered off, as well -- reading a lot but not any of the books on my list -- rats! But I'll get back into it, I only have 2 1/2 books to go.
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Post by haffyfan on Aug 20, 2019 20:29:01 GMT 1
Darius gets a smiley just, it wasn't dire to be fair, just not really my cup of tea, i don't need the 'adventure' element(for want of a better description right now without posting a spoiler). To be fair i haven't read any of the others so no background or affection for the characters, the ones i did own were all 'cashed in' against vets bills as they never appealed enough to me to actually read and they were worth a fair bit.
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Post by trixiepony on Aug 22, 2019 10:42:39 GMT 1
Loving Crystals Milltown Adventure It wouldn't be every ones cup off tea, as it duse have a Christian thread. but Im enjoy it.
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Post by trixiepony on Aug 24, 2019 8:57:06 GMT 1
Crystals sold gold discovery gets a smiley face it was good fun.
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Post by trixiepony on Aug 24, 2019 8:57:45 GMT 1
Just one more for me I think.
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Post by ginslinger on Aug 25, 2019 15:21:05 GMT 1
I didn’t particularly like Darius either. It made me realise how skilful J PT was at weaving her instruction into the plot rather than breaking off into public info points. And I found the heroine really annoying. We were always being told how marvellous she was but on the other hand she had to be protected from what was happening with the beloved horse she hadn’t bothered to check for weeks, despite the alleged special bond. Also, and this may be a reflection of the time it was written but it was the husband who was in financial control. Final straw was when they casually mentioned she was a martial arts black belt ... I muttered “ of course she is” and would have hurled the book across the room had it not been on my kindle.
I have found my last book but I find non fiction slower going usually so may be a while. I have read a few other things to in mean while, Janet must ride, the s3cond Cate Bryant Cornwall book which started better and ended worse and Tintin’s Hounds of Hell which was quite racy. I also read The man in Ratcatcherby Cyri Sapper McNeile. I read another Josephine Tey which was excellent nd a bit faster moving than Miss Pym called aShilling for candles so I haven’t been idle!
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Post by susanb on Aug 25, 2019 20:05:14 GMT 1
Can I get a frowny for Ice on the Lawn? Too little skating, too little ponies, too much snotty cousin
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Post by trixiepony on Aug 26, 2019 10:54:35 GMT 1
Reading Horses at Home its a cute story but some how Im not tacking to Nicholas or Clare, but I do like the second story in this book Friends Must Part, so looking forward to that one. Than I do believe Im all dune Claire. yay happy dance.
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Post by Claire on Aug 26, 2019 19:45:13 GMT 1
Still a bit stuck on mine!
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Post by ginslinger on Aug 27, 2019 0:45:04 GMT 1
I have started An uncertain voyage properly having dipped in before, and am 50 pages in but another 400 to go! More readable than I feared. It is the autobiography of a judge and writer who overcame terrible disabilities resulting from wartime head injuries and was in a relationship with Josephine Pullein-Thompson for the last stage of his life. From what I have seen he may have been an influence on her portrayal of David Lumley in the Woodbury Series.
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