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Post by rallycairn on Aug 27, 2019 1:25:39 GMT 1
RUSTY by Ellen Feld squeaks out a SMILEY.
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Post by rallycairn on Aug 27, 2019 6:22:23 GMT 1
And a SMILEY without reservation for ROBIN by Ellen Feld,
a big improvement over all previous titles in the series with better character development, good pacing, and nice new characters added to the series, as well. Good enough to read in one evening! right after I finally finished Rusty.
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Post by tintin on Aug 27, 2019 16:23:59 GMT 1
Please can I have a smiley for:-
The Edge by Dick Francis
A great read with fantastic descriptions of Canada. The descriptive writing is so good it is like watching a film. Original and suspenseful plot - humane attitudes. More of a detective story and more of a railway story than a horse story. Good job I like trains and crime stories.Never read Dick Francis before, but if this is the standard...
Book was my Dad's and he has stacked up all his favourite companion volumes to read "when I have a minute.
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Post by rallycairn on Aug 27, 2019 17:09:18 GMT 1
Please can I have a smiley for:- The Edge by Dick FrancisA great read with fantastic descriptions of Canada. The descriptive writing is so good it is like watching a film. Original and suspenseful plot - humane attitudes. More of a detective story and more of a railway story than a horse story. Good job I like trains and crime stories.Never read Dick Francis before, but if this is the standard... Book was my Dad's and he has stacked up all his favourite companion volumes to read "when I have a minute. tintin, I'd say that's pretty typical of Francis -- it's a great one! And frankly most of his are imo. I love the way the Francis heroes are so, well, heroic! - but in a very contemporary way. I do squirm a bit that there's usually at least one good beating that the hero has to take per book. But otherwise, they all have flaws but face situations in which they have to rise above, and they do!
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Post by susanb on Aug 27, 2019 17:32:56 GMT 1
Ooooo, tintin,....lucky you, you have so much more good reading in store! I especially love his early books, which I discovered as a teen....my library had 'em all Perfect timing too, fall and winter are great times to curl up with a good mystery!
Claire, can I get a conflicted for Dapples? The intro was crap (I know, an intro, who cares, right? But in it Scots were called "Scotch" and it was implied that they neglected their Shetland ponies), toss in a bit of casual racisim and a good bit of callus disregard for life and you've got a pile of negatives. The positive was the detail on circus life, which was very good.
And that's it for me! I can't believe I finished. All in all, I really enjoyed my summer at the circus, and my star read was Sawdust in His Shoes by Eloise Jarvis McGraw, which I highly recommend to everyone....it's actually in print again at the moment, in paperback and as an ebook. Full disclosure, I liked it so much, I went and bought a vintage hardcover/dj edition
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Post by Claire on Aug 27, 2019 21:24:42 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. That's really interesting Ginslinger. Do let us know more when you've read it. I've started once more on Miss Pym Proposes and I just want to shout get on with the story already! I am quite a few chapters in and it's still all background. None of Josephine Tey's books are exactly fast-paced but they gallop along compared to this one! If something doesn't happen soon I'm going to give up on it.
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Post by ginslinger on Aug 28, 2019 0:47:24 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. That's really interesting Susan. Do let us know more when you've read it. I've started once more on Miss Pym Proposes and I just want to shout get on with the story already! I am quite a few chapters in and it's still all background. None of Josephine Tey's books are exactly fast-paced but they gallop along compared to this one! If something doesn't happen soon I'm going to give up on it. Will do. I liked the humour enough to persist but it does take its time - instead of in a conventional mystery where the event happens and you get everything related in interviews with the police and so forth here you see the run up so it is a slow burn. But you can play detective! But I canβt say you will have missed out on her masterpiece if you donβt finish it.
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Post by trixiepony on Aug 28, 2019 11:20:32 GMT 1
In joying the book so fare, I got to the end off the first part Horses at Home and I stared to like Nick and Clare, It was a nice ending with there aunty Gay coming to stay after her operation for the summer and giving the kids lessons. I have only started Friend must part, and finding it fun even the all most making up then not back and forth.
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Post by rallycairn on Aug 28, 2019 19:28:16 GMT 1
SMILEY please for GIVE AND HAZARD ALL -- A great book, as always from Pagones, and some real fleshing out of a major character who hasn't gotten that kind of focus in the series before.
And that finishes me for the Challenge. Close tie among Irish Luck, Give and Hazard All, and Emily of Deep Valley for Star read. For good characters, great setting, wonderful horses, and pure fun reading (perfect for summer), the final nod goes to
STAR READ is IRISH LUCK by Kate Lattey.
Thanks for another fun challenge summer, Claire and everyone!
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Post by Claire on Aug 28, 2019 23:09:09 GMT 1
Thanks Rally, glad you enjoyed it and well done!
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Post by darkhorse on Aug 29, 2019 19:48:17 GMT 1
Smiley please for Ponies at Westways Not a bad read considering it was in some ways a school story. I didn't realise there was a sequel until this year's challenge.
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Post by Claire on Aug 29, 2019 22:49:37 GMT 1
Well done to all who have finished. Looks like I'll be plodding in right at the end again. Tintin - I echo Susan, lucky you having all those Dick Francis books to look forward to. My personal favs are the Sid Halley series (Whip Hand, etc) but most are excellent. The only thing that slightly annoys me about them is that many of them have a rather dull and pointless romance in them, not all by any means, a few feature very interesting and thought provoking relationships (such as Sid Halley and his ex-wife, and the heartache of another character in love with his friend's wife). But a lot of the romances feel like they've been shoe-horned in as if to keep a female readership happy! Ginslinger - glad I'm not the only one who loathes Anne from that series. Although I quite like some of the stories she is probably the most irritating heroine in any pony book series!
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Post by trixiepony on Aug 30, 2019 7:02:42 GMT 1
The last one Horses at Home gets a Smiley from me Claire, I have the Armada copy Horses at Home and Friends must Part in the same book. Im not shore what to pick for my star read, mmm Dream Riders Frankie was a cute modern read, Calling on Dragons, fun but I think I preferred the first two books in that set. Kat Wolf Takes the case, I do like a mystery but there just wasn't very much horses in it for me. I Rode a Winner and Prize Pony where both book from my past and I really enjoyed them, I think I will pick Prize Pony as my star read please Claire, I enjoyed all my reading this year Crystals Sold Gold Discovery was fun but its book two off a six book sets its still setting up the mystery at this point, and Stable Sterotypes was cute.
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Post by garej on Aug 30, 2019 12:02:59 GMT 1
Apologies for not posting before. I lost my 18 year old cat in June and haven't been up to the challenge.
Anyway I have finished A STALLION CALLED MIDNIGHT and would award it a SMILEY. Bittersweet twist at the end. It reminded me of the ending of I Rode A Winner (CPT).
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Post by rallycairn on Aug 30, 2019 20:58:53 GMT 1
garej, I am so sorry you lost your beloved kitty.
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Post by garej on Aug 31, 2019 13:21:11 GMT 1
Thanks rallycairn. She had a good life however. I have started Rivals to Silver Eagle. I dont feel like reading Full Steam Ahead Felix because I dont feel like reading about cats. So I may have to substitute that book.
We have a programme here called The Supervet and I have yet to watch the last series due to it being about poorly pets. I know I would just be an emotional wreck.
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Post by Claire on Sept 1, 2019 23:11:30 GMT 1
I was so sorry to hear your sad news Garej. I'm not surprised you haven't been up to the challenge or able to read anything cat related. I was a total wreck after losing my beloved Rosie, couldn't even look at a cat for over a year without breaking down so I know how you feel. I hope reading will take your mind off things a little. Just let me know if you want to add a substitute book, or if you just want to do the others it's no problem.
Trixie well done on finishing the challenge, glad you enjoyed your picks.
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Post by garej on Sept 2, 2019 0:17:25 GMT 1
Thanks Claire. I think that I will stick to my original list (bar Full Steam Ahead Felix) as it's not long until the end.
Just an note on the rosette front there may be a delay in getting everyone's out as I haven't been getting to town as much as I used to. But everyone will get their rosettes eventually. Although there's a post office in the next village I dont like going there due to personal reasons. Also unlike last year everyone will get an horsey notecard. I just thought that I would pre warn everyone. I will do my best to keep the delay to a minimum however. I just don't want irate PM/posts because I might take an month (or more!) to send them out. Hopefully it wont take that long but all I am asking for is a little patience.
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Post by trixiepony on Sept 2, 2019 11:22:21 GMT 1
Yes thank you Claire there where some lovely book in there.
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Post by tintin on Sept 2, 2019 13:21:14 GMT 1
Very big smiley for:-
Operation Sippacek
I have now read all my books :-)
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Post by Claire on Sept 3, 2019 22:04:59 GMT 1
Very big smiley for:- Operation SippacekI have now read all my books :-) Well done on completing the challenge Tintin. What's the book about? I do like Rumer Godden so I might look for a copy. Garej, thanks so much on behalf of us all for arranging the rosettes. I'm sure nobody on here would be impatient. It will be something to look forward to when things have got a bit flat post-challenge!
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Post by tintin on Sept 6, 2019 16:16:52 GMT 1
"Operation Sippacek" is a delightful little book with beautiful illustrations. However, it is almost impossible to describe without actually telling the story. It is set during the Cyprus Emergency of 1964 and was first published in 1966. It is about a young boy and his donkey who help the British forces and save his wounded father, but it is so much more than that it is an evocative depiction of Cypriot and Army life with realistic characters and it makes you smile. Despite the synopsis it is not a blood and thunder adventure, but instead a very kindly homely story, but genuinely suspenseful
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Post by Claire on Sept 6, 2019 22:54:10 GMT 1
"Operation Sippacek" is a delightful little book with beautiful illustrations. However, it is almost impossible to describe without actually telling the story. It is set during the Cyprus Emergency of 1964 and was first published in 1966. It is about a young boy and his donkey who help the British forces and save his wounded father, but it is so much more than that it is an evocative depiction of Cypriot and Army life with realistic characters and it makes you smile. Despite the synopsis it is not a blood and thunder adventure, but instead a very kindly homely story, but genuinely suspenseful Thanks Tintin. It sounds lovely and I like donkey stories too. Definitely one for the hit list!
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Post by Claire on Sept 6, 2019 23:05:20 GMT 1
Well I finally admitted defeat and gave up on Miss Pym - so that's a frowny. I may go back to it again at some point but it was clogging up the challenge.
Anyhow I returned to the Enid Blyton circus trilogy and am awarding that a smiley. Some of the Blyton stories don't stand up to re-reading as an adult but surprisingly, over 30 years since I loved this series as a child, I did still enjoy the books. Rather oddly, as I am not a fan of circuses and certainly not using animals in them! But to Blyton's credit, throughout the books she emphasises that the animals are trained with love and never hurt or frightened - except by the 'baddies' who always get their come-uppance! The bond between human and animal is highlighted a lot in the series. There are some pretty improbable moments such as when our hero Jimmy, (who has a 'special way with animals') gets into a cage with pretty angry tigers and calms them. Or when his parents suddenly up sticks, leave their house and join the circus a day after his father is offered a job as a carpenter there. But this is looking at the book from an adult perspective. There was some horse content but you can tell the author wasn't knowledgeable about horses, though she had obviously had cats and dogs and other pets. All in all a good series for animal loving children and does teach them to love and respect animals.
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Post by Claire on Sept 11, 2019 14:20:17 GMT 1
Really enjoying Pony Madness by Rita Lyttle. Should get the challenge completed on time if I can get hold of the last book.
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Post by haffyfan on Sept 14, 2019 20:42:52 GMT 1
Finally started my last one Fools Gold, so far it's okay, probably more about the main characters, Jake and Rich, relationship than the horse backdrop it's set against but hopefully that may change as the Olympics is the ultimate goal. Will admit to skipping the adult content in this one though, perhaps not entirely the 'eventing' themed book i first assumed!
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Post by Claire on Sept 15, 2019 22:56:26 GMT 1
'Adult content' in a pony book.....disgraceful! Finished Pony Madness by Rita Lyttle and I have to say it is a 'hidden gem' of a pony book. I's really recommend it. THough it was written in the late 1980s it is a good old fashioned pony story - but at the same time manages to avoid certain cliches. The main character is very relatable and it has quite a lot of depth in that issues such as depression are touched upon - but without being too downbeat or obtrusive. There's even some discussions of Buddhist values/reincarnation! The writing is very good too. Definitely a candidate for my star read.
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Post by haffyfan on Sept 17, 2019 16:06:43 GMT 1
I read pony madness years ago I think, recall it being much better than I had expected!
Smiley for fools gold please, it's more about relationships than eventing but considering a couple of chapters in i thought I'd picked some gay porn, it pulled itself around. There was another skipped section later on though!
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Post by darkhorse on Sept 22, 2019 13:01:17 GMT 1
A neutral for Five at Mystery Moor please. It's an OK mystery but the characters are much more irritating than I remember them being as a child. The illustrations of the horses are the best thing about the book.
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Post by ginslinger on Sept 22, 2019 14:55:08 GMT 1
I hope to finish soon since havea few days off but just thought I would mention that I know Tim Mooreβs wife a little from another forum and I am glad to report that the donkey was hale and hearty when last visited at his home in France by one of her family. Bit of a relief.
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