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Post by Claire on Oct 30, 2021 19:57:55 GMT 1
Hi all, this Autumn a special treat for us. The 'new' Caroline Akrill book! The story follows on from where the 'Showing' series left off. It actually first appeared in instalments in Pony Magazine but has for the first time been collected into novel form. Please note at the moment this is only available as an e-book. If you aren't familiar with e-books they can be read on phones, laptops and PCs as well as kindles and tablets, so you should be able to read this no matter what device you are on. Here is a link to where you can purchase the e-book.
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Post by susanb on Nov 2, 2021 15:48:17 GMT 1
Iβve got it downloaded now! Any idea when discussion will start? In the middle of a Mabel Esther Allan book at the moment π
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Post by susanb on Nov 2, 2021 22:10:28 GMT 1
Heads up, I just saw a post from Jane Badger on this book, it will be available in paperback in the next few weeks, for those who donβt do ebooks!
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Post by darkhorse on Nov 3, 2021 11:39:04 GMT 1
I've downloaded it and will start today.
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Post by Claire on Nov 3, 2021 20:32:24 GMT 1
Shall we say discussion in about 2 weeks time, although if anyone wants to chip in before that, no problem, just add a spoiler alert. Great news that it's also available shortly in paperback. For those who don't like the idea of e-books please feel free to add your comments at a later date as I will leave the thread open and running. Unfotunately I am having trouble getting into my amazon account to purchase the book as I have log in issues due to the fact I now have a Spanish phone number. Life was so easy before OTP codes...
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Post by haffyfan on Nov 18, 2021 23:30:17 GMT 1
I've actually already read this, first time for everything π , I'll wait to comment until everyone else has read it.
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Post by Claire on Nov 19, 2021 19:02:56 GMT 1
I've actually already read this, first time for everything π , I'll wait to comment until everyone else has read it. Was just gonna ask if anyone has read it! I'm part of the way through. Took me a while to get it due to logging in problems on Amazon. Should be finished in a day or two. You can comment whenever you like haffy - you could vote now if you prefer to wait on commenting?
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Post by susanb on Nov 20, 2021 3:47:04 GMT 1
I finished too π
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Post by haffyfan on Nov 20, 2021 20:17:42 GMT 1
Okay, sorry if there are any spoilers for anyone. Couldn't remember if there was a spoiler banner on here or not and can't obviously see one. It's no secret that huge chunks of this were reused in Ticket to Ride, although I still enjoyed reading it in it's original intended format; I did however keep thinking she had accidentally got the character names wrong, as so many of them are instantly recognisable (well they are if you have read the Eventers trilogy as many times as i have over the last 30 or so years!) I love the humour in her books and the realism of it all, sometimes it's just blatantly obvious an Author has only researched the book or only has limited experiences whereas Caroline pours her wealth of equestrian knowledge and experience into all her books. The shrinking of the Jodhpurs and subsequent burying in the muckheap being a classic example of her humour, although i cannot think of the character being anyone but Selina. Infact none of the supporting cast names have etched themselves in my memory because they were already Viv, Mandy, Ann-marie... If i'm brutally honest I don't feel i've read a new book, and although it does tie up the showing series, I would need to read several more times i think, to actually begin to separate it from Ticket To Ride. That being said I will be buying the paperback version, it's just a shame there is no market for a nice hardback with illustrated dust wrapper to try and match the other copies! Let's just be thankful it found the light of day, and that the final instalment of the Eventers trilogy is finally finished and will hopefully be out next year I also really enjoyed all the extra bits, as i do with all Jane's books, it just adds a really nice touch to them.
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Post by haffyfan on Nov 20, 2021 20:19:35 GMT 1
I was torn between 4 and 5 on the rating, I would have given Ticket to Ride Outstanding, so went with 5 as it's not as good, even if it did nicely lend itself to set that one up.
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Post by darkhorse on Nov 22, 2021 21:00:50 GMT 1
I didn't actually know it was re-framed as Ticket to Ride. So although I enjoyed it, I was a bit disappointed as it was just too like Ticket to Ride but with Caroline instead of Elaine. I voted 3 because of this. I think it was a little bit sneaky to put this out as a 'new' story so a bit of a thumbs down to the publishing company who in my opinion should have explained this more clearly.
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Post by Claire on Nov 23, 2021 21:30:57 GMT 1
I did notice that on the blurb it said something about some content being used in Ticket to Ride but it was easy to miss. There was quite a bit more than I expected which was re-used in Ticket, including, as Haffy says, the characters. So I do get yout point Darkhorse. I did vote it down a little too, but from 5 to 4 horseshoes, because of this. I also thougt it was quite short - perhaps some padding out and changes would have been a good idea. The ending was of course different from Ticket and tied up the series nicely. For anyone who hasn't read the Eventing trilogy, it is an excellent and very funny read. The extra articles were also a bonus. I did suspect that the Showing trilogy was quite autobiographical and the author seems to confirm it in her article.
What did you think of it Susan?
NB - In case anyone hasn't heard, a fourth instalment of the Eventing trilogy is on the way. Check out the Ponymad Facebook page for more info.
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Post by susanb on Nov 30, 2021 18:52:53 GMT 1
I really enjoyed it, and didn't mind the overlap between books....barely noticed it actually. I think because I read Ticket to Ride as an adult, and only twice. I think it would be different if it was a favorite book from childhood, read too many times to count and essentially memorized (I have a few of those ), or if you read them back to back. I loved the humor (the britches in the wash!), and it was fun seeing Caroline launch her writing career! I'm planning to pick up a paperback when they come out, to complete my set. The post scripts were really nice too, I liked hearing more about the real Porlock Vale.....Jane mentioned The Horsemasters by Don Stanford a couple of times, I wonder if she's pursuing re-printing it? That would be awesome! I have a copy, but it would be great to have a new addition out there for those that don't want to pay a fortune for a book. I didn't realize there was a forth Eventing book coming, that's great news! Of all the series, that was my favorite of hers
A correction...paperback is out now in the US (it wasn't when I last checked) and my copy is on order!
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Post by Claire on Dec 2, 2021 14:44:05 GMT 1
I have read the Eventing trilogy quite a lot so at times it was hard to see this one as a separate story and maintain belief in the character and her world. In a way it's a pity that Caroline didn't make up new characters for Ticket to Ride but I suppose she never envisioned that many years in the future this would be published as a book!
I'm really looking forward to the fourth instalment in the Eventing series (can't call it a trilogy any longer!) If I hear anything about dates I'll let folk know - or if anyone else hears anything first please inform us!
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odonna
Pony Clubber
PASSED PMBL 'C' TEST
Posts: 119
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Post by odonna on Dec 2, 2021 16:32:31 GMT 1
I haven't been on here for ages, sorry! I got this free as it was on the kindle unlimited deal. I did enjoy it a lot. I have only read Ticket to Ride the once so all I had was a vague sense of deja vu at times. Great to hear that there will be a sequel to The Eventing Trilogy.
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Post by Claire on Dec 4, 2021 17:22:38 GMT 1
Hi Odonna hope you're keeping OK!
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Post by tintin on Jan 10, 2022 10:30:55 GMT 1
It is now nearer 30 than 20 years since I read the Eventing Trilogy - so I can't really remember the characters, which has probably meant my impressions of this book are different
I thought it was brilliant and bowls along, read it last night in one sitting, great stuff. AND it is SO real. You go YES that is what it was like, that it is exactly what it was like
Though nothing like so exalted I had to ride a horrible grey horse who would n't behave and like the author I was pulled out to the centre to discipline the horse and like the author I was reluctant to do so. Unlike the author it made not a blind bit of difference, well none to the better. The Instructress was a beautiful upper class lady who looked at me like I was the most useless object in humanity. I had to sit in the middle until it was all finished and then have the "interview without coffee". I also remember being told, kindly this time, "you'll only ever be happy with a proper lady, don't go out with someone with nails, no real horsewoman has nails"
Also when you read the bit at the end explaining the background it is like a who's who of serious horse people
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