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Post by Claire on Jun 27, 2023 16:38:45 GMT 1
Oh dear my eyes aren't good enough for that little pic, but I was intrigued so looked up the book on Abebooks and found a larger image. She does look a very graceful and lady-like corpse!
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Post by garej on Jun 27, 2023 22:19:00 GMT 1
Interesting what you say about A Home for Jessie. Although I own every single non pony PT book I actually haven't read that many non pony. Sounds like I was pretty safe going for Dog in a Pram. One day I have to read it as I will eventually get around to it in my PT blog.
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Post by Claire on Jul 1, 2023 16:07:26 GMT 1
Finished Swiftly by Michael Maguire. Big smilie. Although I'm not normally a huge fan of adventure/foiling criminal type plots, this one was out of the ordinary in that it had a slight fantasy/magical element, and also a lot of animal rescue content, both of which I really enjoyed. There was also that rare character in children's literature - a gypsy/traveller who was not a villain. In fact it was one of the best elements of the story because there was quite a bit about Ireland, its custom and legends and magic, such as leprechauns and the like. The book also had a lot of heart and soul, with a few 'lump in the throat' moments. Great dog character in the Greyhound Degsy, funny villains who reminded me of the pair in the Disney version of 101 Dalmations, and sympathetic human characters. It does also have horse content, though I would say it is more of a general animal/dog story than pony story. Would highly recommend. Happily there is also a sequel which I am going to track down pronto.
Now onto a short one which shouldn't take long - Andy's Pit Pony by Leila Berg.
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Post by haffyfan on Jul 1, 2023 20:45:40 GMT 1
Can I have smileys for Pony Club Cup and I'd Rather Not Gallop please.
Have loved both of these from childhood, so it was a given really. I have a always loved the instructional quality of Josephine's books and the great characters and classic instruction/competition plots make this trilogy in particular, more timeless than the West Barsetshire books. Caroline's books are always fun, quirky characters and escapades a plenty, this one has always been my favourite of the showing books.
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Post by Claire on Jul 4, 2023 22:32:07 GMT 1
Thanks Haffy. Yes I also love the books, in particular I'd Rather Not Gallop. I was going to do that as my side saddle choice but then decided to try something new.
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Post by darkhorse on Jul 7, 2023 20:01:57 GMT 1
Thank for letting me start late. My selections are:
AN OLD FAVOURITE WHICH HAS BEEN RECENTLY REPUBLISHED - Janet Must Ride
A BOOK FEATURING SIDESADDLE I'd Rather Not Gallop by Caroline Akrill
A DOG BOOK BY A PONY BOOK AUTHOR Skipper by Judith M. Berrisford
A BOOK BY A PONY AUTHOR WHO WAS/IS ALSO A CELEBRITY RIDER/ALSO AS A 'GROUP READ' WITHIN THE CHALLENGE - Three Jays go to Town by Pat Smythe
Also The Pony Plot by Sarah Herbert
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Post by Claire on Jul 8, 2023 16:51:35 GMT 1
Have added your list Darkhorse.
Smiley for me for Andy's Pit Pony by Leila Berg which is a younger reader's pony story. Didn't expect much but this was a very good read, ostensibly for younger readers but will keep an adult's interest as it is very well written and doesn't patronise the young reader with babytalk. Also a wealth of information about mining and how pit ponies fitted into the environment, which I found interesting, having grown up in a big coal mining community. I even learned things I didn't know!
I really liked the character of Andy who loves horses and wants to be a vet but must step up to the mark and give up his dreams to work in the pit when his father has an accident. Luckily he is allowed to work with a pit pony whom he loves. The main character is 15, which is a lot older than than the presumed readership, so this book is definitely not looking down on young readers and instead gives them a challenge and an insight into real life. People today may frown at a 15 year old having to work, but I'm not sure if this is as terrible as it may seem to our 'enlightened' modern society. A lot of people I know in their seventies and eighties did start work as a teenager and perhaps doing so is better at developing character and life skills than the upbringing of some of the pampered kids of today, who don't seem to be able to cope with real life at all. (Apologies, this is a bit of a bugbear of mine!) There's a fair amount of pony content (although obviously not of the usual content of the more traditional pony book), and the relationship between Andy and his charge is touching.
One question I'd like to know the answer to is where is the book set. The miners greet each other with the phrase 'Aye Aye' which is a North Eastern England expression, but there are moors and wild ponies nearby which suggests more of a Yorkshire or Welsh setting. Possibly it could be the Durham Dales as that area has moors and the Dales/Fell pony, though the colour of Andy's pony doesn't suggest those breeds. I'd be interested to find out, as there is a shortage of pony books set in my home area of NE England.
Anyway, I would definitely recommend the book, especially to anyone who is interested in pit ponies. It also has nice illustrations.
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Post by Claire on Jul 11, 2023 11:11:53 GMT 1
Hi again folk, just to let everyone know, I have set up a separate thread for the 'group read' within the challenge, Three Jays go to Town by Pat Smythe. You can still rate the book here with a smilie/frowny etc but can you please also visit the dedicated thread to add comments and vote on the book: Three Jays go to Town dedicated group read threadNB - I have also put this link on the opening thread above the book lists to make it easier to find.
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Post by haffyfan on Jul 14, 2023 12:25:00 GMT 1
Please can i add the somewhat 'interestingly' titled new release Whips and Spurs by Catherine Rix to my list? As ever i have been side tracked and read my old favourite Prince Among Ponies, and currently reading Three Ponies And Shannon as they were on 99p kindle offers recently. I have always loved Prince Among ponies, however some of the treatment of the ponies and ideas around this don't sit easy these days. I really liked A Pony To school as a child, but never read the others until i was an adult. 3 ponies and Shannon was one of the titles advertised inside my childhood copy and i always wanted to read it, finally achieving it many years later, thanks to Claire, when i realised my Mum had thrown away lots of my childhood books and started recollecting them...and rather a lot more besides Perhaps it was the adult thing, as I don't like the somewhat acclaimed Wish For A Pony either, but non of them did anything for me and i know I Wanted Pony is also generally very well thought of. I am, once again, finding all the main characters thoroughly unpleasant in their own ways, its just not my cup of tea i guess.
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Post by susanb on Jul 14, 2023 17:29:52 GMT 1
I spent my vacation week doing a ton of reading, but only three books from my challenge
A Cup for Janet by Emily Thorne - frowny please, too many racial and gender stereotypes (the book literally begins with the former and ends with the latter, when the hero suggests that Janet might get over her interest in horses when something else takes her fancy...."babies") Sigh.
That Summer with Lexy by Audrey McKim - smiley here. A non-pony, charming slice of life in Canada, mid century.
Grand Rogue by Frances Priddy - smiley here too; this one was a re-read for me, of a book I loved as a child. Young woman purchases a difficult horse at an auction, and slowly, gently, reforms him. A bit of romance on the side, but nothing to alarm the horses Sadly very hard to find these days, as her other books are.
I'm going to tackle the Three Jays after I finish my current book (non-challenge, Mabel Esther Allan), hopefully will start this weekend!
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Post by Claire on Jul 15, 2023 12:14:21 GMT 1
Thank you for the updates people. AFter a good start I have stalled a bit. Haven't done much reading lately due to having an overseas visitor for a week. Also having to cut short my posts as my laptop has a crack underneath causing some letters to stick (unfortunately one is 's' !! ) Hopefully a friend is able to lend me a bluetooth keyboard in a couple of days until I see if I can get it repaired.
Just to add quickly, Haffy, although technically it a very well written pony book and quite iconic, I never really liked I Wanted a Pony that much. Found it quite lacking in humour and I agree the characters were all quite annoying. Far preferred the later books in the series.
Susan I totally agree, this is just ughhh - 'the hero suggests that Janet might get over her interest in horses when something else takes her fancy....babies. '
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Post by darkhorse on Jul 15, 2023 18:36:50 GMT 1
Could I have a smiley for Janet Must Ride please? It's a re-read after many years and still just as enjoyable. A bonus also that it didn't cost anything.
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Post by Claire on Jul 15, 2023 20:21:47 GMT 1
Yep Darkhorse I noticed this and a couple of other PT books available on kindle unlimited (great that they are getting out there!) but decided against them as I felt I'd read them too many times - instead chose the Swallow Tale as my recently republished book.
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Post by Claire on Jul 18, 2023 18:19:18 GMT 1
Have hit a bit of a wall with Gift Horse. It's not really gripping me, maybe because it's the second in the series and I can't remember what happened in the first one!
I'm going to put it to one side for a bit while I tackle the group read, Three Jays go to Town. It's a re-read and I know I like it so should be an easier read. I'll come back to Gift Horse afterwards.
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Post by garej on Jul 23, 2023 16:28:32 GMT 1
I went on holiday for a week and although I took Six Ponies with me I didn't have time to read. So I am a bit behind. Anyway I have finished it now so i have decided to award it a SMILEY. I am off to do a more comprehensive review in my PT blog.
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Post by susanb on Jul 24, 2023 19:57:16 GMT 1
Finished Three Jays go to Town yesterday, smiley please!
So much more horsey detail than the Rome book...come to think of it, the original Three Jays go to Rome cover art hasn't a pony in sight, so I guess you could call it truth in advertising
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Post by Claire on Jul 25, 2023 19:39:00 GMT 1
Finished Three Jays go to Town yesterday, smiley please! So much more horsey detail than the Rome book...come to think of it, the original Three Jays go to Rome cover art hasn't a pony in sight, so I guess you could call it truth in advertising Glad you enjoyed the the book. I do think it's by far the best and one of the most horsy of the lot. I am reading it myself at the moment (a re-read for maybe the 3rd or 4th time) and enjoying it.
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Post by kunuma1 on Jul 27, 2023 14:23:07 GMT 1
Hi folks, just trying to catch up with some of the things my internet managed to make difficult before, now I have, roll of drums, got this FIBRE thingy! For the first time i haven't been thrown off howrse every few days, though I have to say it isn't nearly as fast as I was expecting, not much difference really but less total refusal to connect at all! Anyway just for fun i'll see what I have here that you have been reading in the challenge, and join in a bit!
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Post by Claire on Jul 27, 2023 19:33:45 GMT 1
Oooh it's great to see you on here after so long Kunuma. Apologies that I still haven't sent you pics of the cats. I'll put it at the top of my 'to do' list ! Hope your new internet connection means yuo can join us regularly. We have all missed you!
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Post by garej on Jul 29, 2023 2:14:01 GMT 1
I have finished Dog in a Pram by CPT and I would like to award it a NEUTRAL. It's a very short novella type story aimed at a younger audience. It is a story that is more of a tale between the generations and the dynamics of a working class family in 60s Britain. The dog is more of a subplot and the actual dog in a pram bit takes up less than 10 pages.
Sadly it's rather dated and although it's good to see a relationship between an elderly lady and a young lad I was really expecting more dog. It's a decent enough tale but it's not an outstanding read hence the neutral.
Next I am tackling Three Jay's Go to Town by Pat Smythe. Let's hope there is some horsey action.
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Post by haffyfan on Jul 29, 2023 13:12:54 GMT 1
Can i have a smiley for Whips and Spurs please. I really like this author, her characters are fun, but believable, with interesting plots and enough horsey content to keep me there alongside the mystery/murder element. She also has written two excellent childrens books if you prefer books without any adult content.
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Post by Claire on Jul 29, 2023 19:39:53 GMT 1
Thanks for updates folks.
I am nearly finished 3 Jays go to Town so more on that very shortly. Just to reassure you, Garej, there is plenty of horsy action in this one of the series.
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Post by darkhorse on Jul 31, 2023 23:09:23 GMT 1
Can I have a smiley for I'd Rather Not Gallop please? Another re-read and as enjoyable and funny as ever. I have just started the Three Jays book. I don't think I have ever read this one in the series before.
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Post by darkhorse on Jul 31, 2023 23:10:39 GMT 1
And hello to Kunuma! I hope you are keeping OK?
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Post by haffyfan on Aug 2, 2023 13:16:01 GMT 1
I'm still putting off the 3 Jays book 😂
I'm just reading Ambition, which I'm enjoying and can see me getting distracted with and continuing with the series rather than challenge reads. I also read the prequel Bold, free ebook if you subscribe to her website along with another title, which is a shorter format novella with some background.
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Post by Claire on Aug 5, 2023 18:32:40 GMT 1
I'm still putting off the 3 Jays book 😂 Haha but it's actually pretty good, the consensus so far seems to be that it's one of, if not the, best in the series. I awarded Three Jays go to Town a big smiley. *VERY SLIGHT SPOILERS BELOW* Plenty of horse content in this one, only two slight non-pony sub-plots and they are both quite gripping. It's also a lot pacier and tightly plotted than most of the other books. Pat Smythe is actually not a bad writer when her plots are not so meandering. In particular, Smythe gives a highly atmospheric re-creation of the Horse of the Year show, prtobably more so than any other pony book author - no doubt due to the fact she competed there many times. I actually found it quite nostalgic and even a tad wistful, especially when she mentioned the commentary by Dorian Williams. And yes, she was right, there was no-one who quite compared to Dorian as a compere of the event. It did bring back fond memories of watching HOYS as a youngster on the TV. The cheating sub-plot is well done, although perhaps the idea of cheating at an exam is not looked upon with such horror today as back then, so maybe the significance of it does not quite come across as well as it would have when the book was written. There is also a sub-plot involving the RAF pilot Darcy, one of the reappearing characters in the series, but unlike some of the other books, he mercifully doesn't outsaty his welcome. In fact he provides an exciting element to the story in which Jimmy proves himself pretty resourceful. The conclusion of the book is excellent, with a number of strands coming together to provide a nail-biting finish. All in all I think this instalment is head and shoulders above most of the others in the series and would stand alone as a great pony story in its own right. Incidentally IMHO the other two in the series worth a read are Three Jays Over the Border and Three Jays Lend a Hand. Both of these also feature the character of Penny and in the last one Darcy has to learn to ride so it is quite a humourous read. I feel it's a shame the others didn't match up to this standard as some of the poorer instalments have probably put quite a few people off reading more of the series and also has given the whole series a bad reputation which I don't think it really deserves. Please note, I decided to delete the separate group read thread for the book as we already had a previous review of the book by Tintin in which people can vote thus it was kind of repeating itself. So please leave any comments about the book here and put your vote in here on the review thread
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Post by haffyfan on Aug 6, 2023 11:01:07 GMT 1
Can I have a smiley for ambition please. The main character Jules is not terribly likeable but she's driven and it's realistic in its struggles to make it and no doubt the mental determination and strength of character required. As ever these days, lots of bits that don't sit easy with me but I remind myself it's fiction and it's very readable. So much so I am invested and have swiftly moved into book two. Thanks to Kim Ablon Whitney I have a small clue of the minor talk of the show ring world of 'hunters' etc, and I think the eventing theme has warmed me to it, more than most American books tend to, as it's something I know and understand.
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Post by tintin on Aug 8, 2023 12:07:55 GMT 1
Please could I have a smiley face for:-
Side Saddle Ranch
Very much like "Little House on the Prarie". Set in, I think, Colorado it was published in 1930 and set in the 1870's so very possibly based on first hand experience. Worth a read and not a cliched Western. As a rail fan I recognised the very beginnings of the silver boom so beloved of the "colourful" US Railway Historian Lucius Beebe. Only minus is you will learn nothing about side saddle.
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Post by Claire on Aug 8, 2023 15:40:19 GMT 1
Thanks for the updates you two. Haffy, I know what you mean about the American show scene being unfamiliar to us Brits. I remember reading Riders From Afar many years ago, which gave me my first realisation that things weren't the same over there! Until I was an adult I think the only American pony books I read were the Western type like Flicka/Thunderhead or racing themed such as the Black Stallion books.
Tintin - that's rather ironic that there isn't much sidesaddle content in the book! Where did the title come from do you think?
Well I'm not sure whether to try and resume my own 'sidesaddle' read, The Gift Horse, or start another one and come back to that last, as it's not exactly tempting me.
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Post by tintin on Aug 8, 2023 16:38:32 GMT 1
Claire - the Ranch in the book became known as "Sidesaddle Ranch" because the two sisters were doing the vast bulk of the mounted work. One of them is depicted on the cover in a rather alarming Cerise habit - at least you would n't lose her on the prairie...
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