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Post by Claire on Jun 15, 2008 12:29:35 GMT 1
Next reading circle book is Jump to the Top by Patricia Leitch. Originally published by Collins Spitfire Books as Jacky Jumps to the Top under the name of Jane Eliot (see pic below), but this was later expanded and renamed and re-published in hardback and then paperback. You can read either edition but the later one will probably be better as it has a lot more content. As usual we will start discussion in a couple of weeks when everyone has had time to read/find a copy of the book. Will put poll up in a few days time. Enjoy!
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Post by kunuma on Jun 18, 2008 19:43:34 GMT 1
Got my copy today, (thank you Haffyfan, you are a star! ) and I haven't read it - I'm so excited - not only a book I haven't read but I love Patricia Leitch!!
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Post by Claire on Jun 18, 2008 20:17:30 GMT 1
What a treat wish i could find a Patricia Leitch i havent read before!
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Post by trixiepony on Jun 19, 2008 0:55:43 GMT 1
Cool, one I have, at lest I can remember reading this one not to long ago.
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Post by Claire on Jun 25, 2008 21:51:50 GMT 1
Have added a poll now. Am a bit behind myself havent even started as the book has been packed away with all my pony books for the move. Hope I find them all again!
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Post by haffyfan on Jun 26, 2008 20:32:03 GMT 1
oops voted but will keep comments then until later
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Post by haffyfan on Jun 26, 2008 20:36:01 GMT 1
PLEASE NOTE: CONTAINS PLOT SPOILERS FOR THOSE WHO HAVENT READ THE BOOK YET (Admin)
However I will post the abridgements/added bits for people reading different editions
The first thing that immediately struck me was the character Jacky was two years younger (just 9) in the spitfire edition than in the Collins and armada editions. I wonder if, although time did pass during the story, at least a year, Ms Leitch realised it was highly unlikely that a 10/11 year old would beat her peers to the leading junior show jumper title? Also Jacky struck me as extremely capable and independent for such a young age, even when she was 11. Interestingly Celia Grunter remains 10 in all 3 editions, thus going from older than to younger than Jacky.
Flicka also turns from a 4 year old in the Spitfire to a five year old, again I wonder if as an after thought Ms Leitch realised she would be very young to achieve such a feat, and not the best of examples either, competing hard and at a high level, such a young pony?
The text alterations begin at chapter 3 which begins - Jacky covered her head with the bed clothes - she didn't want to wake up. She didn't want it to be today - the day when Flicka and all the other ponies from the riding school were going to the sale at Buckly. In the later editions there an extra two chapters before this bit covering the period up to the sale and Jacky's frantic efforts to make enough money to save Flicka, not to mention Mrs Grunter also trying to buy Flicka for the dreadful Celia. Jacky is offered Flicka for £300 in this build up to the sale (the amount is £30 in the Collins and it is only mentioned as an after thought on sale day).
Chapter 5 of the later editions starts - The clock downstairs chimed half past seven - this is three paragraphs into chapter 3 of the spitfire edition and the story continues as per original for a while (apart from a £50 premium bond win becomes £500 in later eds and Mrs Grunter being prepared to pay £70 for Flicka at the sale becoming £700). Interestingly in the Armada edition there is also one final addition to an otherwise unabridged copy of the Collins. Jacky has no tack and in this edition it mentions her Father making her put her spare £200 into savings and not using it for a saddle, what happens to her change in earlier editions isn't mentioned.
At this point the Collins and Armada have an extra two chapters again which see Flicka jumping out of the Dawson's paddock and gorging herself in the feed room and her resulting bout of colic and another focusing on teaching Flicka to jump and taking part in a disastrous pony club gymkhana.
The two later editions also feature the pairs escapades out hunting, which nearly ruins Flicka's jumping career and occurs just before the try out's for the pony club team, where it all goes wrong! With Roderick's help they get Flicka back on track and from here on in the book is back to following the original storyline published by spitfire and ends with Jacky and Flicka being crowned Leading Junior show jumper Of the Year.
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Post by Claire on Jun 26, 2008 21:06:55 GMT 1
Thanks very comprehensive haffyfan. Did you do this for your blog a while back, I seem to remember it from somewhere. Also have you read both copies of First Pony too as we've been talking about it on another thread.
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Post by haffyfan on Jun 26, 2008 22:27:49 GMT 1
Oopsie again, didn;t think about that - shall I delete?
Claire I haven't gpot round yto reading any edition of First Pony yet
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Post by trixiepony on Jun 27, 2008 7:23:52 GMT 1
I love the book its very nice, I liked Jacky and her young pony Flicka.
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Post by kunuma on Jul 3, 2008 19:01:27 GMT 1
Thanks to Haffy I read the long version - and really enjoyed it - once I got past thinking that Jacky was Jinny - and the part of me that couldn't cope with a black Flicka - esp when the barb wire bit reminded me so much of the 'real' Flicka! Won't say too much more in case our admin is still looking for her copy!
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Post by Claire on Jul 3, 2008 19:30:12 GMT 1
Its ok found it yesterday and have read it!
I've just been re-reading your post re. the diffs in the spitfire version haffy and I am a bit puzzled. If it misses out the hunting episode, surely it must also miss out the bit where Flicka has gone to pot, falls at the pony club try-outs and has to be re-schooled with Roderick's help? If that bit is still in is there another explanantion of her bad behaviour. If it misses it out entirely then one of the main plot lines of the book is gone!
As to the book itself have read this a hundred times and it is for me a classic pony book with all the traditional elements. A girl falling for a pony, trying madly to save up to buy her, finally getting her after thinking she was going to lose her, an enemy in the form of Celia (and Mrs) Grunter, and problems with the pony's schooling, finally to be resolved in a happy ending. As with all the authors books, very easy to read and flows along smoothly.
One of the best bits for me (both when young and now) is the horrible character if Mrs Grunter. Mrs Grunter (brill name by the way!) always reminded me of an awful teacher I had at school, she is certainly a character you love to hate. It really helps you empathise with Jacky from the start of the book as you are immediately on her side against the unfair treatment Mrs G doles out to Jacky and her pony. In fact the characters are all really believable (if slightly stereotyped).
However what really strikes me about this book is the difference between reading it as a child and adult. It was just about my fav Patricia Leitch book as a child (along with Horse for the Holidays) but as an adult I thought Dream of Fair Horses far surpassed it. The story is fairly basic and not as challenging or thought provoking as Dream is. The fact that she wins the money to buy Flicka the very day of the sale now seems extremely contrived. Also I feel now that there is not really enough tension in the book. I think that more emphasis could have been made on Flicka's behavioural probs which were really solved very easily.
But there are also things which gain depth when you read it as an adult too, mainly the character of Celia and the readers attitude to her. As a child I hated Celia and thought that Jacky was far too soft to let her off at the end of the book. But now I immediately feel sorry for her having such a horrendous mother and being pressured to win all the time. In the book Jacky herself says she feels sorry for her which obviously means that she was a more mature child than I was when reading it!
In general a brilliant pony book for children or for a light read, but for older readers who want a bit more depth and challenge then Dream of fair Horses (which incidentally prob has a lot that goes over children's heads and so wont appeal as much to them) is the best Patricia Leitch story.
I voted very good.
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Post by darkhorse on Jul 10, 2008 19:23:45 GMT 1
I voted very good too. I read this book a lot as a child too. Then I leant it to my friend who never gave me it back so didnt read it again until a couple of years ago....then again for the reading circle. I have always enjoyed the story although it's not the most realistic story in the world. I agree that winning the money...was it a premium bond...was a bit coincidental. Also Flicka seems a bit young to be competing at such a high level...was shocked to find out she was even younger in the Spitfire version haffyfan! I read somewhere that Patrica Leitch came to riding as an adult and didn't grow up with horses like the Pullein-Thompsons and others so maybe she wasn't quite as accurate on facts and technical infor as they were....
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Post by Claire on Jul 15, 2008 16:45:18 GMT 1
Hi all, anyone else got anything to say about the book as we havent had many comments on this one.
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Post by sarah on Jul 15, 2008 18:17:47 GMT 1
Haven't had time to read it yet and only have spitfire - so shouldn't take long! Just have to dig it out from book pile.
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Post by exmoorfan on Jul 15, 2008 20:27:58 GMT 1
Claire I didn't read it quickly so thats a bad sign.. Cannot remember it as a child so as an adult it grated on me a bit.. Was very irritated by jacky and all the stuff that Flicka had to endure. Couldn't get my head around all the adults ( riding school owner ) leaving her to get the pony home and not helping her at all. She seemed to disappear from their lives.. So it was only average to me.. Sorry everyone
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