We've got a thread for all time favourites but what about those to avoid!
My list would so far include
Mary Gervaise - The Belinda Books - so bad I only managed one (just). Lovely dust wrappers though!
Heartland, Thoroughbred, Half Moon Ranch - Not worthy of comment
Pat Smythe - Three Jays series - Lovely wrappers again but I struggled to get into some of them, Rides for a Fall was okay and but Rome for example was not really even a pony book at all.
Sheila Chapman - Pony from Fire and The Mystery Pony (Lots of Doom and gloom, death and destruction not to mention dads who need reporting for cruelty) They are so hyped up and just didn't meet the expectations I had build up. Pony And Is Partner is good.
I feel bad adding this one to the list but...gulp....
Diana Pullein Thompson - Pony Seekers Trilogy - couldn't get into them at all, so poor in comparison to some of her other wonderful books like Janet Must Ride, Pony to School, Hermits Horse etc
I have to agree with you over the Belinda books, wanted to shake belinda and throw her in a puddle, but have to confess to loving Pony Seekers Trilogy.
Great idea for thread. Haven't read the Belinda ones but I do like the Georgie and Spot series. Also love the Ponyseekers books! Even Pony From Fire I found 'interesting' (but yes Pony and Partner is the best of hers). This is going to take some thinking cos to be honest I am so ponybook-mad I find it hard to dislike many. I even (hangs head in shame) quite like the Heartland books and the first 4 in the Thoroughbred series!
Ok had a bit think here's my worst ones:
Saddle Club series
Throughbred series after the first few. Last ones were churned out by a variety of ghost-writers
Half Moon Ranch (yes agree with you on that one, can't get into them at all)
The Thoroughbred by Joanna Campbell (not part of the series a teeny bopper romance on horseback)
Grey Arrow - Forgot the author someone remind me! Not so much a bad pony book but the male character is such an arrogant little **** you want to thump him. Feminists do not read this book or you will be jumping up and down in rage!
Jordan's Perfect Ponies series - maybe I'm being biased cos I haven't read these but its just the very idea of it!
I havent read the Belinda series by Mary Gervaise though.
I hated Diana Pullein-Thompson's The Pennyfields. It is borderline whether or not it is a pony book, but still it was pretty boring.
The Saddle Club series I do not like.
The Jinty series by Pat Leitch I did not like, I tried one. I had the first two of the Kestrels series by her, but it wasnt something I was attached to. I gave them away a couple of years ago.
Another one I hated was the Saddle club series - the few I had got carted to the car boot sale or second hand book stall years ago.
I recently tried Jean Slaughter Doty. I do not like her at all. It's something I just did not like. I have mentioned it before and other people say that Jean Slaughter Doty is really good, but I dont. The book I tried was the Summer Pony.
Jordan's pony book series is also getting around it. I dont like her at all. Someone I know likes her and reads just about every single celebrity trash gossip magazine about her. But still, it's the very thought of her. I dont see as an very good author, in fact, the trailer of her talkshow with Peter annoys me in her manner. Especially the way she says "loser". Arrggh *tears out hair*
My pony books are comfort reading, for when Real Life isn't too comfortable, so I really hate it when cruelty comes in, there's enough of that in RL already. I think someone mentioned the PT Pony in the Forest series, also the Pony Dopers, Open Gate etc series, and the Hidden Dog, which I was bitterly disappointed in.
Anything by Mary Gervaise (ducks head down )
Totally agree about the Throughbred series, and the Half Moon series, (only books I couldn't bother reading! - reminded me of Jack London writing about wolves _ not a clue! ) Mind you, his became classics And I'll just nominate ALL the recent ones! ;D (esp something called Pony Club Diaries, which someone bought for me -neither of us realising they were meant for toddlers!!)
Jordan? Can I quote Mackinroe "You cannot be serious!"
Rescuing one animal does not change the world, but the world surely changes for that one animal.
Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring- it was peace ~
You were starting bright and early this morning Kunuma!
It was me who mentioned ponies in the forest. Seriously folks if you havent read this already I would advise against it as it has some awful scenes of animal cruelty in it. Don't know what CPT was thinking of as it really upset me so what effect it would have on a 10 year old I dont know. The badger scenes in Pony in the Park were bad enough but this one goes further. In fact altho I like Park the other 2 in series I wouldn't recommend. Ponies in the blizzard is just plain boring! Probably her worst 2 pony books.
Re. Jordan did anyone read this article discussing Jordan/modern pony books. Quite interesting to read.
I had forgotten the awful 'Ponies in the' series....Not books I like to remember.
Has anyone out there read the Jordan books? There a bit pink
I had not even thought of them.....if they become classics I will have to stop collecting.......er...... I actually read her first adult/teen book (I forget the title...was it crystal or on those lines.....as my sister had it bought last xmas...It was okay actually...never thought I'd admit to that!)
Last Edit: Nov 12, 2007 21:01:36 GMT 1 by haffyfan
I amit to being in the middle of reading Crystal at the moment its ok did like the other one Angel more but can not quite bring myself to read the pony ones. I have to confess to liking Jordan her and Peter come in to where I work and have discussed horses she is more knowledgeable than you would imagaine.
Very well written article in the Telegraph, wonder who wrote it, I completely agreed with her.
Wasn't the Pennyfields the first book written by DPT, I agree it isn't really a pony book , but it is a snapshot of children's life in the country in an era that I rather wish I lived in!! Mind you - I do remember it ended with the father telling his son that if he passed his school cert he would buy him a double barrelled shotgun!!
Rescuing one animal does not change the world, but the world surely changes for that one animal.
Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring- it was peace ~
Oh bother! Forgot to have a squint at the Jordan books when I was in Asda doing my shop yesterday so can't report on them.
Meanwhile I have been having a horrible vision of something like this...
Jill and Her Ponies by Ruby Ferguson Jordan
Anne and I were trotting our ponies Rapide and George along the bridlepath when I suddenly remembered what I had been meaning to say to her. "Have you nicked my wonder bra again Anne?" I asked, "Captain Cholly Sawcutt's coming round tonight and I wanted to give him an eyeful!" Anne shook her head and made a loud clicking sound with the large wad of gum she was chewing. "I ain't seen it Jill but I dont blame you wanting to look good for the Captain, he's well fit. Mebbe you should get a boob job." Yes, I pondered, maybe Anne was right. We could have another bring and buy sale to raise the money! Then I noticed she was pulling to a halt. "What's the matter Anne has George gone lame?" "No its this bloody thong,"she answered, rummaging around in the seat of her jods, "it doesnt half go up your arse when you trot!"
Sorry, couldn't resist.
Oh just remembered another book I don't like. Gillian Baxters Tan and Tarmac. Just couldnt get into that one at all and only read about half before giving up.
Liked the Pennyfields altho as it has been said not really a pony book apart from the fact that the children were trying to raise money to buy a pony, but agree was shocked about the gun!
Rescuing one animal does not change the world, but the world surely changes for that one animal.
Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring- it was peace ~
Claire , I know this was ages ago, but while looking for something else I re read it..And it is still funny.. However do you think of such brilliance.? You perhaps should write your own pony book.? I would buy it for one..
Wasn't the Pennyfields the first book written by DPT, I agree it isn't really a pony book , but it is a snapshot of children's life in the country in an era that I rather wish I lived in!!
The Pennyfields is actually Diana's third book, the first one she wrote was "I Wanted A Pony" which is much better!! (The second was Three Ponies and Shannan)
I also hated "A Day to Go Hunting" by Christine too. I know I have to re-read it as I cant remember anything about it in the future and I am not looking forward to it!!
Yes, would love to write a Jill/Jordan book would have so much fun doing it (trixiepony you could do the illustrations) but somehow think I would be sued by both Jordan and Ruby Ferguson's estate! ;D
BTW eliza pony island was my least favourite of all the jackie books too
No...must admit I do keep looking on ebay now and again as intrigued to read them but couldn't bear to spend my hard earned cash on new copies. They seem to sell well!
Yep thats her exmoorfan she apparantly loves horses (so cant be completely bad ) I'm with you haffyfan I can't bring myself to spend money on them, altho must admit I am curious, maybe the local library will get them in.
A Day to go Hunting is one of my favourites garej! Don't like We Hunted Hounds and Goodbye to Hounds all that much. Mary Gervaise is rather dull- too schoolgirly, and Pat Smythe's Jays books are irritating; she doesn't even mention the ponies' names let alone what they look like or what their personalities are like.
I don't read 'modern' pony books- in fact I only read and collect English ones because they are the BEST!
Pony_Mad_Girl_😀🐴: Susan,
Nov 4, 2020 15:31:03 GMT 1
Pony_Mad_Girl_😀🐴: woops sorry, do you have Pony Club Secrets or First Day at Pony Club. Orposs
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Pony girl: Susan, have you tried searching for books by Josephine Pullen-Thompson and Stacy Gregg. Hope this helps, Pony Girl 🐴👩🏻
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Claire: Hi all, just to remind you, our group read this Autumn is the new Caroline Akrill book. We are having a change this year and not doing a spooky book as this one is too good to miss!
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