Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 6, 2009 7:19:18 GMT 1
I don't know who Ruth is Better get on the web again ;D
|
|
|
Post by Claire on Oct 6, 2009 13:16:21 GMT 1
Ruth is from Fly by night & The Team by K M Peyton Rosie. Still quite hard books to get hold of and the fidra ones are not so cheap either as Bronwyn says. There is a 3 in 1 wih Fly and 2 other books in which is easier and cheaper to get. I'll hunt for a link if anyone interested. I can lend you a copy of Fly by night Rosie. They are definitely worth reading. Brilliant books and K M is one of the few pony authors who is taken seriously by the lit crit brigade. We did this book a while back on the reading circle if anyone wants to check out the link: ponybooks.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=readingcircle&action=display&thread=376Oh almost forgot to say Brownwyn, glad you are not peeved with us for lowering the tone of your serious discussion. We can't seem to keep serious for very long
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 6, 2009 14:41:17 GMT 1
Thanks for the link Claire. Think these might be books I'd enjoy
|
|
|
Post by susanb on Oct 6, 2009 15:41:59 GMT 1
Brownwyn,
Not sure if you've found comments by me on the Jinny books elsewhere (I checked the Jinny thread, and realized I hadn't posted there, though I'm sure I have somewhere!), but you're welcome to use whatever you find.
I read only through the first three books, and they didn't really catch me...I remember too many bits being unrealistic. What really pushed me over the edge was, oddly, Jinny's mother. In Summer Riders, she forces Jinny to allow the handicapped girl ride Shantih.....which was the most irresponsible thing I've ever seen written in any pony book. Her point of view was that Jinny was being selfish with her horse, as though the horse were a bicycle or ball or some other toy, instead of what Shantih really was....a half-trained, potentially dangerous animal that Jinny herself was having problems coping with. To put a child with a disability on such an animal was at best idiotic, at worst criminal, and the outcome suggested in the book was, sadly, the least likely scenario...the most likely would have been that the girl was hurt, perhaps badly, and the mother brought up on charges.
All that said, I'm as far from a Patrica Leitch basher as you can find....I love her non-series books, and have them all!!
|
|
|
Post by bronwyn on Oct 6, 2009 23:03:36 GMT 1
Hi Susanb, what you say about The Summer Riders does ring a bell, so I think I saw your earlier comment.
trixiepony, according to what I could find on the web, marmite was originally developed and manufatured in the UK, from whence it was exported to other countries, including New Zealand and Australia. There was apparently a slightly different version of marmite which was manufactured in New Zealand from 1919, and I imagine this would have been the one then sold in Australia. Perhaps that is what you were thinking of?
|
|
|
Post by Claire on Oct 7, 2009 10:02:47 GMT 1
The Summer Riders is my least favourite Jinny book. I agree with susan about the mother's attitude, but sadly I think this would have been the attitude of a lot of people who don't really understand horses, but see them as a sort of furry bicycle. Marlene is an extremely annoying character too. However even tho I don't think the book is that enjoyable I think the motivations of the characters, especially Jinny are realistic. After being nagged by her mother and Marlene (and doesnt her friend ng her too?) about riding Shantih, its understandable how Jinny would snap and say right ho you asked for it! Not a nice thing to do, but there again we have Leitch putting realism above 'niceness.'
|
|
|
Post by trixiepony on Oct 7, 2009 12:18:56 GMT 1
Yes the summer riders was one that got my back up as well, but there where others that I really enjoyed as well, I'm not shore there names but the ones where Jinny is in the highland pony trekkers club, I remembered really liking, I loved that she was a artist as I love art.
|
|
|
Post by bronwyn on Oct 7, 2009 22:32:07 GMT 1
The first time I read Summer Riders yonks ago in primary school I disliked it, but I liked it much better when I re-read it last year after buying my own copy. I disliked Marlene the first time round, but had more sympathy for her this time. Her home life is pretty dreadful, and she really doesn't ask that much. Okay, she wants to ride Shantih, which is impractical, but she also just wants to be included with Jinny and Sue (Jinny's friend). And having visited some of the poor families of Stopton with her father, Jinny knows what sort of a life it is Marlene has to go back to, and yet she's still that awful to her.
Although not realistic, I was glad Marlene got to ride Shantih in the end...at least she got one moment of enchantment to take back with her.
I think my least favourite of the Jinnys is Jump for the Moon, just because of the terribly contrived ending, which looks even worse when considered against the strengths of the other books in the series.
|
|
|
Post by trixiepony on Oct 8, 2009 6:14:22 GMT 1
I have asked at my closes Library for them to get the Jinny books in so I can read them again. There very obliging like that.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 8, 2009 7:18:50 GMT 1
I've got four Jinny books to read yet. I ought to give them a go, you never know I might just like them
|
|
|
Post by kunuma on Oct 8, 2009 9:48:07 GMT 1
:)Good for you Rosie - and I'll give the Pantomime Ponies series a try too ! The thing is though, that you really need to read the Jinny books in order, as they are a real series in that way - not like the Jackie books. Some are much better than other, some have more mysticism and some are more about real life problems. Again going back to what Bronwyn said, Jinny doesn't get easy solutions, and sometimes just has to go through the worst. Everytime I re read the series, I have to miss out the book where Easter dies, I think anyone who has lost an old pony sheds a tear in that one. The way she feels about wanting to make up to Easter for the years of abuse, and not wanting to admit to herself that she isn't going to get the time to do so with her, is so much what is part of taking on an older rescued animal too. I have felt exactly the same, like it would only be fair if I could turn the clock back.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 8, 2009 11:44:46 GMT 1
I must admit to being daft and not picking out the first in the series which I've just realised I do have I've got those 2 in 1 jobbies. The first one I read was the Magic Pony and then Ride like the wind. As you know I didn't like either of them so I'll start at the beginning and read For love of a horse.....when I've finished reading Black Beauty, which I haven't read since I was little.
|
|
|
Post by snowfilly on Oct 8, 2009 16:18:01 GMT 1
Hi Bronwyn and everyone else. First of all, can I put a vote in for lime or whatever flavour those sickly green midget gems are? Eeeck! Onto the not so serious stuff now. I'm a big Jinny fan, mainly because of the supernatural element. Being a fantasy fan in general, I enjoy the Red Horse and the wierd bits, including the old Gypsy lady who gives Jinny the poultice for Shantih's hoof. Although I agree her mother's character is frankly annoying, I think most of the characters are very original. Ken, with his peaceful beliefs and vegeteranism first books at Primary school, and I think it's an unusaul move to show different lifestyles in what are essentially children's books. I also agree that Jinny doesn't get the easy answers or the charmed life. For all her gifts, there's nothing she can do to prolong Easter's life Plus there's realistic scenes of Shantih's lameness, and the handing back of the Highlands to Miss Turk , as well as money worries. Magic mixed with realism - it's a fantastic combination, and one I think stands out. I can't comment much about her other work, although I've read Kestrels 1 and 2 years ago, but please PM if you want anything else, Bronwyn. PS, If we have the face-off, I'm betting on Ruth. That girl is tough
|
|
|
Post by snowfilly on Oct 8, 2009 16:19:08 GMT 1
Sorry, I mean Ken stuck in my mind from when I read the series in Primary school.
|
|
|
Post by Claire on Oct 8, 2009 20:59:39 GMT 1
Bronwyn, Jump for the Moon is one of my favs in the series! Yep I suppose the ending is bit contrived but it works for me ;D
Magic mixed with realism....very well put snowfilly. I like that combination too. I think the 2 mix well together, unlike in some of the modern books where fantasy seems to have been almost shoe-horned in, no doubt to keep in with the fantasy craze which has been sweeping childrens books post-Harry Potter. I'm also a fantasy fan so I like well-done horsy fantasies. Love Horse from the Black Loch too. Has anyone read her non-pony fantasy book? (Can't remember the name of it at the minute.)
|
|
|
Post by bronwyn on Oct 9, 2009 0:29:33 GMT 1
I am re-reading the Jinny series myself at the moment. Have written about 3000 words of the article, but as yet haven't actually talked much about Jinny! Been a while since I read the books, so I am refreshing my memory. Currently up to Gallop to the Hills (no. 5). I liked the show jumping plot of Jump for the Moon, and it was nice to see Jinny being a bit more together than she is in some of the other books, but the whole sub-plot about Shantih's past seemed a bit pointless, just there to add to the angst, and not handled with Leitch's usual care.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 21, 2009 18:33:32 GMT 1
I've now read the first one in the series. Mmm! I'm not going to be liked by the Jinny lovers. I still don't get Jinny It was nice to know how the whole story started though and I liked the descriptions of the countryside and Finmory. Sorry Kunuma..I really did want to like Jinny I'd better go and stand in the corner again......
|
|
|
Post by trixiepony on Oct 22, 2009 1:45:52 GMT 1
I just been to the Library no help there they cant get any, we are having a book sale off discarded library books so i'll go see what I can find.
|
|
|
Post by twelfthnight on Oct 23, 2009 7:31:41 GMT 1
I like Jinny as a character in a book but I often wonder if I'd like her if I went to school with her. I don't think Leitch presents her as a 'likeable' character necessarily. Note how she has very few friends throughout the series (Dolina and Nicky?) and I think it's telling that as she and Sue grow up, Sue makes friends with Petra. I've thought a lot about why leitch included this: was it to highlight Jinny's growing sense of isolation in that particular book (probably) but there is no real reconciliation at the end. I think that's the book above all where Jinny grows up and in a sense she realises she's chosen quite a lonely future but also one that she can't imagine any other way. I think I like the way she is so determined to do what she deems the right thing, and that saves lives: Easter's and Kat's and Shantih's herself. And Kelly the dog. Jinny does a lot of life saving, doesn't she!? But she is blinded by love where maybe a more detached person with the same sense of right and wrong would be able to do the same without breaking the law. It used to really upset me reading 'The Magic Pony' for instance, where Jinny has to rescue Easter but the other horses are taken to the slaughterhouse - surely an animal charity could've helped?
|
|
|
Post by bronwyn on Oct 26, 2009 3:31:09 GMT 1
Hi twelfhnight, I agree with what you say about Jinny. She is a complex and interesting character, not always likeable, but very intent on sticking to her own ethics no matter what. When taken to extremes, this doesn't always have a positive outcome for Jinny, but it would be awful if she'd grown up and sacrified everything she cared about in order to fit in.
|
|
|
Post by Claire on Oct 26, 2009 11:24:00 GMT 1
....like Jill did! Well it looks like quite a few people like Jinny as a character. She almost got to the semi-finals in the fav character face off! ;D
|
|
|
Post by Claire on Oct 26, 2009 21:07:40 GMT 1
Oh forgot to ask - how is the article going?
|
|
|
Post by bronwyn on Nov 4, 2009 7:48:45 GMT 1
Sorry, have been really busy. I've finished the draft of the article. Currently it is a bit over 5000 words long, I will probably cut a little out to get it down to 5000. I am quite happy with how it's going, so thanks to everyone.
|
|
|
Post by Claire on Nov 4, 2009 12:47:38 GMT 1
Wow thats a long article! Well done
|
|
|
Post by kunuma on Nov 28, 2009 19:46:54 GMT 1
I am now an even bigger PL fan - I just read 'To Save a Pony' and thought it was one of the best pony books I have read in a long time!
|
|
|
Post by Karen from Canada on Feb 25, 2012 17:52:57 GMT 1
Wow, Bronwyn, 2009 was the year my Life woke up - I'm 42 years old and not ashamed to admit it! Did you ever publish your article? This is from a message I sent to Clare - as I have two of the Golden Horse Shoe books she needed for the website although I don't like them, prefer original Jinny of which I have all the books.
The first Jinny book I ever read was Night of the Red Horse when I was 10 - came in the "Armada Pony Box" which of course I still have. It was a dark time in my life, my father had just passed away. That one I have read many times! It has always seemed in my life like Jinny is my "alter-ego" and I love how Patricia weaves spirituality through her stories.
My quest to get all the Jinny books (except for the Golden Horse Shoe ones) led me to buying online from the UK. All are in really good shape so I was very lucky.
I had just a couple weeks before quoted to my best of best friend, the part from "For Love of A Horse" |"..she would always allow herself to love too deeply and would always suffer for it..." It's how I was feeling at the time. The imagery in those books is amazing too.
Sorry for rambling on... but it's so cool to find other Jinny fans. By the way, I live in Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, Canada, but lived in Calgary, Alberta when I first found Jinny. I live with my 73 year old mother in a house by the lake (which I hope to make a loft in one day), Siberian Husky, Grainne; and four guinea pigs, and my mouse brown hair is dyed red and everyone thinks it suits me : )
And I have done those crazy stupid things like Jinny in a different way, I regret them but understand it had to happen for "personal growth"
Okay, that's my soap box, crazy woman from Canada!
|
|
|
Post by Claire on Feb 25, 2012 21:01:01 GMT 1
Fascinating post Karen. Its amazing how books can get you thru bad periods in your life isn't it? I dont know how I could survive without them! Your house sounds great. Always wanted to visit Canada but its a long flight from here. Thanks again for the pics. Now just got to get the page updated!
Yes, I wonder what happened to Bronwyn and her article, haven't heard from her in ages. Must look up her email and see if she got it published.
|
|
|
Post by Karen in Canada on Mar 5, 2012 4:46:57 GMT 1
Hi Clare, I think it's awesome we are keeping these posts going after 3 years I understand, I would love to come there and see "Finmory" and all the Jinny places, it could happen some day, never say never Do you know if anyone knows who the Jinny and Shantih models were for the book covers? One Jinny (not talking about Golden Horseshoe) and two Shantihs. The Armada Pony Box I mentioned before had six different books but the box was decorated with Jinny pictures and Night of the Red Horse was the only Jinny book. The other books were by Josephine, Diana and Christine Pullein-Thompson, Mary Gervais and Judith M. Berrisford.
|
|
|
Post by Claire on Mar 5, 2012 15:29:00 GMT 1
I think we may have discussed the model for Shantih before in one of the other Jinny threads, pretty sure it was Prince of Orange. Will have a look for you. Not sure who the Jinny model was tho! I had some of those Armada pony boxes too. I had that one and also a couple of others, one with some silver brumby books in, cant remember what was in the others. I used to get them for Christmas and can still recall the excitement I used to feel on getting them and seeing what books were in them! Happy times EDIT - check out this thread on the forum: ponybooks.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=ponybooks&action=display&thread=563
|
|