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Post by Claire on Jan 27, 2008 21:22:10 GMT 1
Hi all just wondering what 'grown-up' books you all like to read when you are having break from pony books.
I really like historical novels as I am interested in history. I love Philippa Gregory as I am very interested in the Tudor era which she writes about, also Jean Plaidy and the Avalon books by Marion Zimmer Bradley. Also like psychological thrillers, some crime novels but not many as I got a bit bored by them read too many similar stories. I dont like horror in general but I do like Stephen King. One of my fav writers of non-pony books is James Herriot. I just love his books they are such a mixture of humour and sad bits and of course animals. TBH I will prob read just about anything - tho I do draw the line at westerns and mills and boons! ;D
Have read all my christmas books am now starting on my mum's which I have appropriated from her! Have just read James Patterson You Have been Warned which is good but a bit weird. Now about half way through Sleeping Doll by Jeffrey Deaver.
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Post by haffyfan on Jan 27, 2008 21:48:10 GMT 1
I er...um...er...um like Jilly Cooper - there I admitted it.
I love Polo and Pandora...in fact all her books...and dvd's of riders and man who made husbands jealous. I also quite like Marion Keyes (i think it's her - Last Chance Saloon and city girl etc?). I can read most girly books though and even liked Jordan's Crystal (was that the title...it was a pink book) no sorry just checked I mean Angel.
Nothing scary - I couldn't read Stephen King if you paid me...IT scared me silly as a youngster and I can't watch the shining past the bit where he is trycling in the corridor. And nothing that requires a brain my OH would say!
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Post by seahorse on Jan 27, 2008 21:52:18 GMT 1
I have to amit to liking chick lit sad I know but easy reading, Also love Dick Francis, Richard Pitman and anyother adult book which mentions the word horse. Can be fairly grown up and love Barbara Eskine, have had night mares reading her books but still carry on. Othwise am like you Haffyfan and will have a go at anything apart from westons and mills and boons. Unfortunley I spend to much time on internet and reading Horse and Hound lol
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Post by haffyfan on Jan 27, 2008 21:54:03 GMT 1
I have just bought the take that tour dvd and that is keeping me rather busy at min...it's banned when OH is in room though!
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Post by Claire on Jan 27, 2008 21:55:29 GMT 1
I keep meaning to try Jilly Cooper books after you had told me they had quite a bit of horsy content in them haffyfan (at least i think it was you). Not really a fan of girly books in general tho. My sister in law reads all those shopaholic books but I just dont get them at all Oh seahorse thanx for reminding me forgot about Dick francis and Barbara Erskine, like those too. I quite like scary books and films but not gory bits!
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Post by haffyfan on Jan 27, 2008 22:09:25 GMT 1
They are good...lots of hot men.......lots of nudge, nudge, wink, wink too. You need to read them in order really as lots of charcters the same but Pandora is a stand alone. Riders and Polo have most horsy action. Her charcters are superb! The Girls names ones are not as good as the 'Rutshire' ones so don't try them first or you will probably not try the others. www.jillycooper.co.uk/news/books/wicked.html
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Post by seahorse on Jan 27, 2008 22:31:25 GMT 1
Which is your favourite out of them haffyfan mine is polo
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Post by haffyfan on Jan 27, 2008 22:33:13 GMT 1
Can't decide between Polo and Pandora. Probably Pandora? ? My next horse without a name I am calling decorum after the twins dog.
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Post by seahorse on Jan 27, 2008 23:50:21 GMT 1
thats so great, I have the over welming urge to have a donkey so I can call it ottie.
this is my don ke ottie
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Post by Claire on Jan 28, 2008 12:28:31 GMT 1
;D LOL! ;D
Reminds me of a friend of a friend who had a cat called Katmandu. I said oh that sounds very exotic is it because its a siamese or burmese. My friend said no its cos she is always saying to the moggy "Stop doing that cat man, do!" (you have to say it in a Geordie accent)
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Post by Claire on Jan 28, 2008 12:32:09 GMT 1
Haffyfan/seahorse what order are the Jilly cooper ones in?
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Post by exmoorfan on Jan 28, 2008 19:25:08 GMT 1
Hi all,, Have to confess to Dick Francis and James Herriot...Also Joyce Stranger.. I have read some of the Jilly books.Mostly the Horsey ones but some of the others.. Any animal story that lookes interesting.. A bit of John Francombe.
Can't think of any more at the mo..
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Post by haffyfan on Jan 28, 2008 22:01:49 GMT 1
They go
Riders Rivals Polo (although it is not strictly chronological but this is the suggested reading order re most events and charcters - this is mentioned inside) Man who made husbands jealous Appassionata Score
Wicked and pandora are stand alones although RCB is briefly mentioned in Pandora and Wicked features lots of Rutshire offsprings, who are as wicked as their parents!
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Post by Claire on Jan 28, 2008 22:05:49 GMT 1
Thanks for that will have a visit to the library. Will let you know what i think when Ive read some.
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Post by susanb on Jan 30, 2008 21:14:19 GMT 1
My tastes are pretty eclectic.....I too, love Dick Francis (I've got a handful of American 1sts of his early books, which I treasure!), and really enjoyed Lyndon Stacey's Cut Throat, another equine mystery.
Neil Gaiman's work is among my faves (especially Anansi's Boys and Good Omens, which he cowrote with Terry Pratchett), Laurie King's series that is a Sherlock Holmes pastiche (first book is The Beekeeper's Apprentice), some of Charles de Lint's fantasy work (esp Trader, Jack of Kinrowan).
Really, I suppose mysteries and fantasy are favored adult genres, but I have to admit I've read a lot of what is technically YA fantasy fiction in recent years that is very, very good.....Garth Nix's Old Kingdom trilogy, Terry Pratchett's Tiffany Aching books, Rick Riordan's Olympians series.....all very well written and creative, and with superb characters.
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Post by Claire on Jan 30, 2008 21:48:35 GMT 1
Yes, I also have read the odd Terry Pratchett. I can't get into all of them for some reason, but loved the 'witches' trilogy which are very funny. (Also the cartoon version is good too) I read the one he wrote with Neil Gaiman too but I don't think I have read anything else by him alone.
Oh I vaguely remember reading the Beekeepers Apprentice quite a while back didnt realise it was a series - or maybe I just forgot!
I loved that Charles de lint book where the fairy world comes to life is it called Faery or Faery Tale or something like that. There's a young girl and a little boy in it. But the fairies are anything but cute!
One of my fav fantasy type stories is The Talisman by Stephen King and Peter Straub. That was excellent but unfortunately when they wrote a sequel it was no where near as good.
Did used to read quite a few fantasy ones but got a bit bored with them as there seemed to be a lack of originality in many, which seems a contradiction in terms with fantasy but sadly is true!
While on the subject of younger readers fantasy have you ever read any of Robin Jarvis's books susan? They are quite good and Deathscent is really brilliant in my opinion and is probably aimed at the oldest section of his readership. I wish the sequel would hurry up and come out! I think the 'young adult' fantasy genre has probably got the best fantasy writers nowadays.
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Post by kunuma on Jan 30, 2008 23:40:46 GMT 1
LOVE Marion Zimmer Bradley, even the Avalon ones - I think I must have got all hers that she wrote solely. I like Sci Fi Fantasy but mostly only the female writers not sure why - the exception is the Black Unicorn chap, who wrote the Magic Kingdom series, I will have to add his name by edit, cos it means waking the cat up! Also the original Science Fiction type books like Asimov,Herbert's Dune series etc. I am a Science nerd - fact or fiction, but preferably a believable mix of both! I may have come to terms with string theory - but it STILL just took me FOUR days to change my avatar!!
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Post by susanb on Feb 7, 2008 19:40:52 GMT 1
Claire....sorry to take so long replying, got distracted and then couldn't remember where this post was! Re Pratchett...I've read a couple of his adult books (the first one...can't remember title, and Guards Guards) and couldn't get into them. Though they had many good, and very funny, bits (and I WANT the Luggage), for me it was as though he was trying too hard to be amusing at the expense of the story....carrying the joke just a bit too far, to the point where I was thinking "ok, we get it, you're very funny, ha ha, now are we going to be getting on with the story any time soon?". In his juvenile books he's simply restrained himself just a bit, and it's made all the difference in the world. If you haven't read Wee Free Men, you're missing out on a great treat. The first of the Aching books, it can definitely stand alone, so if you don't wind up agreeing with me (and I'm very, very picky about books I recommend to others!), it's not like there are threads hanging at the end of the book. Based on your King likeing, I'd also recommend Garth Nix's Old Kingdom/Abhorssen books...the first, Sabriel, is again a stand alone....published in paperback in Nix's native Australia several years before it was printed in hardcover in the US, which in turn a few years before it saw light of day in the UK....here's his UK site, which has info on his three series...the other two, Seventh Tower and Keys to the Kingdom, are for younger readers, and (my opinion), not up to the standard of the Old Kingdom trilogy : www.garthnix.co.uk/Warning if you should decide to continue in the series, the second book, Lirael, ends on a cliffhanger, so make sure you have The Abhorssen on hand too! Re Robin Jarvis...no! I haven't come across that author as yet.....another to add to the ever growing list! I agree....this is definitely going to go down in history as a "golden age" of children's literature generally, and children's/ya fantasy in particular.
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faldo
Stablehand
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Post by faldo on Jun 27, 2008 21:05:20 GMT 1
Hi, no-one yet has mentioned Anne McCaffery's Dragon books, I have always felt that she modeled her dragons on horses. I don't like Richard Pitman, I much prefer Jenny Pitmans books about racehorse training. I love Terry Pratchet and often read his books again and again. Ditto for Jilly Coopers (but not the girls names ones) she also wrote a lovely book of short stories about dogs. I read absolutley every thing except romance, unless I cann't sleep!
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Post by beswickcollector on Jun 30, 2008 10:49:18 GMT 1
I am glad to hear someone likes Jenny Pitmans novels. I have never read any but a few years ago was given her autobiography which I loved. She lived the real life of all the characters in the 50s/60s pony books. I will try her novels now. I like the satirical novels about royalty and government by Sue Townsend.
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Post by darkhorse on Jul 1, 2008 12:30:11 GMT 1
I used to love the Adrian Mole books by her (Sue Townsend not Jenny Pitman!) They were so funny. I haven't read any of the Jenny Pitman books yet.
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Post by Claire on Dec 14, 2008 18:24:21 GMT 1
Konstanze I agree with you regarding audio books not being as good as 'real' ones, altho I will listen to them occaisionally while I am doing something else, to me its like the difference between home cooked meals and fast food. The audio books are OK to a point but you just cant beat the real thing.
Although I like fantasy I must say I never got all the fuss about Philip Pullman and his famous trilogy. I read the first one and it was just OK but gave up on the second one as it IMHO started disappearing up its own you-know-what! Prefer down to earth authors (if you can call fantasy writers that!) in all spheres. You cant beat The Hobbit and LOTR for good fantasy reads.
I dont do girly books either. I find them boring. Mills and Boons are the worst tho with all these awful overbearing bossy men strutting about expecting women to swoon at their feet. I would thump them if I met any liike that!
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Post by susanb on Dec 17, 2008 21:00:39 GMT 1
I've tried audio books...really, really tried, and can't get into them. Someone even suggested that possibly non-fiction would be more palatable than fiction in audio book form, so I picked up Doris Kern Goodwin's "Team of Rivals" several years ago (when it first came out) and still haven't managed to make it past the first five minutes. It's just never going to happen!
That said, I have had fun listening to old radio shows...probably because they were actually written to be on the radio....there was a very long running (30 plus years) show called Suspense! on US radio....a mystery series...that was actually excellent.
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Post by Claire on Dec 20, 2008 13:34:16 GMT 1
Hehe Konstanze hope it wasnt one of the couple I read ;D but seriously tho I dont blame you for writing one, I dont really blame any of the writers. In fact I was only reading them for research cos I was wondering if I could write one myself. Decided that I was too much of a raging feminist to do it tho! But I certainly cant understand anyone wanting to READ one. In my experience they are mainly read by little old ladies, at least when I used to work in a library they were the people who mainly took them out. But back to audio books, like susanb I have also tried non-fic, but after several attempts to listen to the PT sisters biog Fair Girls and Grey Horses I now use it as an imsomnia cure! ;D I do agree however that I can listen to radio plays, they somehow work much better.
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Post by Claire on Dec 20, 2008 15:44:14 GMT 1
Wasnt really having a laugh honest. I admire anyone who can actually write a full length novel. I have no doubt It takes a lot of toil and guts. I have started writing a few books but never finish them. It is such a shame you didnt get your other book published. Was it the pony one? I would certainly read it. Your friends must buy them secretly sent in brown paper packages thru the post. It must only be the blue rinse brigade that borrow them openly from the library. Saying that it was a long time ago when I worked in the library maybe tastes have changed. I dont think any of my friends have any stashed away. But then how would I find out! ;D Oh dear hope people are not thinking I am a closet mills and boon reader now after my confession!
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Post by zoe on Dec 20, 2008 16:30:28 GMT 1
Had to butt in giggling over the thought of Claire and a huge secret stash of mills and boon - I've never read one, though I quite enjoy the odd romance now and then. Konstanze, you sound like me (compulsive reader), I will quite happily read junk mail and don't really need to watch the tv because I read every inch of the tv-mag! I don't like audio books but I have just bought story teller 2 mags and cassettes which I loved as a kid but I'm finding it's the illustrations that really bring back the memories. Afraid, Konstanze, I love Harry Potter books and am anticipating my christmas pressie from my mum (tales of beedle the bard). I think I read more kids books than adult ones because they are quicker to read and once I start a book I hate putting it down so everything tends to be put on hold - not ideal when kids are waiting for their tea, saying that I love Stephen King (the stand is one of my top books)and John Wyndham's day of the triffids is great too. I just tend to read whatever appeals at the time and don't look at author specifically - it depends what the charity shop has to offer that day!!
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Post by Claire on Dec 21, 2008 14:41:12 GMT 1
Crikey now that is a LONG post! I will have to re-read it a few times to digest it before commenting on the various things you talk ahout.
Just a slight word of warning Konstanze, as this is a public forum anyone can read the posts (they dont have to join) so you may want to be a little wary of putting very personal information in this section and instead put it in the password protected bit. But it depends how comfortable with it you are with it.
An interesting fact that pony books are still popular in Germany. I wonder why when not here? Unfortunately my German is pathetic and I couldn't read a full book, although I may have a crack at a spanish pony book should such a thing exist!
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Post by Claire on Dec 21, 2008 21:53:49 GMT 1
Konstanze with regard to your posting if you feel comfortable with it then fine but I am the moderator on this forum ( OK I know some of you lot will find that hard to believe) and am obliged to mention such things! Also if you want to write long posts thats great: gives us all more to read!
Very interesting about Germany. I had noticed that pony books were popular in Sweden too as the publisher Stabenfeldt which produces the Pony Club books publishes a lot of pony books including ones by British authors such as Jenny Hughes and Pamela Kavanagh who must find it harder to get published in dear old Blighty. Have you tried your manuscripts with them konstanze?
Like you two I am also an obsessive reader who has been known to read crisp packets and cereal boxes! I am still reeling over an email I got from my brother who said please dont buy me any books for Christmas as I only read 2 or 3 a year!!! Can he be related to me? I couldnt survive without books, read at least twice that many a week! I do love Stephen King too. I don't find them all that frightening actually. I just love his down to earth style of writing. TBH tho I like his non-horror stories best such as the one that was made into the film The Shawshank Redemption and Stand by Me. The Stand I agree is brilliant too. Ah you see I have skilfully turned the subject back to its original topic! ;D ;D ;D
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happy
Pony Trekker
Posts: 50
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Post by happy on Jan 29, 2009 20:44:01 GMT 1
Hi Only just read this thread!!
It is great!! Konstanze I loved your plot for a story. I would definitly want to read a book with a plot like that sounds fantastic.
I also am very very pleased to hear there is such a thing as an obsessive reader. I didnt realise you could be but actually I definitly am. I would much rather read the local paper than watch TV. in fact I can poor over the local paper for at least 2 hours starting on the front page headlines and finishing on the births and deaths. The for sale pages being the most interesting. I cannot believe what people sell.
Anyway as usual rambelling so back to the title thread.
Adult authors I love are (they do change) but it has always been even when I first read one of her novels as a child.
Maeve Binchey!!
Just love her.
xxxxx
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happy
Pony Trekker
Posts: 50
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Post by happy on Jan 29, 2009 21:54:58 GMT 1
I am exactly the same. I have read all of them.
I once read that a journalist said that c"urling up with a maeve binchey book is like sitting down and having a cup of tea with your best friend" I love that quote as it is so true. Her books are so lovely.
xxx
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