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Post by Claire on Feb 3, 2011 12:51:25 GMT 1
Couldnt have the best without the worst. We have had a similar discussion to this before so I will try and find the original thread and link it. Nominations for worst books or series please. Some of mine: Ponies in the Forest by CPT. (Horrid, with a horrific scene which made me feel quite ill. If you havent read this one before DON'T!) Pat Smythe's Adventure Series (Swiss Adventure, etc) Makes the Three Jays seem like Shakespeare. Lauren Brooke Chestnut Hill series - say no more! Jordans awful offerings
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Post by Claire on Feb 3, 2011 12:56:19 GMT 1
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Post by Deleted on Feb 3, 2011 13:25:29 GMT 1
lol some funny comments in that thread ;D
Belinda Wins her Spurs - Mary Gervaise. Very disappointed with that as I like the Georgie series.
Any of the Black Pony Inn series
Any of the Three Jays series
I'm sure I'll think of some more!
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Post by susanb on Feb 3, 2011 16:47:59 GMT 1
I think coming up with a "worsts" list is almost more difficult than a "best" one...maybe because you try to blot the bad ones from your memory as quickly as possible?
A Horse Like Mr Ragman by Rachel Rivers-Coffey (hateful protagonist)
Jill and Prince the Pony by Joan Dickens (boring)
Mary Gervaise (why do they even count as pony? I've read three or four of her books and the ponies seem to stay mostly in the fields while the children have very dull "adventures" without them)
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Post by foxglove on Feb 3, 2011 17:27:44 GMT 1
Ricky of the Riding School
I read one Saddle Club once. That was enough.
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Post by Claire on Feb 3, 2011 20:09:18 GMT 1
Oh yes I remember the Ricky one, pretty dreadful!
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Post by haffyfan on Feb 3, 2011 21:17:42 GMT 1
My votes will be pretty much unchanged from before but when i ahve time to think about it can probably add a few more to the list sadly.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 3, 2011 21:28:33 GMT 1
Thought of another one - Pony Patrol by CPT
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Post by garej on Feb 4, 2011 20:44:11 GMT 1
I havent read Ponies In the Forest (CPT), but thanks for warning me!
Most of them that I dont like have already been mentioned, but I dont like The Boy Who Came To Stay by DPT. It's not known as a horsey tale, but it has more horsey action than All Change/The Hidden Horse by JPT, though. But the religion gets in the way somewhat.
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Post by haffyfan on Feb 5, 2011 14:47:28 GMT 1
Not strictly dislike but i'm not struck on books written the horses perspective always. Currently trying to read royal crusader and whilst I've definatly read worse but I have, since starting it, read Those Dreadful Children and yesterday when faced with it again picked up twilight instead
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Post by garej on Feb 5, 2011 15:18:59 GMT 1
Not strictly dislike but i'm not struck on books written the horses perspective always. Currently trying to read royal crusader and whilst I've definatly read worse but I have, since starting it, read Those Dreadful Children and yesterday when faced with it again picked up twilight instead Yeah I must admit that I am not too keen on them either, I do have them but they arent always my first choice when it comes to early pony books. I read Black Swift (JPT) and I know at some point I will have to read it again, but I cant say I am looking forward to it. The early ones (1920-1940s) usually have some decent illustrations which does make it at least something to look forward to and more liable to pick it up. I cant say that about the Black Beauty Family/Clan series by the PTs. Does anyone else know of anything wrote after 1950 that is written from the horse's perspective? Three For Riding by Muriel Newton is one, and it's basically trying to be A Pony In the Family etc but from the horse's point of view. That reminds me, I dont really like the Family series (A Pony In the Family, A Colt In the Family, A Showjumper in the Family) by Judith Berrisford either. The instructional element spoils it for me, and it's not so good as the Jackie/Pippa series. I dont think "writing books with instruction included" was Judith Berrisford's forte.
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Post by Claire on Feb 5, 2011 20:19:49 GMT 1
I agree with the family books, altho I think the second and third ones were a bit better than the first one.
I also agree with haffy and garej in that the pony point of view point is probably my least favourite. I think because its nearly always the same plot. The exceptions of course are the Silver Brumby and other brumby books by Elyne Mitchell. These were all written after 1950 garej. Some others I can think of were The Golden Pony by Delphine Ratcliff, Ponies Plot by C. Northcote Parkinson and there is also a new series called The Horse Diaries which are historical pony stories written from the horses viewpoint (various authors). Havent read any of those. I can honestly say out of all those I have read only the Silver Brumby ones I would class as very good. (Apart from Black Beauty of course)
However I am not sure whether any of them were actually bad enough to be on a worst list, tho Three White Stockings must come close.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2011 21:26:23 GMT 1
I like the pony point of view books I've remembered another couple I didn't like. Applegate - Fiona Citroen....deadly dull I thought and Cammie's challenge...I struggled to finish it.
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Post by fizz on Feb 6, 2011 13:05:29 GMT 1
There are a lot of worsts. For me, any of the Jinny series & Horse of Black Loch, though I appreciate they are quite well written. We Rode to the Sea The school based ones with King Toby in Three Jays Tan & Tarmac (Personally I do not see such a problem with the Saddle Club books, they are quite informative, the series just goes on & on. I thought the characters quite well fleshed out myself) Phantom Horse goes to Ireland.
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Post by Buster on Feb 6, 2011 14:13:26 GMT 1
Hmm.. I don't know! Anything with a horse in is good enough for me I didn't mind Ponies in the Forest, the scene didn't go into a lot of detail about anything and *trying not to give anything away* after double and triple checking the book, the animals who... were "injured" were never actually mentioned before. So I had no clue if they were ponies or pet mice :S Some times a book needs a shocking scene to get its point across :/ I hadn't read any others in the series so I wouldn't say it was a brilliant book, just average. I also loved Half Moon Ranch when I was younger! I thought it was brilliant. I kinda liked the mystery that was added to there story along with all the different horses. Chestnut Hill... I got the first one free with a magazine, and then went out and bought the next two. I LOVED them, I thought the idea of a girls bording school, plus horses with a little romance on the side was such an excellent idea. Anyway, when in the library I found some of the later ones and they really suck. Its the same story over and over plus a bit of bitchyness. Plus it really annoyed me how the girls were year 7's, thats like 11/12? Yet they were all off with their boyfriends and wearing designer clothes and make up. Get realistic! So yeah they can go on the list Never read Jordans books, never want too. Definatly on the list! I can't really think of anymore. I like some modern books but they just dont compare to the excitement of the older ones!
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Post by Claire on Feb 6, 2011 15:14:03 GMT 1
Omg still reeling over fizz sticking Horse From the Black Loch on the list and letting the Saddle Club books off the hook!!! ;D Its interesting hearing a younger point of view about the Chestnut Hill books, I guess all that teen stuff is just a bit too much for us oldies. Mysteryarab have you tried Stacy's Gregg's Pony Club Rivals books yet as I have heard they are a sort of UK Chestnut Hill with the girls going off to a horsy boarding school. Mind you I know someone who probably would put them on her worst list!
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Post by darkhorse on Feb 6, 2011 16:58:44 GMT 1
I agree with most of the suggestions so far except for the Patricia Leitch books. Her worst is Rosettes for Royal but not sure if its bad enough to be in worst top 10. I also add anything by Allen Seaby whose books I find dull to the point of being unreadable. Idont like A Day to Go Hunting or the Chill Valley Huinting series either.
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Post by Buster on Feb 6, 2011 22:04:05 GMT 1
Nope, theres Pony Club Secrets, right? Which I think is for younger readers. And I had seen the Pony Club Rivals books, and was interested as the cover looks like it might be for older readers. I might have to check it out, see if its the right kinda age :-) I read a chapter online and it seems ok.
Edited to add: Pippa Funnell has "written" (or allowed her name to be put on!) some pony books, I havn't read them, but i'd be more inclined to than one of Jordans. Has anyone read them?
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Post by Claire on Feb 6, 2011 22:38:11 GMT 1
I havent read any of the Pippa Funnell ones, I think kunuma may have.....could be wrong tho!
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Post by Buster on Feb 7, 2011 0:00:30 GMT 1
I just had a quick nosey on amazon, they seem to be for much younger readers, but look a lot more realistic than the Jordan ones. Interested in the Rivals one, but can't seem to find anywhere what age the characters are. I don't want to buy it and find its about a bunch of 12 yr olds again!
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Post by Claire on Feb 7, 2011 20:25:17 GMT 1
Now I know kunuma has definitely read one of the books from the Pony Club Rivals series cos she was moaning about it the other day ;D She may be able to tell you the age of the characters Mysteryarab. (Sorry kunuma keep taking you name in vain on this thread )
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Post by susanb on Feb 7, 2011 20:38:02 GMT 1
Oh dear, I got the first in the Pony Club Rival series for Christmas, (haven't read it yet), I hope it isn't a total stinker
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Post by susanb on Feb 7, 2011 20:41:50 GMT 1
Me too! I actually debated putting that in my "BEST" list, but went with her Dream of Fair Horses (US title Fields of Praise) instead only because I think it's debatable as to whether or not Black Loch is a pony book at all. (Honestly I consider it to be really excellent fantasy, rather than pony).
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Post by kunuma on Feb 7, 2011 20:57:14 GMT 1
Now I know kunuma has definitely read one of the books from the Pony Club Rivals series cos she was moaning about it the other day ;D She may be able to tell you the age of the characters Mysteryarab. (Sorry kunuma keep taking you name in vain on this thread ) I don't know, everytime I take my eyes off here you all start talking about me!!! Was that those awful boarding school ones??? Yes, I;ve got two of them- personally I preferred the Saddle Club! Sort of teenage bodice rippers with the odd horse thrown in, I honestly can't remember how old the brats, er delightful characters I mean, were supposed to be, since kids nowadays seem to start dating before they reach double figures!! But teenagers of some description??? BTW When you find out who the dreadful person is who read all the Saddle Club ones I think she should be thrown off the board!!
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Post by Claire on Feb 7, 2011 21:17:32 GMT 1
Oh dear, I got the first in the Pony Club Rival series for Christmas, (haven't read it yet), I hope it isn't a total stinker See post above
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Post by susanb on Feb 7, 2011 21:21:01 GMT 1
D*MN!!!
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Post by fizz on Feb 7, 2011 21:46:50 GMT 1
Thought I would be controversial! I don't like Saddle Club much., & may I add it isn't me that's read them all, before people start speculating! I don't think they are half as bad as some have said on here & other boards. Sorry I just dislike fantasy books. Horse from Black Loch is well written, but Jinny & this book don't do it for me & all the other Pat Leitch ones I've read have been distinctly average. This is just my opinion though & I appreciate that others love them.
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Post by kunuma on Feb 7, 2011 23:05:40 GMT 1
Thought I would be controversial! I don't like Saddle Club much., & may I add it isn't me that's read them all, before people start speculating! I don't think they are half as bad as some have said on here & other boards Well Fizz is safe then, it won't be her getting drummed off the board, we will track down the culprit though.
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Post by Claire on Feb 8, 2011 1:16:23 GMT 1
Nothing like a good controversy fizz! The saddle club culprit has already admitted to their crime on this board somewhere - prize to anyone who can find the confession ;D ;D ;D
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Post by haffyfan on Feb 8, 2011 19:50:32 GMT 1
lol don't know where the confession is but i do know who the culprit is!
It's not me as I still have a few low numbers missing and everything after 70 although I did buy two massive job lots of them a year or two back as they were very very cheap!
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