Post by tintin on Jul 5, 2011 12:42:39 GMT 1
I have now just read this the last of the Noel and Henry quintet.
I am a big fan of the work of the Pullein-Thompson sisters. I read a lot when I was a boy and the reason I found this site was from a desire to search out some of the books and revisit, as an adult, a part of my youth.
Most of the books I read belonged to school, the library or other people and, unfortunately, I remembered few of the titles so I have just started reading regardless.
One thing came as a surprise. I had never read any of this very highly regarded series. In my opinion the first two and the last are the best, the other two sag a bit from the usual standard, but that is a very high standard. I have to say I wish the series could have just kept going. The author is incredibly skilled as a great deal in the books is quite detailed theory of horsemanship stuff yet she keeps your interest, just when you have about had enough she knows when to stop. I also admire her honesty in having two horses in the series who are pretty useless. Some horses (and men) are just like that ā probably put on earth to develop a philosophical attitude in the rest of us.
There is not really much of a plot, but it is does nāt need one. A pony club goes on a camp with lots of camp, horsemanship and horsemastership training and activities and all the friendships, challenges, rivalries and fun and work that entails. You do not have to have been Pony Club to recognise and enjoy this. Anyone who has ever been on a Cadet or TA camp will recognise the essential features and characters, the age of the participants producing only superficial differences.
A friend of mine went to Police Training School and for weeks before he went he was very earnestly agonising about what might be the most important part of the training, when he got there he sound found out the most important thing was that Blue Platoon must beat Red Platoon. Pony Club camp accurately reflects this and how different trainees react to it and how the staff manage it.
As with all of this series there is a lot in it which would be recognised and/or benefit anyone who is, or is interested in being, an instructor of anything.
I loved Pony Club Camp. I thoroughly enjoyed it and it made me feel young again.
The only reason I have given it only 5 horseshoes and not the cup is that the sisters have written even better books.
I am a big fan of the work of the Pullein-Thompson sisters. I read a lot when I was a boy and the reason I found this site was from a desire to search out some of the books and revisit, as an adult, a part of my youth.
Most of the books I read belonged to school, the library or other people and, unfortunately, I remembered few of the titles so I have just started reading regardless.
One thing came as a surprise. I had never read any of this very highly regarded series. In my opinion the first two and the last are the best, the other two sag a bit from the usual standard, but that is a very high standard. I have to say I wish the series could have just kept going. The author is incredibly skilled as a great deal in the books is quite detailed theory of horsemanship stuff yet she keeps your interest, just when you have about had enough she knows when to stop. I also admire her honesty in having two horses in the series who are pretty useless. Some horses (and men) are just like that ā probably put on earth to develop a philosophical attitude in the rest of us.
There is not really much of a plot, but it is does nāt need one. A pony club goes on a camp with lots of camp, horsemanship and horsemastership training and activities and all the friendships, challenges, rivalries and fun and work that entails. You do not have to have been Pony Club to recognise and enjoy this. Anyone who has ever been on a Cadet or TA camp will recognise the essential features and characters, the age of the participants producing only superficial differences.
A friend of mine went to Police Training School and for weeks before he went he was very earnestly agonising about what might be the most important part of the training, when he got there he sound found out the most important thing was that Blue Platoon must beat Red Platoon. Pony Club camp accurately reflects this and how different trainees react to it and how the staff manage it.
As with all of this series there is a lot in it which would be recognised and/or benefit anyone who is, or is interested in being, an instructor of anything.
I loved Pony Club Camp. I thoroughly enjoyed it and it made me feel young again.
The only reason I have given it only 5 horseshoes and not the cup is that the sisters have written even better books.