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Post by Claire on Mar 1, 2013 13:38:14 GMT 1
Hi all, as promised our second author of the month is Caroline Akrill. You can use this thread to discuss anything about the author, as well as voting for your fav Caroline Akrill books in the attached poll. Who are your favourite or least favourite characters, both human and horsy? What do you think of her most controversial book - Flying Changes? The book we have chosen for the reading circle tie-in is The Eventing Trilogy, which as you may know was originally 3 shortish novels but really has to be read in its entirety to get the full impression of the story. As before there will also be various quizzes relating to the author in the quiz section, plus I will be reviewing one of her books some time this month. As before anyone who fancies doing a review themselves is also welcome (bearing in mind The Silver bridle has already been done) Here are the links to the various sections of the website/chat forum relating to the author of the month: Caroline Akrill page on the ponymadbooklovers websiteMarch Author of the Month webpage on the websiteReading Circle for Eventers Trilogy
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 1, 2013 14:08:21 GMT 1
I've just bought Not Quite A Horsewoman but haven't read it yet. I'll vote later in this one....
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Post by haffyfan on Mar 2, 2013 15:13:05 GMT 1
Glad you put two of the trilogies as one choice!
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Post by Claire on Mar 2, 2013 20:47:09 GMT 1
Glad you put two of the trilogies as one choice! Yeah I didn't feel you could really separate them. I feel a bit sorry for Caroline Canters Home and If I Could Ride as I'm sure a lot less people have read them than the others with them being rare - they may struggle to get votes.
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Post by Claire on Mar 4, 2013 11:36:29 GMT 1
Just bumping this in case folk have missed the thread. We haven't had many voters yet.
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Post by kunuma on Mar 4, 2013 19:35:32 GMT 1
Looks like I haven't voted so I will but I haven't read them all- btw I can lend the Eventing Trilogy or the biographical one to anyone in return for a borrow of Pattern of Roses!
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Post by susanb on Mar 4, 2013 20:03:17 GMT 1
gah! You could have given us the Showing trilogy as one option! Soooo hard to choose!
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Post by darkhorse on Mar 4, 2013 22:41:41 GMT 1
I havn't read the 2 rare ones. I'd like to, as I enjoyed I'd Rather Not Gallop but they are always so expensive!
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Post by Claire on Mar 5, 2013 12:21:47 GMT 1
gah! You could have given us the Showing trilogy as one option! Soooo hard to choose! I kept these separate as I know a lot of people haven't managed to get hold of Caroline Canters and If I Could Ride, due to them being rare and expensive (as darkhorse concurs) BTW I think I have a scan of If I Could Ride somewhere I can lend anyone. Kunuma - I can lend you Pattern of Roses - PM'd you.
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Post by cally on Mar 8, 2013 7:38:58 GMT 1
I haven't read the last 4 on the poll but I NEED to read 'I'd rather not gallop' as anyone who has read about my horse knows....
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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2013 13:01:56 GMT 1
I've only read the Eventing trilogy and Flying Changes. Must get round to reading Not Quite a Horsewoman...
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Post by Claire on Mar 8, 2013 14:15:22 GMT 1
The 'showing' books are a MUST read if you can get hold of them. If you liked the humour and eccentric characters in the Eventing trilogy then you'll love them. Everyone is totally bonkers except the poor long suffering heroine Caroline. Also feature one of my favourite pony characters of all time - Benjamin, a total rogue but loveable.
Thinking of fav ponies, does anyone have any favourites from these books? Apart from one or two great characters like Benjamin and The Comet (another I love) I dont think the equine characters are on the whole quite as well drawn as KMP's. A lot of them are not even given names, just characteristics such as 'the bay mare' or the 'small hunter'
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Post by susanb on Mar 8, 2013 15:08:23 GMT 1
Not Quite a Horsewoman is the only book of hers I haven't got hold of yet...one of these days......
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Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2013 7:48:03 GMT 1
Sounds like I'd enjoy those
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Post by haffyfan on Mar 9, 2013 14:02:20 GMT 1
Thinking of fav ponies, does anyone have any favourites from these books? Apart from one or two great characters like Benjamin and The Comet (another I love) I dont think the equine characters are on the whole quite as well drawn as KMP's. A lot of them are not even given names, just characteristics such as 'the bay mare' or the 'small hunter' Benjamin is a great character but thats the only one with any real longevity to it, the others came and went i seem to remember...plus were much better behaved and good manners = less character! I hate the fact half her equines didn't have names but at the same time, having no name gave them instant characters as they had to be named through description eg The black horse that never stood still - instanly i think of a tb type, prancing, snorting and breathing fire almost with his eyes on stalks. One of those with tons of nervous energy, box walking, weaving and so forth.
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Post by Claire on Mar 9, 2013 21:45:50 GMT 1
Yes I know what you mean Haffy, its a good descriptive device, Joanna Cannan uses it a lot for people! But at the same time it doesn't give much depth to a character. I don't know if a lot of people who work in the competitive horse world (as did Caroline Akrill in the world of showing) perhaps distance themselves a bit from the horses, could explain why Pat Smythe also didn't give much character to her horses. I had a pony only loan exactly like Benjamin as a kid which is probably why I have a soft spot for him!
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odonna
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Post by odonna on Mar 13, 2013 14:21:08 GMT 1
I was lucky enough to find Caroline Canters Home cheaply in a second hand book shop! It's a good read. Benjamin is fun.
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Post by Claire on Mar 13, 2013 19:21:49 GMT 1
Well done odonna - what a find!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 7, 2013 20:05:03 GMT 1
Just read it...not that impressed! I thought it would be very funny but I didn't find it so. Onto the next book for American author of the month.
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Post by rallycairn on Apr 7, 2013 20:35:51 GMT 1
Just read it...not that impressed! I thought it would be very funny but I didn't find it so. Onto the next book for American author of the month. I petered out on that one, too, Rosie. I will go back and try to finish it properly rather than just skimming at some point. Agree is wasn't outstanding but I should probably give it another chance.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2013 7:51:42 GMT 1
I'm glad you've said that Rally, I though I was having a sense of humour failure! I had to force myself to finish it.
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Post by kunuma on Apr 8, 2013 14:34:52 GMT 1
Just read it...not that impressed! I thought it would be very funny but I didn't find it so. Onto the next book for American author of the month. I hated it - it was the book that put me right off Akrill! One of the very few pony books that got binned!
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