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Post by Claire on Apr 5, 2013 11:44:26 GMT 1
Hi all, as noted in the April featured author thread, this month we are featuring not one author but American authors in general and to tie in with this our reading circle will also be a little different.
This month everyone can choose their own pony book, anything you like as long as its written by an American author. When you have finished come on here and let us know what it was like. (If you took part in the summer reading programme last year then its a little like a mini version of that!)
Just to help you out here are a few suggestions of what to write about:
Who were your favourite characters?
Were the characters well rounded and realistic?
Were there any themes in the book?
Did you find the book different to a British pony book and if so why?
Would you recommend the book?
Lets star discussion in a week to 10 days time - but please come on here first and tell us all what you decided to choose before actually discussing it.
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Post by kunuma on Apr 5, 2013 13:26:49 GMT 1
Well I was going to say My Friend Flicka - but if that is a bit too much like cheating as we just did the film, I'll say Smoky.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 5, 2013 14:09:59 GMT 1
I'll do Afraid to Ride by C W Anderson
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Post by Claire on Apr 5, 2013 16:06:56 GMT 1
Ooh not sure what to do - got a lot to choose from!
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Post by susanb on Apr 5, 2013 21:03:49 GMT 1
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Post by Deleted on Apr 6, 2013 7:00:20 GMT 1
Thanks Susan, that would be one I'd like I'm sure
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Post by Claire on Apr 7, 2013 23:00:42 GMT 1
Oh I can't think which one to do. I think I'll post a list of the USA books on my TBR pile and susan and rally can recommend the best ones!
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Post by kunuma on Apr 8, 2013 14:38:53 GMT 1
Can;t find Smoky!! Has anyone picked Horse in the House, if not I'll do that instead!
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Post by susanb on Apr 8, 2013 15:41:31 GMT 1
I think you'll really enjoy Horse in the House, kunuma!
I don't think it matters at all if you wind up doing the same book as someone else.....having a "free-for-all" wasn't to MAKE people read different books, it was to make it easier for everyone to find a book they'd like to read and either have or can get hold of cheaply.
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Post by susanb on Apr 8, 2013 19:00:07 GMT 1
Go for it! Hopefully you've got a few gems in the tbr pile!
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Post by susanb on Apr 8, 2013 19:05:37 GMT 1
BTW, I read Working Trot by Jessie Haas and Horsepower by Patsey Gray over the weekend....haven't yet decided which to write up for the reading circle yet!
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Post by Claire on Apr 8, 2013 21:41:29 GMT 1
Can;t find Smoky!! Has anyone picked Horse in the House, if not I'll do that instead! Kunuma. Memory alert - you did the book with us for a reading circle a couple of years ago! ponybooks.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=readingcircle&action=display&thread=920Go for it! Hopefully you've got a few gems in the tbr pile! I thought I might do Big Jump for Robin but not sure as I haven't got the first one in the series (but got the next one Harlequin Horse). Susan or Rally, will I be able to read it/pick up the characters etc without reading the previous book, or will I be better off waiting until I find a copy of Dream Pony for Robin? However I'll still post a list whatever you say about Big Jump as I want to do one American book for review as well as one for the reading circle.
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Post by susanb on Apr 8, 2013 21:50:05 GMT 1
Big Jump for Robin is fine as a stand alone.....as a matter of fact, a lot of people have NO idea that there is a book before and after it....it's by far the most available of the trio!
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Post by darkhorse on Apr 8, 2013 22:18:08 GMT 1
I'm not sure if I will be able to join in with this one. I don't have many American books,and I still haven't finished the Eventing trilogy for last month's book!
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Post by Claire on Apr 9, 2013 15:21:41 GMT 1
Don't worry about it darkhorse, just join in with what you can. I know you must be busy at the moment with the kids off school!
Susan - or rally - here's a list of some of the USA books I have waiting to be read (apart from the 2 Suzanne Wilding books):
Glenn Balch - The Midnight Colt, The Wild Mare Nancy Caffrey - Lost Pony Marguerite Henry - Born To Trot, Brown Sunshine of Sawdust Valley Sam Savitt - Midnight Robert E. Gard - Devil Red Alice Greer Kelsey - I Give You My Colt Hader - Spunky Jessie Haas - Runaway Pony Lois Szymanski - A Perfect Pony, A Pony Promise, A pony to the Rescue
Any suggestions, maybe a top 3 or something?
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Post by susanb on Apr 9, 2013 16:14:42 GMT 1
It's been a while, but I remember liking Midnight Colt....unlike a lot of Balch's books, it's not really ranch oriented, it's racing. I could actually say the same thing re Born to Trot, come to think of it!
Lost Pony is for a much young reader than Mig o' the Moor, as is Runaway Pony....not a whole lot of meat for a review on either.
The Suzanne Wilding pair you have might be the best bet...Big Jump for Robin is solidly middle grade, Harlequin Horse leaning towards teen.
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Post by kunuma on Apr 9, 2013 17:55:09 GMT 1
Ah - well I've read Smoky before too, I didn't realise it had to be a new one I hadn't read - could have done Dark Horse of Woodfield otherwise. I've got a few Kindle ones - one of them might be an American one?
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Post by susanb on Apr 9, 2013 18:55:32 GMT 1
mmmm....considering you've JUST read Dark Horse of Woodfield, AND that you've got two more American books on order, I'd say it would count...up to Claire though!
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Post by Claire on Apr 9, 2013 20:53:17 GMT 1
No it doesn't have to be a new one kunuma, but I dont think there's much point in doing one we've already discussed on another reading circle thread (as per Horse in the House) as you would just be repeating yourself! You could use Dark Horse of W tho as you didnt really say much about it on the 'Kunuma Challenge' thread.
I'm going to try the Midnight Colt and Big Jump for Robin, maybe also Harlequin too if I like Big Jump....
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Post by haffyfan on Apr 10, 2013 18:59:41 GMT 1
Since i rarely get around to reading the books i say i will i'm not sure why i'm posting but i recall not getting dark horse from wherever at all when we did it as a reading circle. Couldn't get into it all all, in fact as i'd go as far saying i disliked it, certainly wouldn't want to try it again. I think it was in the other thread but i did/do like the cammie books, which about figures!
I think i've got Big Jump for Robin somewhere so might try that one and i've got a Dorothy lyons i've had years and never read too so might prompt me to try that...not sure which one but got the heads of a girl holding a grey on the cover in scarlet.
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Post by susanb on Apr 10, 2013 19:37:48 GMT 1
The Lyons books sounds like Pedigree Unknown...her last book, barring her autobiography. It strays into teen romance territory, and wasn't my favorite of her work....so you'll probably love it All this talk of Big Jump for Robin is tempting me to re-read it myself....
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Post by Deleted on Apr 10, 2013 20:12:20 GMT 1
I've read my choice now as it was a short book, can I start? I might forget it all if I wait too long
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Post by rallycairn on Apr 10, 2013 20:57:05 GMT 1
Go for it, rosie. I read Afraid to Ride as a child -- city library had quite a few C.W. Andersons. But I haven't read it since. Is this the one where helping the mare helps her get her confidence back, and she is asked to join the Cross Country Club? If I'm thinking of the right book, it was one of my favorite Andersons. And hopefully you have his lovely illustrations in your edition?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 11, 2013 12:29:56 GMT 1
It is Rallycairn Afraid to Ride by C W AndersonI think this would be perfect for those wanting a British style American book. There's no western riding or ranches and there aren't any cowboys in it. It's the perfect comfort read. No horses get hurt, that happens before the story starts! A classic tale of girl loses confidence in her riding abilities and gets paired up with a horse that has lost confidence in humans. Together they overcome their fears and win a large silver cup. I wouldn't mind a horse like Fair Lady that's for sure! The illustrations are just stunning. Even if you didn't like the story it's worth buying it for them alone. It gets the thumbs up from me
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Post by Claire on Apr 11, 2013 13:37:33 GMT 1
Have added a poll folks.
Rosie - I had Afraid to Ride but much to my regret now, sold my copy. The illustrations were stunning and I agree it is very like a British story. Could explain why it was one of only 2 (I think) CW Anderson books to have a British printing. The other one was The Horse of Hurricane Hill, also published by Brockhampton.
Read about 2/3 of Big Jump. I like it but there's nothing outstanding about it. It is quite similar to a British story. More later when I've read the whole book.
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Post by Claire on Apr 11, 2013 14:00:08 GMT 1
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Post by rallycairn on Apr 11, 2013 14:11:53 GMT 1
Another thing I remember liking about Afraid to Ride is that she joins this Cross Country Club, as I mentioned, so there was cross-country riding without it being foxhunting, which I appreciated!
That book also was the first time I'd been exposed to the phrase "shanks' mare."
That is, IIRC there is this scene with the protagonist (couldn't begin to remember HER name, though I could have told you Fair Lady's -- I used Fairway for my bicycle's name [I'm sure I'm not the only one who pretended her bicycles were horses, I had Fairway and Stardust] not because I'm a golf enthusiast but because Fair Lady was a good name and Fairway had a similar ring) leading Fair Lady out for exercise and some catty other girl makes an audible snark about Lady being a shanks' mare -- which was actually a pretty clever remark in the sense of shanks' mare meaning walking yourself, and Lady at that time being a horse that was only walked, not ridden. But still very catty!
All the C.W. Anderson books, even though the protagonists might be older, really read for an older elementary or middle school audience, I think. (Except of course Billy and Blaze, which were for quite younger readers but really captivating for the imagination with those illustrations! and adventurous plots.) But the other books like Afraid to Ride et al. were always pretty short, and mostly with the standard win-the-big-race- or competition plot. But some had a little extra complexity to them, like Afraid to Ride.
The only Anderson [eta: fiction; I have some of his nonfiction like his Book of Horses and Horsemanship and Heads Up, Heels Down] I have bothered obtaining so far is The Blind Connemara, not because it is my favorite Anderson (although it is pretty good), but because I'm a Connemara enthusiast. This discussion is making me think about getting some more, though!
I vaguely remember A Filly for Joan, High Courage (though never saw a copy of the companion volume, Bobcat), Great Heart, Phantom: Son of the Gray Ghost, and Another Man o' War. Plus a few Billy and Blazes.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 11, 2013 15:15:11 GMT 1
;D Yep!
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Post by susanb on Apr 11, 2013 16:00:26 GMT 1
I don't think any of C.W. Andersons books really focus on western style riding...there is one where Billy and Blaze visit out west, but even that series is largely English riding.
All of his books are beautifully illustrated....he was a lithographer, which he said was ideal for illustration because, in effect, you create your own printing plates.
I loved Afraid to Ride, it's one of my favorites. His stories are generally fairly slight, more a vehicle to take you from one lovely drawing to the next, but as rally said, they often do have a bit of a twist.
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Post by rallycairn on Apr 11, 2013 18:34:39 GMT 1
And what was your bike's name, Rosie? susan, yep, they are slight, and short, but still good stories.
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