|
Post by Claire on May 5, 2013 11:01:43 GMT 1
This month we are featuring an author who is in my opinion sadly over-looked/under-rated in the UK. I think it may be because most of his books are easier to get hold of in the USA than here. He wrote for a wide range of age groups from children, to teens/young adult to adult. Most of his books are set in Dartmoor/Devon so are good reads for anyone interested in the area. They also have a depth not often seen in pony stories. If you haven't read any of his book before I'd definitely recommend trying them. Martin Rides the Moor and Come Down the Mountain are the easiest ones to find in the UK. Please use this thread to discuss anything related to the author and his books. Do you have favourites? What do you think of the author? Do you agree he is under-rated? If you haven't read any of his books why do you think that is? The reading circle book this month is Vian Smith's Tall and Proud (which was originally published as King Sam) It's a hard book to find in the UK but Susan has kindly sent across some copies for us Brits to read. If you haven't already requested to read a copy, then please ask here or on the specific reading circle thread. Poll has been left open so you can come back later and retract your votes and make new ones if you have read more of the author's books by then. I'm going to wait until I've read Tall and Proud to vote. Vian Smith links: Vian Smith author page on the ponymadbooklovers websiteVian Smith Author of the Month page on ponymadbooklovers websiteReading circle thread for Tall and Proud
|
|
|
Post by Claire on May 17, 2013 10:38:20 GMT 1
Hi all, just realised we haven't had much input on this. I realise probably less people have read Vian Smith than our previous authors of the month but those who have, what are you favoourite books and why? Do you have any fav characters? If you haven't read him yet, why not?
I think he is something of a love or hate author, I know they are not everyone's cup of tea. I however really like them. His books aren't really traditional pony stories at all. In fact quite a few are more adult novels. The stories are quite psychologically complex. They are often quite downbeat and are certainly not comfort reads but they usually have upbeat endings. I like the complexity of the characters and their motives.
For me I feel that a recurring theme in many of the stories is that of the isolation of the main character and the feeling that he/she does not fit in with the rest of the world, often through some physical affliction. Brenda with her weight problem, Martin with his deafness, Gail with her polio. I wonder if it had anything to do with the fact that the author himself had a speech impediment?
Probably my fav book of his is Come Down the Mountain. I read this as a child and found it very different to all my other pony books. May do a review of this one if I can find the time.
The great shame about Vian Smith's books is that they are so hard to find in his native UK, which means that he is, at least in Britain, rather over-looked as an author.
|
|
|
Post by darkhorse on May 19, 2013 16:29:47 GMT 1
I have only read 2 of his books: Martin Rides the Moor and Come Down the Mountain. I quite enjoyed them both. I agree that they were not very cheeful but were very well written and had happy endings. I am about to start Tall and Proud now.
|
|
|
Post by susanb on May 19, 2013 17:39:13 GMT 1
I just realized that I voted, but never commented!
I've read all except Moon in the River, which for some odd reason wasn't published in the US. My sentimental favorite would be King Sam/Tall and Proud, but the best of his books, though also the darkest, in my opinion is The Minstrel Boy.
For those who enjoyed Tall and Proud and/or Come Down the Mountain, I'd strongly recommend The Lord Mayor's Show, luckily it's one of the easier ones to come by in the UK!
|
|
|
Post by Claire on May 20, 2013 2:23:18 GMT 1
I like the Lord Mayor's Show too. I voted it as one of my favs. The one I really want to read is The Horses of Petrock but I haven't come across it yet.
|
|
vera
Pony Clubber
Posts: 247
|
Post by vera on May 20, 2013 2:24:49 GMT 1
I have read Martin Rides the Moor, Come Down the Mountain and the Lord Mayer's Show. King Sam sounds familiar but I do not remember reading it. I like all of the books, the characterisations of people are very strong and you really get involved in the story. I found MArtin Rides the Moor difficult to read again as I remembered it as a very sad book. But I did enjoy a second read through once I started. Not sure if enjoy is the right word there. Moving perhaps? Vian Smith is certainly not your traditional pony book writer but his work is excellent.
|
|
|
Post by Claire on May 22, 2013 23:59:25 GMT 1
I'm having a re-read of Come Down the Mountain hopefully to do a review.
|
|