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Post by Claire on Jan 26, 2014 16:36:52 GMT 1
Hi all, our author of the month for February is good old JMB. (Yep I know its still Jan but as Feb is so short I thought I'd start early) As she's written so much hopefully we'll have some grist for the discussion mill! Who likes/dislikes JMB? What are your fav or non-fav books or hers? Jackie series - love or loathe? Timber - likewise, its so different from her other books - any ideas why? Fav pony characters, fav (or non-fav) human characters? I have to admit to being a JMB fan, whilst at the same time recognising her limitations. I do like the Jackie series although the pair do get on my nerves a bit, they're so interfering. (in fact I think its the pair of them that put off a lot of people from liking the series) Plus there's always some male chauvinist type who appears in the books who doesn't think girls are up to much (check out my blog article which is linked below for a light-hearted review of Jackie and Bab's relationship with the male population!) But on the whole I think they are quite nice little stories for when you are in the mood for something light and non-demanding. My fav of the series has to be Ten Ponies and Jackie, where the hapless pair attempt to run a riding stable this is also for me the most humourous book in the series. If Jackie and Babs get up your nose then you should maybe try the Pippa series which has a brother and sister pairing which is quite nice. The pair are far less irritating than J and B. The stories in the series are mainly mystery orientated. Pippa's Mystery Horse is my fav in the series. I also like the 'Sue' series which is humourous and full of fun, first in series is best. Worst series got to be the 'Family' series. I think most people will agree that JMB's 'instruction within a story' type books just don't quite work, altho the second two aren't as dull as the first. I don't have a strong reaction to Timber which seems to be something of a love/hate book. But not for me. I quite like it tho perhaps not as much as some of the others. As i mentioned earlier it does seem quite different in style to her others. Not sure why. It was her first book but Sue's Circus Horse was written only 2 years later and that completely different. There is already a poll for top 10 JMB books but as that one featured every single book I thought I'd also add a shorter poll here with all the series together. (If you would also like to vote on or check out the top 10 JMB poll the link is below) I'm dithering over which book to choose for the reading circle, possibly either Sue's Circus Horse or The Ponies Next Door. A lot of people consider the latter her best book but its not as easy to find by half as the former. Also its not available in paperback which makes it more expensive to post if people wanted to borrow copies. I think the Jackie series and Ponyways are out as a few people dont like them. One of the Pippa books is also a possibility. If you have preferances just let me know. JMB LINKS: JMB page on the websiteJMB 'Top 10' pollA light-hearted article I wrote about the Jackie series on my blogJMB Reading Circle thread - Sue's Circus Horse |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2014 18:41:57 GMT 1
Five foals and philippa was a tad dull I thought. I read one of her Taff stories which wasn't too bad. The Jackie series drives me up the wall  Haven't read the Pippa, might have read one of the Sue series yonks ago. Even I can't stand her instructional books and I'm a fan of those types  I think Timber is due for a reread for me as I did like it the first time. Maybe I'll do that instead of the ones you mention as I don't have those. Is that allowed? |
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Post by Claire on Jan 26, 2014 20:48:12 GMT 1
I think Timber is due for a reread for me as I did like it the first time. Maybe I'll do that instead of the ones you mention as I don't have those. Is that allowed? Lol Rosie you can read what you like! Nobody has to join in with the group read unless they want to. Actually if you did read Timber I'd be interested in any comments you had to make about it as its ages since I read it and can't really remember it much. I haven't got a copy of Timber any more as I sold mine. Sounds like JMB doesn't do it for you at all rosie I do think you'd enjoy The Ponies Next Door tho. |
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Post by vera on Jan 27, 2014 5:21:31 GMT 1
My vote is for sue's Circus Horse...I have a copy and it's a while since I read it!
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Post by trixiepony on Jan 27, 2014 5:44:14 GMT 1
My vote is for sue's Circus Horse...I have a copy and it's a while since I read it! Yes I have this one as well. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2014 7:16:52 GMT 1
I'll get stuck into then Claire |
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Post by trixiepony on Jan 27, 2014 11:21:06 GMT 1
So do we just pick a JMB we like.
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Post by Claire on Jan 27, 2014 11:45:03 GMT 1
So do we just pick a JMB we like. No we will stick to the usual reading circle formula of picking a particular book. However if anyone does not want to join in with whichever we choose then by all means pick another one to read. But no-one has to read anything if they don't want to of course! |
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Post by susanb on Jan 27, 2014 12:19:40 GMT 1
Ponies Next Door and Timber are my favorites of her books (of those I've read, of course....haven't managed the Pippas yet!), so if you come across a copy inexpensively, Rosie, I'd say give it a shot.
Of all the authors I've read, I don't think I've ever got rid of so many books for any one, but still kept others....i.e. I gave away all the Jackies, Pony in the Family, Trouble at Ponyways.....I'm normally a bit of a completest, so it's unusual. But still I've got Ponies Next Door and Timber, Red Rocket which I'm still trying to get through and the Sue books, which were ok, but nothing outstanding.
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Post by rallycairn on Jan 27, 2014 19:25:10 GMT 1
Well, Sue's Circus Horse is the only horsie JMB I have, so I'd vote for that one!
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Post by Claire on Jan 27, 2014 23:16:55 GMT 1
Just wondering what it is about the JMB books (particularly Jackie series) that folk don't seem to like. Altho I wouldn't say they are in the top league of pony stories to me they seem fairly inoffensive so I am a little surprised that some people dislike them so much.
Re. the reading circle book, I think we will do Sue's Circus Horse due to the fact quite a few people have it and I also have a couple of spare copies I could pass around. I think Timber and Ponies Next Door are unfortunately a bit hard to get hold of for the purposed of the reading group.
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Post by trixiepony on Jan 28, 2014 7:27:46 GMT 1
I have Sue's circus horse and pony forest adventure. I don't mined Jackie it's just that she gets a bit much in big doses. I went and gave my Jackies away to a friend.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 28, 2014 9:14:08 GMT 1
I agree with Trixiepony. I enjoyed Jackie Won a Pony the first time I read it but the rest of the series got rather tedious. O.K. to read once but not a series I'd want to keep.
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Post by Claire on Jan 28, 2014 14:35:55 GMT 1
Yes I do see your point, series that go on a long time can get a bit samey and tedious.
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Post by kunuma on Jan 28, 2014 21:30:45 GMT 1
I'm the opposite to everyone of course! I thought the In the Family books were a good way of getting stable management across, but I find the rest of her books especially the Jackie ones, very much seemingly written for small children! LOL of course that was probably the idea, she probably didn't have middle aged women in mind for her readers! I've got the Jackie series if anyone wants it!! Think I also have the stableways series and one of the Skipper ones (drove me mad that one - they needed a course in dog training and a lecture on genetics!!)but haven't got any of the others. I'd like to see how I got on with Ponies Next Door if that is her best one.
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Post by susanb on Jan 28, 2014 22:18:24 GMT 1
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Post by Claire on Jan 28, 2014 22:26:56 GMT 1
Think I also have the stableways series and one of the Skipper ones (drove me mad that one - they needed a course in dog training and a lecture on genetics!!)but haven't got any of the others. Lol funny when I was reading these books last week I thought about you and how you'd be cursing Kunuma! The family are hopeless with dogs arent they but I like the books anyway. I don't think the average 8 year old knows much about genetics (and nor did JMB hehe). I wonder if we should have 2 reading circles for this one, Sues Circus Horse and Ponies Next Door and people could join in with either or both. I'd like to read both actually as I'm due for a re-read of the pair. I can also lend you my copy when I've finished it Kunuma or Rosie. I didn't realise they were going for such low prices at the mo Susan so its prob quite a good buy at that price. |
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Post by rallycairn on Jan 28, 2014 22:43:51 GMT 1
I'm the opposite to everyone of course! I thought the In the Family books were a good way of getting stable management across, but I find the rest of her books especially the Jackie ones, very much seemingly written for small children! LOL of course that was probably the idea, she probably didn't have middle aged women in mind for her readers! I've got the Jackie series if anyone wants it!! Think I also have the stableways series and one of the Skipper ones (drove me mad that one - they needed a course in dog training and a lecture on genetics!!)but haven't got any of the others. I'd like to see how I got on with Ponies Next Door if that is her best one. hahaha, if any of our favorite authors only knew what longterm and/or aged fans their books would have! |
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Post by Claire on Jan 29, 2014 0:01:06 GMT 1
hahaha, if any of our favorite authors only knew what longterm and/or aged fans their books would have! I think they'd be pretty chuffed that their readers were still re-reading the books 30, 40 or even 50 years later! |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2014 13:41:59 GMT 1
I'm enjoying Timber again  Thanks for the offer of Ponies Next Door Claire, only thing is I've just read the blurb and it started off alright with a stable being opened then I got put off by talk of an elephant, gypsies and adventures lol so I'll give it a miss I think, although I should really read it before passing judgement I know! |
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Post by Claire on Jan 29, 2014 14:10:36 GMT 1
I'm enjoying Timber again Thanks for the offer of Ponies Next Door Claire, only thing is I've just read the blurb and it started off alright with a stable being opened then I got put off by talk of an elephant, gypsies and adventures lol so I'll give it a miss I think, although Lol sounds worse than it is! As far as I can remember theres not much adventure in it, its more about the running of the stable. JMB was one of the worst culprits for gypsies tho wasn't she, they were always popping up in the books. Actually I think the best JMB book by far is not a pony or a dog book but a cat one - The Cats of Winkle Bay. Its a lovely story about a cat trying to find a home and has a gorgeous soppy ending. If you don't have a lump in your throat after reading that book you have a heart of stone! Anyone else read this one? The only problem with the book is that it, and its sequel The Far From Home Cats, are mega rare and often ridiculously expensive. I will get round to scanning the book one day tho... |
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Post by Darkhorse1 on Jan 31, 2014 15:14:27 GMT 1
I quite like the books but agree that the Jackie series can get irritating in large doses. I can join in with the Sue and Ballita book as i have that one but I don't have the other one.
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Post by Claire on Jan 31, 2014 18:30:31 GMT 1
I think one of the reasons I have a soft spot for the Jackie series is that it first introduced me to the illustrator Geoffrey Whittam, whom I love. JMB did have some pretty good illustrators for her books including Caney, Lesley Atkinson and Sheila Rose. But some also did feature on the worst covers list - those awful decapitated pony heads on the first editions of the 'Family' series!  |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2014 21:13:55 GMT 1
Agree that is horrid! I've just finished Timber and glad I read it again. A comfort read I think (not for those that don't like hunting as there is a bit in it) It has a few clichés e.g. young boy is given a fantastic green horse and learns to ride and jumps in a very short space of time. He has a friend with rich father who gives his friend an expensive horse which he boasts he'll beat everyone at the White City but beats the horse up so never gets anywhere at the shows...usual story. A clever twist is both these boys fathers school the horses while their sons are at boarding school and become rivals themselves in the show ring! I like the fact that John, the hero of the story, cares about his horse and wants to do his best for him. Oh yes and he gets given another horse by the end of the story, lucky devil! It's beautifully illustrated by Caney too. |
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Post by garej on Feb 1, 2014 21:13:00 GMT 1
I have them all except for the Taff books, Pony Forest Adventure and Skipper series. I find Jackie most annoying and frustrating if I have to read her, and I found the "In the Family" series a tad dull.
I have Timber, but I have not read it.
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Post by Claire on Feb 1, 2014 22:35:59 GMT 1
Hi all have set up the reading circle thread for Sue's Circus Horse. As mentioned above I am toying with the idea of also doing The Ponies Next Door as an alternate. But only if a few folk are interested - so let me know if you are. If not I might just do that one as a review.
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Post by Claire on Feb 2, 2014 14:17:17 GMT 1
Just wondering while we are talking about JMB books if anyone has a copy of Rustlers in the New Forest I could beg, borrow or steal lol? I'm a bit wary of buying a copy as they aren't cheap and it looks like it may be very short and perhaps even more of a pamphlet than a book.
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Post by haffyfan on Feb 2, 2014 16:59:10 GMT 1
But some also did feature on the worst covers list - those awful decapitated pony heads on the first editions of the 'Family' series! View AttachmentI quite like those ones! this one being my favourite  |
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Post by Claire on Feb 2, 2014 19:40:24 GMT 1
Yes I agree that ones OK as they haven't chopped the head off of that pony!  The one I posted is the worst one! |
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Post by brumby on Feb 8, 2014 4:07:39 GMT 1
OK I'm going to come straight out and confess, until a week ago I had not read any JMB books, although I have quite a few on my TBR pile! Now before our esteemed leader gives me firm directive I am on it! Have read the first 4 Jackie's (totally inoffensive, also helps that I have illustrated dust jacketed copies) ) and am halfway through Red Rocket, Timber has just arrived so will also get stuck into that. |
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Haven't read the Pippa, might have read one of the Sue series yonks ago. Even I can't stand her instructional books and I'm a fan of those types 
The one I posted is the worst one!
