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Post by haffyfan on Jul 29, 2014 20:26:54 GMT 1
I'm loosing momentum now I'm afraid. I want to give the Vavra book a smiley for it's stunning photography...which is what it's really all about. It's more a book about his journey across Africa, with a few unicorns thrown in to keep it interesting and of course for those who love Unicorns I have Known to buy. I have to admit to getting bored by the text and giving up on it and just enjoying the pictures, so not sure if it really counts as a fail! Claire, i think you may have missed my post about appaloosa summer but i'd like to give it a smiley please.
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Post by Claire on Jul 29, 2014 21:28:15 GMT 1
Stunning pics! Well if you enjoyed it on any level you could give it a smiley. Or perhaps the question mark symbol? Must have missed out Appy Summer somewhere....
Not sure which to tackle next. Still getting distracted by other books!
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Post by brumby on Jul 29, 2014 23:24:13 GMT 1
Just finished 'Swiftly' - Michael Maguire, please give it the biggest smiley you have Claire, I loved it! Its a little bit magical and the greyhound in the story Degsey is just beautiful. Maguire has captured the true spirit of these beautiful dogs.
What to read next?
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Post by garej on Jul 30, 2014 11:36:46 GMT 1
Finished Mona the Welsh Pony last night and would give it a frowny. The pageant was far too long and deathly dull (in fact I skipped most of it) - two chapters was completely unnecessary. The ending was ok but I did like the war bit - I wanted more.
But overall I didn't like it. It was far too rambling on. I really wanted to like it because it is a localish book (well it's set in North Wales) hence why I chose it but it has too many faults. I am disappointed.
Also what also bothered me was an inaccuracy. There's reference to a pier at Abermaw (Barmouth). Barmouth has never had a pier, the nearest are either Aberystwyth (mid Wales) or Bangor. I suspect out of the two he is describing Aberystwyth. I expected it to be accurate and this inaccuracy is bothering me.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 30, 2014 18:32:54 GMT 1
Well you've made me decide never to read that book Garej. I found his Skewbald the New Forest Pony dull and rambly. Didn't like his illustrations either. Haffy love those pictures
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Post by garej on Jul 30, 2014 20:40:32 GMT 1
I have Skewbald rosie and I have never read it. Doesn't make me be in too much of a hurry been as you say it's dull and rambly too. I do like the illustrations though.
Most of his books are hard to find. Now I know the reason why - clearly they weren't best sellers because the quality of the stories wasn't that great. I regret buying nearly all his books. A case of the cover being better than the content - just like the Three jays books.
It was a neutral until the long boring pageant. That really finished it off and been as it dominates the end it turned a dull book into a tedious read.
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Post by garej on Jul 31, 2014 11:06:03 GMT 1
I finished Joe and the Lightning Pony last night. I would give it a smiley face. The ending was good, the sad part was well written (trying not to give too many spoilers because I know rosie is reading it).
I particularly liked the fact he had to give up aikido because of other pressures. I know how it feels what it's like to have too many things to do and not enough time!
I am looking forward to the next one in the series. I have to buy it first!
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Post by garej on Jul 31, 2014 12:01:25 GMT 1
I have just realised that I have earned a red rosette since Joe and the Lightning Pony was my seventh read. I am not sure what I will tackle next - either A Place with Two Faces or Silver Eagle Carries On.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 31, 2014 12:21:41 GMT 1
Thanks Garej but I have read it now and same as you gave it a smiley Well done on the red rosette I think you'll like Silver Eagle Carries On. I did anyway, super illustrations in it. I'm actually reading one of hers now for my last book, Spider Dog. I should have some time to add another one in if that's O.K. Claire?
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Post by susanb on Jul 31, 2014 21:25:08 GMT 1
Finished Silver Saddles....smiley please! Actually a rarity in a children's book, this one is a real "Western"....not a ranch book...we're talking horse thieves, outlaws, rodeos, you name it. Not a book I'd ordinarily pick up, but saw it at a local bookstore for a dollar (hardcover, in dj) and couldn't pass it up at that price...glad I didn't!
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Post by Claire on Aug 1, 2014 22:26:25 GMT 1
That sounds a real bargain susan! Rosie - no probs just let me know when you have chosen another book/s. Sorry folks about delay in updating the smilies and rosettes. Had a bit of a technical problem. I thought I'd add last years lists underneath as a couple of people were interested in comparing this years and last. But it somehow managed to superimpose itself on the 2014 list and is taking a helluva lot of getting rid of! Should have it fully updated by weekend. Started Mr Mercedes by Stephen King. So far it is reading like a crime thriller rather than his usual supernatural stuff but I actually like his more down to earth stories the best, and I like crime stories anyhow so I think its bound to be a smiley.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2014 14:52:14 GMT 1
Thanks Claire I'll add
Ride by Night CPT - Don't think I've read this. Might have done as a child though...
A Job with Horses JPT - Not read this before.
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Post by haffyfan on Aug 2, 2014 19:22:25 GMT 1
I like A Job with horses Rosie, hopefully you will too.
I read dog in A pram yesterday, only took about half an hour as it's for 7/8 year olds i guess. Neutral please as not my cup of tea, and i'll admit to choosing it a, because i had it and b because i knew it would be quick/easy to read. Not a good combo i guess.
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Post by Claire on Aug 2, 2014 22:22:23 GMT 1
Lol haffy I must admit I picked the Marguerite Henry book I have on my list with shortness as the main criteria - tho it is on my TBR pile.
Rosie will add those 2 next time I update. I think you will probably like a Job With Horses better than Ride By Night but we shall see!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2014 6:39:29 GMT 1
Thanks,I'm looking forward to A Job with Horses, not sure about Ride by Night though! I've finished Spider dog, a smiley please
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Post by susanb on Aug 4, 2014 11:25:27 GMT 1
Finished Bridle Wise by Alden Hatch...smiley, please! It was another of my $1 finds....got it the same day as Silver Saddles, someone must have been having a clear out!
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cloud
Pony Trekker
Highland Dale
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Post by cloud on Aug 4, 2014 12:45:16 GMT 1
Appaloosa Summer gets a smiley - very difficult to judge as i find it really hard to read books on the laptop and I'm only speed reading them - but I thought it was one of the better e books that I have read. The Wild White Stallion gets a neutral, don't like the ending!! Claire, yes mine is the hardback with the pretty pics in it too! I've forgotten what my others are, will have to go and look at my list! I'm currently reading a sword and sorcery book - it's a very good book but VERY violent, but of course that is how it would have been in the middle ages where this sort of book gets it's background from. It does make you realise that though we have a thin veneer of so called civilisation - humans have not changed at all. For all our smart phones and fancy cars, we are no different than we were then - and more than a few appear to have avoided acquiring even a thin veneer over their nature!! I have to admit, if killing of humans was legalised tomorrow, I've got a couple of names on my 'to do' list!
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Post by Claire on Aug 4, 2014 16:36:53 GMT 1
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cloud
Pony Trekker
Highland Dale
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Post by cloud on Aug 5, 2014 12:57:36 GMT 1
Well that wasn't very bright of me, I see I picked More Ponies for Jean as my classic - that means I have to read all three of course - can't just read the last one! I am getting horribly obsessed with my sword and sorcery one, and yet it has stuff in it that would normally have made me throw it straight in the bin - I'm beginning to see why it is so popular - in many ways it reminds me of Lord of the Rings.
ps Still confused by Haffy's book about unicorns in Africa - there aren't any unicorns in Africa?? There are unicorns of course, but I didn't think they lived in Africa??
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Post by Claire on Aug 5, 2014 13:35:48 GMT 1
Whats the sword n sorcery one you are reading Cloud? I'm intrigued.
Also wondering why shouldn't there be unicorns in Africa?
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Post by brumby on Aug 5, 2014 23:48:18 GMT 1
Finished 'Blue Ribbons' - Kim Ablon Whitney, hard to rate this one, not as enjoyable as those I gave a smiley to but ok, think I will give it a neutral it was really fairly average. You didn't really get to know the ponies and I got sick of the show scene and everything was about winning. I found it a bit long winded and nothing much really happened in the first half of the book, also thought it was fairly predictable.
Has anyone else read it? what did you think?
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cloud
Pony Trekker
Highland Dale
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Post by cloud on Aug 6, 2014 12:32:35 GMT 1
Whats the sword n sorcery one you are reading Cloud? I'm intrigued. Also wondering why shouldn't there be unicorns in Africa? The zebras wouldn't like it! The book, well talk about coming late to the party-I'm way behind the rest of the world with this one. Trouble is I am def allergic to popular things - tell me that everyone is reading it and I instantly want nothing to do with it! Mostly when I finally get round to watching or reading whatever it was I can't see what the fuss was about - in this case I actually can see what the fuss was about! lol
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Post by tintin on Aug 6, 2014 13:07:42 GMT 1
Could I have big smiley faces for "Top Kick" and "White Stallion of Lipizza" please, very good and just what I needed at the moment
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Post by tintin on Aug 6, 2014 13:38:28 GMT 1
Much of Africa has no horses because of the Tse-Tse fly, I would imagine this would rule out unicorns too?
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Post by Claire on Aug 6, 2014 20:27:31 GMT 1
Cloud you STILL havent told me what the book was lol.
Brumby shame to hear about Blue Ribbons as I thought her other book The Perfect Distance was really good. I do find that there is a very high emphasis on winning in lots of modern stories however.
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Post by brumby on Aug 7, 2014 0:06:03 GMT 1
The other thing that really got to me in Blue Ribbons was Tyler was not allowed to act like a pony, not allowed in the paddock in case he injured himself, no hacking only schooling for shows! How sad is that! Regan the main character was not into winning quite as much as her mother and the rest of the gang. This book got good ratings on Goodreads, so it may only be me that wasn't really taken by it.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 7, 2014 6:50:21 GMT 1
The other thing that really got to me in Blue Ribbons was Tyler was not allowed to act like a pony, not allowed in the paddock in case he injured himself, no hacking only schooling for shows! How sad is that! Regan the main character was not into winning quite as much as her mother and the rest of the gang. This book got good ratings on Goodreads, so it may only be me that wasn't really taken by it. I don't like the sound of it after reading that Brumby....
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Post by tintin on Aug 7, 2014 12:59:31 GMT 1
Poor horse! (and poor rider)
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cloud
Pony Trekker
Highland Dale
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Post by cloud on Aug 7, 2014 13:01:52 GMT 1
Cloud you STILL havent told me what the book was lol. Brumby shame to hear about Blue Ribbons as I thought her other book The Perfect Distance was really good. I do find that there is a very high emphasis on winning in lots of modern stories however. Ha Ha, what's the book currently being televised that's got everyone talking about it? Plus I have to make an official apology to haffyfan for doubting that there were unicorns in Africa - they are of course zebra unicorns (that's how they cope with the tsetse fly) and she actually has one and has shown it to me as proof!
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Post by haffyfan on Aug 7, 2014 13:51:25 GMT 1
Cloud you STILL havent told me what the book was lol. Brumby shame to hear about Blue Ribbons as I thought her other book The Perfect Distance was really good. I do find that there is a very high emphasis on winning in lots of modern stories however. Ha Ha, what's the book currently being televised that's got everyone talking about it? Plus I have to make an official apology to haffyfan for doubting that there were unicorns in Africa - they are of course zebra unicorns (that's how they cope with the tsetse fly) and she actually has one and has shown it to me as proof! haha I seriously don't think there are any in Iceland anymore though, they left for a while and the government just won't let them back in! Is it Games Of Throne by any chance then? I take it it's worth reading the books and watching then? I looked at one of the box sets in that cheapy book shop whose name i forget recently and i know the programs on season wars when i use it to watch latest true blood/Vamp diaries, just haven't got around to watching any episodes yet.
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