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Post by Claire on Jun 18, 2015 14:17:45 GMT 1
Hi all this is the official thread for this year's reading challenge. Can you please post on here now instead of the discussion thread which I am locking. Please also post your lists here by the start of July if possible. The challenge will start on 12th July 2015 and will end approx 12th September. SUMMER READING CHALLENGE 2015 WEB PAGEFor those who haven't taken part before the aim is to choose up to 10 books to read over the summer and try and finish them all by the end of the challenge. We post on here to describe the various books we have read and whether we liked them or not. I also set up a special web page where we can see each other's progress and award smiley or frowny faces to the books and there are 'virtual rosettes' to the readers when they have read a certain number of titles. To give a little variety to the challenge we decide upon a number of categories of book which it is suggested you try and fulfil with your book list. There is no need to choose 10 titles - if you don't have much time or you are a slow reader you can just choose 3 or 4. Non members or latecomers - Don't worry you don't have to register your lists and send in your smiley recommendations. Simply pick your own selection of books and challenge yourself to read them by the end of summer. You are welcome to post any comments about them here.
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Post by Claire on Jun 18, 2015 14:23:21 GMT 1
Trixiepony's list:
Stacy Gregg Comet and the Champion's Cup Bonnie & Sam Saving Mr Pinto Caroline Akrill Eventer's Dream ". ". A Hoof in the Door ". ". Ticket to Ride Wendy Elks The Gift Horse Alan Yong Mr Ed and Me.
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Post by susanb on Jun 18, 2015 15:00:44 GMT 1
Here's mine!
Dark Sunshine by Dorothy Lyons Flying Ebony by Iris Vinton Skylark Farm by Joan Beckman Penny's Bargain Horse by Kate Wehren Pony Trekking Summer by Jane McIlwaine Four Ponies by Judith Campbell Steep Farm Stable by Mona Sandler Gin and Murder by Josephine Pullein-Thompson (adult) Clammed Up by Barbara Ross (adult non-poy) Timbered Treasure by Mildred Wirt (non-pony)
a mix, for me...one re-read (Dark Sunshine); several authors I've never read before, (Joan Beckman, Kate Wehren, Jane McIlwaine, Judith Campbell), one adult book by a familiar author, (JPT) and my summer treat...the third in Mildred Wirt's Trailer series (four book series, have been allowing myself one book per summer to stretch them out!)
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Post by haffyfan on Jun 18, 2015 17:48:49 GMT 1
My list is a work in progress at min i'm afraid. I've still got A Feast of crows and A dance with dragons (two volumes) to read if i can include these, pretty please!
Otherwise so far i've got
Linda Chapman's Loving Spirit and Dreams
I'll have a look at the tbr pile over the weekend
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Post by Deleted on Jun 18, 2015 19:49:37 GMT 1
Here's my list Dark Sunshine by Dorothy Lyons
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Post by haffyfan on Jun 18, 2015 21:04:40 GMT 1
Rosie have you downloaded the free kindle app for your pc/laptop? If so good freebies do come along fairly often - Ann Digby's Quicksilver horse is up today for example.
Would you like to borrow anything?
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Post by trixiepony on Jun 19, 2015 0:55:30 GMT 1
I thort since last time I kept getting distracted from my list I'd try for fewer books and try to get them all read, the 1st two are library books so have too go back in two weeks, well one really as already had them one week. The Caroline Akrill books I have asked for from library so I'll read them when thay come. The others I own but haven't read for a wile.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 19, 2015 6:41:14 GMT 1
Haffy I shall have to do that I think. Thanks for the offer of borrowing books, I'll take you up on that offer once I'm settled in my new place.
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Post by Claire on Jun 19, 2015 19:37:16 GMT 1
My list is a work in progress at min i'm afraid. I've still got A Feast of crows and A dance with dragons (two volumes) to read if i can include these, pretty please! Yes of course it's free choice this year, as long as everyone includes at least one pony book lol. I haven't even started on mine yet so no panic fr lists to be in. Interesting list Susan - quite a few on there I haven't read either.
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Post by garej on Jun 19, 2015 21:02:15 GMT 1
Here's my list, it's a work in progress. I have decided to just go for 8 books this year, as all previous years I have chosen 10 and I have only managed 8 out of the 10.
1) All that Glitters by K M Peyton 2) Longshot by Dick Francis 3) The Ponies of Bunts by M M Oliver/E Ducat 4) Pony Forest Adventure by Judith Berrisford 5) Joe and the Race to the Rescue by Victoria Eveleigh 6) They Died In the Spring by JPT (not sure if this is pony, but it's by a pony book author) 7) The Horse on the Balcony by Jane Ayres 8) Hildebrand by John Thorburn
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Post by Claire on Jun 20, 2015 10:16:13 GMT 1
Here's my list, it's a work in progress. I have decided to just go for 8 books this year, as all previous years I have chosen 10 and I have only managed 8 out of the 10. Same here!
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Post by kunuma1 on Jun 21, 2015 12:39:01 GMT 1
Trixie I'd love to read that Mr Ed book, I looked on Amazon and it's about £40 a copy here - cheaper on kindle but not sure if you would get the photos ok on a kindle. My list so far is
Dark Sunshine Dorothy Lyons The Horses of Hemlock Hall Sarah Harvey Children's book The Horse Dancer J Moyles Adult book Cloud's Rider C J Cherryh Rider at the Gate CJ Cherryh
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Post by Claire on Jul 1, 2015 21:58:07 GMT 1
Hi folks just to remind you, if you are taking part can you please get your book lists in soon. I have deferred the start date by another few days to give people a bit extra time to sort them out.
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Post by trixiepony on Jul 2, 2015 0:24:58 GMT 1
I'm already getting distracted from my list found a book on iBooks sounds good because I'm brown think it's a horse book by a horse book writer, I can get books from liberey as well on overdrive app got the wide awake princess on it really very cute story. Hopefully I can get back to my list after that lot.
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Post by rallycairn on Jul 2, 2015 0:25:59 GMT 1
I think I will join the Elite of Eight because ten books seems too daunting!
1. Fox Tracks by Rita Mae Brown (this one was originally on my Summer Reading Challenge list two years ago, until I realized I had miscounted and put too many books on my list. That's right, I couldn't count to ten!!)
2. A Summer of Horses by Carol Fenner 3. One Day Event by JPT 4. Pony Club Camp by JPT 5. Blue Ribbon Summer by Patsey Gray (one of my very favorite pony books) 6. Ride by Night by CPT 7. Dark Sunshine by Dorothy Lyons 8. Red Embers by Dorothy Lyons
9. Hobby Horse Hill
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Post by Claire on Jul 2, 2015 21:28:38 GMT 1
1. Fox Tracks by Rita Mae Brown (this one was originally on my Summer Reading Challenge list two years ago, until I realized I had miscounted and put too many books on my list. That's right, I couldn't count to ten!!) Hahaha I'm behind with my own list. Life has just been mad busy lately. I've only got Dark Sunshine and the latest Stephen King novel, Finders Keepers on my list so far. I'm going to scour my TBR list next.
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Post by brumby on Jul 4, 2015 2:51:56 GMT 1
I'm up for a challenge so going with 10.
1. Dark Sunshine - Dorothy Lyons
2. Hero - Sam Angus (Kindle)
3. And we danced - Toni Mari (Kindle)
4. The War that saved my life - Kimberley Brusker Bradley (new)
5. The Homecoming - Marlena Frick
6. I Wrote a Pony Book - Joanne Cannan
7. Triple Bar - Peggy Cannam
8. The Quicksand Pony - Alison Lester
9. Blue Ribbon Summer - Patsey Gray
10. Pony of Gold - April Knott
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Post by rallycairn on Jul 4, 2015 4:35:43 GMT 1
Good list, Brumby. You almost can't not like The War that Saved My Life, and I hope you like Blue Ribbon Summer, too.
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Post by brumby on Jul 4, 2015 5:43:38 GMT 1
Thanks rallycairn, it was your recommendation that helped me choose Blue Ribbon Summer, can't wait to get started!
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Post by garej on Jul 4, 2015 16:03:31 GMT 1
I have completed my book list. Considering that I did leave the piece of paper behind with all the titles on, I think I did well to remember. I havent read any of them (Dick Francis and John Thorburn are new authors to me) before. I stuck to eight as I feel as though I cant manage 10.
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Post by haffyfan on Jul 5, 2015 12:15:26 GMT 1
Sorry - my list
George R R martin - A Feast for Crows A Dance with Dragons Part 1 " " Part 2
Linda Chapman - Loving Spirit " " - Dreams - Secrets - Hopes
Gonna regret this one
Mary Gervaise - whatever the first book in the non Belinda series is called - i've avoided these forever so it's time to tackle one
Then as a reward for myself
Caroline Akrill - Silver Bridle trilogy as it's being re-released as an ebook.
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Post by kunuma1 on Jul 5, 2015 19:12:18 GMT 1
From Game of Thrones to Mary Gervaise - eclectic to say the least! I really don't like Gervaise in any way shape or form!! However on a good note I can recommend The Horse Dancer - sort of a poor girl and her horse story but better than most.
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Post by tintin on Jul 6, 2015 16:49:27 GMT 1
I'm going for the full 10 (some are small books though) and Many Thanks to all who gave suggestions
Riding Shotgun (R M Brown) - Adult The Princess and the Foal (S Gregg) - Overseas (The Jordan) The Island of Lost Horses (S Gregg) - Fantasy Dog versus Crime (A Holman)- Non-Equine Mystic and the Midnight Ride (S Gregg) - Modern Hobby Horse Hill (L R Davis)- Author Not Read Before Silver Eagle Riding School (P Cumming) - Old Classic Jerry - The Story of an Exmoor Pony (E Helme) Only One Pony (E Havers) Dream Pony (E Havers)
I had n't realised there was such a lot of Stacey Gregg. I have n't read her until now. Two of the books were from a desire to support the local bookshop having pony books and not realising they were both by her, and the Mystic one was bought with two others by different authors from the second hand shop because it was there.
Slightly topical note "Dog versus Crime" was filmed as "Police Dog" and featured the recently deceased Christopher Lee in a supporting role as a dog averse constable.
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Post by tintin on Jul 6, 2015 16:56:25 GMT 1
PS - Brumby - good luck with Hero - I read and reviewed that. I would love to see your views when you've finished it.
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Post by rallycairn on Jul 7, 2015 0:40:13 GMT 1
Oh, good, I'm getting excited seeing everyone's lists! Even just a quick smiley, neutral, or frown is good feedback for future possible reads!
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Post by trixiepony on Jul 7, 2015 1:00:02 GMT 1
I went to the Library yesterday and found a pony box set ,4 books there ponies of Chincoteague 1234 by a Catherine Hapka. Note to self if you wont to read any of your books on your list you must stay away from temptation. The Church Library had a dog story just in had to get that Surviving Henry by Erin Taylor Young. Throw hands in air I'm domed. Happy .
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Post by Claire on Jul 8, 2015 17:59:59 GMT 1
Not my full list yet - but have got these so far: Dark Sunshine Finders Keepers - Stephen King (non pony) Hound of Darkness - Joyce Stranger Black Swift - JPT Sea Horses - Jenny Hughes No safe House - Linwood Barclay (non pony) Not sure what to do as a new book yet. I am not sure if I've ever read Black Swift before as it was one of the later JPT ones which were published when I was in the non-pony hinterland of early adulthood I started Hound of Darkness a while back but didn't get very far so I'm going to try again tho it's dubious it will get a smiley.
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Post by rallycairn on Jul 9, 2015 4:07:57 GMT 1
Tintin's choosing of Hobby Horse Hill makes me want to reread it (it's a summer idyll of a book for sure), so I have added a #9.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 10, 2015 6:17:00 GMT 1
Just finished Dark Sunshine, thanks Susan. I'll have to comment now otherwise I shall forget what it's about. So spoiler alert!
I haven't read very many American pony books and I'm curious to know if Rattlesnakes causing riding accidents is the U.S. equivalent to falling in bogs and gypsies stealing ponies in British pony books?
I enjoyed it on the whole. I liked the build up to and the rescue of Dark Sunshine from the secret Blind mans Pocket and the way she was broken in sympathetically by Blythe and all the care she took of her. But it seemed a shame Dark Sunshine wasn't mentioned at all right at the end of the book when she had done all the hard work galloping to the rescue and nearly died because of her efforts! It seemed to finish abruptly. I guess it was more about how Blythe overcame her disability than about her horse in the end.
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Post by susanb on Jul 10, 2015 16:44:17 GMT 1
I'm glad you kind of enjoyed Dark Sunshine, Rosie...you're right in that it is not a typical pony book....anyone looking for a book which consists of a girl and pony gazing soulfully into each others eyes should look elsewhere I always think of it as a "life beyond the paddock gate" book....family plays a role, school friends, career ambitions outside of the horse world, etc. I've always liked this kind of book because it felt more real than the "horse is everything" book, because really, very few people get to make a living out of horses, which is the only way your life could continue to revolve around them into adulthood. A lot more people (sadly not me) have been able to have a horse in their non-horsey lives though...whether they own or just ride. Blythe's "rounded" childhood seems like it's headed to a fully realized adulthood, where she'll engaged in a non-horsey career, but always have Sunny at home. Re the abrupt ending.....it's been a while since I read it, will have to wait till my re-read to comment.....lol...the comment I expected most to hear is the pretty offbeat way she gets a horse. While Lyons books are in many ways realistic, that does NOT apply to how her heroines get their horses, which is almost always unlikely, to say the least. Her motto seems to have been "get the girl and the horse together and get on with the story"!
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