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Post by Deleted on Aug 11, 2015 17:47:03 GMT 1
This intrigued me just because of the name of the Hall. So I googled it and see it has another apt name Slorterham Laboratories!
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Post by Claire on Aug 11, 2015 23:35:33 GMT 1
Will update smilies etc tomorrow. I have got a bit stuck with the challenge as my best friend's mum died a few days ago and I have been helping out with everything. Its been a bit upsetting so I have been re-reading a couple of old favourite books for comfort instead of the challenge books.
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Post by Claire on Aug 12, 2015 22:29:02 GMT 1
Can i have a smiley for Linda Chapman Secrets too please. Quite a nice little series on the whole, got the obligatory (it seems in modern books) hint of romance throughout and touches on a budding relationship between cousins (who realise it would be difficult shall we say). I like the showing backdrop, it's not an overly common theme and the natural horsemanship, that one character is interested in, makes an interesting comparison in a world that's traditionally the opposite end of that spectrum. The only thing i have issue with is the tangible ghost, after Spirit has died, but that's a personal thing and we've been here before with another book i'm sure. Edited to add if you don't like people communicating with horses, as in full blown conversations, then this series isn't for you, it touches on reiki as well (I assume although it's never named) which is nice. I guess it has shades of The Pony Whisper series by Janet Rising in the communicating sense...i wonder which came first! This series sounds better than I thought it would be - may give it a go. Hmmm seems modern pony books have got to have ghost horses in them now as well as romance!
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Post by tintin on Aug 13, 2015 12:32:13 GMT 1
Please could I have a smiley face for:-
Hobby Horse Hill
It scraped it, possibly, in fairness more to me being not a happy rabbit when I read it.
I think ghost horses are in at the moment - picked up a book at the weekend featuring them
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Post by ginslinger on Aug 14, 2015 12:56:45 GMT 1
Well I have ordered a stack of books from Abe and Amazon (pony Club team has already been dispatched..squee!)rereads count after thirty years? Are very late starters permitted?
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Post by susanb on Aug 14, 2015 14:01:12 GMT 1
LOL...you've been bitten bad by that ponybookmad bug, ginslinger What other books have you ordered? I noticed on another thread that you loved Caroline Akrill's Eventing Trilogy, just an fyi, don't know if you have a kindle, but her books are coming out as ebooks: the eventing trilogy out now, as well as the first two books in the Star trilogy (also known as the Silver Bridle). Claire, while you're contemplating late joiners, can I get ruling on my swap request? Unlike ginslinger, after 7 straight pony books (I read Blue Rosette by Pamela MacGregor Morris in addition to the challenge titles), I'm kind of ponied out at the moment!
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Post by ginslinger on Aug 14, 2015 14:35:02 GMT 1
I have a broken kindle I must do something about.... Oh I have ordered Radney (I typed randy first eeep) Riding Club, Fair Girls and Grey Horses, Show Jumping Secret,The Horse Sale, I rode a winner, the horse Sale, Six Ponies and Pony Club camp. Pony Club team and six ponies are the old editions. The others were a bit dear for the old ones. I have a long drought to slake... and have fallen in love with Henry again. I reisted temptation to go for the Chill Valley hunt too.
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Post by susanb on Aug 14, 2015 14:53:45 GMT 1
A great lot of books! Radney Riding Club is my favorite of that series, probably because the kids are running things themselves, which is a theme I always enjoy. (Actually, it's likely for that reason that the Chill Valley Hounds are among my favorite of the PTs work!). The only book among that lot I haven't got is Fair Girls and Grey Horses....I keep wondering about it, but haven't (yet) been moved to buy because I do tend to go more for fiction than non-fiction....one of these days (it's available for kindle too....hmmmm.....off to see if I can get my library to buy it..........)
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Post by ginslinger on Aug 14, 2015 15:13:32 GMT 1
I did borrow Fair Girls and Grey horses from the library a few years ago... I read mainly novely but I do get the odd (auto) biography from library but it came up as I trawled for an affordable Radney for about 65pence so I indulged. I think I may have borrowed sixponies since I don't remember it so well or at all... whereas I remember Pony Club camp very well and Radney and One Day Event.
I think I only read the paperbacks so the unedited versions and pictures I look forward to. Really ridiculously excited. We didn't have ponies so our bicycles were Truant and Tranquil... sigh
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Post by Claire on Aug 14, 2015 19:12:53 GMT 1
Teehee Ginslinger, still giggling about the Randy Riding Club - would like to read that one! Great that you have ordered lots to read and lots of good ones there too. Late starters and book changes:Well late starters are no problem ginslinger - tho as we only have around 4 weeks to go you may want to pick less than 10 books! If you let me know your selections I will add you to the web page and you can start winning rosettes. Changing books half way is really against the aims of the challenge but soddit I am feeling generous lol also I know that ponied out feeling hehe. So if anyone wants to swap a book I will allow ONE BOOK ONLY to be swapped and one time only. Otherwise the challenge gets a bit pointless. So if anyone is desperate to change a book let me know asap. But don't forget if you start to read a book and feel you can't face it you can always award a frownie face for failed to finish. This is OK by the challenge 'rules' such as they are. (Sorry Susan I somehow missed your earlier post asking if you could swap one wasn't ignoring you!) I am reading a non-pony and pony book from my list at the moment. The Stephen King one which is supposed to be a sequel to last year's Mr. Mercedes but I haven't come across any of the characters from that book yet. I'm also getting on with Sea Horses by Jenny Hughes. Her books are modern and have the usual romance element but as most also have a mystery element which is more interesting, some of hers are quite good. This particular one is pretty slow starting. The heroine has embarked on a riding holiday by the sea with her pony and so far its mainly been introducing characters and girls yakking on about a hunky lad at the stables. We've had the obligatory romance starting but I'm a ways in and no sign of any mystery element and not even much riding yet either. Hoping it will improve a bit and pick up pace. On the plus side the heroine is really caring about her pony and not a gold-digger or fashion icon as in many modern day pony books.
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Post by ginslinger on Aug 14, 2015 20:57:05 GMT 1
Don't encourage me, I might just write it.....
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Post by brumby on Aug 14, 2015 22:56:06 GMT 1
Finished my next book AND WE DANCED - TONI MARI and I will give it a SMILEY, didn't really think I would enjoy this book. Firstly its about dressage, which doesn't really thrill me, very competition based, rich girl main character, seemed like it would be fairly stock standard, but I enjoyed it, good characters, interesting horses, it was a surprise. In fact I have just finished book 2 in the series (not quite as good, too much teenage angst/romancy stuff) BUT have just downloaded book 3, might as well finish the series. All three are available on kindle, I think the first was originally free!
One more book to go...
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Post by haffyfan on Aug 15, 2015 12:27:21 GMT 1
I liked And We Danced too Brumby, i was also unsure if i would but it was free...i keep meaning to buy the other two but i have 'issues' paying for kindle books so never end up doing so. I think i like something tangible for my money...it's a Yorkshire thing!
Can i give a smiley to A Feast for Crows, which i finally picked up and finished. The last quarter was actually better than the bit in the middle which had me struggling.
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Post by trixiepony on Aug 16, 2015 3:17:33 GMT 1
The Gift Pony by Wendy Elks smiley I liked it. Not every thing go smooth at first.
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Post by trixiepony on Aug 16, 2015 3:27:02 GMT 1
Oh forgot I'll give it a smiley.
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Post by trixiepony on Aug 16, 2015 13:54:45 GMT 1
Wow I think I only have 1 more to go, wow?
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Post by rallycairn on Aug 16, 2015 20:56:00 GMT 1
I'm reading Bristle Face aloud with DH simultaneously with Dark Sunshine (to myself in the normal way), and will probably finish both about the same time. Then will only have Fox Tracks to finish -- tried to start it a few weeks ago so it WOULDN'T be my last book and just didn't get into it. I knew it would be a bit of a slog -- RMB used to be so good but now she is just far, far too preachy and the series books are so cookie cutter.
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Post by Claire on Aug 16, 2015 22:02:47 GMT 1
I liked And We Danced too Brumby, i was also unsure if i would but it was free...i keep meaning to buy the other two but i have 'issues' paying for kindle books so never end up doing so. I think i like something tangible for my money...it's a Yorkshire thing! Haha me too it's definitely a Northern thing I enjoyed Finders Keepers. Thought it was better than Mr Mercedes which I read for last years challenge, as this one has a much better plot and King returns to his pet theme of writing/writers etc which he always does well. I've been neglecting Sea Horses so back to that so I can get a blue rosette. At the mo its on a neutral face, hopefully will get better. Good going everyone and congrats to Haffy and Tintin who get new rosettes today! Also well done Trixie, you were worrying not long ago you were being too slow and now just one to go!
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Post by trixiepony on Aug 17, 2015 0:01:33 GMT 1
Part of my getting through my books is that I'm just reading waiting for som outher books, one is Under the Flame Tree by Karen Wood, Karen has offered me a early copy for a drawing Iv dun of her and her horse Reo. The outher is a Liberey book. Tehe wounder if that would work with outer authors.
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Post by susanb on Aug 17, 2015 21:39:55 GMT 1
Smiley, please, for Gin and Murder ..... not a bad mystery at all, set amongst horsey people.
Also, I'm swapping Clammed Up by Barbara Ross for Glory by Lauren St. John.
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Post by trixiepony on Aug 18, 2015 9:35:39 GMT 1
Ok Mr Ed and me and more by Alan Young was enjoyable loved the little story's of what Ed got up too, but I wished it was more off that. There's a nice scattering of black and white photos through the book. I think I'll give it a nutritional face, I did enjoy it just not as much as outhers.
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Post by tintin on Aug 18, 2015 12:14:34 GMT 1
Please could I have a smiley face for:-
"The Princess and the Foal"
a super story very well told
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Post by susanb on Aug 19, 2015 18:06:16 GMT 1
Smiley, please, for Clammed Up by Barbara Ross.....light summer mystery, set in Maine, just what I was in the mood for
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Post by rallycairn on Aug 21, 2015 20:12:23 GMT 1
SMILEY please for DARK SUNSHINE.
Thanks!
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Post by Claire on Aug 21, 2015 21:53:21 GMT 1
Finished Sea Horses. It got better in the second half but not her best book. I'll give it a neutral/average. I have added one more book to my list as I've mostly only got short ones left and the newcomer is also a very short one I just picked up - The Castle Grey Pony by Denise Hill. Its for younger readers than her Jane and Jeremy series (which I really liked) so it won't take long. Updated everything today - but as per usual please check I've got it all correct lol. Congrats to Trixiepony who wins a trophy for completing the challenge Which book would you pick as your star read Trixie?
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Post by rallycairn on Aug 21, 2015 22:17:46 GMT 1
Claire, agree on Sea Horses - Hughes has some standard tropes - girl always has a crush interest but is always comely and so has no problem attracting said interest; always the super speshul bond with the horse, etc. I did enjoy the summery feel of this one and the island setting but it was all so predictable and a little flat.
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Post by brumby on Aug 21, 2015 22:22:10 GMT 1
I'm finished and may I have the biggest SMILEY for THE WAR THAT SAVED MY LIFE, its also my STAR READ. This is a beautifully written book, and one I couldn't put down. Do yourself a favour and grab a copy and get reading. I'm off to read some other books by this author.
Have thoroughly enjoyed the Summer Reading Challenge, thank you Claire for organising it, can't wait for next years...
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Post by rallycairn on Aug 21, 2015 23:55:34 GMT 1
I knew you'd love it, Brumby, isn't it wonderful? I also liked her book, The President's Daughter, about the Roosevelt daughter in the White House (early last century) and riding her pony around Washington, DC in Theodore Roosevelt's time (mostly about Ethel's experiences in the Cathedral school, though, and adjusting to being, well, the President's Daughter). But _War_ is a cut above that one in terms of depth of psychological development and so on.
Back to _War_: Don't you just love, "My foot's a long way from my brain?" and "A grateful nation thanks you for your service" and she gets an ... ONION! heehee such touches of realism that are funny yet gritty/difficult all at the same time.
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Post by trixiepony on Aug 22, 2015 0:21:25 GMT 1
Yes forgot to say star read mm think I'll give it to Ticket to Ride by Caroline Akrill I think it's because I haven't read it for so long only just got my on copy of it a couple of weeks ago. I finished at a good time as got phone call that have 3 books at library for me.
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Post by susanb on Aug 22, 2015 2:30:38 GMT 1
You timed it well, trixie, wish I'd done as well.....I had signed up for several books from my library that hadn't been released, not realizing that I'd be the first in line for each one....yikes. Just got Pattern of Lies by Charles Todd (336 pages), on Tuesday Lair of Dreams by Libba Bray hits (624 pages) and a week after that comes White Ghost by James Benn (352 pages)....going to be a busy few weeks Sob...the library bought Fair Girls and Grey Horses on my recommendation and now that's been delivered too!!!
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