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Post by tintin on Sept 11, 2015 10:15:24 GMT 1
www.lner.info/locos/A/racehorses.phpA bit ambitious to call your horse "Gay Crusader" ! Locomotive 60108 bore this name which always made us railfans snigger, especially as there was another engine named "Call Boy"
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Post by ginslinger on Sept 11, 2015 11:57:27 GMT 1
I re read Malory Towers in the Spring - all the spanking has been removed from those and replaced by scoldngs... they still have threesomes though!!!
Ooh great list Tintin... looks like Josephine PT borrowed a few racehorse/locomotive names - Dick Turpin, Tranquil are there too from West Barsetshire and I am sure there is a Sunstar in another non WB book...
I have been reading the original One Day Event; the editor doesn't like Hilary much - it is generally her speaking that gets lost but there are some real gems like the expanded version of Henry's opinion of the Hunters' eyes and Noel's theory that Gay has a crush on Henry.
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Post by Claire on Sept 12, 2015 0:46:36 GMT 1
lol Ginslinger How Gay everyone was in the old pony books! And spanking girls in one which I haven't read yet. Claire or others here will be able to tell you all about that one! Hmmm not sure why I am considered the authority on spanking! Astoundingly there are spanking incidents in more than 1 pony book!! There's spanking in Grey Arrow by Catherine Carey. Lorna Hill was also unhealthily interested in girls being spanked, it happened in at least one of her pony stories! Plus a teenager was spanked by her riding instructor in Dorian Williams' Wendy series (that one also included a peeping tom!) Gay also appeared quite a lot in ponybooks, often as a name: Gay of course in Pony Club Camp and then there's Gay and the Ponies by Elinore Havers and Gay Darius by H. M. Peel. I wonder how long gay has meant something other than happy, as a kid it didn't mean anything sexual to me but dont know whether that was cos I was too young to understand or because the word wasn't commonly used in its alternative form in those days (70s).
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Post by Claire on Sept 15, 2015 0:11:22 GMT 1
Well I finally got back on track with the reading challenge. I'm part of the way thru At Risk by Kit Erhmann, a USA based sort of Dick Francis type crime mystery. Not bad, a bit more racy than old Dick lol. However I have a HUGE bugbear, it's a pet hate of mine that just about every time a cat appears in a book or film you know it's just been stuck in there so it can be killed off later in the story. Not only is this not very pleasant for an animal lover (for heaven's sake I read crime novels to see humans get killed off not animals!!) but it's a very lazy and extremely cliched plot device. Anyhow thats my rant for the day over! Hopefully should finish this one in the next few days.
I'm going on hols for the next week so won't be able to update the smilies page, altho I should be able to pop on from time to time depending on how good the hotel's wireless is.
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Post by fizz on Sept 18, 2015 16:41:39 GMT 1
www.lner.info/locos/A/racehorses.phpA bit ambitious to call your horse "Gay Crusader" ! Locomotive 60108 bore this name which always made us railfans snigger, especially as there was another engine named "Call Boy" They're named after Derby Winners.
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Post by fizz on Sept 18, 2015 16:46:40 GMT 1
Gay also appeared quite a lot in ponybooks, often as a name: Gay of course in Pony Club Camp and then there's Gay and the Ponies by Elinore Havers and Gay Darius by H. M. Peel. I wonder how long gay has meant something other than happy, as a kid it didn't mean anything sexual to me but dont know whether that was cos I was too young to understand or because the word wasn't commonly used in its alternative form in those days (70s).[/quote]
I think it's a new term that came in around the end of the 1970s. I don't remember it being in use when I was at school, there were other unpleasant terms. Rainbows were not used a a symbol of homosexuality either. I remember there was a racehorse trainer called Gay Kindersley, think he only died fairly recently.
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Post by Claire on Sept 24, 2015 14:39:04 GMT 1
Well back from hols and back to reality. Had a great time but didn't do a lot of reading except on the plane as was so much to do!
I couldn't finish At Risk so sadly a frownie for this one. It wasn't badly written, it just didnt hold my attention at all and I didn't really care what happened next or about the characters.
Don't forget folks this the challenge is open until the end of the month so don't worry if you haven't finished yet.
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Post by haffyfan on Sept 26, 2015 13:04:04 GMT 1
Thanks for the extra time, means i might actually finish! My star read goes to game of thrones (as a collective), was sad to finish the last one (can it have a smiley please). I thought i'd missed the deadline but will start The Stars trilogy this weekend now.
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Post by Claire on Sept 26, 2015 17:23:34 GMT 1
Thanks for the extra time, means i might actually finish! My star read goes to game of thrones (as a collective), was sad to finish the last one (can it have a smiley please). I thought i'd missed the deadline but will start The Stars trilogy this weekend now. I won't finish my list. I think I was a bit ambitious to have 10! I will polish off the Joyce Stranger one in the next few days. I have somehow lost Black Swift tho. I'll have to find a new smiley for lost book! If I find it I'll probs be able to finish that one but no way will I be able to finish the last one in time. Susan - if you are about what was your star read for the challenge? Apologies if you have already said and I have missed it.
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Post by garej on Sept 27, 2015 0:18:55 GMT 1
I dont think I will finish mine either, as I havent picked up a book for ages.
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Post by susanb on Sept 27, 2015 15:01:06 GMT 1
Sorry, Claire, no I hadn't done a star. Hard to pick, they were all good, though none outstanding (I'm not including Dark Sunshine in my choices, because it was a re-read for me).
I guess I'll, narrowly, give the star to Gin and Murder by JPT....it was fun reading a familiar author doing an unfamiliar genre.
Kicking myself that I didn't have The War that Saved My Life in my challenge selection...it's getting a bit of Newbery buzz (the Newbery is like your Carnegie), though it's at a disadvantage as it was published very early in the year.
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Post by Claire on Sept 27, 2015 21:47:24 GMT 1
Kicking myself that I didn't have The War that Saved My Life in my challenge selection I was leaving that one til last as I had all the others already and some were on my TBR pile which I wanted to whittle down a bit. Unfortunately means I now won't have time to fit it in. Hmm possibly we could do this one as a reading circle book (for those who haven't read it already as part of the reading challenge). Those who have read it could also join in and add their own views.
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Post by susanb on Sept 28, 2015 1:37:38 GMT 1
I'm game! My flood of library requests is almost over (just the one I'm on right now.)
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Post by tintin on Sept 28, 2015 12:47:17 GMT 1
Still have "Riding Shotgun" to finish. All good books this year - (shows the forum works!) - Star book is Jerry - cannot praise this too highly - Jerry is boss!
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Post by Claire on Sept 28, 2015 13:12:28 GMT 1
I'm game! My flood of library requests is almost over (just the one I'm on right now.) I may make it the Autumn (October/November) read then that will take us to the Christmas read (shocking how time flies!) Glad you have enjoyed all your books Tintin. Sadly I can't say the same for all mine. I think its cos I picked a few I had been meaning to read for ages rather than 10 I really wanted to read. Fatal! Next year to hell with the TBR list!
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Post by Claire on Sept 30, 2015 22:24:45 GMT 1
I just managed to scrape in with Hound of Darkness by Joyce Stranger. As I'd picked this up a while ago and read the first couple of pages then put it down again, I didn't think I would enjoy it. But surprisingly I found it a really good read. Its something quite different from the normal pony story. Bit of a supernatural element to it. Interesting characters and some lovely Arabs. I'd recommend it to someone wanting something away from the ordinary traditional pony story - and also to all who love Arabs. And its short! Unfortunately I am unable to update the Reading Challenge webpage due to: a. Computer malfunction b. I am going away on Friday for a week for 'part 2' of my holidays. When I get back I will update the finished challenge webpage and we can maybe have a quick recap/discussion. This means that you can sneak in a last book or 2 in the next week or so.
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Post by kunuma1 on Oct 1, 2015 15:59:18 GMT 1
I just managed to scrape in with Hound of Darkness by Joyce Stranger. As I'd picked this up a while ago and read the first couple of pages then put it down again, I didn't think I would enjoy it. But surprisingly I found it a really good read. Its something quite different from the normal pony story. Bit of a supernatural element to it. Interesting characters and some lovely Arabs. I'd recommend it to someone wanting something away from the ordinary traditional pony story - and also to all who love Arabs. And its short! Unfortunately I am unable to update the Reading Challenge webpage due to: a. Computer malfunction b. I am going away on Friday for a week for 'part 2' of my holidays. When I get back I will update the finished challenge webpage and we can maybe have a quick recap/discussion. This means that you can sneak in a last book or 2 in the next week or so. I liked JS a lot, even though when it came to horses her heart was in the right place but she did get herself tied in knots factually! I thought that PT book A Home for Jessie read very like a JS book - vast improvement on the other DPT dog book!! Claire do I get a postcard this time? Have fun, and don't do anything I wouldn't do! Oh look I still can't do quotes!!
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Post by haffyfan on Oct 8, 2015 20:49:45 GMT 1
If i'm not too late can i have a huge smiley for the stars trilogy please...which means i actually finished for i think the first time ever! If it hadn't been a re-read it would have been my star read, Caroline Akrill is a fantastic writer, i'm going to reread everything else now!
I also have read the second Georgia book (shock, horror), not great, uber predictable but hey i read a second one now so theres no stopping me - well there wouldn't be if i owned them all but seems i'm a couple missing unless they're lurking on a different shelf.
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Post by Claire on Oct 11, 2015 14:56:23 GMT 1
Well done haffy You can award the star read to one you have read before. Unfortunately I have failed in the challenge for the 3rd time running. I think I was a bit ambitious selecting 10, I would have managed if I'd picked 8. Oh well maybe I'll finish it next year... Sorry I haven't been around here whilst on holiday, but had problems with internet connection. I'll try and sort out the end results of the challenge and post the final web page/smileys on line soon. If anyone has any last minute smileys / star reads to add get them in now.
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Post by Claire on Oct 11, 2015 15:00:30 GMT 1
Well done haffy You can award the star read to one you have read before. Unfortunately I have failed in the challenge for the 3rd time running. I think I was a bit ambitious selecting 10, I would have managed if I'd picked 8. Oh well maybe I'll finish it next year... Sorry I haven't been around here whilst on holiday, but had problems with internet connection. Sorry no postcard Kunuma lol I've given up sending them cos they always seem to arrive after I get back - I'll send you some pics tho. I'm glad you enjoyed the Jessie dog story. I'll try and sort out the end results of the challenge and post the final web page/smileys on line soon as I get my main laptop up and running again. If anyone has any last minute smileys / star reads to add get them in now.
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Post by ginslinger on Oct 12, 2015 22:07:59 GMT 1
I am afraid I got stuck in West Barsetshire having "invested" in the original versions of all - Pony Club camp seems pretty much unchanged in PB but the others got cut down a lot to the detriment if not of plot to the subtlety of the author's skill. There is a lot to amuse the adult reader in these books and they really were at an interesting time... apart from the change in riding style, I didn't realise that the 56 Olympics were the first that were open to riders who were not in the military and women were barred from the eventing (amazing to one who grew up idolising Lucinda Prior-Palmer as she then was. Casts a new light on the major'sjoking toast to Echo's success at the Olympic trials at the end of the Radney Riding Club since Henry would be the only one eligible regardless of ability. Also it is clear that Josephine in particular adored Henry Wynmalen... the entire series is almost a love letter in five volumes.
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Post by Claire on Oct 16, 2015 2:09:13 GMT 1
Hi all, I have finally got computers and software sorted and have posted the final results for the challenge on the dedicated web page. Well done to everyone. If anyone wants to add any final comments feel free to do so. I hope everyone enjoyed taking part.
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