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Post by rallycairn on Jul 8, 2016 5:16:28 GMT 1
Crashing the party to give a vague harbinger of doom to @gunslinger: beware, you have risen to JPT heights with Gin and Murder, but Ghost Horse on the Moor may prove your undoing ... {ghostly moan}
Seriously, that book was a slog for me. Didn't know JPT had it in her to write such a boring one ... I certainly hope you don't find it as tiresome as I did!
Everyone seems to be having a great time getting started on their lists! Good luck to the readers!
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Post by brumby on Jul 8, 2016 9:31:40 GMT 1
Have finished The Connemara Whirlwind and it gets a smiley will have to find the time to read the others in the series. Was an enjoyable read, not the usual pony book and it has quite a good sense of humour.
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Post by kunuma1 on Jul 8, 2016 14:41:03 GMT 1
Well after doing a batch of modern children's pony books it's been bliss to read a proper book, I'd almost forgotten that books have atmosphere, descriptions, long words etc! I do have a probably very romanticized idea of the Australian Outback, a place I'd kill to visit, due entirely to my addiction to the Silver Brumby books - so to read about real life in that area is a treat!
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Post by ginslinger on Jul 8, 2016 16:24:27 GMT 1
Crashing the party to give a vague harbinger of doom to @gunslinger: beware, you have risen to JPT heights with Gin and Murder, but Ghost Horse on the Moor may prove your undoing ... {ghostly moan} Seriously, that book was a slog for me. Didn't know JPT had it in her to write such a boring one ... I certainly hope you don't find it as tiresome as I did! Everyone seems to be having a great time getting started on their lists! Good luck to the readers! Well it isn't very long to slog through (I am worried about not liking one of my non horse ones that is 600 odd pages) and I confess that I mainly chose it because I found a signed edition quite cheaply and had a sudden urge to see what her handwriting was like. I bought Stolen Ponies signed by Christine in the same splurge but I had a feeling I had read it already, and I may have done but I didn't remember it at all. However I haven't started Ghost horse yet. I am working my way through Wait for me - I am enjoying it but I am a lot slower reading non-fiction than novels and she had such a long and full life that it is quite concentrated and needs more concentration. The sort of book that potentially sets you off on a lot of others. The early childhood in Oxfordshire did have shades of "Fair girls and grey horses" although the Mitford Girls were clearly a lot grander and richer than the PTs. Nevertheless there is a closeness in time and location and the neglect of girls' education while a lone brother is sent to Eton and the vacuum being filled with books and dogs and horses.
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Post by Claire on Jul 8, 2016 22:10:26 GMT 1
Have finished The Connemara Whirlwind and it gets a smiley will have to find the time to read the others in the series. Was an enjoyable read, not the usual pony book and it has quite a good sense of humour. I'm glad you are enjoying the books I've recommended. I liked this one for the same reasons, it was different and funny. I would happily lend you the other 2 in the series if the bloomin post overseas wasn't so expensive nowadays. However if you can't get hold of them take solace in the fact that the first one is the best of the three IMHO. Well done to all who are cracking on with the challenge. Altho makes me feel a little guilty as I have only done one! I'm enjoying hearing everyone's opinions of their books however. I don't think Ghost Horse is JPT's best work, in fact that series is probably her worst, but I still found it readable enough. I must Say tho I have never been a big fan of the 'adventure' pony book I prefer the more traditional type of book where kids are just messing about with horses. Easter the Showjumper was I thought the worst in the Ann and Jim series. I much prefer her two wild horse stories - Fury (which I think is in Brumby's list) and Jago - to the Ann and Jim series. Well I am off to update the Reading Challenge web page now...
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Post by garej on Jul 9, 2016 10:49:45 GMT 1
I have finished BLIND BEAUTY and would give it a SMILEY. I don't think K M Peyton knows how to write a bad book - I have yet to read a disappointing book from her.
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Post by tintin on Jul 9, 2016 20:13:29 GMT 1
Please could I have a smiley face for "A Ceremonial Death" - although it focused, necessarily, on the seamier side of army life it was an uplifting book in the way it showed the good side. Not a book for children. A book with horses rather than a horsey book. Brought several smiles.
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Post by Claire on Jul 9, 2016 22:38:11 GMT 1
I have finished BLIND BEAUTY and would give it a SMILEY. I don't think K M Peyton knows how to write a bad book - I have yet to read a disappointing book from her. Totally agree Garej. I can't think of any bad one she has written. If anyone can suggest one I'd be interested to hear which one it is!
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Post by Claire on Jul 9, 2016 23:11:23 GMT 1
Have updated the web page folks and added smilies and frownies. As usual please check your lists to make sure I have got them right! Well done to Garej and Kunuma who have won the first rosettes of this year's challenge. Well after doing a batch of modern children's pony books it's been bliss to read a proper book, I'd almost forgotten that books have atmosphere, descriptions, long words etc! I do have a probably very romanticized idea of the Australian Outback, a place I'd kill to visit, due entirely to my addiction to the Silver Brumby books - so to read about real life in that area is a treat! Kunuma which Elyne Mitchell one are you talking about here?
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Post by brumby on Jul 10, 2016 6:48:35 GMT 1
Big smiley for one of the many books that my trusty partner Claire recommended Transitions/Horse in her heart.
This is the second time I have read this book and it was just as good the second time. Even though i knew what was going to happen it is so well written as it tackles a delicate subject without being overly sentimental ! The characters are very likeable including Rocket the horse.
I think what really makes me like this book is the lovely bond between Rocket and his guardians, Jane Ayres obviously has a strong emotional connection with our equine friends and draws on this to write great books.
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Post by haffyfan on Jul 10, 2016 12:54:31 GMT 1
I don't think Paradise house was K.M Peytons finest moment personally. I did read it but it wasn't her usual standard i didn't think. Nothing to do with the writing but i don't personally like her historical ones, but it's a general thing (I'm probably the only person alive who doesn't like downton...well the odd side saddle sequences are okay!), I liked the side saddle/learning to ride bits in Flambards but the rest was a real chore and i never finished the third one or even tried Divided. Same with Minna's quest, started it but didn't finish and Dear Fred too. Oh dear, opening a can of worms.
Must get started on the reading challenge...
Edited to add it might have been one of the gains books and not Minna's Quest i started and didn't like actually, meaning i've not tackled the other at all!
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Post by susanb on Jul 10, 2016 16:10:24 GMT 1
Finished The Buckle Horse, smiley please. While not a brilliant book, it's a short, charming, Black Beauty-esque story, and the Paul Brown illustrations are lovely!
Could I add one to my list? Piebald Princess by Nigel Robinson. I've been meaning to try one of these Luke Cannon mysteries for a while now!
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Post by kunuma1 on Jul 10, 2016 19:51:44 GMT 1
It was Black Cockatoos Mean Snow and I've done Flow River Blow Wind now too, just about to read them again as they deserve it - both get Smileys!
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Post by kunuma1 on Jul 10, 2016 19:58:03 GMT 1
I see someone has Hamilton, now I think I read that years ago and have never found it to read it again - it's set me off looking for it!
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Post by Claire on Jul 11, 2016 0:40:22 GMT 1
I don't think Paradise house was K.M Peytons finest moment personally. I did read it but it wasn't her usual standard i didn't think. Nothing to do with the writing but i don't personally like her historical ones, but it's a general thing (I'm probably the only person alive who doesn't like downton...well the odd side saddle sequences are okay!), I liked the side saddle/learning to ride bits in Flambards but the rest was a real chore and i never finished the third one or even tried Divided. Same with Minna's quest, started it but didn't finish and Dear Fred too. Oh dear, opening a can of worms. Must get started on the reading challenge... Edited to add it might have been one of the gains books and not Minna's Quest i started and didn't like actually, meaning i've not tackled the other at all! Can of worms well and truly opened lol. I thought Paradise and All that Glitter weren't up to her usual standard, but would not have called them bad. Unlike you Haffy I really love the historical ones as I'm interested in history. The Gains ones were about the trotters and Minna ones were set in Rome, if that helps you remember! Talking of Flambards has reminded me of one of her books I do dislike: Flambards Divided, not because it is badly written, but because it was an unnecessary addition to the original trilogy and what the characters did in that book were completely at odds with their personalities in the other books. I'll not say more so I won't spoiler it for anyone who hasn't read it yet but I will warn anyone who has read the first 3 and enjoyed them to think twice about reading Divided. Kunuma - I have Hamilton and can lend you it if you want to read it. I'll be interested in what Tintin thinks of it. It's a very unusual horse story to say the least. I do like it although like most of Catherine Cookson's books a touch over-melodramatic.
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Post by tintin on Jul 11, 2016 9:28:17 GMT 1
Big "eating banana sideways" type smile for Silver Snaffles - wonderful, wonderful book. Wish I'd read it years ago
I don't like Downton either apart from the horses, cliché after cliché after cliché and some wooden acting more than a bit predictble
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Post by garej on Jul 11, 2016 14:04:58 GMT 1
I don't like Flambards Divided either but I still wouldn't classify it as disappointing. Never read any of the others so can't comment.
I have started The Team From Low Moor. It's ok so far but I haven't got very far. I'm tempted to add two more books onto my reading list so I can get the 3rd rosette.
Anyway I was looking for The Wild One and The Ponies Of Bunts the other day. I was most upset that I couldn't find them. Thankfully I found them and neither my mum or me remember putting them where they were. I am mighty relieved because I am thinking of reading The Ponies of Bunts after I have finished The Team From Low Moor and The Dark Horse. I am not sure whether to make my other one a modern book because I have a couple on my Amazon wishlist.
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Post by tintin on Jul 11, 2016 16:31:44 GMT 1
Smiley face for "The Wednesday Pony" please
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Post by susanb on Jul 11, 2016 16:39:34 GMT 1
You're having a Primrose Cumming moment!
I've loved all the books I've read by her (still have a few to find). BTW, one that tends to fall of the pony-book-lovers radar, because it isn't pony-ish, is Owl's Castle Farm, which was terrific...you can usually find it pretty cheaply too, added bonus!
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Post by garej on Jul 11, 2016 18:05:03 GMT 1
Smiley face for "The Wednesday Pony" please I loved The Wednesday Pony too. I read it when they were doing electric work on my block of flats and therefore I had no electricity. I couldn't leave the flat because the workmen needed access. I remember borrowing a camping stove from my parents because my cooker is electric (the reason is why I had to buy a electric cooker is because my dad is an electrician and therefore could install it for free whereas if I had a gas cooker I would have had to pay for installation).
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Post by tintin on Jul 12, 2016 10:28:40 GMT 1
"You're having a Primrose Cumming moment!" - :-) yep
I have read "Silver Eagle Riding School", "Silver Snaffles", "Ben", "The Great Horses" and "The Flying Horseman" as well as this one.
I doubt Primrose Cumming ever wrote a duff book. She was a very gifted author - stories, style and settings vary hugely yet retain the same charm and interest
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Post by kunuma1 on Jul 12, 2016 13:39:57 GMT 1
Yes please to borrowing Hamilton, I must have borrowed it the time I read it before, because I can't remember enough about what it looked like to have ever owned it. Now lets see I've forgotten which ones I've rated and which I haven't - both the Elyne Mitchell ones get a big smiley, even though I don't 'get' all the relationship stuff they are so well written and such a marvellous snapshot of a time in Australian history. Also a smiley for by Ludo and the Star Horse Stewart, an enchanting fairy tale about a Haflinger ( haffyfan). Think I've done all the pony ones now and it's on to the others. Plus I'm tempted to run through the EM ones once more before I send them back lol!
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Post by garej on Jul 12, 2016 14:16:43 GMT 1
Still ploughing through The Team From Low Moor. I must admit that it's not grabbing me. It's a good enough tale so I doubt that it will get a frowny face. I will probably finish it (unlike Tan and Tarmac) though.
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Post by garej on Jul 12, 2016 18:57:46 GMT 1
I have finished The Team From Low Moor. Despite my previous post I really enjoyed it - I think that I must have hit a low spot. Loved the ending and I think the whole rider with disability coaches failing pony club was done as equally well as the Woodbury pony club series. So thanks darkhorse for recommending it.
Onto my final book in the challenge next - The Dark Horse. Unless something drastic happens I think that I will finish the challenge.
So THE TEAM FROM LOW MOOR gets a SMILEY face.
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Post by Claire on Jul 12, 2016 23:15:08 GMT 1
Hi all, I'm interested to hear everyone's reading experiences. I will update page, add smilies, etc in the next couple of days so if Garej (or anyone else) would like to add a book or 2 to their list (not you kunuma tho or I'll have to be getting more web-space haha) let me know and I can do that at the same time. I'm ashamed to say I haven't even got onto my 2nd book yet which is due to the fact I started to re-read The Stand by Stephen King the other day and am somewhat immersed in it! I need a train journey now in which to read some of the e-books on my tablet! Interesting that we were first talking about K M Peyton not writing a duff book and now Primrose Cumming. I thought her worst was probably Doney but even that wasn't a bad read it's just a bit too slow paced and old fashioned for my liking. I do like the Wednesday Pony, not as keen on The Chestnut Pony. I like the fact that she wrote in different styles and in different sub genres of pony books: traditional, fantasy and historical. Talking about duff books by authors has reminded me of a thread I meant to start a while back which was 'best and worst' books by particular authors. I'll start one up now. Hope it will be of some interest. If anyone would like to join in that discussion the link is here
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Post by susanb on Jul 13, 2016 3:45:49 GMT 1
I finished The Piebald Princess, so if you could give it a neutral when you add it, that would be great, Claire! I had heard this series was underwhelming, but horses and mysteries! Had to give it a try. I actually bought the first two....I'll probably get to the second one eventually, just to see if it improves, but I'm not holding out much hope I've started on Water Wagtail....errm....I'm finding it a bit hard to believe that this is such a cult favorite! Only 40 pages in though, maybe it just starts slow!
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Post by haffyfan on Jul 13, 2016 10:59:08 GMT 1
I finished The Piebald Princess, so if you could give it a neutral when you add it, that would be great, Claire! I had heard this series was underwhelming, but horses and mysteries! Had to give it a try. I actually bought the first two....I'll probably get to the second one eventually, just to see if it improves, but I'm not holding out much hope I've started on Water Wagtail....errm....I'm finding it a bit hard to believe that this is such a cult favorite! Only 40 pages in though, maybe it just starts slow! Water Wagtail is such a let down isn't it. I too had heard a lot of hype, bidded on numerous copies on ebay that went sky high then bought one for a fiver years later...so relieved i had never won one of the expensive ones as i didn't get it at all! Claire, don't worry i haven't started at all yet, still reading what i was finishing pre challenge, wish i'd just added it to my list now!
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Post by tintin on Jul 13, 2016 13:30:01 GMT 1
As it happens I have before me a copy of "The Joker and Jerry" (which is in beautiful condition with intact dust jacket - it's vendor incredibly described it as "Acceptable") and on the back of the jacket are rave reviews of "Water Wagtail"
"A delightful and vivid story. It is technically most accomplished and will give a great deal of pleasure" - The Irish Times
"A book for girls by girls, written and illustrated with a youthful vigour and charm" - Time and Tide
"Natural and convincing... author and illustrator may feel proud" - East Anglian Daily Times
The publishers themselves were almost rhapsodic
However, I think I might just give a miss for the meanwhile
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Post by ginslinger on Jul 13, 2016 17:39:41 GMT 1
Hi, I have finished both Wait for me and Ghost Horse on the Moor.
Wait for me gets a smiley . I am not particularly up on the Mitfords but I was more aware of her as chatelaine of Chatsworth and she really did have a fascinating life seeming to know or be related to everyone who was anyone but it wasn't an entirely gilded life - she lost three babies born too prematurely to survive as well as her brother to the war and so on.
I think I am going to have to go for a conflicted on Ghost Horse on the Moor. It wasn't as bad as I had feared from the auspices of doom brought by our friendly harbinger and objectively it isn't worse than Redhall Riders which I enjoyed having had very low expectations but this is Josephine PT and by her standards it is a bit of a pot boiler. It is a bit thin on plot and characterisation. I wonder if Josephine disliked having to write to publishers' orders for a modern audience? Shorter, simpler, no chance to show her wit? Don't know but it was a disappointment.
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Post by tintin on Jul 13, 2016 17:57:24 GMT 1
Two of my books arrived today and I am very taken with them. However, one made me smile for reasons nothing to do with horses
The book was "cut" (older books sometimes were made with many of the pages joined together and the purchaser had to split them with a knife.)
When my father was at Theological College he was very studious and read widely, one of the other students laughed at him and said he only needed to read one book. When they graduated the other student, who scraped through, gave my father the book as he "no longer needed it". When he came to read the book my Dad was amazed to find about 25% of the pages remained un-cut...
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