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Post by garej on Apr 29, 2017 17:36:58 GMT 1
I started a thread about the summer reading challenge around this time last year. So I thought that I would discuss it again.
Some thoughts. It would be great to do your partners recommendation again. Other categories include new pony books (dunno whether to do the last Katy pony book or Horses, Divorces and Hissy Fits). I also suggested a book by a author that has died this century (so that includes the PTs, Dick Francis, Patricia Leitch and Babbette Cole for starters) last year but that was never taken up.
Thoughts anyone?
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Post by tintin on Apr 29, 2017 22:16:11 GMT 1
Oddly I have just been thinking about the summer challenge to occupy myself walking home after I missed the bus... I think the same as Garej, but with the addition of a non-fiction, an overseas one and an animal not a horse, mule or donkey one. I have started toying with my list
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Post by ginslinger on Apr 30, 2017 19:21:58 GMT 1
Sounds good. I definitely want to spread my net a bit wider from the nostalgia trips. Not that they are not fun.
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Post by garej on Apr 30, 2017 22:39:20 GMT 1
Oddly I have just been thinking about the summer challenge to occupy myself walking home after I missed the bus... I think the same as Garej, but with the addition of a non-fiction, an overseas one and an animal not a horse, mule or donkey one. I have started toying with my list Oh those are good suggestions as I bought Felix the Railway Cat with my birthday amazon voucher. Since it's about a cat it would fit into the non equine animal category or if it has to be fiction then into non fiction category. I have all the dog PT books which I have never read (with the exception of Dear Pup) so it would be a good excuse to read them if it has to be fiction (all my cat books are non fiction). Another category which sprang to mind is a book that has been made into a tv show or film. Examples include Horse in the House, Black Beauty, the first 3 Flambards books, War Horse, The Man From Snowy River, National Velvet, The Black Stallion, The Horse Whisperer, Flicka, Heartlands or Saddle Club. Primrose Cumming is another who died since the year 2000, since she died in 2004.
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Post by Claire on May 2, 2017 11:13:44 GMT 1
Good suggestions everyone. Yes, I definitely will keep the book recommendation side of things, though may change the way we did it a little from last year. We usually have a new book category which I will keep this year. I think we have had a non-pony animal book category some time in the past but whether we did or not, it's another good idea, as is overseas book. But non fiction - hmmm I'll struggle with that one myself!
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Post by susanb on May 5, 2017 17:44:29 GMT 1
Yea, so glad to see this thread already begun, as I've been thinking about my list too! Love all the suggestions! For the new book though, could it be something in the last, say, five years? There are some years when it can be really hard finding something that JUST came out that I actually want to read.
Also, in past years, there have been slots for "free choice", would like to keep a few of those too, as it's nice to be able to mix it up a bit.
Re garej's book-into-movie suggestion (great one, garej!), how about adding the movie too? If we all choose the same book, or even if there are a couple of book/movie combos to pick from, it could be fun. We'd probably have to go with one that we haven't done before though!
Hm....here's a pair that would spark a LOT of debate! (I dunno though, if anyone has blood pressure problems, that could be an issue )
A Girl and Five Brave Horses by Sonora Carter (non-fiction, and very cheap on kindle)
www.amazon.co.uk/Girl-Five-Brave-Horses-Contents-ebook/dp/B01KKTNCYG/ref=sr_1_1_twi_kin_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1494003347&sr=8-1&keywords=a+girl+and+five+brave+horses
It was made into the movie Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken
www.imdb.com/title/tt0103262/?ref_=nv_sr_1
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Post by garej on May 6, 2017 11:48:01 GMT 1
If we are specifying the film then can we make sure that the book is available as a physical copy? I don't really like ebooks so I am less likely to pick it if there's no physical copy.
I agree that there should be a free choice as I want really to read a few books and atm they don't really fit into any category. Though I probably won't choose ten books - I will probably be like last year and choose about 5.
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Post by susanb on May 6, 2017 16:45:01 GMT 1
A Girl and Five Brave Horses is available as a physical book, I just linked to the ebook because it was so cheap....not that the paperback is particularly expensive: www.amazon.co.uk/Girl-Five-Brave-Horses-x/dp/1530857538/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1494084413&sr=8-1&keywords=a+girl+and+five+brave+horsesBut yes, if we do a move/book combo (or even a couple of choices), the book would have to be available and reasonably priced, and the movie as well. Putting on the thinking cap, here are a few: Odds Against/Dick Francis (the show was The Racing Game) Blood Sport/Dick Francis Twice Shy/Dick Francis In the Frame/Dick Francis National Velvet/Enid Bagnold (I think we did this one already though) Black Beauty/Anna Sewell A Girl and Five Brave Horses/Sonora Carter (movie Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken) My Friend Flicka/Mary O'Hara Misty/Marguerite Henry King of the Wind/Marguerite Henry (I don't think this one is available in UK?) War Horse/Michael Morpurgo (I think we did this one too?) Black Stallion/Walter Farley Flambards/K.M. Peyton (this one is a mini-series though, would everyone be game?) Can anyone think of others?
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Post by garej on May 6, 2017 23:16:19 GMT 1
The Horse Whisperer has been made into a film.
The Silver Brumby has been made into q cartoon series. It's cheap on amazon uk.
Heartlands and Saddle Club are tv series. Out of the two Heartlands is the easiest and cheapest on amazon uk.
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Post by Claire on May 7, 2017 12:03:42 GMT 1
I like the idea of a film tie in, especially if we all do the same one. It's a long while since we watched a movie in the 'PMBL film club' so it will be nice to revive that. I'll also have a think on the film front. There was a youtube channel which had free horse movies on it. I will see if that is still available. For the last couple of summer reads the categories have been completely non-compulsary. So you can actually have 10 free choice books if you so desire. Nothing is set in stone. As an ex-tutor, I deliberately try NOT to make things too much like a college project and try to aim for free and easy. I think we started in June last year, which I want to do this year too. Which means it's actually not that long to go!
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Post by ginslinger on May 7, 2017 13:21:18 GMT 1
I think the only ones I have seen and read both are The Horse Whisperer which I think was changed quite a lot and I think I read the poem the Man from Snowy River (though if I have it still it is in storage) but I haven't seen all of the film. I did read the book and see the film of Champions but I am not sure that counts as non-fiction.
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Post by sarah on May 9, 2017 19:20:19 GMT 1
The Horsemasters!!!
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Post by susanb on May 9, 2017 22:01:45 GMT 1
Wow...it looks like it's the whole movie here, which I've never seen! It's never been on DVD. Thanks for posting the link!
Unfortunately, the book is crazy expensive
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Post by darkhorse on May 10, 2017 19:57:41 GMT 1
It all looks good! I'm looking forward to starting!
Thanks for the link to the film Sarah. I have a paperback copy of the book. I didn't realise it was expensive or rare?
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Post by susanb on May 11, 2017 0:12:18 GMT 1
I watched the movie last night, surprisingly not completely awful. You could certainly pick apart the unconvincing (to say the least) romance, and the corny singing bits, but there was a lot of good horse content. I'd buy it, if Disney would ever release it! BTW, if you have a ROKU box, they do have a youtube channel now, so you could watch the movie on tv. Not sure if other streaming devices offer youtube as a channel yet. darkhorse, re the book...it's hit or miss....if the seller doesn't know what they've got, you could get it very cheaply, but if they do....
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Post by garej on May 12, 2017 1:49:48 GMT 1
There's Escape from the dark which was filmed as The Littlest Horse Thieves. It's available as a Region 1 dvd which is only a problem if you don't own a multi region player or have hacked your existing player if you're not in the USA. Book isn't that hard to find.
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Post by rallycairn on May 13, 2017 5:43:41 GMT 1
I watched the movie last night, surprisingly not completely awful. You could certainly pick apart the unconvincing (to say the least) romance, and the corny singing bits, but there was a lot of good horse content. I'd buy it, if Disney would ever release it! BTW, if you have a ROKU box, they do have a youtube channel now, so you could watch the movie on tv. Not sure if other streaming devices offer youtube as a channel yet. darkhorse, re the book...it's hit or miss....if the seller doesn't know what they've got, you could get it very cheaply, but if they do.... I just love The Horsemasters, the day-to-day horse routines, the wonderful riding scenes, especially the big cross country day, but also the flatting/dressage descriptions. Susan, if I am interpreting your posts right, you haven't read it, and are just now seeing the movie? Wow, it's such a good one, and I am flabbergasted that I may have read something you haven't, lol. My pb copy is falling apart. It is a Scholastic, and they clearly took the 1950s edition picture and painted on a '60s bouffant hairdo onto the girl on the cover in a rather bizarre way for the printing I have (perhaps a poorly executed nod to Annette Funicello?) -- but I'm so glad to have a copy. Someone mentioned the Silvery Brumby series -- don't forget the film with a very young Russell Crowe!
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Post by susanb on May 13, 2017 13:21:54 GMT 1
Rally...I've read the book, and have a copy (have had for years), but I'd never been able to track down the movie, even back in the day when I HAD a VCR, (thank you again, Sarah, for posting that link!). I was just saying that for the purpose of picking a book and movie for the summer challenge, it might be tough, as affordable copies are hit or miss. I think it's really overpriced...it is good, but there were three US editions, and at least two UK editions, so it isn't like it's all that rare....and $52 for a paperback?
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Post by susanb on May 15, 2017 14:50:51 GMT 1
I took a look at the film club list, and realized that, as I suspected, we did do War Horse and National Velvet; we also did My Friend Flicka....both versions (how did I forget that?). A couple that I hadn't thought of were International Velvet (the book is available, but not sure how many people have access to the movie?) and The Horse in the Grey Flannel Suit, for which the film is available, but the book can be trickier to find. It came out as The Year of the Horse and as a Disney movie tie in (same text) under Horse in the Grey Flannel Suit, the author is Eric Hatch.
Claire, as June is just around the corner (eeek!) could we get a ruling soon on the movie/book combo and pairing up of partners for recommendation? Those are the two things people might need time to source, as they may or may not be coming out of someone's tbr pile!
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Post by garej on May 15, 2017 17:21:17 GMT 1
International Velvet is a bit tricky to source unless you own a multi region player. It is easily available as a Region 1 dvd however it does come up occasionally as a Region 0 disk. There's a seller on ebay atm which has a lot of copies on dvd for some reason they have listed in dollars but comes from UK. So now might be a good time to choose it as part of summer reading challenge. I have it on dvd already though.
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Post by Claire on May 16, 2017 8:33:46 GMT 1
Hi all just to say sorry have been AWOL for a few days. Have had a nasty tummy bug. I'll try and get the Summer Challenge sorted out in the next week or so. I thought we could start on June 21st as it's the Summer Equinox, considered by many the first day of Summer in the UK.
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Post by susanb on May 16, 2017 11:07:41 GMT 1
Sorry to hear you've been under the weather, Claire, hope you're feeling better soon! In the US, it's Memorial Day (last Monday in May) that is the kickoff of summer. This year, however, it's here already...it's going to be 92 (33.33c) on Thursday......bleh
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Post by garej on May 17, 2017 17:01:00 GMT 1
Hope you're feeling better soon Claire.
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Post by ginslinger on May 19, 2017 17:10:59 GMT 1
Aww they are grim. Even though you know you will be right in a couple of days, you still feel like death. I do anyway.
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Post by Claire on May 22, 2017 23:57:58 GMT 1
Thanks all for the well wishes.
Our Summers are very short - if at all in the North. We've had dreadfully cold weather the last couple of weeks - have had to have the heating on!! Heatwave for us this week though, yay!! - I'm talking 20 to 21C haha. 33? In our dreams...
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Post by Claire on May 28, 2017 22:06:04 GMT 1
Well folks I am in the process of finalising everything for the 2017 Readng Challenge. I will have a proper dedicated thread up and running shortly.
In the meantime, regarding the 'book recommendation' aspect of the challenge I thought to make things easier, rather than having partners like last year, instead we could each recommend a book and I will compile a list of the recommended books. We can then all pick a book of our choice from the list. So if you can post your recommendations here I will then add the list to the dedicated Challenge thread. Thanks.
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Post by susanb on May 29, 2017 17:12:42 GMT 1
Gah! You're killing me, Claire! Last year I was able to recommend an off the beaten track American book to tintin because I had a spare copy to send him, but I don't have multiple copies of one book that I could recommend/ship to the group As special dispensation to an overseas forumite, could I recommend a few titles that I have spares of? (It would go to providing UK participants with their overseas title )
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Post by garej on May 29, 2017 20:09:56 GMT 1
I recommend Dark Horse by Jenny Hughes. Available on kindle as well as a physical copy. It's the story of liz who loves Tanglewood, a riding school who is facing financial ruin. Basically the owners were gambling on their great uncle to save the riding school only to die. It's basically a mystery story combined with a riding school.
Just one thing that if you are doing a recommendation can it be available as a physical book? I don't like ebooks so if it's only available as an ebook then I am less likely to pick it up.
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Post by Claire on May 29, 2017 21:27:49 GMT 1
Gah! You're killing me, Claire! Last year I was able to recommend an off the beaten track American book to tintin because I had a spare copy to send him, but I don't have multiple copies of one book that I could recommend/ship to the group As special dispensation to an overseas forumite, could I recommend a few titles that I have spares of? (It would go to providing UK participants with their overseas title ) Sorry Susan, if I didn't make myself clear. No-one has to send any books to anyone (unless they want to). We are just compiling a list of recommended books which each person can then choose one from as part of their Challenge list. There were problems with the pairs situation last year due to one or two people dropping out/starting late and leaving the other half of the pair 'stranded' so to speak. So I thought this way would avoid it. If anyone would like to send a book to someone then that's all well and good but it's not a requirement, especially as postage costs are getting so high nowadays. All you have to do folks is recommend a book that you have really enjoyed and that you think others will also, and I'll add to it the 'Recommended Books' list which I will post on the Reading Challenge thread. If you have a copy you are happy to send out to someone then you could mention that too. Garej - Good suggestion re. recommendations not being e-books, so if we can keep our reccys to physical books only please.
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Post by brumby on May 30, 2017 1:00:49 GMT 1
Not sure how popular this choice will be as there's not many copies around but I thought some people may already have it and a couple of reasonably priced copies are available on eBay.
The milkman's cob - June Mary Groves
Anyway I'm going to reread it as part of the Reading challenge.
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