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Post by ginslinger on Jul 1, 2017 15:10:15 GMT 1
A smiley fo Who sir, me sir please. Like not love perhaps but good of its type. Peyton does adolescents well. Black stallion is on YouTube btw - partly why I chose it! Oh thanks for that, ginslinger, (had to retype that as I though it was gunslinger!! - I'm reading about cowboys and indians at the moment!!) I will see if I can find it - I remember not thinking much of the film but loving the bits with the stallion on the beach! (Even though I'm convinced it was a different horse at that point) It probably is - I know they used more than one horse "actor" for some main horse characters in Lord of the Rings for example and sometimes it is quite obvious that the actor in the close ups is riding a different horse to the stunt person in the long shots. I need to order the book - I had it years ago but I don't think I have it now even in storage. I have only seen the beginning so far. I may try to watch over the weekend. I think I will see the film first with only distant memory of the book since I am usually disappointed if I read the book first.
Don't worry about the gunslinger thing - it happens all the time, I have discovered it autocorrects to that often even if correctly typed.
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Post by garej on Jul 2, 2017 1:42:47 GMT 1
I have discovered that The Racing Game is on YouTube too - ideal for those who either can't play the dvd due to regional issues or don't want to fork out for the dvd.
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Post by ginslinger on Jul 2, 2017 13:04:16 GMT 1
Oh thanks for that. The price on amazon did put me off a bit.
Smiley for the Patricia Leith Pony stories. Not particularly demanding and would have been a bit insubstantial on their own but probably excellent for younger readers. Full of typical pony book stuff.. the run down riding school, the rich uncle, the rescued from the knacker pony who only really needs a week at grass to be the perfect pony to turn a virtual beginner into a champion. There is a hint of magic with the unicorn charm though but it is not enough to put you off if you aren't into that sort of thing. More a lucky charm that works rather than hocus pocus.
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Post by garej on Jul 3, 2017 13:10:44 GMT 1
I have finished Felix the Railway Cat and would give it a SMILEY.
Started The Milkman's Cob. I had a wobble because of the nasty bit near the beginning (I don't want to say much as I know that I am not the only person who is reading it) and due to recent events I didn't need it. But I am enjoying it other than that - it's very readable.
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Post by garej on Jul 3, 2017 15:16:45 GMT 1
Do we give ratings such as smileys to the film once we have watched it Claire? Thanks to the god awful proboards app I can't see the polls.
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Post by kunuma1 on Jul 4, 2017 15:40:08 GMT 1
Finished Star the Indian Pony - a little odd, bit Bonanza meets Silver Snaffles!! I'm indifferent leaning towards a smiley!! It had an almost sort of nearly happy ending so I'll be generous and give it a smiley.
The Brian Cox book too gets a smiley, (actually if he rewrote the telephone directory I'd still give him a smiley!!)
Dragon Chronicles also get a smiley
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Post by Claire on Jul 4, 2017 16:49:12 GMT 1
Hi folks sorry I haven't updated the web page as yet have not even had time to check on the forum the last 2 days so much to do !!! I will update asap. I have discovered that The Racing Game is on YouTube too - ideal for those who either can't play the dvd due to regional issues or don't want to fork out for the dvd. Thanks for that Garej. Although my copy cost me just over £2.50 on Amazon including postage !!! Do we give ratings such as smileys to the film once we have watched it Claire? Thanks to the god awful proboards app I can't see the polls. Yes, just rate the films the same as the books. For people who can get on the polls, please do rate them there too. Oh Garej, BTW if you just use the web version of the forum on your phone you may be able to see the polls/vote in them. I can on my iphone thru Safari. I'm not a big fan of apps and try to use the web version if possible and pooboards isn't actually that bad, believe it or not! Well I finished my first read, The Last of the Winnebagos by Connie Willis. A smiley for this one, in fact it really blew me away. Its a very well written and emotional piece about the love that humans have for dogs. Not a cosy read however, very sad at times. It's a scifi novella, set in a Dystopian world where dogs have become extinct. Before reading this I actually thought the story was about a couple who find the last dog alive but sadly I got it wrong and it is about how the last dog died. So, as I say a very sad and poignant read. NOT for anyone who has recently lost an animal. I could not have read this a year or two back. But central to the story is how much of an effect the love for a dog can have on a person and the guilt that losing an animal evokes. And of course it really does bring to home the plight of animals becoming extinct by focusing on an animal everyone knows and sees every day rather than some obscure animal in a jungle thousands of miles away. I'd highly recommend it as long as you are feeling emotionally strong.
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Post by susanb on Jul 5, 2017 15:38:08 GMT 1
I finished Another Kind of Cowboy by Susan Juby over the weekend, big smiley, please!
Every year I've been trying to include one book that has a bit of diversity about it, and a number of them have turned out to be excellent. This one might be the best so far, it's the first I've read (or even seen) where the protagonist is gay. Alex Ford is a typical horse mad kid, with a lot of talent. He's not without issues though...his mother has left the family, his dad is living in a trailer in the front driveway, and everyone thinks he's straight. And that all the horse-craziness is a desire to be a cowboy. What he really wants to do is ride dressage and find a way out of the closet that won't freak out his dad or his friends. Lots of great horse detail, excellent characterization, and nothing in the way of romance that would scare even the most timid and sheltered of horses Recommended:
link to book Another Kind of Cowboy
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Post by Claire on Jul 5, 2017 19:24:25 GMT 1
I finished Another Kind of Cowboy by Susan Juby over the weekend, big smiley, please! [] I've always thought that book sounded like it might be an interesting read Susan. I too like something a bit different form the norm from time to time. Thanks for the link. I'm surprised it's such a low price in the UK.
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Post by Claire on Jul 5, 2017 19:54:57 GMT 1
Just to add have updated the web page with the new smilies. Can I please remind everyone (or in case you don't already know) when you post the book you have read and it's rating/smiley can you put it in either bold, capitals or a different colour (some mobiles don't do bold) so that I don't miss it. Thanks.
I'm glad everyone seems to be enjoying things so far - lots of smileys!
I've just got the DVD for The Racing Game through the post so I think my next book will be the Dick Francis.
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Post by louise on Jul 6, 2017 21:17:32 GMT 1
Another SMILEY for THE TEAM (K M Peyton) 😊😊😊😊. Fly by Night is one of my all time favourites, but I initially struggled to warm to this sequel and the main character, Ruth. However, both got better as the book went on.
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Post by garej on Jul 8, 2017 12:28:39 GMT 1
I finished THE MILKMAN'S COB last night. Great book and it was easily readable despite it being told from several people's pov which I am never too sure about. However I would give it a SMILEY.
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Post by Claire on Jul 9, 2017 21:35:38 GMT 1
Hi louise, I LOVE The Team. I really liked the dynamics between Ruth, Peter and Toad, and I liked the hint of romance between Ruth and Peter. Did you know that there are more books to follow featuring Peter, Jonathan and Ruth?
Well I changed my mind about doing the Dick francis next cos I couldn't find my copy anywhere! So I am reading Cross Country Pony by Pat Leitch next instead.
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Post by garej on Jul 10, 2017 0:36:44 GMT 1
I know what book I am starting next: Katy's Pony Summer. Mainly because I don't have the Dick Francis book and Katy's Pony Summer is the only one left on my list.
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Post by brumby on Jul 10, 2017 5:39:00 GMT 1
Finished All that glitters - K M Peyton definitely deserves a smiley
Also finished Sweet Running Filly - Barbara van Tuyl and it also gets a smiley
Thank you for the recommendation, I think it was from Susanb thoroughly enjoyed it!
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Post by susanb on Jul 10, 2017 15:20:23 GMT 1
Brumby, I'm so glad you enjoyed The Sweet Running Filly. I've always thought the plot was, in an odd way, exactly right. A non-career criminal taking advantage of a very specific set of circumstances, that could never have been arranged, and thus that no professional crook would ever have been involved in.
Sadly, I must report my first dud....frowney please for The Quicksilver Horse by Anne Digby....it just didn't do it for me.
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Post by garej on Jul 10, 2017 22:12:50 GMT 1
I have started Katy's Pony Summer. It's good so far enjoying it. As I have said before I don't think that Victoria Eveleigh knows how to write a bad book.
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Post by kunuma1 on Jul 11, 2017 15:25:14 GMT 1
OK so Shy Boy gets a big smilie, but Cross Country Pony gets an ooooops as I was convinced I had it but obviously either I'm thinking of something else or I borrowed it at one time and don't have it now, can anyone confirm that I'm thinking of the right book - girl gets given a Highland pony to look after and discovers it can jump? Or is it the one where a family of children start a very dodgy pet sitting business? If it's either of those I can score it on my vague memory.
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Post by garej on Jul 12, 2017 11:41:36 GMT 1
My copy of Odds Against has arrived so I shall start it as soon as I have finished Katy's Pony Summer.
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Post by garej on Jul 13, 2017 18:27:51 GMT 1
I have finished KATY'S PONY SUMMER and really enjoyed it. It had the typical pony book thing of a pony falling into a bog. So I would give it a SMILEY.
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Post by Claire on Jul 13, 2017 20:43:23 GMT 1
Sorry to hear you didn't enjoy The Quicksilver Horse Susan. I like it, although it's not in the same league as A Horse Called September IMHO.
Kunuma - Cross Country Pony is the dodgy pet-sitting business one. Lol. Good description in a way. Although I enjoyed re-reading it, looking at it from an adult point of view the whole set up is highly unlikely. I can just about imagine Harold's owner leaving him with them but the woman with the show ponies leaving them in the care of 3 scruffy kids - I don't think so! Still it's a fun easy read and I enjoyed re-visiting one of my favourite pony characters, the cantankerous non-beautiful Harold. So a smiley for me for this one.
Have also read The Ugly Pony. An extremely short read, you can do it in a coffee break. Although you can download this free as a kindle 'book' it actually appears to be part of a set of stories which are collected into one book - Magical Adventures & Pony Tales. So it's a bit of a cheat really. That said I enjoyed it. It's a horsey re-working of The Ugly Duckling tale. Has a good little moral message about not judging by appearances, a nice twist which you can probably guess but is still satisfying. I'd give it a smiley. (If I have time near the end of the challenge I may download the other stories and read them too)
Started on Odds Against now and really enjoying it. Although I've read the later Sid Halley books recently, it's ages since I read the first one in the series. I think the trilogy of original Sid Halley books are Francis' best work. Really looking forward to seeing how the book and characters translate to the screen. So thanks to Susan for suggesting this.
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Post by kunuma1 on Jul 13, 2017 22:33:26 GMT 1
Thanks Claire, OK so in that case Cross Country Pony would get a Smiley! Actually dodgy pet sitting businesses are the latest fad around here, with everyone who has a spare bedroom filling it with dogs,cats and probably horses! The money they charge had me spluttering!!
In Times Like These gets a Smiley, I thought I'd found a new author so I've managed to get hold of the next one, BUT a dog has appeared out of the blue and usually that means the poor thing is going to suffer the same fate as a red shirt on Star Trek - if he does, then this author is out of favour permanently and that will be a short love affair!!
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Post by brumby on Jul 14, 2017 2:47:12 GMT 1
Just finished A Kingdom in a Horse and its a big smiley Really enjoyed it, the characters were very likeable, lots of horsey content and of course some teenage angst. There were a few moments in the book where I thought that is highly unlikely, but truth be told I didn't really care there was too much to like about it.
Well written I couldn't put it down, has anyone else read it and enjoyed it?
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Post by susanb on Jul 14, 2017 15:16:00 GMT 1
brumby, Kingdom in a Horse has been in my tbr pile for (you'll forgive me) a donkey's years. One of these days!
The author Maia Wojciechowska won the Newbery award for her book Shadow of a Bull
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Post by Claire on Jul 14, 2017 21:26:36 GMT 1
Kingdom is one of the many books I want to read but have never got round to, I'll have to move it up the pile! If we ever had a top 10 for the hardest pony book author names to spell I think she would win!
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Post by tintin on Jul 14, 2017 21:31:13 GMT 1
Big smile for:-
The Horse is Never Wrong
Please
A very interesting thought provoking book about school days
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Post by ginslinger on Jul 14, 2017 22:22:19 GMT 1
Ooh one of my Pat Leitch trio of books had a pony in a bog. Not sure I had wver had that happen before.
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Post by kunuma1 on Jul 15, 2017 15:59:41 GMT 1
I've read Kingdom in a Horse but can't remember what it was about!! Don't think I disliked it - I'll have to read it again! Finished Rascal by Sterling North, that gets a smiley. Will now have to go and find my list on here as I have totally forgotten what else I meant to read!!
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Post by garej on Jul 15, 2017 19:09:57 GMT 1
I have started on Odds Against. Not really grabbing me atm but it's early days so I will persist. If I can get through The Last Baronet then I can get through this.
Not sure whether to add 2 more books to get another rosette if Claire will let me. There's nothing on the telly in the afternoon once Wimbledon has finished so I might as well read another couple of books.
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Post by Claire on Jul 15, 2017 21:17:56 GMT 1
I have started on Odds Against. Not really grabbing me atm but it's early days so I will persist. If I can get through The Last Baronet then I can get through this. Not sure whether to add 2 more books to get another rosette if Claire will let me. There's nothing on the telly in the afternoon once Wimbledon has finished so I might as well read another couple of books. Lol at the Last Baronet. You did better than me cos I never finished it! Yes no problem about adding books to your list. Just let me know and I will add them when I do a smiley update.
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