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Post by garej on Jul 12, 2017 0:32:38 GMT 1
This got me thinking. If you were new to pony books or were returning to them as an adult, which 50 books would you recommend that they read? Can be a mixture of British or overseas, modern or old.
I am not expecting everyone to recommend 50 books but if everyone recommends a few then we could narrow the list to 50. Or if we are feeling ambitious then 100 books.
My starter books would be the following :-
Jills Gymkhana by Ruby Ferguson. Silver Snaffles by Primrose Cumming Phantom Horse by CPT Six Ponies by JPT Fly by Night by K M Peyton
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Post by susanb on Jul 14, 2017 20:24:42 GMT 1
Great idea, but wow, tough to choose Here are a few American titles, in no particular order The Secret Horse by Marion Holland Horse in the House by William Corbin The Horsemasters by Don Stanford The Crumb by Jean Slaughter Doty Dark Sunshine by Dorothy Lyons Horsepower by Patsey Gray Bright Spurs by Armine von Tempski And there simply MUST be something from Vian Smith on the British side. My own sentimental favorite is King Sam/US title Tall and Proud, though it's oddly tough to find in the UK. The Lord Mayor's Show is also brilliant, and much easier to source
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Post by susanb on Jul 14, 2017 20:29:38 GMT 1
Ha! I just noticed something....garej, you didn't list the two obvious British books: Black Beauty and National Velvet, and I didn't include the two American books that appear on every list: The Black Stallion and Misty of Chincoteague. Maybe this will be the "Off-the-Beaten-Track" list of pony books you need to read before you die
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Post by Claire on Jul 14, 2017 21:23:01 GMT 1
Great idea for a discussion, but I'll have to really think about this one and come back to it!
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Post by susanb on Jul 14, 2017 23:00:52 GMT 1
You know, if we came up with a good list, it might be a fun source for group reads going forward, and/or as a category for next summer's challenge...."pick a book from the list that you haven't read before"!
The only problem with lists like these is that if you do it by poll, the ones that get in are the ones that the majority of people polled have already read, which defeats the purpose.
Not sure how you'd go about winnowing down without eliminating good books that people haven't read. Everyone gets to name a certain number? Or a "make your case" for your books, so that people get an idea of WHY you're listing this book/author they've never tried before?
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Post by trixiepony on Jul 15, 2017 11:13:10 GMT 1
Good Idea, I will have to think on this one, and as you know Im not here that much now.
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Post by Claire on Jul 15, 2017 22:11:10 GMT 1
Yes Susan it would be a good idea but the logistics of it might be quite hard to work out!
Anyhow here are some 'must reads' from me (in no particular order):
UK: BLACK BEAUTY - ANNA SEWELL SIX PONIES - JPT PONY CLUB TEAM - JPT PONY CLUB CAMP - JPT PRINCE AMONG PONIES - JPT I WANTED A PONY - DPT THREE PONIES AND SHANNON - DPT THE HORSE SALE - CPT I RODE A WINNER - CPT THE TEAM FROM LOW MOOR - GILLIAN BAXTER JUMP TO THE STARS - GILLIAN BAXTER DREAM PONY - ELINORE HAVERS SILVER SNAFFLES - PRIMROSE CUMMING FOR LOVE OF A HORSE - PAT LEITCH DREAM OF FAIR HORSES - PAT LEITCH WAR HORSE - MICHAEL MORPURGO THE HERON RIDE - MARY TREADGOLD A STABLE FOR JILL - RUBY FERGUSON TEN PONIES AND JACKIE - JUDITH BERRISFORD THE LITTLE WHITE HORSE - ELIZABETH GOUDGE EVENTER'S TRILOGY - CAROLINE AKRILL THE SILVER BRIDLE - CAROLINE AKRILL I'D RATHER NOT GALLOP - CAROLINE AKRILL NATIONAL VBLVET - ENID BAGNOLD TAKING FLIGHT - SHEENA WILKINSON BLACK HUNTING WHIP - MONICA EDWARDS I WROTE A PONY BOOK - JOANNA CANNAN THE WILD ONE - MONICA EDWARDS FURY - H M PEEL FLAMBARDS - K M PEYTON FLY-BY-NIGHT - KM PEYTON BLIND BEAUTY - KM PEYTON CRAB THE ROAN - KM PEYTON AS KATHLEEN HERALD MYLOR - MICHAEL MAGUIRE A HORSE CALLED SEPTEMBER - ANN DIGBY COBBLER'S DREAM - MONICA DICKENS THE HOUSE AT WORLD'S END - MONICA DICKENS THE TEN POUND PONY - VERONICA WESTLAKE COME DOWN THE MOUNTAIN - VIAN SMITH TRANSITIONS - JANE AYRES COME TO GRIEF - DICK FRANCIS
NON UK: PONY FROM TARELLA - MAVIS THORPE CLARK MY FRIEND FLICKA - MARY O'HARA KING OF THE WIND - MARGUERITE HENRY THE BLACK STALLION - WALTER FARLEY DARK HORSE OF WOODFIELD - FLORENCE HIGHTOWER MIG O THE MOOR - NANCY CAFFREY SHADOW HORSE - ALISON HART DARK FIRE - ANGELA DORSEY CAN I GET THERE BY CANDLELIGHT - JEAN SLAUGHTER DOTY THE CRUMB - JEAN SLAUGHTER DOTY THE SILVER BRUMBY - ELYNE MITCHELL
I've tried to include a range of genres and types of story. Some of the books aren't outstanding reads but rather sum up the atmosphere of the ideal/popular pony book in it's heyday. I've also tried to include some modern books I've found really excellent.
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