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Post by brumby on Jul 10, 2018 7:07:31 GMT 1
Oops I seem to have been left behind, everyone else has started at a gallop!
Jumper gets a big smiley Not sure what I really expected, to be honest wasn't all that excited about reading this one but I really enjoyed it. I did think it was a bit funny that 10yo Denis was given the colt as his own but he was rarely mentioned in the story, there was more detail of Jumper's bond with Gerasim the father.
The pony vacation and Pony trek both get gigantic smileys If I could give these books more than one I would. This series is exactly my favourite type of pony book, I'm so glad they were recommended, will start on Pony winter tonight.
All of these books were illustrated by Jennifer Bell, but I feel there is a distinct improvement in the illustrations (in the body of the book not the covers) in Pony Trek and Pony Winter, at first I thought it was just the printing but I think the second two books are more realistic certainly for me anyway. Would love to know the thoughts of others?
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Post by trixiepony on Jul 10, 2018 11:16:33 GMT 1
I enjoyed Pine Hollow Reining in, I like the storys with Lisa as main story. the teenage boy troubles were a bit over dune but thats modern pony YA for you. so Smiley for it. Now what will I read next.
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Post by kunuma1 on Jul 10, 2018 12:38:09 GMT 1
Dark Champion gets a smiley
I found Three Jays Across the Border, which is the only THree jays book I like while I was looking for the Crin Blanc one, so will have a quick reread of that - it was someone's recommendation i think.
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Post by kunuma1 on Jul 10, 2018 12:43:04 GMT 1
Ok my pick I’m not shore on a translated pony book but the one I’m reading right now was first published in German 1 Dragon Rider the Griffin’s Feather by Cornelia Frunke not pony but there is a Pegasus in it but I’m all ready reading it hope that’s ok Claire? 2 Pony Club Trek by JPT recommended 3 The Heaenly Horse by Mary Stanton 4 Pine Hollow 3 reining in by Bonnie Bryant 5 Pine Hollow 8 Course of Action by Bonnie Bryant 6 pine Hollow 11 Cross Ties by Bonnie Bryant 7 Broken Heart Club by Cathy Cassidy 2016 Trixiepony have you got all the Pine Hollow ones - I find them very depressing so if there are any you would like I'll see if I've got it.
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Post by ginslinger on Jul 10, 2018 22:37:56 GMT 1
Downhill all the way gets a Smiley. Great fun and a worthy successor to Who sir me sir? I don’t know that many writers can change gear so well between children’s , young adult and adult books.
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Post by louise on Jul 10, 2018 22:47:08 GMT 1
I have finished SIX PONIES and am going to controversially give it a CONFLICTED SMILEY. It was an easy enough read with a slightly different story line to other Pony books, which I liked. However, on the downside, the characters were a pretty awful bunch, it could have done with some more action and there was a lot of poor treatment of the ponies, including full-on beating. I know it is a popular book, but the handling of the ponies was a real negative for me.
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Post by garej on Jul 10, 2018 23:05:19 GMT 1
Did you read the armada paperback or the first edition /fidra books one Louise? If it was the armada paperback I recommend getting hold of either the first edition /fidra books one as so much was cut out in the armada paperback your attitude may change if you read the full book
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Post by Claire on Jul 10, 2018 23:58:21 GMT 1
I have finished SIX PONIES and am going to controversially give it a CONFLICTED SMILEY. It was an easy enough read with a slightly different story line to other Pony books, which I liked. However, on the downside, the characters were a pretty awful bunch, it could have done with some more action and there was a lot of poor treatment of the ponies, including full-on beating. I know it is a popular book, but the handling of the ponies was a real negative for me. Even though I love the book myself, I can kind of see where you are coming from. There was some atrocious behaviour and the beating scene was quite shocking, but it was written way back in the 1940s and I feel that one of the main points of the book was trying to change old attitudes to horses (backward seat, breaking in roughly, punishing animals, etc) to a more enlightened view. The awful children do get their just desserts, more so as Garej says in the first edition or Fidra edition with the original text. I've never really thought about it before but I think John is probably the character that first represents the old way as his farmer father is always poopooing the Major's technique, advocates the backward seat etc and then John is seen losing his temper and beating his youngster. But the Major brings John round to his view point and he actually becomes one of the more decent and dedicated characters in the series. I hope you don't let it put you off reading the rest of the series, as they are much more upbeat and humourous, without so much awful behaviour.
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Post by trixiepony on Jul 11, 2018 8:37:33 GMT 1
Ok my pick I’m not shore on a translated pony book but the one I’m reading right now was first published in German 1 Dragon Rider the Griffin’s Feather by Cornelia Frunke not pony but there is a Pegasus in it but I’m all ready reading it hope that’s ok Claire? 2 Pony Club Trek by JPT recommended 3 The Heaenly Horse by Mary Stanton 4 Pine Hollow 3 reining in by Bonnie Bryant 5 Pine Hollow 8 Course of Action by Bonnie Bryant 6 pine Hollow 11 Cross Ties by Bonnie Bryant 7 Broken Heart Club by Cathy Cassidy 2016 Trixiepony have you got all the Pine Hollow ones - I find them very depressing so if there are any you would like I'll see if I've got it. I like some off them.
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Post by ginslinger on Jul 11, 2018 10:26:49 GMT 1
I love Six Ponies for the humour and the portrayal of characters if not all the actual characters and I like the feistier version of Noel and the thoughtful Hilary. But I do know what you mean about the animal welfare and if anything I think Rufus’ treatment was probably worse overall and it is a weakness that his neglect is only picked up at the end. This might be a reason why so much of the Morrison’s is cut in the paperback version.
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Post by louise on Jul 11, 2018 12:43:25 GMT 1
It was an Armada paperback edition. I was pleased that the majority of the characters did learn from their mistakes and by the end, John was actually one of the more promising children. Richard was just horrid and June got her comeuppance (thankfully)! I’m quite happy to give the rest of the series a go, once I’ve caught up with the rest of you on this challenge (still 8 to go). Everyone is doing very well.
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Post by garej on Jul 11, 2018 20:39:28 GMT 1
I haven't done much reading lately so I am still on The Mystery Trek by Primrose Cumming.
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Post by brumby on Jul 11, 2018 23:11:36 GMT 1
Another smiley for The pony winter, thank for the recommendation Rally it was certainly an enjoyable series. Its a pity the books are a bit hard to come by (especially in Australia) and Pony Trek seems to be quite expensive, luckily that was the one i already had. I also got The gift horse by Gill Morrell, so am hoping that will also be a good read.
Really enjoying the reading challenge, now to decide what to read next?
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Post by Claire on Jul 12, 2018 17:45:19 GMT 1
Web page updated, but do check everything is up to date as it is easy to miss the odd book out.
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Post by brumby on Jul 13, 2018 1:22:28 GMT 1
Dark champion is another smiley Story line was a little far fetched but still an enjoyable read
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Post by rallycairn on Jul 13, 2018 3:10:16 GMT 1
Oops I seem to have been left behind, everyone else has started at a gallop! The pony vacation and Pony trek both get gigantic smileys If I could give these books more than one I would. This series is exactly my favourite type of pony book, I'm so glad they were recommended, will start on Pony winter tonight. All of these books were illustrated by Jennifer Bell, but I feel there is a distinct improvement in the illustrations (in the body of the book not the covers) in Pony Trek and Pony Winter, at first I thought it was just the printing but I think the second two books are more realistic certainly for me anyway. Would love to know the thoughts of others? I will definitely pay attention to the illustrations when I read them; these books really are underrated, I think -- so much good pony stuff AND personal/interpersonal growth, all at a level appropriate to the targeted audience, of course. I don't have anything else by Gill Morrell other than this trilogy, so please let us know how The Gift Horse is. Presumably good!
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Post by tintin on Jul 14, 2018 19:23:21 GMT 1
PRETTY KITTY HERRICK
scrapes a smiley. Very, very well written, but totally beats you about the head with its moral agenda. Nowhere near enough horse related material, but what there is absolutely excellent. However, how can one dislike a book where the villain is so awful the hero chews his own moustache in frustrated rage?
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Post by trixiepony on Jul 15, 2018 5:53:41 GMT 1
Candy floss by Jacqueline Wilson gets a smilley. A cute story.
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Post by susanb on Jul 15, 2018 17:21:43 GMT 1
slogging through Thudding Hoofs.....a book that gives it's protagonist a bunch of Faults so that he may benefit from Timely Lessons and Improve his Character. Sigh. BTW, Claire, I noticed that you have it listed as "Thundering", it's actually a very aptly named "Thudding" ...... thud
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Post by kunuma1 on Jul 15, 2018 19:15:45 GMT 1
OK so Wild White Stallion gets a smiley because of the illustrations - almost like colour paintings in my copy - not because of the story - esp the ridiculous ending! i didn't realise the book was the story of the film and not vice versa. I remember feeling the same way about the film Crin Blanc, liked seeing all the Carmargue ponies but not impressed by anything else esp the story!
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Post by ginslinger on Jul 15, 2018 20:34:08 GMT 1
Well that has motivated me to find my copy ( tidied up and not yet found pre-last weekend’s visitor invasion) and wade on past page 10. I know it isn’t very long but I am trying to be good and so far there has been a lot of boat and marsh specific vocabulary I have never needed before and suspect I will never need again. Now Ireally want to know the ridiculous end. I don’t think I have illustrations to mitigate. Have found one of my non ponies so have started The Orchardist too and taken time out to read the other Woodbury pony club ones which I really like. JPT really does seem at her best with group and family dynamics and being instructive. Pity she didn’t write more but maybe the generation had changed.
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Post by brumby on Jul 15, 2018 23:52:28 GMT 1
The Rival riding schools scores a smiley, not the best book I've read but plenty of ponies and action. Written in 1952 with a few reminders of how politically incorrect those times were!
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Post by trixiepony on Jul 16, 2018 9:55:34 GMT 1
Trixiepony have you got all the Pine Hollow ones - I find them very depressing so if there are any you would like I'll see if I've got it. I like some off them. I seam to like the Lisa ones Saddle club and Pine Hollow, the ones where she is the main one most of the story is her's. Im not shore if there are meany more than just what I have.
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Post by Claire on Jul 16, 2018 12:41:29 GMT 1
Have updated everyone's smilies. Kunuma - you have finished all of yours. Do you want to add some more books as there's still a while to go?
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Post by Claire on Jul 16, 2018 20:11:56 GMT 1
A smiley for Woof. It was well written and very funny in places. It WAS the one where the boy turns into a dog, as Haffy suggested. I was interested that he turned into a Norfolk terrier which is not a well know breed really, wonder if the author had one? Coincidentally it is one of my favourite breeds of small dog.
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Post by haffyfan on Jul 16, 2018 20:38:18 GMT 1
Smiley for A Filly For Melinda please, another great read. They both focus more on the human relationships between characters, the horses being more of a backdrop, this one especially so. Melinda is far less selfish at 12 years old than i am today, let alone when I was 12!
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Post by trixiepony on Jul 17, 2018 8:07:55 GMT 1
The Bonnie Bryant book Pine Hollie Course of Action will get a neutral- average face it was nice but not much horse action in this one.
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Post by garej on Jul 17, 2018 13:01:33 GMT 1
The original tv dog was a Norfolk terrier Claire. 3 different dogs played the tv dog as there was 3 different actors.
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Post by kunuma1 on Jul 17, 2018 17:19:01 GMT 1
Have updated everyone's smilies. Kunuma - you have finished all of yours. Do you want to add some more books as there's still a while to go? OK I'll stop picking quick easy things and go for one I have borrowed but had decided not to read in case there was a lot of cruelty in it, it's The Byerley Turk Jeremy James. (supposedly non fiction)
Another one I had not bothered with so will do for the challenge is called It Was All Through Patience Lorna Hill - there is a pony on the front so here's hoping!
Thirdly, we have Horseshoes and Handlebars M Atkinson - brilliant title even if the book is no good!
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Post by kunuma1 on Jul 17, 2018 17:24:35 GMT 1
Trixiepony I've got number 2 The Trail Home 4 Changing Leads 9 Riding to Win
10 Ground Training 11 Cross Ties
13 High Stakes
14 Headstrong of the Pine Hollow series if you need any of those.
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