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Post by Claire on Jul 28, 2018 20:35:00 GMT 1
Claire, if you can find the scan, I'd love to read the Intruders! I will certainly have a search for The Intruders scan. I think its on my portable hard drive but a few book scans mysteriously disappeared hope it's not one of them. I'd like a re-read myself. Finished The Magic Pony by Robert Martin (better known as Rex Dixon) and it merits a smiley as it improved a lot as soon as the main character got to the farm on Exmoor where he was staying. I was interested by them talking about the great flood of Lynmouth and the area itself, as I've visited there a few times and read quite a bit about the flood. Also drove up Porlock Hill! The 'Magic Pony' of the title is a mysterious pony stallion which seems to appear as a warning or to rescue people lost on the moors! It's a very short book which is a shame as a bit more fleshing out of the basic story would be nice. It did exceed my expectations as the author isn't really a pony author at all. Attachments:
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Post by ginslinger on Jul 28, 2018 22:11:53 GMT 1
Me too. The hunting wouldn’t be an issue for me.
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Post by louise on Jul 30, 2018 20:03:14 GMT 1
I managed to read 2 more books over the weekend in an attempt to catch up. Blackbirds Pony Trek was a nice, easy read after my long slog with Fair Girls and Grey Horses and although not an all time classic, definitely earns a Smiley face. Midnight Rider is a short book designed for younger readers - I actually read it to my 6 year old son. It is well written and we both enjoyed it, so another Smiley face.
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Post by garej on Aug 1, 2018 22:12:38 GMT 1
Well I am sad to report that I am not doing so good as the rest of you. I am still stuck on The Mystery Trek by Primrose Cumming.
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Post by brumby on Aug 2, 2018 1:42:54 GMT 1
Garej wrote Are you not enjoying The mystery trek? Plenty of time left as Claire often says 'its not a race"
Loved, loved, loved I had two ponies what a charmer Christabel was at the start of the story! I couldn't put the book down as I wanted to see what terrible things she would say next. What horrible parents she had, plenty of those in pony books. So once again its a big SMILEY.
Speaking of terrible parents in pony books there are two mothers in The Silk Purse that are shockers, lying and cheating to win show classes. I chuckle every time I pick up the book as one of the characters is a young girl who has the bizarre name of 'Heliopolis', combine that with a dreadful mother it started out as a fun read but I have just finished ploughing through the fantasy dream sequence in the middle of the book which was confusing and boring, hope it finishes on a good note or it won't be rating well.
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Post by susanb on Aug 2, 2018 3:55:53 GMT 1
I've been slacking, I'm afraid....I picked up a long-neglected crochet project (throw for a friend's daughter) after I finished Empty Field last weekend and haven't read anything since. Watching reruns of the old (1982) Agatha Christie Hour show and crocheting like mad. As brumby says though, still loads of time to go! (If it weren't for that pesky business of work ) My book in translation, Wanted: a Horse, is sitting here and looks so good...
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Post by trixiepony on Aug 2, 2018 6:06:58 GMT 1
Yes still plenty of time yet even if we get distracted, going to the hospital tomorrow with my mum so may have time for some reading.
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Post by trixiepony on Aug 2, 2018 13:09:05 GMT 1
Ok a smiley for Flame and the Rebel Riders by Stacy Gregg, it took me a while to get into it but it was a good story after all.
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Post by Claire on Aug 2, 2018 20:18:16 GMT 1
I haven't been reading any Challenge books the last few days as have been decorating and also working on some new authors for the website and the Armada pony books page which is having an extremely long delivery!
Sadly I couldn't find The Intruders scan on my hard drive but I have about 30 back up discs to check through! I hope I find it as I would like a re-read. Unfortunately a few files disappeared a while back on a useless cloud based storage site that I'd used, I'm hoping that wasn't one of them.
Susan - kudos for the crotchet work. Although I'm a good knitter, I'm terrible at crotchet, it never seems to go right when I try it!
Yep as I've said before, the challenge is not a race. I think most of us sprinted off at the start this year so it's only natural we will be slowing down a bit now - but remember there are still 2 whole months to go yet!
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Post by haffyfan on Aug 2, 2018 21:39:18 GMT 1
I'm well ahead of myself for once, purely down to being stuck at home, but i'm still failing to get enthused over picking up The Earth Sings again and it seems i never ordered the saddle creek book, so it's now on order...which made me buy 3 others to get the free delivery if you spend over a tenner on books - found some pony ones but they might be interesting reads as a bit limited when it's amazon titles only that qualify!
Currently reading Pony Trekking Summer by Jane MacIllwaine, lots of Highlands so i'm happy, and coincidently a long hot summer too. Not having any luck finding out, but not 100% sure it's totally fictional either as the stallion in the book shares the name of one who would have been around when it was being written (unless it took a very long time to go to print) and hails from that location, which also happens to be the area where pony trekking started, and again direct links to the real stallion.
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Post by garej on Aug 2, 2018 22:20:49 GMT 1
Brumby it's a case of a lack of impotence. But there's over a month to go like was said it's not a race. If all else fails I know that I will finish it at some point. It's not a terrible book as I have enjoyed all of Primrose Cumming's books so far.
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Post by trixiepony on Aug 3, 2018 6:46:06 GMT 1
I only have 2 books too go but me thinks there the tuff ones.
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pooboards is a pita
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Post by pooboards is a pita on Aug 3, 2018 13:30:52 GMT 1
I'm well ahead of myself for once, purely down to being stuck at home, but i'm still failing to get enthused over picking up The Earth Sings again and it seems i never ordered the saddle creek book, so it's now on order...which made me buy 3 others to get the free delivery if you spend over a tenner on books - found some pony ones but they might be interesting reads as a bit limited when it's amazon titles only that qualify! Currently reading Pony Trekking Summer by Jane MacIllwaine, lots of Highlands so i'm happy, and coincidently a long hot summer too. Not having any luck finding out, but not 100% sure it's totally fictional either as the stallion in the book shares the name of one who would have been around when it was being written (unless it took a very long time to go to print) and hails from that location, which also happens to be the area where pony trekking started, and again direct links to the real stallion. I've seen some cracking examples of Highland ponies recently, they do seem to be one of the few native pony breeds, (along with my beloved Dartmoors) that have not been messed up. Connies seem to have been crossed and recrossed so much with TB to make "sports ponies" they have lost their pony brains - but the Highlands still look pretty good!
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pooboards is a pita
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Post by pooboards is a pita on Aug 3, 2018 13:34:51 GMT 1
Is that the same author that wrote Cammies Challenge?? Is the trekking one based in the UK?
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Post by Claire on Aug 4, 2018 13:38:00 GMT 1
Jane McIlwaine is not the author of the Cammie books - she was McIlvaine with a 'V' not a 'W' an easy mistake to make. I haven't read the Trekking one, I'd like to at some point as I'm another fan of native breeds. Luckily the natives from my part of the world, Fell and Dales, are still quite pure. There are quite a few Fell crosses but not many Dales crosses for some reason. In fact the poor old Dales pony is very low key, very rarely appears in a pony book.
For those of you struggling with finishing a story - don't forget you can award a frownie for failure to finish a book as well as not liking it. No point in slogging on with something you dislike, it's not school!
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Post by louise on Aug 4, 2018 22:17:04 GMT 1
Hi Claire. Sorry to be a pain. I see you’ve updated the reading list page with smileys and noticed you’ve missed off my neutral face for Fair Girls and Grey Horses. Thanks.
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Post by trixiepony on Aug 5, 2018 1:46:58 GMT 1
I've been slacking, I'm afraid....I picked up a long-neglected crochet project (throw for a friend's daughter) after I finished Empty Field last weekend and haven't read anything since. Watching reruns of the old (1982) Agatha Christie Hour show and crocheting like mad. As brumby says though, still loads of time to go! (If it weren't for that pesky business of work ) My book in translation, Wanted: a Horse, is sitting here and looks so good... I love to crochet. Its good your getting back to a neglected project. you can try to see of thay have audio of the books you still have to read, I love doing that, sitting down to a crochet and a good audio book.
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Post by susanb on Aug 5, 2018 2:08:19 GMT 1
A great idea, trixie, but unfortunately the only modern books on my list are one's I've already read Oh well, the crochet is coming along, and there is time to dig back into my list. I'm hoping to be able to give the throw for Christmas, so fingers crossed (oops, better not, very hard to crochet that way ) Claire, I can't believe anyone who knits thinks crochet is complicated....TWO needles? Eeek! I can barely manage ONE hook! And I know exactly two variations of one stitch....the double crochet forward/back post. It was the easiest thing to learn that produced something that actually looked sort of accomplished...alternating back and forward to make "basketweave"....if you scroll down on this blog, you'll get an idea of what it looks like gladness-of-heart.blogspot.com/Two balls of yarn and four books to go..........
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Post by trixiepony on Aug 5, 2018 5:22:58 GMT 1
A great idea, trixie, but unfortunately the only modern books on my list are one's I've already read Oh well, the crochet is coming along, and there is time to dig back into my list. I'm hoping to be able to give the throw for Christmas, so fingers crossed (oops, better not, very hard to crochet that way ) Claire, I can't believe anyone who knits thinks crochet is complicated....TWO needles? Eeek! I can barely manage ONE hook! And I know exactly two variations of one stitch....the double crochet forward/back post. It was the easiest thing to learn that produced something that actually looked sort of accomplished...alternating back and forward to make "basketweave"....if you scroll down on this blog, you'll get an idea of what it looks like gladness-of-heart.blogspot.com/Two balls of yarn and four books to go.......... Cool patten and looks like one I could do. I think I maybe getting destrated. Arrr save me.
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Post by brumby on Aug 6, 2018 2:20:40 GMT 1
I have finished The silk purse and I think I will give it a neutral face. There were parts of it that I really enjoyed, the showing world was well depicted, some people will stop at nothing to win! Some of the characters I really liked Frank was great fun, groom, best friend to the main character Gillian and avid breeder and exhibitor of rabbits. Of course my favourite character was Tommy the pony with thick legs and a moustache or beard! Not an eye-catcher for the show ring but a plucky little jumper and loved hunting. My main issue with the book was the dream sequence in the middle of the book it was boring confusing and was way too long. I found the ending was a bit rushed and could have been given more importance in the book.
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Post by ginslinger on Aug 8, 2018 20:30:52 GMT 1
A smiley for Flying horseman. Strong echoes of Showjumping secret with a polio afflicted hero but a reluctant rider. It is a good read but Morgan is rather too cool and detached to be likeable ..maybe tat was deliberate not to be to ‘soppy’ and appeal to boys more? But I don’t think that I would have related to a hero who didn’t like horses as a child .
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Post by louise on Aug 8, 2018 21:00:54 GMT 1
Another smiley for Riding Course Summer, please. It was a tried and tested, can't really fail kind of storyline. An enjoyable read.
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Post by haffyfan on Aug 8, 2018 21:30:39 GMT 1
My amazon order ( and one of RC books)from 31st July still hasn't arrived, 3 of the books still have not even been despatched yet and the one that allegedly had been and should have arrived today is now showing delayed arriving 9 - 15th Aug - Grrr I feel another complaint coming, i've already made one which probably prompted the supposed arrival of 1 book today...
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Post by trixiepony on Aug 9, 2018 6:56:31 GMT 1
A great idea, trixie, but unfortunately the only modern books on my list are one's I've already read Oh well, the crochet is coming along, and there is time to dig back into my list. I'm hoping to be able to give the throw for Christmas, so fingers crossed (oops, better not, very hard to crochet that way ) Claire, I can't believe anyone who knits thinks crochet is complicated....TWO needles? Eeek! I can barely manage ONE hook! And I know exactly two variations of one stitch....the double crochet forward/back post. It was the easiest thing to learn that produced something that actually looked sort of accomplished...alternating back and forward to make "basketweave"....if you scroll down on this blog, you'll get an idea of what it looks like gladness-of-heart.blogspot.com/Two balls of yarn and four books to go.......... Cool patten and looks like one I could do. I think I maybe getting destrated. Arrr save me. Well I’m now trying your patten Susanb well the one you talked about here, love the effect so pretty.
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Post by tintin on Aug 9, 2018 13:15:36 GMT 1
Please could I have a smiley face for:-
Double Clear
I loved the Flying Horseman and found him not cool and detached in fact slightly on the emotional end of normal(understandable given his predicament) so yes he probably is intended to be more sympathetic for us males
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Post by ginslinger on Aug 9, 2018 23:02:24 GMT 1
Oh I meant in regard to horses. He didn’t seem to really like them any better by the end and sometimes I found him rather patronising and chauvinist I love Show jumping secret.
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Post by kunuma1 on Aug 10, 2018 17:05:02 GMT 1
A smiley for The Byerley Turk - and I didn't think I would give it one but although not a fun read it is an interesting one. Obviously with the countries concerned the history in the book is never going to be pleasant - but I have a poor grasp of English history too as I had a useless teacher when at school. So I learned some English history too - I certainly didn't know that William Hill were bookmakers in the 1600's for a start!
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Post by kunuma1 on Aug 10, 2018 17:09:35 GMT 1
My amazon order ( and one of RC books)from 31st July still hasn't arrived, 3 of the books still have not even been despatched yet and the one that allegedly had been and should have arrived today is now showing delayed arriving 9 - 15th Aug - Grrr I feel another complaint coming, i've already made one which probably prompted the supposed arrival of 1 book today... I think commerce in this country is falling apart!! Just recently I had a parcel from a well known catalogue firm, containing something I had never set eyes on before and certainly didn't want, accompanied by a bill for something else entirely!!
Then I had a (rhymes with Fresco) on line order - not only did they not turn up, they didn't bother telling me that they were not coming, but flippin' well remembered to take my money and keep it for three days so I couldn't go food shopping to replace the order even!!
It's finally dawned on me that you can't rely on anything or anyone nowadays!!
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Post by tintin on Aug 11, 2018 8:06:40 GMT 1
ah - Ginslinger I know what you mean now. I think the book is a lot about growing up, so the character has to start a bit immature and I think we still leave him as a work in progress. I found the contrast between the two lady riders interesting and I think it is a book that could have had one or two good sequels (like several pony books from the period, frustratingly)
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Post by ginslinger on Aug 11, 2018 20:16:23 GMT 1
I agree there. And there was some personal development as when he realised that Sara wasn’t an embarrassment at the airforce base. It could well have gone on.
Now I must tackle the non pony random library books and the French one...
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