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Post by Claire on Jul 5, 2019 22:51:13 GMT 1
Hi all, have just updated the web page. As usual, please check to make sure I haven't missed anything out.
My reading has ground to a halt as had a very stressful few days. Parents house was broken into while I was staying there and then the cat had to be rushed to emergency vet in the middle of the night! She's OK now but it's been quite draining. Will recommence with the challenge over the weekend. Hopefully no more drama for a while!
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Post by trixiepony on Jul 6, 2019 11:24:19 GMT 1
Thanks Claire mien looks right
.hobby horsing sailing
This is the link for the Hobby Horse craze, when I first sore it I thort off us talking off our imaginary horses, Its sort off the same but more off a sport or club.
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Post by trixiepony on Jul 6, 2019 11:27:07 GMT 1
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Post by kunuma is here on Jul 6, 2019 15:58:54 GMT 1
Hi all, have just updated the web page. As usual, please check to make sure I haven't missed anything out. My reading has ground to a halt as had a very stressful few days. Parents house was broken into while I was staying there and then the cat had to be rushed to emergency vet in the middle of the night! She's OK now but it's been quite draining. Will recommence with the challenge over the weekend. Hopefully no more drama for a while! Oh that's awful Claire - was she hurt in the break in? Did your parents lose much? Sad reminder of how much this country has changed in the past years, I'm currently reading an Eden Phillpotts novel based locally about a century and a half ago, and because he knows the countryside so well, reading it makes me realise how much we have lost. He talks about wildlife, plants etc that I remember from my childhood but never see now- and Dartmoor before it was turned into an overgrazed desert. Because it happens slowly you get used to it, but reading his Dartmoor descriptions and realising what we have done to the countryside and what we have lost was very shocking. |
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Post by Claire on Jul 6, 2019 21:59:02 GMT 1
Thanks Kunuma, thankfully she is OK. She wasn't hurt in the break-in, just frightened. But the next night she must have eaten something dodgy and started choking/foaming at the mouth. Thought she'd been poisoned but it didn't have any lasting effect and she's perfectly fine today. I think my hair is turning white though!
Thanks for the hobby horse link Trixie. I've seen a bit about it on FB. Must have a better look when I have a spare moment.
Well I finished To Find A Golden Pony by Amanda Gavin. It's a very rare book and thankfully it's not a total let-down as so many rare and expensive pony books turn out to be. A very nice old fashioned story, not much of a plot, quite episodic but filled with lots of pony action and other animals and also some archeological stuff which is interesting. The title is a bit misleading (won't say why as it will be a spoiler) as the main pony is not golden but a grey! Couple of small crticisms - two fairly cliched stoylines: the inexperienced rider winning far too much and yet another pony falling in a marsh/bog! But its definitely a smilie.
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Post by trixiepony on Jul 7, 2019 10:46:45 GMT 1
Stable Stereotypes gets a Neutral i did find it fun just not as fun as the first 2.
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Post by haffyfan on Jul 7, 2019 20:58:13 GMT 1
How awful (and scary) about the break in, hope you're all recovering. Please can i have a smiley for Incapability Brown, really enjoyed it...so much so i've already been side tracked and started the sequel  |
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Post by trixiepony on Jul 8, 2019 11:48:59 GMT 1
How awful (and scary) about the break in, hope you're all recovering. Please can i have a smiley for Incapability Brown, really enjoyed it...so much so i've already been side tracked and started the sequel Thats high praise. |
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Post by ginslinger on Jul 8, 2019 19:21:12 GMT 1
Had a lazy weekend as a bit under par and was less distracted by internet due to having broken all my chargers...so have got through Heroines on Horseback and A place with 2 faces both of which I enjoyed and well deserve smileys. Perversely I have read the sequel to 3days running first so I am now back filling,
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Post by garej on Jul 8, 2019 20:54:55 GMT 1
I haven't got very far due to the fact I have been on holiday. Was too busy to get reading done.
Ginslinger I reviewed A Place With Two Faces on my Pullein Thompson blog several years ago. I enjoyed it even though it's quite a departure from JPT's usual style.
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Post by brumby on Jul 9, 2019 0:39:54 GMT 1
Smiley for Nutmeg comes to Westways really enjoyed this book it was better then the first book with more pony action. What a pity it is so hard to find, has anyone else read it?
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Post by tintin on Jul 9, 2019 12:11:02 GMT 1
Please could I have smiley faces for:-
Impossible Horse
and
Cobbler's Dream
The latter is the most extraordinarily well written book I have ever read. Although it deals with very dark subjects and has a somewhat black view of life it is not existentially miserable - good people still try to do good stuff. I sense the author relished the opportunity to let fly with both barrels at everything bad she had ever seen and the words flew off her pen. I also fear the young lady who blinded poor Cobbler was a real person, she is hated to much and too vividly to be entirely invented.
It was good to read Impossible Horse again - all the other books have ventured in varying degrees to the darker side of life - even this one has a really sad accident in it, but it does n't mar its gentle romance and it's delightful, though believeable heroine.
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Post by Claire on Jul 9, 2019 13:10:22 GMT 1
Smiley for Nutmeg comes to Westways really enjoyed this book it was better then the first book with more pony action. What a pity it is so hard to find, has anyone else read it? I haven't read it yet but it's on my challenge list so I'll let you know what I think of it. I enjoyed the first one in the series so I'll probably like this one too - in fact I may have a re-read of the first book before moving onto this one. The Challenge Web Page has been updated today. Well done all and especially to Brumby and Tintin who are the first to win red rosettes ! |
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Post by kunuma1 on Jul 9, 2019 18:11:33 GMT 1
i'm here properly! Enemy at the Gate and Cloud's Rider both get a big smiley - sci fi and horses, just can't go wrong! Found Ponies at Westways, (hiding behind my unicorn collection) so will do that next along with one of the modern ones.
Friend is expecting puppies so I'm very broody just now and so have had of course to find a new four legged - but it's not a puppy or a pony sadly!
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Post by susanb on Jul 9, 2019 21:32:27 GMT 1
smiley, please, for Amigo. Almost went with conflicted here, but it was good enough to warrant a little smile. A bit episodic, but not terrible....just not up to Page Cooper's usual standard, or to the book I'd read just before (Sawdust in His Shoes).
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Post by kunuma1 on Jul 10, 2019 12:46:10 GMT 1
Is nutmeg comes to Westways the next one after Ponies at Westways? If so reading it might help with my current geographical confusion over the book - first I thought it was set on Dartmoor - then no it says North Devon so it must be meant to be Exmoor - but then later on it actually says Dartmoor - which last time I looked wasn't in North Devon, but south Devon. I always laugh at the ponies in bogs bits, as my favourite pastime when i was lucky enough to ride on a moor was riding through bogs!Sadly with this extreme weather, currently there are not really any bogs left!!I'll give it a Smiley for mentioning Dartmoor, even though they moved it!!
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Post by trixiepony on Jul 11, 2019 10:33:15 GMT 1
We are still having a challenge with my fathers health,
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Post by Claire on Jul 11, 2019 22:58:53 GMT 1
Oh dear I'm sorry to hear that Trixie. Elderly parents can be a worry. I hope things improve soon x
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Post by Claire on Jul 11, 2019 23:03:26 GMT 1
Is nutmeg comes to Westways the next one after Ponies at Westways? If so reading it might help with my current geographical confusion over the book - first I thought it was set on Dartmoor - then no it says North Devon so it must be meant to be Exmoor - but then later on it actually says Dartmoor - which last time I looked wasn't in North Devon, but south Devon. I always laugh at the ponies in bogs bits, as my favourite pastime when i was lucky enough to ride on a moor was riding through bogs!Sadly with this extreme weather, currently there are not really any bogs left!!I'll give it a Smiley for mentioning Dartmoor, even though they moved it!! Yes as far as I know its a sequel. Let me know if you need to borrow a copy as it's a hard one to get (if you haven't already got it.) I m ust admit I can't recall anything about Dartmoor in it I'll have to have a re-read. I've plodged through many a bog here in my time too so it does give me a giggle at all the ponies who seems to disappear into them in pony book land. I think we must be getting all your rain as well as our own. It's hardly stopped here! |
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Post by brumby on Jul 12, 2019 10:55:07 GMT 1
The Mandrake I'm afraid gets a neutral but was very close to a frowny.
This was a reread and I think I found this book even more annoying the second time, it scrapped a neutral cause I loved all the ponies, But Lesley did my head in, what a nasty thoughtless pot hunting individual. She seemed to care more about winning than her beautiful ponies. Her thoughts on Bellamy made my blood boil, always saying she was ugly.
I'm afraid I found it very annoying, so far the only book I haven't liked by this author, would be interested to know if anyone else felt this way about this book?
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Post by Claire on Jul 12, 2019 11:26:16 GMT 1
Brumnby, reading your comments about The Mandrake, I seemed to remember back in the mists of time we read the book for our reading circle read....and you made similar comments then: To say that i found Lesley annoying was putting it mildly! Throughout the book I really wanted to stuff her head into a barrow of fresh manure! Haha! Very well put. I've just spent an interesting few minutes reading the discussion for the book - I'll link to it below if you'd like to have a look and jog your memory. ponybooks.proboards.com/thread/2269/easter-read-mandrakeIt's possibly my least favourite KMP book and in the end after reading it twice I decided to sell it. |
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Post by brumby on Jul 13, 2019 8:17:01 GMT 1
I have the memory of a goldfish!!!!! At least I'm consistent in my views!!!!
Thanks for the link Claire will have a read and see what others thought.
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Post by trixiepony on Jul 13, 2019 10:46:13 GMT 1
Oh dear I'm sorry to hear that Trixie. Elderly parents can be a worry. I hope things improve soon x Yes thank you older Parents are a challenge, love them though. It really makes you realise you wont have them forever. |
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Post by Claire on Jul 14, 2019 22:06:27 GMT 1
i'm here properly! Enemy at the Gate and Cloud's Rider both get a big smiley - sci fi and horses, just can't go wrong! Apologies I thought that was just 1 book not 2 !! More info on these please as I'm quite partial to an occaisional sci-fi read. Well at last the weather has improved up in t'north and it seems more like a Summer reading challenge than a winter one! I've been distracted by reading other non-pony books for a few days and am now wondering what book to read next for the challenge. |
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Post by trixiepony on Jul 15, 2019 11:06:16 GMT 1
Calling on Dragons is a interesting read, first its not really a donkey its a enchanted Rabbit, its set in a magical kingdom and really fun so fare.
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Post by tintin on Jul 15, 2019 13:43:10 GMT 1
Please could I have a big smiley face for:-
Jumping Jan
Well written, original, feel-good book. Should be adapted for TV
I will definitely be reading more of this author's books - loved "Pony and Trap" too
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Post by haffyfan on Jul 15, 2019 20:21:34 GMT 1
Please could I have a big smiley face for:- Jumping JanWell written, original, feel-good book. Should be adapted for TV I will definitely be reading more of this author's books - loved "Pony and Trap" too Is this the one that's quite racist in parts? I recall being quite shocked by parts of one of her books, certainly used the N word and even a slave maybe? It was about 10 years ago maybe now i read it so memory a bit hazy. I have enjoyed several of her other books, Minda and Chalk and Cheese spring to mind, the pony in minda might have a been a bit young for my liking though, i have to remind myself it's fiction! |
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Post by Claire on Jul 16, 2019 0:00:10 GMT 1
I can't remember racism in it but then again I've read most of her books and probably get them mixed up in my mind. Is that the one where she gets a job teaching some kids to ride? I like most of her books though some are a little odd (Chalk and Cheese springs to mind) and many have quite disturbingly unpleasant characters in them. Tintin, if you want a light hearted humourous read some time try The Pageant by the author, it's more upbeat than many of her other stand alones. The Pentires series is pretty good but one or two of the titles can be quite hard to find.
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Post by tintin on Jul 16, 2019 12:38:44 GMT 1
Jan is engaged to look after the horses of a wealthy, but dysfunctional family. The core of the problem is a snobbish and histrionic mother. One of the daughters wants to be a childrens nurse, but her mother forbids it. Finding a black baby after a road accident the girl keeps her and looks after her. The book uses language about which we would not be happy nowadays, but the point is those who do not approve are clearly the bad guys so it is a book with racism in it rather than a racist book, if anything anti-racist. The book also has attempted fraud in it and does n't approve of that either.
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Post by kunuma1 on Jul 16, 2019 15:49:26 GMT 1
i'm here properly! Enemy at the Gate and Cloud's Rider both get a big smiley - sci fi and horses, just can't go wrong! Apologies I thought that was just 1 book not 2 !! More info on these please as I'm quite partial to an occaisional sci-fi read. Well at last the weather has improved up in t'north and it seems more like a Summer reading challenge than a winter one! I've been distracted by reading other non-pony books for a few days and am now wondering what book to read next for the challenge. C J Cherryh is probably my favourite SCi fi writer, and the one I read for escapism, even more than say Heinlein or Asimov. She was obviously a horse lover! The horses in her fantastic Morgaine Cycle books are real horses, but these are from the world of Nighthorses, so not so real!! If you like strong heroines, no stupid romance and horses, try the 3 Morgaine Cycle books - mine have fallen to pieces from reading! |
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