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Post by Claire on Sept 24, 2019 20:44:35 GMT 1
Well done Haffy and Darkhorse for finishing. (Haffy you should get some sort of extra award for managing to mention 'gay porn' in a pony books chat forum! ) Have you picked your star reads you two...? I enjoyed Nutmeg at Westways which was a pretty good riding cum school story with a slightly more interesting than usual plot. Some of the school stuff is a little 'jolly hockey sticks' such as the four friends combining their names to form one overall name for the four of them. But unless you absolutely loathe school stories I'd recommend this book and it's prequel, Ponies at Westways. A bit stuck with my last book as I'd picked it while on a free trial of kindle unlimited, now that the trial has expired the e-book has disappeared and I'm a bit loth to buy it as there are other books I'd prefer to spend money on - not to mention I have quite a few in my TBR pile I could choose. Sooo I may bend the rules and substitute it with another book unless I can scrounge another free trial. (Crikey I do sound like a tightwad!) Going back to the subject of Enid Blyton books, I agree Darkhorse that I find the Famous Five irritating (especially George) and I did so even as a child, preferring the Adventure series, the circus books and the school series. I also agree that Eileen Soper's horses are very good, in fact all her animals are. Anyone who likes illustrations, if you haven't seen an older copy of The Children at Willow Farm try and find one, Soper's drawings of the farm animals are really lovely.
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Post by haffyfan on Sept 25, 2019 20:54:02 GMT 1
well there's always one isn't there Star read i think i'll choose Incapability Brown, with Chances a close runner up.
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Post by garej on Sept 28, 2019 17:43:38 GMT 1
Read the majority of Rivals to Silver Eagle. Hopefully I will finish it before the end of the challenge. If I dont there will be a frowny face which isnt really justified as I am really enjoying it. If I do it will be a smiley face and I doubt that I will be starting another book.
Considering how I felt after the sad demise of my cat I am proud of the fact that I have managed to complete at least 1 book.
I hope we do a Winter Reading Challenge as I know 1 book I am definitely adding to the list!
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Post by garej on Sept 29, 2019 14:38:39 GMT 1
Been as it's nearly the end of the challenge I am now sorting out the rosettes. If everyone can lmk know either through here or pm if your address is the same as last year so I can sort it out. Or alternatively if you don't want a rosette for whatever reason lmk so I know that I havent left anyone out.
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Post by garej on Sept 29, 2019 19:40:35 GMT 1
Ps Claire your summer reading challenge webpage isnt working for me!
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Post by garej on Sept 30, 2019 2:57:59 GMT 1
Managed to finish RIVALS TO SILVER EAGLE and it gets a SMILEY.
Also managed to read THE HORSE SALE by CPT and that gets a SMILEY too. I have written a review in my PT blog.
Still not up to reading about cats so will give the Felix book a miss even though I have it in my hand so to speak. Never got around to purchasing Scratch in the end so it's unlikely that I will finish all my books since I prefer a physical book over an ebook. Besides it's the last day of September in the UK so there's not much time left challenge wise.
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Post by Claire on Sept 30, 2019 22:59:27 GMT 1
Not sure what was up with the web page as it appeared to be uploaded OK but I have re-loaded it and it seems to be fine now.
Well done Garej. I LOVE The Horse Sale - must have a look at your review of it. The end date for the challenge is not set in stone so if you or anyone else would like a few more days to continue/finish off that is fine. After all it's still summer in many places (though sadly not here!). I've managed to get hold of my last book so have started that and hope to finish my challenge in the next couple of days.
I'd love a rosette garej, if it's not too much trouble. Still the same address for me, if you don't have it let me know and I'll message you it.
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Post by garej on Sept 30, 2019 23:38:47 GMT 1
Thanks Claire for confirming your address. I have checked my pm box and have everyone's address except for brumby, darkhorse, Susanb and haffy. But part of the reason why I don't have them is that some of you refused a rosette last year.
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Post by rallycairn on Oct 1, 2019 4:08:36 GMT 1
Garej, my address is still the same. Thanks for getting the wonderful rosettes!
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Post by kunuma is here on Oct 1, 2019 15:00:38 GMT 1
Claire I didn't pick a star read because I kept forgetting to ask if it was meant to be a star read relating to horses, or any one of them? If any one, then of course it had to be Brian Cox's Planets, but I will pick the C J Cherrye for my horse related star read.
Currently reading about hypnotherapy - much more interesting and complicated than I had realised, esp it's similarities to the whole religous thing, and it's connection to placebo drugs.
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Post by garej on Oct 1, 2019 15:40:51 GMT 1
Thanks for letting me know rallycairn.
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Post by Claire on Oct 3, 2019 23:30:16 GMT 1
Claire I didn't pick a star read because I kept forgetting to ask if it was meant to be a star read relating to horses, or any one of them? If any one, then of course it had to be Brian Cox's Planets, but I will pick the C J Cherrye for my horse related star read. Currently reading about hypnotherapy - much more interesting and complicated than I had realised, esp it's similarities to the whole religous thing, and it's connection to placebo drugs. This year we are going to have a mini reading challenge in the winter which will possibly comprise of the star reads which people have picked out - so a star for a horsey read would be useful. However the star read is actually the favourite book from the challenge - horsy or non horsy - so I'll stick a star on both for you! I did study a little about hypnotherapy when I was doing my psychology degree (many years ago) and did find it interesting. Though I can't remember a lot about it and it's probably changed a lot since then! You might also enjoy reading something about the psychology of sleep and dreams, which is really fascinating. (I would lend you a book on the subject but some b*gger nicked it!) Back to my own Challenge.... Well I'm glad I didn't pay to buy the e-book of Murder at the Pony Show, my last challenge book, as I have given up on it maybe a quarter of the way through. Plus point was that there was some interesting information on the Connemara Pony Show in Galway and the setting was interesting to me too, as I have visited and enjoyed that area. But the book, although not dreadful, was just not well-written enough to keep my attention. I think it's probably a product of the self-publishing mania that has overtaken the world of e-books. To me, it reads like rather pedestrian fanfic; the characters and dialogue just don't ring true. (Didn't help that I am at the same time re-reading the crime novels of Karin Slaughter, which are really excellent. She's a very hard act to follow!) So unfortunately it is a frownie for my last book. On the plus side I have actually completed the challenge this year!
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Post by Claire on Oct 5, 2019 21:48:08 GMT 1
Just to add I will be closing the Reading Challenge on 10th October so we can concentrate on other things. I hope this gives time for everyone to finish - but if you don't please don't worry - as long as you've enjoyed the challenge it's been a complete success. (I haven't always finished myself in previous years!)
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Post by garej on Oct 11, 2019 23:25:04 GMT 1
Anyone else like to confirm their address? I plan to post the rosettes out next week and would like to get as many out as possible at once.
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Post by garej on Oct 15, 2019 17:55:23 GMT 1
Rallycairn and Claire your rosettes went out today. Claire yours went second class; rallycairn yours went airmail.
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Post by Claire on Oct 17, 2019 19:32:58 GMT 1
Thanks Garej. I received the rosette - very snazzy! - and thanks also for the Thelwell card. You're a star !
Talking of stars, I forgot to mention my star read of the challenge - it was Pony Madness by Rita Lyttle, just pipped Dark Horse by Patience MsElwee, though that was very good too. Now to organise our winter mini challenge....
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Post by garej on Oct 17, 2019 21:55:19 GMT 1
Glad that you got the card and rosette Claire.
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Post by rallycairn on Oct 20, 2019 22:43:49 GMT 1
Thanks so much, garej! Looking forward to another pretty rosette!
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Post by ginslinger on Oct 27, 2019 22:24:30 GMT 1
Sorry for absence. I still havenβt finished my last book - I will but it is a lump of a thing to lug around and Ihave been reading lots of good things on kindle including the three Patience McElwee books published by Jane Badger which I loved. I enjoyed most of the books but nothing perhaps earth shattering. Star read just goes to Stable lass which was entertaining and educational for someone not very up on racing.
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Post by garej on Nov 5, 2019 20:57:22 GMT 1
Rallycairn I am wondering if you had your rosette yet?
Ginslinger (or anyone else!) it's not too late for a rosette though I would prefer not to send out during December due to the Christmas rush. Lmk if your address has changed or not.
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Post by rallycairn on Nov 7, 2019 6:31:39 GMT 1
Garej YES it finally came a few days ago -- I think it took a little longer than usual to get here but it certainly is REALLY PRETTY. Love the plaid!
THANK YOU!!!!
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Post by garej on Nov 7, 2019 15:43:38 GMT 1
Glad that you got it rallycairn and that you liked it. I think that it probably got delayed due to the Christmas period is approaching. I know that the dates have passed for surface mail.
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Post by ginslinger on Nov 8, 2019 2:31:26 GMT 1
Garej , I would love a rosette but only if not a nuisance. I am at the same address. Send whenever suits .
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Post by tintin on Dec 10, 2019 16:52:45 GMT 1
I have had to think long and hard about this, and I did n't want to do it (because it's quite dark) but my star book this year is "Cobbler's Dream" - simply because it is so very, very well written. It had stiff competition, but it was sovivid and compelling
First year all smiley faces though! :-) Think I am getting to know what I like...
If we are going to read all the "star books" this winter I will say "Jumping Jan" was second for those who want to spare themselves the scenes of cruelty
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Post by trixiepony on Dec 11, 2019 11:02:50 GMT 1
Well that was a fun challenge, will you be doing anything special PMBL wise for Christmas Claire?, love all the fun I have on here.
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Post by Claire on Dec 17, 2019 23:49:32 GMT 1
Sorry Trixie. I somehow missed your post. Yes I will be doing the usual quizzes etc on here. And yes after Christmas our first Winter Reading Challenge. (A mini version of the summer one!)
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Post by ginslinger on Dec 21, 2019 14:05:49 GMT 1
Rosette arrived safely! Thank you Garej.
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