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Post by susanb on Mar 26, 2020 15:20:02 GMT 1
Hi all!
First off, apologies to Claire, for hijacking the thread....there seems to be some support for a reading group right now, so going ahead and setting this up....alter to your liking!
Picking I Wanted a Pony for a few reasons: a) many already have it; b) it's easy to find and cheap; c) we've actually done only one DPT book for the reading circle (Hermit's Horse) prior; d) it's a pure, unadulterated comfort read; and e) I really feel like a comfort read
So, to find a copy if you don't already have one:
Discussion to start in 2 weeks, or earlier if everyone who wants to join has finished.
Hope everyone can join in....I'm looking forward to taking the time to NOT obsessively watch the news (guilty) stressing over things I can't control (guilty again) and just read a book for pleasure, with the anticipation of connecting virtually to discuss afterwards.
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Post by Claire on Mar 27, 2020 23:09:53 GMT 1
Thanks Susan for setting this up. Apologies to everyone for not being around for a while. Had huge internet problems and due to the virus shutting half the world down it has been very hard to sort them out. Could only get internet on my phone and as luck would have it for some reason the forum stopped working on there! But I'm back on-line on my laptop now and hopefully everything is working OK.
Great choice for a Spring (and antidote to virus) read. I also hadn't realised we'd only done one DPT book in the reading group!
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Post by susanb on Mar 27, 2020 23:25:42 GMT 1
Hi Claire....yea!!! I'm so glad you're "here" and ok...I was getting a little worried, as I knew you'd been house hunting in Spain Hope you're keeping well, aside from computer difficulties!
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Post by Claire on Mar 29, 2020 22:59:15 GMT 1
Thanks Susan I'm keeping OK. I was lucky enough to get out of Spain just in time!
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Post by trixiepony on Mar 30, 2020 11:00:30 GMT 1
Thats good news Claire, are you self isolated.
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Post by Claire on Apr 2, 2020 12:33:57 GMT 1
Thanks Trixie, I'm not completelyt self isolated as I am still operating my business on a limited scale, also it's almost impossible to get food delivered here at the mo so am also having to go out for that, but am only going out a couple of times a week. I hope you and your family are coping OK.
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Post by trixiepony on Apr 3, 2020 9:24:25 GMT 1
My brother is a teacher so he has to go out as the schools are still running maybe not for to much longer as Brian said he has only 3 or 4 kids in each class, anyway so he is doing our shopping, we are aloud to go our for walks, and I am reading and crocheting and wasting way to much time on computer games.
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Post by darkhorse on Apr 4, 2020 18:03:44 GMT 1
Thanks for organising this in Claire's absence Susanb I haven't read the book for a few years so I will happily have a re-read.
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Post by susanb on Apr 6, 2020 23:34:18 GMT 1
I read it over the weekend, it was a great comfort read, so needed right now!
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Post by Claire on Apr 12, 2020 13:51:26 GMT 1
Finally found my copy (it was packed away in storage) so I can join in now!
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Post by susanb on Apr 14, 2020 0:22:29 GMT 1
Yea!! Glad you were able to dig up your copy, hope you enjoy te re-read
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Post by Claire on May 1, 2020 21:24:24 GMT 1
Did anyone else finish the book? I haven't read this for a long, long time, probably as I prefer the series from Three Ponies and Shannan onwards (Shannan is probably my fav in the entire series.) One thing that really struck me when I have just read it was that the head-shaking plot, which I seemed to remember as being a massive, oong drawn out part of the book and a huge do or die thing for Augusta thinking that Daybreak had a brain tumour and would have to be put down, is actually just a quite short episode and is quite easily solved. Strange how our memories play tricks on us. Another thing is that I seemed to have totally turned into Augusta in the way she keeps losing things, especially when time is short! As a kid I thought she was a bit of a blot, but now I totally empathise with her! One thing that remains unchanged is that I still abhor the cousins and Aunt, truly awful characters without being evil or horrific. But having to live with them must have been unbearable. When one of the cousins sneers at Augusta for crying when her tortoise is killed, you know they are characters you will love to hate. DPT is pretty good at creating awful, but not over-the-top, characters. I'd be interested to know what book in the series is everyone's favourite. Also which character do you prefer - Augusta or Christina. I think I slightly prefer Christina as she is a slightly more complex character.
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Post by susanb on May 2, 2020 16:30:00 GMT 1
Thanks for starting, Claire! The book is crazy wish-fulfillment at it's most unlikely: getting money for a Heroic Deed, winning the pony for cheap at auction, curing him miraculously of his "vice", training in secret and winning the day (and in the process showing up te awful cousins) at the show. It's utterly ridiculous and I love it for that, it was just the tonic I needed right now Do you think there are a few homages in the book? Augusta cutting off her buttons for money reminds me of Jo cutting off her hair to sell in Little Women, and the mixup over money reminds me of National Velvet.....Mrs. Brown insisting on paying for the Pie's entry fee in the gold sovereigns she got for her Channel swim, rather than pounds in (then) current circulation. Almosts forgot, Augusta is still my favorite of the pair, I like her gumption
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Post by haffyfan on May 2, 2020 18:27:08 GMT 1
I have only read this once, as an adult, and didn't rate it at all. My favourite is A Pony To School, which incidentally is the only one i read as a child so probably has bearing. It was so long ago now i can't really comment on why i didn't like it though. 3 ponies and Shannon was an enormous let down too (this one was mentioned in my copy of A pony To school and was obviously linked but i could never find it as a child so was very excited to find it as an adult - it's actually the book that kick started me collecting after finding my Mum throwing some of my old books in her recycling bin! And yes she had already chucked loads by that point over previous weeks)
I didn't think much to either character to be honest, both annoyingly flawed in their own ways.
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Post by Claire on May 2, 2020 21:29:33 GMT 1
Lol Susan, the book would score pretty high on the cliche-o-meter (remember that?!) at least gypsies don't appear! but I agree that it is one of the best wish-fulfillment stories ever. Intereting parallels to other books. Never really connected the selling of the silver buttons to anything, but I did think it funny when she sold the horrid hat! Glad to hear the book gave you a lift. My favourite 'comfort-blanket' read is Pony Club Camp, but I did enjoy re-reading this one.
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Post by darkhorse on May 17, 2020 19:05:18 GMT 1
I've just realised I forgot to comment on this. I enjoyed re-reading the book. I like all the books in the series, probably my favourite is A Pony To School because it was the first book where Augusta and Christina are equal characters in the series. They are quite different characters in some ways, but I like them both.
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