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Post by garej on May 3, 2020 3:00:49 GMT 1
Been as the Summer Reading Challenge usually starts in June and it's May which means that it's an month away I thought I would get some feelers to what people thought of suggestions for categories.
Due to the ongoing coronavirus situation and the fact that bus services to/from my village have been drastically cut meaning it's difficult to get to an post office (and also on a personal note I am considered by the government vulnerable to coronavirus due to pre existing health conditions so I am not going out on non essential journeys) I wont be posting out rosettes this year. Hopefully I will be able to post out rosettes next year! Of course if the situation changes radically compared to now by September (as I already have the rosettes) then I shall be posting them out. I personally don't think it will hence my warning.
Anyway I am thinking of the following categories for this year's Summer Reading Challenge.
- we choose a book that originally was published pre 1950. I have noticed that not many people choose the older books. Some of the PT books were published prior to 1950 and a lot of older books are coming out as ebooks. Most of us agree that the pony books hey day was the 1950s and 1960s so it would be good to visit the early books. Some aren't terribly hard to find if you arent after a first edition and like I said some are available as ebooks. If all else fails someone could choose Black Beauty. I am thinking, on a personal note, how to incorporate my hotkeys edition of A Pony for Jean so it would fall into that category.
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Post by susanb on May 13, 2020 21:37:57 GMT 1
Good grief, I can't believe it's that time again.....it's been so cold here in Massachusetts, the trees are only starting to leaf out this week!
A pre-1950 book sounds good....kind of the bookend to our usual "modern" book category!
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Post by Claire on May 14, 2020 20:29:15 GMT 1
Susan, it's been freakishly cold here too, down to minus 2 last night! But today spring again! Yes the summer reading challenge certainly creeps up on one, I feel like we've hardly finished the last one!
I'll start organising this years after the Mastermind competition. In the meantime if anyone has any suggestions for categories or any other ideas or chat about this years challenge feel free to post here on Garej's thread.
Garej - don't worry yourself about the rosettes - if you can't get to the post office I can organise something myself - just make sure you're keeping safe and healthy!
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Post by susanb on May 15, 2020 0:14:09 GMT 1
Maybe have a new riding category? I think we've hit most of them, one way or another (trekking, showing, jumping, endurance, dressage, eventing, hunting, etc), but I don't think we've done polo or racing (leaving aside the ones that would be hard to find in the UK, like reining, rodeo or barrel racing).
Maybe do one this year, and save the other for next year, depending on what most people happen to have on hand?
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Post by garej on May 15, 2020 12:41:58 GMT 1
Garej - don't worry yourself about the rosettes - if you can't get to the post office I can organise something myself - just make sure you're keeping safe and healthy! Thanks Claire. I have barely left my flat since lockdown began not even for daily exercise as it's Too Risky. Thankfully with online deliveries I have managed plus 6 different people have been checking up on my welfare (including my nurse) and bringing supplies. Thankfully my Tesco shopping orders have had very few substitutions so am managing ok. I always keep a well stocked freezer so am not in danger of running out of food yet. Like I said it all depends on the coronavirus situation and also to a certain extent the postal service globally as to whether I can get any rosettes out. I just didnt want anyone to think "hooray I am getting a rosette this year" and then for me to announce in September that they're not getting one and being disappointed. The upside of lockdown is that I have been cleaning bits that havent been cleaned for an long while. I found an postcard from DPT that I thought was long lost whilst sorting out an cupboard the other week.
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Post by garej on May 24, 2020 3:26:36 GMT 1
Another suggestion I have thought of is to go back and reread a book from previous summer reading challenges. It started in 2014 so that's 6 years ago so plenty of choice. Most of us have taken part in all (or nearly all) of the challenges so it would be interesting to see if the book chosen is just as good (or bad!) as the first time we read it. It would also be interesting to compare faces.
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Post by susanb on Jun 12, 2020 15:27:37 GMT 1
I just went back to see what books I'd read in previous years, and saw that the Summer Challenge actually started in 2012, this is the 9th year....yikes, time flies! I also noticed that I never did finish the 10 books I picked that year
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Post by Claire on Jun 13, 2020 16:19:16 GMT 1
I just went back to see what books I'd read in previous years, and saw that the Summer Challenge actually started in 2012, this is the 9th year....yikes, time flies! I also noticed that I never did finish the 10 books I picked that year Me neither! Hard to believe it's been going that long. It's becoming something of an institution! Interesting suggestion Garej. It is sometimes so that our perceptions of the same book can change over the years, specially bewteen childhood and adulthood. I think this year we will also stick to the 'recommended book' category, which everyone seems to enjoy taking part in. So folk, if you could think of something you'd like to recommend please post here. Also can people put their names down for taking part, in the next couple of weeks. Because of the Mastermind comp taking longer than estimated, I will be starting the Reading Challenge a little later this year, sometime in July rather than June, but we still need to get numbers and categories sorted pretty soon so it will all be ready.
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Post by garej on Jun 13, 2020 16:50:22 GMT 1
I will take part Claire. Need to think about my suggestion though.
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Post by susanb on Jun 13, 2020 17:53:51 GMT 1
I'm in as well! My game plan is to hit all the categories I can, but it might come down to what I own or can get as an ebook. I don't know what shipping is like around the world, but in the US, it has been really, really slow due to Covid 19. I've had a book on order from Australia since May 8th, and no sign yet. Even within the US, I've had books take up to 3 weeks to arrive Contemplating my recommended book in light of delivery difficulties for others
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Post by garej on Jun 13, 2020 21:51:31 GMT 1
I am waiting for an package from Romania for nearly 3 weeks so international post is slow here. I am a member of postcrossing and I have noticed that postcards are taking longer than usual to arrive even in this country. However I suspect that postcards are one of the quickest things to arrive since they dont require customs clearance. Like you said susan it may be worth raiding your own library or getting ebooks this year. Or ordering in your country well in advance so there's no gaps.
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Post by garej on Jun 14, 2020 15:17:42 GMT 1
I have decided on Midnight on Lundy aka A Stallion Called Midnight by Victoria Eveleigh as my recommendation. It's available as an ebook and paperback on Amazon and a few copies on Ebay so shouldn't be terribly hard to find. I read it last year and really enjoyed it hence my recommendation.
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Post by susanb on Jun 15, 2020 16:44:33 GMT 1
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Post by Claire on Jun 15, 2020 20:21:10 GMT 1
As an on-line retailer I post a lot and it seems pretty good in the USA, just maybe a couple of days slower than usual. Also things I sell to the USA and Australia are getting there within about 3 weeks so ordering books from the UK might ironically be quicker than in your own country if you're in the USA. However it's a good suggestion by Garej and Susan to mainly include e-books or books from your own library this year to be on the safe side.
2 good recommendations also by you two!
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Post by Claire on Jun 16, 2020 14:46:01 GMT 1
As usual we'll be including a modern/new book. Just to say there is a free e-book at the moment called Cobwebs on the Gorse by Sally Marsh, it's apparently an adult/young adult horse-themed book so it may be an idea for the modern book. Check out the read for free thread for a link.
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Post by darkhorse on Jun 16, 2020 20:37:21 GMT 1
Can you put my name down too?
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Post by garej on Jun 18, 2020 12:17:50 GMT 1
I finally got my package from Romania this morning. It took about an month to get here.
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Post by susanb on Jun 18, 2020 13:39:14 GMT 1
My package from Australia arrived earlier this week too (Ponies in Peril, now on my summer challenge list!), took over 5 weeks, so international mail seems to be moving, just very slooooooly in some places
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Post by ginslinger on Jun 21, 2020 16:39:30 GMT 1
Yes I would like to join. After working flat out for ten weeks now in isolation thanks to the now abandoned IOW app. 2 weeks box rest and not even lame though exhausted. I have a couple of previously unread by me PTs - It began with Picotee and a non horsy children’s book by Christine Bandits in the hills. I also bought several e books for the Winter reading challenge which I never got to participate in. My beloved aunt died very suddenly at the beginning of Feb and the once was through the immediate aftermath I was ill and then just too busy. So I shouldn’t need to buy much more.
My recommendation would be any of the Patience Mc Elwee stories - Match Pair, Dark Horse and the Merrythoughts. The last although perhaps less horsey is interesting because it is centred on a family where the parents are what would now be called influencers and the children long for a normal life.
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Post by tintin on Jun 21, 2020 17:48:58 GMT 1
Hello - Keen to take part - let me know the rules and I will do my best
So far it is one new, one pre-1950 and one recommendation as the designated books?
I am sat here in strict isolation with my Dad (who now has a heart condition) and waiting for an op that has been postponed twice! (should be 6th July)
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Post by garej on Jun 21, 2020 18:57:35 GMT 1
Ginslinger Bandits in the Hills is actually a donkey story so definitely equine not a non pony story by CPT. The Smoke in the Hills and The Road Through the hills are definitely non pony though.
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Post by ginslinger on Jun 21, 2020 21:38:42 GMT 1
Thanks Garej, I bought it quite cheaply so didn’t look to carefully- I had half a mind to the challenge and Picotee would do for an early book. Fingers crossed for your dad, Tintin.
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Post by Claire on Jun 22, 2020 10:49:29 GMT 1
Hi folks. First of all Ginslinger, sorry to hear about your Aunt and I'm glad you are able to join us for the Summer Challenge.
Apologies in advance if I am a little slow in organising it this year, not only has the Mastermind Competition over-ran a bit, but last week I suddenly lost my beloved little cat Mischief and am having a hard time coping with it. She was only 2 years old. I will try and get The Challenge set up in the next fortnight or sooner.
Ian, I wish you all the luck with your op and hope the Challenge will help with the convalescence x
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Post by ginslinger on Jun 22, 2020 14:40:02 GMT 1
Thank you. She is much missed but she was 85 and we take comfort in knowing she would rather go out with people saying it was a terrible shock than a merciful release and that she wouldn’t have liked lockdown. Very aware that so many have lost people and not had comfort of being able to hold proper funerals or to visit. So within the context of losing someone you love very much we have been very lucky.
I am so sorry about your cat. Hard enough to less them at a good age but terrible when so young. Still very early days.
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Post by susanb on Jun 29, 2020 17:28:27 GMT 1
I'm so sorry to hear about the troubles....condolences, ginslinger on your Aunt's passing, and Claire, I'm so sorry to hear about your cat. Tintin, hope your Dad is doing better, and that the op will be rescheduled sooner rather than later....waiting for something like that is so hard!
Hopefully July will be a better month for all the Pumbles! I foresee challenge lists made up of pure comfort reads....I know mine will be!
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Post by darkhorse on Jun 29, 2020 19:35:22 GMT 1
Sorry to hear that so many people are going through a bad time at the moment. I echo Susan's sentiments that things will take a better turn for everyone soon.
I have a couple of suggestions for categories for the challenge. What about a fantasy horse story? Also, and apologies if anyone thinks it's a bit in bad taste, but what about a book where the main characters are in quarantine, as most of us can kind of relate to that at the moment!
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Post by tintin on Jun 29, 2020 20:00:07 GMT 1
I am going to cheat and start early, because my operation is next week and one eye will be covered with a dressing for some time so don't know how much reading I'll get done :-)
I've just read the Pony Seekers by Diana Pullein-Thompson - short and enjoyable and features a horse quarantine. Happy to recommend it and it fits Darkhorse's bill
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Post by sarah on Jun 29, 2020 20:27:50 GMT 1
Good recommendation - I have just read that trilogy again (the first time for so many years). Strangles is a nightmare and can spread so quickly
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Post by susanb on Jun 30, 2020 13:46:51 GMT 1
Good luck with the op, tintin! Could you lay in some audio books beforehand? You're probably right that you won't be able to get a lot of reading in, as you won't want to strain the uncovered eye. Maybe your library offers some, or it could be a good time to do the Amazon audible free 30 day trial! I'll bet there are even a few pony books in there
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Post by tintin on Jun 30, 2020 15:38:57 GMT 1
Thank you - I should find out on Thursday how serious it will be. Our library is shut until 30th September due to the virus and as both myself and my Dad are awaiting operations we are n't allowed out further than our front gates (yes just as everyone else's lockdown got easier, our's got harder :-) ) It is harder on my Dad as he was n't even ill until 6 weeks ago - I was on the vulnerable list from the start, but we did have a socially distanced walk every day, which I really miss)
The hospital might have some, I am due to be in there for 5 days to a week, though the Hospital libraries can be eccentric - I went to visit a ward for the confused and the only book they had, apart from Mills and Boon, was an academic biography of Lord Shaftesbury. The leaflet from the hospital I am going to is very honest "bring books and/or games as time can pass slowly" and in the catering section highlighting the fact there is also a cafe
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