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Post by Claire on Mar 24, 2021 23:09:58 GMT 1
Who SIr Me Sir? By K. M. PeytonI thought we could all do with a light-hearted and humourous read in the current situation so I have chosen this funny pony/school story by K. M. Peyton. It has some great characters in it and as well as being humourous is also a novel of some depth. It's easy to find and usually low cost. I really recommend you read this one! Discussion to start in about 2-3 weeks time. Say around 12th April.
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Post by Sarah :-) on Mar 25, 2021 20:13:52 GMT 1
This is one of my favourites - love it! Goodness knows where my copy is though. If you haven't read it before, I highly recommend it. (Can't log in for some reason)
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Post by haffyfan on Mar 25, 2021 20:53:32 GMT 1
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Post by sarah on Apr 2, 2021 20:13:43 GMT 1
Thanks for the link - I enjoyed watching those. Can't believe how dated it looks.
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Post by Claire on Apr 10, 2021 10:10:48 GMT 1
Just a bump, in case anyone missed it - this is our Spring read for this year and it's a corker so get yuor hands on a copy by hook or by crook!
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Post by susanb on Apr 13, 2021 16:21:40 GMT 1
Apologies, running pathetically behind! I did my federal income tax over the weekend, finally finished the book I had been reading, and began Who Sir, Me Sir, but haven't yet finished....hopefully this weekend (along with my state income tax )
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Post by Claire on Apr 13, 2021 23:46:40 GMT 1
Ughh you have my sympathy Susan. Most of us Brits don't have to do that but sadly as self-employed I do and it's a big fat pain! I haven't finished it myself either so no worries!
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Post by susanb on Apr 15, 2021 21:11:54 GMT 1
Whew, glad I'm not the only one a bit behind Re taxes....yeah, they do stink....and my state taxes has such a tiny return, and the forms are so complicated, I always wish there was an option to say "you know, just keep the money, it's not worth it"
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Post by susanb on Apr 18, 2021 16:48:41 GMT 1
Finished! (The book, that is....just started on the tax forms. 😉)
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Post by darkhorse on Apr 20, 2021 12:29:07 GMT 1
Did want to join in but I can't find my copy. I'm sure I had one! That said, I have read it before and can make some comments on what I can remember. The main character Nutty is great, a real force of nature, and the other characters are good too. It's a very funny book. I've heard there is/are other books with the same characters but have not read them. Thanks for the youtibe links Haffy. I'm going to have a look at them next.
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Post by tintin on Apr 22, 2021 15:43:54 GMT 1
I'll be joining in very shortly. I have not long started reading real books again (started off with large print Dick Francis, then early sixties "Railway Holiday" series), which is great as the PT sisters are only available on Audible in Swedish!
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Post by garej on Apr 22, 2021 19:41:39 GMT 1
Good to see you again tintin.
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Post by Claire on Apr 25, 2021 10:25:47 GMT 1
I'll be joining in very shortly. I have not long started reading real books again (started off with large print Dick Francis, then early sixties "Railway Holiday" series), which is great as the PT sisters are only available on Audible in Swedish! How are you doing Tintin? Haven't been using FB for weeks so I've not been keeping up to date. Glad that you are back to reading 'proper' books. I think this one is available in large print. Be interested to hear your take on it.
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Post by Claire on Apr 25, 2021 10:48:50 GMT 1
Well I checked out my website cos I couldn't remember for sure if there were 2 or 3 books in this series and realised I don't even have the series mentioned! Shock, horror! Massive oversight on my part. I will bave to rectify this soon as possible! Anyway there is the book Downhill All the Way in which Nutty, Hoomey et al go on a school ski-ing trip. Not horsy. Can anyone tell me if there is another in the series? I don't think so, but I could be wrong.
So, at last, to my view of the book. One of the author's funniest, she does humour very well, mainly character inspired. It's a very British sort of humour, with a number of oddballs and eccentrics featuring. It's a real pity she didn't write more humourous stories. At the same time the book is not shallow and has pathos; it does explore some weighty issues, especially in the case of Nails and his dreadful home life. Most of the main characters are outcasts, with some unhappiness in their lives.
Like Peyton's book Fly-by-night, this book explores how unpriviliged, disadvantaged characters can compete against richer more priviliged counterparts at past-times which are often considered 'elitist.' In this case, rather than horses per se, it's the sport of tetrathlon and the kids are competing against a posh private school. Determination, hard work and thinking outside the box are rewarded. I like this ethos, sadly it's now considered a bit old-fashioned, but I think it's a timeless message.
The main character, tomboyish, bossy Nutty is very funny, but I'm in two minds whether it was a bit too stereotypical to make her unattractive and overweight. Yes it was important to her status as a bit of an outcast but surely this is not the only cross that females have to bear. I'd be interested to hear what others think of this aspect.
It's not a 'horse story' as such, although there is quite a lot of horsy content, but I found this just added to the interest, with the school element and also the various other aspects of the sport. I wouldn't let the fact it's not totally horse-orientated put anyone off.
All in all an excellent read. I haven't yet had a chance to watch the TV show on youtube but I will be interested to see how it compares to the book.
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Post by tintin on Apr 25, 2021 11:56:21 GMT 1
First off I LOVED this book. It is very well written and a gripping story. It takes what could have been a very stereotyped story and puts in some surprises (notably Nails's mare - gasp!). Both the people and the horses are great characters. Pulls off the key writer's trick of creating believeable people/scenario which gives a solid foundation for having a plot that is stretched just a little beyond credulity point to make it exciting
Secondly it was very nostalgic, this was very like my school and these were people I could have known, both pupils, staff and parents. It was also re-assuring as since the lockdown and my illness I have seen a lot more of the news as I am less busy. This book was great as it re-assured me I am not mad just grew up in a time, which although not that long ago, is more different from today than I thought it was. The horses were credible horses too reminding me of horses I've known
I voted Gold Cup - which I don't do very often at all. This is a lovely book.
Now as to myself. I have had three check ups since my Op and a scan and all are all clear. The Pathologists have ruled my growth was due to the sun and most likely had lain dormant since my early twenties. It is a relief it is not genetic. I am back at work. (Stop here if you are squeamish)I now have a glass eye which is, literally, a work of art. I am having a lesson on it on Thursday (including make up), although it has had a test drive and is very comfortable, just a bit hard to get out(the NHS glue is very strong - the NHS solvent perhaps less so. (Squeamish people can start again now). I am in a routine and am pretty okay mentally, in some ways better than I was before.
My illustrator (does n't that sound grand) wanted sketches to bass the drawings on and I was relieved they were quite happy with side-saddle pin people!
Hope you are all well and have been coping with the crisis
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Post by kunuma 38 on Apr 26, 2021 17:55:51 GMT 1
I'll be joining in very shortly. I have not long started reading real books again (started off with large print Dick Francis, then early sixties "Railway Holiday" series), which is great as the PT sisters are only available on Audible in Swedish! How are you doing Tintin? Haven't been using FB for weeks so I've not been keeping up to date. Glad that you are back to reading 'proper' books. I think this one is available in large print. Be interested to hear your take on it. Is there a way of finding books that are in large print (it's hard work using a magnifier all the time!!)
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Post by Claire on Apr 27, 2021 13:50:25 GMT 1
First of all glad to hear you enjoyed the book Tintin and even more glad to hear that you are coping magnificently with everything!! Going back to the book, yes I agree that is also reminded me of my school in some ways. I think we are of a similar age. And yes, I also find the days of my childhood so far removed from the way kids are/life is today that it could almost have happened in a different world or parallel universe! Secondly a big hello to you Kunuma, I've been meaning to message you to see how you were but every day just seems to blend into one at the moment and time runs away from me. Dreadful excuse I know! Anyhoo hope you're keeping OK. I had a look at the advanced search for books in Amazon but there is no option for large print. I did find a link for large print editions on Amazon which I will link to below but I don't know if there is any facility to seach through it for specific titles or genres. www.amazon.co.uk/Books-Large-Print-Editions/s?rh=n%3A266239%2Cp_27%3ALarge+Print+Editions&page=2On Abebooks, if you use Advanced Search you can put 'large print' in the keyword section when you look for a specific title. Would you not be better with an Amazon Kindle or similar as you can make the print very large and change brightness/background settings to adjust to your eyes, also there will be a lot more books available as kindle than large print. Amazon sometimes have sales where their kindles are half price. Also don't forget for computers the old stand-by of pressing CTRL plus the + sign to make the text of a page get larger.
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Post by kunuma 38 on Apr 27, 2021 16:55:09 GMT 1
Hi Claire, it's odd isn't it, I mean I am used to being a total hermit, but what i have become now makes a hermit look social! Strange but one sort of forgets the rest of the world exists! Having really useless internet and a phone with no free call time stops me relying on technology for entertainment, so it's back to talking to the animals and strange craft like hobbies! Who would have ever thought I would have turned into the sort of girl who sits and knits!!! Oh yes, and watches the only TV I can bear currently ,all the old bbc itv sitcoms from the 70s and 80's !
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Post by tintin on Apr 27, 2021 20:48:28 GMT 1
One of the shocks of the Corona crisis is how much money I used to spend on travelling. Not doing that has been a big help, so we, thanks to the excellent section on the PMBL main site, completed my Dad's Dick Francis collection. It was complete serendipity - about half the books that arrived were large print! The library has re-opened recently too. I was able to return Winston Churchill's "The Malakand Field Force" - he has been staring at me reproachfully for over a year, I swear I could hear his voice, "Young man you have read me, others may wish to do so, please return me forthwith to the public shelves" Just checked - Ulverscroft large print are still in operation and you can buy from them - have a search here:- www.ulverscroft.com/home.php?countryCode=UK
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Post by Claire on Apr 29, 2021 21:48:34 GMT 1
Another Dick Francis fan here, Tintin. I've read them all! I'm glad the website helped you complete your collection. I must also update the Felix Francis section.
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Post by susanb on May 1, 2021 0:41:07 GMT 1
I'd second Claire's suggestion for the kindle. Biggest bang for the buck is the Paperwhite. It's not like a tablet, it has a matte screen, so no glare, it's front lit, not back lit....back lit is very hard on eyes. You can make the text enormous, I've even used it with my eyes dilated. Large print books can be great, if you can find them, but any ebook you buy can be as large print as you like, and there are more and more old pony book titles coming out (including all of Dick Francis....I'm a fan too ) Anyway, back on topic, I loved Who Sir, Me Sir all over again. I think the thing I love best about this book is that the kids (aside from Nutty) aren't interested in competing. They're like anti-pothunters! The only reason they're sticking with the competition, after the adults who got them into it in the first place have lost interest, is because they love the horses/ponies that have been saved from the slaughterhouse, and they're literally risking life and limb to keep them from going back there!
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