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Post by Claire on Jun 9, 2021 18:04:50 GMT 1
Hi all, welcome to the official thread for the 2021 Summer Reading Challenge.
For newbies to the forum or challenge the aim is for those taking part to pick a number of books and then challenge themselves to read them all by the end of Summer. We use this thread to discuss the books, how we are getting on with the challenge and give each other encouragement. We rate books with smiley, frownie or neutral faces and can win 'virtual' rosettes and of course the coveted Challenge Trophy for completing our lists by the end of Summer! There are a number of suggested categories to choose your books from or you can have total free choice. Non-pony books are also allowed.
NON-FORUM MEMBERS - Also welome to join in. If you don't want to join the forum please feel free to join in as a guest, pick your books and discuss and rate them on this thread. Or if you don't want to post anything, then why not just pick your own list and challenge yourself to read it by the closing date.
START DATE: 20th June 2021
END DATE: 20th September 2021 EXTENDED TO 30TH SEPTEMBER
SUGGESTED CATEGORIES:
A HISTORICAL PONY BOOK
A BOOK WRITTEN BY A HORSY CELEBRITY
A PONY BOOK WRITTEN BY AN AUTHOR YOU HAVEN'T READ BEFORE
A HUMOROUS PONY BOOK
BOOK RECOMMENDED BY FORUM MEMBERS* See list below
FORUM MEMBERS BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:
Sue-Elaine Draws a Horse by Marion Coakes (and Gillian Hirst aka Gillian Baxter) (horsy celeb)
No Ponies for Miss Pobjoy by Ursula Moray Williams (humorous)
Small Gains by K M Peyton (historical)
The Unwilling Adventures by Veronica Westlake (humorous)
A Pony for Jean by Joanna Cannan
Ponies in Peril by DPT
Winning by Ginny Eliot (horsy celeb)
Pony Club Team by JPT (humorous)
Pony Club Camp by JPT (humorous)
King of the Wind by Marguerite Henry (historical)
Riding Shotgun by Rita Mae Brown (historical)
Working Trot by Jesse Haas
Pony Problem by Barbara Holland (humorous)
Lord Mayor’s Show by Vian Smith
Sawdust in His Shoes by Eloise Jarvis McGraw
Murder on the Hoof by Glynn Jenkins
Come to Grief by Dick Francis
The Palomino Pony Comes Home by Olivia Tuffin
The Quicksand Pony by Alison Lester
CHALLENGE AWARDS:
3 books finished - YELLOW ROSETTE 5 books finished - BLUE ROSETTE 7 books finished - RED ROSETTE Challenge completed - GOLD CUP
Reader's lists to follow very shortly! I will be posting them on this page rather than havoing a dedicated web-page due to possible broadband issues with updating web pages.
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Post by Claire on Jun 10, 2021 15:58:56 GMT 1
SUMMER CHALLENGE READING LISTS:
CLAIRE:AUTHOR NOT READ BEFORE: Dark Champion - Arthur Waterhouse Pegasus and the Flame - Kate O'Hearn HORSY CELEBRITY: Three Jays go to Rome - Pat Smythe HISTORICAL: The Hearts of Horses - Molly Gloss HUMOROUS: The Unwilling Adventurers - Veronica Westlake The Grownup - Gillian Flynn DARKHORSE: CHALLENGE COMPLETED!HORSY CELEBRITY: Three Jays go to Rome - Pat Smythe Sue Elaine Draws a Horse - Gilliam Baxter HISTORICAL: Small Gains - K M Peyton ***STAR READ***Greater Gains - K M Peyton RECOMMENDED: Come to Grief - Dick Francis ***STAR READ***GAREJ: CHALLENGE COMPLETED!AUTHOR NOT READ BEFORE: Dark Champion - Arthur Waterhouse ***STAR READ*** HISTORICAL: Black Swift - JPT HORSY CELEBRITY: Three Jays go to Rome - Pat Smythe HUMOROUS: Hildebrand HAFFY:AUTHOR NOT READ BEFORE: Rivalry in Riding Boots - Annie Le Voguer HISTORICAL: Small Gains - K M Peyton HORSY CELEBRITY: Where Did I Go - Polly Williamson Palm Beach - Kim Ablon Whitney Hoofbeats - Catherine Rix ***STAR READ***Sole Possession - Gillian Baxter The Highland Ghillie's Diary - Harry Churchill SUSAN: CHALLENGE COMPLETED!AUTHOR NOT READ BEFORE: Ponies in Secret- D.A. Young HORSY CELEBRITY: Three Jays Go to Rome - Pat Smythe HISTORICAL: Hearts of Fire - Victoria Holmes HUMOROUS/RECOMMENDED: Unwilling Adventurers/Veronica Westlake (humorous/recommended ) ***STAR READ***Ride ‘em Peggy- Elisa Bialk Heavenly Carthorse- Esme Hamilton Growing Summer - Noel Streatfeild Green Slippers - Saint-Marcoux Blythe Girls: Three on a Vacation - Laura Lee Hope Windsong Summer - Patricia Cecil Haas TINTINAUTHOR NOT READ BEFORE: A Pony for Belinda - Mary Gervaise HISTORICAL: Can I get There by Candlelight - J Slaughter-Doty HORSY CELEBRITY: Three Jays Go to Rome - Pat Smythe HUMOROUS: Caroline Canters Home - Caroline Akrill HUMOROUS: I wish I Could Ride - Caroline Akrill RECOMMENDED - Working Trot - Jesse Haas Scarlet Lancer - Brigadier James Lunt Peter's Private Army - Jean MacGibbon
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Post by Claire on Jun 19, 2021 14:34:03 GMT 1
Have only added 3 so far as I'm in the middle of packing up books for my move so not sure which ones to leave out.
Does anyone else want to join in? If so please let me know your lists.
Hope everyone is enjoying their reading so far.
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Post by tintin on Jun 19, 2021 19:55:39 GMT 1
Big smile for "A Pony for Belinda" - loved it so much I had to get the sequel, now I'm hooked and going to get the other two, Would make a lovely TV series
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Post by garej on Jun 21, 2021 2:47:55 GMT 1
I have started on Three Jay's Go To Rome. Quite good so far. I didnt think I would like it hence me starting it to get the worst out of the way. But so far I am enjoying it.
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Post by garej on Jun 21, 2021 20:38:48 GMT 1
SMILEY for THREE JAY'S GO TO ROME please Claire. Nice easy read. I have only read Jacqueline Rides for a fall before and I would definitely read another of the Three Jay's books.
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Post by haffyfan on Jun 24, 2021 21:37:39 GMT 1
I think my taste in books is somewhat different to everyone else's, I only read part of one Belinda book and it was more than enough and i didn't like the 3 jays either. The dust wrappers were the only highlights of both in my opinion!
Smiley please for Palm Beach, took me a little while to get into it as so long since I read the others and had forgotten the characters, then it left off quite abruptly with loads of unanswered questions, so clearly there are more installments to come!
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Post by Claire on Jun 26, 2021 21:53:05 GMT 1
I actually quite like the 3 Jays books. But Yeah the Belinda books I do find quite dull. I haven't had a chance to start reading yet as I am setting off for Spain in 4 days time to start my new life!!! So apologies also that I have been AWOL quite a bit lately but there's been a massive amount to do. I'll be taking at least a year off work when I get there so hopefully more time to come on here!
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Post by garej on Jun 27, 2021 13:16:00 GMT 1
You will have to lmk your new address Claire in order to receive your rosette. Good luck !
I have had my second jab over a week ago. On Thursday I went to town the first time this year and also the first time I have been on a bus this year too. I didnt quite manage to get some padded envelopes for the rosettes whilst I was in town but I know that I do have some anyway. I am planning to go to town before September so I will have plenty of time. As there are so few of us taking part and not everyone wants a rosette I should be ok.
Anyway I have started Black Swift by JPT and so far I am enjoying it even though I am not a fan of pony pov books. I think it may be down to the sheer quality of the writer as you can't deny the PTs knew their stuff.
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Post by garej on Jun 28, 2021 19:58:07 GMT 1
SMILEY for BLACK SWIFT please Claire. A thoroughly enjoyable book which didn't entirely follow the Black Beauty stereotype even though it's a pony pov. I am not too sure how historically accurate it is. I have written a more full review in my PT blog.
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Post by haffyfan on Jun 28, 2021 21:09:19 GMT 1
Good Luck with the big move Claire!
Can i be a pain and remove and then add to my list? I realised I have already read horse and Ambition when i started it yesterday.
Could I add
Where did I go?: Rediscovering My Identity, Lost After a Traumatic Brain Injury by Polly Williamson (Horsey Celeb) - not strictly a pony book but obviously her injury occurred in a riding accident - I read her Mother's book Gallop for our winter challenge but Polly's accident was only briefly covered because of this book.
The Highland Ghillie's Diary by Harry Churchill - again not strictly a pony book but there will be highlands in there.
I'll also add Small gains, as sure i have a copy lurking and it fills two more categories...but be warned i don't like historical fiction as a rule, hence having never read it prior.
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Post by garej on Jun 29, 2021 2:54:38 GMT 1
I have started Hildebrand. Annoyingly good reads don't have it listed as a book either under Hildebrand or John Thorburn. I have the Peter Beigel illustrated version and from what I've seen so far the illustrations are beautiful.
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Post by garej on Jun 30, 2021 15:03:43 GMT 1
SMILEY for HILDEBRAND please Claire. If I am right then I get a rosette as I have read 3 books. I think that I will be adding more books as I will be starting my last out of my initial list but I dont know which books yet.
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Post by susanb on Jun 30, 2021 20:17:35 GMT 1
Hi, Claire,
Good luck with your move....hope it all goes smoothly!
Haven't been on the board of late, but have been doing a lot of reading!:
Ponies in Secret- D.A. Young - smiley, a nice traditional story, with stunning illustrations. Three Jays Go to Rome - Pat Smythe - frowny, I found it deadly dull....and far too little pony content Unwilling Adventurers/Veronica Westlake - big cheesy grin, totally loved it and bought Mug's Game, which seems to be fairly available at the moment Ride ‘em Peggy- Elisa Bialk - scrapes a smiley, it's the "you're turning into a horsey bore" stereotypical girl. But the girl really, REALLY is a bore, so it's hard to argue the need for rehabilitation. Nicely illustrated - Growing Summer - Noel Streatfeild - another smiley scraped....the Great Aunt was a little out there, even for Eccentric Characters - Blythe Girls: Three on a Vacation - Laura Lee Hope - and a third smiley scraped - not the best I've read of this series, a bit meh -
Working on Green Slippers, can't say it's really grabbing me, I may set it aside and move on to one of my other remaining titles.
Still trying to decide on a 10th title....such a stack, so many calling my name
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Post by Claire on Jul 4, 2021 20:32:43 GMT 1
Hi folks once again apologies for my absence. Had a two and a half day drive and ferry journey to get here! Then looong unpacking in boiling heat - mid summer not the best time to arrive but it was the only time i could get transport.
To add to the fun there was zero internet signal where I'm staying! No broadband either. I can now get a signal from my phone but only if I put it outside! Anyways am back now so I will update everyones lists and give out smilies as needed. Sorry will be a day or two before I can add rosettes as I need to set up laptop before i can do that.
Ive just started Three Jays go to Rome. Not bad so far. Not really sure why a lot of people are down on the Three Jays books as i find them okay reads.
Never tried Hildebrande Garej. Have always been put off as it seems a bit whimsical. But may give it a go now especially if I can find a Biegel illustrated copy.
Haffy I LOVE Small Gains! Its a bit of a costume melodrama mind you lol. I think you will like it.
Susan glad you enjoyed Adventurers. Its a real feel good read and and far less well known than it should be - probably cos its quite rare.
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Post by tintin on Jul 5, 2021 22:42:07 GMT 1
Best wishes in your new place Claire, hope you will soon settle in.
Smiley faces please for:-
Scarlet Lancer and Can I get There by Candlelight
Although for the latter probably not really appropriate as it was so terribly sad - Crying face perhaps? I think I will try her others books though as I like her style of writing.
Brigadier Lunt never disappoints, his shopping lists were probably quite good reads, but I was expecting his own biography and this is one of a Napoleonic and early Victorian Officer in his old Regiment, by total coincidence I found myself reading the account of the Battle of Waterloo on Waterloo Day.
Does n't taste vary? I loved the Belinda books, could n't put them down, had to know what happened (volume 3 came before volume 4, I had to hide it from myself) and my only complaint is there were n't any more. How did the stables progress? Did father marry their "aunt"? How did her sister's acting go, her brothers experiments? Sadly we had to leave them frozen in their nineteen thirties-ish world (you half expect Poirot to turn up...)
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Post by haffyfan on Jul 8, 2021 21:23:14 GMT 1
Best wishes for your new life Claire, glad you arrived safely. I started sole possession, then as i was buying end of year books for the kids, i noticed there is now Christians version of fifty shades, and copies must have jumped in my box. Not sure what the packers would have thought of 30 Hairy Maclarey books and 50 shades trilogy but I may have become side tracked from sole possession is the outcome. I'm sure i was allowed the original set for reading challenge years ago And yes doesn't taste vary, just very slightly different from Belinda
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Post by Claire on Jul 8, 2021 22:29:38 GMT 1
Thank you to all for the best wishes. A totally different life style here - but so far I love it. Have found a neighbour has horses! Oh yes Tintin, I too found 'Candlelight' very sad. I've read a few of the author's books now, and though they have all been good reads, I think that one is still my favourite. Haffy - Sole Posession is worth going back to - I really enjoyed it when I read it a couple of years back. Nice to have a heroine who is of a 'certain age' for old farts like me to read about.
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Post by susanb on Jul 11, 2021 21:22:40 GMT 1
Tintin, so glad you liked Candlelight, Doty is one of my favorite authors. Monday Horses is probably her most upbeat work, I didn’t care for If Wishes Were Horses, but tastes differ 😉.
Summer Pony and Winter Pony are a fun pair, just make sure you don’t get the revised editions, which bear no resemblance to the originals. Hardcover or softcover illustrated by Sam Savitt and Ted Lewin have original text. Avoid the Ruth Sanderson illustrated editions like the plague, they’re an abomination.
If you’re game for another sad one, The Crumb is excellent, and her easiest to find book in hardcover, in its picture cover iteration.
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Post by susanb on Jul 15, 2021 15:35:41 GMT 1
Hi Claire, Hope all is well! Can I get a neutral for Heavenly Carthorse? Some bits were really good, but, while I usually enjoy descriptive passages that "set the scene", there was far, far too much of it in this one, to the point where it interrupted the flow of the story. Actually, if you took out all the scenery bits, you'd have been left with a pretty good short story.
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Post by Claire on Jul 19, 2021 18:04:40 GMT 1
Well done Susan for getting the first red rosette. I'm a bit behind with my reading as been busy but I'm hoping to catch up soon.
I did fancy getting a copy of Heavenly Carthorse at some point as I like books about heavy horses, but maybe I'll move it further down the wish pile now!
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Post by Claire on Jul 21, 2021 18:20:47 GMT 1
Well after defending the Three Jays series, I have to sadly give a neutral to Three Jays go to Rome. Definitely the weakest link in the series. Starts okay but then turns quite dull and rather bitty - takes about the half the book before they even arrive in Rome and even though there is a flavour of the city, the author could have given a lot more detail. Also there was very little horse content and the Olympic show jumping event is almost skimmed over! Cant recommend this title but if anyone wants to give the series a try then I'd say Three Jays go to Town is in my opinion the best in tbe series.
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Post by garej on Jul 24, 2021 14:06:27 GMT 1
How is everyone getting on? I must admit that I haven't finished Dark Champion. I was planning to take a break for the Olympics but the BBC have drastically cut their Olympics coverage compared to previous 2 Olympics. They used to have 6 streams on the TV (red button) plus bbc 1 meaning that horsey action was covered every day. Now they only have 1 stream plus bbc 1 so that means very little, if any, coverage of equine events. I havent been able to find out when the equine coverage is on the bbc.
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Post by darkhorse on Jul 24, 2021 17:48:33 GMT 1
Hi Claire is it possible to still join in? I haven't been able to before now as my dad has been very poorly. He is on the mend now thank heavens. I will only have a short list, if that is easier?
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Post by garej on Jul 24, 2021 18:11:35 GMT 1
I have found out when the horsey action is on the BBC. Basically there's very little and it's mostly showjumping as the eventing and dressage are on either discovery plus and eurosport. As I have neither (the only paid things I have are amazon prime and now tv entertainment pack) it means that I will get to miss out. I do wonder why I pay my licence fee sometimes as I havent seen any horsey action for about 3 years as there's been no olympia or badminton coverage for 2 years so was counting on the Olympics for my horsey fix as I dont have anything to do with real horses. Thank goodness for this forum and pony books!
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Post by Claire on Jul 26, 2021 15:58:07 GMT 1
Darkhorse - yes of course you can still join in. Just let me know your list in the next few days. I hope your Dad continues to get back to full sttength.
Garej, I haven't had a tv license for years. Ive just used streaming for ages now and i cant say Ive missed the BBC much. As you say very little horsy action any more. I may have a look at the Now Tv sports package to see what horse content is on there, although it may not be cost effective as I dont really watch much non horse sport. Like you, I rarely have real life horse contact so yeah pony books and like minded people here are a godsend. Although i have found out there is a riding school nearby where I am staying in Spain. Hopefully it will be a lot cheaper thsn the Brit ones so I can start it up again some time.
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Post by susanb on Jul 26, 2021 16:13:51 GMT 1
It's so odd that there isn't much equestrian broadcast for the Olympics in Britain, because the commentators on USA's NBC streaming are clearly Brits, so I was assuming that NBC just bought the British feed. I'm so sorry that it isn't showing up in the UK I'm catching most of it in replay, as they're starting at 4am, my time. The dressage horses seem to be handling the heat and humidity well, but I have to admit, I fear for the cross-country segment....dewpoints north of 70 are just awful....like having air you have to chew first
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Post by garej on Jul 27, 2021 10:46:57 GMT 1
Yeah an lot of people on Facebook are complaining that they want to watch certain sports and unless you pay it's impossible. Discovery + is owned by an American company (discovery inc) and I dont think you can just take up an months subscription you have to pay for an year. They also own the free channel called hgtv but half their programming is American programmes such as My Lottery Dream Home and Restored by The Fords. Unfortunately hgtv no longer do a free catchup service as every single blooming ad break is advertising discovery plus. Which may explain why there's British commentators susan. Unfortunately the same goes for Eurosport player there's no option to pay for an month otherwise I would pay for an month just to get my equine fix.
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Post by susanb on Jul 27, 2021 15:35:53 GMT 1
Its basically the same in the US re paying....unless you have a service (I get mine through cable), you only get the basic stuff they do on the main channels. Even if you have cable, if you only subscribe to a basic service, you still don't get any more content, just better reception During the last Olympics, I bumped my basic cable up just for the few weeks of the Games and then took it down again, but this year I had to switch my internet service from the one provided to the phone company (which stopped service to my whole street!) to cable....since internet and cable are bundled for me now, I have the full service and get to see all the events. Some compensation for having to install a new router by myself in the middle of a pandemic last year, because the cable people wouldn't come in
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Post by haffyfan on Jul 27, 2021 20:13:25 GMT 1
Yep the coverage this time is rubbish, i'm not bothered about watching the dressage but would have liked to watch the eventing, keeping fingers crossed it will be on but it's not looking hopeful and don't have the required pay for channels.
Can i have a smiley for Where Did i go please. Not a book i would have normally chosen but very interesting read, she is such a strong lady and the book was a real warts and all insight into her recovery and life after the accident.
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