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Post by Claire on Jul 9, 2024 15:36:06 GMT 1
I really enjoyed that one too. I agree on the cover!
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Post by haffyfan on Jul 11, 2024 21:11:17 GMT 1
Can I have a smiley for The Project Horse, more romance than about the project horse but I do like this authors work. I read Ambition for last summer's challenge, then promptly bought and finished the rest of that series. She had other bundles on offer recently hence so many on my list as I bought several of her other series. I like how, in a Jilly Cooper kind of way, how she she created a her own little world with many of her characters popping up in her other books, makes them feel familiar and comfortable.
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Post by Claire on Jul 12, 2024 12:50:29 GMT 1
I like... how she she created a her own little world with many of her characters popping up in her other books, makes them feel familiar and comfortable. I love that in books too!
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odonna
Pony Clubber
PASSED PMBL 'C' TEST
Posts: 119
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Post by odonna on Jul 15, 2024 20:18:26 GMT 1
Here is my list. I hope I'm not too late to join in. I've been very busy at work with no time for reading but I'm now on a couple of week's holidays yay!
Ponies and Holidays by Mary Gervaise (Cat book)
The Silver Brumby (Australian book/re-read)
The Right-Hand Man by K. M. Peyton (Previous group read)
Internatonal Velvet (Olympic Book)
Horses and Heather by Gillian Baxter (First book by author)
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Post by susanb on Jul 15, 2024 20:41:11 GMT 1
Finished International Velvet over the weekend, smiley, please! I set aside my cat book as I suddenly realized that the Olympics are almost upon us, and I wanted to read International Velvet before they began
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Post by Claire on Jul 16, 2024 22:58:31 GMT 1
No problem Odonna, it's fine to start now.
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Post by garej on Jul 19, 2024 21:33:07 GMT 1
Can I have a FROWNY face for Second Chance Cats please Claire? It was going to get a neutral but then there was a description of suicide/mental health problems which upset me and totally spoilt the book. No content warnings - if there had been i would have skipped that part. It was a mainly positive book until that particular story but I didn't identify with them as it's an collection of true life stories. One for the charity shop methinks.
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Post by Claire on Jul 20, 2024 16:19:57 GMT 1
I've just remembered I haven't rated/reviewed October Horses by Genevieve McKay. I had misgivings about the book before reading it and I must admit I only bought it because the e-book was reduced to Β£0.99 and it had good reviews. I was wary because this was, according to the blurb, a book about a girl who has been diagnosed with a terminal illness, and I was worried that it would be either depressing or mawkish - or both! I couldn't have been more wrong - I really enjoyed it and have given it a massive smiley. Far from being depressing, it was uplifting, full of hope and above all was about the healing power (both physical and mental) of being with animals, which I think all of us here will relate to. It was extremely well-written and I loved the main character. The story-line was a little different from the norm and it was refreshing in that it was written from the viewpoint of a non-horsy person/beginning rider. I'd highly recommend the book and will definitely be reading the other books in the series.
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Post by susanb on Jul 25, 2024 23:16:04 GMT 1
About a third of the way through Starlight Belongs to Me, not bad so far. I can feel myself disappearing down the Olympic rabbit hole already though, watching gymnastics podium training I doubt I'll get a lot more done before the games are over, but still a good month afterwards to make my way through my list! How is everyone else doing?
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Post by haffyfan on Jul 26, 2024 21:46:52 GMT 1
I've been reading another trilogy which i.probably should have had on my list, but non.horsey hence I didnt. Almost there now and then will be back on it.
Can I get a smiley for Varjak Paw, it's not really my thing but I can't take away from the excellent writing, and why it's such a recommended book. If i am being honest I haven't actually read it all, some chapters I've missed (As I'm not full time) and haven't read it previously (probably should have but as I said not really my thing so lacked motivation).
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Post by Claire on Jul 27, 2024 19:54:45 GMT 1
I'm doing OK. Finished Gobbolino the Witch's Cat, got a bit stuck on the Kit Hunter book which I found very slow (the books in the series vary, some quite good, others dull) but I may go back to it, but for now I'm starting on Three Day Adventure. Gobbolino gets a smiley. This was one of my favourite books as a child, in fact Ursula Moray Williams was one of my favourite authors before I even realised she wrote pony stories too. It was the first time I've read it as an adult and, while I didn't find it as compelling as a did as a child, it was still a good read, even for an adult and all that was great about British children's literature back in the day - charming, heart-warming, well written and slightly quirky. My all time favourite by the author was The Toymaker trilogy and I now have an urge to also re-read these as an adult!
Haffy, I looked up Varjac Paw to find the author and it sounds 'interesting' to say the least!
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Post by darkhorse on Jul 30, 2024 17:34:34 GMT 1
Can I have smiles for both Coming Home and Who Sir Me Sir please Claire? I really enjoyed them both. Can I also please add October Horses as my 'new' book. I didn't have a clue what to choose this year but your review, plus the fact it is on Kindle Unlimited, clinched it for me.
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Post by Claire on Jul 30, 2024 20:29:14 GMT 1
Have updated your list Darkhorse.
I'm on a roll. Finished Three Day Adventure by Elinore Havers in one afternoon - due to some long-awaited warm sunny weather I managed to sit out in garden with the book and a few cold drinks. (For non-Brits, our UK summer has been dreadful, cold and wet: this was beginning to seem more like a WINTER reading challenge!) But I digress... I will give the book a smiley, even though it's not quite up there with her best work. Good points are that it is easy to read and the characters are likeable and it starts with an interesting plot which differs from the norm. Bad points - the plot sadly gets swallowed up by a fairly dull, rather cliched robbery sub-plot. Plus not a huge amount of pomy content. Overall, I enjoyed it.
Otherwise I found it quite interesting to compare this book (1948) to her later books written in the 1960s and 70s. In this one the families all had cooks, maids, a man to look after the ponies etc and even nannies! The later books had characters who came from much more down-to-earth and believable backgrounds, with money (or lack of) often being an issue. I think a comparison with many other author's early and later books will show a similar change. Probably reflects the changing readership of the times and the wider spread of pony-ownership. Be interested if other folk find this too.
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Post by Claire on Aug 6, 2024 19:09:19 GMT 1
How is everyone getting on? I'm having a little break from pony books/the Challenge then will try to resume the Kit Hunter story. I may add a couple of other titles to my list as I only started with six this year.
If anyone else would like to join in, it's not too late. We still have a good few weeks.
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Post by susanb on Aug 6, 2024 19:55:32 GMT 1
I donβt think Iβve read one more page of Starlight since my last post π
Iβm currently watching womenβs hammer throw. I have zero knowledge of, or interest in, hammer throwing, but here I am π€£
Iβll get back on track in a week or so, and may also add a bookβ¦. either a new one, or Three Day Adventure, which has been lurking in the tbr pile for agesβ¦.youβve inspired me!
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Post by garej on Aug 7, 2024 22:39:00 GMT 1
I had a break from reading due to the Olympics. Watched the horsey action.
Anyway I have finished A Star for Starlight and I would like to award it a neutral. Most of it wasn't very horsey. It was about travelling on mostly ships which is only interesting from a historical point of view. It also gave a description of London and New York from a tourist point of view. But the end was horsey so it picked up. If there had been more horsey action and less about the travelling it would have been a smiley. Nothing was offensive, just a tad boring for me.
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Post by Claire on Aug 8, 2024 21:00:07 GMT 1
I'm not a big sports fan so I'm not being distracted by the Olympics. I quite liked A Star for Starlight. I do agree it's not massively horsy but I'm really interested in travel so I enjoyed that aspect of it.
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Post by susanb on Aug 10, 2024 14:41:06 GMT 1
I do love a nice travelogue, especially with London and New York, just ordered a copy.
Every year this challenge ends up being one step forward, two steps back with my tbr pile ππ€£
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Post by Claire on Aug 12, 2024 22:21:57 GMT 1
I do love a nice travelogue, especially with London and New York, just ordered a copy. Every year this challenge ends up being one step forward, two steps back with my tbr pile ππ€£ Haha join the club! On the other hand we do get some great recommendations.
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Post by darkhorse on Aug 15, 2024 19:23:33 GMT 1
Smiley for The October Horses please. Really enjoyed it, thanks for the recommendation. I'll definitely be reading the others in the series.
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Post by haffyfan on Aug 17, 2024 12:52:06 GMT 1
Can I get a smiley for International Velvet, always loved the film so the book didn't disappoint. But the gelding Pie becoming a stallion π
I'm about halfway through the sweetheart horse now, it was a bit of a slow starter for me but is picking up. Not been reading as much as normal though as been spending time with the new(ish) youngster.
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Post by haffyfan on Aug 19, 2024 13:48:23 GMT 1
Can I get a neutral for the sweetheart horse, bit of an strange one. I know they are technically romance with horses, but it was just an odd one. Hope the next one is better or I might regret buying this bundle more than I already do (they got released on kindle unlimited about a week after I bought them on a special offer π)
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Post by garej on Aug 22, 2024 22:27:16 GMT 1
I have started It Began with Picotee. A bit rambly but good so far. Unless it turns out to be dire I think it will get a smiley. Not their best work however but first works by authors rarely are.
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Post by Claire on Aug 25, 2024 21:43:07 GMT 1
I have started It Began with Picotee. A bit rambly but good so far. Unless it turns out to be dire I think it will get a smiley. Not their best work however but first works by authors rarely are. Yes, my take on the book exactly Garej Apologies for not being around for the last few days, real life has been ridiculously hectic. Haven't even had a chance to read, shock horror!
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Post by susanb on Sept 1, 2024 14:43:30 GMT 1
Finished Starlight Belongs to Me yesterday, Iβll give it a smiley. The plot was all over the place, but I liked the characters and am looking forward to the next in series π
On to my last book, which is my cat entry in the challenge!
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Post by Claire on Sept 2, 2024 17:29:59 GMT 1
Found a book Iβve been meaning to read for ages then mislaid if. So adding it to my list. Itβs Blue Skies and Gunfire by KM Peyton, a non horsy book set in Second World War. So giving myself a challenge to finish 3 in around 3 weeks.
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odonna
Pony Clubber
PASSED PMBL 'C' TEST
Posts: 119
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Post by odonna on Sept 5, 2024 20:27:55 GMT 1
I have been doing the challenge but have been unable to come on and give an update as my computer karked it and I find trying to use chat forums on the phone too fiddly and hard to see. I've finished all except Ponies and Holidays and I give them all smilies so far.
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Post by haffyfan on Sept 6, 2024 21:15:22 GMT 1
Can I get a smiley for the regift horse please. I am not loving these books like I did the eventing series but this one was very readable again. I probably won't get the other two read now before the challenge ends, as my KU has a month left so there are a few other books I want to read via that first.
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Post by Claire on Sept 7, 2024 19:42:20 GMT 1
Finished Blue Skies and Gunfire in a couple of sittings. Excellent read. It's a romance, but, as much as I despise Mills and Boon type romances and random lurve interest in pony books, they can work with certain authors. KMP is very good at romances and love. The story really captures the madness of falling in love and the heartbreak of a love triangle. It is quite an emotional read. It's also a very good depiction of the Blitz and the emotions of both the pilots in The Battle of Britain, and the civilians coping with the possibility of loss every day. It's one for the history (and plane) buffs. Not horsy at all, although the author does manage to somehow shoe-horn in a horse mad character! The only criticism I have is the ending, which I felt was a little contrived and, for me, did not feel satisfying. It felt like it was put in mainly to make a twist. But that is perhaps personal taste.
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Post by susanb on Sept 9, 2024 20:00:44 GMT 1
Blue Skies and Gunfire sounds interesting, Claire, thanks for the review! It lurks in my ever growing TBR pile I may not wind up completing this year, my last book is a re-read and with that TBR pile glaring at me, I haven't found motivation to pick it up, even though I know it's excellent. My fault, for putting two re-reads into my list in one year Speaking of the challenge, and its effect on my tbr pile, it has contributed not one, not two, but THREE additions this year....A Star for Starlight, which I'd mentioned before; One More Pony by Hilda Boden, which I'd been looking for for a while....reading Pony Trek reminded me to look again. And lastly, one I'd wanted for a while, but never was willing to pay top price as it had mixed reviews: It Began with Picotee....seeing it on garaj's list made me to do another search, and I found a really lovely hardcover, first edition, in dj for about $45, roughly Β£34, so I'm very pleased (and the tbr stack is tottering)
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