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Post by darkhorse on Jun 15, 2008 14:30:14 GMT 1
I think somebody was talking on the book circle thread about comparing the three sisters after we had read a book from each one. No-one hgas started a thread yet so I thought I would give it a go...so which sister is your favourite and how would you compare the three of them? Please could you add a poll Claire...with my usual technical flair I haven't worked out how to do it yet...
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Post by haffyfan on Jun 15, 2008 15:15:17 GMT 1
Josephine is my favourite. I prefer her style, characters and themes generally. I especially love the PC books (both sets). Christine is a bit doom/gloom, someone (equine/human) usually gets badly injured or dies etc. The animal cruelty element of the In the trilogy is just awful. Diana is somewhere inbetween, a bit doom and gloo at times but also has written some cracking books like Janet Must Ride (although it has it's fair share of hiccups).
It was as if Josephine realised her readers were quite happy to read about people and ponies doing everyday things (Prince Among ponies, the Pc books etc) whereas the other two had to mix in a few accidents/bad things to liven the plot. I cannot think of a book of Josephines I don't really like, okay I have my faves but would read them all again and again, wheras I can give you a list (quite a long one) of the others sisters works I personally don't like at all.
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Post by darkhorse on Jun 15, 2008 15:24:16 GMT 1
Diana is possibly just my favourite, although my fave series is the Pony Club (NOel and Henry) series by Josephine...but it seems to be everyone favourite! I do agree with you regarding the doom and gloom element of Christine's books. Diana's have it a bit, but not as bad and it seems to be more part of the plot than just put for effect. I think Diana describes the ponies and other animals in a more detailed and sympathetic way and her characters have a closer emotinal bond with them. Josephine's books are the funniest and best for a completely comfort blanket type read.
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Post by Claire on Jun 15, 2008 17:33:31 GMT 1
I like them in this order:
Josephine Diana Christine
I can't say I actually really dislike any of their books except for The Ponies in the Forest by Christine and all have written outstanding books as well as a few not so great.
Josephine as you say darkhorse, is the archetypal comfort blanket read, esp Noel and Henry books. Every time I read them I feel like I am visiting old friends. And yes, some of her books are funny. I find her very similar in style to her mother Joanna Cannan, tho with more instruction element. The dialogue between the characters in her books is just brilliant. The only books of J's that I am not so fond of are the 'adventure' type stories which weren't really her metier at all and in fact seemed more like Christines.
Diana, yes she did focus on the bond between horse and rider more than her sisters and this was perhaps the only element lacking in J's books (except for one or two like Patrick's Pony or Prince Among Ponies). She also had a very good perception of character. She had some of the more original plots of all 3 sisters too.
Christine was so downbeat. Her characters were always angst ridden and introspective. I think she had more of a social conscience than the other two as many of her books were about poverty stricken children, children living on council estates, etc, etc. When people call pony books elitist they obviously havent read many of Christines who had loads of down at heel 'lower class' characters. What she is very good at tho is making you empathise with her main characters. And all three sisters are extremely easy to read, you never have to struggle to get thru their books.
It is interesting that J is so radically different to her 2 sisters. But I seem to remember reading in their autobiography that she was the favourite 'golden child' of the family and the other 2, esp Christine and felt a bit in her shadow. Could explain their more angst ridden books as compared to her more light-hearted ones.
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Post by garej on Jun 15, 2008 21:10:56 GMT 1
I like them all, but for different reasons. So I voted for the last.
Would elaborate further but I ended up with terrible stomach ache all day.
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Post by susanb on Jun 16, 2008 15:29:55 GMT 1
Can't say I have a favorite among the three sisters....I like some books by all, and dislike other books by all. In Christine's defense, I did like the Chill Valley Hound trilogy, as well as I Rode a Winner very much. Loved Diana's Cassidy in Danger, and Josephine's Radney Riding Club (I must be the only person on earth who likes that one best of the Noel and Henry books!).
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Post by kunuma on Jun 16, 2008 18:57:57 GMT 1
Josephine for me too, for much the same reasons as already given. I liked Christine's earlier books the best, although there is too much hunting for my liking, and I did love several of Diana's - then I read one that really changed my attitude to her writing, so for me, yes, Josephine. Especially for All Change!!! Can we do that in the reading circle one day pleeeeeeeeese!!
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Post by Claire on Jun 16, 2008 20:34:14 GMT 1
Oh I love All Change too!
I also love I Rode a Winner and The Horse Sale by Christine which I think, along with the David and Pat series, are her best. Riders From Afar pretty good too as not as depressing as her usual characters. In fact I do like a lot of C's stuff but just prefer her sisters overall.
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Post by fizz on Jun 16, 2008 21:08:17 GMT 1
Susan B I love The Radney Riding Club too. I think it is one of her best (though its years since I read Six Ponies). I love the way different characters are depicted. I love the description of the first rally, the Colonel stuck in the dark ages, and the bit where Oscar kicks Eric's Father. The detail is wonderful. Can we have it for a book club read? I voted for no favourite, though I do find Christine's books the least enjoyable; I enjoyed A Day to go Hunting as a child. I think there is a harsh quality to her books and they are less sympathetic and lack some of the humour of those of her siblings.
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Post by tinuviel on Jun 18, 2008 4:04:46 GMT 1
Josephine for me too purely due to theHery/Noel books and Prince among ponies. I do,in many ways,enjoy the Darkness of Christine's books....depends what mood im in. And i love Diana's Christina/Augusta books . So in order i would say: Josephine Diana Christine
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Post by cally on Jun 18, 2008 11:11:47 GMT 1
Josephine,Christine and then Diana (I think). CP-T has written some mediocre books, but look at how many she wrote; don't actually know the number (I'm sure you guys do!) but it's lots, innit...Having said I prefer JP-T overall, 2 of my favourite books,'The Horse Sale' and 'A Day to go Hunting' are Christine's (even tho' I don't like fox hunting.)
Jo's 'I Had 2 Ponies' arrived along with 'Jackie's Pony Camp Summer' today thanks to ebay, so I have a JP-T I haven't read before to look forward to! Just have to finish off 'Goodbye to Hounds' tonight.
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