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Post by tinuviel on Jun 25, 2008 8:14:28 GMT 1
Characters:
Sandy Holden
Karen Morton
Miss Asher
Cynthia and Amanda Russle-Verne
Tarka-Sandy's pony
Sprog-Karen's borrowed pony
Summery:
11 year old Sandy and her family move from the city of Tretot to the country when Mr Holden recives a job transfer.
The whole family are excited,especialy Sandy who loves horses more than anything but until now has had to be content with riding at the city stables where the highlight was a two minute canter on a patch of waste land.
The moment the family move Sandy begins searching for the perfect pony but quickly relises it's not as easy as just finding one for sale and has a few adventures along the way,incuding being bolted with and meeting the rich, snobby Russle-Verne sisters.
Just when Sandy is feeling like she will never find a pony of her own she meets Karen who introduces her to Tarka and Sandy knows she has found her pony.
My View:
I found this book to be a lovely read,definitly a book for a lazy afternoon.
It is a fairly simple story but the girl/pony relationship is well done and the story moves along at a nice pace,giving you a chance to get to know the characters without getting tedious.
Nothing was overdone,which keeps the simplicity going,and the adventures the two girls have are amusing.
In all i would give this book 4/5....it does lack a bit of the traditional spark but is well written an enjoyable to read.
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Post by Claire on Jun 25, 2008 19:21:48 GMT 1
Thanks for the review tinuveil. I do agree with you. Its a nice simple story, doesnt quite have the oomph factor of some of her best books but worth a read. I would probably rate it about 3/5 (3 horseshoes)
Which edition did you read. Was it the little paperback Spitfire one or the hardback?
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Post by tinuviel on Jun 26, 2008 9:59:30 GMT 1
Claire i was so nervous to do a review,sorry,it's not quite as good as your one's but i have heaps i want to do and thought i would do a simple one first so you can give me some tips LOL. Oh mine is the Collins hard back edition  . |
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Post by darkhorse on Jun 26, 2008 10:25:06 GMT 1
I have recently read this too and quite liked it. I have the Collins hardback edition. Is there much difference between the two?
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Post by Claire on Jun 26, 2008 11:28:04 GMT 1
I have only read the Spitfire edition which was the first ed. But the other books which were first published in Spitfire, then later republished (Jacky Jumps to the Top and Afraid to Ride) were expanded quite a lot in the later editions so I assume this one was too. I will have to get my hands on a Collins hb ed and see what the diffs are.
Tinuveil. It was short but sweet! I love reading other peoples reviews. They dont have to be as long as mine. I tend to witter on a bit but its just force of habit from my degree days when I used to write long lit crit essays! So anyone else who fancies a go at reviewing don't be put off thinking you have to write pages and pages or go into a lot of detail. Its just nice to hear different peoples perspectives on books.
God forbid I should give any one tips but I tend to look for themes in the story, how the character is explored and the relationship between horse and heroine/hero. I find that doing the review (as with the reading circle) makes you get more out of the book/find stuff you didnt realise was there before. For instance my next review (the Silver Bridle - coming soon!) made me realise that nearly all the authors books have the same recurrent theme in them which I'd never really picked up on before.
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Post by Claire on Jan 27, 2009 11:48:18 GMT 1
Tinuveil if you are around at all could you add a poll to this one similar to the others so we can vote on it. Even tho I am admin it won't let me if someone else has started the thread.
Cheers x
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Post by tinuviel on Mar 16, 2009 12:34:06 GMT 1
Tinuveil if you are around at all could you add a poll to this one similar to the others so we can vote on it. Even tho I am admin it won't let me if someone else has started the thread. Cheers x I dont know how  ...sorryxxxxx. |
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Post by Claire on Mar 16, 2009 14:21:00 GMT 1
Hi its dead easy (must be if I can do it lol) at the top of the thread beside where it has reply etc there should be an option which says 'add poll' click on this and then just enter the poll question and the options to choose from in the boxes. Just copy what is on the other polls.
I would add it for you but strangely it doesnt let the administrator add polls to other people's posts.
Nice to 'see' you BTW!
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Post by tinuviel on Mar 17, 2009 2:39:53 GMT 1
Haha,easy...i must have been having a blonde moment yesterday  . Thanks Clairexxxxx. |
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Post by Claire on Mar 17, 2009 10:21:19 GMT 1
Well done ;D you can actually vote in your own polls you know.
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Post by ajavajive on Oct 26, 2009 18:59:13 GMT 1
Hi,
I'm new here. Found your site while looking for this book in fact. I am nearly 50 and I still remember reading this story when I was about 10. The very beginning of it gave me such a wonderful excitment. As Sandy is walking up the drive to her new house. I just have to find this book and read it one more time. I had a bunch of the little spitfire books, I loved them all.
Kimmy
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Oct 26, 2009 19:39:49 GMT 1
Hi Kimmy, welcome I hope you find the book again. |
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Post by Claire on Oct 26, 2009 21:01:04 GMT 1
Hello there ajavajive & welcome. Its funny how even after so many years we can still remember the excitement we felt reading our books. I remember one Christmas getting one of those Armada pony box sets and every time I seen one of them on ebay I get a little tingle as I recall how excited I was to get it! There doesnt seem to be a copy of First Pony around at the mo (except for one at an exorbitant price) but as I am something of a dealer in pony books I will keep my eyes out for one and let you know if I spot a copy |
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Post by Cathy on Oct 2, 2011 0:41:57 GMT 1
Hi, This is the first time I've ever posted on a forum. I also found your site while looking for this book. Like Kimmy, I am in my 40s and I still remember reading this story when I was a child. It is one book I read over and over, so much so I remember the name Tarka. A wonderful book that I'd love to read again. Cathy. |
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Post by Claire on Oct 3, 2011 10:07:14 GMT 1
Hi Cathy, congrats on your first post! Hope you will join us and register on the forum.
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Post by fizz on Oct 6, 2011 7:43:15 GMT 1
Always have thought she might have found a more believable name for the city than Tretot! What is so wrong with using a real place like Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester or London?
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...sorryxxxxx.
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