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Post by Claire on Oct 22, 2008 11:27:16 GMT 1
I was just pondering on another thread about odd titles for pony books and wondered what weird titles people could come up with. Also what are everyone's favourites and which titles do you think are naff?
Here are some of my selections:
ODDEST TITLES
sue-elaine draws a horse the crumb the earth sings sweet rock a pony doctors orders the hounds of hades
BEST TITLES
I think some of the best titles are from the Jinny and Shantih series, and in general Pat Leitch has great titles for her books.
dream of fair horses a devil to ride horse of fire I'd rather not gallop king of the wind a horse for the holidays
NAFFEST TITLES
I find the book titles which have a girls name in them slightly naff as well as those using extremely cliched expressions such as 'win her/his spurs' Here are some of the worst culprits IMHO:
caroline canters home belinda wins her spurs wendy wins her spurs suspicion stalks the moor jacky jumps to the top janet young rider (no wonder this was re-titled and the replacement was one of my favs)
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Post by haffyfan on Oct 22, 2008 20:28:51 GMT 1
Would def agree with some of above I have a problem with this one
Horses is like people Joanne Webster (Just Bad grammer or I am missing something?) and also Pony From Fire, I don't understand that one either!
Also Hot Potato and Chalk and Cheese are a bit weird and Tan and Tarmac for that. I don't like wait For Me Phantom Horse either and Kate and the Horrible horse is plain shocking!
Naffest titles
There are so many!! Judith Berrisford was very unamaginative when it came to titles and most of hers are pretty naff really and I hate the ones where every book in the set is almost the same bar the beginning such as Phantom horse, Black pony Inn, In the Family etc. It crys out I coudn't be bothered to think of an exciting title to me.
Best titles.
I love Elyne Mitchell's titles, The Colt From Taparoo is one of my favourites. I love the word Taparoo!! I also like Dream Of Fair Horses and King Of The Wind along with A Hoof In The Door, Silver Snaffles, Lucky purchase and Free Rein.
Lastely Gay Darius always makes me chuckle as well Darius is such a camp name!
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Post by fizz on Oct 22, 2008 22:25:37 GMT 1
I was very disappointed when I eventually tracked down Tan & Tarmac as I thought it was related to Ribbons & Rings in some way; if you remember the blurb on the back of R&R says it's a story about showjumping & motor racing. How boring...not the next episode about Shaun and Lesley et al, but about riding in London. Good cover though.
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Post by zoe on Oct 23, 2008 20:00:52 GMT 1
I think theses ones are a bit odd: puzzle of ponies a portion for foxes late to smile I agree with Claire and Haffyfan's best list and I also like a horse called september - it wouldn't have the same ring to it, though, if it was a horse called (example) patch. Somehow it works because of the unusual name. Gay Darius always makes me chuckle as well Darius is such a camp name! me too!
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Post by seahorse on Oct 24, 2008 23:18:16 GMT 1
The rum day of the vanishing pony makes me smile, just wish i could read it start ger bored and give up, those of you have read it is it worth me battleing on
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Post by cally on Oct 25, 2008 4:59:22 GMT 1
No.
Thought the Heron Ride was dull as dishwater too.
This is even more waffley and devoid of horseyness.
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Post by darkhorse on Oct 25, 2008 12:29:33 GMT 1
I agree with haffyfan that Elyne Mitchell's books have lovely titles. I especially like Silver Brumby Whirlwind, Son of the Whirlwind, Moon Filly and Kingfisher Feather. Also agree that most of J M Berrisford's titles are naff. Ponies all Summer is OK. I like The Heron Ride, both the title and the book itself. Have not read The Run Day of the Vanishing Pony yet. Can I Get there by Candlelight is quite an odd title for a pony book but its a good title too.
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Post by Claire on Oct 25, 2008 13:28:02 GMT 1
Thought the Heron Ride was dull as dishwater too. . Am rendered speechless by this! The Heron Ride is one of my all time fav pony books! It is absolutely brilliant. Can't think how you think it is dull. OK it is more introspective than an all guns blazing adventure type pony book (the sort I dislike anyway) but it is far from dull and so well written. Oh well I suppose we all have our point of view but am really surprised at you disliking it so much. Rum Day is not that great I'll admit but wouldnt say it was dull either. BTW if anyone wants to know in more detail why I like The Heron so much I have written a review of it in the Reviews section.
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Post by cally on Oct 26, 2008 8:08:52 GMT 1
I just felt that every time it looked as though it was going somewhere interesting it pulled up and avoided any in depth discussion of horses or riding. I don't know anything about Treadgold, but I wonder if she really knew anything about horses at all. There are other books that don't really feature horses at their centre but that still ring true; this just doesn't do it for me. Felt after finishing it I needed a good dose of Pullein-Thompson!
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Post by fizz on Oct 26, 2008 10:43:22 GMT 1
Re: Gay Darius; Hazel M Peel also has a horse called Gay Bachelor in Night Storm the Flat Racer. I think that gay referring to single sex couples is in fairly recent usage. I wonder if they would change the names if the books were reprinted?
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Post by Claire on Oct 26, 2008 20:38:18 GMT 1
Gay was used quite a lot in children's books in the first half of the century. Often have a chuckle when I see a title with the word in. It was even a name then! Remember Gay in Pony Club Camp?
But talking of Gay Darius the first chapter is even better. Its called "THE GAY ONE" ;D
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Post by cally on Oct 27, 2008 3:27:42 GMT 1
Gay and the Ponies.
And Gay is a poodle- 'hard these days to imagine a rotti or a hulking great dane bitzer like my madam being called Gay. I like giving pets really 'ordinary' human names like Roger, Michelle, Gordon, Doreen etc.
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Post by haffyfan on Oct 27, 2008 13:53:53 GMT 1
No. Thought the Heron Ride was dull as dishwater too. This is even more waffley and devoid of horseyness. I totally agree, couldn't bear to try any of the others
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Post by cally on Oct 27, 2008 21:59:38 GMT 1
Thankyou Haffyfan- I'm trying to put the experience behind me and have read 'The Horse Sale' and am on to 'Silver Eagle Carries On' to cheer me up and restore my faith in pony related literature.
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Post by Claire on Oct 28, 2008 11:17:13 GMT 1
Cant believe you two
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Post by garej on Nov 1, 2008 20:31:52 GMT 1
I just found a book, which was called "The Pony with the bandaged ear" which has to be an odd title.
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Post by zoe on Nov 1, 2008 22:02:41 GMT 1
Nooo? I now have a mental image of a small pony -thelwell type - with a huge bandage around ear and fastened under cheeks. Is it a good book? and who is author? I'm going to have to look for that one, I am intrigued!
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Post by garej on Nov 1, 2008 22:28:10 GMT 1
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Post by Claire on Nov 1, 2008 22:53:29 GMT 1
Yeah I've noticed that on ebay once or twice I think its a modern one bit animal ark-ish perhaps?
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Post by kunuma on Nov 2, 2008 18:25:38 GMT 1
Some books I nearly missed out on altogether because of the titles - I only found the Maltese Cat because I thought it was about cats! As a child I was given a copy of National Velvet, but never read it until after I saw the film and realised it was about horses! Think I thought it was about fashion until then!!
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Post by sarah on Nov 2, 2008 19:55:41 GMT 1
Trot Home Sally is about a dog, not a horse (so a strange name for a dog book)
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Post by Claire on Nov 2, 2008 20:50:17 GMT 1
The Far Distant Oxus and its sequel Escape to Persia by Hull & Whitlock are extremely weird names for pony books too.
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