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Post by Claire on Nov 13, 2007 12:12:27 GMT 1
Have had a few forum members talking about starting a thread on Monica but as no-one has got round to it yet thought I'd start it myself!
Monica's books are quite hard to categorise, some are definite pony books, others have barely a mention of a pony in them. Is she a pony book author? Which of her books would you class as 'pony books?' I havent done a section on her on the webiste because of these questions. Some of the books definitely are: Wish For A Pony, Theres No Mistaking Corker for example, but some are borderline. As I havent read that many of the authors books I would be interested to hear from others who have. It would be nice if we could decide which of hers were pony books and which not. Would make for an interesting discussion and it would also help me update the website!
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Post by kunuma on Nov 14, 2007 21:00:58 GMT 1
Ah - when is a pony book not a pony book? What I loved about her books was how real the animals, especially the horses, cats and cows were. Then I read her auto biographical books and discovered the reason was that they were based on her real animals, it shows! The Punchbowl farm ones have more horses in, but even the Romney Marsh books the main characters always have their horses with them as part of their life. What they don' t do is compete in any way - but the horses are always part of their lives, and very much characters in their own right. Do you want to know which ones are entirely based around the horses Claire? That will be tricky, though I have to say that they get less horsy as the series goes on. I think Wish for a Pony, No Mistaking Corker, Hidden Horse,for sure, The Outsider brings in Western riding, The Wanderer is really about Chalice the colt, and having said that they don't compete in shows, Black Hunting Whip is about Dion riding Sula in the local show. Cargo of Horses is about rescuing boat loads of horses from slaughter, that is def a pony book, and then White Riders is pretty well horse based. Not being much help really, am I?
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Post by Claire on Nov 14, 2007 21:56:53 GMT 1
Yes, these books are tricky. I agree with the ones you have mentioned being horse ones kunuma. I wouldn't necessarily say books have to have people competing in shows etc to be pony books but to my mind they should either be centred around a horse or have a large amount of horsy action. Trouble is I cant remember a lot of the Monica Edwards ones and havent read a few so I am at a bit of a loss! I don't think the literary world really see Monica Edwards as a pony book writer however. Pony books tend to be looked down upon and I think classing her as a pony writer would be seen as almost derogatory by some people. I remember talking to a bloke at a bookfair once (he was an author) and we were chatting about Monica Edwards. He was saying how good the books were then added something along the lines of...of course not the first few, they were just rubbishy pony books... I have noticed this attitude quite a lot amongst booksellers and collectors and TBH its a bit of an obsession of mine to prove this wrong. But anyway I am straying from the point as usual! This is a subject for another thread... Back to Monica. Maybe it will be easier to say which ones definitely aren't pony books??
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Post by kunuma on Nov 15, 2007 11:44:13 GMT 1
Just leaping in to admit to a blonde moment - the Monica Edwards book I was thinking of was The Midnight Horse, not Hidden Horse, it is about a hidden horse though, (will that do as an excuse. ) Even in the ones that have totally non horse orientated stories, like Dolphin Summer, for example, the characters are riding their horses all through it - so I think, like you said Claire - one would have to be strict about choosing only the ones which have a story line featuring horses particularly. The thing is, if I like a character/s I want to read the whole series, and as these are all in a series that is why I find it hard to separate them, but someone just reading one of the 'not so horsy' ones on it's own, might well be disappointed in it as a horsy book. Looks like I'll just have to reread them all to be fair! Really sad about what Claire said about the attitude to pony books - I wonder if that is why ME's books got less horsy as she went on? My personal criteria for judging books is just how often I reread them!
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Post by exmoorfan on Nov 18, 2007 22:07:42 GMT 1
Hi all, I love the Monica's because as a child from parents not into them and no chance of my own then. It seemed a lovely life to live on a farm and ride to school..I am talking about the Punchbowl series..( I went on having my own smallholding..! ) The Westling series is not so horsey .( Wish for a pony was a favorite because I could relate to the children because I didn't have one ) I didn't read Storm Ahead until an adult and thought it the most boring book.. Definately not a fave. So no help really in deciding what is a pony book....I love variety and get bored with jumping stories and how many faults they have.( feel sorry for the ponies.) lol
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Post by kelpiesbooks on Dec 9, 2007 0:32:22 GMT 1
I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that Monica herself did not want to be called a writer of pony books, although many of her books obviously centre around ponies or pony-owners and so appeal to us lot! I ca't remember where I read it, but will try to!
Ann-Marie x
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