happy
Pony Trekker
Posts: 50
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Post by happy on Dec 8, 2008 19:42:53 GMT 1
Hi All
I am awaiting some pony books I have ordered off the net and just finished a "Prince amoung Ponies" so was feeling a bit bookless but I came accroos Lucy Danies Perfect Ponies in a charity shop and even though it isnt a book from my childhood and was in the childrens section I still bought it. I kept thinking I am 32 why am I buying this.
I have read the first book "Keeping Faith" and I loved it. It was so simple but I loved it.
I think I enjoyed it so much because it is so sweet and simple and heartwarming all rolled into one. I sat with my 2 year old daughter on the sofa while she watched Night garden and read a few chapters and felt really relaxed and contented.
I think that is what I love about reading these books they so nice and with the stresses of life they take you to another place. I also like the talk of fresh air and long rides and no real worries or problems.
I am not very good at putting into words what I mean really and I am rambelling a bit so I wondered if you could tell me what you like about them to help me explain it. :-)
What is it we like so much about pony stories?
xxxx
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Post by susanb on Dec 8, 2008 20:17:04 GMT 1
I think pony books, like any other children's books, take us back to youth. In the case of books we read as children, to our own youth, and in the case of books new too us, to youth generally....a time when you didn't just believe, you KNEW anything was possible....of course you were going to get that pony, win the open jumping, ride in the Olympics, win the Grand National....at this point in life, for most of us, such things are fantasy, but then they were dreams.
For myself, a healthy dose of pony books (or children's mystery or fantasy), and the accompanying rush of the "it's all possible" mind set, and I'm braced to look at today's Washington Post.
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Post by kunuma on Dec 8, 2008 22:01:04 GMT 1
I like reading about what I like doing, OR more often, what I WOULD like to be doing if I could, (imagination has no limits, so that includes space and time travel!!) It's true, pony books take us back to our youth, but I am also trying to put off growing up!! I probably should have grown up a few years back = but I'm still putting it off! When I was a kid, I THOUGHT that spending time with my horses and dogs was as good as it got - now I'm older and wiser - I KNOW it IS !! ;D
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Post by snowfilly on Dec 8, 2008 22:52:58 GMT 1
I think it's escape, pure and simple. Escaping back in time to a place when we didn't have to worry about anything and the stories all had happy endings. I love reading/writing fantasy as well, but pony books are what I go back to when I can't face anymore heroes with insolvable problems. It just seems to tie in with being a kid, and feeling like everything would be alright. Oh, and of course, the attraction of fictional ponies over real ones is that their hosepipes don't freeze up overnight, leaving you hauling water for the whole yard from one tap at the far end of the back field (My morning. I do it why? ) Slight change of topic - any time I'm ill, it's always a pony book I curl up with. Can't face anything else. Comfort reading, that's the term I'm looking for.
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Post by Buster on Dec 8, 2008 23:08:23 GMT 1
When I cant ride, I like to read about riding. Next best thing, to put it simply
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Post by Claire on Dec 9, 2008 0:28:05 GMT 1
All books are escapism for me. They are how I relax and escape all the stresses of this life. But talking specifically pony books, susanb described it exactly, takes you back to a less cynical time when life was full of hope and you could imagine yourself owning a riding school or a top showjumper. You can forget about mortgages, bills, etc and live in a world where the biggest problems were naughty horses or being beaten by your snooty rival at the jumping ;D Also for me now as I dont have a horse and rarely ride, they are a link to horses and my past when life revolved around them.
I also agree with the comfort element and I also like to read the books if I am in bad with flu or a bad stomach, especially old favourites. Sometimes if I read something like the Noel and Henry books I feel like I am visiting all my old friends again.
But that is not to say that all pony books I read are for the comfort element. I think some of the best ones actually challenge the way you think about things, including horses. For example in Caroline Akrills eventing series where she questions the strain riders at a top level are putting on their horses. I do like to read pony books that make me think sometimes.
Happy I used to feel like you, why am I still reading pony books at my age? I even used to hide them under the bed so my other half wouldnt know I was reading them! But life is too short to miss out on something that brings you happiness just cos you are worried what others may think or because you think it is not what you should be doing. So whatever your age - everyone - get yourself out of the pony book closet and celebrate the fact that you have found something that brings you so much pleasure. Here endeth the sermon ;D
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happy
Pony Trekker
Posts: 50
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Post by happy on Dec 16, 2008 8:44:33 GMT 1
You are all so right. I totally agree it is definitly to do with going back to a time when anything was possible.
Come on girlies just think it still is :-)
Clare that is so funny about hiding books I used to do that all the time too. In fact my perfect ponies book was out the other day and we had everyone round for my daughters 2nd birthday and I suddenley saw it and thought ahhhh where can I put this. I dont think anyone would believe them if I said it was my 2 year olds ha ha. We would have a child genius on our hands.
xxxx
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Post by fizz on Dec 16, 2008 9:22:46 GMT 1
I enjoy the escapism as well, but it's also due to the fact I was told I must never ride again that I enjoy these sometimes charming stories. When I feel down I pick up one of the Noel & Henry, Christina & Augusta or Woodbury books& escape from the real world.
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happy
Pony Trekker
Posts: 50
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Post by happy on Dec 16, 2008 9:30:24 GMT 1
That is lovely Fizz. I am sorry about you being unable to ride. It is so lovely we can have books to take us to places we may not get too otherwise. x
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