|
Post by Claire on Nov 24, 2015 14:47:34 GMT 1
Ooh thanks for reminding me about Brat Farrar Ginslinger! I'd enjoyed the one she wrote about King Richard III (title escapes me!) and someone mentioned she had written one with some horse content in it. I'd forgotten all about it until now. One for the Christmas list methinks!
I haven't read many horse ones lately. I think I'm getting enough of a horse fix through doing the mastermind questions.
|
|
|
Post by susanb on Nov 24, 2015 17:24:02 GMT 1
Daughter of Time is the Richard III one, I enjoyed it (and all her work) very much. I remember really liking the mini-series too...it's actually what got me to seek out her books! Pity it's not available on dvd, I'd love to see it again
|
|
|
Post by Claire on Nov 24, 2015 23:06:09 GMT 1
Daughter of Time is the Richard III one, I enjoyed it (and all her work) very much. I remember really liking the mini-series too...it's actually what got me to seek out her books! Pity it's not available on dvd, I'd love to see it again Oh I got excited and then disappointed all within the same sentence then! Lol. I didnt know there was a TV adaptation would love to have seen it. Thanks for reminding me of the title.
|
|
|
Post by sarah on Nov 29, 2015 16:36:16 GMT 1
Oh - I would love to read the unabridged "A Pony to School" - will have to venture on to eBay.
The Boy with Amber Eyes is the second in the series, but to be honest I think it would read well as a standalone as well
|
|
|
Post by trixiepony on Dec 1, 2015 12:42:45 GMT 1
I'm reading my Jinny books again, been ages, have noted that at first the people are not that friendly at first to the family it's like there expecting trouble so keeping there distance at first, did not remember that from before.
|
|
|
Post by Claire on Dec 1, 2015 22:31:12 GMT 1
Thanks again to Ginslinger for jogging my memory about Brat Farrar. I downloaded it in ebook form and read almost straight off, mainly on train. Really enjoyed it and would recommend to anyone wants an adult read with horse content, especially if you are feeling like a bit of a change from the usual traditional pony story. I wonder if the author had horsy knowledge cos I noticed a couple of bits in the horse sections which were a bit off. Might have a bot of a google! I felt the end was a bit rushed and would have liked a bit more detail about the actual crime, but apart from these small points it was excellent.
Trixie - enjoy the Jinny books, I must have a re-read of them sometime soon.
|
|
|
Post by trixiepony on Dec 2, 2015 7:40:44 GMT 1
I feel like I'm reading them with new eyes, I'm not shore why, it has been years yes but I have read them as a adult, the only thing I can think of is its been such a brake from reading them, so I'm seeing them with new and fresh eyes, I'm enjoying them.
|
|
|
Post by Claire on Dec 7, 2015 23:38:28 GMT 1
Trixie - I actually preferred the Jinny series when I read them as an adult. Not that I read them all as a child as the later ones weren't published back then!
I'm on a re-read of Small Gains by KMP. Loving it. I think she would probably be my all round favourite pony author if I was put on the spot and had to choose. I really like this book as: a. Its historical and I like historical stories b. I really like and relate to the main character. c. I find the horsy stuff re. the Norfolk Trotter breed and the trotting competitions fascinating. For my American friends who haven't read the book, it's not the same sort of trotting as in the States with harness racing, it's long distance races where horses could not go faster than a trot, usually just 2 horses matched. I knew pretty much zero about this before I read the book.
|
|
|
Post by trixiepony on Dec 8, 2015 6:06:58 GMT 1
In a drawing mood again, my drawing of Jenny and Shantih. Attachments:
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 8, 2015 6:46:47 GMT 1
Nice one Trixie!
|
|
|
Post by trixiepony on Dec 13, 2015 23:40:28 GMT 1
I don't know how much I will be on this week. I have been asked to draw for the churches Christmas program so site down I have to do 18 drawings in 4 or 5 days, em I stressed hell yes, but I do draw fast and there all easy to do.
|
|
|
Post by Claire on Dec 14, 2015 0:37:09 GMT 1
I don't know how much I will be on this week. I have been asked to draw for the churches Christmas program so site down I have to do 18 drawings in 4 or 5 days, em I stressed hell yes, but I do draw fast and there all easy to do. Good luck with the drawings Trixie I'm sure you will manage beautifully
|
|
|
Post by trixiepony on Dec 14, 2015 2:27:08 GMT 1
There good at last minuet organisation, got to love them. At lest there Christmas stuff so all things ok to draw.
|
|
|
Post by trixiepony on Dec 16, 2015 23:32:45 GMT 1
Ok update so out of the 18 I had to do I have dun 9, think I'm on track to get all dun if I can keep up this speed.
|
|
|
Post by trixiepony on Dec 17, 2015 9:50:14 GMT 1
Ok there all dun now I need a good rest. My hand are even tyerd .
|
|
|
Post by Charlotte on Dec 31, 2015 5:37:22 GMT 1
I finished Storm Ahead and No Going Back some time ago. The former is really excellent. The latter is good, even though it has a lot less sense of place and detail than Monica's other books mostly do, like it says in the introduction. My only problem with it is that the rift between Tamzin, Meryon and the others seems a bit too tame, and too easily resolved. Perhaps that's just because nowadays, childrens' books are generally expected to be a lot darker/grittier though. I've also had the GGB edition of DFB's The School on the Moor for quite a while. It has some pony content, but havn't read it yet. I've just started Tessa and Some Ponies, which isn't new either. Didn't get any pony books for Christmas, only school stories. Though two of them are Elinor Brent-Dyers two Skelton Hall books (GGB again) which are set in the Romney Marsh area.
|
|
|
Post by Claire on Jan 6, 2016 23:07:14 GMT 1
Hi Charlotte. I love Storm Ahead. Its in my top 4 ME books, the others being: Spirit of Punchbowl Farm, The Wild One, Dolphin Summer. Interesting to learn that The School on the Moor has some pony content. Will have to check that one out. Have been reading the only one of the Skipper dog series by JMB that I hadn't previously read: Skipper and the Headland Four. Nothing earth shattering and has 2 huge cliches: pony stuck in a bog and gypsies! But I do enjoy the series for their nostalgic evocation of life on an old fashioned farm. But what did strike me was how much pony content there is in that one, it's probably more of a pony story than a dog one, or at least 50/50. I then decided to add both this series and the Taff the Sheepdog one to my JMB page as all books in both these dog series have at least some pony content in them. If you would like to check these 2 series out the JMB web page can be visited by clicking here
|
|
|
Post by susanb on Jan 7, 2016 20:20:16 GMT 1
Trying to dig back into my "read and weed" (now multi-year) project....got sidetracked by a bunch of library requests that came in at once, but back on track now reading Basle Express by Manning Coles, one of the Tommy Hambledon spy/mysteries. (see wiki link below) Anyone else read these? Old, but very good, especially Toast to Tomorrow (original UK title Pray, Silence), which I've always thought of as unique to the spy book genre. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manning_Coles
|
|
|
Post by Claire on Jan 7, 2016 22:28:49 GMT 1
I don't even dare look at that link Susan as I just have sooo many books to read and not enough time, and I love mysteries so would be too much temptation. Maybe in another 10 years or so...
|
|
|
Post by ginslinger on Jan 8, 2016 2:58:27 GMT 1
Thanks again to Ginslinger for jogging my memory about Brat Farrar. I downloaded it in ebook form and read almost straight off, mainly on train. Really enjoyed it and would recommend to anyone wants an adult read with horse content, especially if you are feeling like a bit of a change from the usual traditional pony story. I wonder if the author had horsy knowledge cos I noticed a couple of bits in the horse sections which were a bit off. Might have a bot of a google! I felt the end was a bit rushed and would have liked a bit more detail about the actual crime, but apart from these small points it was excellent. I can think of one or two things I thought odd but put it down to the date of the book and differences in terminology . Also my horse knowledge is rusty and I was reading fast. I did enjoy it but agree the resolution was a bit unsatisfactory ... As for the author's horsy knowledge... well I suppose a greater number of people who lived then had a level of horse knowledge because they had been transport and tractor during their lifetimes. My eighty year old uncle worked with farm horses on his cousin's farm and he isn't horsey at all, just as many people who drive now don't have a particular interest in cars. Even in the Pullein-Thompsons there are lots of people who ride who aren't really interested in horses and equitation. Now most people who have anything to do with horses tend to be enthusiasts. But it without knowing exactly what seemed off it is hard to say. I will have another look.
|
|
|
Post by kunuma1 on Jan 10, 2016 15:17:40 GMT 1
I'm reading a rather weird and historically very incorrect book about a time travelling horsebox!!
|
|
|
Post by Claire on Jan 10, 2016 18:35:16 GMT 1
I'm reading a rather weird and historically very incorrect book about a time travelling horsebox!! Haha is that the free download one? I got it but thought it looked a bit weird!
|
|
|
Post by ginslinger on Jan 11, 2016 1:23:19 GMT 1
I have set a target of a book a week again more in hope than expectation. Read 2 so far neither particularly horsey. First called Confinement which has two stories intertwined. One, inevitably perhaps, much more interesting to me than the other whose heroine is a bit slappable. The other a Hornblower which naturally isn't terribly horse orientated save that one unfortunate beast is taken off and shot lest being abandoned lame it give the fugitives position away. Never heard of a horse slipping a shoulder before... always seems to be stifles so don't know if this is an example of Sailors not being good with horses as opined by Henry or Noel in Radney Riding Club. Yeah I am obsessed...
|
|
|
Post by kunuma1 on Jan 12, 2016 20:36:33 GMT 1
I'm reading a rather weird and historically very incorrect book about a time travelling horsebox!! Haha is that the free download one? I got it but thought it looked a bit weird! Yes and yes!!
|
|
|
Post by nzponywriter on Jan 12, 2016 20:47:21 GMT 1
|
|
|
Post by haffyfan on Jan 12, 2016 22:02:56 GMT 1
Thank you! Looking forwarding to reading them.
I had literally just spotted and downloaded those on amazon and was coming here to give others the heads up!
Kunuma/Claire - is that the forelock one? Not got round to reading it yet but Pony Racer is free today, i will post in other section too.
|
|
|
Post by Claire on Jan 29, 2016 18:11:03 GMT 1
Thanks again to Ginslinger for jogging my memory about Brat Farrar. I downloaded it in ebook form and read almost straight off, mainly on train. Really enjoyed it and would recommend to anyone wants an adult read with horse content, especially if you are feeling like a bit of a change from the usual traditional pony story. I wonder if the author had horsy knowledge cos I noticed a couple of bits in the horse sections which were a bit off. Might have a bot of a google! I felt the end was a bit rushed and would have liked a bit more detail about the actual crime, but apart from these small points it was excellent. I can think of one or two things I thought odd but put it down to the date of the book and differences in terminology . Also my horse knowledge is rusty and I was reading fast. I did enjoy it but agree the resolution was a bit unsatisfactory ... As for the author's horsy knowledge... well I suppose a greater number of people who lived then had a level of horse knowledge because they had been transport and tractor during their lifetimes. My eighty year old uncle worked with farm horses on his cousin's farm and he isn't horsey at all, just as many people who drive now don't have a particular interest in cars. Even in the Pullein-Thompsons there are lots of people who ride who aren't really interested in horses and equitation. Now most people who have anything to do with horses tend to be enthusiasts. But it without knowing exactly what seemed off it is hard to say. I will have another look. Oh dear my memory is dreadful and I can't recall specific details. I think something was about approach to a jump/strides before a jump but I couldn't swear to it. I read so many books I tend to get mixed up!!
|
|
|
Post by foxglove on Feb 18, 2016 14:07:36 GMT 1
Hello all, hope you had a good festive season. I spent Christmas in Devon and saw the Boxing Day meet head out onto Dartmoor; nervous girls in smart jackets on excited hairy ponies- perhaps not that much has changed since the P-T days!
I had a good haul before Christmas, so some thoughts:
Belinda Rides To School More of a school story really, so very moral with it. It's a shame because the bits with the pony are nicely done and he has a lot of charcter. Wouldn't rush to read any of the author's others.
Jump To The Top I find Leitch quite polarising; her best is absolutely peerless but I find her generic gymkhana everyday stuff very tedious. Annoyingly intense girl miraculously ends up with a top pony and obsesses over winning rosettes, which she of course does in the end. Boring and predictable.
Cross Country Pony This was better because the family characters and animal-related escapades were quite fun. I liked the fact that the pony was not very glamorous and only good at one thing, which is much more realistic in my equine experience...
Nigel Rides Away Mildly improbably adventure story with slightly incidental pony content, but enjoyable nonetheless.
The Horses Of Follyfoot Thoroughly enjoyed this. Brilliant characters and really sharp, witty observations. The series deserves to be back in print as I think she's underrated as a writer.
Decided 2016 is the year I read a lot of History; as I never did it for GCSE or A Level (prefer old stuff and the syllabus is all 20th century politics) and feel I don't know enough. Have found several bargains in charity shops, but the pile is large and many of them are fat and intense. Have enjoyed Alison Weir and am currently reading Niall Ferguson's Empire, and learning a lot of shocking stuff about colonial times. Really recommend The Time Traveller's Guide To Medieval England too.
|
|
|
Post by foxglove on Feb 18, 2016 14:16:59 GMT 1
Oh how could I forget that I'm working my way through Monica Edwards in order as I'd only read a random handful from each series. Prioritised Romney Marsh as I went for a weekend break to Rye (Dunsford, where Rissa lives) last month (will post some pics when I can). Enjoyed both Summer Of The Great Secret and The Midnight Horse though they are definitely from a gentler age of children's fiction. The Punchbowl ones have a bit more bite perhaps, dealing with the realities of farming, with ponies dying or being sold.
Just ordered The White Riders and the GGB Punchbowl Harvest.
|
|
|
Post by Claire on Feb 19, 2016 1:59:36 GMT 1
Oh lucky you Foxglove visiting Rye. I'd really love to get there one day. Pics would be much appreciated. I pretty much agree with your assessment of most of the books you've recently read, though not Jump to the Top which I absolutely loved as a child and still like as an adult, although with a lot more reservations. Certainly doesn't have the depth or subtlety of her best work but I think its a classic for what it is. Many moons ago (OMG 8 years ago!!!) we did it as a reading circle book. I've found the link in case you are interested in looking to see what others thought about it and add your own comment/vote. ponybooks.proboards.com/thread/302/jump-top
|
|