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Post by seahorse on Mar 12, 2008 20:58:56 GMT 1
After listing this on ebay and realising, I have not even read it yet thought I should get on with it. Is it just me or has anyone else found this book very hard going, am only up to page 50 and considering I will read one or two pony books aday if am left alone. Does it get better or do I give up now.
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Post by Claire on Mar 12, 2008 21:28:23 GMT 1
seahorse, havent read it for a while but I actually really like this book. I found it quite dark compared to a lot of her books, but I quite like that. I thought it was a fairly original story line, which maybe went a little deeper than the average pony book. However I can see some people not enjoying it. I suppose everything comes down to personal taste. What do you specifically not like about it?
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Post by seahorse on Mar 12, 2008 21:32:38 GMT 1
Not sure, to be fair am a little distracted at moment JJ has a hernia and work is quite heavey am thinking of going for promotion at work, I will read some more in bath tomorrow. Have to say thought I had read it untill I started flicking through it. Every day I go to my book shelf and select some more for the cull, then I just buy more lol
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Post by Claire on Mar 12, 2008 21:35:55 GMT 1
Every day I go to my book shelf and select some more for the cull, then I just buy more lol Don't we all? ;D
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Post by kunuma on Mar 12, 2008 21:37:51 GMT 1
Ah - the age of innocence - when I first read it I liked it I had visions of me living like the hermit even back then. ::)Now there are all sorts of unpleasant aspects attached to situations like that and that affects how you feel about the story. Funnily enough.... I AM now a female version of the hermit - but I can't find any willing children to help me with the horses - they aren't interested, another sign of the times, see.... I am turning into a 'grumpy old woman'
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Post by fizz on Mar 12, 2008 21:38:26 GMT 1
It's one of my favourite books because it so compassionate. It introduces adult themes such as war, mental illness and isolation really well to young readers. I have to admit I didn't read it till I was adult, but I think it would have had a very big influence on me if I'd read it at 12.
We all respond to different things but I advise you to persevere.
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Post by seahorse on Mar 12, 2008 21:39:51 GMT 1
Have the same problem, always encouraging small people to ride Arfa, but they just look on in horror lol he atually normaly very quite to ride. But think it must be his welshness they are worried about
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Post by Claire on Mar 12, 2008 22:05:47 GMT 1
Hi Fizz, welcome to the forum! I agree with you. I too read it as an adult for the first time, its not a 'cosy' pony book by any means but very thoughtful. But I think Diana managed to introduce dark themes without getting too morbid as in The Secret Dog. I suppose nowadays whenever there are child-adult friendships in books there is always the spectre of paedophilia hanging over them. I think it was a more innocent world then.
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Post by kunuma on Mar 12, 2008 22:08:48 GMT 1
Reminds me of Dream of Fair Horses - was that Diana too?
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Post by haffyfan on Mar 12, 2008 22:11:51 GMT 1
I liked it but also read it as an adult and can't help think if it was a modern book it would have taken a much darker storyline altogether (and would have been banned). I am afraid I agree with Claire and paedophile was the first thing to spring to my mind. The beauty of innocence...I am sure the world was a nicer place...I also struggled with Grey Arrow (spanking...ooo..la...la) and I think it was Pony Of Gold (or another vintage stand alone book) where main character stopped over with complete strangers she had just met as if it was the most usual thing in the world!
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Post by Claire on Mar 12, 2008 22:18:55 GMT 1
main character stopped over with complete strangers she had just met as if it was the most usual thing in the world! This seemed to happen quite a lot in pony books didn't it. Like the kids would be out on a pony trek or camping holiday and meet somebody and they would invite them to stay, or they would all just go off together. Also in Jill's Gymkhana, I am sure the friendship between Martin (who if I rightly remember was a fortyish man living with his parents) and 10 or 11 year old Jill would prob be misconstrued. I reckon we could have a whole thread devoted to stuff in pony books which would be a bit 'dubious' in today's social climate! BTW kunuma dream of fair horses was patricia leitch not diana, but yes, again a book with a friendship between an older man and a young girl.
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Post by seahorse on Mar 12, 2008 22:53:34 GMT 1
Pony of gold is next on my list.
I miss those days of inconnce so much, ran wild with other kids in a dealing, livery, riding school in my youth from 7 untill 16, there were always older men boys around of course all fine and we did not think any thing of it.
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Post by fizz on Mar 13, 2008 9:30:57 GMT 1
Yes, I read the book just a few years ago for the first time and I was a little superised the children were allowed to go to this elderly loners house; but the father did make enquiries with the local police and shopkeepers before he let them go again if you remember.
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Post by garej on Mar 14, 2008 19:02:51 GMT 1
I actually like this book, and it has been covered in my blog.
Diana's book are quite dark on the whole I find - it doesnt really get better I find until the end.
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Post by seahorse on Mar 14, 2008 20:53:44 GMT 1
it growing on me
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