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Post by Claire on Nov 17, 2007 23:32:42 GMT 1
Thought this section was looking a bit empty so am going to start a thread here. It may surprise you to know that during my childhood I did read the odd non-horsy book or two.
My favourites as a child (and still) amongst the non-pony books were:
Carbonel/Kingdom of Carbonel - If you have not read these before you MUST read them. I recommend them to everyone. And especially if like me you love cats. These really are classic stories about a young girl who gets mixed up in the world of magic, witches and talking cats. The books just had a wonderful sense of magic for me, especially the world of the cats which changed on a night from rooftops and chimney pots to mountains and valleys and streams flowing with milk! They have been reprinted now so everyone can get their hands on copies of these wonderful books!
The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe - Liked all the Narnia books but this was far away the best. I have lost count of the number of times I read this at all ages! The idea of walking thru a wardrobe into another world has never been bettered in a childrens book and the world itself was so magical. All the characters were completely unforgettable. When I was an adult I found out that the book was actually a rather heavy handed religious allegory but this went over my head as a child and even now doesnt spoil the book. I always cried at the bit where poor old Aslan gets the chop even tho I knew everything would be all right in the end!
Enid Blyton Malory Towers series. IMHO these were by far her best books. I never understood the appeal of the Famous Fives who I thought were rather priggish and full of themselves. The characters in the Malory T books were much more likeable and the plots were far more interesting than the exhausting round of chasing criminals the F5 were always up to. I also used to love the tricks the girls used to play on the teachers and even used to play similar tricks on my teachers at school! I really wanted to go to boarding school after reading these books. I did also quite like the Adventure series by Enid, the characters were far more believable than the F5 even tho their adventures were also a bit ludicrous!
Beverley Nichols - The Stream that stood still. Once again a magical book where a boy is turned into a fish and his sister must rescue him. There is a very satisfying villain in the form of Miss Smith who is a modern witch. There are a few other books in the same series, this is the best but the others are good too.
Just realised that most of my fav childhood reads are fantasy type stories (with the exception of the Malory Books). Quite a strange combination with pony books which with a few exceptions are generally rooted in reality!
Would love to know what books other forum members loved as a child. Did anyone else love the same books as me? And does anyone share my dislike of the Famous Fives?
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Post by poglepie on Nov 18, 2007 16:35:18 GMT 1
Hi Claire!
I also loved the Malory Towers series of books and the St Clare's series. I also like the "Adventure" series by Blyton ( Castle of Adventure etc.etc).
Am also rather keen on the Malcolm Saville "Jilly's" and "Buckingham" series of books - which I think is a bit against the grain as I gather most people prefer the Lone Pine series.
"Bunnikins Picnic Party" and "Pippety's Unlucky day" which are both Ladybird books hold a lot of memories and of course good old Winnie-the-Pooh.
Love the Church Mice books by Graham Oakley - hilarious and great illustrations! Only discovered them as an adult!
I am an avid collector of Doggie books (mainly sories involving terriers!) and I have 2 wonderful books which I love to bits - Kim, the story of a Scottie ( gorgeous Illustrations) and Iain the Happy Puppy which is all about a Westie pup - just cute!
There was also a book which I remember reading and enjoying called "The Night They Stole the Alphabet". As far as I can remember it was about a little girl who had wallpaper with letters on in her bedroom, one night the letters are stolen and she has to find them - I seem to remember a baby with a "B" in it's bonnet!
I'm sure there are others which will come to mind!
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Post by kunuma on Nov 18, 2007 18:11:57 GMT 1
Oh I LOVED the Narnia books, until they got ' psychoanalysed 'in my psychology class as an adult, nearly put me off them, there is nothing like trying to put meaning into a magical story to ruin the whole 'suspension of disbelief'which is needed to really enjoy them. Also loved the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, which is probably why I didn't like the films. Anything by Joseph Chipperfield, because he did know dogs and his dog characters were much better than his horse ones. I later found out that is because he lived in this country with dogs, which explains why I had a problem totally believing in his American- based horse ones. Now I really expect I am going to be on my own on this one, but I loved the Swallows and Amazons series by Arthur Ransome! (Very surprising, as there wasn't a dog or a horse in any of them, and I can't even row a boat! )
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Post by seahorse on Nov 18, 2007 20:09:46 GMT 1
Kunuma am I related to you lol thought I was the only horsey gal who loved swallows and also my all time favourite are the Narnia books am still able to read the Dawn Treader and cry.
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Post by haffyfan on Nov 18, 2007 21:00:16 GMT 1
I loved St clares and Malory Towers too. Under the age of 10 I also liked famous Five and Secret Seven, Family at Redroofs, Hollow Tree House, Those Dreadful Children, Mr Galliano's circus books, Naughtiest girl etc, etc. I inherited my mums vast collection of Enid Blyton (and pony) books so pretty much grew up on Enid Blyton when my nose wasn't in a pony book.
Did anyone else read the picture pony story about Penny and Pickle and penny and sue, I forget author, I loved those too before I moved onto proper pony books (oh and topsy and tim books too..esp go horse riding!)
More recently my friend has re-introduced and got me hooked on Trebizon (anyone know where I can get unforgettable fifth from?), a few of which I read when younger. I also love Harry Potter.
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Post by Claire on Nov 18, 2007 22:28:40 GMT 1
Kunuma & seahorse I also liked Swallow and Amazons. Can you imagine a book today with a character called 'Titty' in it? Ah, what innocence!
Forgot about the Trebizon series. Liked these but actually read them first as an adult. I must admit I like school stories as well as horsy ones. I know real horsy gals are not supposed to like school stories (remember Jill's scorn at her cousin Cecilias bedtime reading?) I also like the Pine Street stories by Mabel Esther Allen. Oh and almost forgot Bill Badger by BB. Bit expensive to read nowadays tho!
I did have a copy of Unforgettable Fifth but I sold it before I had a chance to read it for quite a lot of money. If I ever get another one haffyfan I will lend it to you to read before I sell it again!
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Post by haffyfan on Nov 19, 2007 21:52:44 GMT 1
Thanks Claire....I thought I'd bought one at weekend but it had gone (I hate Abe for that..it always happens to me when I think I've found a bargain...well a copy at half the usual price anyhow)
What about Aunt Fanny....oh the thought of it today! Dick's too...what has happened to us. ;D
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Post by Claire on Nov 20, 2007 22:06:29 GMT 1
Also in the Faraway Tree books there was both a Dick and a Fanny! (later politically corrected to Rick and Franny to spare the blushes of parents and stop the kids sniggering!) Dear me, Enid Blyton did like her Dicks and Fannys didn't she...good job I have tampered with the swear filter or it would have been going haywire!
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Post by darkhorse on Nov 21, 2007 13:19:31 GMT 1
I Forgot all about the Penny and Pickle books!!!! I read them and also Topsy and Tim. I liked the Narnia books but I never read the Swallows and Amazons. Did anyone else read The E. Nesbit books The Phoennix and The Carpet and Five Children and It?
I read lots of Enid Blyton. I suppose everyone of my age did. Same as you I didnt think Aunt Fanny and co were funny names at the time!
Did someone mention Harry Potter. I know not a childhod favourite but I loved the series.
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Post by kunuma on Nov 21, 2007 22:14:17 GMT 1
I Amazons. Did anyone else read The E. Nesbit books The Phoennix and The Carpet and Five Children and It? Loved them started with the Wouldbegoods and had to go backwards, to this day still look in sandpits hopefully!! I was addicted to Alison Uttley as a child, think she was even before then though! To this day still adore 'The Country Child'
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Post by kunuma on Nov 21, 2007 22:18:10 GMT 1
I really haven't go this quote thing sorted, sorry!! BTW Seahorse, which was your favourite Swallows and Amazons book? I think I loved Swallowdale best, but I loved the winter one too - was that one the Picts and the Martyrs?
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Post by Claire on Nov 22, 2007 13:32:58 GMT 1
loved the winter one too - was that one the Picts and the Martyrs? Was that the one called Winter Holiday?
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Post by Claire on Nov 22, 2007 13:37:48 GMT 1
I really haven't go this quote thing sorted, sorry!! kunuma I think you must be deleting the [/quote] bit at the end, if you leave that in it should be OK...Sorry hope I'm not being bossy used to teach computers old habits die hard!
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Post by seahorse on Jan 25, 2008 23:26:27 GMT 1
While sitting on my giant beanbag thinking about life as you do lol, I rembembered a childrens book I read again and again It was Swish Of A Curtain, it was also a childrens tv series any one else remember
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Post by susanb on Jan 30, 2008 17:59:16 GMT 1
:-) It looks like a lot of pony book lovers also read fantasy! I loved the Narnia books, though I have to say my all time fave would be Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising (the whole series was good, but DiR was the best.).
Nesbit's Phoenix (and two sequels) lurk in my tbr pile....I have got to get to them soon, I just know they're going to be great....fortunately/unfortunately I got a hardcover omnibus of the trilogy, which makes it unappealing to lug back and forth to work (get most of my reading done on train).
Seahorse....Swish of the Curtain was by Pamela Brown...it's actually back in print in the UK (another one of those books I keep meaning to find and read....so many people remember it fondly, it's got to be good!)
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Post by Claire on Jan 30, 2008 21:52:58 GMT 1
Will have to put the Dark is Rising books on my list of books to read. Can't remember swish of the curtain at all, book or film. Somehow it has passed me by!
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Post by susanb on Jan 3, 2009 20:55:34 GMT 1
Konstanze....I have to admit I loved The Parent Trap as a film, which I saw before I read the book, but love the book too....I have a copy, and I found a copy for a friend with young daughters, so hopefully it'll be going on for another generation at least! In English, the book was called Lisa and Lottie, after the girls in the book (though you see it as Lottie and Lisa as well). I think there was a British film version if it under that title too, though I've never seen it...would be interested to know if it followed the book closely or not.
I've got Emil and the Detectives lurking in my tbr pile somewhere....English too, as I don't read German. I actually found a lovely copy in German, with the old style typeface (Gothic?) for a friend who was studing German....the copy I found was actually a college edition, printed by/for Vassar (a very exclusive women's college at the time, though it's co-ed now)...it had a study guide in the back (for the German, not the story, if you see what I mean)
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Post by susanb on Jan 3, 2009 21:00:36 GMT 1
Kunuma....oddly enough, I was given The Country Child by Alison Uttley this Christmas....what are the odds? Looking forward to digging in and reading it.
Seahorse...since the time this thread started, I did find Swish of the Curtain, and three of the four sequels, and LOVED them!!! Unfortunately the publisher who has reprinted Swish of the Curtain and Maddy Alone has no intention of going on and doing the rest....most importantly Maddy Again, which is impossible to find.
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Post by ddddyyyy on Jul 23, 2009 3:37:45 GMT 1
Oh , my best friend,I miss you every much!This forum is very good, I like, I agree with that point of view above,I support you!
An apple a day keeps the doctor away.
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vera
Pony Clubber
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Post by vera on Dec 10, 2009 11:01:18 GMT 1
I am still finding my way around this delightful website and found my way here! I loved "Swallows and Amazons". the "Narnia" books, E. Nesbit and her enchanting children. I loved "The Railway Children". I also loved Susan Cooper's "The Dark is Rising" series; I often wondered why she never described the dog Rufus as an Irish setter, he was so obviously like one. I also loved Mary Grant Bruce's "Billabong" series; there are some very sad bits and some very confronting bits and definitely not comfort reads but wonderful for a historical perspective. And there was " Lassie Come Home" which my parents tried to confiscate because I cried so much. Ditto for Paul Gallico's "Jennie" and "Thomasina". I have manged to replace my copy of Jennie, but Thomasina has disappeared and I haven't seen any copies. Then I loved Andre Norton and all she wrote, also Isaac Asimov. I seem to have spent my childhood reading! Vera
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Post by susanb on Dec 10, 2009 17:56:12 GMT 1
Vera...what a great list! I've loved some of the same books you have (Dark is Rising, Narnia, Railway Children....Andre Norton, particularly Octagon House), and I've got some of the others in my staggering tbr pile (three of the Billabong books). I had heard that Lassie Come Home by Eric Knight is one of the best collie books ever....now, with your recommendation too, I'll have to see if I can find a copy soon!
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Post by foxglove on Feb 17, 2010 15:44:11 GMT 1
Oooh, reminiscing about childhood faves- where to start!
Many of my favourites have already been mentioned; Five on a Treasure Island was the first book I read on my own and I loved Enid Blyton. I’m sure when I read all those tales of kids going on camping/riding/sailing/caravan holidays on their own that I knew it was slightly unreal, a sort of fantasy in non-fantasy setting. I have a younger brother, so was exposed to more “boyish” books (gendered children’s literature would probably be a good discussion topic) such as The Three Investigators series, which were set in San Francisco. These stories always involved deductive logic and puzzle-solving, and two out of the three boys were shameless geeks which I really liked.
Like most girls I read and enjoyed the Anne of Green Gables and Little House on the Prairie series. I also read The Diary of Anne Frank when I was quite young; I visited the house in Amsterdam recently and it was extremely moving. Paula Danziger was a more modern version of Judy Blume, and I distinctly recall every girl in my class reading Forever, and that the seriously mucky bits were on page 73!
I always enjoyed animal stories and Colin Dann was probably best for those. He never shied away from animal death; the last sentence of The Fox Cub Bold is one of the few final lines of books that is burnt in my memory. On that subject, the ending of Rosemary Sutcliffe’s Sun Horse, Moon Horse (set in the Iron Age and not really horsey) was similarly memorable. She wrote lots of exciting historical novels with striking detail and realism. A couple of slightly sinister books I recall are Moondial by Helen Cresswell and Robert Westall’s The Watch House. I also found The Children of Green Knowe a bit freaky, although don’t recall too much of the finer detail.
I loved Noel Streatfield’s books about rather sickeningly talented luvvie types, who were all brilliant at dancing, acting and basically showing off. White Boots was probably my favourite; I still love ice skating to this day (lots of nice bums on display at the Olympics this week, if you can get past the sequins and purple chiffon!).
A final word for Watership Down. I first read this when I was 12, and revisited it a couple of years ago (I am now 32). I’ve read thousands of books and pretty much the entire canon of English Literature, but rarely has anything given me as much pleasure as re-reading this. It made me want to walk down the road waving a placard and shouting, “sit up you bunch of plebs and read this!” Probably the best book about society and the politics of leadership ever written.
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Post by Claire on Feb 17, 2010 21:50:59 GMT 1
Great post foxglove. I like your list of favs and now I am feverishly wondering what happened on Page 73! ;D Also I like your idea for a topic of discussion on 'gendered' childrens books. That sounds right up my alley I too absolutely love Watership Down and have read it lots of times. Each time I can never put it down.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2010 9:04:50 GMT 1
I too absolutely love Watership Down and have read it lots of times. Each time I can never put it down. I love this book as well. Can't say the same for the film though....hated it! I did a walk recently where Richard Adams based his book. It's a beautiful area and I could just image Bigwig and Hazel etc. living there
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Post by trixiepony on Feb 18, 2010 12:43:04 GMT 1
I find If I see the movie first then read the book I can like them both but love the book, but if I read the book love it then see the film I'll hate it.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2010 12:28:59 GMT 1
I read Watership Down first, loved it and then watched the film which I thought was rubbish! I wonder what it would be like if the film was re-made today with better special effects?
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Post by foxglove on Feb 19, 2010 14:01:31 GMT 1
I've only seen the film once, on Christmas Eve when I was very young. It left my brother and I in tears! I thought it was widely regarded as an animation classic though?
There are some films that do justice to, or even add to good books; Emma Thompson's adaptation of Sense & Sensibility was pretty near perfect I thought. A good adaptation will not just consist of faithfully filming every line and scene in the book; it will cut out some bits and big up others. Trainspotting and Blade Runner would be other good examples. Wuthering Heights is one of my favourite books, and I've never watched a version that is as good as reading it however.
Back to kids books; I was checking out the big Waterstones in Piccadilly the other day and was reassured to see a fair number of classics I recall from my childhood still in print. There was an awful lot of low-rent looking Harry Potter rip-offs though, and a whole shelf of "Dark Romance" in the teen section for this dreadful teengoth Stephanie Myer stuff.
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Post by Claire on Feb 19, 2010 14:41:38 GMT 1
Trixiepony I think you hit the nail in the head in terms of books and films, as the book is nearly always better. If you think a film is OK and then read the book you are pleasantly surprised but vice versa you are usually disappointed. Maybe we should start a thread on film adaptations of books - good and bad. I agree with foxglove that the Sense and Sensibility adaptation with Emma Thompson is fab. I actually saw the film version of Watership Down before I read the book, like foxglove when I was very young and it also upset me, tho I didnt think it was that bad. But the book is in another league! Actually Watership Down is not really a children's book, is it? Its a bit like Animal Farm in that cos it has animal characters talking to each other people assume its a kids book - but you couldnt get anything less child-like than Animal Farm which is pretty horrific at times. As for the modern Harry Potter/dark romance stuff I don't really think you can blame the authors who lets face it have to make a living and probably can't get much else published nowadays. But what sort of generation of kids have we now that leap straight from glittery fairies and unicorns to making out with vampires and werewolves?
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Post by susanb on Feb 19, 2010 19:07:51 GMT 1
Trixiepony/Claire....totally agree....movie before book is, on the whole, the way to go. The only exception would be when the movie is SO BAD that it puts you off a book that's REALLY GREAT. Mind you, it takes a certain talent to completely destroy a great book with a film adaptation, but it can and has been done.
TV/Book adaptation thread sounds like a great idea....if there are any great film adaptations out there that I've missed (or books that I've missed because the film I saw was so bad), I'd love to know about them!
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Post by susanb on Feb 19, 2010 19:16:37 GMT 1
foxglove...great list of books! Several that you've listed lurk in my staggering tbr pile.....Moondial by Helen Cresswell, Watership Down by Richard Adams, the last three of the Green Knowe books (I can't seem to pick up the gorilla one. Well, not entirely true, I keep picking it up and putting it down). I've read Wind Eye by Robert Westall, but hadn't heard of Watch House...one more to keep an eye out for!
I've read a good bit of Streatfeild (not all, by any means), and enjoyed them....Ballet Shoes is still my favorite....an unconventional, but close knit, family....loved how the girls all supported each other, and found Petrova's character so refreshingly "marching to her own drummer".
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