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Blind Beauty
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Tessa has major attitude and an impossible dream—not a greatcombination for success. But she believes that fate has delivered the ungainly horse Buffoon to her, and Tessa is determined never to be separated from him. What's more, she intends to one day become a jockey and ride Buffoon in the Grand National. But how can a girl with a violent temper and a “can't do” philosop
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Paperback, 368 pages
Published
May 5th 2005
by Puffin
(first published February 16th 2001)
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Start your review of Blind Beauty
Some loves don't have to be physical. They just have to be understandable..
♥ XOXO ♥
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I adore KM Peyton as a writer, if I am having a bold day I would say she is my favourite writer. Now she is predominantly known for her equine novels, this in my mind is the finest example and one of my favourite books of all time (ranking along there with such classics as Anne of Green Gables).
Now this may/will contain spoilers but you have been pre-warned here. Blind Beauty is the heart enchantingly delightful tale of an emotionally abused teenage girl meets decrepit looking racehorse. Howeve ...more
Now this may/will contain spoilers but you have been pre-warned here. Blind Beauty is the heart enchantingly delightful tale of an emotionally abused teenage girl meets decrepit looking racehorse. Howeve ...more
This is a beautiful coming of age story of transformation as Tessa, a wilful and unhappy child with an awful home life, is taught what love is through her new stable family and the offspring of her childhood horse. Packed with emotion, this book is a must read for any horse lovers, although it is so much more than just a “horse book”. I particularly appreciated the three dimensional quality to the characters. The insight the author gave to their lives and weaknesses as well as strengths and more
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Blind Beauty is a heart warming story about a girl who finds the horse she owned as a child when she was a teenager. She gets asighned groom to the horse and finds out that this was the blind horse that she knew as a child. Overjoyed, She begs and pleads for the horse. She starts to get to ride her agein. She was very happy. After a few months of working with him, She got told that the horse was mostly hers. Now, She knew that this horse could compete in the Grand Nationals. With a step-Dad that
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This is a book written in 1990s with a troubled YA heroine (12 at first, then teens) and a racehorse whose incipient blindness isn't initially noticed, then later provides a series of dilemmas. This is somewhat romanticised at the end but contains plenty of life lessons and some heartbreaking scenes.
I can't really believe a racehorse being named Buffoon. A Thoroughbred being loaded into a box when he is old, cold and skinny, would be rugged up on the spot before travelling, maybe leg bandaged a ...more
I can't really believe a racehorse being named Buffoon. A Thoroughbred being loaded into a box when he is old, cold and skinny, would be rugged up on the spot before travelling, maybe leg bandaged a ...more
Angst and horses – the perfect combo. Read repeatedly as a kid.
Forever an all-star book for me!
Tessa is only 4 years old when she and her mother leave her father, and Tessa's beloved horse Shiner. Now 12, Tessa is angry and troubled and not content staying at home with her mother and her horrible stepfather Maurice. Sent to a neighboring racing stables to help out, Tessa meets ugly Buffoon, a no-hoper racehorse whose mother, Tessa finds out, was Shiner. A horse-girl love story is born, and Tessa believes Buffoon can be a star and takes everyone along on the ...more
Tessa is only 4 years old when she and her mother leave her father, and Tessa's beloved horse Shiner. Now 12, Tessa is angry and troubled and not content staying at home with her mother and her horrible stepfather Maurice. Sent to a neighboring racing stables to help out, Tessa meets ugly Buffoon, a no-hoper racehorse whose mother, Tessa finds out, was Shiner. A horse-girl love story is born, and Tessa believes Buffoon can be a star and takes everyone along on the ...more
KM Peyton is undoubtedly one of the most competent contemporary writers of horse fiction (of any age) out there with a distinct style of prose and a refreshingly realistic view of the horse world. As far as 'pony books' are concerned a parent with literary standards looking for a well written novel for a middle grade or teenage horse rider is well served buying this book. So, why 'only' the 3 stars? Two reasons and they are purely to do with this reader's personal conviction and subsequent likes
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Sep 21, 2012
Pamela
added it
Tessa fits in nowhere with a horrible stepfather and a bad record of getting kicked out of boarding schools. Her stepfather arranges for her to work at a stable and she falls in love with horses. The characters in this book are so interesting; they come right off the page into your imagination. There are many things going on; the growing up of Tess from anti-social to social, the horrible stepfather and her mother's relationship and the other people who work at the riding yard. The riding yard c
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Surprisingly, I have read this book while overlooking Black Beauty, possibly because the horse in the story is a gorgeous sun-tanned chestnut (I love brown horses for some slightly unknown reason). I absolutely LOVE horses, so it was really no shock that I fell in love with this book. On its face, the topic its self was enough to win me over, but I loved how complex the book became when entwined with romance. A gripping tale of mystery, ever-lasting-love, and the incredible friendship of a horse
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This is one of my favorite books. I must have read it at least twenty times(Which is big seeing as with 99% of other books I cant read something when I already know the story line). I love Tessa, how strong willed she is. And Buffoon is such a cutie(at least in my head). I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone. I love it that much.
I swear I cried more at this book than I have at any other book. It may just be very personal, this book reflects all of the things I have felt about horses in my life in such an honest, heart-wrenching way I couldn't articulate. And the ending is what I needed.
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One of my favourite books from childhood that I still continue to enjoy immensely on every reread. Such a beautiful story. ...more
I first read this book many, many years ago and every now and then it comes back to me as a book that made me feel something. Before this book I only read animal books with the same characters and same plot. Re-reading this as an adult was a good call; it still reads as a quality book. Tessa is an interesting character and the story is moving.
Of Bad Attitudes And Dreams
Tessa has always had attitude problems, and her step father isn't helping any. After being kicked out of boarding school, it looks like she has nowhere to go. Then she finds the stable. A horse racing stable, to be more exact. It's here that Tessa gets wrapped up in the wonderful world of horses, and when Buffoon comes along, the odd pair begin a partnership that could have them in the winners circle. The only problem is that Buffoon is nearly blind, and when Tessa's s ...more
Tessa has always had attitude problems, and her step father isn't helping any. After being kicked out of boarding school, it looks like she has nowhere to go. Then she finds the stable. A horse racing stable, to be more exact. It's here that Tessa gets wrapped up in the wonderful world of horses, and when Buffoon comes along, the odd pair begin a partnership that could have them in the winners circle. The only problem is that Buffoon is nearly blind, and when Tessa's s ...more
This book is stunning. It’s the second time I’ve read it but it felt like the first, and affected me as much, if not more.
It’s truly beautiful, moving and wild. A true gem of a book.
Full review can be found at My Endless Shelf ...more
It’s truly beautiful, moving and wild. A true gem of a book.
Full review can be found at My Endless Shelf ...more
Tessa is obsessed with horses and uses that absorption to escape from difficulties with her family but she may be in over her head when she decides to train a nearly-blind horse to race in the Grand National.
I can't remember how many horse stories I read when I was a tweenie and young teenager, and considering I read everything published by the Pullen-Thompson sisters (loved Phantom Horse series), and Patritia Leitch made me love Arabians (which lead to the happiest day of my life when I finally bought a chestnut Arab of my own aged 19). I'm surprised that until I was given this book and I read the author info that apparently she's written many horsey novels, and I never came across them.
Anyway, it ...more
Anyway, it ...more
This was a childhood favourite and it is still very much the same as I approach the grand old age of 32!
It is a book with soul, heart and believable characters that are allowed to make mistakes or behave badly. I find that some 'childrens' books have whiter than white characters that can do no wrong, but that is not the case here and I love the main characters with all my heart :) A book I can read again and again. ...more
It is a book with soul, heart and believable characters that are allowed to make mistakes or behave badly. I find that some 'childrens' books have whiter than white characters that can do no wrong, but that is not the case here and I love the main characters with all my heart :) A book I can read again and again. ...more
This book has such a special place in my heart. I remember reading it over and over again as a teen, and then frantically searching for it as an adult to re-read it. I think I adored it because it was so much more than just a basic horse story to satisfy horse mad girls, it has real grit. I really could not consider rating this anything other than 5 stars.
Wow, this book was good. It was easy to read, the words flowing by. Tessa reminded me of a Cynthia Voigt character, maybe Dicey from The Tillerman Saga or Tish from When She Hollers, which is fantastic because Cynthia Voigt is one of my favorite authors of all time. It was just excellent. It makes me want to read more of K.M. Peyton's work.
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This story is for animal lovers. It's incredible, as Tess's journey through. Her happy life at the beginning, to her father disturbed step father. Her achievements are outstanding and you will be left shell-shocked by her bravery and determination.
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Such a good book, could not put it down. What I loved so much about this book is that you didn’t know what was going to happen, I find that with most books you can predict what is going to happen next but with this book I couldn’t. Would recommend to any horse lovers !
A beautiful and heartwarming story that will remain a favorite forever
All time favourite childhood book.
I love this story and very much wish a sequel to this book
Easy to listen to, for those who have been with horses and competition.
Oh wow, this book never gets old. Never fails to make me tear up. I first read it when I was 10, and I'll probably keep reading it till i'm 90. Splendid!
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Read as part of my bookshelf cleaning....
This book took me a little while to get into, but once it got me, it got me GOOD. The plot was much more mature than I expected and I really enjoyed it as a non-traditional coming of age story. However, I was a bit bothered by randomly changing perspectives, no solid time period or location and random time jumps. Overall a good book for horse lovers or just animal lovers.
This book took me a little while to get into, but once it got me, it got me GOOD. The plot was much more mature than I expected and I really enjoyed it as a non-traditional coming of age story. However, I was a bit bothered by randomly changing perspectives, no solid time period or location and random time jumps. Overall a good book for horse lovers or just animal lovers.
Blind Beauty is the story of a young teenager called Tessa who is lost in the world. She has been expelled from several schools, no school will have her and she has a stepfather who doesn’t care about her or her Mother, only about horseracing and making money. Tessa longs to be reunited with her real father and have her childhood life back. One day Tessa meets a horse called Buffoon at the local racing stables where she works. Unknown to anyone Buffoon is blind. She feels that there is something
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