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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
This book started out slow but after a certain point I could not put this book done. A GOODREAD for people who like horses or just animals. It is definitely a touching story.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
informative
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
hopeful
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
I looooved this book growing up. Despite my complete lack of coordination, this book continually made me wish I had a horse. I still wish I had horse.
I probably read this much faster and I loved it, my dream was to ride. It never happened.
My Friend Flicka is categorized as children's fiction (not young adult, children's) and so, when I picked it up, I was expecting a huge font and extremely simple language and plot. That would be the only way that a 300-page novel could be for children, in my opinion.
I do think that the novel should be considered for adults. While the main character, Ken, is ten years old, the main themes are not only suited to an adult audience, but more appropriate for it. For example, some of the themes are: marriage/marital disputes, death, parenting, and financial stress. Pretty much every man in the novel is attracted to Ken's mom. There is even a euphemistic description of sex at one point, though it is oblique enough that children and teens wouldn't catch it. Still, it's there, which just tells me again that the book was written not for children but for the parents of those children.
I'm not saying that the book is Pulitzer Prize-level literature. It is pretty simply written and the plot is (generally) wholesome. But because of its length, I still would only recommend it to middle schoolers and above.
I enjoyed myself heartily reading it. If you are sucked in by pioneer-type stories or anything set before 1950, I strongly recommend this book. I don't even like horse books, nor do I particularly love horses, but I love anything with some father-son angst. Beware that the book is pretty old school, with Ken's parents' marriage being very traditional and the gender roles distinctly divided. Not something I'd ever go for in real life, but a kind of fantasy world where I live in the countryside in the early 1900s.
My main issue with the novel is that Ken's father, Rob, has a very confusing tone of voice and motivations throughout the book. The author plainly intended for him to be strict and stern, but he "rages" and "roars" and "glares" at Ken and his brother Howard and their mom Nell so much that he comes across as abusive. I think O'Hara just missed the mark rather than having intentionally written him this way, because you can equally see that he loves his family (when he's not screaming at them). I mean, O'Hara was born in 1885, so maybe her ideal man is just too old-fashioned for me. Not to mention, Rob does some pretty emotionally abusive things, too, which is just another reason I say that this is not a children's book!
Neither was I convinced by Howard, Ken's brother, whose characterization left a lot to be desired. He was one-dimensional and existed merely to antagonize Ken. I also had a couple of small issues with the overuse of em dashes and the fact that Ken's dad was called both Rob and McLaughlin (his surname) all over every page. Like, stick to one, please!
I do think that the novel should be considered for adults. While the main character, Ken, is ten years old, the main themes are not only suited to an adult audience, but more appropriate for it. For example, some of the themes are: marriage/marital disputes, death, parenting, and financial stress. Pretty much every man in the novel is attracted to Ken's mom. There is even a euphemistic description of sex at one point, though it is oblique enough that children and teens wouldn't catch it. Still, it's there, which just tells me again that the book was written not for children but for the parents of those children.
I'm not saying that the book is Pulitzer Prize-level literature. It is pretty simply written and the plot is (generally) wholesome. But because of its length, I still would only recommend it to middle schoolers and above.
I enjoyed myself heartily reading it. If you are sucked in by pioneer-type stories or anything set before 1950, I strongly recommend this book. I don't even like horse books, nor do I particularly love horses, but I love anything with some father-son angst. Beware that the book is pretty old school, with Ken's parents' marriage being very traditional and the gender roles distinctly divided. Not something I'd ever go for in real life, but a kind of fantasy world where I live in the countryside in the early 1900s.
My main issue with the novel is that Ken's father, Rob, has a very confusing tone of voice and motivations throughout the book. The author plainly intended for him to be strict and stern, but he "rages" and "roars" and "glares" at Ken and his brother Howard and their mom Nell so much that he comes across as abusive. I think O'Hara just missed the mark rather than having intentionally written him this way, because you can equally see that he loves his family (when he's not screaming at them). I mean, O'Hara was born in 1885, so maybe her ideal man is just too old-fashioned for me. Not to mention, Rob does some pretty emotionally abusive things, too, which is just another reason I say that this is not a children's book!
Neither was I convinced by Howard, Ken's brother, whose characterization left a lot to be desired. He was one-dimensional and existed merely to antagonize Ken. I also had a couple of small issues with the overuse of em dashes and the fact that Ken's dad was called both Rob and McLaughlin (his surname) all over every page. Like, stick to one, please!
This book is so, so important to me.
I first read it (in French) when I was maybe 10 years old. It was one my dads book, it had a beautiful abstract cover with a horse silhouette on it. Each book of the series had a different color.
I read again again, and again, and again - at least once every summer. It burned Wyoming straight into my heart, forever. I finally made in to Wyoming, and then Montana in the summer of 2014 when I visited Yellowstone by myself. It was a life-changing experience and "Flicka" was on my mind every step of the way.
Reading this again at age 24 was a different experience. The book was both as I remember it and different in some ways. I stumbled upon some sentences that I had made mine without even realizing it, some bits about Ken's character that I internalized, and of course the whole atmosphere of the book. Wyoming, and especially the ranch, is such a magical place. That's what I will always get from it, I guess. This time around I noticed myself paying more attention the Nell's character - the way she is and dresses and acts throughout the book was very inspiring.
This book stood up so well to my childhood memories and I can't wait to get to #2 of the series.
I first read it (in French) when I was maybe 10 years old. It was one my dads book, it had a beautiful abstract cover with a horse silhouette on it. Each book of the series had a different color.
I read again again, and again, and again - at least once every summer. It burned Wyoming straight into my heart, forever. I finally made in to Wyoming, and then Montana in the summer of 2014 when I visited Yellowstone by myself. It was a life-changing experience and "Flicka" was on my mind every step of the way.
Reading this again at age 24 was a different experience. The book was both as I remember it and different in some ways. I stumbled upon some sentences that I had made mine without even realizing it, some bits about Ken's character that I internalized, and of course the whole atmosphere of the book. Wyoming, and especially the ranch, is such a magical place. That's what I will always get from it, I guess. This time around I noticed myself paying more attention the Nell's character - the way she is and dresses and acts throughout the book was very inspiring.
This book stood up so well to my childhood memories and I can't wait to get to #2 of the series.