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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
I've been riding horses since I was 9 and this really did feel like the kind of voice I imagined for some of the kindest horses I've ever had the pleasure of riding. I listened to the audiobook version (which is free by the way, and quite good) on my way to work in the mornings in short bursts and it was the perfect start to my days, especially since so many of the chapters are somewhat self-contained. Sure, at times it's really just the writer telling us what she thinks are good and bad ways of living by loosely following a story format, but at least if you're getting advice from a dead (I think?) woman, it's best to receive it through the mouth of a horse.
This adapted version of the famous black beauty is as good as the original one, Transferring the reader into the life of black beauty as the spirited horse moves through different phrases of his life, meeting many different characteristics of both humans and horses alike. This story teaches us the important lessons of life, Showing us black's life experience instead of trying to teach us.
I read this a couple times as a kid, and just re-listened to it because Simon Vance was the narrator. He's fantastic, but this book is NOT.
I'm dropping the star rating to a 3 from a 4. I admire Anna Sewell for promoting humane treatment of animals, but the random episodic feel of the narrative, the depressing catalogue of mistreatment of animals, and the pervasive Victorian moralizing makes this book a serious downer. It needs rounding out in terms of narrative, and its purpose would still have been served if Sewell had given us a more developed story.
I'm dropping the star rating to a 3 from a 4. I admire Anna Sewell for promoting humane treatment of animals, but the random episodic feel of the narrative, the depressing catalogue of mistreatment of animals, and the pervasive Victorian moralizing makes this book a serious downer. It needs rounding out in terms of narrative, and its purpose would still have been served if Sewell had given us a more developed story.
This book was a pretty decent read. I liked the perspective it was told in and after what I just read it was a nice innocent fun read which was just what I needed! Glad I finally sat down and read it!
This book is AMAZING!!! It is literally the perfect children's book. The lesson of treating animals with kindness is perfectly stated over and over again. The prose are beautiful and so so so Victorian. Black Beauty narrating the whole novel is adorable and makes his story so much more wonderful and emotional. Plus, I have the prettiest edition of the novel. Ugh!! Amazing, amazing book!!
This is a treasured childhood favourite of mine that I read when I was much younger and much more horse obsessed. Still, I love to take it on holiday with me as a back-up read if I finish my first book, and I love it every time! Last time I read it was probably 2017 or so, but I've been reading it on and off my whole life.
BLACK BEAUTY BY ANNA SEWELL
"It is good people who make good places."
This book is a classic written from the point of view of a black handsome horse. The book begins with the carefree days of the horse on the English farm with her mother. As he grows up, he experiences hardships and ill-treatment by his masters and other human beings.
The book is educational about caring for horses and grooming them. It makes the readers realize that animals too have a heart. They too need your warmth.
The book was a bit slow making it difficult for me to continue. The language was easy. According to my, the narration could be more impactful.
Follow me on my Instagram @dikshita.read for more bookish content. Your one follow will mean a world to me☺️❤️.
"It is good people who make good places."
This book is a classic written from the point of view of a black handsome horse. The book begins with the carefree days of the horse on the English farm with her mother. As he grows up, he experiences hardships and ill-treatment by his masters and other human beings.
The book is educational about caring for horses and grooming them. It makes the readers realize that animals too have a heart. They too need your warmth.
The book was a bit slow making it difficult for me to continue. The language was easy. According to my, the narration could be more impactful.
Follow me on my Instagram @dikshita.read for more bookish content. Your one follow will mean a world to me☺️❤️.
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I absolutely LOVED Black Beauty.
This was only my 2nd book that I have read where the main character is an animal and I truly love the different perspective. However, it was incredibly sad in a lot of places and it's awful to read about the treatment of some of the horses. However, I do have to note that there is also a lot of good stablemen and owners etc.
Seeing how many owners the horses go through was incredibly saddening, and how the horses spoke of their brothers as aquaintences and not siblings. They would leave so many good friends and masters behind.
Although it was majorly a happy plot, it was also a great heart breaker.
This was only my 2nd book that I have read where the main character is an animal and I truly love the different perspective. However, it was incredibly sad in a lot of places and it's awful to read about the treatment of some of the horses. However, I do have to note that there is also a lot of good stablemen and owners etc.
Seeing how many owners the horses go through was incredibly saddening, and how the horses spoke of their brothers as aquaintences and not siblings. They would leave so many good friends and masters behind.
Although it was majorly a happy plot, it was also a great heart breaker.
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No