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captainbookamir's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
tstuppy's review against another edition
3.0
I've wanted to read this for a long time, so I did. I was looking forward to Sassoon's narrative, which was a little disappointing. The book paints a picture of pre-War England, but needs more contrast. I'll probably read part two soon enough.
gajanperry's review against another edition
5.0
Returned to this after ten years on from high school and it absolutely stands up as one of my all time favourites. The Flower Show Match is among my favourite ever chapters of writing. But also maybe it’s just nostalgiacore
jimmypat's review against another edition
2.0
This book was an absolute slog to get through- fairly boring and no real payoff. I enjoyed the first chapter about Sheraton as a young boy, but after that the charm evaporated into lengthy descriptions of fox hunts, random dudes in pink coats, and chestnut horses. Gah. I can’t even imagine reading the other two books in this trilogy, except perhaps during a bout of insomnia.
deborahrosegreen's review
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.0
As the relative of many horse riders and the granddaughter of a man who went to Sandhurst, this story sparked some nostalgia of running around stables and rural life. Sassoon struck me with the line, ‘The fantasies of childhood cannot be analysed or explained in the rational afterthoughts of experienced maturity’ (pg18) which I agree with. Many of the characters are very likeable, including the “protagonist” himself who brings a comedic aspect with his honest reflections about ambition and pride. My particular favourites were Dixon, who was friendly, passionate about sportsmanship and always well-meaning, and Dick, a warm character, cheerful and innocent. The book certainly explores the tragedy of the war and the complexities of the lives changed within it. I recommend this to anyone who loves horses and wants to understand more about the First World War.
cgpc's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
sachab03's review against another edition
5.0
Such a gem of a book, there was something absolutely heart-breaking in his descriptions of the idyllic English countryside knowing the horrors that were to come.
your_true_shelf's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: War and Death
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death