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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
I've been trying to read the classics but just end up not liking them as much as I expected.
This just isn't my sort of book.
This just isn't my sort of book.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
What a roller coaster. As a children's book, this is deservedly a classic to read and keep for future generations.
Read and wept. A beautiful story about the life of a horse. Told from his perspective and really teaches its reader that animals feel pain just as we do. Since I love animals, particularly horses and dogs this book really captured me and still have not let me go. Now when I'm with my own two horses I, unconsciously at first, imitated some of the things Anna Sewell wanted her readers to do. Don't get me wrong I've always been very good to my horses, I don't even use a whip. haha. But when Videy or Hektor (that's what mine are called) tries to pull something today or does something "bad" I now consciously always give them the benefit of doubt. Is something wrong? 90% there surely is.
I remember for example this time. I had just gotten Hektor and was (as usual) on my way to bring him back to the stables. But he would not go. he kept stopping and was irritated; up to no good. haha. I started getting VERY irritated and told him with both angry words and pulling to keep on going. Once we reached the road (asphalt) I heard what he was trying to say. He had lost his shoe and hurt his hoof a little (nothing serious, thank God)
This may not be so serious but I felt really bad. He simply tried to tell me: No, I've lost my shoe and I've hurt my hoof. I don't want to go for a tölt in the forest right now. This is exactly what this book teaches. Listen to your animal wether it's a horse, cat or dog. They are not vicious creatures. They simply can not tell us when something is wrong, they can just try to show us. This novel taught me to listen.
I remember for example this time. I had just gotten Hektor and was (as usual) on my way to bring him back to the stables. But he would not go. he kept stopping and was irritated; up to no good. haha. I started getting VERY irritated and told him with both angry words and pulling to keep on going. Once we reached the road (asphalt) I heard what he was trying to say. He had lost his shoe and hurt his hoof a little (nothing serious, thank God)
This may not be so serious but I felt really bad. He simply tried to tell me: No, I've lost my shoe and I've hurt my hoof. I don't want to go for a tölt in the forest right now. This is exactly what this book teaches. Listen to your animal wether it's a horse, cat or dog. They are not vicious creatures. They simply can not tell us when something is wrong, they can just try to show us. This novel taught me to listen.
I happened to watch the original movie before I read the book, but decided I wanted to read the book as well. This book was just absolutely lovely, I don’t understand how a human author can describe this well how a horse can feel. It definitely made me think more about all the poor horses out there, still being misused to this day.
This book was a difficult read at times, more so as although fictional, the treatment of horses it is describing very much happened.
Whilst purportedly about horses, the book is essentially a Dickensian commentary on Victorian society and the way in which cruelty breeds cruelty - e.g. the taxi drivers are charged so much to operate, and paid so little as a result of fares kept capped for wealthy customers, that the only way they can survive is to mistreat the horses. I was amazed that a writer in the 1870s could write condemnations of humanity which are still so necessary today, namely:
“We call them dumb animals, and so they are, for they cannot tell us how they feel, but they do not suffer less because they have no words.”
“There is no religion without love, and people may talk as much as they like about their religion, but if it does not teach them to be good and kind to man and beast, it is all a sham.”
Essentially the whole book had me shouting ‘YASSSSS ANNA 🙌’
Whilst purportedly about horses, the book is essentially a Dickensian commentary on Victorian society and the way in which cruelty breeds cruelty - e.g. the taxi drivers are charged so much to operate, and paid so little as a result of fares kept capped for wealthy customers, that the only way they can survive is to mistreat the horses. I was amazed that a writer in the 1870s could write condemnations of humanity which are still so necessary today, namely:
“We call them dumb animals, and so they are, for they cannot tell us how they feel, but they do not suffer less because they have no words.”
“There is no religion without love, and people may talk as much as they like about their religion, but if it does not teach them to be good and kind to man and beast, it is all a sham.”
Essentially the whole book had me shouting ‘YASSSSS ANNA 🙌’
medium-paced
adventurous
emotional
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced