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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Minor: Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, Grief
As probably everyone is aware, this book was the reason people started noticing how horribly horses were often treated back in the day, and is either the or one of the first examples of a book written from an animal's perspective. This gives the novel historical value.
I also believe that it has value for other reasons, and I don't believe this is a novel that should ever have been relegated to 'children's literature', for two reasons. The 'animal's perspective' angle is one that I believe many people could use, as too many people lack any sympathy for animals and believe that they can't feel or think. I don't believe they feel or think on anywhere near the same level as humans, and nor do I think they have personalities as complex as humans, but they do have personalities and they do feel and think. That's a fact that should be acknowledged, as refusal to believe it doesn't change it. Even the argument that 'it's only instinct' falls short, as much of human thought and emotion is 'only instinct', with predetermined responses based on genetics. If it's invalid for animals because of where the thoughts and feelings come from, then human emotion and thought is also invalid. You are only able to read this paragraph because of complex brain activity, which is electricity at its base. So it goes with animals, too, when they read the signs in a smell.
The other reason I don't believe this is 'just for kids' is because of the main theme of the book. Animal welfare hasn't gone away since this book was written, and even though there are different problems now than there were then doesn't mean it isn't something people shouldn't keep in their minds. Black Beauty still brings animal welfare to the forefront of your mind, even if it doesn't highlight the specific issues we're dealing with today.
Also, it's a good book on its own.
I also believe that it has value for other reasons, and I don't believe this is a novel that should ever have been relegated to 'children's literature', for two reasons. The 'animal's perspective' angle is one that I believe many people could use, as too many people lack any sympathy for animals and believe that they can't feel or think. I don't believe they feel or think on anywhere near the same level as humans, and nor do I think they have personalities as complex as humans, but they do have personalities and they do feel and think. That's a fact that should be acknowledged, as refusal to believe it doesn't change it. Even the argument that 'it's only instinct' falls short, as much of human thought and emotion is 'only instinct', with predetermined responses based on genetics. If it's invalid for animals because of where the thoughts and feelings come from, then human emotion and thought is also invalid. You are only able to read this paragraph because of complex brain activity, which is electricity at its base. So it goes with animals, too, when they read the signs in a smell.
The other reason I don't believe this is 'just for kids' is because of the main theme of the book. Animal welfare hasn't gone away since this book was written, and even though there are different problems now than there were then doesn't mean it isn't something people shouldn't keep in their minds. Black Beauty still brings animal welfare to the forefront of your mind, even if it doesn't highlight the specific issues we're dealing with today.
Also, it's a good book on its own.
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
It's been about 40yrs since I first read this and I found it just as moving as I did the first time. Beautifull written, it takes you on an incredible journey of ups and downs in a horses life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: War
lighthearted
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
This book is great if you love horses and always wondered what it'd be like to be a horse......
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
loved this book as a teen, and its still as good, and told by a horse no less, easy read, one for the prompt, reread a childhood favorite
Loved this book so much!!!! I have such vivid memories of reading it on my kindle and being obsessed, baby Leo was such a sucker for animal stories what can I say. I loved the way black beauty's life progressed throughout the story and the hardships and the characters and just <333333
What a sweet book. I know it's written for a younger audience, but reading for the first time as an adult was still a wonderful experience. The characters are all memorable, the prose are really lovely to read, and the social commentary was surprisingly detailed and astute. This book discusses some heavy topics beyond just treatment of animals (the book's main theme). We've got commentary on war and politics, the evils of following trends, class conflict, abuse, alcoholism, and more. The awesome thing is that because the story is being narrated by a horse, I never felt like I was being condescended to. Black Beauty is just a simple creature with a simple understanding of the world around him. He has his own basic ideas about how the world should function, and these ideas end up uncovering some important and simple truths about humanity. It's a quick read, and a fun one, and I'm very glad I decided to try it out!
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