So I read this book this morning, as I had found it in my local library on the "new" shelf and I had thought it looked interesting. And easy to read tSo I read this book this morning, as I had found it in my local library on the "new" shelf and I had thought it looked interesting. And easy to read too. And it is.
This is the author's personal experiences with many different types of creatures - and certainly not the usual creatures one encounters either! She has swum with whale sharks and have poked at leaf litter around trees to find newts hiding there, has gone hiking in Arizona to watch birds and has traveled to India too. In fact she has been to so many different states that it boggles my mind! Florida, Illinois, Wisconsin, Mississippi, New York, Kansas, and the before mentioned Arizona. In fact when I first started this book and I was reading the second or third essay this bit about growing up in different states had actually confused me. I had to check the book to see if maybe each essay was from a different person, as I have never met anyone who has moved around so much... But yes, it is possible to grow up in so many different places. Living my whole life in one place, in Wisconsin, I cannot imagine it.
But these essays are not just about the animals (in many cases they are birds or amphibians) but her own insights about them: little stories about what she has seen and done. Like her terror when she swam with the whale shark and how unusual it was for it to keep swimming underneath her many times. There are also more shocking revelations in here, like how most of her students these days have never seen a firefly and they have no idea what they are! Can you imagine that? I recall seeing lots of fireflies in my yard. People these days are more into electronics and so they miss out on the splendors of nature. Which is sad. Especially since many of these creatures are vanishing at a fast pace.
One of the most amazing tales in here is about the migration of the monarch butterfly. Scientists have noticed that when these butterflies fly over Lake Superior they suddenly make a big swerve. Why? Well they actually remember a mountain from long, long ago! That just astounds me! How can they remember that? Many people may not know it, but Lake Superior contains the caldera of an ancient volcano and this must be the mountain they are recalling. But they are so tiny! Their brains must be unimaginable minuscule! How can they recall something from so long ago?
And although we both grew up in the 80s, it seems we lived very different lives. She mentions being on the constant lookout for "bad people" who might try to kidnap her or other kids she knew at the time- hiding behind giant cactus in Arizona. I do recall the talks about it but I never really took it as seriously as she did. But this different perspective is interesting.
She also mentions not fitting in very often. That I can relate to! And the story about how she drew the peacock at school and how her teacher reacted - it just broke my heart!
She tells how she relates to these creatures, how she shares the characteristics of them. Dancing frogs to dancing, the vampire squid to wanting to hide, etc. It all makes sense and is good reading. She even used plants - one particular famous flower - to find the perfect husband! I relate to some animals and share their characteristics too, especially the horse.
But the most amazing creature in here, the one that totally shocks me, is the axolotl. Can I say its happy smiling face and how it seems to have limbs like a human plus that pink color makes it appear to be some imaginary creature? I cannot believe that it is real! But it is! I do recall ads from very old vintage comic books I would read as a kid as my family had lots of them from the 50s & 60s ... The ads would be selling these "eggs" that would hatch into these little pink creatures. I had sort of thought those ads must have been some kind of scam! Because surely a creature like that didn't really exist! But they were people shaped more or less. And they were pink. So I am thinking those ads were for these axolotl things! But the ads didn't use that term. They had been called something else. I am sure I will remember it later. But can I say I am absolutely shocked these things are real? They look like a fantasy creature from a Saturday morning cartoon!
Maybe these tales are not exciting - no being chased by tigers (although she does describe a scary encounter with a large cat & loud monkeys) but they are heart felt and contain much meaning. A lot of insight. I certainly enjoyed reading this! ...more
It's a powerful story. And the end made me cry, which I had not expected at all.
But.. At the same time. ..
ISo I have mixed feelings about this one..
It's a powerful story. And the end made me cry, which I had not expected at all.
But.. At the same time. ..
I had found myself very confused while reading this. Often I felt lost, as I just couldn't figure out who some of these strange characters were or even what they were. Like were these "shadows" that were making masks - were they early humans? I thought that's what they were but later in the book they were called "shadows" so does that mean they were not humans? I just don't know and it can be frustrating. They seemed to act like humans but I have no idea. It can be hard to enjoy a book if things are not stated clearly. There are also many giant strange looking creatures in here and I guess they are supposed to be gods but I found them rather confusing too. They had names but the names did not help me understand who they were or what their relationship to the mother Bear was. And the images did not really help with this. And often I found the images were perplexing as well.
The events in here, the things that happen to Poorling (who is the main character and she lives with the mother Bear) are easier to grasp and follow. And some of those events are tragic. There is definitely a strong horror element in here but I am unsure if its meant to be horror. I think it's just sort of showing daily life in a forest way back in ancient days. This story is based off of Finnish mythology which I am unfamiliar with but I guess the mythology says that Bear came out of the northern lights? Because that is what I see in here.
And even more strange in one scene I saw what looked like an astronaut in a suit? So yes, the stuff in here can be way out there. Very confusing.
The back of the book does have a list explaining who the characters like Emuu, Scaup and Mana are. In my personal opinion this should have been at the front of the book as it would have helped me to better understand the story! But I only found it after I was done. I still feel confused to tell you the truth! And I don't know if Scaup the bird is supposed to be a good or bad character? Or is Scaup a teacher? Scaup seemed to be teaching songs and possibly magic (fire?).
Are there bears in Finland? There must be if their myths contain bears. ...more
So I enjoy books in this series and I find them fun to read, even if I read them in some random order. And I suppose it might be weird to be reading aSo I enjoy books in this series and I find them fun to read, even if I read them in some random order. And I suppose it might be weird to be reading a Christmas book at the end of March (??) but it is a fun story. And I actually guessed the killer too!
And a few lines in here towards the end really made me chuckle too. Which did catch me off guard. I know these books are supposed to be humorous and the plots are indeed very entertaining but that doesn't mean it will actually make you laugh. This particular storyline contains many animal related pranks - and yes, ducks are involved in one of them - but I really didn't find the pranks funny. There are also skunks, a giant snake and a few other types of creatures.
And there are a few very sour, grumpy characters in here. Like severely sour. The one makes Scrooge look like a happy person! Yeah, he is bad! So much yelling and stuff. Throwing stuff. For awhile this nasty person took over the plot and Meg tried to stay out of his way. But I remember a similar character from the previous book I had read in this series, the one about the owls at the hotel. I do believe that this guy was way worse and to think he was conducting a chorus! Needless to say I didn't like this guy at all! Who would?
Of course there was a murder...and it came unexpectedly too. And it was not who I was expecting to get killed. Ok, I never really thought about who might get killed. And do you know why? Because I was enjoying all the crazy stuff going on in here! Meg not only had to deal with juggling multiple churches and all of their holiday plans plus the weird animal pranks (which do stinky types of damage) but also try to plan Christmas dinners! So she is very, very busy! And then poof! The murder! So there is a ton of stuff going on and Meg does like to snoop. Listen in from behind doors. Figure things out.
Somehow to me it was very obvious who the killer was! And I was pleased to learn I was right too. I actually guessed who it was before Meg found out the hard way!
Only one little thing confuses me in here: the little parade they had with the real animals way at the end for the Christmas celebration. Some of those animals are from hot climates. I don't understand how Dr Blake, being a zoologist, can in good faith bring those animals outside in winter when there is snow on the ground. They are not made for that climate. And I had thought he had always put the safety of his animals first? So how could he be carelessly taking them out into snowy conditions where it's like only 20 F? They would freeze! I hope he is not getting senile in his old age. Because it's not worth risking an animal's life for some parade. ...more
Wow... I have read a lot of horse stories now but this one has really impressed me! And it is the main character of Roscoe that makes this book come tWow... I have read a lot of horse stories now but this one has really impressed me! And it is the main character of Roscoe that makes this book come to life. While reading this I was totally engrossed in his many adventures and all of those adventures centered around his race-winning horse named Strawberry. Well, Strawberry is the horse's nickname as he is a strawberry roan. His actual name is David Hal. But Roscoe almost never calls him that; it's Strawberry.
The thing is that right from the first page Roscoe seems so real. The way he talks (and he is almost always talking)... It just captured my imagination and drew me right in. He has spunk. He is lively. He does some outrageous things. And he most certainly always puts Strawberry first! In fact that is how he ended up going for a very long and crazy adventure that this book details. This story may start on a race track but it sure doesn't stay there at all. It goes all over the place, to the many places where you can find horses.
Roscoe is a young boy. The book never states how old he is but he is just a child. His father is the trainer at a big race track. From the drawings in the book, I am guessing he may be 9 or 10 years old? This was first published in 1946 so horses are still part of daily society. Today this would be considered historical fiction but I am guessing the story takes place in the 1940s. A kid could do things back then they sure can't today.
Tons of horse stuff in here. Strawberry is the main horse but there are others as well. And this is a fast moving adventure story. There are a few scary scenes too. I was never bored reading this and my mind never wondered to other things at all. Nope. This one had me totally hooked! I do love these old fashioned adventure stories about a young kid doing crazy things! And there are indeed some truly hilarious events in here too! In fact I would say that everywhere Roscoe and Strawberry go they bring havoc with them somehow! Wild hijinks.
I also love Jiggers the rooster that lives at the track. This author is also very gifted at writing the animals in here too.
Plus I learned about the sulkies now. I had never known what they were called before... They are the lightweight two wheeled racing carts.
I must admit I did find the final two pages kind of... Strange. Unexpected. It's like the story took a sudden turn? And I do feel kind of confused. But I also can see it goes back to something stated at the beginning of the book as well, but, well, it just took me by surprise. But even with the odd end this is still definitely one of the best horse adventure stories I have read.
And like so many other popular ones, it is about a one boy horse. You know, a horse is devoted to just that one person and no one else. That's what this tale is. And Strawberry is a very proud, intelligent horse. ...more
This is the first horse book I've read by this author and it seems she's written several of them. And I must say the nature of this tale took me by suThis is the first horse book I've read by this author and it seems she's written several of them. And I must say the nature of this tale took me by surprise. I often go into books without reading anything about them at all so I was amazed that the plot was about a teenage girl who was clearly depressed because she had gotten crippled from polio. I admit I don't know much about polio but clearly it had done something to her one leg and she has to walk on crutches now. So it is easy to understand how going from a normal active life to suddenly sitting aside and watching others do things you used to be able to do is very upsetting.
Her family moves to Arizona, to a new ranch. And that is where the story starts. Blythe already knew how to ride before her illness, but it still takes a lot of courage to get back onto a horse. Because of the injury she had to do things differently than before: like she can no longer swing her leg up and over so how do you mount the horse? In many ways this story is about how riding can actually help people, not only mentally but also physically too. And I think this is just a wonderful thing to put into a story. And can I say it is just amazing that someone wrote a book about horse therapy way back in 1951?
And then Blythe meets a very special horse she names Dark Sunshine. She is a buckskin mare. And even though Blythe is physically challenged, she decides that she is going to train and capture the mare on her own! For Dark Sunshine is totally wild and has lived in this tiny canyon all on her own. And she is definitely a one person type horse too. Blythe does have help from her brother but she is also a very proud, independent girl who makes her own choices. She knows what she wants and goes for it. And what having this horse does for her mood is amazing!
And if that isn't enough plot, an endurance race is involved too! Sixty miles. And there is a scholarship involved too. If Blythe can only win. But she also has to make some very hard choices.
I did enjoy this story and while there is some action in here I did find it moved at a slower pace. It's not a fast story. A lot of it is about life on a cattle ranch in the early 50s (or late 1940s - an exact year is not stated but french fries and ice cream in town are mentioned). Blythe is a sophomore. In Arizona.
Oddly enough I did have some problems relating to Blythe. She seemed sort of dry somehow. Like she was always very proper? I certainly can understand how she loved that horse though! ...more
Well I must say I had a fun, relaxing evening reading this horse story. And it was a bit wilder than I had thought too. There were quite a few excitinWell I must say I had a fun, relaxing evening reading this horse story. And it was a bit wilder than I had thought too. There were quite a few exciting scenes in here and the two main characters put themselves into dangerous situations several times so they can save a small group of wild horses.
A lot of the story is about wishes and coincidences. Young 11-year-old Josie decides she wants a horse after watching The Black Stallion and the movie really fuels her imagination big time. Of course she knows nothing about horses and never has actually seen one in real life. Still she wants one really bad. And you know how books go...she of course just happens to stumble across some wild ones on this little island! It's all very neat how that works out but she still has to earn the horses by saving them from a dangerous situation.
A lot of the plot is about Josie and her relationship with her fellow 11-year-old neighbor Kiff. And there's Odie too. These two boys think she's nuts! She must be imagining these horses she claims she's seen! I did enjoy the banter between them and even the horrid rhyming songs that Kiff sings. But those boys do seem very annoying. But when it comes time to work together they do.
While I did enjoy this fast read, I don't think it's a good or safe thing that Josie did. Horses are large animals and they can be dangerous. And then having a young girl with zero experience approaching them on her own? Not to mention the conditions she approaches them in (other events going on at the same time). Things could have gone horribly wrong quickly.
What a book!! I loved the first half of it but also hated the second half! And the end made me cry too... This is a very powerful story but parts of iWhat a book!! I loved the first half of it but also hated the second half! And the end made me cry too... This is a very powerful story but parts of it are so heartbreaking especially if you have a connection to animals. And sometimes animals are way better than people.
It's the humans in here that are cruel and do unspeakable things. And reading a few bits near the end, when you realize that they knew but did it anyway, well, that makes it even worse.
This is the story of two girls, Hannah and Becky, who get lost from Hannah's parents in a boating accident. They are six and seven years old - and suddenly lost in the wilds of Tasmania. And through some miracle they end up living with a pair of tasmanian tigers. And the girls themselves become tigers too in action and sound. The descriptions in here are just incredible! It seems all so real... The communication between the girls and the tigers are just amazing. And how they work as a team. It's pure magic. Loved this part!
But I hated the second half. Especially certain incidents which I thought was so wrong. Becky's father clearly has no gratitude at all. He is a just awful man! I believe the real tragedy in here are the things he does. Its certainly worse than the boating accident..and that says a lot. I just had a gut feeling when those scenes started it was going to be bad and it was. It was like a nightmare.
And the end was a tearjerker too.
And yes this story reminds me of The Jungle Book except I think this is a tad more realistic, especially the aftermath.
I love the book cover too. So beautiful and colorful. In fact it was the cover that made me pick this up.
I am editing this review now the following morning to say I was thinking a LOT about this story last night in bed before I fell asleep. And it made me cry again. It is just SO powerful! And it certainly shows that in many cases animals are way better than people. I do think this is a book that animal lovers will enjoy greatly.
And that the drama in here is so dramatic that I think this would make a very powerful movie.
And people who enjoy books like Clan of the Cavebear would love this too I think. The girls certainly do revert to a more ancient way of life. Unfortunately there is a huge price to pay for that later and you are never the same after it either.
I have also upped my rating from 4 stars to 5. ...more
This was a fast, easy read and parts of the story actually reminded me of "Animal Farm". In fact in one scene near the beginning there is even a song This was a fast, easy read and parts of the story actually reminded me of "Animal Farm". In fact in one scene near the beginning there is even a song (or poem) that reminds me of the one from that very popular book - surely is must have inspired this author in some way. And there is a similar situation too: different animals gathered together to hold a meeting but instead of planning their freedom they are deciding the fate of mankind.
For this tale takes place in a future where man has destroyed the environment and most of humanity is gone. How will the animals vote?
I must admit I did enjoy this story. It was very entertaining. It examines our relationship with various types of animals and how we treat them. And there is a particular animal that represents common species including a cat, dog, a bear, a horse, a baboon, a crow...plus many others. Some animals are written better than others. I do think the author did a rather poor job of writing the horse and he has it doing some things horses just simply don't do (the horse's behavior was more doglike than like an equine) - but that is easy enough to ignore. And of course the main animal characters have their own personalities and a few even have crooked schemes! They can be so humanlike.
The end was indeed a surprise.
I must say one thing that did confuse me in here was if there was some ecological disaster than why the large numbers of these animals? That bit just doesn't add up for me. Lots of animals mean lots of food is required. So...? Hmmm....
Not to mention that horse and that sugar! In reality that would be horrid! Can you say colic? But I think the majority of people are ignorant of that sort of thing. But I did enjoy that a horse was included in the discussion. ...more
Well after putting off reading this for over a month due to the awful bullying that had been in the previous books, I finally have finished this! And Well after putting off reading this for over a month due to the awful bullying that had been in the previous books, I finally have finished this! And thankfully the bullying was not present. Maybe in part because Nightwing had pretty much taken over the herd and had forced them to travel to this other distant area. So basically there was no one left to actually bully Star!
But Star was still very determined to save them all. Because that is how Star is. He just doesn't quit. And he has to destroy Nightwing too.
But how?
Truthfully while reading this I had no idea at all how he would destroy Nightwing. Because the two have pretty much the same powers. But I must admit the author did come up with a very clever idea! It was simple and very effective - I just never thought of it.
And the weird thing is, after avoiding this book for so long I actually read it very quickly! And I think I enjoyed it too. It's not perfect but the story keeps moving and there was all sorts of plot twists and danger. Plenty to keep one entertained. And like in the previous books there is death. A lot of it. I mean it is Nightwing! Death follows where he goes...
But this book didn't have that gloomy feeling. Because the other pegasus were not constantly saying hateful things to Star. And that is what had really gotten to me in the previous books.
Glad I finally read this and finished the series. ...more
Hmmm... I did enjoy the majority of this book but I admit I sure have mixed feelings about the end. I just don't like those big battle scenes, you knoHmmm... I did enjoy the majority of this book but I admit I sure have mixed feelings about the end. I just don't like those big battle scenes, you know, war. And there sure is plenty of that in here. I guess you could say it's a pegasus version of Lord of the Rings the Battle of Helm's Deep. And while I absolutely love LOTR I really dislike those huge battles. Weird but true. Well the same goes for this.. And the actual ending in here - the final scene - was a total shock! And I felt so bad for poor Star!
This is most definitely an adventure story. And a fast moving one too. In fact when I was meditating earlier today in yoga class and the teacher told us to think of water what popped into my head but thoughts of a pegasus in a river! A scene right out of this book!
I do think the characters are growing up a bit in here. They are getting a bit wiser and getting more self confidence but Star is still suffering those awful lows. I sure can relate to Star with how he feels. He feels he just doesn't fit in and he wishes he could but he just can't. Because he is different. And each time something seems to be going well and he feels happy then some incident occurs or someone says something to remind him how he really isn't one of them: that he won't ever be normal. Having autism I sure can relate to how he feels, his struggles. And that is why the first book in this series had bothered me a lot.
At this point I have no idea how this is going to end. These stories are full of darkness. I would even say they are more dark than light. And not all of the darkness is caused by Nightwing either. It's actually the other pegasus. They love to fight over all sorts of things. They can be very cruel. Especially to Star. So many of them hate him. Because he is different. Many of them are probably all too glad to use Nightwing as an excuse to fight! They are broken inside.
Once again the pegasus in here do some very unnatural things in my opinion. Like they pick things up with their wings. I have never heard of birds picking things up with their wings. They use their beaks. Or their claws. So if birds don't then why should the pegasus? I just find it strange...
And these nests they have... The Jungle Herd can weave nests. I wonder how do they do that? Do they use their lips as a horse can untie a knot in a rope with their lips? Hmm...
I guess I just wish these books were more cheerful? Elements of this one certainly reminded me of Harry Potter too. That thought jumped into my head while reading this. There was a lot of darkness in the later books of that series too. So many similarities. Chosen ones always live horrid lives wether they are pegasus or wizards it seems.
The cover is pretty but not as pretty as the previous book. ...more
This is a book that has truly surprised me! And the surprise in here was Ken himself. I believe there is a movie based on this but I have never seen iThis is a book that has truly surprised me! And the surprise in here was Ken himself. I believe there is a movie based on this but I have never seen it before so I went into this totally blind with absolutely no knowledge about the plot at all - I only knew it was a horse story.
Well very soon I realized that there was something very special about Ken. And I could see bits of myself in him too. And this feeling got stronger the further I got into the book. Certain things stood out. Like Ken didn't understand things that he should have understood. He got "caught" on certain phrases that others around him used, like the word "loco", and he could not let those things go. They preyed on his mind. And he couldn't stop it. And the colt also takes over his mind. He can't think of anything else. And other things he should do is often forgotten and even huge time expanses go by without him being aware. Simply put, I think Ken may be on the spectrum although it certainly doesn't state that anywhere in the book. Of course I don't think Autism was even a thing back when this was written. But Ken is more than just a boy staring out a window who gets sidetracked. And horses are known to be good for people on the spectrum.
But this story is so much more though than just Ken and his problems. And yes, he has a lot of them in here. He has an older brother who seems to be almost perfect and a father I believe he is scared of. Why? Because he can never do anything right! How can you do anything right when you don't understand the world around you? In that situation simple things can become very hard. And anything new is scary. Because that is how someone on the spectrum sees the world.
Truthfully there are some scenes in here where I really hate Ken's father! He comes off often way too cruel for my tastes. But is he really cruel? I can't say. But I don't like some of the decisions he makes during the story. Mind you, he never beats his boys or anything - its the things he does to some of the horses in here that I hate!
And this takes place in Wyoming. Out west on a huge piece of land. Lots of horses. The neighbor has cattle. And there is another element to the story that comes into play, especially in the later part of the book. And that adds much excitement and danger too! But I won't say what it is.
But poor Ken really goes through a wringer in here. He changes... The horse changes him. He starts to face reality, the real world (although that might sound odd to you). And Flicka changes too. They change and learn together. So this is one of those stories about the special bond between a boy and a horse but both go through so much to get to that point.
A lot of this can probably be classified as a drama but it is never boring at all. Ken and his unique view of things kept this very interesting. And it kept moving too. So many little problems all the time. So many horses.
This is definitely a very special horse story....more
This was an easy to read book and the story flowed very smoothly and yet it is a story filled with strife and struggle. Liam, who is 14-years-old, hasThis was an easy to read book and the story flowed very smoothly and yet it is a story filled with strife and struggle. Liam, who is 14-years-old, has to make some very tough choices. And unfortunately he does make some wrong ones. In fact I would say he makes more wrong ones than right ones! He lets people goad him into doing the wrong thing even when it's clear he knows its wrong. Sometimes I found that frustrating because I just knew it was going to end up badly but that is how people learn. I did enjoy reading this and I actually read it very quickly but it's not exactly a happy story.
A lot of the plot in this book is about this ongoing battle between the Irish and the English. Liam, who is part Irish due to his deceased mother and part English to his missing father gets bullied by the pure Irish teens. They just can't leave him alone. They just see him as the enemy. And his very Irish uncle sees it the same way. Truthfully I hated his uncle. He's too cruel and close-minded but that is probably how they were back then. Some people are still that way.
This is also an adventure story too. Liam does many crazy things in here. He is sort of wild and he doesn't really think things through. Do I like him? I honestly cannot say. I really cannot approve the things he does (with some being far worse than others). I do wish he would have thought things through or that he would have had the courage to say no to the ones goading him into stupidity! But then I guess there would be no story... I have heard the old saying that Irish are hot blooded so maybe that is coming through with his personality.
And this is indeed a horse story. Liam used to work with horses when he was living with his mother at this Earl's place who had a huge stable so it's only natural he gravitates towards them in New York City. I enjoyed the scenes with Morengo the ex-fire station horse. And there is a wild grey in here too! Lots of horse stuff like cleaning frogs and stalls plus crazy riding attempts.
There was a scene in here I absolutely loathed though. If it weren't for that I would give this five stars. I actually didn't mind all the strife and crazy stuff going on as it sure kept the plot moving at a fast trot. ...more
I am amazed at how much I loved this book! And why did I love it so much? Because Little Alf made me laugh! I very rarely laugh because most things otI am amazed at how much I loved this book! And why did I love it so much? Because Little Alf made me laugh! I very rarely laugh because most things other people think are funny I don't think is funny. I believe that is because of my autism. I guess I have an odd sense of humor? But I like slapstick (or I believe that is what it us called) where people slip on ice and the sort of thing you see in the original Home Alone movie. Well Alf is funny! He gets up to so much mischief! It almost seems he makes huge disasters everywhere he goes just by being himself. He eats people's pretty flowers, he knocks over carefully arranged displays, he bit a security guard on his rear after breaking his special equipment, he gobbles up sweets off of tables... All sorts of naughty behavior! I just found these stories in here hilarious and I was actually laughing out loud at them! I do realize while he is actually doing these things its so embarrassing but then taking a pony to a bookstore isn't the best place. In fact I am amazed the pony didn't have a "call of nature" while there in the store! And if you've ever seen a horse go... Alf seems to be a perpetual two year old who has to get into everything and explore it with his mouth and his hooves. And yes, he uses his teeth too! Ouch!
One thing that comes through so clearly in this book is how much Hannah loves all of her horses and animals! It's clear she will do anything for them. And she worries a lot about them too. Especially if they need any sort of treatment. And the anxiety it causes is very clear. She is very open and candid in the book. Reading this is like chatting with her over a cup of tea while Alf plots how he can chew your shirt or shoes while you listen to her talk.
I am surprised that before I got this book I had never heard of Alf before. I do follow many horse channels on Youtube so I am surprised this one didn't pop up. The book says the author is on social media including youtube so...? Alf looks so cute but clearly he is a real handful! He is also very intelligent and can be devious at times too. But I do think many of the incidents listed in the book are not always Alf's fault. Like the stuffed alligator at that school: she had told the teacher not to put the loved toy on the floor before Alf but the teacher didn't listen. I guess people don't realize horses can chew stuff like a dog. Most people know very little about horses. And that can be a problem.
Even I learned something new in here! I never knew that horses lose their baby teeth!
Another aspect of this book is how the author turned her love of animals into a business. At first she had no idea how to do that and she was just going along day by day but Alf became famous online. And people loved seeing him. And since she had a back injury she couldn't ride (and I learned something new about riding in here too!) she had to find something else to do. And it just sort of happened... But I believe this story can inspire others. In fact I know of several other people who have animals who turned those animals into a full time career thanks to youtube.
The book also has an insert of photos too. Color photos. I certainly appreciated the chance to see all of her lovely pets and horses. The background in some of the pictures are beautiful too: rolling open fields.
Definitely one of my favorite nonfiction horse books! ...more
Boy, the end of this one was a real tearjerker! I wasn't expecting that but it was just so sad! Water was pouring out of my eyes, I had to go run to bBoy, the end of this one was a real tearjerker! I wasn't expecting that but it was just so sad! Water was pouring out of my eyes, I had to go run to blow the nose and even my throat felt achy for a few minutes because of the crying. I never thought I could end up crying for someone who had lived and died over a hundred years ago? But after reading this book for two days these characters have turned real (even though they were actual real people to start with versus fake made up characters), you feel that you know them. And yes, it is a war story so people are dying in it all the time and often in the most horrid ways...but it's vastly different when you reach the end of the book - those last few pages - and you realize what is going on. They don't declare it outright .. They don't have to .. It's very obvious. And then the crying starts.
So this is a retelling of the US Civil War through the eyes of a horse. His name is Traveller and he belonged to General Robert E Lee of the Confederate Army. The story starts with Traveller resting in the stables and he is telling the story of the war to the barn cat. But because he is a horse he doesn't realize that all the awful fighting he had seen for years is the "war" he has heard about. He also doesn't understand why the humans are busy killing each other. He just wants to be the best horse he can be. And he certainly tries to learn and get information from other horses to better understand what is going on. But he has to adjust to lots of things, especially the loud "bangs" he hears and countless other things.
I am not big on reading war stories. I will admit that. But this was very readable. There was one awful point in the book where something dreadful happened. I certainly didn't like that. It was pretty graphic and violent and it involved a horse. And I had paused my reading right after that because I found it upsetting. But the rest of the book wasn't that bad. Luckily. But some of the descriptions in here, especially of dead bodies, can be a tad blunt at times. It is a war and war is awful. But because its from the viewpoints of a horse that does soften it a lot. We also only know what Traveller knows. Plus a horse has different concerns.
And those concerns make this tale very unique. Often Traveller has to fight the terrain. Walking in deep mud, crossing rivers, being hungry, worrying about his hooves... And colic is in here too. Plus he gives nicknames for the main human characters. And he talks with an accent too! And no the accent is nit hard to read or understand as it can be in some books. The many problems the Confederate Army had during the war becomes clear when you read this.
There are many horses in here and each has different personalities. Each fares according to his or her own abilities. Many just fade out and we never know their fates because Traveller doesn't. But that is life as a horse as stablemates are sold off and you never see them again.
Reading this made me more curious about Robert E Lee and what had happened to him after the war. So I googled it.
I also love the drawing of him on Traveller on the back of the book. In fact I think I like that pic more than the cover image. Traveller looks very noble on that drawing (except he has his mouth open)....more
While this story ended up a bit differently than what I had expected (based on the cover image) I truly ended up loving it and I have added it to my fWhile this story ended up a bit differently than what I had expected (based on the cover image) I truly ended up loving it and I have added it to my favorites category here on Goodreads. Plus I certainly plan to read more books by this author as the characters and the plotline certainly gripped my imagination. It's fast paced too and it never drags which is a big plus in my opinion!
I will be the first to admit I know some things about history but if you would ask me randomly what was going on in the second century I sure would draw a blank. Well thanks to this well researched story now I can answer that. There were tribes of Celts living in Britain and they also worked alongside Druids. And the Romans were there too. All three groups play a big part in this exciting tale.
The main character is a young woman named Maira (which I realize I have no idea how to pronounce - I was basically thinking Mara in my head while reading this). She has a red roan mare named Roud who she is very close to. Maira is of the White Horse people and horses play a very important role in their Druid ceremonies. She is an excellent horsewoman who rides with a simple padded saddle and reins. As far as I can tell she doesn't use any stirrups as they are never mentioned. She can ride bareback as well and there is one scene in here where she does that with incredible skill...
Maira is of age where she should be thinking of marriage and having children but she finds it all somewhat embarrassing? But there is a guy from another tribe she likes: Carric. And both of them are the children of chiefs.
But conflict comes. And things go incredibly wrong. Blood is spilt. Swords slash. Horses rear and scream. You get the idea. There are lots of battles and plans being made. How to keep the people safe from the enemy (who lives just across the river).
While reading this I was totally caught up in Maira's saga. The descriptions are very vivid and the unique culture comes through so clearly. The people are very superstitious too. They see omens everywhere. A bird calls and it means something. And they believe in visions and magic too. Maira is especially gifted with this and she has several visions, but they do not always help her decide what to do. There are problems with her brother Eoc and with her mother Druith. Often she doesn't want to face the hard truths about these issues or about herself. Maira definitely grows up and changes during the book. She is very strong and she gains wisdom.
And the story had a huge plot twist. I guess it shows how unsuspecting some people can be. I certainly never saw that coming!
Reading this wants to make me read not only more historical fiction but also more stories about the Druids and the Celts. Oh and Stonehenge is in here too!
There is a map at the beginning of the book which I found very useful plus there is also a list of characters and who each is: also very useful. Although this is not one of those books where I got the characters mixed up...but the list is still very handy to have. More books should use these....more
This is going to be a very hard book to give a star rating to... I have mixed feelings about it. I love the pegasi in it obviously because they are hoThis is going to be a very hard book to give a star rating to... I have mixed feelings about it. I love the pegasi in it obviously because they are horses (with wings) but the overall story is just so dark. It's filled with so much dark and evilness that just overwhelms everything else. And it's not just the bullying (and yes there is a ton of it in here and it is so cruel) - it actually goes beyond bullying into another category! It's darn right disturbing! And yes, there are lives lost in here too. From cruelty.
The end made me teary eyed. And the very end was predictable.
There is simply too much of everyone bashing Star for just simply being born... Just because he was born black and he was an orphan. Many of the adults in the herd want to murder him too but they drag the torture out by saying they have to wait until his next birthday! There is just SO much wrong with that. That is abuse. Planned abuse. And then because his wings are too big and he cannot fly other colts pick on him. No one stops them. The entire book is almost one giant "let's bully Star" fest.
Which is awful.
I had no idea the book would be so dark and depressing! I thought reading is supposed to be an escape? How can reading something like this be an escape? The book does make a statement way at the end about how people (or in this case the pegasi) are broken and need healing - that it is the reason they act that way - but knowing that doesn't really help the reader (especially if the reader is actually being bullied in real life). Reading that will only be a trigger.
This book needs a trigger warning for abuse and bullying. Because its very strong and throughout the entire book. And its full of violence. And blood. And cracked skulls.
I think this story goes way beyond the territory fights you see in a horse herd. ...more
I must say I actually enjoyed this young adult book about a young 12-year-old girl raising two calves for the fair. And while I have been to fairs in I must say I actually enjoyed this young adult book about a young 12-year-old girl raising two calves for the fair. And while I have been to fairs in the past I must admit I don't know anything about animal judging or how such things work - and certainly not with calves. I am way more familiar with horses but even there I only have a very, very basic idea about conformation. So I found the details in here interesting... And this is a coming of age story of sorts where a young girl faces the facts about raising cattle for the dinner plate. You may not like the facts and you can protest but the facts remain the same. And it can be really hard to give up beef and other meats.
Still this is not exactly a happy story. Cows are raised for very different reasons than horses. And young Libby knows that. She has witnessed her older brother raise calves for the fair and then afterwards they are sold. So it is goodbye. Still she names them and gets attached to them. They became pets. Piggy and Mule.
I was a bit concerned that this would make me cry but it didn't. Luckily. So I am thankful that it wasn't one of those horribly teary-eyed stories about animals. You know the kind. I certainly want to avoid those! It's not exactly happy but it's not sad either...? It's somewhere in between... But the book certainly makes the calves seem real and oh so cute. Especially Mule with his amazing blue eyes!
This was easy to read and never dull. The story takes place over a year and features several major holidays including Thanksgiving, Christmas and July Fourth.
Another thing that really makes the small town of Nowhere Indiana come to life is the three annoying Darling sisters. There are always girls like this everywhere. Apparently even in a nowhere town and raising cattle. They care more about their hair and their clothes than raising the calf for the fair. Oh they want to win the fair but without doing the work but they sure can insult you all right! So Libby has to deal with these girls and that is a good chunk of the story. Plus poor Libby has to enter the beauty pageant while she really is a jeans and Tshirt girl who loathes dresses! I sure could understand her there! Give me Jodhpurs, boots and a top and I am ready! Anyway I really disliked those girls and their bad habits.
I don't generally read romance books very often but since this one is horse related (plus I needed a book with a pink cover for a challenge) I thoughtI don't generally read romance books very often but since this one is horse related (plus I needed a book with a pink cover for a challenge) I thought I would read this. First I must say this is not actually a horse story at all but the main male character, Cole Early, is a trainer of race horses. But there are virtually no horses in this story at all (except for one page way near the end). Nor does Cole really talk about any horse stuff during the story. He doesn't use any of the language I would think he would use. And I find that very odd.
In fact I would go as far as saying that Cole doesn't seem like any equestrian that I know. His behavior in here doesn't add up. He has a horse who is going to be in the Kentucky Derby but instead of staying in the barn or stable with his very lucky horse he is hanging out at bars in the city/town to all sorts of late hours? I cannot imagine a decent trainer doing that. You would think a real horse person would he worried that some little thing would go wrong with the horse and then the race would need to be scratched (and yes that does indeed happen). Many trainers sleep right there in the barn. But instead he is out drinking hard liquor? Well what about his horse? Isn't he at all concerned about foundering? Colic? A stone in the frog? The conditions of the track on race day? The fact that it is a new track for this horse? I just don't think his behavior is believable. Not for a horse trainer. How can he do his job if he is out all those hours to the early AM?
I could relate to Lulu in here who is an introvert and likes to keep a low profile. She is an artist who decides to rent her home out and the lucky one to get her house is Cole. But Lulu is uncertain what to think of this wealthy man from California who is a racehorse trainer. She seems to have a poor opinion of horse trainers and people from California as she believes they are wild, out of control people. Because she never does anything slightly risky at all... So many of the things she thought and did I could understand all too well. Her thinking processes. Should she do that? Will she get in trouble? She even has doubts about the rights of entering her own home!
Otherwise the story was very predictable. No real surprises in the plot. It was entertaining but that is about it. ...more
While in the past I have read the author's Dragonriders of Pern series I had been totally unaware of this excellent horse story she had written. This While in the past I have read the author's Dragonriders of Pern series I had been totally unaware of this excellent horse story she had written. This is a coming of age story of a young man living in the days of Camelot. Galwyn had always loved horses but after his father dies he ends up serving under his uncle on a ship; something he is ill suited for. But then he meets Lord Artos who in the future will become famous as King Arthur.
And this is totally unlike any King Arthur story I have ever read before for this is the tale of a farrier and how the horse sandal had been invented. Before they were known as horse shoes they were apparently called horse sandals. And they had been made of different materials to discover what works the best. For Arthur needs big strong horses for his knights to ride but without a good strong hoof you don't have a horse! And unfortunately the land where Arthur lived was more wet than what these Libyan horses were used to. That led to hoof rot. And hard riding as during war times (the Saxons are coming) can lead to more damaged hooves. This is that story as only Anne McCaffrey can write it.
And I absolutely loved this! I read the whole thing in one sitting too. I just loved how Galwyn loved the horses in here: his pony Spadix, Arthur's huge black Cornix and later the African grey Ravus. He is willing to give his life for these horses. And while he has great skill he also is full of self doubt. He has humility and never brags about himself. He is very humble and an honest person.
And before reading this I had never really thought of where Arthur had gotten horses from or that finding ones big enough would be a problem. But they came from the horse fair at Septimania. There is a map at the beginning of the book but it is hard to read in my edition. But the entire story is told from the very beginning: Arthur going on the journey to buy the horses and then transporting them and the training. They were Libyan horses.
If you love horses you definitely need to read this! A grand adventure story that is very horse centered and includes lots of horse information, especially about the hoof and legs. ...more
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