Although I enjoyed this book when I read it as a teenager, I never liked it quite as much as Marguerite Henry's Misty of Chincoteague series (and other horse series that were part of my childhood). And I never did warm up to any of the sequels.Part of the reason The Black Stallion has always been a bit of a miss for me is the fact that some of the scenarios described sound a bit too good to be true, a bit too convenient and at times, almost unbelievable (and I really despise the fact that Alec keeps feeding the Black sugar, as sugar is basically really unhealthy for horses, especially if it is something they are fed regularly and not as a very occasional treat).This time around, and basically upon rereading the story for the first time in decades, I realise that much of my annoyance is and likely always has been with the whole thoroughbred racing scenario. Thoroughbreds are often ridden (and raced) much too young and much too fast (and the number of broken down thoroughbreds that end up in feedlots or being used as chuckwagon fodder is horrible and staggering). My family used to raise warmbloods, Trakehners, to be exact. And we would not even have considered breaking a horse (getting a horse used to a rider, to a saddle and the like) until around age three or so. However, with thoroughbreds, even one year and two year olds are routinely ridden and even raced (and at breakneck speeds at that). Henry recounts how his best horse, Chang, collapsed and died after a race (and while you can tell that Henry is sad at what happened, he also is proud of the fact that Chang's record still stands). And I, for one, have always wondered whether Chang was being overworked, whether he should not have been raced that day, whether the owners of Chang, and even Henry, might have failed to notice a potential medical issue or even refused to notice it (perhaps I am reading too much into this, but these thoughts did come and still do come to mind whenever I read this part of the book). And even the Black's final race, where he beats Cyclone and Sun Raider, tends to leave a bit of a sour taste in my mouth, mostly due to the fact that the Black is injured during the race, and it is an injury that could have proven much worse than it turns out to be (I have actually watched races where horses physically attacked one another, jockeys used their whips on other horses, even competing riders, it is not a pretty sight, and I cannot help but remember these scenarios, these real-life occurrences, when reading about the Black and his races). And I guess it does not help any that the Black's fighting with other horses often seems to be almost feted and cheered by the author; personally, the fights, while they might be exciting to and for some, have always kind of sickened me a bit (because their description is almost like a revelry, a glorification of violence). I still think The Black Stallion is an entertaining, informative and thrilling horse story, and the fact that Walter Farley started writing this (his first novel) when he was a mere teenager is rather awesome (The Black Stallion was published when Walter Farley was twenty-six, but he started writing the book in high school). That being said, this has never been one of my favourite horse stories; the brutality of the races, the Black's at times violent nature, the fact that the Black was often being fed sugar have always lessened my reading pleasure somewhat.
You know, no words can really express how much I absolutely adored this book. The beginning made me laugh until mine eyes watered, the ending made me cry until no more tears would come. This book really is iconic and glorious. It was almost like that black stallion who was written about on each page was galloping about my presence, neighing and whinnying until the cows came home. This horse became my best friend, even more so than any person I have ever known. As I read, I could see his black coat, and I lost myself. I would often sit and pour out the desires of my heart unto that horse, although he was not there physically. I could feel his glorious spirit, and that was enough for me. I had long conversations with him about the purpose of life, and where we might go after this life. It was truly an enlightening experience. This book has taught me that it is ok to take a risk, and it is ok to love again. My very core heart soul strings just pulled and plucked like that of a harp, and the harpist was the horse. Throughout the whole book I really just wanted to KILL Alec. Alec was honestly the most stupid and uneducated character I think I have ever read about. He didn't deserve to be with that horse. It should have been ME who was written about. What the heck was the author thinking? Its just not right. Anyway, I am going off on a tangent now, when really I should be focusing on the marvelous black stallion. With every flip of the page, my heart melted more and more, revealing nothing more than a pure diamond out on the table. While I read this book, I was not even so inclined to go to Disneyland, for I could not put it down. It was just a very enlightening, wonderful experience that I will cherish for time and all eternity. Each page seemed to contain a different emotion: jealousy, pride, love, hope, friendliness, enlighteningness, joyfulness, funness, musicalness, kierstiness, magincallness. Really, if you want my honest, straight out opinion, this book should be read by everyone who has a heart. Everyone who wants to feel whole again, or thinks they are missing something, because I gaurentee you, this book is the sure fire key to your happiness. I was an empty shell of a person before reading this book. A shell of hardened mud that could not be broken by the outside world. But you know what, I read this book, and the horse who has warmed my heart so much lead me out of that shell, and brought me back to who I once was, which is a beautiful person. So don't judge me! But anyways, back to the point. The Black Stallion is a work of pure and uncut artistry. Another good horse related thing is the movie Spirit: Stallion of the Cimmaron. I bet you that in heaven they were best friends. I am sure I was there best friend too, and I was a horse. My horse was white with a hot pink heart on the eye, with big blue deep eyes that simply no one could resist. Well, finally, in conlusion, I would exhort you that you should read this great and marvelous work, and see if these things are true.Yours forever and always,Callie
Do You like book The Black Stallion (2015)?
It's an okay book, three stars by itself. Four stars, possibly five, if I were to let my undying love of the 1979 movie (starring Kelly Reno) influence my opinion. It's hard not to. I feel a general nostalgia for all the books I read in my horse-crazy childhood, and I desperately wanted a Black of my very own! It's interesting to note that Alec never experiences any issues with authority figures. The two boat captains, the two reporters, the policeman, his father - they're all kind, patient and understanding. They all seem to have Alec's and the Black's best interests at heart, no angles. Even the quarantine inspector lets them go with only a cursory inspection, stating that Alec had already been through enough, they wouldn't want to add to his trouble. And that's after the Black kicked the second inspector! There's one exception to this: the man who loads the Black on the ship (by whipping him) and later tries to rip off Alec's life jacket. He ends up killed in the storm.I wonder if this book started life as a piece of wish fulfillment fan fiction. The match race is almost identical to the actual 1938 match race between west coast champion Seabiscuit and east cost champion War Admiral. This book was published in 1941 while Farley was still an undergrad. The climactic match race features the Black versus west coast champion Sun Raider and east coast champion Cyclone, and of course the Black is the fastest one on the track. The similarities are hard to ignore! Ultimately, the movie tells the story better by adding some tension and emotional depth I found lacking in the book. (And the horse is absolutely gorgeous, so there's that!)
—Nancy
I was a horse nut as a child. I'm not sure that that phase has ever really gone away, but anyway. The Black Stallion was one of my favorite horse incarnations. I devoured every book in this series over and over again. I loved the headiness of it, the feel of the wind around my face just opening the book. Its searingly memorable all this years later, and I haven't opened a page of it in a decade. Perhaps this is where my love affair with the misunderstood Saetan character in literature began. Oh Walter Farley, you are so subversive!
—Kelly
The Black Stallion was one of my favourite childhood reads. I first read it a horse-loving 8 year old, re-read it until my Scholastic copy became dog-eared and visited with The Black & Alec again as a 40 something child at heart. I believe this is the premise that makes The Black Stallion a classic, a book remembered fondly from childhood days, pieces of the story remaining with you over the years, then upon re-visiting as an adult, the wonder of this fantastic tale comes flooding back. The story begins with young Alec Ramsay and the wild black stallion as the only survivors of a shipwreck. It explores the developing bond and the mutual love between boy and horse developed over weeks on a deserted island, through rescue and return to Alec's family in New York. Neighbour & former racehorse trainer Henry Daily recognizes the Black's phenomenal potential for speed, thus man and boy team up to train the spirited horse & show his talent to the world.Walter Farley brings readers a wonderful adventure with oodles of emotion. The match race between Sun Raider, Cyclone, and the Black in the final chapter had my heart racing. A must read story of timeless magic for children & any young horse-lover.
—Sheree
