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107th out of 194 books
—
6 voters
The Black Stallion (The Black Stallion #1)
First published in 1941, Walter Farley's best-selling novel for young readers is the triumphant tale of a boy and a wild horse. From Alec Ramsay and the Black's first meeting on an ill-fated ship to their adventures on a desert island and their eventual rescue, this beloved story will hold the rapt attention of readers new and old.
Paperback, 187 pages
Published
November 12th 1977
by Random House Books for Young Readers
(first published 1941)
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I've been an avid horse fanatic since before I can remember. Unfortunately, when you're a kid growing up in the city, there's nothing a horse fanatic can do about it until they grow up and can afford (or work for) lessons of their own.
When I was a teenager, my parents movied to Long Island, and I finally had the opportunity to work summers at a barn in exhange for riding lessons.
Today I teach riding to little kids, and spend as much time in a barn as a can.
In those years before my horse crazy...more
When I was a teenager, my parents movied to Long Island, and I finally had the opportunity to work summers at a barn in exhange for riding lessons.
Today I teach riding to little kids, and spend as much time in a barn as a can.
In those years before my horse crazy...more
This is a book I think I would have liked the most out of all the horse books I've read. Alec Ramsay, our leading main character who falls in a deep love for this horse.
The horse saves his life from a storm and he and his horse are stuck on this island. After being rescued, Alec strives to help this horse being a great racer, having him going against the two fastest horses, Sun raider and Cyclone. As the race begins, anger begins in the heart of Sun Raider the horse of a man named Mr. Volence....more
The horse saves his life from a storm and he and his horse are stuck on this island. After being rescued, Alec strives to help this horse being a great racer, having him going against the two fastest horses, Sun raider and Cyclone. As the race begins, anger begins in the heart of Sun Raider the horse of a man named Mr. Volence....more
The Black Stallion was an amazing book. It taught me about desire and companionship. The main character Alec Ramsay meets The Black Stallion after getting stranded on an island because the ship that he was on drowned. The Black Stallion was also on the ship at the time. They were the only two survivors of the ship. Once they were stuck on the island it seemed like there was no way on escaping. Him and the stallion were on the island for a long period of time. One day they finally got rescued by...more
Alec has been staying with his uncle for 2 months but now it is time to go back home. While on the boat that would take him home the ship picks up a temperamental horse with a temperamental owner, and when sailing across the open seas tragedy strikes and the the ship sinks. Alec washes up on a small deserted island but he is not alone the angry black horse has come with him. How will these two fare together? Will the black stallion learn to trust Alec? And will they ever get home?
This book’s...more
This book’s...more
Dec 17, 2012
Nicole
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
All horse lovers, people who enjoy adventure and thrill, and who love dreams coming true.
Recommended to Nicole by:
Library
Shelves:
middle-grade,
horses
How do you ever talk through a review about a book you love? This was my first time re-reading this book since the first time I came upon the book series some ten years ago. I was overwhelmed with sentiment just seeing its title in the library, and it was the first book I picked out of a pile of seventeen I eventually brought home that day, but I held it close to my chest and cradled it--because just holding it felt like I was holding one of my dreams in my arms again.
I always grew up dreaming a...more
2 likes · like · see review
Title: the black stallion
Author: Walter Farley
Categories: horse lovers, adventure, thriller
Alex was a young boy about at the age of 13 or so. He was on a cargo ship going back to the states. When they stop at a Arabian seaport to pick up a wild horse that is uncontrollable. 4 days have passed since the horse came on board and a storm rips through the ship and snaps it in half, and with half of the crew and captain died and the other half in boats going the other defection. Alex is trying to stay...more
Author: Walter Farley
Categories: horse lovers, adventure, thriller
Alex was a young boy about at the age of 13 or so. He was on a cargo ship going back to the states. When they stop at a Arabian seaport to pick up a wild horse that is uncontrollable. 4 days have passed since the horse came on board and a storm rips through the ship and snaps it in half, and with half of the crew and captain died and the other half in boats going the other defection. Alex is trying to stay...more
This book is about a boy named Alec and a wild stallion. In the begining Alec gets on a boat and also a strange black stallion comes onboard that he takes intrest in. Then the boat crashes and Alec holds on to the stallion and he swims them to an island. on the island the stallion seems to try to help Alec and even saves his life. While they are on the island Alec tries to ride the Black but he cannot get him to stay still.When Alec learns a trick he acully got to ride him for a little bit. Then...more
Jul 06, 2012
Anna
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
young readers who love horses
Recommended to Anna by:
my 4th grade teacher
I thought this book was really great to start reading in the summer time. I really enjoyed the characters in this book full of action, horses, and adventure in this book. This book is pase on a horse and a young boy named Alec Ramsey finds out the hard way and take it easy. After the wreck of the ocean liner the Drake, Alec must find food for himself and the stallion which he calls the Black. Days pass and with no sign of any rescue ship, Alec begins to loose hope. Suddenly, Alec sees two men ro...more
As most everyone knows, The Black Stallion is a story about a singular bond between a boy and a wild horse who is almost an embodiment of nature's primal forces.
This is the second time I've read it and I enjoyed both times, but this last reading (now that I am an adult) left me longing for something a bit more realistic and deep. It focuses almost exclusively on the boy's (Alec) immediate thoughts and never really fleshes out the world's scenery around Alec beyond the minimum necessities of the...more
This is the second time I've read it and I enjoyed both times, but this last reading (now that I am an adult) left me longing for something a bit more realistic and deep. It focuses almost exclusively on the boy's (Alec) immediate thoughts and never really fleshes out the world's scenery around Alec beyond the minimum necessities of the...more
Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young. Just don't let it happen. Sometimes it's hard to prevent when others tell you that you can't do something. Especially if the people telling you this are older or in a position of authority. They might tell you that you are too small. They might tell you that you are not old enough. They might even tell you that you don't have the talent it takes to accomplish what you are trying to do.
That is exactly what everyone told Alec Ramsey in The...more
That is exactly what everyone told Alec Ramsey in The...more
2 likes · like · see review
Mar 13, 2010
Callie
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
anybody with a heart
Recommended to Callie by:
kierstin baak
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 co...more
4 likes · like · see review
The Black Stallion begins with a boy traveling home from India. He visited his uncle for two months during his summer vacations. When he boards the ship to take him to England a terrifying and wild horse is brought on deck. The men whip this animal and trick it to get on the boat. However, this ship is not equipped to carry animals so they have to make a makeshift stall. The boy, whose name is Alec, gradually befriends this wild stallion. The ship is wrecked during a terrible storm and Alec ties...more
This book is clearly a product of its time, and not just because of the corny slang. The second page awkwardly gives us a dose of muscular Christianity ideology: "Never again would he think of a missionary's work as sissy work. No, sir, you had to be big and strong..." The two female characters are completely boring. The Irish- and Italian-American characters are completely stereotyped. Egyptians are referred to as "natives" or as "the dark-skinned man"--I deduce that this person merited descrip...more
One of the most exalted fiction horse stories and the amazing action thriller,"The Black Stallion" brings so much movement and surprise to your eyes. The relationship between horses and humans has stayed for thousands of years. These wonderful creatures, all sui generis in their own way, are why we were able to survive and have the welfare we do today.
This book, written in 1941, has received many awards, including the Reader's Choice Award in 1944. Written by Walter Farley, a true horse-lover,...more
This book, written in 1941, has received many awards, including the Reader's Choice Award in 1944. Written by Walter Farley, a true horse-lover,...more
Oct 27, 2012
Susan Riegger
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
children-s-literature
"The Black Stallion" which was written in 1941 and won the Caldecott award in 1946 was one of my favorites as a young child. The book was written for the intermediate to adult reader as there are many concepts that younger readers could not identify or understand. My copy of the book contains no illustrations with exception of the from cover and that is in black and white. The story is very descriptive and lets your imagination see the settings and events very vividly. The characters are written...more
The Black Stallion by Walter Farley, tied with Treasure Island, was my favorite book as a kid. I remember having it recommended to me when I was about nine and absolutely devouring it in the space of a day. Then I turned around and read it again, before proceeding on to a number of the sequels. As fate would have it, Francis Ford Coppolla's critically-acclaimed film version came out at that very time, and it is one of the few films that is an equal to it's written counterpart.
In hindsight, the p...more
In hindsight, the p...more
For the typical horse lover (like myself), this is a wonderful book. I like for the thrill that horses bring. Walter Farley did an outstanding job in his book, The Black Stallion, by really bringing The Black to life. I felt almost as if The Black was standing right in front of me. One time I thought "OH! I should probably go check on The Black and maybe ride him around the pasture a bit." Sadly I realized that I couldn't actually bring the majestic creature out of the clean crisp black and whit...more
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...more
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...more
My heart has never gone pitter-patter for horses. No, I’ve never gotten swept up in that crazy love that so many young kids suffer from, horse fever.
Something tells me that most of the people who pick up The Black Stallion do have horse fever. That’s okay, but it is something that must be considered when taking a look at all the rave reviews this book has received over the years.
What is the opinion of a regular, horse-neutral person?
I liked it. It was okay. Improbable, I think. (Would the owner...more
Something tells me that most of the people who pick up The Black Stallion do have horse fever. That’s okay, but it is something that must be considered when taking a look at all the rave reviews this book has received over the years.
What is the opinion of a regular, horse-neutral person?
I liked it. It was okay. Improbable, I think. (Would the owner...more
Each summer, I enjoy reading classic books to the girls. We’ve done “Freckles,” “Girl of the Limberlost,” “Bears of Blue River,” and “Huckleberry Finn” that I can remember offhand. This summer, we’re starting with “The Black Stallion.”
Why? I wish I could give a grand reason, but basically it’s because I found it on the shelf and I’d never read it. It’s not the genre I’d normally choose – boy vs. nature – but we’re enjoying it. A boy and a stallion are shipwrecked on an island, and the adventure...more
Why? I wish I could give a grand reason, but basically it’s because I found it on the shelf and I’d never read it. It’s not the genre I’d normally choose – boy vs. nature – but we’re enjoying it. A boy and a stallion are shipwrecked on an island, and the adventure...more
This is about a young boy named Alec. Alec is traveling back to the United States on a boat. On the way back the boat stops at a small Arabian port. At the port there is a small crowd of people holding down a great black horse. The horse is untrained and untamed. As the people struggle to load the horse on the boat, Alec becomes entranced by the stallion's strength. Alec is drawn to the horse. He wants more than anything to own the stallion but its not that simple. The horse was already owned by...more
One of the most exalted fiction horse stories and the amazing action thriller,"The Black Stallion" brings so much movement and surprise to your eyes. The relationship between horses and humans has stayed for thousands of years. These wonderful creatures, all sui generis in their own way, are why we were able to survive and have the welfare we do today. The average horse-loving child who reads the book will be oblivious to these concerns of mine, but will probably notice that the ending is somewh...more
Black Stallion written by Walter Farley is an extraordinary book with many wonderful scenes. Black Stallion is a book about a horse which Alec Ramsey a teenager, trains and turns the Black Stallion into an amazing racing horse, with some help from a former racer named Henry.
My first scene that I loved was when the Black Stallion was pulling Alec through the water. This for me was really exhilarating and exciting because of how the author described Alec almost being dead, which gave the story a m...more
My first scene that I loved was when the Black Stallion was pulling Alec through the water. This for me was really exhilarating and exciting because of how the author described Alec almost being dead, which gave the story a m...more
The black stallion is a horse like no other. With intense, savage eyes, strong legs, and a wild disposition, he is able to do anything he sets his mind to. Walter Farley (the author) has reallly created the wildest thing on four legs, as he skillfully describes the stallion. I love the friendship Farley has created between the horse and a New York boy, and I think it really changes the whole story. This book makes you appreciate the fierce love a horse can dedicate to a human and the unbroken sp...more
Re: _The Black Stallion_
Below are my comments about this story, as posted at my group. (I watched the film which was adapted from the book. I have not read the book yet.)
Today I streamed the following film from Netflix:
"The Black Stallion" (1979) (adapted from The Black Stallion by Walter Farley):
http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/The...
Netflix says: "...this exquisitely filmed animal-lovers' treat follows a boy named Alec from shipwreck to winner's circle with the stunning horse that befriends h...more
Below are my comments about this story, as posted at my group. (I watched the film which was adapted from the book. I have not read the book yet.)
Today I streamed the following film from Netflix:
"The Black Stallion" (1979) (adapted from The Black Stallion by Walter Farley):
http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/The...
Netflix says: "...this exquisitely filmed animal-lovers' treat follows a boy named Alec from shipwreck to winner's circle with the stunning horse that befriends h...more
Nov 07, 2012
Lexie
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
anyone, but especially horse lovers
I have always loved The Black stallion by Walter Farley. It's a great book for all ages, and I've read it time and time again. I gave it a full five-star rating.
SUMMARY When Alec Ramsay is shipwrecked with a wild stallion, The Black, his life changes forever...
COVER I think that the horse on the cover is a great representation of The Black. Alec, maybe, could use some work, but the Black is the main focus of it, and I think it's pretty cool.
PLOT The Black stallion isn't a classic fight between g...more
SUMMARY When Alec Ramsay is shipwrecked with a wild stallion, The Black, his life changes forever...
COVER I think that the horse on the cover is a great representation of The Black. Alec, maybe, could use some work, but the Black is the main focus of it, and I think it's pretty cool.
PLOT The Black stallion isn't a classic fight between g...more
(SPOILER!!!!!) Being caught in a thunderstorm and being in a ship wreck was not what Alek expected, and neither was a black stallion saving his life. Stranded on an Island, Alek and the stallion fight for their lives, eating seaweed and fish, Alek and his strong friend were not going to survive. The life of Alek was still in him, even though he had not much to eat, deciding to ride the stallion, he gets seriously injured, but utterly shocked. Not understanding how any creature could be so stron...more
I loved and collected this series when I was young. I didn't realize he'd written so many more than I was aware of at the time, but I don't think I'll go back and pick up where I left off. I must have loved them enough to want to own them then (hence the four stars), but I didn't keep them over the years (so maybe I should go down to three stars?). Maybe I'll keep the four stars on the first one, and give three to the rest. The other children's books I loved then, I still love (and own many of t...more
I read this as young girl and I really loved them. Walter Farley took you into the story as it unfolds as Alec finds the a gift of friendship in big beautiful horse. As they become the best of friends and Alec are taken back to Alec world where he tries to keep the Black hidden from the world. But will he be able to the Black hidden from the world as the fastest horse around?
I had the whole series and I still do except with age they are falling apart. I am going to get them for my granddaughter...more
I had the whole series and I still do except with age they are falling apart. I am going to get them for my granddaughter...more
Feb 22, 2012
Sal Niner
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
the-black-stallion
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What's The Name o...: Can't remember the series, It's about Arabian Horses. [s] | 4 | 103 | Jul 19, 2012 11:31am |
Walter Farley's love for horses began when he was a small boy living in Syracuse, New York, and continued as he grew up in New York City, where his family moved. Young Walter never owned a horse. But unlike most city children, he had little trouble gaining firsthand experience with horses-his uncle was a professional horseman, and Walter spent much of his time at the stables with him.
"He wasn't th...more
More about Walter Farley...
"He wasn't th...more
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“I believe that half the trouble in the world comes from people asking 'What have I achieved?' rather than 'What have I enjoyed?' I've been writing about a subject I love as long as I can remember--horses and the people associated with them, anyplace, anywhere, anytime. I couldn't be happier knowing that young people are reading my books. But even more important to me is that I've enjoyed so much the writing of them.”
—
14 people liked it
“You've never in your life seen a horse run so fast! He's all power-all beauty.”
—
6 people liked it
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Mar 25, 2012 06:57am