Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
19th out of 56 books
—
27 voters
Gay Neck: The Story of a Pigeon
The story of the training of a carrier pigeon and its service during the First World War, revealing the bird's courageous and spirited adventures over the housetops of an Indian village, in the Himalayan Mountains, and on the French battlefield.
Hardcover, 192 pages
Published
July 15th 1968
by E.P. Dutton
(first published 1927)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
1,355)
I am not a fan of birds. I believe without a doubt that if they (en masse) decided to turn on us (Hitchcock style) they would win. Pigeons in particular are not a favorite. Everyone has at least one irrational fear and this is mine – don’t judge me! And so this was the situation as I approached this next installment in my Newbery challenge. After some dismal reads I was dreading this one quite a bit – a story about a carrier pigeon…really? So, I’m actually delighted to say that this actually rei...more
In this Newbery winner, an Indian boy raises carrier pigeons in the early 1900s. Gay-Neck, named for his colorful neck plumage, is the finest, able to outfly eagles and hawks. When WWI breaks out, Gay-Neck is used as a messenger pigeon under the boy’s friend, Ghond the hunter. The bird must dodge the screaming mechanical eagles (planes) and barking dogs (machine guns) that try to destroy him. Both are wounded, and both develop a form of traumatic disorder. They travel to the lamaseries in the Hi...more
The Newbery committee has spent the last three years choosing books and stories written about or from other countries. This one is from India and I liked it. Mr. Mukerji grew up in India and this story is based, in part, from his experiences as a child in Calcutta. He writes with such flavor, I could hear the narrative in my head with an Indian accent.
Raising homing pigeons seems to have been a common thing back then, and the story tells of boys in the neighborhood having as many as 40 at a time...more
Raising homing pigeons seems to have been a common thing back then, and the story tells of boys in the neighborhood having as many as 40 at a time...more
Okay - bird is born, trained, escapes a few times... this was ground breaking literature?
While the writing style wasn't as hard to read as some of the other early Newbery books, I still didn't find it appealing.
There were times when the bird "told his own story". Now, I'm a huge fan of many of the animal character books out there. I loved Rats of NIMH, and I enjoyed Familiars. This? Not so much. I'm not sure why, but there just wasn't much of a voice to the pigeon.
There were scenes from World...more
While the writing style wasn't as hard to read as some of the other early Newbery books, I still didn't find it appealing.
There were times when the bird "told his own story". Now, I'm a huge fan of many of the animal character books out there. I loved Rats of NIMH, and I enjoyed Familiars. This? Not so much. I'm not sure why, but there just wasn't much of a voice to the pigeon.
There were scenes from World...more
What a bizarre choice! The reader knows almost nothing about the human narrator and very little about the setting; it really is "the story of a pigeon", but not even an anthropomorphic pigeon, for the most part. It's sort of mesmerizing, and is full of Buddhist wisdom. The story picks up about halfway through, and the episode where the pigeon has post-traumatic-stress disorder is interesting. The illustrations are beautiful.
4 likes · like · see review
Wonderful book! I highly recommend this book to all intermediate readers and beyond. Actually, it is a great book for parents to read to younger children as well. Despite the seemingly odd title the story is about a pigeon with beautiful colors on its neck and a daring and courageous heart. It is written by an Indian author and is set in India and in WWI France. It is a quick read with adorable characters and entertaining story-telling techniques.
The writing is gorgeous and very vivid. I was so...more
The writing is gorgeous and very vivid. I was so...more
The whole time I was reading this book I thought of my niece Amelia saying "The bird nerds would LOVE this!", which is true! maybe not love, but if I didn't like birds the way I do I may not have enjoyed this book as much. I have to say though, of the Newberys about animals and Buddhist philosophy...I'm thinking of The Cat Who Went to Heaven here, this was MUCH better, maybe because this book actually had a plot. The author includes a lot of information about birds and their behavior in a way th...more
This novel, written in 1928 for children, by a man born in Calcutta, is intense, to say the least. Gay-Neck is a carrier pigeon whose "odyssey" unfolds over several years, as he learns to fly, trains for war, mates, falls into a great funk, and finally comes into The Wisdom of the Lama. Pretty deep stuff, but simply and sweetly told. The illustrations/prints are superb.
This has been a lovely book to read. I think the story has held up well and is still relevant today, 77 years after it was written. I loved the wonderful black and white illustrations which look like they might have originally been from wood block carvings.
I also especially liked it when Gay-Neck himself talked in the story, I wasn't expecting it and I thought several things he said were interesting and fun, for example:
Speaking of geese, he said, "Compared with them, we pigeons seem paragons o...more
I also especially liked it when Gay-Neck himself talked in the story, I wasn't expecting it and I thought several things he said were interesting and fun, for example:
Speaking of geese, he said, "Compared with them, we pigeons seem paragons o...more
I picked up this book because during our first Newbery Club meeting at the library, I had a couple kids ask if I had read it. I had not so I decided I should. It was better than I expected. I don't usually like animal books all that much (especially if they get hurt - not a spoiler, it's on the back). However, this was a pleasant surprise. We follow the life of Gay-Neck the pigeon from birth through his service in the war. The narrator is a child, living in India, but we never learn his name. Ga...more
This 1928 Newbery winner is, as the title suggests, about a pigeon. His name comes from "Chitra-griva: Chitra meaning 'painted in gay colours' and Griva, 'Neck'--in one phrase, pigeon Gay-Neck." Set in India and told from the point of view of the young man who is Gay-Neck's owner, the real strength of this book comes from the chapters that take place near the Himalayas and the vivid descriptions of the wildlife and creatures that live in that area. Children particularly interested in birds or In...more
This is not a book I would've chosen to read had it not won the Newbery, but I'm glad I did. I learned a lot about carrier pigeons, and other animals of the Indian jungle. I especially enjoyed the explanation given as to why male pheasants are more colorful than the females. I also enjoyed the wisdom of the Lamas. For example:
"If you pray for other people every morning you can enable them to begin their day with thoughts of purity, courage and love." page 51
"Here let it be inscribed in no equiv...more
"If you pray for other people every morning you can enable them to begin their day with thoughts of purity, courage and love." page 51
"Here let it be inscribed in no equiv...more
This book wasn't what I expected-which was a book about the training of carrier pigeons and how this one was involved in the war, but it was good. I enjoyed the insights into Hindu philosophy and the overall message.
2.5 I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. There are bold black and white drawings and interesting insights into animal behavior better than Doctor Dolittle's and some lines worth quoting:
"It is a pity that we have to win our pigeons' confidence by feeding their stomachs, but alas! I have noticed that there are many men and women who resemble pigeons in this respect!"
"Such is the price of leadership--the other name of self-sacrifice."
"Can those who see buffalo in captivity ever conceive ho...more
"It is a pity that we have to win our pigeons' confidence by feeding their stomachs, but alas! I have noticed that there are many men and women who resemble pigeons in this respect!"
"Such is the price of leadership--the other name of self-sacrifice."
"Can those who see buffalo in captivity ever conceive ho...more
A couple of the other Newbery project members and I have -- while attempting to finish Gay-Neck -- discussed the need for a new edition with an updated title. Proposed titles include:
Iridescence-Throated: The story of the pigeon who ran away a lot
Which Colorful Bird?: A story about everything BUT the pigeon
Pigeon Rocks India!: The story of a rich boy, his famous bird, and some random hunter who keeps showing up
Of course, a new edition will never be published because this is one of the most fanta...more
Iridescence-Throated: The story of the pigeon who ran away a lot
Which Colorful Bird?: A story about everything BUT the pigeon
Pigeon Rocks India!: The story of a rich boy, his famous bird, and some random hunter who keeps showing up
Of course, a new edition will never be published because this is one of the most fanta...more
While this 1927 Newbery Medal winner is not one of my favorites, it is worth the time spent reading the poetic, beautiful allegorical, lyrical language of the author.
The setting is 1914 with war looming ever present. It is the story of a carrier pigeon named Gay Neck and his owner, a young 14 year old Indian boy.
As Gay Neck's owner trains him to be a carrier pigeon, they travel many miles throughout Indian jungle wherein both lives are in danger. Weaving between the voice of the owner and then t...more
The setting is 1914 with war looming ever present. It is the story of a carrier pigeon named Gay Neck and his owner, a young 14 year old Indian boy.
As Gay Neck's owner trains him to be a carrier pigeon, they travel many miles throughout Indian jungle wherein both lives are in danger. Weaving between the voice of the owner and then t...more
Particularly for an author not born in America, the majestic language sewn into the inert fabric of this narrative is nothing short of breathtaking. I have seen no author born in America better capable of using the English language in such a profoundly affecting way. I can clearly see why this intriguingly creative and heart-stirring novel would be the choice for the 1928 Newbery Medal. I only hope that more people today continue to read it, as it would be a loss for the coming generations of r...more
I liked it - and I would have loved it, as a 'tween avid reader in the late 60s. I loved learning about other cultures - and the culture here is not just the Buddhist & Indian, but also that of carrier pigeons. And I would have just loved the nifty big words. But yes, the Buddhist philosophy would have made a big impact on me.
Yes it's akin to Kipling's Just So Stories but also to Felix Salten's stories, like Bambi and Perri. (Salten was another author disturbed by war, a Jew, whose books wer...more
Yes it's akin to Kipling's Just So Stories but also to Felix Salten's stories, like Bambi and Perri. (Salten was another author disturbed by war, a Jew, whose books wer...more
I like the last chapter the best. At several points the author provides us with incredible prose, such as, "Here the indigo-blue hollow of the sky remained untainted by clouds and untroubled by any movement save the sighing flight of cranes going northwards..." This book covers many topics including war (WW1) and Peace. Complete with a few bits of information about Buddha. The Pigeon, Gay Neck is personified several times in the story, which is entertaining and disarming (who ever knew a pigeon...more
Originally reviewed on my book blog, Books from Bleh to Basically Amazing
Although I do really enjoy reading book lists, and various award winners, you can't always trust the committees who pick the books. Sometimes, you get a 'bad' on in the bunch. Gay-Neck, the Story of a Pigeon is one such book.
While not a horrid book, Gay-Neck is also not a book I would recommend or reread. I picked it up because it is on the Newbery list, and it is one of only two books thus far that I truly disliked. (The...more
Although I do really enjoy reading book lists, and various award winners, you can't always trust the committees who pick the books. Sometimes, you get a 'bad' on in the bunch. Gay-Neck, the Story of a Pigeon is one such book.
While not a horrid book, Gay-Neck is also not a book I would recommend or reread. I picked it up because it is on the Newbery list, and it is one of only two books thus far that I truly disliked. (The...more
I think this may be one of the hardest books I've ever had to rate.
In the 1920s the John Newbery award was established to help encourage excellence in children's literature - a newly developing genre. From what I can tell this isn't too much later after the time (according to the James Garfield book I'm reading) families would sit down and the father would read Othello to his children at night.
So do I rate this book as it would have been ranked in the 1920s? Because its biggest barrier, the fo...more
In the 1920s the John Newbery award was established to help encourage excellence in children's literature - a newly developing genre. From what I can tell this isn't too much later after the time (according to the James Garfield book I'm reading) families would sit down and the father would read Othello to his children at night.
So do I rate this book as it would have been ranked in the 1920s? Because its biggest barrier, the fo...more
I only read this book because I'm determined to finish my 20-year-old goal to read all the Newbery Award winners. Like most early Newbery selections, the setting of this book is decidedly more exotic than mainstream 1920s America. This is a tale of a little Indian boy raising a carrier pigeon circa wwI. It has some compelling elements, most notably the author's clear love of Indian jungle life and the Himalayas. Unfortunately, my juvenile mind could never get past the fact that a bird named "Gay...more
I seemed to enjoy this book a lot more than the average person on Goodreads! I thought the writing was almost poetic in its descriptions of things. I was fascinated by Mukerji's descriptions of Indian life and culture and more exposure to the Hindi faith. I learned a lot about birds and training of pigeons that was very interesting to me. I also had no idea of the role that pigeon's played as messengers during WWI. More than anything, I appreciated the wisdom the writer shares about how we shoul...more
This was an unexpected book about a pigeon in India. The insights from the birds perspectives were very insightful. I never thought about the dangers birds face each day or how they are trained and what it was like to be a carrier pigeon in a war. It was a fascinating read and I think some of the other books by this author would be worth my time in the future.
It was refreshing to read this, somehow. The narrative voices are clear and interesting, reflecting a different country, a different religion, and a different time—and sometimes a pigeon, of course—and doing it very well. There's drama and sweetness, but neither too much; it's balanced, but lovely in its context.
There's nothing about this book that says it's for kids. I can't imagine any kid reading this book. It's sad to think that so many of the newbery winners of the 1920s were considered great children's literature. Surely there were better books written back then for kids to enjoy.
This 1928 Newbery-winner tells of a beautiful pigeon, raied by an Indian boy, who becomes a heroic message-carrier during WWI. The story is a little disjointed and makes odd shifts in narration but offers lovely descriptive passages of the natural world and powerful accounts of battle.
This book was moderately interesting. It is the story of a boy in India who raises pigeons. Gay-neck, so named because of the brightly colored feathers on his neck – is his favorite. Gay-neck is used as a carrier pigeon in WWI. He becomes traumatized and must overcome his fear of flying.
This story seems like it would be difficult for children to read. I admit I feel slightly more kindly towards birds (I'm not a bird lover), but it wasn't my favorite. The voice is definitely from a different culture, and it was interesting to learn more about Indian culture.
One of the Newberry winners. The winner in 1928. I can't see the young children of today reading this book. The concept and narration seems a bit patronizing. The words used then are now considered "big" today that our yong ones wouldn't understand (or is it couldn't?).
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newbery Books: April 2013 Read - Gay Neck: Story of a Pigeon | 2 | 10 | May 01, 2013 10:19am | |
| Children's Books: January 2010 - Gay Neck: The Story of a Pigeon (1928 Medal Winner) | 24 | 107 | May 22, 2012 04:11pm | |
| Help me! | 1 | 11 | Apr 30, 2009 07:10pm |
Dhan Gopal Mukerji was an author of children's books. Born in a small village in India on July 6, 1890, he was passionate about bringing understanding of the Indian people and culture to American readers through his own unique brand of expressive and poetic language.
In 1936, the driven yet unhappy Dhan Gopal Mukerji took his own life, in New York City. He was forty-six years of age.
Dhan Gopal M...more
More about Dhan Gopal Mukerji...
In 1936, the driven yet unhappy Dhan Gopal Mukerji took his own life, in New York City. He was forty-six years of age.
Dhan Gopal M...more
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
“No beast of prey can kill its victim without frightening him first. In fact, no animal perishes until its destroyer strikes terror into its heart. To put it succinctly, an animals fear kills it before its enemy gives it the final blow.”
—
1 person liked it
“Whatever we think and feel will colour what we say or do. He who fears, even unconsciously, or has his least little dream tainted with hate, will inevitably, sooner or later, translate these two qualites into action. Therefore, my brothers, live courage, breathe courage and give courage. Think and feel love so that you will be able to pour out of yourselves peace and serenity as naturally as a flower gives forth fragrance. Peace be unto all!!!”
—
1 person liked it
More quotes…
Jun 26, 2010 12:58pm
Jun 29, 2010 08:28am