A powerful tale of war, redemption, and a hero's journey.In 1914, Joey, a beautiful bay-red foal with a distinctive cross on his nose, is sold to t...
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Jan 11, 2012
Dem
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Small Books can often leave big impressions and this is the case with War Horse by Michael Morpurgo.
Michael Murpurgo writes wonderful children's novels and I had loved some of his books very much and War Horse is one of those books that leaves a lasting impression.
This is not a novel with a complicated plot or twists and turns but a beautiful story simply told and I find sometimes these can be the best.
Warhorse is a moving story about a horse called Joey and More...
Michael Murpurgo writes wonderful children's novels and I had loved some of his books very much and War Horse is one of those books that leaves a lasting impression.
This is not a novel with a complicated plot or twists and turns but a beautiful story simply told and I find sometimes these can be the best.
Warhorse is a moving story about a horse called Joey and More...
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Sep 01, 2011
Karen & Gerard
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This is a double wow book for me! Joey, the war horse, tells about his adventures during World War 1 and the special bond he has with a young boy named Albert. At only 160 pages or so, it goes very fast. I loved it! I look forward to seeing the movie which is coming out on Christmas.
(Gerard's review)
War Horse is a touching book that kept my interest all through. Although it is a children's book, I enjoyed it but must admit I got teary-eyed reading it. Parts were very sad b More...
(Gerard's review)
War Horse is a touching book that kept my interest all through. Although it is a children's book, I enjoyed it but must admit I got teary-eyed reading it. Parts were very sad b More...
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Feb 04, 2012
♣Ðᾰƞƞᾰ♥
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Finished this book within hours, since it was quite light (children's fiction). Although it was set during the Great War of 1914-1917 - and from a very unique prespective: Joey, a magnificent horse. He (I think I could never address horses as 'it' ever again) passes from hand to hand, his beauty is covered with blood and mud, he gets attached to the black stallion and to the people who love him, and goodbye is harder than he thought. He experience the soldier's pain and deep hopeless fear and se
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Nov 19, 2011
Mary
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From the farms of England as a working horse, to the battlefields of Germany during WWI, Joey, a Thoroughbred horse, talks in his own voice about his life as a war horse.
Horses were invaluable during the war effort. Without horses there was no way to carry guns, ammunition or water for the troops. They were used for cavalry and ambulances to carry the wounded. A war horse surviving this life was rare. But not every War Horse was lucky enough to have an owner like Albert.
Alber More...
Horses were invaluable during the war effort. Without horses there was no way to carry guns, ammunition or water for the troops. They were used for cavalry and ambulances to carry the wounded. A war horse surviving this life was rare. But not every War Horse was lucky enough to have an owner like Albert.
Alber More...
Feb 22, 2012
Colin
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How to rate this book?
I had no knowledge of this story previous to the movie's release. Even when the movie was in theatres I had no knowledge that it had originally been a book. Eventually I was lent a copy of this book. I really had no interest in reading it, but it is a quick read, so I decieded I would give it a shot.
Basically, what I'm trying to say, is that I had no knowledge of what War Horse was all about when I sat down to read it. I knew it was the story of a horse More...
I had no knowledge of this story previous to the movie's release. Even when the movie was in theatres I had no knowledge that it had originally been a book. Eventually I was lent a copy of this book. I really had no interest in reading it, but it is a quick read, so I decieded I would give it a shot.
Basically, what I'm trying to say, is that I had no knowledge of what War Horse was all about when I sat down to read it. I knew it was the story of a horse More...
Feb 21, 2012
Christine
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Joey is the War Horse in the title and we read this story as told in his voice. Wait … wait … before you roll your eyes and brush this off as another book narrated by an animal (granted there has been a glut lately) or think ala Mr. Ed, realize this book was first published in 1982. Sold into army use Joey is sent away from the farm and from his young friend Albert. Confiscated by the Germans and traveling through France Joey has many tales to tell about WW1. Meanwhile Albert has come of age
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Jan 30, 2012
Laura
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I'd never heard of this book - nor of Michael Morpurgo - until I worked at the Edinburgh Book Festival a couple of years ago. I'm not sure why such a prolific and popular author passed me by when I was little (some of my co-workers at the EBF were horrified by this), so I review this entirely as an adult.
War Horse is, of course, very popular right now. With a Spielberg film in the cinema, the book has apparently sold more copies in the UK over the last two weeks than it did internati More...
War Horse is, of course, very popular right now. With a Spielberg film in the cinema, the book has apparently sold more copies in the UK over the last two weeks than it did internati More...
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Jan 29, 2012
Not Your
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I was going through the "lend me" libraries of my Nook friends and I found this book in my grandma's library. When we were up at her house for Christmas I saw the trailer for the movie and it looked really interesting. So when I found this book I sent a request to borrow it from her.
Honestly, I was worried about this book being a major tear jerker. It has some pretty sad moments in it but I am proud to say that no Kleenex were harmed during the reading of thi More...
Honestly, I was worried about this book being a major tear jerker. It has some pretty sad moments in it but I am proud to say that no Kleenex were harmed during the reading of thi More...
Jan 26, 2012
Corinne
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When I sat down to read this book to my nine year old, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. I was hopeful that it wouldn’t be TOO graphic for my boy, and I was also hopeful that it wouldn’t bore me. I lucked out on both accounts.
War Horse is the story of Joey, a beautiful and unique creature who becomes completely attached to a British boy named Albert. As Albert comes of age with Joey by his side, they create a wonderfully reciprocal relationship, a relationship whose course is drastic More...
War Horse is the story of Joey, a beautiful and unique creature who becomes completely attached to a British boy named Albert. As Albert comes of age with Joey by his side, they create a wonderfully reciprocal relationship, a relationship whose course is drastic More...
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Jan 25, 2012
Robyn
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Children's books are often the hardest to write. They're harsh critics, kids; if they don't like something, they'll tell you. No beating about the bush, no euphemistic comments starting "It was interesting" . . . just "I liked it" or "Can I watch tv now?"
Luckily Michael Morpurgo knows exactly how to write for them. Treading the fine line between too much information and not enough, he manages to keep the imagination firmly in his grip. Without going i More...
Luckily Michael Morpurgo knows exactly how to write for them. Treading the fine line between too much information and not enough, he manages to keep the imagination firmly in his grip. Without going i More...
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Jan 03, 2012
Janean
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The book and the movie were different in several ways. Point of view was an obvious one. Because the horse tells the story in the book, the similarities between the 2 enemy combatants are more evident. I think the author’s anti-war position comes through more clearly in the book. The part about plowing the field was also different. The scene of the selling of the horse to the army is identical.
Here are my favorite quotes:
Worked hard because of bond of trust and devotion. P. 31
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Here are my favorite quotes:
Worked hard because of bond of trust and devotion. P. 31
More...
Dec 31, 2011
Lisa
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This book is told through the "voice" of the horse, Joey. Joey is bought by Albert's father, who didn't really want him, but wanted to outbid an acquaintance. His father had no time for him but Albert loved Joey and treasured him spending as much time with him as he could.
Without giving away any spoilers, as it's only a short book (185 pages), Joey is sold to the army and sent to war, becoming a "war horse". A lot happens whilst at war, but Albert never gives up More...
Without giving away any spoilers, as it's only a short book (185 pages), Joey is sold to the army and sent to war, becoming a "war horse". A lot happens whilst at war, but Albert never gives up More...
Dec 29, 2011
Emma
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Amazing. I know this is a term widely used for most of the books I review, but who would know that such a book would be so heart felt. This novel truly reveals the traumatic experiences and hardships of the first world war. Even i was unable to sustain myself from wincing, cringing and shedding a tear throughout the horrific events of the novel, told simply but descriptively, as they would say, straight from the horses mouth...Joey, our true war horse. From the upbringing on the farm where he gr
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Dec 20, 2011
Treyton
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I liked this book because it tells a great story about a horse who goes through ups and downs of life and loses members of his life. The plot was very good because it could happen to aynone during the war time. Joey, the main horse, was taken off of his farm to serve in the military and then they don't need him anymore so they give him a little girl on a farm with another horse. The setting was either on farms that he lived on or on the gruesome, battlefield. The main characters were Joey an
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Nov 12, 2011
gina
rated it:
Wow. What a book. I read War Horse because the movie is coming out during the holidays, and the play is coming to Los Angeles in the spring. I think it's important to read the book before the movie. Movies are a visual medium, and once you see it, you can't turn back to your own imagination. Boy am I glad I read this book first.
War Horse is beautifully written and told from the point of view of a horse having adventures in Europe during World War I.
What's great about More...
War Horse is beautifully written and told from the point of view of a horse having adventures in Europe during World War I.
What's great about More...
Nov 03, 2011
Will
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
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Oct 18, 2011
Keri
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War Horse is a very touching read that takes you into the depths of World War I in the final days of the Cavalry. Morpurgo has done a very good job writing a story from a very different point of view than normal yet making it a very enthralling story, more so than usual because you are shown the perspectives of many of the different characters. Although this is a young adult book it is suitable for all ages, especially those who have a love for horses.
The stor More...
The stor More...
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Oct 07, 2011
Debbie
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I read this because the hit Broadway play is headed to CA very soon and the Spielberg movie comes out at Christmas. I was intrigued because I knew it was a children's story told from the point of view of the horse. I also knew it was written by a fairly famous British author who was concerned about the suffering of the Great War (WWI) and wanted students to be aware of it. What an interesting premise! It's certainly not the stuff Broadway plays or Hollywood movies are usually made of! But a
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Oct 05, 2011
Meg
rated it:
I've always been a little horse crazy. My favorite books when I was growing up were the "Black Stallion" series by Walter Farley, and of course, I loved "Black Beauty" as there was nothing better to my young mind that hearing a story told from the perspective of the horse.
Given my consumption of horse-themed literature, I'm surprised that Michael Morpurgo's novella "War Horse" escaped me though it was first published in 1982. On the cover of my copy, t More...
Given my consumption of horse-themed literature, I'm surprised that Michael Morpurgo's novella "War Horse" escaped me though it was first published in 1982. On the cover of my copy, t More...
Sep 28, 2011
Justin
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I'm usually not into WWI stuff because it seems "archaic" to me, at least in the world of industry. This book looks at a different angle; not just the tanks and infantry, but rather the more "passive" characters of the war. Although this is obviously fiction (told from the point of a horse), I can't believe how interesting this book was. I almost want to believe that animals are as intelligent and unique as this book portrays this horse. After giving you a sort of "
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Sep 12, 2011
Daniel
rated it:
Michael Morpurgo’s ‘War Horse’ was highly recommended to me and having seen a More 4 documentary earlier in the year discussing its origins and success I was eager to see whether it lived up to the hype. I am a Devonshire lad myself living near the events depicted in the book so it was particularly fascinating to learn about a bygone era from my neck of the woods.
Like most Morpurgo books (I have also read ‘Escape From Shangri-La’ and ‘Kensuke’s Kingdom’) the story is told from the pers More...
Like most Morpurgo books (I have also read ‘Escape From Shangri-La’ and ‘Kensuke’s Kingdom’) the story is told from the pers More...
Sep 09, 2011
Ben
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It's funny how some books can pass one by. War Horse first came out in 1982, when I would have fallen squarely into the age bracket it is aimed at (I'd hazard 9-12 year olds, although I hasten to add that it's a great read for any age). I feel slightly embarrassed in admitting that I hadn't heard about it until the book was transformed into a play in London's West End. I haven't got around to reading it until now - and I've been prompted by the wonderful deadline that I'm going to see the play i
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Sep 04, 2011
Jacinta
rated it:
WOW! A fantastic novel and one that I could read time and time again. This made a fantastic book to read with a guided reading group of year six pupils.
Beautifully written from the horses perspective, this is the story of a farm horse called Joey. Joey works on the farm alongside an old horse called Zoey and is cared for by Albert. It is obvious from the start that Albert and Joey have a very special connection and Albert is left heart broken when his dad sells Joey to an army officer beca More...
Beautifully written from the horses perspective, this is the story of a farm horse called Joey. Joey works on the farm alongside an old horse called Zoey and is cared for by Albert. It is obvious from the start that Albert and Joey have a very special connection and Albert is left heart broken when his dad sells Joey to an army officer beca More...
Aug 15, 2011
Bobby
rated it:
Saw the stage adaptation, this year's Tony Award winner for Best Play, at Lincoln Center not too long ago and was impressed by its technical aspects if a little underwhelmed by its plot and characters.
The book, in a lot of ways, is more complex and devastating, as its told through the eyes of Joey, the farm horse who becomes entrenched into the horrors of World War I, initially recruited by the British Army and then finding his way to the German side. Like the play, the book suffers f More...
The book, in a lot of ways, is more complex and devastating, as its told through the eyes of Joey, the farm horse who becomes entrenched into the horrors of World War I, initially recruited by the British Army and then finding his way to the German side. Like the play, the book suffers f More...
Apr 24, 2011
Terry
rated it:
I saw the play based on this book in London and it was perhaps the best theater I've ever seen, so I read the book, too, but I was a bit disappointed. It's a children's book, but perfectly readable for adults. It's aimed at maybe early teens and the vocabulary is complex; Morpurgo does not write down to his audience. My disappointment is only relative, though; it's still a very moving story beautifully told.
Joey is the horse in War Horse and the narrator of the book, which traces hi More...
Joey is the horse in War Horse and the narrator of the book, which traces hi More...
Mar 18, 2011
Teresa
rated it:
This reminded me of one of my childhood favorites (and the reason my sister is a pet-sitter today, I think): Beautiful Joe. Beautiful Joe
Both books are narrated by an animal, although Joe was a dog, and his voice is much more sentimental. Both stress the importance of kindness to all creatures and respect for their innate qualities--loyalty, courage, determination, patience. War Horse is written at a simpler level and the narrator is a horse, Joey. He is sold to go off to France for More...
Both books are narrated by an animal, although Joe was a dog, and his voice is much more sentimental. Both stress the importance of kindness to all creatures and respect for their innate qualities--loyalty, courage, determination, patience. War Horse is written at a simpler level and the narrator is a horse, Joey. He is sold to go off to France for More...
Jul 31, 2010
Chris
rated it:
I'm not sure if this novel or Black Beauty's Family came first, but Black Beauty's Family is much better.
This isn't to say that War Horse is bad, it's not. But outside its complete debt to Black Beauty (and the ups and down mirror that book extactly), the book is cliche after cliche. All the boy and his horse cliches are here as well as 90% of all the war ones.
Still, it's not a bad book, but there is a surprisely lack of place. I understand that it's a children's book, More...
This isn't to say that War Horse is bad, it's not. But outside its complete debt to Black Beauty (and the ups and down mirror that book extactly), the book is cliche after cliche. All the boy and his horse cliches are here as well as 90% of all the war ones.
Still, it's not a bad book, but there is a surprisely lack of place. I understand that it's a children's book, More...
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Feb 21, 2012
Simon
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Warning!! Contains Spoilers!!
1. this story is a about Zoey(horse) going back to find Albert. Zoey meets many other people who takes care of Zoey. Zoey got sold as war hose. and Albert joins army as solider to find his horse Zoey. Zoey was a farming horse. and then Zoey became War Horse and meets General. and he gets to the war. and general loose and became horse which pulls wheelbarrow. there is a soldier who's trying to escape from the army, so so the soldiers escaped from the army More...
1. this story is a about Zoey(horse) going back to find Albert. Zoey meets many other people who takes care of Zoey. Zoey got sold as war hose. and Albert joins army as solider to find his horse Zoey. Zoey was a farming horse. and then Zoey became War Horse and meets General. and he gets to the war. and general loose and became horse which pulls wheelbarrow. there is a soldier who's trying to escape from the army, so so the soldiers escaped from the army More...
Feb 07, 2012
Margherita
rated it:
Tempo fa mi sono data una regola: se un film é ispirato ad un libro prima di guardare il primo, cerco di leggere il secondo.
Credo sia più corretto nei confronti dello scrittore che ha avuto l'idea della trama rispetto ad una casa di produzione cinematografica che quell'idea l'ha comprata.
Non importa, se poi, nel film trovo delle incongruenze ( certo gli errori madornali o gli stravolgimenti della trama mi mandano in bestia!), se guardo ( e mi affeziono) ad un film e scopro solo in s More...
Credo sia più corretto nei confronti dello scrittore che ha avuto l'idea della trama rispetto ad una casa di produzione cinematografica che quell'idea l'ha comprata.
Non importa, se poi, nel film trovo delle incongruenze ( certo gli errori madornali o gli stravolgimenti della trama mi mandano in bestia!), se guardo ( e mi affeziono) ad un film e scopro solo in s More...
