For the Hard Core re-reading challenge, author A-Z challenge and What an Animal challenge I read Jim Kjelgaard's book
Big Red.
Synopsis from Goodreads: From the moment Danny sees the beautiful Irish setter, he knows Red is the dog for him. Fast and smart, strong and noble, Red is the only dog Danny wants by his side. Soon, neither boy nor dog can stand to be apart. Together Danny and Red face many dangers in the harsh Wintapi wilderness that they call home. But the greatest test of their courage and friendship will come from an enemy more cunning than any they've known before--a bear who is the undisputed king of the wilderness, a savage killer called Old Majesty.
This is a classic boy and dog story. It made me want an Irish settler really badly!
I also thought it was a good father and son story. Also there was the father figure of Mr. Haggin, Red's owner, who looked after Red and Danny. Both men look after Danny but in a lot of way he looks after himself. He's mature, kind and determined. Characteristic a lot of men nowadays could learn from.
Overall a great boy and dog story with some exemplary characters and of course a good bear hunt. :)
Recommended!
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I love books about dogs, their owners, and how people are effected by them. Most of the time the boy learns a lesson through the dog and somehow, you end up crying. Is this a crying book?
ReplyDeleteThankfully this is not a crying book. A lot of dog books are but thankfully this is one of the happy ending ones.
DeleteThis is a good book u should read it :)
DeleteOh, I love this book! Danny's such a cool guy, and of course Red is awesome :) I especially enjoy how it's about such a TOTALLY different time, place, and culture from where I live, so reading it kind of immerses me in that world. I mean, all books do that to some extent, but this one has an especially "different" setting compared to a lot of the books I normally read.
ReplyDeleteHave you ever read the other books in this series, Irish Red and Outlaw Red? I don't really like them as much because I feel like the character of Mr. Haggin kind of got changed in ways that I didn't enjoy. Irish Red IS kind of interesting anyway, though.
I know I read Irish Red and Outlaw Red when I first read Big Red a long time ago but I honestly don't recall them. I hate it when books change people's character though. :(
DeleteI know! It always makes me so sad, because I'm like, "this character did NOT deserve that."
DeleteI love all of Jim Kjielgaard's dog books! I think I liked "Outlaw Red" even better than both "Big Red" and "Irish Red," but it's been so long since I've read them, I don't remember anymore. I think my favorite of all of his was called "Stormy," though. It was about a black Labrador Retriever.
ReplyDeleteApparently I need to re-read the rest of the series! I'll get around to it soon hopefully! :)
DeleteI'm not sure if my family has Stormy but I'll see and if we do I'll have to read it too!