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Liked It1 of 1 members found this review helpful “A compelling story about the loneliness of childhood, set in Western horse country. Beautiful writing and intricately drawn characters.” see full review » see other reviews » |
Didn’t Like It “I liked the book for awhile, but found the animal cruelty very disturbing and I'm sorry I finished it, I should have abandoned it.” see full review » see other reviews » |
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“I liked the book for awhile, but found the animal cruelty very disturbing and I'm sorry I finished it, I should have abandoned it.”
Wynne K wrote this review Thursday, October 29 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Diane P said: 4.5 stars
Play Book Tag Shelf wrote this review Friday, October 16 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
The God of Animals is an extraordinary debut novel by Aryn Kyle. As it takes place in current times as well as being a debut novel, I will crosspost this review. The story takes place on a horse ranch in Death Valley, Colorado. The story centers around the lives of the Winston family: an older sister who runs off to marry a cowboy; a depressed and debilitated mother who has withdrawn to the confines of her bedroom; an overworked, reluctant father operating a rundown horse ranch; and twelve year old Alice, narrator of the story. Although technically still a child, Alice has a woman's sense of the way things work in the adult world, but a young girl's lack of experience with acutally living an adult life and the partial, half understanding of one so young. Seeing the world through Alice's eyes gives the reader a feeling of not quite getting the entire picture-snapshots instead of a video.
Before her sister runs off to get married, Alice never shines through standing in her sister's shadow. Nona has a very special way with horses and extraordinary skills as a competitor in the show horse areana. She wins prize money often enabling the ranch to operate. Now gone, it is left to Alice to step up and help her dad run the ranch. With the main money source gone they are forced to board horses of their wealthy neighbors and give lessons to their rich children. Subplots abound as Alice through it all completes her coming of age.
Although a coming of age book, I would not recommend it to any of my 6th grade students. It is more suited to the adult reader in content and language. While a stunning debut novel, Alice and Winstons stay with you long after you finish the book.
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“Beautiful first novel is a coming of age story set in the horse country of southwestern Colorado.”
Lawrence C wrote this review Tuesday, September 8 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Too dark and depressing. I kept hoping things would happen for the characters that never did. There were some unresolved story lines for me too. Overall, I don't think I would recommend it.”
Kerry B wrote this review Wednesday, August 26 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Well done, just unsettling”
mrs. englert wrote this review Thursday, August 13 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This is a beautifully written book that I could not recommend to everyone. A coming of age story about a lonely girl growing up on a horse ranch in Colorado. She masked her pain by being unapproachable; always just doing what is expected of her. All the characters had depth and their own way of living through the pain of their life paths. As a animal lover, I have a hard time reading about the distress we humans put on the horses we have the privilege to own. What some horse handlers call "nature", I would call inhumane. I think this is what the young narrarater came to understand. ”
Sandra R wrote this review Monday, August 10 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This is a beautifully written book that I could not recommend to everyone. A coming of age story about a lonely girl growing up on a horse ranch in Colorado. She masked her pain by being unapproachable; always just doing what is expected of her. All the characters had depth and their own way of living through the pain of their life paths. As a animal lover, I have a hard time reading about the distress we humans put on the horses we have the privilege to own. What some horse handlers call "nature", I would call inhumane. I think this is what the young narrarater came to understand.”
Alex/ Rock Star/ :paramore ROX!!/ Lover of EVERYTHING MUSIC/ Blood Sucker *or VAMP* 4EVER/ STAR WARZ!! wrote this review Monday, August 10 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I picked this one up because of the cover. I learned some very interesting things about horses. The story is told from a young woman's point of view and it is very good. She understands only part of things going on in her world because she is just a child - its something we can all relate to; knowing only bits/pieces of things because we're too young to get the whole story. Good story and a quick read.”
Your fellow bookworm wrote this review Thursday, August 6 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I really liked this book. I think it was an interesting coming of age book with a western flare. ”
Jill R wrote this review Monday, August 3 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“The author's style of writing saved this from being a one-star book for me ... as far as the plot, characters, and depictions of horse rearing, training, and showing, it was riddled with inaccuracies and holes. She (Kyle) didn't know her material at all and obviously didn't get any editing help from anybody who has actually been around horses. I couldn't sympathize with any of the characters, even Alice, who went through life with a huge chip on her shoulder, lying about her mother, sister, brother-in-law, best friend to anyone who asked.
delmargal wrote this review Monday, June 29 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Mostly, I disliked this book because I was thinking that so many people who read it and didn't know better would really think that the methods used in the book were how horses were actually treated.”
