Old Yeller (Perennial Classics) by Fred Gipson, Steven Polson
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Book Reviews of Old Yeller (Perennial Classics)
Book Review: An excellent novel, but it didn't move me
Summary: 3 Stars
I love dogs, and when I was about ten or eleven I went through a phase of reading all the classic dog books: "Sounder," "Stone Fox," "Shiloh," "Where the Red Fern Grows," "Big Red," "The Call of the Wild," "White Fang." Somehow, I missed out on "Old Yeller." I decided it was high time I pick it up and remedy the deficit.
"Old Yeller" is a well-written, richly rendered tale of life on the Texas frontier in the 1860s. The hardships, dangers, and rewards of a life hard-wrought from the wilderness are depicted unsparingly. It's an often brutal existence, and Gipson's characters are equal to it - tough and unsentimental but unashamed to care about each other. The prose is descriptive and easy to read, and the story itself moves quickly. It's full of adventure, but has the somber tone of a serious coming-of-age novel.
Ultimately, though, "Old Yeller" simply didn't move me. Perhaps it would have when I was younger. Maybe I've heard so many times what a tearjerker this book is that I was already desensitized - but I don't think that's it, as I still mist up when I reread "Red Fern," and if having read a book several times doesn't diminish the impact of a sad ending, nothing will. More likely, there just wasn't enough in this book to explain the special bond Travis shared with Old Yeller. Mostly Travis talks about what Old Yeller does for him - the numerous occasions in which he saved someone's life, and how helpful he is around the farm - but there's little exploration of their emotional connection. In the context of the story and the characters it makes sense: frontier settlers in the 1860s didn't have much time to sit around loving on their dogs. Travis's affection for Old Yeller is clear enough in his actions and words, but somehow I simply didn't "feel" it.
"Old Yeller" is an excellent novel with plenty to offer casual and thoughtful readers alike. It just didn't connect with me, but then, I know not every book will, even every book considered a classic. Fans of adventure stories, historical fiction, and animal tales will find "Old Yeller" well worth their while. Personally, though, I'll stick to "Where the Red Fern Grows."
Book Review: Classic Tail
Summary: 3 Stars
Timeless classic of a boy and his dog coming of age together. The unfortunate truth about getting a dog is that you are obtaining a best friend, a near family member whom you will inevitably outlive, perhaps that is their purpose. This is the story of this happening on the Texas frontier.