Customer Reviews

Man O War

5 star:		(36)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This was the best book I've ever read!! If you love horses, horseracing and Man o' War, I highly recomend this book! Even if you don't have an interest in horses, you would still love this book! It's about Man o' War from the night he was foaled, to the tragic day he died... It gives you full details of his races, winning an astonishing 20 of his 21 starts..The race he lost, I think was unfair! (Read to find out!!) It tells alittle about some winners he sired..I learned a lot about this amazing Champion from reading this book...There is soOo much more I can say about this book..but I want you to read to find out!! ENJOY IT!! I KNOW YOU WILL!!*

"Man O' War" is a book that tells all about the life of Big Red(Man O' War). It teaches all ages what the firey colt was all about and the boy who wouldn't, and couldn't, leave his side. Walter is a wonderful writer and truley gets his readers in to his stories. I am not the kind of person who cries in movies but he can, and has, made me cry. He puts his heart and soul in his books. This one is a very good one because before the book he writes of his experience of seeing Man O' War in the flesh and how wonderful it was. This book is one you will remeber for a very long time if not forever.

I first read Man O' War in grade school. I'm still reading it now in college. The story of Man O' War moved me so much that I have researched his life in depth and am writing a report on what I fully believe was, is, and will be the greatest horse ever to breathe. I can't thank Walter Farley enough for bringing the past alive and sharing the beauty of racing.

As a longtime ardent Man o'War fan (which I admit was precipitated at least in part by reading this very same book in childhood) I found myself enjoying the book immensely for what it is: A semi-fictional account of the greatest thoroughbred to ever pound a track.

There are some interesting points of fact that Farley neglects to include in the story. One is the fact that neither Riddle nor Feustal were present at the purchase of Man o'War (unlike as depicted in the book), but sent an agent, who was single handedly responsible for the bid of $5,000.00 that brought the gangly red colt home. Another is this: Farley describes the sole defeater of Man o' War, Upset, as a colt "Who lived up to his name". In reality, the popular sports term "upset" (when an unlikely team or competitor defeats a favorite) was coined entirely due to this one race!

It was still a fantastic and personable look into the life of a racehorse, however one should keep in mind that historically accurate biographies of Man o'War's life are exciting enough without the fictionalized "fluff".

"Faction" was the word that author Alex Haley used to refer to his masterwork "Roots". That description would also apply to Walter Farley's "Man O'War". Mr. Farley REALLY did his research on this -- the facts are 100% accurate as far as I can tell -- and as always in his writings, his love of horses (as well as his awe at the legend that Man O'War was) comes through. He was able to create a character - Danny, Man O'War's racing groom in this book, similar to Alec Ramsey, Tom Messenger and Steve Duncan (the boys attached to their horses in his "Black Stallion" series) whose devotion to Man O'War lasts and shapes his entire life. Just a great read, highly recommended to anyone -- youth or adult -- who loves horses and wants to know more about racehorse whose name is still legend, even after 80 years have passed since his great victories!

There are other Thoroughbreds that made names for themselves, yet this book stressed one fact that makes Man O' War stand out: He was held back, yet still won 20 of his 21 races. "Big Red" packed power and it's a pity he was never pressed to his top speed. This fictional biography gives a great insiders look into the touching life of an amazing stallion, and I completely recommend it!

This book has to be one of my most favorite books. It is such an inspiring tale of a boy named Danny who grows up with a foal/horse starting with it's birth to its death. AFter reading this book, all I wanted to do was to see him race! It is also so descriptive that you can almost picture it in your mind.

This book has to be the best book I have ever read! The details that Walter Farley put into the writing of this book, made me feel as if I were seeing Man O' War race myself. I could see the Thoroughbred blazing around the track, his copper coat, and cheering fans. This book was amazing! I could read it over and over again and never get enough!

Farley put everything into this book. I was struck by the different style that he had at the beginning of the book, but it captivated me. Man O War is the greatest horse that ever lived. After reading this book you might find yourself waiting to see horse races in the hopes of seeing another horse to match Big Red, but you will be disappointed. I read this book for the first time as a grade schooler and couldn't get the lump out of my throat for the whole day after I finished it. Farley puts the history down in a sensitive and deeply felt manner. He fills out the story with his knack for writing and developing plots and characters. A must read!

"Man o' War" is a satisfying sideline to Farley's Black Stallion series and tells the story of the great racehorse, Man o' War, in an entertaining and informative way. Although longer than most of his other books, it is definately among the best.