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Diane Barnes's Reviews > The Yearling
The Yearling
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I have read this book twice before, once as a child, and again as a young adult. It was presented as the MOD choice on the group "On the Southern Literary Trail" by Tom, so I took the opportunity to start the New Year with a Pulitzer Prize winning novel that I already knew would be a wonderful read. I had forgotten just how great it really was.
The setting is Florida in the 1870's, before concrete and condos and retirees and tourists. Before Disney World and Universal and Gatorland. This was a Florida of wild, lush beauty, wild game aplenty to supplement meager farming, but also bears and wolves and rattlesnakes, and violent storms. The Florida Crackers that Rawlings knew so well were proud, hard-working people that only asked for help from neighbors when there was no other choice, and gave help in turn when it was needed.
The description of this book would have you believe that it's the story of a young boy who adopts a fawn, and while this is true, the real story is the relationship between a boy and his father. It's about the struggle to become a man in a hard world, the difficulty of doing the right thing, or even knowing what the right thing is at times. As Penny tells his son Jody, "Boy, life goes back on you. Life knocks a man down and he gets up and it knocks him down agin. What's he to do then? What's he to do when he gits knocked down? Why, take it for his share and go on."
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings has written a book about the people she lived among and loved, the values they held dear, and the Florida scrub country that she described so beautifully. The dialect in the book is so real it reads like poetry. I found myself reading parts of it aloud just to hear it spoken.
Yes, this book is a classic in more ways than one. The nature writing is unsurpassed, the story is timeless, the characters will stay in your heart forever. We all need this book for the message. Stand up to life, do what needs to be done, but remember to remain a decent human being.
The setting is Florida in the 1870's, before concrete and condos and retirees and tourists. Before Disney World and Universal and Gatorland. This was a Florida of wild, lush beauty, wild game aplenty to supplement meager farming, but also bears and wolves and rattlesnakes, and violent storms. The Florida Crackers that Rawlings knew so well were proud, hard-working people that only asked for help from neighbors when there was no other choice, and gave help in turn when it was needed.
The description of this book would have you believe that it's the story of a young boy who adopts a fawn, and while this is true, the real story is the relationship between a boy and his father. It's about the struggle to become a man in a hard world, the difficulty of doing the right thing, or even knowing what the right thing is at times. As Penny tells his son Jody, "Boy, life goes back on you. Life knocks a man down and he gets up and it knocks him down agin. What's he to do then? What's he to do when he gits knocked down? Why, take it for his share and go on."
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings has written a book about the people she lived among and loved, the values they held dear, and the Florida scrub country that she described so beautifully. The dialect in the book is so real it reads like poetry. I found myself reading parts of it aloud just to hear it spoken.
Yes, this book is a classic in more ways than one. The nature writing is unsurpassed, the story is timeless, the characters will stay in your heart forever. We all need this book for the message. Stand up to life, do what needs to be done, but remember to remain a decent human being.
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Jan 06, 2017 06:09AM
Lovely review, Diane.
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Very touching review, Diane, I really must read this again some day.
That word of advice to Jody gave me chills. We/I need more of those words to my/our child/children.
Very good, Diane. You set a high bar with your review.I read the book many, many years ago and I remember the film as well, which I haven't seen in many, many years. It has been so long ago that I don't remember if the movie was faithful to the book, but I do remember liking it.
My daughter, when she was only five or six (or older), could not tolerate seeing animals in distress. She didn't worry about Timmy if he was in trouble, but put Lassie in a difficult situation and it would cause tears. I even made the mistake of taking her to see a re-release of "Bambi." Who knew she would cry about the death of a cartoon deer? Lack of sensitivity on my part, I suppose.
My point is that, even though you are correct in playing down the part played by the deer, I knew to steer my daughter away from "The Yearling," for that would have been the most important part of the story for her.
The Yearling is one of the 3-5 books I read when was I young that made me WANT to read. I became a fixture in my local library as a result. Wonderful book.
Thank you, all. It's easy to write a review for a book that touches you deeply. I'm sure when I read this book as a child, it WAS about the deer, but as an older adult reading it this time around, I got the bigger picture. But that's what good literature does, gives you something for different stages of life. Also, after so many years and so many books, it's pretty much a given that animal stories do not end well for the animal.Howard, I remember seeing the movie with Gary Cooper and Jane Wyman (1946) many years ago, probably on TV. My library has it, fortunately, so I can watch it again. I don't remember whether it was true to the book or not, they rarely are.
Lovely review for one of my all time favorite books.
Diane wrote: "Thank you, all. It's easy to write a review for a book that touches you deeply. I'm sure when I read this book as a child, it WAS about the deer, but as an older adult reading it this time around, ..."Uh -- Gregory Peck. I have only seen it on TV as well. If you watch the film again be sure to let me know your opinion this time around.
This book was even a classic children's book in our country. How great to see it again. Lovely review, Diane.
You're right Howard. I actually hesitated before typing Gary Cooper, then neglected to check.
Beautiful review, Diane. It demonstrates how a wonderful book can inspire equally wonderful writing in a review of it. I particularly admire those first three sentences in your second paragraph. Like you and Stephen, this was one of the first "big" books I read when I was a child that truly turned me into a serious reader.
Like you, I read this book probably in junior high. My parents read it to me before that. My New Year's resolution was to re-read classic novels. Thanks to your eloquent review, The Yearling is now back off my shelf and on my reading pile.
Thank you, Donna. I may read it again in a few years, it's timeless.
Yes, very good point. This is my third time reading this beautiful book and I think it has a lot more meaning than basically a boy who develops a relationship with his fawn. Family dynamics play a big part in the story
I want to read this book now, based on your review!
Then I've done my job!
A beautiful piece, one that matches the worthiness of the book. Reading ''The Yearling'' was an explosive part of my early adolescence. The book had vividly captured a shattering experience of my own, being suddenly torn away from an idyllic, bucolic setting of animal and boyhood companions into a cold and forbidding adolescence. So when ''The Yearling''was chosen for our freshman high school English class, I entered its pages under the shadow of an inconsolable grief. As I fell into Jody's world, reliving experiences of my own, my head spun and my heart raced. But as I read I gradually began to feel a great kindness, a merciful, healing balm Here was a tale that was not only riveting, but which opened a window to light and understanding. I never forgot the glow and the hope of ''The Yearling,'' and I thank Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings for her enduring gift to life and to art. Thanks again for your very special review. My best, Rich Flanders
Thank you Rich. This book truly is a balm for the soul. Her non-fiction memoir, Cross Creek, is another favorite of mine. She tells the story of how she came to write The Yearling and the family it is based on, among other things. It is a comfort read for me.
Hi Diane,Balm for the soul, for sure. Jessamyn West's ''The Friendly Persuasion'' is as well in some ways - are you familiar with it?
I'll keep the memoir in mind. We've seen part of the film, which looked worthwhile.
Because I loved ''The Yearling,'' I thought I'd read ''South Moon Under,'' but found that disappointing. Thanks to your endorsement, I look forward to reading ''Cross Creek!'' Rich
I have read Friendly Persuasion, and agree. It seems we are on the same wavelength.
Lovely review Diane. I missed this one in my childhood, and had the joy of reading it aloud to our daughters. Their take away--sometimes it's hard to be a good person but we all have to try. More or less your, "We all need this book for the message. Stand up to life, do what needs to be done, but remember to remain a decent human being."
Whenever you read it, it's a wonderful book.
I'm so pleased to have come across this review. As others have commented, I read it as a child so it was all about the fawn to me. After reading your review, it's clear that it goes so much deeper than that. Wonderful write-up, Diane.
Thanks Zoey. I bet if you read it again, it will be a whole new book from an adult perspective.
I’ve noticed you review all the books I absolutely love, we must have very similar tastes as I too loved this book and all the Tim Pears novels particularly the horseman trilogy. If you have any other recommendations in particular I would be so grateful for you to advise me. I am fairly new to reading, coming to it later in life. I am now 38 and it’s my greatest joy and hobby💕
I just sent you a friend request Megan. Reading is my greatest joy too.
Lovely lovely review and responses. I happened to catch most of Cross Creek the movie last night. Reminded me reading the Yearling as a young person and how heartbreaking it was for me.
Thank you Lara. Cross Creek is also a favorite of mine, book and movie.
Well, it seems, I don’t have to be a child to read this one. Will make it a priority!
You must Antoinette!
Diane,I just read your review to my daughter (who was my buddy in this read-aloud), and, God as my witness, I cried when I read the quote you included here from Penny. Boy, did that man get to me.
Excellent, memorable review of an excellent, memorable story. Wow. I don't think I'll ever get over this one.
I love this book beyond measure, Julie. I just finished reading "The Creek" by J. T. Glisson, and it seems Jody was based on the author, who was around 8 years old when Rawlings became their neighbor. That was a fascinating read about the Florida crackers who lived there.
Beautiful heartfelt review, Diane. I’m about to finish and don’t want it to end.
Easy to write a review for something so wonderful, Lori.
I did add that book, Diane. I'm looking forward to it. (By the way, my 14-year-old declared your review "very good," which is pretty high praise from her!).xoxo
Pretty good from a 14 year old is high praise indeed.
Well, after this wonderful review of a book that blew you away three times, Diane, I will have to add… thank you :)
Everyone who reads it is blown away Jennifer, including the people who choose the Pulitzer Prize. I hope you do get a chance to read it.
hello, would you say this novel is luminous, light-filled? also from what I read it evokes, in a way, the red pony (steinbeck) ; feel free to share about this if you had read the latter.
