War Horse: 10/02/12

War Horse by Michael Morpurgo is one of his earliest novels. It has since publication been adapted for stage and film. I have seen neither adaptations but I'm curious to see the film. Although the book suffers from being an early work I think the events could lend themselves to film.

The Library of Congress summery tells you all you need to know about the book: "Joey the horse recalls his experiences growing up on an English farm, his struggle for survival as a cavalry horse during World War I, and his reunion with his beloved master." Seriously, that's all there is to the book.

War Horse, while historically interesting, suffers mostly from being told from the horse's point of view. Joey's voice has a very limited range of emotions: either a dry, book report style recounting of events, and completely heartbroken longing for his master. He's just not an interesting enough or well rounded enough of a character to carry this novel.

Later Morpurgo books also blend together a very personal, character drive story against a historical setting. The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips, for instance, is about the forced evacuation of a British town during World War Two and the cat who was nearly lost in the process. Unless you're a fan of books told from the point of view of a horse (Black Beauty and its ilk), War Horse the book is worth skipping.

Two stars

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