All About Animals discussion

What is your most disappointing animal/bird book?

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle

This was a five-star read, until the last ten pages or so, and then it was like . . the author just gave up on life! I have never read such a pessimistic ending! I'm sure the literary critics would say it was fitting, but that ending made me mad enough to drop several stars off the rating. I loved the dogs, but that ending was attrocious! After all the hype this novel was receiving, and the fact that even Stephen King recommended it, I was extremely disappointed.

I'm not exactly certain of whether this is my most disappointing animal book, but it certainly is a bad let-down. It's Dog Boy by Eva Hornung, her character loosely based on the real dog boy, Ivan Mishukov. It's a very realistic book and it deals with the boy's life amongst a pack of dogs. Then the whole pack is poisoned near the end, except for three pups, which are killed at the very end. It was a harsh, realistic book, but it was very interesting and amazing until the ending where every main character dog I grew to love was destroyed.

War Horse by Michael M. (sorry, I can never spell his name correctly and as I'm decorating my books are in stacks and lord knows where any particular one is).

I was left rather flat when reading it after all the film hype.

I always feel cheated when any book ends disappointingly or does not seem to finish properly. Those books that just seem to suddenly stop without resolving anything as though the author had simply run out of steam and could not be bothered finishing.

I don't think I have a most disappointing animal book yet, I mean there have been some I haven't liked but it hasn't exactly been disappointing because I didn't really have any expectations about the books yet when I had started. It's not like I have ever had, that I can remember, a book that I was expecting one thing out of that was very different than what I expected.
The only book that I can think of at the moment that I read that I consider to be a little disappointing although I loved, was Straydog Straydog by Kathe Koja. I guess because of the books age level I wasn't expecting it to end how it did. It's not that the ending was bad exactly, it was one of those good/bad endings. It was a good realistic ending but not the one I was hoping for.

'Rescuing Sprite' just awful writing.

Rachel wrote: "The Story of Edgar Sawtelle

This was a five-star read, until the last ten pages or so, and then it was like . . the author just gave up on life! I have never read such a pessimistic ending! I'm ..."

I had the same reaction to the end. The book started out so well!

Chicken soup for cats lover's soul

It was too short, too short! Barely two page or three for each stories, it's not enough! I was expecting a tear-jerker story at least fifty pages long but they won't indulge me with even five! Soo disappointed ...

Anny wrote: "Chicken soup for cats lover's soul

It was too short, too short! Barely two page or three for each stories, it's not enough! I was expecting a tear-jerker story at least fifty pages long but they w..."

"Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover's Soul" was also a disappointment...but not for length...much of the writing was sub-par.

Cat stories by James Herriot was okay, but I wouldn't recommend it. I haven't found a really good cat book yet.

Anny, have you read Paul Gallico's Jennie? I just loved that book.

Anny, we're. reading Kitty Cornered in June. That may be just the cat book you've. been looking for

Thanks, I'll look 'em up!

Edit: I think I'll check Jennie first since I'm not a big fan of humor, more into drama and tragedy.

On Jennie, strangely I've just bought a similar book on dogs. It's a non-fiction book that explores what this world is like for a dog's point of view. I've been wanting to find one about cats, and here looks like I might've found it :D