The Next Best Book Club discussion

I love Jack London. So, Call of the Wild and White Fang are perfect examples of this topic! :D

The Tale of Hill Top Farm: The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter--Little cozy mysteries that are told mostly from the people's points of view, but the animals do their own investigations and share gossip also. I've read two of these and they're cute and fun.

Wish You Were Here--Mysteries written by the author and her cat. This one is split pretty evenly between the people and the animals. Also fun to read.

Black Beauty - I've probably read this at least 20 times.

Charlotte's Web - Another classic to read and re-read. Also The Trumpet of the Swan and Stuart Little for a nice E. B. White trio.

Read Quest for the Faradawn a few months ago... which is kind of reminded me of Redwall, but without the cuteness, and also with humans. It's about a human boy raised in the forest; his birth is part of a foretold legend; he's destined to save the animals from human destruction; etc. It made me a little uncomfortable with its blatant anti-human theme--a little extremely PETA for my tastes (and I happen to be a vegetarian and against hunting). Thought I'd mention it, because it is all that comes to mind of my recent reads.

Go for Watership Down though. It is one of my all-time favorites.

I read The Art of Racing in the Rain over the summer and absolutely adored it. The story is told through the family dog, who serves as a very funny and touching narrator.

I read "Jonathan Livingstone Seagull" and he is one of the great animal protagonist in my recent reading experience.
Another one is "Animal Farm" by George Orwell, a very powerful satire.

If I remember right my favorite children's book, Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl has the main character as a fox, who speaks.

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien.

Oh, I love Call of the Wild, one of my favorite books. I can't believe that I still haven't read White Fang. Some people have told me that they like it even better than Call of the Wild. I can't imagine loving it more, but I am going to make a point to read it in 2009. Also, I am going to get to some of the dog books I want to read--Marley and Me, The Art of Racing in the Rain, and others. One children's series that I adore is Catwings by Ursula Le Guin.

Wind in the Willows. I love that book.

My cats would like movies where the cats are the main characters and lots of mice, rats, snakes, lizards and woodslaves are chased, tortured and brutally killed and sometimes even eaten. I feel that there might be a market for this sort of dvd, does anyone know of a book that would adapt well?

Fiona, REALLY?! That would be so awesome! I absolutely loved that book growing up. I think I've read it about four times. It's on my son's bookshelf for when he's old enough to read.

El, they made a movie out of the Rats of NIMH, right?

Charlotte's Web is my favorite. How about Rikki Tikki Tavi by Rudyard Kipling...

OOH CHARLOETTS WEB!

Yes, Charlotte's Web is wonderful!

Melissa, yes, there was a cartoon-movie of The Rats of NIMH back in the eighties. It's worth checking out too.

I can not believe I forgot Charlotte's Web! Then of course there are other E.B. White books, like Stuart Little, etc.

Just saw this thread and decided to recommend a book I read last year.

FIRMIN: ADVENTURES OF A METROPOLITAN LOWLIFE by Sam Savage.

It is a book about a rat that grows up in a bookstore and loves to read. It is a nice, interesting story. I loved it and everyone I recommended it to so far loved it as well.

Charlotte's web, Rats of NIMH. I'm currently reading A Lion Amongst Men where the Cowardly Lion is the main character.

I just finished His Majesty's Dragon. THat was a great book where all the animals had voices (dragons at least).

My daughter is reading The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup and a Spool of Thread and really loves it.

Oh there are so many......

Watership Down by Richard Adams - I'm very vocal about my love for this book
Duncton Wood by William Horwood - A GREAT book and not widely known
Charlotte's Web by E.B. White - One of my favorite books growing up
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH - - The movie is great too
Redwall - One of my son's favorites
The Tale of Despereaux Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup and a Spool of Thread - Such a fun character - I want to see the movie version too

People have already mentioned these, but some of my favorites: Watership Down, N.I.H.M, any E.B. White, Black Beauty, Wind in the Willows, and I'll think of some more.

Here's some:
Marley & Me Love and Life with the World's Worst Dog. Marley doesn't talk, but he is definitely the main character of the story.

Bunnicula: A Rabbit-Tale of Mystery. About a cuddly bunny who is also a vampire.

Stef,

I have Firmin on hold at the library. I'll be picking it up today or tomorrow. It's been on my TBR list for quite a while.

Watership Down is one my favorite books. :)

The only animal book I can think of that hasn't been mentioned yet is Tailchaser's Song by Tad Williams.

What about "Winnie the Pooh", "Black Beauty", "Wind in the Willows" ??? Oldies but goodies ... ;o)

Becky wrote: "Bunnicula: A Rabbit-Tale of Mystery. About a cuddly bunny who is also a vampire. ..."

Oh my God....Bunnicula sounds too funny - I must read it for Easter - thanks for brining it to my attention.

Am I the only one here who read Duncton Wood? It reminded me a lot of Watership Down - surprisingly enough there are some "sex" scenes in there that are pretty racey considering it is between moles.

Robin,
Bunnicula, the vampire bunny, is a gentle -- and just exciting enough -- book for young readers. There are two more in the series. One is called 'The Celery Stalks at Midnight'. I have forgotten the title of the third just now. These are great fun for the little 'uns -- not too long, not intimidating.

The Jungle Books is a good one with animals talking, before I read it I thought it was going to be like the Disney movie but it's a collection of short stories and that's just one story.

I loved Charlotte's Web,Stuart Little,Wind IN The Willows,Winnnie The Pooh,Bunnicula was a big favorite when i was younger.The Velveteen Rabbit.Call of the Wild

Oooh! You made me remember! Riki Tiki Tavi is one of my forever favorite stories. It always makes me feel happy to read that. We used to have a VHS tape of the movie when my children were smaller. I wish I could find it on DVD.

A Night in the Lonesome October by Roger Zelazny. Wind in the Willows by A.A. Milne.

One that I loved as a child and which possibly no one here has heard of, since it's VERY old, is "Beautiful Joe". It was my grandmother's book, which she passed along to me after my dad patched up the binding ... ;o)

Kandice wrote: "Oooh! You made me remember! Riki Tiki Tavi is one of my forever favorite stories. It always makes me feel happy to read that. We used to have a VHS tape of the movie when my children were smaller. ..."

Wow how did we forget that one -- it is a favorite. I used to love the cartoon that typicall ran once a year haven't seen it in ages.

Jeanne wrote: "Robin,
Bunnicula, the vampire bunny, is a gentle -- and just exciting enough -- book for young readers. There are two more in the series. One is called 'The Celery Stalks at Midnight'. I have..."

I'm very excited - the very idea sounds so fun!

There are actually 6 books in the Bunnicula series:

Bunnicula
Howliday Inn
The Celery Stalks at Midnight
Nighty-Nightmare
Return to Howliday Inn
Bunnicula Strikes Again

I don't know if anyone mentioned this, but The Sight (By David Clement-Davies) is a really good book with wolves as the main characters. I would recommend it.

Watchers by Dean Koontz. Einstein is such a genius.

Lynai wrote: "Watchers by Dean Koontz. ..."

The BEST book by Koontz, IMHO!

Oh yeah. I forgot the one about the deer. It's called Fire Bringer. That one is good as well.

Has anyone else come across Three Bags Full, by Leonie Swann, a mystery where the detectives are... a herd of sheep. Sounds wonderful, but haven't had a chance to read it yet.

My absolute favorite animal book is The Fur Person by May Sarton. I've lost track of how many times I've read it, but I enjoy it each time.

What an interesting topic! I had to join this group so I could respond.

Three Bags Full is wonderful by the way!

I loved Watership Down, Wind In The Willows, Charlotte's Web, Rikki Tikki Tavi, His Majesty's Dragon etc.

There are lots of great children's books with animals as protagonists...I can't remember them all. Several that come to mind: The dated, but enjoyable Albert Payson Terhune's collie books. My siblings and I loved the Freddy The Pig mystery series by Walter R. Brooks. Joan Aiken's Arabel & Mortimer books are wonderful for younger readers. Rascal by Sterling North. Deep Wizardry by Diane Duane is an all-time favorite. Dick King-Smith is fun.

Some more recs for you: The Jungle Books by Rudyard Kipling, Dragonhaven by Robin McKinley (she really gets into the dragons' pov), Lovelock by Orson Scott Card. (Yes, I know a lot of people don't like him but this book was heartbreaking and wonderful. I read it years ago and still haven't forgotten my reaction to it.)

If you like reading about animals in a non-fiction way, I really recommend Gerald Durrell. Start with "My Family and Other Animals". "King Solomon's Ring" by Konrad Lorenz is also wonderful! Probably everyone here has already read "All Creatures Great & Small" and the rest of that series. If you haven't, you are missing out.

Many of the animals talk (and are main characters) in The Chronicles of Narnia.

Aslan...Mr. & Mrs. Beaver...Trufflehunter...Reepicheep...etc.

Beth wrote: "Many of the animals talk (and are main characters) in The Chronicles of Narnia.

Aslan...Mr. & Mrs. Beaver...Trufflehunter...Reepicheep...etc."

Oh, why did I ever forget the Chronicles of Narnia? :)

I loved Reepicheep - And Desperux and Redwall - hmmm seeing a pattern here.

Phillip Pulman's His Dark Materials - the Polar Bear! What's was his name again....?

I recently found out that there are 2 sequels to N.I.H.M., too. If you have any interest in fantasy, I have a few suggestions. I recently read Thomas Sniegoski's The Fallen series and enjoyed it. The main characters are a boy and his yellow lab. It takes place in American and is a little more mainstream than my 2nd suggestion, Jane Lindskold's Royal Wolf series. It's about a girl raised by intelligent, talking wolves and also features other animals. The wolves are protrayed in a very interesting way. This one is pure other-world fantasy. And a great, classic childrens series is Beverly Cleary's Ralph books. My little guys and I just discovered the books and the movies and really loved them.

The bear in His Dark Materials is Iorek Bernison, or some close spelling. What a great hero! Ruth the White Dragon is quite the character, and central too, in Anne McCaffrey's origial Dragonriders of Pern trilogy. There are other dragons who play smaller parts, but Ruth is a fully realized character.

Catherine wrote: "I recently found out that there are 2 sequels to N.I.H.M., too. If you have any interest in fantasy, I have a few suggestions. I recently read Thomas Sniegoski's The Fallen series and enjoyed it. T..."


There are 2 sequels to The N.I.M.H? Are we talking Mrs. Frisby And The Rats of N.I.M.H? I loved that book!