Finished: Black Beauty (Sewell) I can't believe I went my whole life never reading Black Beauty...especially being a horse owner, with a daughter who has ridden and been a horse lover since 2nd grade! Now that I've read it, though, I was a little disappointed. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it was different than I thought it would be. The story is told from Black Beauty's point of view. He talks and tells the story of his life, from owner to owner, and horse friendship to horse friendship. He seems to understand what humans are saying when they talk! And, he has lovely conversations with other horses. :-) His life starts out pretty cushy. He's well bred and treated royally, and taught in all the proper ways how to act, how to take the bridle, and saddle, and desensitized to scary noises so he won't shy away. Then, he's sold, and though every time he's sold, the previous owner tries to make sure he goes to other people who will treat him with the utmost respect, he does suffer through some bad owners, thus leading him to nearly breaking down. He spends time being a cab driver, a carriage driver, a driver for private owners, etc. He nearly dies of ignorant mistreatment a couple of times. But...at the end, he ends up back on a farm with a horse groom who was actually one of his grooming boys years before! The biggest problem I have with the book is the section where Black Beauty is owned by a cab driver in London. His owner is just wonderful, and treats him great. However, the book takes far too many tangents delving into what the cab driver has to pontificate about on life issues, morals, drinking, churchgoing, etc. They are all good, valuable things for a child reader to learn, but it's just odd that Black Beauty is relating these pages long human conversations that really have nothing to do with his horse life, lol. Anyway, I'm so glad I finally read the book...but also glad I'm done with it. Can't wait to ask Jenny Cate if she actually ever read it! I know she has several copies. :-)