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How are you finding this book so far? For any rereaders - does it measure up to your childhood memories?

Remember to use spoiler tags as necessary!

I'm rocketing through this. Finished Chapter 5 - I'm 10 years old & in tears!

I just finished, and I’m in tears too.

For all the times I read this as a child, I really didn’t remember much beyond the basic premise. That actually made this reread even more enjoyable, because there were so many “new�� adventures to discover.

I would have been around 12-14 years old when I read it. I have the copy I originally read which my Mum bought from The Book Club and was printed in 1961, so that would have made me nearer 13 years old.

I do recall loving the story at the time I first read it and being very emotional, but somehow don't have any vivid memory of the writing itself.

This time it is the writing that is standing out along with the story for me. I can't get over how vividly descriptive, and yet sensitive, her writing is, and how absorbed you become. So much so that I felt I was right in the thick of the dog and cat fights and reacted as I would had it been happening in front of me in real life - shut my eyes and turn away while yelling for someone to stop them!! Yep that's me! Not brave enough to do anything myself, and not brave enough to look either.

Just as earlier I could smell that damp, dank smell of decaying autumn leaves; feel the soft autumn warmth and the cool of night closing in.

I know I was 10 as I remember I was in an prefab classroom. (I was in those when I was 9 & 10.) I got my paperback from the bookclub (Scholastic?)

I do wonder if I had a censored version (view spoiler)[ What the animals had to do to survive was very realistic. I don't know if 10 year old me would have coped with that! (hide spoiler)]

I agree the writing was amazing & evocative.

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "I know I was 10 as I remember I was in an prefab classroom. (I was in those when I was 9 & 10.) I got my paperback from the bookclub (Scholastic?)

I do wonder if I had a censored version [spoilers..."

I have to say I was wondering the same thing about how a young child would have coped with the graphic descriptions. But then often when I read books intended for children written in earlier times, they often seem very mature in different ways compared to todays books. I think we were probably more aware of reality; less protected against life.
Having said that, my Mum got the book from The Book Club that was run by Foyles. It was a mail order book club for adults, so maybe it wasn't considered a childs/teen book back then?

I am putting off reading the last 20 pages because I don't want to cry any more today, and I don't really want the book to finish!

I've read (somewhere) that Burnford didn't consider it a children's book. I'm going to do some research tomorrow.

It's hard to believe I would have coped with that much realism as a child. I wasn't allowed to watch Lassie because I got so upset! :D

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "I've read (somewhere) that Burnford didn't consider it a children's book. I'm going to do some research tomorrow.

It's hard to believe I would have coped with that much realism as a child. I wasn'..."

I can see on GR she's written other books, but I've never heard her name connected with any other than this one. Have you read any of her other works?

Lesley wrote: "Have you read any of her other works? "

No but I'm going to look out for them!

I’ll be very interested in your research, Carol. I also can’t believe I coped with the realism. I remember it being in my elementary school library, so I guess the librarian thought it was okay for kids.

I watched the Disney movie last night and enjoyed it. They toned down some of the more realistic aspects. It’s free on Hoopla and worth watching if you get the chance.

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "I've read (somewhere) that Burnford didn't consider it a children's book. I'm going to do some research tomorrow.

It's hard to believe I would have coped with that much realism as a child. I wasn'..."

Peggy wrote: "I’ll be very interested in your research, Carol. I also can’t believe I coped with the realism. I remember it being in my elementary school library, so I guess the librarian thought it was okay for..."

Which one was it, Peggy? The 1963 one or 1993 remake? I seem to recall the latter production only kept the skeleton of the story and changed most everything else - location, reason they traveled, names of the animals etc.
I can still see clearly in my mind the scene of Bodger coming over the rise when he returned home which I think was the 1963 version.

It was the 1963 version. I didn’t know there was a remake. In looking at the description, I’m not sure I’d like the animals to have celebrity voices. 😏

Lesley wrote: "Peggy wrote: "I’ll be very interested in your research, Carol. I also can’t believe I coped with the realism. I remember it being in my elementary school library, so I guess the librarian thought i..."

Peggy wrote: "It was the 1963 version. I didn’t know there was a remake. In looking at the description, I’m not sure I’d like the animals to have celebrity voices. 😏
"

Part of the charm of the book is that the animals don't speak!

I just noticed that the audiobook version is read by Megan Follows, who played Anne of Green Gables. I'm not ready to listen right away, but I think she would be an excellent narrator.

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "Peggy wrote: "It was the 1963 version. I didn’t know there was a remake. In looking at the description, I’m not sure I’d like the animals to have celebrity voices. 😏
"

Part of the charm of the boo..."

I totally agree.
I did see the film, and I'm pretty sure it was the 1963 version which I think was narrated - visual book reading. But I'm also sure I saw it on TV many years ago as I don't think I'd have been brave enough to suffer the humiliation of seeing it at a movie theatre. (no tissues those days!)

I've seen the Disney film a number of times. Not seen the later film.

Lesley, when I was 16 our class watched the Zeffirelli Romeo & Juliet. & I sobbed. Very embarrassing.

Here is a Wikipedia link that says this is definitely a work of fiction, but Burnford used her own three pets.

Two movies I saw as a kid and that stick in my mind vividly and both of which I sobbed like a baby were a Kid for two farthings which I saw at the local 'pop-up' theatre in the Koronui Hall, Stokes Valley (aged about 8); Wuthering Heights, aged around 11 going on 12 years.
Always made sure I saw happy movies at the theatre after that!

Thanks for the widipedia link. I think looking around the libraries we'll probably only find other books by her in second hand shops if we're lucky. I'd like to read another to see if she was a one hit wonder so to speak.

Apparently there are two later movies, Homeward Bound and Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco.

I love that Sheila Burnford modeled the characters after her own pets, and especially that the close relationship between the cat and dog was true.

Lesley wrote: "Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "I know I was 10 as I remember I was in an prefab classroom. (I was in those when I was 9 & 10.) I got my paperback from the bookclub (Scholastic?)

I do wonder if I h..."

I wonder if being emotionally upset as a child was perhaps seen as a given back in the "old days"? I know I read the covers off of Bambi when I was quite young. Which, I'm proud to say, gave me the correct question to Final Jeopardy's "This book begins with 'He came into the world in the middle of a thicket' ." Yes, I bawled every time I read it, but I also think those kinds of realistic, emotional tales fostered empathy in me.

Karlyne wrote: "Lesley wrote: "Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "I know I was 10 as I remember I was in an prefab classroom. (I was in those when I was 9 & 10.) I got my paperback from the bookclub (Scholastic?)

I d..."

I think so too, Karlyne. I feel kids grow up in a too safe, sanitised world today. They don't get to understand the realistic side of life, nor do their experiences, or lack of them, teach them risk management. Just as I feel being used to communicating via text/social media removes the ability to understand that what they say or do can have quite an adverse effect on people. In a country that has one of the highest teen suicide rates, I feel quite strongly that all of this makes a large contribution to that.
*soap-box stored until next time* :)

I think we've forgotten, because we love our kids and want to spare them pain, that the important thing about life is living it and not running or hiding from its messiness and its hurt. It's only then that we can see a reason for why we live.

Soap box is vacant now.😁