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Summary: Timeless classic more than describes this story.
Review: This has been a favorite of mine, since being "required" to read it in grade school. The version I read then, had some of the more violent scenes edited out, such as the fist fight.As an adult I re-read the full version, and was just as enthralled as ever. I have since passed this story to my four sons. Each of them agree it is one of the best books they have ever read. My sons are avid readers, and have read C. S. Lewis, Steven King and many other famous and popular authors. For them to be impressed so deeply by this story is a testament to the quality and depth of this truly classic book.
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Summary: This book is too long, too drawn out, and is a waste of time
Review: I am one of the unlucky ones who HAD to read this book for school. This book can not be considered a "timeless classic". The REAL story only starts a few pages before half-way through the book (check for yourself). It also describes nature too deep in detail. Also, most of the book is very irrelevant to the whole story. This book needs to be avoided at all costs. If you want to read a good book, read anything accept this one.
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Summary: The Yearling Depicts the Real Florida-or what it used to be
Review: I have lived in North Florida nearly all my life, but it takes a book like The Yearling to make me come to my senses concerning how our state has changed due to development and its contributions. Rawlings's book is highly adventurous despite its realistic nature. And, of course, the final chapters will touch any person who truly has a soul. However. I feel that the strongest emphasis the book should make today is how it focuses on man's relationship to the land. As a teacher, I will use this book to show students how the land was once used and respected. I think that The Yearling is a book that every student in Florida should read and know; I also think that those wishing to see Florida should read this book so that their visit is not daunted by the Mickey Mouse atmosphere that covers much of Florida these days. The Yearling, in my opinion, is one of the most beautiful books ever written.
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Summary: Excellent
Review: I thought this was an excellent book. Although it was a bit hard to get used to the dialect, it was one of the best books I have ever read. What a sad ending. My eyes fill up just thinking about it. I must say, I am glad I finished it at home instead of at school!
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Summary: A Book that offers a delicious invitation into a world gone
Review: In our current state of continual distraction, this book offers a view of a time and a place when things-- people, animals, the sky, plants, animals- were noticed, encountered, and connected to. The book is simply written yet deliciously descriptive, and offers an invitation into a world long gone by. It deals with the loss of innocence, and the sense of wonder that anyone with an open mind can view this thing called Life with. A book to be savored and reread.
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Summary: One of the best adventure stories I've read!
Review: I am 40-something years old and The Yearling is one of the best books I have ever read. Anyone who loves nature and has lived in Florida will appreciate the author's delicious descriptions. Her words are food for the senses. I was sad when I came to the end of the book!
Rating: 
Summary: Too LONG!!!!!
Review: The Yearling had too much sybolism; I don't reccomend it for the literal reader, like me. It took FOREVER for the boy to get over the deer. I'm sorry but when some kid can only play with a deer while the parents work it is extremely sad. Altough I liked the mother, she wasn't sympathetic at all and I don't blame her at all.
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Summary: Reading Genre Review of The Yearling ( Historical Fiction)
Review: Reading Genre: The Yearling ( Historical Fiction ) My Opinion of this "timeless classic" is not very good. It did not catch my interest as well as some books and was very hard to read and understand. The plot set a good morale example, but, being a fifty year old book, it was not very exciting as standing up to my measures. If I was on a committee to vote in this book as one of the greatest novels to understand ever written, I am afraid that I would have to turn it down. Yet, some people feel differently and that is why we have opinions. I also would have to say, in a more positive respect, that the book did set a very good , almost realistic, example of life in the wilderness and the hardships one might face. That, I am afraid, is my opinion of "The Yearling". The author, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, is the author of several other novels, as well as a memoir, Cross Creek, which inspired the acclaimed motion picture of the same name. Coincidentally she lived for twenty-five years in Cross Creek, Florida, which is the setting of The Yearling. She was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1939 for this novel. She lived from 1896-1953 and was a true figure in Historical Fiction. A short synopsis of the book would probably go something like this. In the backwoods of Florida there lives a poor family with a young child named Jody. One day while Jody is hunting with his father Penny for a bear named " OLE' Slewfoot " Penny is bitten on the arm by a rattlesnake. Penny quickly kills a grazing doe and uses the liver to remove the poison from his wound. Jody discovers that the doe had a fawn and quickly convinces his father to let him keep the yearling. Jody is forced t decide on the fate of his beloved fawn, whom he has named "Flag", after it grows and continues to eat the poor families hard earned crops. Jody's mother accidentally shoots the fawn and Jody runs away believing that his mother intended to. The books main theme is of facing difficult times and pulling through them. Jody faces the death of a neighbor friend named Fodder-Wing, the death of his beloved pet, the near-death of his father, and also, his own near death experience when he runs away from home. All in all the book morally right. A look at the characters of the story would reveal: Jody himself has love and compassion for all living things; his mother has become withdrawn and cold after the deaths of her children. Fodder-Wing is very weak in physical health and in poor health, but has a God-given gift to communicate with wildlife. Fodder-Wing's older brothers on the other hand, are the epitome' of brawn, strength, and good health; but how they love their little brother! The fawn "Flag" Was extremely memorable. But although "Flag's" ending was very tragic, to say the least, it was nesscessary to the completion to Jody's character. Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings writing is very hard to understand, considering it was written long before my generation. She writes in a very expressive style and includes, what I assume, all of her thoughts and feelings into the book. As well as going into strong details on a lot of things I feel like was unnecessary to the book. I was not very suprised when I found out that this book was not written for children, but for adults. Her writing could be described as VERY descriptive and almost script like. She had a very good knack for writing, just not to my taste. Her writing seems almost unnatural to me. I would almost certainly not recommend this to anyone under the age of sixteen. -Justin Newman
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Summary: Slow
Review: Too many details, and very slow. I not only have to read it but I have to understand it for school. Some parts are OK, but there is too much description of the plants and animals, and of so miniscule relevancy to the storyline.
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Summary: The Yearling has strong characters that evoke deep emotions.
Review: Although I read "The Yearling" nearly thirty years ago, it still remains my all-time book. First, Ms. Rawling's characters are strong; i.e., even in their individual frailty, they each stand apart from one another. Second, the characters contrast one another. Jody has love and compassion; his mother has become withdrawn and cold. Fodder Wing is weak in physical strength and poor in health, but has a God-given gift through his ability to communicate with wildlife. His older brothers, on the otherhand, are the epitome' of brawn, strength, and good health; but how they love their frail, little brother! The fawn, Flag, was so memorable that I named my present Labrador Retriever after him. But although Flag's ending was tragic to say the least, it was necessary in the completion of Jody's character. I cannot say that "The Yearling" is a book for everyone, but it is truly a literary classic; at least in my opinion. If I could ever emulate an author, it would be Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, because a book that transmits to the reader a strong depth of characters, as well as evoking deep emotions, is always one that keeps my attention.
Myra L. Marcu
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