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Book Nook provides readers with insights into the world of books. Vick Mickunas takes you into the center of the publishing world with the latest book buzz, book reviews, and exclusive chats with authors..Home > Blogs > Book Nook > Archives > 2010 > January > 21 > Entry
Old Yeller
Do you remember the movies that brought you to tears? For my generation Bambi always seems to make that list of tearjerkers.
I can still remember sitting in the movie theater as a kid and watching the film version of Old Yeller. Now that story made me cry. Those were the days.
The film was based on the book by Fred Gipson. It was published in 1956. In 1957 it won the Newbery Honor.
After I saw the movie I went back and found the book at my public library. That heartwarming story of a boy and a dog and their deep love for one another brought me to tears again.
A new generation of readers and listeners has the opportunity now to rediscover this book. The Caedmon label just re-issued Old Yeller as an audiobook on three CDs. This version is read by Peter Francis James and it runs four hours.
That story still brings the tears.
Vick Mickunas
Permalink | Comments (8) | Post your comment | Categories: audiobook extra
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By jessica
May 12, 2011 3:27 PM | Link to this
The Movie was the one that made me cry so i thoughtI needed to read the book to see if it would make me cry like the movie and it is a wonderful book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By H Lee
January 23, 2010 11:17 AM | Link to this
I agree with Dave. I’m told that at four I used to run out of the room with my hands over my ears when Mom was reading Bambi and it came to the death of his mother. With Old Yeller, twelve-year-old I made a friend promise me that Yeller didn’t get killed in the end. (She lied.) I frankly hope a new generation of readers and listeners firmly resists the “opportunity” to have their hearts broken again.
By Raoul
January 22, 2010 3:04 PM | Link to this
Dave, maybe the author was trying to make some sort of case for euthanasia. Maybe he predicted our health care system would be faced with future ‘death squads’ determining the fate of it’s citizens. Or, maybe we can find symbolism in ‘Old Yeller’ elected as the protector, becoming completely unhinged and deranged, and in need of being terminated (voted out??) Or maybe I am just letting our current political state of affairs affect my thinking. Whatever the case, Old Yeller did have a happy ending. Remember the little yeller pup (Dad got around some)that was wagging it’s little yeller tail at the end?
By Dave
January 22, 2010 8:42 AM | Link to this
To this day, I don’t think there was a good reason for the ending to Old Yeller. The book was great and heartwarming. Rather than just end it, the author uses the last two or three pages to murder our good friend. How is that anything other than cruelty to kids?
By TRS
January 21, 2010 11:21 PM | Link to this
Can’t remember if I read it, but I saw the movie. Cried like a baby when they had to shoot ‘old Yeller. Like Mike, I too have a soft spot for dogs. Had to put my Golden Retriever down almost 2 years ago and we still miss her.
By Raoul
January 21, 2010 5:52 PM | Link to this
The movie ‘Old Yeller’ made me cry, and ‘Bambi’ the book made me cry, both as a young boy. Anyone who didn’t cry when that old yeller dog had to die is not human.
By lmj
January 21, 2010 5:28 PM | Link to this
Mike and Vick, don’t read page 203 of Cutting for Stone - the ONLY reason I wasn’t in tears was the entrance and exit was all on one page. Wondering if there was some reason, that will show up later, to include this in the book.
By Mike
January 21, 2010 4:00 PM | Link to this
Hey Vick. Hope you had a nice holiday. As a kid I read Old Yeller. Don’t remember if I cried. Probably didn’t. I was just a kid, after all. But I’ll bet you I’d be a blubbering idiot if I read it now. Heck, I had to read “Marley And Me” with a perpetual box of Kleenex next to me. Reading it as my old and gray 13 year old lab was curled up on top of my feet was just too much for me to take. What can I say. I’m a softy for dogs. We human beings are an odd lot when it comes to our animals, aren’t we?