Freeper Reading Club Discussion: "Seabiscuit"

Self | March 6, 2004 | PJ-Comix

[PJ-Comix]

This month's Freeper Reading Club discussion is on the book "Seabiscuit." Post away with your comments. If you read this book then you know it was a much richer story than they had in the movie due to time limitations.

[PJ-Comix]

The NEXT book assignment of the Freeper Reading Club will be All The King's Men by Robert Penn Warren. One of the BEST novels ever. This will be due May 10.

[PJ-Comix]

FYI

[billorites]

All The King's Men by Robert Penn Warren is the great American novel.

[ClintonBeGone]

I wish they had given Red a girlfriend in the book.

[Lawdoc]

Is Seabiscuit (the novel) suitable for reading by a teenager? I note the prostitute scene in the movie and this gives me pause.

[PJ-Comix]

Is Seabiscuit (the novel) suitable for reading by a teenager?

Yes, because it doesn't get into too much detail (except for maybe a "smoking" scene). Anyway, since one of the big racetracks of the 1920s was located in Tijuana, it's a little tough to write about it without mentioning the prostitution. I mean Tijuana and prostitution is like bread and butter. Tough to discuss one without the other. But the author didn't dwell on prostitution in this book.

[PJ-Comix]

I wish they had given Red a girlfriend in the book.

Instead they gave him a wife which was completely written out of the movie.

[samtheman]

I start reading this book today.

[CindyDawg]

How long are yall going to be discussing it? I have the book but haven't read it yet. I can probably have it done in a day or two though :')

[blanknoone]

I hadn't seen the movie yet so reading the book was an absolute joy. The clarity and power of the message, that it's the heart, confidence in onesself and desire for greatness that determines ones future, was overwhelmingly convincing.

Ok, here's a nice freeper tie in: when the state takes that heart away by promising to nanny us through our lives, we become the whinny bunch of snivling losers that we see so often today; no power to improve, create or move forward.

So, excellent choice PJ, I totally enjoyed it and will pick up ATKM from the library asap.

BTW, Blanknoone and I picked up the movie version soon there after and were totally disappointed, I actually had to walk out half way through. It seemed to be all about the mechanics and even in that it didn't work well for me.

Fiance of BN

[CindyDawg]

Becky,
Have you read it? I watched the movie but I didn't get around to this one yet :')

[stylin_geek]

The book was fascinating, and even more interesting is the notes at the end where Laura Hillenbrand writes about how she found some of her material. From what she says at the end, she spent a lot of time researching and verifying her facts.

Probably the worst thing she talks about is what those early jockies went through to make weight.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book, even though I found the writing somewhat repetitious at times.

[PushinTin]

This is a read you can really appreciate. 'Seabiscuit' is an excellent example of the will to win and the will to succeed. It’s proves again that real life stories are much better than anything ‘Hollywood’ could ever imagine. I highly recommend the illustrated version.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Yeah, I've read the book and it was great. There are some really interesting stories about jockies in there and the things they did: burying themselves in manure to help loose weight (that's one I haven't tried:), one jockey who was dead but came back to life and rode the same day his obituary was in the newspaper. It's a fun book.
I kept making Mack let me read parts to him. He especially like the radio interview with Red and George. It was hilarious.

Becky

[coloradan]

Libertarians can find some support in the story. When horse racing and alcohol were prohibited in this country, Tijuana sprang up to fill the demand - because demand doesn't vanish at the stroke of a pen. Not long afterwards, in the Depression, several States realized just how much revenue they were losing, and sought to decriminalize the behaviors to cash in on them. It would appear that governments are far better at making money by taxation, than at guiding people to the path of righteousness by edict.

[ecurbh]

Ping!

[CindyDawg]

Yeah. I asked to be on this ping list awhile back but can't seem to get the homework done and usually just lurk:') I got the book with the movie and have been meaning to read it.

[Ruth A.]

Eke! I missed the earlier call to read, so I will be pouring over this book over the next couple of days. Luckily, we have it at home.

I just finished reading two children's books by Margaurite Henry: Black Gold and San Domingo. I truly enjoy her style of writing and would recommend them without reservation for family reading. The first is based on a true story about a Kentucky Derby winner and the second is a fictionalized account of a pony express rider.

[PJ-Comix]

Probably the worst thing she talks about is what those early jockies went through to make weight.

Yeah. Anyone who thinks being a jockey is some sort of glamorous life will be disabused of that notion after reading this book. A lot of jockeys lost their teeth due to the stomach acid retched up when they threw up in order to lose weight. YEEEECH!!!

[stylin_geek]

Where was it, outside of Tijuana where the jockies would dig a hole in the mountain of horse manure, climb in, and sweat off weight? Uggh...