Where the Red Fern Grows
By celticeagle
@celticeagle (159832)
Boise, Idaho
April 28, 2024 5:33pm CST
I was about ten or eleven going to elementary school in Pocatello, Idaho, and living with my mother, stepfather and stepbrother in a little house with a white picket fence. I remember Wilson Rawls came to visit our school one day. He was a tall man just what you might think a country farmer would look like. Tall and a bit unkempt. The kids were called into the auditorium for a surprise assembly that day. We never knew what these were about but usually something important. I remember he stood up on the stage beside a mike and a stack of papers more than half as tall as he was. That was a lot of papers. Come to find out that was his manuscript for "Where the Red Fern Grows" the wonderful story of a young boy's dream to have his own hunting dogs and what he goes through to get them, train them, and hunt with them. It has always been a favorite book of mine.
I had always enjoyed books but after hearing Wilson Rawls speak and reading his story I think that might have been one of the first things that got me interested in writing. It wasn't until 3 or 4 years later and meeting who was to be my BFF that the writing thing really took off. But "Where the Red Fern Grows" and that meeting of Wilson Rawls meant a great deal to me.
The book was written with such love and you could tell he loved those dogs. It was about his childhood in the Ozark Mountains. The book came out in 1961 and was made into a movie in 1974 with Stewart Peterson, James Whitmore, Beverly Garland, and Jack Ging in it and, had a sequel in 1992.
Billy Colman was the boy's name, Old Dan and Little Ann were the dog's names. Redbone hounds.
If you haven't read this book you need to. The movie was okay but the book is wonderful.
The picture is courtesy of allmovies.com
11 people like this
10 responses
@RasmaSandra (74044)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
28 Apr
Thank you for the information, I lovely story to get children interested in books, I will look this up online,
3 people like this
@TheHorse (207411)
• Walnut Creek, California
29 Apr
Sounds interesting. I am thinking of forwarding your post to my friend Michael Katz, who is a professional story teller. In middle age, both he and I sometimes wonder if what we do has had the positive influences we had/have hoped for. Your story is encouraging.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (159832)
• Boise, Idaho
29 Apr
That's good and I am glad to hear it.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (159832)
• Boise, Idaho
30 Apr
I like how it opened and how it ended. It was good from cover to cover.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (159832)
• Boise, Idaho
30 Apr
It is a great book.
Yes, quite an adventure through Burroughs and Norton just to list a couple.
1 person likes this
@just4him (308292)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
1 May
@celticeagle That's great you had a good adventure.
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (75069)
• East Tawas, Michigan
28 Apr
Many books have been made into a movie and I always suffer from disappointment! Reading the book is a wonderful experience, while the movie has more drama and things added in, to make it more interesting. I disagree!
I've never read "Where the Red Fern Grows," it sounds like a wonderful book!
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (159832)
• Boise, Idaho
30 Apr
@kobesbuddy .......It's a wonderful story.
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (75069)
• East Tawas, Michigan
29 Apr
@celticeagle I need to look for this book, at the library:)
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157813)
• United States
29 Apr
It was required reading for my kids. I have seen parts of the movie. I guess it kind of made me sad.
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (45649)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
29 Apr
I don't believe I've ever read the book nor watched the movie but the names of the dogs seem to ring a bell...
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (159832)
• Boise, Idaho
30 Apr
I hope you find it and enjoy it. I enjoy the revenge type of movies but this one is a real journey.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (158233)
• United States
29 Apr
Thanks for the review and critique. Have a good week.
1 person likes this