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4.17 AVERAGE
4.17 AVERAGE
challenging
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
First off, I really enjoyed this novel. The historical detail about horse racing and the life of Lexington was fascinating, and I was especially drawn to Jarrett’s storyline—his deep bond with horses and his unwavering work ethic were compelling and beautifully rendered. Each setting in the book was vivid, and Brooks’ prose is striking; nearly every paragraph reads like a painting. That said, I found the contemporary sections a bit less engaging than the historical ones—they lacked the same energy and emotional pull.
Now to some of the things I’m still sitting with. I’m conflicted about how a white author like Brooks approaches writing Black characters, particularly in a book so focused on the legacy of slavery and racism. It’s clear the intended audience is primarily white, and that raises questions about what impact a story like this can—or should—have. That said, I did find the historical material around the roles enslaved people played in horse racing to be deeply interesting and underrepresented. Theo, in particular, stood out as a complex character—caught between worlds, never quite at ease in any one space, shaped by both racism and privilege.
Brooks does seem to hold a mirror up to white audiences, especially when it comes to how they respond to racism—often centering themselves even when trying to do the “right” thing. It’s a point that’s uncomfortable but important. I also made the mistake of reading online reviews and was honestly appalled by how many readers—mostly older white women—complained about the book being “too woke.” That kind of reaction makes me wonder if that’s exactly why Brooks wrote the novel the way she did: to provoke, to educate, and to unsettle.
Overall, Horse is a rich and thought-provoking novel that left me both impressed and uneasy in the best way. It opened up parts of history I hadn’t encountered before, while also raising questions about who gets to tell certain stories and how they should be told. Despite my mixed feelings, I’m glad I read it—and I’ll be thinking about it for a long time.
Now to some of the things I’m still sitting with. I’m conflicted about how a white author like Brooks approaches writing Black characters, particularly in a book so focused on the legacy of slavery and racism. It’s clear the intended audience is primarily white, and that raises questions about what impact a story like this can—or should—have. That said, I did find the historical material around the roles enslaved people played in horse racing to be deeply interesting and underrepresented. Theo, in particular, stood out as a complex character—caught between worlds, never quite at ease in any one space, shaped by both racism and privilege.
Brooks does seem to hold a mirror up to white audiences, especially when it comes to how they respond to racism—often centering themselves even when trying to do the “right” thing. It’s a point that’s uncomfortable but important. I also made the mistake of reading online reviews and was honestly appalled by how many readers—mostly older white women—complained about the book being “too woke.” That kind of reaction makes me wonder if that’s exactly why Brooks wrote the novel the way she did: to provoke, to educate, and to unsettle.
Overall, Horse is a rich and thought-provoking novel that left me both impressed and uneasy in the best way. It opened up parts of history I hadn’t encountered before, while also raising questions about who gets to tell certain stories and how they should be told. Despite my mixed feelings, I’m glad I read it—and I’ll be thinking about it for a long time.
adventurous
inspiring
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I really loved Geraldine Brooks's The People of the Book, and this one is also a winner! I love horses, but, even if I didn't, this book blends a clear-eyed look at the US racial history, the history of horse racing (and Black trainers and jockeys) and current racial politics with interesting insights into the preservation of our history and culture in the Smithsonian museum. This is a really good book!
Overall, I enjoyed this more than I thought I would despite my disinterest in fiction about art or history and my opposition to horse racing.
emotional
informative
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
speechless. 1st, I‘m a horse girl. I don’t think horse-loving is a prerequisite for enjoyment—but I imagine it’s the difference for people who find it slow and people who don’t. I didn’t find it even remotely slow, but a really steady medium pace… prob because I like and understand the equine subject.
I was lukewarm on the anti-black commentary, but it’s just an audience thing. I’d prefer a more progressive line re: the race, class, and women’s questions. + intersections… It was poignant nonetheless and, considering the whole world doesn’t revolve around me, guess I can’t really complain.
I read some reviews claiming the whole thing was convoluted? I found all the characters and storylines compelling—and didn’t find any one distracting… in fact, idk if I’ve ever read something like this and enjoyed all the POVs so evenly!
lastly, horses!
I was lukewarm on the anti-black commentary, but it’s just an audience thing. I’d prefer a more progressive line re: the race, class, and women’s questions. + intersections… It was poignant nonetheless and, considering the whole world doesn’t revolve around me, guess I can’t really complain.
I read some reviews claiming the whole thing was convoluted? I found all the characters and storylines compelling—and didn’t find any one distracting… in fact, idk if I’ve ever read something like this and enjoyed all the POVs so evenly!
lastly, horses!
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
sad
medium-paced
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I knew nothing of this book which was recommended by a friend. I am not a "horse person" so was skeptical, but the narrative weaves together the stories of several people (and horses!) past and present and I enjoyed it much more than I expected to.