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4.17 AVERAGE
4.17 AVERAGE
hopeful
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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Slavery
Moderate: Death, Police brutality, War, Classism
Minor: Vomit, Murder, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
challenging
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Ummm just wow? The creativity? The research? The presentation? All of it was just combined beautifully to make an engaging, thought-provoking, & unique story. This wasn't a quick read & there are many viewpoints, but some of them are only featured once for a quick fact so it's pretty easy to keep track of things once you get going. I loved that the characters I felt interested in towards the beginning almost reversed by the end of the book. The parallels between timelines & our current political climate were uncanny & this skyrocketed Brooks up my auto-buy authors list.
In Horse, a rare 19th-century racehorse named Lexington serves as the focal point for intertwining stories spanning art, history, and science. An art conservator uncovers a mysterious painting of the horse, leading to investigations that reveal the lives of the enslaved Black groom who cared for Lexington, the artists who captured his image, and the horse’s own extraordinary legacy. Brooks blends meticulous historical research with narrative storytelling to explore themes of legacy, memory, and the often-overlooked contributions of marginalized individuals.
adventurous
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
So sad but informative and I like how most of the perspectives came together. Not sure why the lady artist was there for a bit and didn’t really combine with the others, but it is what it is.
emotional
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Would unequivocally recommend this for many reasons. The historical fiction angle based partially on real stories from the 1850s all the way to the 2020.
There’s lots and lots of information related to the important role that people of color played in the history of horse racing in the United States.
The ending of the more modern plotline doesn’t end in the way you think, unless it does? Even though this story doesn’t mirror my own life experience(s) I think that providing a stark example of police violence towards POC. It makes me uncomfortable as a white man, which should be the point. I appreciate the author’s perspective and careful telling of this story.
There’s lots and lots of information related to the important role that people of color played in the history of horse racing in the United States.
The ending of the more modern plotline doesn’t end in the way you think, unless it does? Even though this story doesn’t mirror my own life experience(s) I think that providing a stark example of police violence towards POC. It makes me uncomfortable as a white man, which should be the point. I appreciate the author’s perspective and careful telling of this story.
fast-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:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
This book is not just about a horse. It's about love, loyalty, racism and art. It is beautiful writing, well researched and a fantastic read.
3.5 stars rounded up
‘Horse’ by Geraldine Brooks is a novel brimming with history, tying the narrative of a racehorse and his enslaved trainer in the late 1800s to their legacy being preserved in the modern day. An enthralling blend of historical and literary fiction, the novel paints a distressing and honest picture of the stain of racism throughout generations. The connection of humans through time periods is an interesting way to present a narrative, however, it does present an issue where I found myself enjoying one of the narratives more than the other, primarily due to the modern story feeling more like an accompaniment or addition to the other.
Brooks writes with a confident yet tender voice, and brings her characters to life with empathy and realism – especially a young boy named Jerret, who was born into slavery. His strong bond with his horse Lexington truly was the spirit of this book, and some of the most affecting sections in the narrative for me were watching Jarret grow from a boy to a man alongside this horse, becoming self assured, spirited, and strong. As a black man, Jarret is appraised and utilized solely for his quality as a worker; he is seen as a product. His skills are useful. His body is useful. His dehumanisation is parallel to that of the race horses who are worked to foam and blood on the tracks. I was struck by how horse and human become intertwined, highlighting the degrading treatment they suffered from by the hands of rich and powerful people.
Racism was a key running theme in this book; the white people around Jarret can praise his skills, treat him with sympathy, but they still do not view him as equal. Even the sympathetic painter – Thomas J. Scott – often speaks like he knows what is best for Jarret, as if Jarret does not have the agency to make his own choices. I found that Scott’s perspective added a lot to the past narrative – illustrating the wavering tensions between secessionists and unionists, particularly in the southern states. Lines between being a good man and a bad man become increasingly blurry; how can a ‘good’ man who treats those on his land well, truly be good when he owns slaves, regardless of how ‘good’ their treatment is? It is a gripping story to read, and you are able to engage with it from multiple angles.
This novel stood out to me in its exploration of how both art and science are pivotal in documenting history and ensuring the past is not forgotten. Jess’s studies and work into the restoration of the horse’s skeleton, and Theo’s academic work on the depiction of black groomsmen in American equestrian paintings are both fantastic throughlines to the past story, and show the importance of the humanities in retaining history. The idea that the history of black groomsmen, many of whom were the backbone of the racing industry, can be remembered through their portrayals in art is the strongest part of the ‘modern’ storyline. I loved the way this book dived into equestrian terminology and practices, which made the sections of Jarret taking care of his horse feel meditative and almost healing. The themes of this story linger in you, leaving you feeling angry and disgusted, yet ultimately enriched.
Unfortunately, the rest of this storyline was ultimately what let down this book for me. I never found myself fully engaged in Jess and Theo’s stories, finding Jess’s constant self-flagellation over her whiteness to feel out of place against the brutal and dehumanising systemic racism that Jarret faced as a slave. I knew what compelled and affected me – and it just wasn’t Jess. The novel ending on her perspective felt a little unearned; I would much rather have Jarret's voice be the final lingering note. Theo’s story had some intriguing aspects, living as a black man in America but also coming from financial privilege. Ultimately, by the end he feels less like a main character and more like a vehicle for commentary.
Brooks is a talented writer and evidently cares about the themes she writes with and the stories she draws from. While I feel that there is far more care and interest to be found in the chapters that are set in the past, there is enough of an emotional link between the two storylines that I enjoy the modern addition. I would be interested to read more of Brooks’s work, as her writing stands out to me as full of care, and unique in scope and topic.
‘Horse’ by Geraldine Brooks is a novel brimming with history, tying the narrative of a racehorse and his enslaved trainer in the late 1800s to their legacy being preserved in the modern day. An enthralling blend of historical and literary fiction, the novel paints a distressing and honest picture of the stain of racism throughout generations. The connection of humans through time periods is an interesting way to present a narrative, however, it does present an issue where I found myself enjoying one of the narratives more than the other, primarily due to the modern story feeling more like an accompaniment or addition to the other.
Brooks writes with a confident yet tender voice, and brings her characters to life with empathy and realism – especially a young boy named Jerret, who was born into slavery. His strong bond with his horse Lexington truly was the spirit of this book, and some of the most affecting sections in the narrative for me were watching Jarret grow from a boy to a man alongside this horse, becoming self assured, spirited, and strong. As a black man, Jarret is appraised and utilized solely for his quality as a worker; he is seen as a product. His skills are useful. His body is useful. His dehumanisation is parallel to that of the race horses who are worked to foam and blood on the tracks. I was struck by how horse and human become intertwined, highlighting the degrading treatment they suffered from by the hands of rich and powerful people.
Racism was a key running theme in this book; the white people around Jarret can praise his skills, treat him with sympathy, but they still do not view him as equal. Even the sympathetic painter – Thomas J. Scott – often speaks like he knows what is best for Jarret, as if Jarret does not have the agency to make his own choices. I found that Scott’s perspective added a lot to the past narrative – illustrating the wavering tensions between secessionists and unionists, particularly in the southern states. Lines between being a good man and a bad man become increasingly blurry; how can a ‘good’ man who treats those on his land well, truly be good when he owns slaves, regardless of how ‘good’ their treatment is? It is a gripping story to read, and you are able to engage with it from multiple angles.
This novel stood out to me in its exploration of how both art and science are pivotal in documenting history and ensuring the past is not forgotten. Jess’s studies and work into the restoration of the horse’s skeleton, and Theo’s academic work on the depiction of black groomsmen in American equestrian paintings are both fantastic throughlines to the past story, and show the importance of the humanities in retaining history. The idea that the history of black groomsmen, many of whom were the backbone of the racing industry, can be remembered through their portrayals in art is the strongest part of the ‘modern’ storyline. I loved the way this book dived into equestrian terminology and practices, which made the sections of Jarret taking care of his horse feel meditative and almost healing. The themes of this story linger in you, leaving you feeling angry and disgusted, yet ultimately enriched.
Unfortunately, the rest of this storyline was ultimately what let down this book for me. I never found myself fully engaged in Jess and Theo’s stories, finding Jess’s constant self-flagellation over her whiteness to feel out of place against the brutal and dehumanising systemic racism that Jarret faced as a slave. I knew what compelled and affected me – and it just wasn’t Jess. The novel ending on her perspective felt a little unearned; I would much rather have Jarret's voice be the final lingering note. Theo’s story had some intriguing aspects, living as a black man in America but also coming from financial privilege. Ultimately, by the end he feels less like a main character and more like a vehicle for commentary.
Brooks is a talented writer and evidently cares about the themes she writes with and the stories she draws from. While I feel that there is far more care and interest to be found in the chapters that are set in the past, there is enough of an emotional link between the two storylines that I enjoy the modern addition. I would be interested to read more of Brooks’s work, as her writing stands out to me as full of care, and unique in scope and topic.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
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:
N/A