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3.55 AVERAGE
3.55 AVERAGE
I read this book because I liked the movie with Robert Redford and Scarlett Johansson.
The book was better in most of the ways books usually are, but the ending is completely different and a bit overdramatic, if you ask me.
The book was better in most of the ways books usually are, but the ending is completely different and a bit overdramatic, if you ask me.
Four stars only because I've been searching for a horse book for adults for years - why didn't anyone tell me about this classic?
The first half to the first two thirds were really good, too! I just have an issue with how every major life-changing legitimate traumatic situation was ultimately resolved by someone starting their period or getting pregnant. I also have a major issue with how sexuality was handled in this book.
But still: horses, adult themes, and actual horrible things happening to people. 4/5.
The first half to the first two thirds were really good, too! I just have an issue with how every major life-changing legitimate traumatic situation was ultimately resolved by someone starting their period or getting pregnant. I also have a major issue with how sexuality was handled in this book.
But still: horses, adult themes, and actual horrible things happening to people. 4/5.
So, this was an annoying read. Not uninteresting, just annoying.
A short review- I loved it at first (it started on a high note), then it got very bland in the middle, then it picked up at the very, very annoying end.
So yeah, 4 stars for the storyline.
I'm keeping 1 star for myself for making it through the book without hitting my head against the wall.
A short review- I loved it at first (it started on a high note), then it got very bland in the middle, then it picked up at the very, very annoying end.
So yeah, 4 stars for the storyline.
I'm keeping 1 star for myself for making it through the book without hitting my head against the wall.
Tom is recruited to help a horse, a young girl, and her mother after a tragic riding accident caused physical and emotional scars. Personally, I think Evans is a phenomenal nature writer. Any book I've read of his I have had a hard time putting down.
This book started well, went along well and ended poorly. Just when I thought Evans would really come through for me with an honest, believable story, he gave it up. Sad but true. And it doesn't help to have some insight into horses and know that no "horse whisperer" would be that stupid.
There are things I like and dislike about this book.
I like the friendship between Grace and Joe, and I would love to know if they ever kept in touch after the book.
I didn't like how the book ended, and did not like the cheating aspect of the book.
I like the friendship between Grace and Joe, and I would love to know if they ever kept in touch after the book.
I didn't like how the book ended, and did not like the cheating aspect of the book.
This book will always be special to me. When my Granda died my Mum found this book on his shelves while clearing out his house and gave it to me due to my love of horses. I was a child at the time and wasn't able to get through the first chapter (thankfully!!).
However as a young teenager I picked the book up again; and I barely set it down until I had devoured the whole thing.
Reading through the other reviews of this book I realised how much the age I read this book at had an impact in my reading of it.
Dispite the emphasis on her mother Annie for most of the book, Grace was always the main character for me. It was Grace who I could empathise with, it was Grace going through the emotional and physical healing process and, in fact, it was Annie who was the villain of the story. Not a complete villain; just the same way all our parents become a little villainous to us when we are teenagers. Many reviewers have stated a hatred of the book that has stemmed from the characterisation of the "main character" Annie. There is, however, at least one other reading of these characters to be interpreted.
Another effect of my age on my reading of the book was that I hadn't yet been assaulted with the repetitive, cliched, uninspiring, mundane overpopulation of the Chick Lit/Romantic/Romantic Comedy wall that is the first thing that greets you in any chain book store.
The Horse Whisperer was my first adult book. The raw pain and emotion was something I had not encountered in a book before; and neither have I encountered it in a book since.
This book may deal with the same "rehashing of themes like overcoming tragedy and adversity; the contrast between the ruthless, stress-filled corporate environment and the simpler, idealised fulfillment found in a ranching/farming life." (Review by: Caleb Liu) however I do believe it deals with those themes in a much more exciting, emotional and raw treatment than other books.
What I'm trying to say here is, don't paint all emotional books with the same brush.... The mass publishing of these genres has saturated the market with some truely repetitive crap but there are some diamonds amongst the fossilised dinosaur poop.
Finally, as my first adult novel, it had a real bona fide sex scene in it which provided endless nights of giggling at sleepovers. What doesn't deserve 5 stars for that??
However as a young teenager I picked the book up again; and I barely set it down until I had devoured the whole thing.
Reading through the other reviews of this book I realised how much the age I read this book at had an impact in my reading of it.
Dispite the emphasis on her mother Annie for most of the book, Grace was always the main character for me. It was Grace who I could empathise with, it was Grace going through the emotional and physical healing process and, in fact, it was Annie who was the villain of the story. Not a complete villain; just the same way all our parents become a little villainous to us when we are teenagers. Many reviewers have stated a hatred of the book that has stemmed from the characterisation of the "main character" Annie. There is, however, at least one other reading of these characters to be interpreted.
Another effect of my age on my reading of the book was that I hadn't yet been assaulted with the repetitive, cliched, uninspiring, mundane overpopulation of the Chick Lit/Romantic/Romantic Comedy wall that is the first thing that greets you in any chain book store.
The Horse Whisperer was my first adult book. The raw pain and emotion was something I had not encountered in a book before; and neither have I encountered it in a book since.
This book may deal with the same "rehashing of themes like overcoming tragedy and adversity; the contrast between the ruthless, stress-filled corporate environment and the simpler, idealised fulfillment found in a ranching/farming life." (Review by: Caleb Liu) however I do believe it deals with those themes in a much more exciting, emotional and raw treatment than other books.
What I'm trying to say here is, don't paint all emotional books with the same brush.... The mass publishing of these genres has saturated the market with some truely repetitive crap but there are some diamonds amongst the fossilised dinosaur poop.
Finally, as my first adult novel, it had a real bona fide sex scene in it which provided endless nights of giggling at sleepovers. What doesn't deserve 5 stars for that??
J'avais adoré le film, qui est d'ailleurs encore aujourd'hui un de mes films préférés, et j'étais curieuse de voir ce que le roman pouvait donner. Au final, il n'apporte rien de plus d'après moi à part quelques scènes du point de vue de Robert (le père de Grace), de Tom Booker, et au début le chauffeur du camion. Sinon le film est une excellente adaptation, même les dialogues sont respectés à la lettre dans certaines scènes. Point positif tout de même, il se lit très vite, on avance très rapidement dans l'histoire, malgré la séparation en plusieurs parties du roman.
Un très beau roman, avec une très belle histoire. J'ai trouvé que Pilgrim était moins présent que dans le film, ou alors j'ai été moins marquée par ses scènes comme je les connaissais déjà. L'émotion était moins présente aussi, je pense que c'est surtout dû au jeu des acteurs qui est juste génial dans le film. C'est difficile de faire mieux après, quand on connaît déjà l'histoire.
Si vous avez aimé le film, vous aimerez sûrement le livre, et si vous ne l'avez pas vu, je vous conseille tout de même de le lire ;).
Un très beau roman, avec une très belle histoire. J'ai trouvé que Pilgrim était moins présent que dans le film, ou alors j'ai été moins marquée par ses scènes comme je les connaissais déjà. L'émotion était moins présente aussi, je pense que c'est surtout dû au jeu des acteurs qui est juste génial dans le film. C'est difficile de faire mieux après, quand on connaît déjà l'histoire.
Si vous avez aimé le film, vous aimerez sûrement le livre, et si vous ne l'avez pas vu, je vous conseille tout de même de le lire ;).
Raw and real and beautifully written. I cried twice lol
Trash, but entertaining trash. Around the time I read this, I wrote that I "liked the horse stuff" but found other parts melodramatic and cliche.