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morgansreading94's review against another edition
emotional
informative
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
seejanefangirl's review against another edition
4.0
Really well researched, thoughtful, heart-wrenching. There was so much detail in the first 3/4 of the plot, but the final 1/4 felt rushed. I wish there had been a little more connection of the timelines.
sbursh's review against another edition
5.0
This is going down as one of the best books I’ve ever read. I was completely engrossed by the story of Jarrett, groom and trainer to the famous Thoroughbred–Lexington, and slave. This book covers areas ranging from racism (both past and present), slavery, the Civil War, and the horse racing industry (based on a famous racehorse and painting). My only critique for this nearly perfect book is that I would have preferred if she had focused only on the story covering the Civil War time period rather than telling three stories from different eras. I was so connected with the story of Jarrett and Lexington that I was always a bit sad to reach another chapter. But still-one of my all time favorite books- beautifully written and important.
aimber's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
jinishlk's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
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? It's complicated
4.25
elizdtorres's review
adventurous
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Racism, and Police brutality
Minor: Animal death and Gun violence
claireeshelby's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I loved a lot of the prose in the novel, and greatly enjoyed the deep development Jarret and Lexington storyline. The contemporary storyline felt rushed and heavy-handed, especially coming from a white author. The importance of race in the history of thoroughbred racing and its foundation is undeniable, but her writing from the perspective of multiple black men in such vulnerable states felt off. Overall would recommend, and I learned a lot
paperbackwriter's review against another edition
2.0
Slightly, very slightly, above popular fiction — definitely not literary fiction. Good plot lines (though overly dramatic), interesting characters (though they are unoriginal and march to predictability), and good (though not stellar) writing. All in all, I did not feel the price of the purchase and time committed were well-spent reading this novel.
jen_pribyl's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
aclopez6's review against another edition
5.0
Some chapters left me wondering if Brooks was the best person to write this book as a white woman, but I also found the story and characters (most of them) captivating.