Reviews with content warning for Animal cruelty - Horse: A Novel

I really struggled with this one. The history is absolutely fascinating and I love the idea of connecting a painting with its origin story. I do think it might have been better as a history book without the fiction, or with another author. She clearly put in work to be real about the race issues but it feels wrong. It feels like overstepping for a white person to write a first person account of American slavery. I recognize it's well researched but the writing is almost like she was overcompensating for being white which then ends up being somehow performative. I wonder if the two POV black characters had to be extraordinary and sophisticated in their talents and manners. And other tropes that would be a spoiler with a dash of white saviorism. Actually more than a dash, because it happens in all 3 timelines.
I don't necessarily hate every book that feels like it kills me a little on the inside. But if it does that it has to be really well written, and this was just not. I had issues with all three timelines. I guess I could have just ended this after saying someone else should have written this book.

Content Warnings

bethgee's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark 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? No

4.0

Interesting, well-researched historical fiction spanning three times that are more similar than one might think. Lost half a star with the ending.

Content Warnings

kayleemurphyboyle's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional informative medium-paced

2.75

Content Warnings

joshtuttle's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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? No

4.5

Content Warnings

mizmick's review against another edition

Go to review page

reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

1.5

The portion of the book that is historical fiction is pretty good.

The BLM stuff is heavy handed and ultimately centers the white woman and how she feels about it over the life of the Black male character.

Content Warnings

rachkoch's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.75

i feel like this book (nor my opinion of it) is well served by a quantitative numerical rating.

the writing in this book is very well done in my opinion and realizing that the story of lexington is like a true story is remarkable - certainly no easy feat to write.

i think my conflictong feelings about this book come from the modern storyline of theo and jess. i understand why brooks was juxtaposing the racism of antebellum america with modern america, and i won’t say it was done poorly, but it certainly felt really sticky for a

white author to kill off one her key black characters in a police shooting

. i’m sure someone smarter than me can elaborate on why that feels so sticky.

anyway all that is to say that i’m conflicted on how i feel at the end of the book, but that doesn’t have anything to do with writing or really the plot. it’s a good, well done book. doesn’t mean i’m not conflicted. also heed the TWs

Content Warnings

jfarmer18's review

Go to review page

adventurous challenging emotional sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

I love the historical aspect of this book. I almost wish that it had been the sole focus of this book, and not included the 2019 bits. I felt like Jess and Theo’s relationship was kind of forced and not believable. And the ending for the 2019 portion was also just terrible. I loved Jarrett’s character and his evolution, as well as his determination , and pure devotion and loyalty to Lexington (Darley).

Content Warnings

marycage's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.0

Content Warnings

More...