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Horse Girls: Recovering, Aspiring, and Devoted Riders Redefine the Iconic Bond by Halimah Marcus
lonestarwords's review
4.0
I tell my friends with children that it's good for a girl to grow up around horses; I think it's true. It teaches you about power--how to wield it responsibly, when you must let go. It teaches you self-possession and the ability to stay calm when you're afraid. It makes you strong...
Horse Girls
Recovering, Aspiring, and Devoted Riders Redefine the Iconic Bond
Halimah Marcus/C.Morgan Babst
•
Horses are a huge part of my family's life and Horse Girls was a perfect little book because it combines two of my greatest loves. It is is a compilation of essays from some big names in the literary world (Jane Smiley, Carmen Maria Machado, and Maggie Shipstead to name just a few) that aims to debunk some of the glamorous and stereotypical images of women and horses and replace them with real life experiences from horse women. Not women who ride competitively for a living, but women for whom horses have either filled a void, calmed a fear or healed a wound. Those of us who have been blessed to have horses be a part of our lives know that these animals have a power to do all of these and more and these essays bring those powers to life.
•
I am often asked how our daughters turned out so hard working and resilient and my husband and I always have a one word answer: HORSES.
•
This book is the perfect gift for the "horse girl" in your life. It will help you understand her devotion to these magnificent creatures and give you a unique perspective on a very special and hard to describe bond, one I feel the pull of every day.
•
"If we could entrust this planet to only one kind, I'd stake my life on the horses.
May they inherit the earth."
Last quote, but there are many.
Horse Girls
Recovering, Aspiring, and Devoted Riders Redefine the Iconic Bond
Halimah Marcus/C.Morgan Babst
•
Horses are a huge part of my family's life and Horse Girls was a perfect little book because it combines two of my greatest loves. It is is a compilation of essays from some big names in the literary world (Jane Smiley, Carmen Maria Machado, and Maggie Shipstead to name just a few) that aims to debunk some of the glamorous and stereotypical images of women and horses and replace them with real life experiences from horse women. Not women who ride competitively for a living, but women for whom horses have either filled a void, calmed a fear or healed a wound. Those of us who have been blessed to have horses be a part of our lives know that these animals have a power to do all of these and more and these essays bring those powers to life.
•
I am often asked how our daughters turned out so hard working and resilient and my husband and I always have a one word answer: HORSES.
•
This book is the perfect gift for the "horse girl" in your life. It will help you understand her devotion to these magnificent creatures and give you a unique perspective on a very special and hard to describe bond, one I feel the pull of every day.
•
"If we could entrust this planet to only one kind, I'd stake my life on the horses.
May they inherit the earth."
Last quote, but there are many.
arielkay's review
5.0
This book is compelling and excellent. A very tender and honest look at the relationship to horses and house culture to socialized girlhood. It brought back a rush of memories for me. Each story is so unique yet the themes and heartbeat of the love of horses carries throughout. A really excellent read that I highly recommend.
ashleysbookthoughts's review
3.0
I’m not, nor have I ever aspired to be, a horse girl. While I wasn’t sure if I would get much out of this book, I rather enjoyed it. Many of the essays challenge the narrative that love of horses is inherently only for little girls. Why are things women like often deemed “basic” or whatever the preferred term is? They also address the wealthy thin whiteness of American barns despite a rich history of POC riders and some of the darker aspects of horse girl culture.
Some of the essays were tough for me because they assumed a basic understanding of horse/barn terms that I didn’t have. Others could have benefited from a bit more editing because they meandered a bit, making the through line hard to find.
Some, however, were quite excellent. Standout essays for me by Carmen Maria Machado (with a brief appearance by the woman from the dream house), C. Morgan Babst, Maggie Shipstead, and Sarah Enelow-Snyder.
Thanks to Harper Perennial for the gifted finished copy. A surprisingly insightful and engaging read. 3.5 stars.
CW: sexual harassment, sexual assault, eating disorders, bullying, descriptions of inhumane treatment of horses, divorce, financial problems, suicidal imagery
Some of the essays were tough for me because they assumed a basic understanding of horse/barn terms that I didn’t have. Others could have benefited from a bit more editing because they meandered a bit, making the through line hard to find.
Some, however, were quite excellent. Standout essays for me by Carmen Maria Machado (with a brief appearance by the woman from the dream house), C. Morgan Babst, Maggie Shipstead, and Sarah Enelow-Snyder.
Thanks to Harper Perennial for the gifted finished copy. A surprisingly insightful and engaging read. 3.5 stars.
CW: sexual harassment, sexual assault, eating disorders, bullying, descriptions of inhumane treatment of horses, divorce, financial problems, suicidal imagery
kaiulanilee's review
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Cancer, Chronic illness, Colonisation, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Grief, Homophobia, Medical content, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Sexual harassment, and Toxic friendship
cheyne's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
"If you were to lean in close and breathe deep, she would smell like heterosexuality, independence, whiteness, femininity."
As a horse girl, I was so excited when my dog walker dropped off an uncorrected proof of this book that they'd found in a book box near my house. Horse Girls is not like other "horse books", each essay is unique and offers a fresh perspective of what it is to be a Horse Girl. My favourites were Carmen Maria Machado's "Horse Girl: An Inquiry", T Kira Madden's "I Don't Love Horses", Alex Marzano-Lesnevich's "Hungry And Carefree", Braudie Blais-Billie's "Unconquered", and Rosebud Ben-Oni's "We Aren't Close To Anywhere".
As a horse girl, I was so excited when my dog walker dropped off an uncorrected proof of this book that they'd found in a book box near my house. Horse Girls is not like other "horse books", each essay is unique and offers a fresh perspective of what it is to be a Horse Girl. My favourites were Carmen Maria Machado's "Horse Girl: An Inquiry", T Kira Madden's "I Don't Love Horses", Alex Marzano-Lesnevich's "Hungry And Carefree", Braudie Blais-Billie's "Unconquered", and Rosebud Ben-Oni's "We Aren't Close To Anywhere".
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