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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
My first experience of Jane Smiley's work and I frolicked through the pages. A book so oddly familiar and comfortable to me that if I were a novelist this is the book I would write. I attribute my high opinion of this story to my life experiences. I'm a horse girl. I grew up without unfettered access to horses but yearned to be with them (or be one with them, even). I devoured equine textbooks and novels, followed horse racing with a naive earnestness, planned out how I would convert our garage into a stall should my parents magically gift me with my very own horse, and imagined writing the next Black Beauty. I feel like this book was written for me. Jane Smiley, thank you for this book. My inner child was grinning ear to ear and galloping around my heart as I read.
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I quite enjoyed this book, even though 95% of the time, I wondered what the point was. Some characters grew on me, and I like the writing style. Of course, I also enjoyed the horses, though I don't support racing. I won't say it's realistic, but I did enjoy the connection between Mr. T and Elizabeth.
emotional
informative
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Smiley has written a sprawling, vivacious novel about the world of thoroughbred racehorses, their trainers, their owners, and their fans. The novel is a delight for anyone who's ever loved horses, although racing fans may find its pace a little slow. Smiley follows the fortunes of five different horses as they change owners, win and lose races, and otherwise fulfill their various destinies. The horses are often more compelling than the novel's human characters, but this is probably intentional on Smiley's part. Why else would she invest so much time in making sure we fall in love with the novel's most unique personality -- a Jack Russell terrier named Eileen? Still, the fantasies, delusions, dreams and plans of the human owners and trainers intersect in complex and fascinating ways for readers who are patient. Smiley's lyrical descriptions of the beauty of horses in motion, and her memorable animal personalities (particularly a saintly gelding named Justa Bob) make the time spent in the world of Horse Heaven well worth it.
These days the only books that satisfy me are tours- de- force; meaty, broad stories that take on the universal condition with tragic and comic consequences. Or terse, brilliant gems that tell a story of exquisite love or courage or heartbreak. Horse heaven is the first kind. It's set in the world of horse racing but its really a story about all the ways people live out their lives and dreams--even the horses themselves. It's written so beautifully and with such intelligence and insight. You can really sink your teeth into this one and the only reason I didn't give it five stars is that the author confuses the reader a bit with so many horses and races. Otherwise, give it a try and don't be put off by the subject matter. It's a great read!
DNFing as I feel the effort required to finish this book will not equate to the reward/satisfaction of the story for me personally, Im sure it's a great read but, almost 100 pages in I've not connected to one character and at 650 pages, I'm not willing to find out if I will 😊
See my review here:
https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2018/03/13/day-1188-horse-heaven/
https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2018/03/13/day-1188-horse-heaven/
I adore this book: it is officially my favorite book of all time. I seriously felt like it was made especially for me. The book is so gorgeously detail oriented and Smiley did an especially beautiful job of weaving a complex and connected tapestry of human emotion and relationships. It was in a word, gorgeous. I was so engrossed by the writing, the style and the impeccable attention Smiley paid to the intense world of horse racing.
Not a book I would recommend to the casual reader, but for a horse person this is truly a masterpiece; Smiley is a genius.
Not a book I would recommend to the casual reader, but for a horse person this is truly a masterpiece; Smiley is a genius.
Excellant book for horse lovers. The whole book revolves around several different (ficitional)horse owners, trainers, riders, breaders. They all have their own stories going on and sometimes they intertwine. I loved just to read about the horse/human relationships and I was able to identify with a lot of it. The horse stuff was authentic based on my horse owning expereince, so the book really hit home with me. Defintiely a must read for a horse owner. The only reason it's not 5 stars is one overly graphic love scene and a few really odd psychic or alternative type things I justed wasn't buying.
