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4.09 AVERAGE
4.09 AVERAGE
adventurous
informative
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
horse girls are cool, actually. such a special book with a strong narrative voice that made the whole experience so immersive.
adventurous
informative
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
a perfect little book. love the voice, the vignettes, the setting as plot and character, so fascinating to learn about the world behind racetracks like you're hearing about it from someone telling you stories at a bar.
fast-paced
dark
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Although not in my usual interest, as a memoir-style set of accounts about life as a racetracker, I read this work to understand Scanlan's use of episodic texts. I liked how each chapter title got to the heart of what Sonia, Scanlan's interviewee, was talking about. I also enjoyed the use of language which was really simple but deeply sad and poignant. It is interesting how, despite the memoir form, there isn't much room for interiority. The whole novel feels quite empty, with small moments of emotion evoked by the most random instances, rather than the 'I got raped', or instances she was injured taking emotional precedence.
dark
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death
adventurous
funny
informative
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
funny
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
If you're an animal lover, be prepared to have a good cry. This book is a tearjerker, IMO.
I really liked this book, but a few things are leaving me confused (for which I deleted .75 of a star). Namely, the author tells one vignette in which she says, "You can look this story up online." Okay, is she breaking character? The book is told in first person. Like, it's all supposed to be true.
Interesting vignettes about a woman's life as a horsewoman on the racetrack. I listened to the audiobook in one sitting (on Kentucky Derby Day!) as the audiobook is less than two hours. I was confused at the end when the author said it was a work of fiction, because the story is told in first person, and read by the author. It's my understanding that the stories were taken from a series of interviews with Sonia (the horsewoman).
I'm really looking for a nonfiction book on this subject. The middle was the best part. The end was a little unbelievable, imo, because it was like everything got resolved. Also, there was a reference to the Jodi Huisentruit kidnapping - they changed Jodi's name, but it was clearly inspired by that case. So, the end was a bit unbelievable. Otherwise, I loved it!
I really liked this book, but a few things are leaving me confused (for which I deleted .75 of a star). Namely, the author tells one vignette in which she says, "You can look this story up online." Okay, is she breaking character? The book is told in first person. Like, it's all supposed to be true.
Interesting vignettes about a woman's life as a horsewoman on the racetrack. I listened to the audiobook in one sitting (on Kentucky Derby Day!) as the audiobook is less than two hours. I was confused at the end when the author said it was a work of fiction, because the story is told in first person, and read by the author. It's my understanding that the stories were taken from a series of interviews with Sonia (the horsewoman).
I'm really looking for a nonfiction book on this subject. The middle was the best part. The end was a little unbelievable, imo, because it was like everything got resolved. Also, there was a reference to the Jodi Huisentruit kidnapping - they changed Jodi's name, but it was clearly inspired by that case. So, the end was a bit unbelievable. Otherwise, I loved it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Toxic relationship
Minor: Death, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide, Grief, Medical trauma, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail