371 reviews for:

Kick the Latch

Kathryn Scanlan

4.09 AVERAGE

dark emotional


I originally thought this was a collection of short stories and in a way it is, it is an episodic fictionalised account of a woman’s life, but taken from transcripts of an actual person.

The stories of Sonia from Iowa and the track her life took, working with horse for the majority of her life therefore the majority of the short episodes are based on her experiences with horses at racetracks and more.

We start off with some really interesting snippets from her earlier life and her gradually falling in love with horse.

There is nothing sugar-coated in this collection of incidents, they show the hard life Sonia goes through, the ups and downs, the bumps (some massive), and the camaraderie of the backsiders, the behind. the scenes people of horse racing in the US.

With each episode you get to know Sonia and her world that little bit better, the normalisation of the hard life, the rough and tumble, but always that love of horses and the world that circles around them.

Each episode is short and sharp with no fat to soften the blow that the lyricism of Kathryn Scanlan’s words bring to the hard life that Sonia has lived.

I read this so easily, it was a searing story that really kept you hooked from start to finish.


dark funny inspiring lighthearted fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
adventurous informative lighthearted sad fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: No
informative reflective fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: N/A
Strong character development: N/A
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus: N/A
challenging reflective sad fast-paced
informative inspiring reflective fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

I liked it for a quick read-it took about an hour. It was like reading someone's abridged diary. Not much description or character development but that was not the point. Just an interesting look into the life of a woman working on the horse farms and at the race track.
adventurous hopeful inspiring reflective slow-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: Complicated

elliptical as in compression & as in shape. best read in one sitting. glad i finally made my way back & restarted in the right mood.