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alicebme's review against another edition
5.0
5-I’ve spent years with this book on my shelf, waiting for the perfect moment to read it. I’ll never forget these characters and their stories. A love blossoming in the most comfortable way. The agonizing march of cancer through a man. This book just fills my heart. And the horses. Man, I really haven’t given much thought to horses, but now I feel so connected. We’re all alive and knitted together.
chrissypink80's review against another edition
2.0
Not a bad book. It had some good parts, but overall it was reallyyyy slowwwww and not terribly interesting.
salembooks's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
likecymbeline's review against another edition
3.25
First off, I obviously love a lead character who is a hardy 5'11" woman. There are few of these. Gloss gets points for that.
My reason for reading this book is a weird one - or the byway to it was weird. Back when I was still excited about Kelly Link's novel, I read a list of books she recommended thinking that as someone deep in the writing world and with a publishing business of her own there'd be some real gems. I'm not saying this book isn't a little gem in its way, I'm just confused by why she'd categorize it as a book she'd want a world leader to read (if I recall?). It has a generous level of compassion and love for each character, that's grand, and it is well-written domestic and historical fiction. I can see the ways that Link was inspired by Gloss in some dialogue, but Gloss pulls it off effectively due to the verisimilitude to the spoken voice of the period she draws from in a way that makes it clear she did her research.
This was a calm and warm read with a style that's literary yet accessible, deliberately invoking the period voice without distancing the modern reader. It depicts a neat time in history for women and cowhands. Plenty of horses for those who came here for that.
My reason for reading this book is a weird one - or the byway to it was weird. Back when I was still excited about Kelly Link's novel, I read a list of books she recommended thinking that as someone deep in the writing world and with a publishing business of her own there'd be some real gems. I'm not saying this book isn't a little gem in its way, I'm just confused by why she'd categorize it as a book she'd want a world leader to read (if I recall?). It has a generous level of compassion and love for each character, that's grand, and it is well-written domestic and historical fiction. I can see the ways that Link was inspired by Gloss in some dialogue, but Gloss pulls it off effectively due to the verisimilitude to the spoken voice of the period she draws from in a way that makes it clear she did her research.
This was a calm and warm read with a style that's literary yet accessible, deliberately invoking the period voice without distancing the modern reader. It depicts a neat time in history for women and cowhands. Plenty of horses for those who came here for that.
bjhg5053's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
jules32reads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
medium-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
4.0
whoopsbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
searobin56's review against another edition
3.0
The start was great and I was excited to keep reading. Great story. Great characters. When I had about 10% left to read it kind of lost momentum. It felt like I stepped off a cliff with nothing left. There was a quick synopsis of the characters. Nothing to finish out the stories of the horses. No depth or a feeling of good closure for the overall story or the characters individual stories. Very disappointing.
lizaroo71's review against another edition
5.0
a beautifully told story set in 1917 on oregon. martha lessen is a woman broncobuster - rare for the time. she has left home and is seeking employment to break horses. she finds employment on the bliss ranch and from there begins to lay down roots in the town.
the horses she ends up breaking all belong to various ranchers and farmers in the community so she finds herself reluctantly being pulled into the social circles of the town. we are told the story of each character and although the book is not very many pages, as a reader, you feel each character is well-developed and comes full circle.
i loved hearing about one town's response to WWI and how the various townspeople coped with the horrors happening overseas and at home.
the story unfolds at just the right pace and i really liked martha lessen's character (particularly her love for horses and treating them humanely).
the horses she ends up breaking all belong to various ranchers and farmers in the community so she finds herself reluctantly being pulled into the social circles of the town. we are told the story of each character and although the book is not very many pages, as a reader, you feel each character is well-developed and comes full circle.
i loved hearing about one town's response to WWI and how the various townspeople coped with the horrors happening overseas and at home.
the story unfolds at just the right pace and i really liked martha lessen's character (particularly her love for horses and treating them humanely).
themadmadmadeline's review against another edition
3.0
Spoiler: I would say that this book is more of a "human book" rather than a "horse book" hahaha so that's why I didn't put it under the "horse books" category.
This book was decent, not amazing, but solid. I commend authors such as Gloss who write about their passions and about what they know. While I wasn't wild about writing about a fictitious country in Oregon (I knowwwww, she didn't want to have to follow the history of real counties, I get it!), it was clear to me that Gloss had done her research about homesteading in the early 20th century.
The book was sprinkled with beauty and truth and wisdom, and I definitely appreciated that. I feel like Gloss would be "my kind of lady" - a country lady with a love of horses and history. Her book didn't blow my mind, but I could feel the nuggets of truth and wisdom, even if some of her writing conventions were a bit awkward and her story didn't always have the best flow.
The Hearts of Horses was enjoyable, on a level a little bit higher than a beach or bathtub read. I appreciate the honesty and wisdom, and the genuinely solid story-telling. I would be unlikely to reread this novel, but it was a good light read.
This book was decent, not amazing, but solid. I commend authors such as Gloss who write about their passions and about what they know. While I wasn't wild about writing about a fictitious country in Oregon (I knowwwww, she didn't want to have to follow the history of real counties, I get it!), it was clear to me that Gloss had done her research about homesteading in the early 20th century.
The book was sprinkled with beauty and truth and wisdom, and I definitely appreciated that. I feel like Gloss would be "my kind of lady" - a country lady with a love of horses and history. Her book didn't blow my mind, but I could feel the nuggets of truth and wisdom, even if some of her writing conventions were a bit awkward and her story didn't always have the best flow.
The Hearts of Horses was enjoyable, on a level a little bit higher than a beach or bathtub read. I appreciate the honesty and wisdom, and the genuinely solid story-telling. I would be unlikely to reread this novel, but it was a good light read.