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hmuraski27's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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? It's complicated
5.0
jumbleread's review against another edition
4.0
The characters, narration, world building - all work seamlessly. It was a joy to live in this world for a couple weeks.
cjcurtis's review against another edition
4.0
This is the sort of book I normally wouldn't have given a second glance, and I only read it because I saw the author speak and was impressed by her thoughts on the Cowboy as defining American mythos.
In any case, I was sort of taken by surprise. The novel is not, as the back cover declares, about "a woman trying to make it in a man's world." It is about the simple strength and courage of families living in the American West at the beginning of the first World War. The story is quiet and unassuming, no fireworks, just people trying to get by. It's like a less melodramatic John Steinbeck. Sort of. (No offense to Steinbeck, whom I love.)
I know that doesn't sound very exciting, but anyway I was compelled to read the entirety of this book that is completely outside of my normal reading habits, and that, I think, says a good deal for the story, the characters, and the author.
In any case, I was sort of taken by surprise. The novel is not, as the back cover declares, about "a woman trying to make it in a man's world." It is about the simple strength and courage of families living in the American West at the beginning of the first World War. The story is quiet and unassuming, no fireworks, just people trying to get by. It's like a less melodramatic John Steinbeck. Sort of. (No offense to Steinbeck, whom I love.)
I know that doesn't sound very exciting, but anyway I was compelled to read the entirety of this book that is completely outside of my normal reading habits, and that, I think, says a good deal for the story, the characters, and the author.
wordnerdy's review against another edition
5.0
https://wordnerdy.blogspot.com/2022/03/2022-book-59.html
Getting around to trying more stuff by Molly Gloss, and this was interestingly a very different kind of story than Outside the Gates, in that it's not fantastic at all--it's set in Oregon in the early days of WWI, and features a young woman who makes a living working with horses. (I've never been a horse girl but I do enjoy fiction with horses.) But it is similar in that it is all about the connections between people and how to build/be part of a community. There is an adorably awkward romance to root for, and a whole cast of interesting characters with lives full of love and loss and horses. Very thoughtful sort of book and I was also super emotionally invested. I don’t know if I can get my book club to read another historical novel about farmers/ranchers, but I just might try. A.
Getting around to trying more stuff by Molly Gloss, and this was interestingly a very different kind of story than Outside the Gates, in that it's not fantastic at all--it's set in Oregon in the early days of WWI, and features a young woman who makes a living working with horses. (I've never been a horse girl but I do enjoy fiction with horses.) But it is similar in that it is all about the connections between people and how to build/be part of a community. There is an adorably awkward romance to root for, and a whole cast of interesting characters with lives full of love and loss and horses. Very thoughtful sort of book and I was also super emotionally invested. I don’t know if I can get my book club to read another historical novel about farmers/ranchers, but I just might try. A.
violinist01's review against another edition
3.0
I don't really know what to say about this book. I feel like I should have liked it more than I did, even though I read it in a day. To me, the author's rambling writing style got in the way of a good story. There were too many names and characters and not enough moments where it's just Martha and the horses. The romance never really drew me in, though it had the potential to do so. Overall, I'm just 'meh' about this book.
librarysteph's review against another edition
3.0
This was a good book, well written, I listened to the audiobook for book club. The subject is just not my cup of tea. I would recommend it to others though.
ghost_rider's review against another edition
5.0
This was such a wonderful story hidden behind a somewhat cheesy-looking title and cover. Martha is a great character - compassionate, level-headed, confident around horses but awkward with people. I definitely saw a lot of myself in her. It was obviously well-researched, and the world was engrossing. I almost didn’t want the story to end.
arikapat's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this book! Reminded me of being a kid and the love I had for the horses on our farm. I sure miss having a horse!
kristycreads's review
3.0
It started off better than it ended. Overall okay but not the best by Molly Gloss that I have read.
julis's review
emotional
relaxing
slow-paced
4.0
A cute, sweet read about horse training and life in 1910s Oregon. Lots of touches I recognized from growing up in Washington. Not a whole ton of depth but that’s okay, I wasn’t here for depth.
(On a critical analysis note, the training methods detailed in the book are better than the traditional methods but still not great, talk to a horse trainer before trying)