tayce's review against another edition
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality, Murder, Racism, and Hate crime
pandapjays's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Fascinating read, enjoyed the history,the horses and wanted more about the bones.
Spoiler
I felt it lost focus at the end and, while addressing the threat of police violence and the murder of people of colour managed to centre the experience of a white person which was a choice. I think it would have been more interesting, especially given the forays into art and art history to explore how all the art of this black-owned horse made white profits and how horses from his line are the backbone of white dominated sports. These subjects were there in the text but never explored and I wish they had been.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Racial slurs, Violence, and Racism
Moderate: Police brutality and War
Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death
lcg527's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
nora_knight's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
This was a really interesting book. It told the story of horse racing in America and one particular horse in a very moving and interesting way, utilizing characters spanning 200 years. However, it also told a darker story of blackness in America and how rooted horse racing is in slavery. It was a moving, powerful book but the paragraphs and chapters were a bit long for my taste. Additionally, the story was told through many POVs but it would occasionally include other characters' thoughts and feelings during chapters which I found confusing and mostly unnecessary. This is a book that my mother and grandmother read and enjoyed, and it was lovely to discover the same story as two generations of women before me. Beautiful and important.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Animal death, Racism, Injury/injury detail, Animal cruelty, Violence, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Racial slurs, Police brutality, Murder, Classism, Blood, War, Rape, Death of parent, Death, Gun violence, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault
dckathleen's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This book broke my heart in a way that's all too real and not what I was expecting at all. The telling of the story in mostly two, occasionally three, storylines is well done. There are themes around race and racism and power which come up repeatedly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Violence, Gun violence, Slavery, and Police brutality
vchetty's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery and Racism
jennshelfishlife's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Geraldine Brook's Horse will not disappoint, there are so many reasons why I enjoyed this work of fiction. First, Brook's impeccable research on the topics of horse anatomy, the history of horseracing, racism in equine husbandry and African American jockeys, and Thomas G Scott's "Lexington" leaves very few stones unturned. Brook's storytelling is seamless and her characters are thoroughly developed. I enjoyed reading the dual timelines as they connect well and provide parallels to racism in the 19th and 21st centuries. "Horse" does not shy away from difficult topics from animal abuse to racism and it may be difficult for some readers but I would still recommend this book to learn more about those topics.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Police brutality, and Racism
mymosstx's review against another edition
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality, Racism, and Slavery
Moderate: Animal death, Death of parent, and War
ncoletti's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Police brutality, Gun violence, and Racism
sharkbrarian's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Gripping, well-woven, tragic, and triumphant.
Structurally perfect, this tale interweaves storylines in the present, and from two different times in the past (the 1950s and the 1800s) to unfold the captivating story of a famous Thoroughbred stallion and the diverse group of characters whose lives are impacted by the horse’s life, death, and the artworks which it inspired.
As expected from this author, historical facts are woven into a gripping tapestry as the horse’s life and racing career, along with its groom and trainer, an enslaved Black teenager named Jarrett, both make history and reveal history, to the reader. The contemporary characters - an art historian and an osteologist - work together to uncover the connection between a salvaged painting, an articulated skeleton found abandoned in a museum attic. As they uncover Lexington’s story, their growing connection can’t escape the long reach of America’s racist foundation.
Structurally perfect, this tale interweaves storylines in the present, and from two different times in the past (the 1950s and the 1800s) to unfold the captivating story of a famous Thoroughbred stallion and the diverse group of characters whose lives are impacted by the horse’s life, death, and the artworks which it inspired.
As expected from this author, historical facts are woven into a gripping tapestry as the horse’s life and racing career, along with its groom and trainer, an enslaved Black teenager named Jarrett, both make history and reveal history, to the reader. The contemporary characters - an art historian and an osteologist - work together to uncover the connection between a salvaged painting, an articulated skeleton found abandoned in a museum attic. As they uncover Lexington’s story, their growing connection can’t escape the long reach of America’s racist foundation.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Racism