octavia_cade's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
4.5
This is absolutely bonkers and I love it. I don't think it's perfect - four and a half stars rather than five, because the abrupt end kind of lets it down a bit - but the voice is just so much half-mad fun. It's as if Merricat from We Have Always Lived in the Castle wandered away from Shirley Jackson and ended up the protagonist in Angela Carter's Nights at the Circus, except communist instead of Cockney, and with horses.
That's the best description I can give. Unfortunately this is a library copy and so I have to give it back; fortunately I can get a copy for myself and keep it forever.
That's the best description I can give. Unfortunately this is a library copy and so I have to give it back; fortunately I can get a copy for myself and keep it forever.
anni_in_wonderland's review
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This story is a novella rather than a book and as such it’s a quick read. It, however, packs a punch. I expected a horse girl story - I am a massive horse girl so this would have been welcome - and while the horses feature it’s not exactly that. In its essence “The Equestrienne” is a coming-of-age story and it’s dark, gritty and honest, often brutally so.
Although there is an overarching theme of horses and the protagonist is a child and young teenager, I don’t think this story is ideal for a younger pre-teen/early teen audience per se. It, of course, depends on the maturity of the individual but there is some brutal content, including sexually explicit content (consensual and non-consensual) and abuse.
[Mild spoilers ahead]
[Mild spoilers ahead]
Spoiler
The protagonist may or may not also be involuntarily responsible for death of another person, even though this is left vague and the person in question probably had it coming.The book contains implicit and at times more explicit critique of seemingly contradictory concepts such as the patriarchy and feminism, communism and capitalism. About the fall of the Soviet Union the protagonist remarks: “We swapped our barbed wire cage for one made of gold.”
The writing is erratic, often follows the narrator’s stream of consciousness and therefore is not always easy to follow. While I didn’t mind, I feel like this writing style is an acquired taste and will be off-putting to some potential readers. However, I personally liked the experience of reading a book with a unique voice and perspective and the various themes touched on made me think.
I was not a fan of the ending, it left me a bit unsatisfied - and was also slightly confusing, I admit I had to read it several times. Having said that, maybe it was also the perfect ending for the story that precedes it. While this may seem an odd and very vague remark in a book review, in which the writer is usually supposed to make up their mind and evaluate their experience with a book I have the suspicion that those that have already read this book will understand my feelings regarding the ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Drug use, Sexual content, Domestic abuse, and Alcohol
natalienance's review against another edition
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
ladyreading365's review against another edition
5.0
This is such a wonderful story. I just loved it from the very start. It was a wonderful storyline that I became so engrossed in it. It's such a powerful and emotive book looking at the struggles of living in a communist state. Also its a horse book eek I just love horse fiction and I had never read a book about horse vaulting before It's fascinating. I connected with the 2 main characters straight away and became so emotionally involved in them. This books target audience is new adults but it was so enjoyable I'm positive that every new adult and adults alike will just love it. The author created such a wonderful sense of atmosphere and tension that had my emotions on high alert at all times. I really did not want this book to end I was enjoying it that much. I definitely recommend this book to all horse fans out there and also fans who just love beautifully wrote stories packed full of culture. I will definitely be looking out for more books to read by this author as it was so amazing.
Only the highest praise goes out to the author, translaters and publishers for creating this epic story to help us understand the lives and struggles of those living under a communist rule. This book is a must read book a book of a lifetime, a book-et list book. And most importantly a book to read before you die.
Only the highest praise goes out to the author, translaters and publishers for creating this epic story to help us understand the lives and struggles of those living under a communist rule. This book is a must read book a book of a lifetime, a book-et list book. And most importantly a book to read before you die.
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The Equestrienne is a slim read which introduced me to the previously unknown (at least by me) sport of trick riding - think gymnastics on moving horses.
Karolina is unhappy with her home life, at a bit of a loose end and indulging in risky behaviours when she ends up at a stable and is introduced to trick riding, which quickly becomes her passion and at which she excels. She develops a strong bond with Ramona, a rider with a physical disability, and Matilda, an older rider who agrees to train them. I thought the novel captured some of the realities of being a female athlete, such as the difficulties of competing while on a period, really well. Sections on the pressure to perfom in competition and the complicated feelings of competing against teammates rang true as well.
The story straddles the fall of Communism and that is a theme which is explored in the story. In the west we are used to seeing Communism portrayed in a negative light. This novel highlights some of the negative changes brought about by capitalism and the drive for profit - “We swapped our barbed wire cage for one made of gold.”
Overall this was an interesting, thought-provoking read which I enjoyed. The opening is shocking and brutal, but that section is brief and not representative of the book as a whole.
Karolina is unhappy with her home life, at a bit of a loose end and indulging in risky behaviours when she ends up at a stable and is introduced to trick riding, which quickly becomes her passion and at which she excels. She develops a strong bond with Ramona, a rider with a physical disability, and Matilda, an older rider who agrees to train them. I thought the novel captured some of the realities of being a female athlete, such as the difficulties of competing while on a period, really well. Sections on the pressure to perfom in competition and the complicated feelings of competing against teammates rang true as well.
The story straddles the fall of Communism and that is a theme which is explored in the story. In the west we are used to seeing Communism portrayed in a negative light. This novel highlights some of the negative changes brought about by capitalism and the drive for profit - “We swapped our barbed wire cage for one made of gold.”
Overall this was an interesting, thought-provoking read which I enjoyed. The opening is shocking and brutal, but that section is brief and not representative of the book as a whole.
christinecc's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
A devastating snapshot of a girl, her love of horses, and a world she lives in.
Warning: this is not for the faint of heart. It's not a happy tale, and it does include self-harm, parental abuse, and sexual assault, if that's something you would like to know up-front.
Slovak author and playwright Uršula Kovalyk gives us the story of Karolina in under 100 pages. Karolina comes of age in the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic. She isn't someone who could achieve her dreams in her circumstances. But she still has them. Not just that, but she pursues them! And the pursuit, in the midst of a totalitarian regime that affects everything and everyone around her, does not leave her unscathed. It's about seeking control and love of life in a world beyond your control. About how things you will never be able to affect can still destroy everything you touch, and about trying to make good in spite of all this, because what else CAN you do?
Recommended if you feel up to a bleak albeit moving read set in the Soviet (and post-Soviet) block. It's probably unfamiliar to many anglophone readers, but still worth the short time needed to start and finish it.
Thank you to Netgalley and Parthian Books for giving me a free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Warning: this is not for the faint of heart. It's not a happy tale, and it does include self-harm, parental abuse, and sexual assault, if that's something you would like to know up-front.
Slovak author and playwright Uršula Kovalyk gives us the story of Karolina in under 100 pages. Karolina comes of age in the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic. She isn't someone who could achieve her dreams in her circumstances. But she still has them. Not just that, but she pursues them! And the pursuit, in the midst of a totalitarian regime that affects everything and everyone around her, does not leave her unscathed. It's about seeking control and love of life in a world beyond your control. About how things you will never be able to affect can still destroy everything you touch, and about trying to make good in spite of all this, because what else CAN you do?
Recommended if you feel up to a bleak albeit moving read set in the Soviet (and post-Soviet) block. It's probably unfamiliar to many anglophone readers, but still worth the short time needed to start and finish it.
Thank you to Netgalley and Parthian Books for giving me a free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Suicide
hannahmarie39's review against another edition
2.0
Oh, so depressing! And weirdly sexual (not in a sexy way, the protagonist is like, 12)
mel_books's review against another edition
slow-paced
4.0
Karolina lives in the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic. To escape difficult home life, she spends time in a riding school and eventually becomes an equestrienne, a performer on a back of a horse. Like everything else after the Velvet Revolution, also Karolina’s life changes drastically.
We swapped our barbed wire cage for one made of gold.
Karolina’s coming-of-age story is quite unusual, sometimes even odd, with a touch of magical realism. There are quite a few content warnings: sexually related content, inappropriate teen behavior, and a brutal opening of the story. In short, Equestrienne is a very well-written novella that I enjoyed a lot.
This book will be available in April. Thanks to Parthian Books for the ARC and this opportunity! This is a voluntary review, and all opinions are my own.
theodenreads's review
reflective
slow-paced
3.0
I'm not 100% sure how best to review this, so I'm going to go ahead and give it a solid 3 stars.
This brief story follows the character Karolína as she comes of age in the 80s, in the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic. From the standpoint of historical fiction, it proved to be a very interesting glimpse into what life was like for our main characters, especially as the regime fell apart and transitioned away from totalitarian rule, and seeing the way that shift impacted the various characters.
However, there was also a side plot of sorts about Karolína being able to see into people's souls and see who they were on the inside, and that bit was very weird. A lot of the "inner people" that Karolína saw felt a lot like caricatures, and I'm not quite sure what the point of it was or what was trying to be said there, or if it just somehow went over my head.
There was also a lot of bizarre and explicit sexual content throughout this story that I didn't expect to be there going into it.
I'd say the biggest content warnings to keep note of are the sexual content, lots of drug/alcohol use and abuse, parental abuse, and sexual assault/harassment
This brief story follows the character Karolína as she comes of age in the 80s, in the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic. From the standpoint of historical fiction, it proved to be a very interesting glimpse into what life was like for our main characters, especially as the regime fell apart and transitioned away from totalitarian rule, and seeing the way that shift impacted the various characters.
However, there was also a side plot of sorts about Karolína being able to see into people's souls and see who they were on the inside, and that bit was very weird. A lot of the "inner people" that Karolína saw felt a lot like caricatures, and I'm not quite sure what the point of it was or what was trying to be said there, or if it just somehow went over my head.
There was also a lot of bizarre and explicit sexual content throughout this story that I didn't expect to be there going into it.
I'd say the biggest content warnings to keep note of are the sexual content, lots of drug/alcohol use and abuse, parental abuse, and sexual assault/harassment
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Drug use, Drug abuse, Alcohol, and Child abuse
Moderate: Ableism and Sexual harassment
Minor: Sexual assault
elenasquareeyes's review
4.0
The blurb on my copy of The Equestrienne calls it a novel, but at 80 pages I’d say it’s more of a novella. Either way, The Equestrienne is a short, kind of bittersweet coming of age story. I always find it difficult to talk about such short books that are focussed on a short period of time. It spans about sixteen years as that’s roughly the age Karolína is when the story ends, but a lot of her childhood is glossed over and it’s when she’s around twelve and discovers the stables – along with a teenage boy called Arpi – that she starts to come into her own. At the stables Karolína makes a friend for the first time. And with Arpi she discovers cigarettes and music like Pink Floyd and The Rolling Stones.
Change is a big element to The Equestrienne and Karolína’s life. Naturally, she’s growing up and maturing, having her first period has a big impact on her, but there’s the political changes happening in the background as the Soviet Union begins to dissolve. There’s a lot of moments of hope because of these changes, but equally there’s disappointment as they go from one dictatorship to another – capitalism.
The women in The Equestrienne are all fleshed out and interesting, which is a feat considering how short it is, and the only named male character is Arpi. All the other men are pushed to the background or become a threat to Karolína’s happiness or safety. The relationships between the different female characters are strong too. Karolína’s grandmother makes a huge impact on her life as she’s a force to be reckoned with and while to begin with Karolína often doesn’t understand or like her mother and her choices, as she matures she see’s the everyday strains she’s under. Then Matilda and Romana each give Karolína confidence and companionship in a time when she felt so alone.
The Equestrienne is a short but effective story that’s sad and sweet. It’s a universal coming of age story, but by having it set in the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic means you can learn more about that culture and history and how things like the economy affected its people.
Change is a big element to The Equestrienne and Karolína’s life. Naturally, she’s growing up and maturing, having her first period has a big impact on her, but there’s the political changes happening in the background as the Soviet Union begins to dissolve. There’s a lot of moments of hope because of these changes, but equally there’s disappointment as they go from one dictatorship to another – capitalism.
The women in The Equestrienne are all fleshed out and interesting, which is a feat considering how short it is, and the only named male character is Arpi. All the other men are pushed to the background or become a threat to Karolína’s happiness or safety. The relationships between the different female characters are strong too. Karolína’s grandmother makes a huge impact on her life as she’s a force to be reckoned with and while to begin with Karolína often doesn’t understand or like her mother and her choices, as she matures she see’s the everyday strains she’s under. Then Matilda and Romana each give Karolína confidence and companionship in a time when she felt so alone.
The Equestrienne is a short but effective story that’s sad and sweet. It’s a universal coming of age story, but by having it set in the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic means you can learn more about that culture and history and how things like the economy affected its people.
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