A review by jchant
Falling from Horses by Molly Gloss
3.0
I have heard Molly Gloss described as an amazing writer, but the only book of hers that I had previously picked up and tried to read (Wild Life) was not my cup of tea. This year, her latest book was chosen as the "city read" for my town. I was on the committee that picks the annual "reads" book from 2008 through 2014, and this year, when I heard it was a Molly Gloss book that was chosen, I wasn't very enthused, and decided not to read it. Then a week before the author presentation, I changed my mind and got it from the library.
Molly Gloss is definitely an exceptional writer, and the book kept my interest, even though the subject matter, movie stunt riding, is not something I am interested in. What puzzled me, though, is that I didn't really feel much for the main characters, Bud and Lily, or, for that matter, Bud's back story, which certainly had its devastating events. All in all, the story seemed as dry as the desert scenes where the action took place. The plot point that affected me the most was the callous and despicable treatment of the horses used for the movie stunts depicted in the book. I'm sure Ms Gloss wanted to make this point, but it seems strange to me that I cared more for the horses in the story than I did for the human characters.
I have to admit that there is one other factor that may be influencing my opinion of the book. Two days before the author presentation—which I was planning to attend—I received an email saying that it had been cancelled. I know these things happen, often because of illness, death in the family, or other circumstances beyond the author's control, but I was disappointed and I also felt bad for my former colleagues on the committee. I'm pretty sure that the cancellation affected my opinion of the book, which I was still reading at the time of the cancellation.
So, definitely a well-written book, but only three stars from me.
Molly Gloss is definitely an exceptional writer, and the book kept my interest, even though the subject matter, movie stunt riding, is not something I am interested in. What puzzled me, though, is that I didn't really feel much for the main characters, Bud and Lily, or, for that matter, Bud's back story, which certainly had its devastating events. All in all, the story seemed as dry as the desert scenes where the action took place. The plot point that affected me the most was the callous and despicable treatment of the horses used for the movie stunts depicted in the book. I'm sure Ms Gloss wanted to make this point, but it seems strange to me that I cared more for the horses in the story than I did for the human characters.
I have to admit that there is one other factor that may be influencing my opinion of the book. Two days before the author presentation—which I was planning to attend—I received an email saying that it had been cancelled. I know these things happen, often because of illness, death in the family, or other circumstances beyond the author's control, but I was disappointed and I also felt bad for my former colleagues on the committee. I'm pretty sure that the cancellation affected my opinion of the book, which I was still reading at the time of the cancellation.
So, definitely a well-written book, but only three stars from me.